Professor David M Watson's research falls into three principal areas: managing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes; measuring and predicting the biological effects of habitat fragmentation; and the ecology of parasitic plants. His research has been conducted through detailed community-level field studies in Australia and Latin America; species-specific studies of distribution and abundance; theoretical advances; empirical studies based on previously published data; & synthetic reviews consolidating existing information and proposing new hypotheses. Most of his research is applied, improving our understanding and management of natural systems. He has developed a new way of conducting bird surveys; articulated a generalised explanation for distribution patterns of parasitic plants; demonstrated parasitic plants boost productivity in their communities; & suggested changes in productivity and food availability underlie woodland bird declines.

Research Interests

• Managing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes
• Measuring and predicting the biological effects of habitat fragmentation
• Ecology of parasitic plants

External Appointments & Memberships:

• Technical Advisory Group (member) for the Great Western Woodlands Project (jointly managed by Birdlife Australia and the Nature Conservancy)
• Slopes to Summit Partnership (regional hub of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative)( founding member and senior ecologist)
• Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre (member of the management committee)

Editorial roles on journals:

• Austral Ecology (Associate editor)