Scientist | Wildlife Reproduction, Behaviour & Ecology | Epidemiology
DR KATE DUTTON-REGESTER
Wildlife Scientist:
Wildlife physiology & Behaviour; Epidemiology
ABOUT ME
I am a Lecturer at the University of Queensland with a passion for wildlife conservation. I have completed a PhD, which explored the reproductive biology of Australia's short-beaked echidna, a species with distinct biological features, including the unusual reproductive characteristic of laying eggs. Using the world’s only captive echidna breeding program at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, I have established new reproductive insights into mechanisms of physiology, hormonal control and sexual behaviours.
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My current research focuses on exploring echidna distribution and abundance in South-east Queensland, utilising camera traps, detection dogs and other modern conservation technologies. Other research includes understanding the causes and outcomes of wildlife hospital admissions across Australia.
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I also run a not-for-profit fundraising initiative ‘For the Wildlife’, an e-commerce store where I create and sell Australian flora and fauna-themed products. To date, I’ve donated profits exceeding AUD$7,500 to Australian wildlife organisations and carers.
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CURRENT RESEARCH
Are echidnas common?
The echidna is Australia's most widely distributed mammal, but does that mean it’s common? In SEQLD, no studies have been conducted on free-ranging echidna populations, leaving us without data to understand past, present, or future numbers. This lack of information raises concerns about their conservation status. My current research is focused on filling this gap.
Short-beaked Echidna distribution & abundance in South-east QLD
In collaboration with the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WQ), I'm building a group of volunteers to deploy Wildlife cameras across SEQLD to explore echidna presence and start building baseline data on their distribution and abundance.
Using detection dogs to locate short-beaked echidnas
Teaming up with Carnavon Canines to train a doggo or two to sniff out echidnas in the wild. This will be used to help establish baseline numbers.
Detecting female short-beaked echidnas in oestrus
Teaming up with Carnavon Canines to train a doggo to detect when a female echidna is in oestrus (receptive to males). So far looking at hormones and metabolites in plasma and faeces have proven challenging to detect when a female echidna is in oestrus - can a detection dog help us?
PUBLICATIONS
Dutton-Regester, K.J., Roser, A., Meer, H., Hill, A., Pyne, M., Renfree, M.B., Phillips, C., Johnston, S.D., 2022 ‘Reproductive behaviour of captive short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus): A focus on quantifiable changes before and after oestrus and oviposition’, Reproduction, Fertility and Development.
Dutton-Regester, K.J., Roser, A., Meer, H., Hill, A., Pyne, M., Johnston, S.D., Keeley, T., 2022, ‘Optimizing captive short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) fecal sample identification and hormone analysis’, General and Comparative Endocrinology.
Dutton-Regester, K.J., Keeley, T., Fenelon, J.C., Roser, A., Meer, H., Hill, A., Pyne, M., Renfree, M.B., Johnston, S.D. 2021, ‘Plasma progesterone secretion during gestation of captive short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus aculeatus)’, Reproduction, vol. 162, pp. 267-275.
Dutton-Regester, K.J., Wright, J.D., Rabiee, A.R., & Barnes, T.S. 2020, ‘Lameness in dairy cows, farmer perceptions and automated detection technology’, Journal of Dairy Research, vol. 87, pp. 67-71.
Phelan, A, Doody, K, Ward, J, Yen Ng, Z, Watson, E, Fogg, L, Dutton-Regester, K.J., Vargas Soto, R, Ximema Prada, K,Yan, J, Wilson, A, Vanden Berg, T, Arkhipov, A, Bugeja, J, Allen, M, Hinkelmann, S. 2000, ‘Leaving a place better than you found it; making a difference and restoring ecosystems on the Great Barrier Reef’, Solutions Journal, vol.11.
Dutton-Regester, K.J., Wright, J.D., Rabiee, A.R., & Barnes, T.S. 2019, ‘Understanding dairy farmer intentions to make improvements to their management practices of foot lesions causing lameness in dairy cows’, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, vol. 171, pp.104767.
Dutton-Regester, K.J., Barnes, T.S., Wright, J.D., Alawneh, J.I., & Rabiee, A.R. 2018. ‘A systematic review of tests for the detection and diagnosis of foot lesions causing lameness in dairy cows, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, vol. 149, pp. 53-66.
PERSONAL PROJECTS
