2024 Fundamental Ecology Award Winner – Tess Jenkins
Applying classic ecological theories to understand reproductive behaviours in coral-associated reef fishes
Tess was born and raised in Western Australia, where early explorations along the coastline sparked a lifelong curiosity about the intricate life beneath the ocean’s surface. After completing her undergraduate degree at James Cook University in Townsville, Tess discovered a particular passion for understanding how behaviours in small reef-associated species are shaped by their surrounding environment. This passion brought Tess back home to study the unique fish communities of Ningaloo Marine Park. As a Forrest Research Foundation Scholar and member of the Centre for Evolutionary Biology at UWA, Tess is undertaking a PhD that explores how reproductive behaviours—such as mating systems and sex allocation strategies—have evolved in small, coral-dwelling fishes in direct response to their habitat associations. By shedding light on the ecology and evolution of these often-overlooked species, Tess hopes to contribute to conservation strategies that protect not only the fishes themselves but also the vulnerable coral habitats they depend on.
2025 Next Generation Ecologist Award Winner – Dr Eamonn Wooster
Harnessing animal intelligence to repair Australian mammal communities
Dr. Eamonn Wooster holds an independent fellowship at Charles Sturt University. His work spans behavioural ecology, invasion biology and macroecology, combining field research with meta-analytic and macroecological methods. He works to link individual-level animal behaviour to population-level interactions and leverage this information to conserve the natural world.