Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
I am wildlife ecologist with 30 years of research and conservation management experience. I worked originally in behavioural and evolutionary ecology (evolution of sociality, mating systems, sex allocation, siblicide, intra-tropical migration). Over the past 20 years, my research interests have shifted to the research, monitoring and management of threats to biodiversity, especially to declining species. I am committed to merging science with policy and management delivery. My current research is carried out collaboratively with land managers and owners, including Indigenous groups, and government.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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2023 Rainmaker Co-investment – Cat management guided by Country
Murphy, B. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Davies, H. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Legge, S. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Ryan, S. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Hradsky, B. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A) & Ballard, G. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A)
1/07/24 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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2023 Rainmaker Co-investment - Improving desert fire management with culturally directed science
Legge, S. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Murphy, B. (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B) & Banks, S. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A)
1/07/23 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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ARC LP100100033 - Mammal declines in northern Australia: science for conservation and recovery
Gordon, I. (Other), Johnson, C. (Other), Legge, S. (Other), Radford, I. (Other), Woinarski, J. (Other) & Lawes, M. (Chief Investigator C)
20/07/10 → 1/05/15
Project: Research
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DP250104149 How safe are island havens for biodiversity?
Banks, S. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Murphy, B. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Cremona, T. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Woinarski, J. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Legge, S. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Smith, B. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Whitehead, C. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A) & Kutt, A. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A)
1/01/25 → 31/12/28
Project: Research
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LP220200184 Improving desert fire management with culturally directed science
Legge, S. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Murphy, B. (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B), Banks, S. (Chief Investigator C) & Lindsay, M. (Chief Investigator D)
10/11/23 → 10/11/27
Project: Research
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LP230200709 Cat management guided by Country
Murphy, B. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Davies, H. (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B), Legge, S. (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B), Ryan, S. (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B), Hradsky, B. (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B) & Ballard, G. (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B)
1/07/24 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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Measuring the habitat condition of desert and savanna vegetation integrating on-ground biodiversity survey data, drone and satellite remote sensing
Crabbe, R. (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A), Legge, S. (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B) & Murphy, B. (Chief Investigator C)
1/03/24 → 1/03/26
Project: Research
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Act for the best, prepare for the worst—Defining strategic mesopredator triggers that safeguard apex predator eradication benefits
Willacy, R., Legge, S. & McDonald-Madden, E., Mar 2025, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 62, 3, p. 458-469 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)6 Downloads (Pure) -
Declines in greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) geographic range and realised niche are best explained by the invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Geyle, H. M., Young, A. R., Murphy, B. P., Dickman, C. R., Schlesinger, C., Dixon, K. M., Moore, H., Legge, S., Silcock, J., Indigo, N., Dziminski, M., Greatwich, B., Newsome, T. M., Paltridge, R., Southgate, R., Arkinstall, C., Bradley, K., Central Land Council Rangers, Jackett, N. & Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Rangers & 15 others, , Feb 2025, In: Biological Conservation. 302, p. 1-13 13 p., 110872.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)55 Downloads (Pure) -
Estimating feral cat (Felis catus) population density in eastern Australia's subtropical rainforest using spatial capture-recapture incorporating unidentified individuals
McHugh, D., Hollanders, M., Legge, S. & Augustine, B. C., 20 Jan 2025, In: Wildlife Research. 52, 2, p. 1-9 9 p., WR24102.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Extensive fires in Australia’s northern spinifex deserts – investigating the 2023 ‘Black Spring’ and the influence of indigenous fire management
Fisher, R., Legge, S., Catt, G. & Cliff, H., 8 Aug 2025, In: International Journal of Wildland Fire. 34, 8 Collection: Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference, p. 1-12 12 p., WF25002.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus) -
Feral cats and habitat degradation drive mammal declines in northwestern Australia: An expert elicitation to prioritize management actions
Stobo-Wilson, A. M., Stevens, A., Legge, S. M., Murphy, B. P., Richards, A. E., Pavey, C., Bush, K., Cameron, S. F., Corey, B., Cremona, T., Curtis, J., Davies, H., Fisher, A., Guymala, T., Hill, B., James, A., Mahney, T., Martin, N., Myers, C. & Nicholls, D. & 8 others, , Aug 2025, In: Conservation Science and Practice. 7, 8, p. 1-18 18 p., e70098.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Downloads (Pure) -
Half of the habitat of Australia's highly imperilled narrow-range species is outside protected areas
Ward, M., Maron, M., Simmonds, J. S., Lintermans, M., Whiterod, N. S., Chapple, D. G., Possingham, H. P., Legge, S. M., Gallagher, R. V., Wintle, B. A., Vine, S., Ashman, K., Hoskin, C. J., Garnett, S. T., Woinarski, J. C. Z., Scheele, B. C., Loane, C., Fitzsimons, J. A., Stewart, R. R. & Tulloch, A. I. T. & 10 others, , Aug 2025, In: Biological Conservation. 308, p. 1-11 11 p., 111195.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)23 Downloads (Pure) -
Incorporating citizen science into IUCN Red List assessments
Gallagher, R., Roger, E., Packer, J., Slatyer, C., Rowley, J., Cornwell, W., Ens, E., Legge, S., Simpfendorfer, C., Stephens, R. & Mesaglio, T., Apr 2025, In: Conservation Biology. 39, 2, p. 1-13 13 p., e14329.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Citations (Scopus)63 Downloads (Pure)
Press/Media
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Should all cats be banned from the outdoors?
Woinarski, J. C. Z. & Legge, S.
16/05/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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The staggering death toll of roaming pet cats revealed
9/06/23
4 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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NSW council calls for statewide pet cat curfew and power to enforce containment
25/07/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Cat-dependent diseases cost Australian economy 6 bln each year
16/10/20
3 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Aussies 'shudder' at kookaburra's spectacular snack
18/10/23
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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'Double whammy' of cats and foxes driving Australian animals to extinction, experts say
Stobo-Wilson, A. & Legge, S.
15/03/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research