About The Author

John Read holds a PhD in Ecosystem Management. He has published more than sixty scientific papers (see below) on arid zone fauna, environmental management and conservation. From 1989 to 1998 he was the ecologist for the Olympic Dam copper–uranium mine at Roxby Downs. Since 1998 John has managed pastoral stations, developed a major conservation initiative and conducted several ecological projects in outback South Australia. John published the book "Red Sand Green Heart - Ecological Adventures in the Outback" in 2003.

Read, J.L. and Badman, F.J. (1990). Reptile densities in chenopod shrubland at Olympic Dam, South Australia. Herpetofauna 20: 3-7.

Read, J.L. and Tyler, M.J. (1990). The nature and incidence of post-axial, skeletal abnormalities in the frog Neobatrachus centralis Parker at Olympic Dam, South Australia. Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 144: 213-217.

Read, J.L. and Bedford, G. (1991). The distribution and ecology of the Pygmy Copperhead Snake (Austrelaps labialis). Herpetofauna 21: 1-6.

Read, J.L. (1991). Consumption of seeds by Red-browed Firetails Neochmia temporalis at feeders: dehusking rates and seed choice. Corella 15: 19-23.

Read, J.L. (1991). Range extensions for the Flock Pigeon in South Australia. S. Aust. Orn 31: 72.

Read, J.L. (1991). Reptiles and Amphibians. Ch. 6 in: A Natural History of the Lake Eyre region. A visitor's guide. Eds. Badman, F.J., Arnold, B.K. and Bell, S.L. The National Parks and Wildlife Service's Northern Consultative Committee, Port Augusta.

Read, J.L. (1992) Influence of habitats, climate, grazing and mining on the small terrestrial vertebrates at Olympic Dam, South Australia. Rangel. J. 14: 143-156.

Read, J.L. (1992). Ecological and biological notes on the rare plant Hemichroa mesembryanthema F. Muell (Amaranthaceae). Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Aust. 116: 145-146.

Waterman, M.H. and Read, J.L. (1992). Breeding success of the Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus on Lake Eyre South in 1990. Corella 16: 123-126.

Read, J.L. (1994). A retrospective view of the quality of the fauna component of the Olympic Dam Project Environmental Impact Statement. J. Env. Manage. 41:167-185.

Read, J.L. (1994). The diet of three species of Firetail Finches in temperate South Australia. Emu 94: 1-8.

Read, J.L. (1994). A major range extension and new ecological data on Oxyuranus microlepidotus (Reptilia: Elapidae). Trans Roy Soc. S. Aust 118: 143-145.

Read, J.L. and Tyler, M.J. (1994). Natural levels of abnormalities in the Trilling Frog (Neobatrachus centralis) at the Olympic Dam Mine. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 53: 25-31.

Read, J.L. (1995). Subhabitat variability: A key to the high reptile diversity in chenopod shrublands. Aust. J. Ecol. 20: 494-501.

Read J.L. (1995). Recruitment characteristics of the White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla) in arid South Australia. Rangel. J. 17: 228-240.

Read, J.L. (1995). First South Australian record of the Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus. S. Aust Orn 32: 62-63.

Read, J.L. (1995). Gull-billed Tern predation on dragons; a possible range limiting factor for Arcoona Dragons (Ctenophorus fionni)? Herpetofauna 25: 50-53.

Read, J.L. (1995) NP&WS Biological survey of the Anangu Pitjantjantjara Lands, Makari Region Ornithological report. DENR, Adelaide.

Read, J.L. (1995). The ecology of the Grass Owl Tyto capensis south of Lake Eyre. S. Aust. Orn. 32: 58-60.

Read, J.L. and Niejalke, D. (1995). Brolgas: The storks of the mound springs. Xanthopus 13: 6-7.

Read, J.L. (1996). Use of ants to monitor environmental impacts of salt spray from a mine in arid South Australia. Biodiversity and Conservation 5: 1533-1543.

Read, J.L., Bird, B. and Greenfield, C. (1996). Southern range extensions of Flock Bronzewings Phaps histrionica in South Australia including a breeding record. S. Aust. Orn. 32: 99-102.

Read, J.L. (1996). Fauna of the Elliot Price Conservation Park. Sth. Aust. Nat. 69: 4-11.

Dorfman, E.J. and Read, J.L. (1996). Nest predation by corvids on cormorants in Australia. Emu 96: 132-135.

Gee, P., Gee, I. and Read, J. (1996). An annotated bird list from the Davenport Ranges, South Australia. S. Aust. Orn. 32: 76- 81.

Read, J.L. (1997). Comparative abnormality rates of the Trilling Frog at Olympic Dam. Herpetofauna 27: 23-27

Read, J.L (1997). Stranded on desert islands? Factors shaping animal populations in Lake Eyre South. Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters 6: 431-438.

Read, J.L. (1998) Are geckos useful bioindicators of air pollution? Oecologia 114: 180-197

Read, J.L. (1998) Vertebrate fauna of the Nifty region, Great Sandy Desert with comments on the impacts of mining and rehabilitation. West Australian Naturalist 22:29-49

Read, J.L. (1998) Reptiles and amphibians of the Kau Wildlife Area near Madang: A valuable conservation resource. Science in New Guinea 23: 145-151.

Read, J.L. (1998) Hemmed in on all sides?: the status of the restricted gecko, Nephrurus deleani. Herpetofauna 28:30-38.

Read, J.L. (1998). The ecology of sympatric scincid lizards (Ctenotus) in arid South Australia. Aust. J. Zool. 46: 617-629.

Read, J.L. and Ebdon, R (1998). Waterfowl of the Arcoona Lakes: An important arid zone wetland complex in South Australia. Australian Bird Watcher 17: 234-244.

Bowen, Z.E. and Read, J.L. (1998). Population and demographic patterns of rabbits(Oryctolagus cuniculus) at Roxby Downs in arid South Australia and the influence or rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Wildl. Res. 25: 655-662.

Moseby, K.E. and Read, J.L. (1998). Population dynamics and movement patterns of Bolam's mouse, Pseudomys bolami, at Roxby Downs. Australian Mammalogy 20: 353-368.

Read, J.L. (1999). Diet and causes of mortality of the Trilling Frog, Neobatrachus centralis. Herpetofauna 29: 2-7.

Read, J.L. (1999). Bird colonisation of a remote arid settlement. Australian Bird Watcher 18: 59-67.

Read, J.L. (1999). Longevity, reproductive effort and movements of three sympatric Australian arid zone gecko species. Aust. J. Zool. 47: 307-316.

Read, J.L. (1999). A strategy for minimising waterfowl deaths on toxic ponds. J. Appl. Ecol. 36: 345-350.

Read, J.L. (1999). Birds, reptiles and ants as indicators of ecological impacts of mining and pastoralism at Olympic Dam in the Australian arid zone. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Ecosystem Management, University of New England, Armidale.

Read, J.L. (1999). Abundance and recruitment patterns of the Trilling Frog (Neobatrachus centralis) in the Australian arid zone. Aust. J. Zool. 47: 393-404.

Read, J.L. (1999). The initial response of a chenopod shrubland plant and invertebrate community to intensive grazing pulses. Rangeland J. 21: 169-193.

Read, J.L. and Badman, F.J. (1999). Birds of the Lake Eyre South region. Vol. 3, in: (W.J.H. Slater ed.) Lake Eyre South Monograph Series, RGSSA, Adelaide.

Read, J., Copley, P. and Bird, P. (1999). The distribution, ecology and current status of Pseudomys desertor in South Australia Wildl. Res. 26: 453-462.

Read, J.L. and Owens, H.M. (1999). Reptiles and amphibians of the Lake Eyre South region. Vol. 1, Part 3 in: (W.J.H. Slater ed.) Lake Eyre South Monograph Series, RGSSA, Adelaide.

Read, J.L. and Pickering, R. (1999). Ecological and toxicological effects of exposure to an acidic, radioactive tailings storage Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 54: 69-85.

Owens, H.M. and Read, J.L. (1999). Mammals of the Lake Eyre South region. Vol. 1, Part 2 in: (W.J.H. Slater ed.) Lake Eyre South Monograph Series, RGSSA, Adelaide.

Read, J.L. and Andersen, A.N. (2000). Using ants as early warning indicators: Responses to pulsed cattle grazing in the Australian arid zone. J. Arid Environs. 45: 231-51.

Read, J.L. (2000). Baseline abnormality study of the frogs of Tampakan, South Cotabato Province, Mindanao, Philippines. Asia Life Sciences 9: 1-6. 

Read, J.L, Ebdon F.R. and Donohoe, P. (2000). The terrestrial birds of the Roxby Downs Area: a ten year history. S. Aust. Orn. 33: 71-83.

Read, J.L., Reid, N and Venables, W.N. (2000). Which bird species are useful bioindicators of mining and grazing impacts in arid South Australia? Environmental Management 26: 215-232.

Read, J.L. (2001). Life on the Moon: What sort of animals could this moonscape possibly support? Nature Australia Winter: 42-49.

Read, J. and Bowen, Z. (2001). Population dynamics, diet and aspects of the biology of feral cats and foxes in arid South Australia. Wildlife Research 28: 195-203.

Read, J.L. and Moseby, K.E.(2001). Factors affecting pitfall capture rates of small ground vertebrates in arid South Australia. I. The influence of weather and moon phase on capture rates of reptiles. Wildl. Res. 28: 53-60.

Moseby, K.E. and Read, J.L. (2001). Factors affecting pitfall capture rates of small ground vertebrates in arid South Australia. II. Optimum pitfall trapping effort. Wildl. Res. 28: 61-71.

Read, J.L. (2002). Experimental trial of Australian arid zone reptiles as early warning indicators of overgrazing by cattle. Austral Ecology 27: 55-66.

Read, J.L. (2003). Red Sand, Green Heart: Ecological adventures in the outback. Lothian, Melbourne.

Read, J.L. (2003). Are miners the bunnies or the bilbies of the rangelands? Rangeland Journal 25: 172-182.

Wilson, D. and Read, J.L. (2003). Kangaroo harvesters: fertilising the rangelands. Rangeland Journal 25: 47-55.

Read, J. (2003). Desert Warming: What are the consequences of global warming on our desert environments? Nature Australia 27: 38-43.

Read, J.L. (2004). Catastrophic drought-induced die-off of perennial chenopod shrubs in arid Australia following intensive cattle browsing. J. Arid Environs.

Read, J.L. and Wilson, D. (2004). Scavengers and detritivores of kangaroo harvest offcuts in arid Australia. Wildlife Research 31: 51-56

Andersen, A.N., Fisher, A., Hoffmann, B.D., Read, J.L. and Richards, R. (2004). Use of terrestrial invertebrates for biodiversity monitoring in Australian rangelands, with particular reference to ants. Austral Ecology 29: 87-92.