Michael Klunzinger

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I have a broad background in Animal and Environmental Sciences with research experience in the fields of Ecology, Biology, Conservation, Veterinary Science, Parasitology, Phylogeography, Taxonomy, among others. My research focus since completing my PhD in 2013 is on the ecology, diversity and conservation of Australian freshwater mussels. Current projects include taxonomic descriptions of new species and revision of sub-family level taxonomy of Australasian Hyriidae, co-editing a book on the Ecology, Biology and Conservation of Freshwater Molluscs of Australia, and life-history studies of Australian freshwater bivalves.

In terms of my interest, I am not limited to my specialisation. I am concerned with the plight of Australian biodiversity in general and think we can do a better job of ensuring a sustainable future for our communities to make cities and rural environments more livable and prosperous.

Career-wise, while my preference is to secure a full-time, paid, academic position market forces have dictated that I have had to seek employment in industry and since completing my PhD, I have worked for local government, the mining industry and the water utilities industry. I currently work as a Trade Waste/On-call Environmental Officer at Unitywater.

I maintain adjunct appointments with Australian Rivers Institute (Griffith University) and Western Australian Museum.

Experience

  • 2013–present
    Adjunct Lecturer, Murdoch University
  • 2015–present
    Research associate, Western Australian Museum
  • 2012–2013
    Honorary Research Associate, Murdoch University
  • 2009–2012
    Research Assistant - School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University
  • 2010–2010
    Lecturer - Environmental Science, Central Institute of Technology

Education

  • 2012 
    Murdoch University, PhD in Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Sciences
  • 2002 
    Michigan State University, Master of Science, Animal Science
  • 1999 
    Michigan State University, Bachelor of Science, Animal Science

Publications

  • 2015
    Molecular phylogenetic analysis supports a Gondwanan origin of the Hyriidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) and the paraphyly of Australasian taxa, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
  • 2015
    Range decline and conservation status of Westralunio carteri Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia :Hyriidae) from south-western Australia, Australian Journal of Zoology
  • 2014
    Bivalves in a bottleneck: taxonomy, phylogeography and conservation of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) in Australasia, Hydrobiologia
  • 2014
    Age and growth in the Australian freshwater mussel, Westralunio carteri, with an evaluation of the fluorochrome calcein for validating the assumption of annulus formation, Freshwater Science
  • 2013
    Morphological and morphometrical description of the glochidia of Westralunio carteri Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae), Molluscan Research
  • 2013
    A new record of Lortiella froggatti Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae) from the Pilbara region, Western Australia, with notes on anatomy and geographic range., Records of the Western Australian Museum (in press).
  • 2013
    Morphological evidence shows that not all Velesunioninae have smooth umbos, Journal of Molluscan Studies
  • 2012
    Distribution of Westralunio carteri Iredale 1934 (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae) on the south coast of southwestern Australia, including new records of the species., Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 95: 77-81.
  • 2012
    Ecology, Life History and Conservation Status of Westralunio carteri, an Endemic Freshwater Mussel of South-Western Australia., PhD Thesis, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.
  • 2012
    Glochidia ecology in wild fish populations and laboratory determination of competent host fishes for an endemic freshwater mussel of south-western Australia., Australian Journal of Zoology 60: 26-36.
  • 2011
    Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes, Crayfishes and Mussels of South-Western Australia., SERCUL and Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.
  • 2011
    Freshwater shrimp (Palaemonetes australis) may be involved in glochidia release from the freshwater mussel Westralunio carteri. , The Western Australian Naturalist 28: 61-65.
  • 2011
    Discovery of a host fish species for glochidia of Westralunio carteri (Iredale, 1934) (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae). , Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 94: 19-23.
  • 2010
    Discovery of a host fish for glochidia of Velesunio angasi (Sowerby, 1867) (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae) from the Fortescue River, Pilbara, Western Australia. , Australian Journal of Zoology 58, 263-266.
  • 2005
    Confirmation of phosphorus availability in low-phytate and high-protein corn to growing finishing large white toms. , Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 14: 94 – 105.
  • 2004
    Benefit of feeding dietary calcium and non phytate phosphorus levels above National Research Council recommendations to tom turkeys in the growing-finishing phases. , Poultry Science 83: 689 – 695.
  • 2002
    Utilization of low-phytic acid corn with phytase to reduce phosphorus excretion from growing turkeys and pigs. , Master of Science (Animal Science) Thesis. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.

Honours

CSIRO Publishing Australian Journal of Zoology Best Student Paper (2016); Australian International PhD Scholarship (2010-2013)

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  • Location: Brisbane, Australia
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