Background
I completed my undergraduate studies in Botany and Zoology at Monash University obtaining a BSc(Honours) in 1998, followed by a PhD in Zoology at the University of Sydney in 2004. This included a one year Fulbright fellowship the USA that included collaboration with Prof. Warren Porter at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.
I then took up an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research (CESAR) from 2004-2006. I joined the Zoology Department (now School of BioSciences) as a lecturer in 2007.
Research
My research in this field is focused on understanding the physical constraints on the behaviour, distribution and abundance of organisms. I tackle this problem by combining field and laboratory work on the ecology of organisms with 'mechanistic niche models'. These models apply first-principles of physics and chemistry to organisms to compute their heat and water budgets and tie these to the metabolic processes that determine growth, development and reproduction.
Microclimate modelling
Mechanistic niche models require information about the environments immediately experienced by organisms, in other words, their 'microclimates'. A large part of my work has involved developing microclimate models for the terrestrial environment that accurately capture the air temperature, wind speed, radiation and humidity environments organisms encounter above ground, as well as processes such as heat and water flow through the soil and the effects of snow cover..
Biophysical modelling
Once the microclimate is known, it is possible to compute the temperature an organism will reach and how much water they will lose, using 'biophysical models'. This in turn constrains activity times and habitat requirements (e.g. shade, underground retreats). Biophysical models can also compute the energy a 'warm blooded' animal needs to keep warm, and how much water they must lose through sweating or panting to stay cool.
Metabolic theory
The final part of the problem of mechanistic niche modelling is working out the consequences of these environmental constraints for the organism developing, growing and reproducing. I apply a general theory of metabolism called 'Dynamic Energy Budget Theory' to work out whether the organism can complete its life cycle from egg through to maturity.
NicheMapR software
All of these modelling steps are integrated into the NicheMapR package for the R computing environment, which I develop and maintain https://mrke.github.io/
Applications
My research group applies a combination of field, laboratory and modelling work to solve a range of pure and applied problems in ecology and evolution. We are mainly focusing our empirical research on terrestrial invertebrates, especially the 'matchstick grasshoppers'. These grasshoppers include an endangered species, Key's Matchstick Grasshopper, and also species that have given up sex and reproduce by cloning (parthenogenesis). We also collaborate on a wide range studies on terrestrial, marine animals, birds and mammals and, more recently, plants.
Find out more about Michael Kearney's experience
Michael Kearney's highlights
FEATURED Journal article
Using Biophysical Models to Improve Survey Efficiency for Cryptic Ectotherms
Read moreMichael Kearney's selected work
Projects
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Project Types
17
Research Grant
3
Research Contracts
2
Internal Research Grant
Scholarly Works
Displaying the 158 most recent scholarly works by Michael Kearney.
News
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Honours, Awards and Fellowships
Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher 2018
Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher 2017
The HG Andrewartha Medal
Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher 2016
Thomson Reuters Most Influential Scientific Minds 2015
Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher 2015
Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher 2014
Recognition of Achievement for a Research Paper
Australian Research Fellowship
Future Fellowship (declined)
David Syme Research Prize for research in Biology, Chemistry, Geology or Physics
Deans Award for Excellence in Research
Award for best PhD thesis
Comparative Meeting Travel Award
Australian-American Fulbright Award
Australian Postgraduate Award
A R Wallace Prize for Best Honours Thesis
Vice-Chancellor?s Undergraduate Research Scholarship
1st Year Earth Science Prize
Credentials
Positions
Professor
Biosciences
Member
Ecological Society of Australia
Secretary
Victorian Fulbright Alumni
Secretary
Australian Society of Herpetologists
Member
Genetics Society of Australia
Member
Australasian Society for the Study of Evolution
Member
Australian Society of Herpetologists
Assistant Secretary
100 Acres Reserve Advisory Committee
Secretary
Monash Biological Society
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Sydney
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Monash University