I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from the University of Western Australia (1990) before undertaking my PhD in Neuroscience at UWA (1991 - 1996). After carrying out post-doctoral research in Zimbabwe and South Africa, I returned to Western Australia and undertook an MSc in Environmental Science (2005) shortly before accepting my position at Murdoch University.
I currently work with a large group of highly industrious postdocs, postgrad and honours students. Much of our research focuses on translational ecology, where improving our understanding of the physiology and behaviour of vertebrates has conservation or welfare implications. For example, understanding factors such as key habitat requirements, or physiological limitations of a particular species can be used to guide management and conservation. Interpreting specific behaviour enables us to improve welfare of individuals (e.g. livestock, in zoos or during translocations). Since such applied research is a two way street, we also utilise conservation or management issues to guide our research, and students are encouraged to select projects that are identified by industry and government as issues of concern for them.
Using behaviour as an objective measure of animal welfare Murdoch has recently commenced a research programme established to develop objective measures of animal welfare. As part of this research programme, we are investigating Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) as an integrated measure of animal welfare. QBA is a technique developed by Françoise Wemelsfelder (Scottish Agricultural College, UK) as a means of assessing the behavioural expression of animals. We are validating this method as a tool for welfare assessment under Australian production industry conditions. Ongoing studies examine QBA for sheep and cattle.
Bateman, P.W., P. Fleming. 2009. To cut a long tail short: a review of lizard caudal autotomy studies carried out over the last twenty years. Journal of Zoology, London 277: 1-14.
Bateman, P.W., P.A. Fleming. 2009. An intra- and inter-specific study of body size and autotomy as a defense in Orthoptera. Journal of Orthoptera Research In Press, accepted 3 July 2008.
Beatty, D.T., A. Barnes, P.A. Fleming, E. Taylor, S.K. Maloney. 2008. Effect of fleece on core and rumen temperature in sheep. Journal of Thermal Biology 33: 437-443.
Craig, M.D., R.J. Hobbs, A.H. Grigg, M.J. Garkaklis, C.D. Grant, P.A. Fleming, G.E.S.J. Hardy. 2008. Does thinning and burning sites revegetated after bauxite mining improve habitat for terrestrial vertebrates? Restoration Ecology In press, Accepted 3 November 2008.
Davis, C., P.A. Fleming, M.D. Craig, A.H. Grigg, G.E.S. Hardy. 2008. Development of a funnel trap for capture of small arboreal reptiles in south-Western Australia. Amphibia-Reptilia 29: 413-423.
Fleming, P.A., S. Xie, K. Napier, T.J. McWhorter, S.W. Nicolson. 2008. Nectar concentration affects sugar preferences in two Australian honeyeaters and a lorikeet. Functional Ecology 22: 599-605.
Köhler, A., L. Verburgt, P.A. Fleming, S.W. Nicolson. 2008. Changes in nectar concentration: how quickly do whitebellied sunbirds (Cinnyris talatala) adjust feeding patterns and food intake? Journal of Comparative Physiology B 178: 785-793.
Napier, K.R., T.J. McWhorter, P.A. Fleming. 2008. Mechanism and rate of glucose absorption differ between an Australian honeyeater (Meliphagidae) and a lorikeet (Loriidae). Journal of Experimental Biology 211: 3544-3553.
Napier, K.R., C. Purchase, T.J. McWhorter, S.W. Nicolson, P.A. Fleming. 2008. The sweet life: diet sugar concentration influences paracellular glucose absorption. Biology Letters 4: 530-533.
Craig, M.D., M.J. Garkaklis, G.E.S.J. Hardy, A.H. Grigg, C.D. Grant, P.A. Fleming, R.J. Hobbs. 2007. Ecology of the western bearded dragon (Pogona minor) in unmined forest and forest restored after bauxite mining in south-west Western Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 55: 107-116.
Fleming, P.A., P.W. Bateman. 2007. Just drop it and run: the effect of limb autotomy on running distance and locomotion energetics of field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus). Journal of Experimental Biology 210: 1446-1454.
Fleming, P.A., S.D. Hofmeyr, S.W. Nicolson. 2007. Role of insects in the pollination of Acacia nigrescens (Fabaceae). South African Journal of Botany 73: 49-55.
Fleming, P.A., D.L. Muller, P.W. Bateman. 2007. Leave it all behind: A taxonomic perspective of autotomy in invertebrates. Biological Reviews 82: 481-510.
Peck, A., M.D. Craig, R.J. Hobbs, A.H. Grigg, K. Brennan, P.A. Fleming. 2007. Spiders in restored habitat: How important are dead standing trees? Australasian Arachnology 76: 12-13.
Swinburn, M.L., P.A. Fleming, M.D. Craig, A.H. Grigg, M.J. Garkaklis, R.J. Hobbs, G.E.S. Hardy. 2007. The importance of grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea preissii) as habitat for mardo (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster) during post-fire recovery. Wildlife Research 34: 640-651.
Bateman, P.W., P.A. Fleming. 2006. Sex and the single (-eared) female: Leg function, limb autotomy and mating history trade-offs in field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus). Biology Letters 2: 33-35.
Bateman, P.W., P.A. Fleming. 2006. Males are selective too: mating, but not courtship, with sequential females influences choosiness in male field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 59: 577-581.
Bateman, P.W., P.A. Fleming. 2006. Increased susceptibility to predation for autotomized house crickets (Acheta domestica). Ethology 112: 670-677.
Bateman, P.W., P.A. Fleming. 2006. Sex, intimidation and severed limbs: the effect of simulated predator attack and limb autotomy on calling behavior and level of caution in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 59: 674-681.
Fleming, P.A., S.D. Hofmeyr, S.W. Nicolson, J.T. du Toit. 2006. Are giraffes pollinators or flower predators of Acacia nigrescens in Kruger National Park, South Africa? Journal of Tropical Ecology 22: 1-7.
Bateman, P.W., P.A. Fleming. 2005. Direct and indirect costs of limb autotomy in field crickets Gryllus bimaculatus. Animal Behaviour 69: 151-159.
Nicolson, S.W., D. Hoffmann, P.A. Fleming. 2005. Short-term energy regulation in nectar-feeding birds: the response of whitebellied sunbirds (Nectarinia talatala) to a midday fast. Functional Ecology 19: 988-994.
Vasicek, C.A., B. Malpaux, P.A. Fleming, N.C. Bennett. 2005. Melatonin secretion in the Mashona mole-rat, Cryptomys darlingi - influence of light on rhythmicity. Physiology and Behavior 83: 689-697.
Fleming, P.A., D.A. Gray, S.W. Nicolson. 2004. Osmoregulatory response to acute diet change in an avian nectarivore: rapid rehydration following water shortage. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 138: 321-326.
Fleming, P.A., D.A. Gray, S.W. Nicolson. 2004. Circadian rhythm of water balance and aldosterone excretion in the whitebellied sunbird Nectarinia talatala. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 174: 341-346.
Fleming, P.A., B. Hartman Bakken, C.N. Lotz, S.W. Nicolson. 2004. Concentration and temperature effects on sugar intake and preferences in a sunbird and a hummingbird. Functional Ecology 18: 223-232.
Fleming, P.A., S.W. Nicolson. 2004. Sex differences in space use, body condition and survivorship during the breeding season in the Namaqua rock mouse, Aethomys namaquensis. African Zoology 39: 123-132.
Gray, D.A., P.A. Fleming, S.W. Nicolson. 2004. Dietary intake effects on arginine vasotocin and aldosterone in cloacal fluid of whitebellied sunbirds (Nectarinia talatala). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 138: 441-449.
Fleming, P.A., J.P. Loveridge. 2003. Miombo woodland termite mounds: resource islands for small vertebrates? Journal of Zoology, London 259: 1-8.
Fleming, P.A., S.W. Nicolson. 2003. Osmoregulation in an avian nectarivore, the whitebellied sunbird Nectarinia talatala: response to extremes of diet concentration Journal of Experimental Biology 206: 1845-1854.
Fleming, P.A., S.W. Nicolson. 2003. Arthropod fauna of mammal-pollinated Protea humiflora: ants as an attractant for insectivore pollinators? African Entomology 11: 9-14.
Nicolson, S.W., P.A. Fleming. 2003. Nectar as food for birds: the physiological consequences of drinking dilute sugar solutions. Plant Systematics and Evolution 238: 139-153.
Nicolson, S.W., P.A. Fleming. 2003. Energy balance in the whitebellied sunbird, Nectarinia talatala: constraints on compensatory feeding, and consumption of supplementary water. Functional Ecology 17: 3-9.
Richter, T.A., B. Malpaux, P.A. Fleming, A.J. Molteno, N.C. Bennett. 2003. Melatonin secretion in a strictly subterranean mammal, the Damaraland mole-rat (Cryptomys damarensis). Journal of Zoology, London 261: 1-7.
Fleming, P.A., S.W. Nicolson. 2002. How important is the relationship between Protea humiflora (Proteaceae) and its non-flying mammal pollinators? Oecologia 132: 361-368.
Fleming, P.A., S.W. Nicolson. 2002. Opportunistic breeding in the Cape spiny mouse (Acomys subspinosus). African Zoology 37: 101-105.
Midgley, J., B. Anderson, A. Bok, P.A. Fleming. 2002. Scatter-hoarding of Cape Proteaceae nuts by rodents. Evolutionary Ecology Research 4: 623-626.
Fleming, P.A., A.M. Harman, L.D. Beazley. 1997. Changing topography of the RPE resulting from experimentally induced rapid eye growth. Visual Neuroscience 14: 449-461.
Harman, A.M., P.A. Fleming, R.V. Hoskins, S.R. Moore. 1997. Development and aging of cell topography in the human retinal pigment epithelium. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 38: 2016-2026.
Fleming, P.A., C.R. Braekevelt, A.M. Harman, L.D. Beazley. 1996. Retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor maturation in a wallaby, the quokka. Journal of comparative Neurology 370: 47-60.
Fleming, P.A., A.M. Harman, L.D. Beazley. 1996. Development and ageing of the RPE in a marsupial, the quokka. Experimental Eye Research 62: 457-469.
Fleming, P.A., A.M. Harman, L.D. Beazley. 1996. Retinal pigment epithelium topography in the mature quokka, Setonix brachyurus. Experimental Eye Research 62: 85-93.
Fleming, P.A., A.M. Harman, L.D. Beazley. 1993. Topography and maturation of the RPE in a wallaby. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 34: 874.
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