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Science Advisor EcosystemsClement-Lagrue
Department of Conservation
Dunedin Office

Emails: clagrue@doc.govt.nz / clement.lagrue@otago.ac.nz
Phone: 64-27-340-7610

Google Scholar profile

ORCID Profile

Research Interests

  • Parasite diversity in marine and freshwater birds
  • Effects of introduced pests 9especially hedgehogs and rodents) in small ecosystems
  • Naturally rare ecosystem conservation and restoration
  • Effects of invasive weeds on small ecosystem communities
  • Native invertebrate diversity, ecology and conservation
  • Restoration of braided rivers (effects on birds and freshwater communities)

I am a conservation ecologist and parasitologist (from a previous life…) working on a diversity of ecosystems and leading research projects addressing a range of applied ecological issues. My work focuses on what is defined as naturally rare ecosystems; small discrete ecosystems representing less than 0.05% of New Zealand's surface area. Despite their small size, such ecosystems hold comparatively high ecological values and many specific and endangered taxa, both plants and animals. My current projects focus on limestone, saline, coastal turf and freshwater spring ecosystems.

I also collaborate with researchers and students in the Zoology Department on different projects (limestone microsnails and invertebrates, seabird parasites, braided river restoration) and would welcome interest from students looking for research projects in collaboration with DOC. My main focuses currently are braided river pest predators, rank grass effects in limestone ecosystems and interactions with rodents, impacts of hedgehogs on limestone lizards and invertebrates.
Lagrue-outcrop

Lagrue-trapdoorLagrue-spider

Limestone outcrop (Castle Rock, Southland) and one of the cool critters found on limestone (trap-door spiders).

Publications

Buschang, K., Lagrue, C., Bennett, J., & Poulin, R. (2024). Toxoplasma gondii in avian hosts: Testing methods of detection and the drivers of infection in New Zealand and across the world. Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Societies for Parasitology and the 7th International Conference on Anaerobic Protists: Parasites in the Pacific. (pp. 39-40). Retrieved from https://www.parasite.org.au/aspconference/ Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Milliken, S., Lagrue, C., Lord, J., & Johnson, S. (2024). What is pollinating the critically threatened calcicolous plants in the Waitaki Valley? New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 48(1), 3564. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.48.3564 Journal - Research Article

Bennett, J., Niebuhr, C. N., Lagrue, C., Middlemiss, K. L., Webster, T., & Filion, A. (2024). New insights into avian malaria infections in New Zealand seabirds. Parasitology Research, 123, 184. doi: 10.1007/s00436-024-08210-4 Journal - Research Article

Shanebeck, K. M., Bennett, J., Green, S. J., Lagrue, C., & Presswell, B. (2024). A new species of Versteria (Cestoda: Taeniidae) parasitizing Neogale vison and Lontra canadensis (Carnivora: Mustelidae) from Western Canada. Journal of Helminthology, 98, e4. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X23000895 Journal - Research Article

Galipaud, M., Bollache, L., & Lagrue, C. (2021). Cryptic diversity and sexual selection. In R. Cothran & M. Thiel (Eds.), Reproductive biology: The natural history of the crustacea. (pp. 447-471). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780190688554.003.0016 Chapter in Book - Research

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