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Alastair Freeman Appointed First SFS Senior Research Fellow
September 2006 Salem, Massachusetts – On September 1, 2006 The School for Field Studies (SFS) formally appointed Alastair Freeman as the first SFS Senior Research Fellow in association with the SFS Center for Rainforest Studies (SFS-CRS), North Queensland, Australia. Alastair's current research is focused on the ecology of the amethystine python (Morelia kinghorni) at the SFS-CRS and on the neighboring World Heritage Area. The amethystine, or scrub, python is the largest snake in Australia and surprisingly little is known about its ecology in the wild and scientific studies have been few and far between. Alastair's current radio tracking study is the most complete ever undertaken for this species. The SFS-CRS has been involved with this research at a number of levels. Students have assisted in the collection of morphometric data and staff and students have also, on occasion, participated in radio tracking. Amanda Freeman, Center Director, is a co-researcher on the project. Fieldwork for the amethystine python project will continue into 2007. In addition to his python work, in late 2006, Alastair will initiate a new research project. The objective of this study is to document the reptile and amphibian fauna of Mabi forest fragments on the Atherton Tablelands. This information will be used to ascertain the relationships between size, location, and condition of Mabi rainforest fragments and their herpetofauna. It is part of a wider project being conducted by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Threatened Species Group to gather data that will improve the way this endangered ecosystem is managed. There will be opportunities for SFS-CRS students to participate in the herpetofauna research by collecting data in the field which potentially they could utilize in their Directed Research projects. The goals of the SFS Senior Research Fellows Program are to add expertise to the implementation of the five year research plan at the SFS centers; to take advantage of the technical knowledge and research interests of a highly experienced individual and create a vehicle for ongoing research collaboration between the Fellow, SFS, and the particular center; to create opportunities for Fellows to actively conduct research both individually and in conjunction with center faculty and SFS students; and create a formal linkage between SFS and the Fellow in support of joint grant development, publications, and conference presentations. About Alastair Freeman Alastair was born and raised in New Zealand where he first acquired his interest in the outdoors and wildlife management.  After completing his under-graduate degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management he went on to research a dune-land lizard community for his Master's degree in Animal Ecology. As a research assistant at Lincoln University, New Zealand, Alastair was involved in a variety of field research from radio-tracking New Zealand fur seals to studying the behavioral response of lizards to poison baits. In 1997 Alastair moved to Queensland and for the last nine years has worked as a Technical Officer with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service threatened species group. In this capacity he has been involved in such diverse projects as monitoring endangered frog populations, mammal surveys on Cape York Peninsula, and sea turtle tagging. Alastair's main research interests are reptile ecology, particularly response to fragmentation, and snake biology and conservation. ### 
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