Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Melodie McGeoch is Professor in Ecology at Monash University. She is internationally recognized for her work on the measurement and monitoring of biodiversity change, and the translation of biodiversity science for policy. Professor McGeoch is a leading scientist on biodiversity measurement and indicators, with more than 200 publications and 20 years of experience working across ecological theory, protected areas, and systems impacted by climate change and biological invasions.
Melodies’ interests lie predominantly in biodiversity science and the use thereof to advance environmental policy and solve conservation problems – including climate change impacts, biosecurity and sustainable information systems. Spatial variation in biodiversity, its observation and monitoring (from micro- to macro scales) are central theoretical and applied themes in her research. A further overarching research theme is the development of monitoring systems and their application in earth observations, biodiversity assessment and conservation policy. Melodie’s published work includes the theory of biodiversity measurement, estimation and bioindication, and its application to develop robust decision support frameworks.
A recent body of work, in collaboration with the Group on Earth Observations for biodiversity (GEO BON), focusses on improving the quality, quantity and value of biodiversity data for policy and management. This work draws on biodiversity theory, the rapidly evolving field of biodiversity informatics and the concept of Essential Biodiversity Variables (Science, Nature Ecology and Evolution), and aims to deliver sustainable information systems for monitoring and reporting on biodiversity (e.g., McGeoch and Jetz, One Earth 2019). In collaboration with Prof. Walter Jetz and Map of Life at Yale University, Melodie Co-Chairs the Species Populations Working Group of GEO BON. Now, working with the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Melodie is working on integrated environmental governance solutions to bring about transformative change for complex environmental problems.
Board and Committee Positions:
1st Vice Chair: Science Committee of the Governing Board, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (Elected position) 2021-2026
Lead: Biodiversity Status and Trends, Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future
Coordinating Lead Author: Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) – Thematic Assessment on Invasive Alien Species and their Control 2019-2023
Co-Chair: Species Populations Working Group, Global Earth Observation: Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) 2016-
Chair: Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Task Group – Data Fitness for Use in Research on Invasive Alien Species 2015-2016
Independent Member: Board of the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI Australia) 2021 -
Member: Advisory Board of the Atlas of Living Australia 2017 – 2021
Director: Masters of Environment and Sustainability, Monash 2016-2018
Awards and Honours:
Fellow of the African Academy of Science (2022)
Max Planck-Yale Centre for Movement and Global Change (2018)
Australian Ecology Research Award: Ecological Society of Australia (2014)
Editorial Positions:
Global Ecology and Biogeography: Associate Editor 2017 -
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Associate Editor 2014 - 2018
Journal of Biogeography: Editor 2007 - 2015
Journal of Biogeography: Associate Editor 2005 - 2007
African Entomology: Editor 2000 – 2002
Research interests
- Biodiversity science and the use thereof to advance environmental policy and solve conservation problems – including climate change impacts, biosecurity and sustainable information systems.
- Spatial variation in biodiversity, its observation and monitoring (from micro- to macro scales).
- The development of monitoring systems and their application in earth observations, biodiversity assessment and conservation policy.
- Theory of biodiversity measurement, estimation and bioindication, and its application to develop robust decision support frameworks.
- Improving the quality, quantity and value of biodiversity data for policy and management.
Supervision interests
- How does biodiversity change over space and time, how can we better model and predict this and what does it mean for conservation?
- How do we identify priority sites and priority species to act against the negative impacts of biological invasions?
- What does the future of Antarctic biodiversity look like under climate change?
- What approaches can be developed to make biodiversity information more relevant and accessible to decision-makers?
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- Antarctica
- Biodiversity
- Bioindication
- Biological Invasions
- Biosecurity
- Global Change
- Protected Areas
- Spatial Ecology
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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HoE: Hotspots of endemism for invertebrate conservation in south-east Australia
Gibb, H., Murphy, N., Laffan, S. W., McGeoch, M., Porch, N., Magrath, M. J. L., Reid, C., Koehler, F. & King, R.
Monash University – Internal School Contribution
29/10/24 → 28/10/27
Project: Research
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SAEF: Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future – An Evidence-Based, Informatics Approach
Chown, S., Robinson, S., Wilson, K. A., Mackintosh, A., McGeoch, M., Bode, M., Helmstedt, K., McGregor, H. V., Arblaster, J., Duffy, G., Greening, C., Henley, B., Siems, S., Cressie, N., Kaye, S., Barthelemy, J., Mangion, A. Z., Dunbabin, M., Gonzalez, L., Mengersen, K. L., Strugnell, J. M., Cassey, P., Johnston, E., Clark, G. F., Terauds, A., Stark, J. S., Saunders, K., Hua, Q., Meredith, K., Stevens, M. I., Wilson, N., Smith, J., McLennan, S., Lim, E., DeConto, R., Brooks, C., Cowan, D., Charman, D., Maclean, I., Bollar, B., Barbour, M., Fraser, C., Flexas, J., Zuniga, G., Olalla-Tarraga, M., Balco, G., Norton, K. P., Njastad, B., Vaughan, D. G., Kessick, M., Lynnes, A., Adams, M., McCormack, F., Wheeler, M. C., Weller, J., Selwyn Jones, R., Whitmore, R., McNeill, M., Fülöp, R., McLennan, S., Amirghasemi, M., Rhodes, J., Lappan, R., Janion-Scheepers, C., Liggett, D. & Wege, M.
La Trobe University, University of Sydney, University of Cape Town
19/05/20 → 14/06/30
Project: Research
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Terrestrial microbial biodiversity in the Vestfold Hills: structure, drivers, and protection
Greening, C., Chown, S., McGeoch, M. & Ferrari, B.
1/01/20 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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AFTAM: Robust tools to quantify and understand global trends in alien species numbers
McGeoch, M. & Belmaker, J.
1/02/20 → 31/12/20
Project: Research
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Plant invasions as a driver tri-trophic community structures in a dry forest ecosystems
Reeve, S., McGeoch, M. & Greening, C.
25/02/19 → 20/02/20
Project: Research
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Including a diverse set of voices to address biological invasions
Nuñez, M. A., August, T., Bacher, S., Galil, B. S., Hulme, P. E., Ikeda, T., McGeoch, M. A., Ordonez, A., Rahlao, S., Truong, T. R., Pauchard, A., Roy, H. E., Sankaran, K. V., Schwindt, E., Seebens, H., Sheppard, A. W., Stoett, P., Vandvik, V. & Meyerson, L. A., May 2024, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 39, 5, p. 409-412 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Overwhelming evidence galvanizes a global consensus on the need for action against Invasive Alien Species
Schwindt, E., August, T. A., Vanderhoeven, S., McGeoch, M. A., Bacher, S., Galil, B. S., Genovesi, P., Hulme, P. E., Ikeda, T., Lenzner, B., Nuñez, M. A., Ordonez, A., Pauchard, A., Rahlao, S. J., Renard Truong, T., Roy, H. E., Sankaran, K. V., Seebens, H., Sheppard, A. W., Stoett, P., & 3 others , Mar 2024, In: Biological Invasions. 26, 3, p. 621-626 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › Other › peer-review
Open Access9 Citations (Scopus) -
A global biodiversity observing system to unite monitoring and guide action
Gonzalez, A., Vihervaara, P., Balvanera, P., Bates, A. E., Bayraktarov, E., Bellingham, P. J., Bruder, A., Campbell, J., Catchen, M. D., Cavender-Bares, J., Chase, J., Coops, N., Costello, M. J., Czúcz, B., Delavaud, A., Dornelas, M., Dubois, G., Duffy, E. J., Eggermont, H., Fernandez, M., & 71 others , Dec 2023, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 7, 12, p. 1947-1952 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
45 Citations (Scopus) -
B-Cubed: Leveraging Analysis-Ready Biodiversity Datasets and Cloud Computing for Timely and Actionable Biodiversity Monitoring
Groom, Q. J., Abraham, L., Adriaens, T., Breugelmans, L., Clarke, D. A., Fernández, M. A., Hendrickx, L., Hui, C., Kumschick, S., Martini, M., McGeoch, M. A., Metodiev, T., Miller, J., Oldoni, D., Pereira, H. M., Preda, C., Robertson, T., Rocchini, D., Seebens, H., Teixeira, H., & 5 others , Aug 2023, In: Biodiversity Information Science and Standards. 7, 3 p., e110734.Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting Abstract
Open Access -
Introduced and invasive alien species of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean Islands
Leihy, R. I., Peake, L., Clarke, D. A., Chown, S. L. & McGeoch, M. A., 11 Apr 2023, In: Scientific Data. 10, 1, 200.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access11 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Australian Ecology Research Award
McGeoch, Melodie (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Faculty of Science Award for Research Impact
McGeoch, Melodie (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Monash Nature Positive Network Webinar Series: A Nature Positive Australia - Why does it matter and how do we get there?
Anita Foerster (Organiser), Ella Vines (Organiser), Liam Smith (Speaker), Melodie McGeoch (Speaker), Gerry Nagtzaam (Speaker), Saxbee Affleck (Speaker), Liam Walsh (Speaker), Stefan Kaufman (Speaker) & Nga Pham (Speaker)
30 Sept 2024 → 2 Oct 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) (External organisation)
Melodie McGeoch (Member)
2017 → …Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of an advisory panel/policy group/ board
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Atlas of Living Australia (External organisation)
Melodie McGeoch (Member)
2017 → …Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of an advisory panel/policy group/ board
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IUCN - Invasive Species Specialist Group (External organisation)
Melodie McGeoch (Member)
2010 → …Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of an advisory panel/policy group/ board
Press/Media
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A nature positive Australia: What does it mean, why does it matter, and what will it take?
Anita Foerster, Melodie McGeoch & Liam Smith
24/09/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature