Associate ProfessorRobyn Hetem

My research explores how animals cope with living in a warming and increasingly unpredictable world. I am particularly interested in how long-lived mammals and other wildlife adjust their physiology and behaviour to deal with confounding effects of heat, food and water scarcity, and environmental stress, and what this means for their survival as climates change.  

By studying animals in their natural habitats, I look at how behaviour and body processes work together to help them stay cool, conserve water and energy, and maintain health under challenging conditions. This research helps us understand which species are most vulnerable to rising temperatures and habitat change, and why.  

Ultimately, my work aims to provide practical knowledge that can support wildlife conservation and management.  

By uncovering how animals respond to environmental extremes, I hope to help inform better decisions about protecting biodiversity in a changing climate.