Claire Foster

Claire Foster is a Research Fellow at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University (ANU). Her work focuses on ecological disturbances, particularly the interactions between herbivory and fire in shaping ecosystem structure and conservation outcomes. She has held significant fellowships, including the ARC DECRA Fellowship and an Endeavour Research Fellowship at Sweden's University of Agricultural Sciences.

She holds a PhD from ANU and a BSc (Hons) from the University of Western Australia (UWA). Her research interests include fire regimes, forest dynamics, and bushfire recovery, with a strong emphasis on how species interactions influence biodiversity in Australian environments. Recent studies explore topics like reptile conservation in agricultural landscapes and the long-term effects of fire history on forest fuel characteristics.

Her scientific contributions span over 49 publications, with 2024 marking her most active year. Key projects include investigating herbivore impacts on forest recovery and developing strategies for managing fire-prone ecosystems. Collaborations frequently involve institutions like ANU and environmental agencies in Australia, reflecting her focus on applied ecological conservation.

Claire's work bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges in managing unexplained species declines and integrating decision triggers in conservation monitoring. She is actively involved in projects such as 'Kangaroos, feral herbivores and bushfires: Consequences for forest dynamics' (2022–2028), emphasizing ecosystem resilience and disturbance interactions.