David A. Westcott

David A. Westcott is a researcher at James Cook University, specializing in ecology, conservation biology, and tropical ecosystems. His work focuses on animal behavior, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity conservation, with particular emphasis on flying-foxes, crown-of-thorns starfish, and pollination dynamics. He has contributed to studies on the Great Barrier Reef, the Wet Tropics, and tropical dry forests, addressing threats like habitat loss and invasive species.

Key research interests include ecological modeling, climate change impacts, and disease dynamics in wildlife. He has collaborated on projects assessing mitigation strategies for crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and developing frameworks for sustainable landscape management. His interdisciplinary approach integrates field studies with technological tools like acoustic monitoring for wildlife surveillance.

Westcott has authored reports for the National Environmental Research Program and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, emphasizing applied conservation solutions. His work bridges ecological theory and practical management, with contributions to both peer-reviewed journals and policy-oriented publications.