Clare McArthur

Clare McArthur is a Professor in the BIO department at The University of Sydney. Her research interests include behavioural ecology, terrestrial ecology, invertebrate biology, animal behaviour, comparative physiology, population ecology, biosecurity science and invasive species ecology, animal physiological ecology, ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation, and ecology. She leads the McArthur Behavioural Ecology Lab and has worked with various mammals such as possums, wallabies, pademelons, deer, and elephants in different regions.

Clare McArthur's research focuses on behavioural ecology, particularly plant-herbivore interactions, predation risk, and mammalian herbivores. Her work explores how plant secondary metabolites influence herbivore physiology and foraging strategies, with a focus on tannins, phenolics, and their ecological implications. She investigates the effects of plant chemistry on digestion, nutrient acquisition, and herbivore dietary selection, as well as the role of leaf traits in plant-herbivore dynamics. Her studies also address the impacts of environmental stressors, such as photoinhibition and particulate matter, on plant chemistry and herbivory. McArthur's research provides insights into the ecological and evolutionary drivers of plant-herbivore interactions and the physiological adaptations of mammalian herbivores.