Draft:Ashley Bunce

• Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Kaelibreece (talk) 04:24, 1 January 2026 (UTC)

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Ashley Bunce is an Australian conservation scientist whose research has focused on seabird ecology, particularly the Australasian gannet (*Morus serrator*). He is known for peer-reviewed studies on seabird diet, population trends, and foraging energetics, and for later senior public service roles applying ecological science to wildlife management, animal welfare regulation, and biosecurity in Australia.

Early life and education

Bunce completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a Doctor of Philosophy in zoology at the University of Melbourne. His doctoral research examined seabird ecology and formed the basis of subsequent work on gannet feeding behaviour and population dynamics. He later completed an Executive Master of Public Administration through the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

Research career

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bunce held academic and research appointments at Australian universities, including Deakin University. His research during this period focused on the ecology of the Australasian gannet.

In 2001, Bunce published a study in the ICES Journal of Marine Science quantifying prey consumption by breeding Australasian gannets in Port Phillip Bay and identifying overlap between gannet foraging and commercial fisheries.

A subsequent study published in Marine Biology (2002) documented long-term increases in the Australasian gannet population in Australian waters and examined potential drivers, including climate variability and fisheries practices.

Bunce later co-authored research on seabird foraging energetics, including a 2010 study published in Endangered Species Research that examined the energetic costs of plunge-diving in gannets using bio-logging techniques. The study found that while plunge-diving is energetically costly, it is offset by high prey capture efficiency.

Conservation and public service

From the mid-2000s, Bunce transitioned from academic research into applied conservation and public service roles within Australian environmental and agricultural agencies.

Between 2015 and 2018, Bunce served as Chief Inspector of Stock and Director of Animal Biosecurity and Welfare in Queensland.

In 2016, Bunce was quoted in national media as director of the Biosecurity Queensland response to a varroa mite (*Varroa destructor*) incursion affecting honeybee populations in north Queensland, describing expanded surveillance and containment measures following detections of the pest.

He also addressed beekeepers on response strategies during community briefings, as reported by ABC News.

Further national coverage described the investigative techniques used in the eradication effort and the broader risk posed by varroa mites to pollination-dependent agriculture.

In 2016, Bunce provided evidence during the legislative process for the Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, appearing before a Queensland Parliamentary committee in his capacity as a senior departmental officer.

The bill he briefed on was subsequently enacted as the Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2016, amending the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 to introduce strengthened breeder registration and identification requirements.

Bunce has served as a member of Queensland’s Species Technical Committee, an expert advisory committee that provides recommendations on the listing and delisting of species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Other roles

Bunce serves on the board of the animal welfare charity Vets Beyond Borders, where he holds the position of Director and Treasurer.

He also serves on the Victorian Committee of the Pinnacle Foundation, an Australian charity supporting LGBTQI+ students and professionals.

Awards and recognition

In 2008, Bunce received a Natural Resource Management Mentor Award for contributions to mentoring and applied conservation work.

Selected publications

• Bunce, A. (2001). Prey consumption of Australasian gannets (Morus serrator) breeding in Port Phillip Bay, southeast Australia, and potential overlap with commercial fisheries. ICES Journal of Marine Science.
• Bunce, A., Norman, F. I., Brothers, N., & Gales, R. (2002). Long-term trends in the Australasian gannet (Morus serrator) population in Australia. Marine Biology.
• Green, J. A., White, C. R., Bunce, A., Frappell, P. B., & Butler, P. J. (2010). Energetic consequences of plunge diving in gannets. Endangered Species Research.