The Ecology and Conservation Group
Marleen Baling

INTERESTS

My current position aims to provide support, advice and training to postgraduate students and academic staff in both field and laboratory (molecular) work. I have strong skills in survey, capture, handle and taking samples in both wild birds and reptiles. However my passion is for New Zealand reptiles. I have worked on a variety of reptile species, both endangered and (relatively) common, and is interested in their ecology and conservation. I am currently working on colour morphology of the shore skink (Oligosoma smithi) in Hauraki Gulf.

FUNDING BODIES

• Motuora Restoration Society
• Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc
• JS Watson Trust - Forest and Bird

PUBLICATIONS / REPORTS

Baling M, Jeffries D, Barré N & Brunton DH 2009. A survey of fairy tern (Sterna nereis) breeding colonies in the Southern Lagoon, New Caledonia. Emu 109 (1): 57-61. (cover photo)

Baling M, Brunton DH & Jeffries D 2008. Marine and coastal bird survey of islands in the Southern Lagoon, New Caledonia. Notornis 55: 111-113.

Baling M, Ji W & Brunton DH 2007. Categorising shore skink (Oligosoma smithi) colour patterns at Tawharanui Regional Park (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34 (3): 259.

Ji W, Baling M, Barry M, van Winkel D, Wedding C, Barr B & Brunton DH 2007. Translocation of Duvaucel's gecko and shore skinks to Tiritiri Matangi Island, Motuora Island and Massey University captive breeding facility (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34 (3): 264-265.

Baling M & Dianne Brunton 2005. Conservation genetics of the New Zealand fairy tern (Sterna nereis davisae). Unpublished report to the Department of Conservation, New Zealand. 32 p.

Baling M 2004. Microhabitat use by the endangered chevron skink (Oligosoma homalonotum) in captivity: Applications to the wild (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 31: 91 -111.

Baling M 2004. Population genetic structure of the ornate (Cyclodina ornata) and copper (C. aenea) skinks on Great Barrier Island: Applications to the endangered chevron skinks (Oligosoma homalonotum)(Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 31: 91 -111.

Baling M 2003. The habitat use, behaviour, and population genetic structure of the chevron skink (Oligosoma homalonotum). Unpublished MSc Thesis. The University of Auckland, New Zealand. |Abstract (PDF, 70 KB)|

CONFERENCES ATTENDED

2009 - Annual meeting of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour, Auckland, New Zealand.
Organising committee

2009 - Second Meeting of the Australasian Herpetologists (SRARNZ & ASH), Auckland, New Zealand.
Organising committee

2008 - Annual conference of the New Zealand Ecological Society, Auckland, New Zealand.
Baling M, Gartrell B, Weihong J & Brunton DH. Disease-screening in New Zealand reptiles: Importance in translocations.

2007 - Australian Society for Herpetologists Conference, Albany, Western Australia.
Baling M. Post-translocation monitoring of shore skink (Oligosoma smithi) on two islands in New Zealand: Dispersal, habitat use and capture rates. |Abstract (PDF, 72KB)|

2007 - Conserv-Vision: The next 50 years (Celebrating 20 years of Department of Conservation) in Hamilton, New Zealand.

2007 - Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand Biennial Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Baling M, Weihong J & Brunton DH 2007. Categorising shore skink (Oligosoma smithi) colour patterns at Tawharanui Regional Park. |Abstract (PDF, 74KB)|
Ji W, Baling M, Barry M, Wedding C, van Winkel D, Barr B, Brunton DH 2007. Translocation of Duvaucel’s geckos and shore skinks to Tiritiri Matangi Island, Motuora Island and Massey Captive Breeding Facility.
|Abstract (PDF, 53KB) |Poster (PDF, 1.4 MB)|

2006 - The Joint Conference of the NZ Ecological Society and the Ecological Society of Australia, Wellington, New Zealand.
Baling M & Brunton DH 2005. New Zealand fairy tern: Endangered or common? |Abstract (PDF, 79KB)|

2005 - Society for Conservation Biology Meeting, Brasilia, Brazil.
Baling M & Brunton D 2005. The New Zealand fairy tern (Sterna nereis davisae): Endangered or common? Preliminary analysis using mtDNA. |Abstract (PDF, 50.6KB)|

2005 - ASH, SRARNZ & FiSH Conference, Springbrook, Australia. (joint conference of Australian Society of Herpetologists, Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand & Fijian Society of Herpetologists)

2003 - New Zealand Ecological Society, Auckland, New Zealand.
Baling M & Brunton D 2003. Habits and habitats: Study of captive chevron skinks. |Abstract (PDF, 42.5KB)|

2003 - 10th Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand, Whakatane, New Zealand.
Baling M 2003. Microhabitat use of the chevron skink (Oligosoma homalonotum) in captivity: Applications to the wild.
|Abstract (PDF, 55.2KB)|
Baling M 2003. Determining the population genetic structure of the ornate and copper skinks: Application to the endangered chevron skink. |Abstract (PDF, 56.9KB)|

2002 - Ecology Conference (New Zealand Ecological Society & Ecological Society Australia), Cairns, New Zealand.
Baling M 2002. Microhabitat use of the chevron skink (Oligosoma homalonotum) in captivity: Applications to the wild. |Abstract (PDF, 52.6KB)|

2001 - New Zealand Ecological Society, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Baling M 2001. Microhabitat and distribution of the chevron skink (Oligosoma homalonotum) on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand.

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