A5020220953- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Seed Germination and Physiology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Plant and animal studies
- Plant responses to water stress
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Allelopathy and phytotoxic interactions
- Plant Ecology and Soil Science
- Global Energy and Sustainability Research
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Seedling growth and survival studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Environmental Philosophy and Ethics
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
The University of Western Australia
2016-2025
The King's College
2018-2024
The University of Adelaide
2024
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
2016-2019
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
2019
Iron Ore Company (Canada)
2019
Summary Trait‐based approaches have improved our understanding of plant evolution, community assembly and ecosystem functioning. A major challenge for the upcoming decades is to understand functions evolution early life‐history traits, across levels organization ecological strategies. Although a variety seed traits are critical dispersal, persistence, germination timing seedling establishment, only mass has been considered systematically. Here we suggest broadening range morphological,...
Abstract Demand for restoration of resilient, self‐sustaining, and biodiverse natural ecosystems as a conservation measure is increasing globally; however, efforts frequently fail to meet standards appropriate this objective. Achieving these requires management underpinned by input from diverse scientific disciplines including ecology, biotechnology, engineering, soil science, ecophysiology, genetics. Despite research activity, gap between the immediate needs practitioners outputs science...
The use of native plant seeds is fundamental to large-scale rehabilitation and the re-establishment self-sustaining ecosystems after high-impact mining activity has ceased. However, many biological attributes are often overlooked in programs. Multi-disciplinary, long-term research collaborations required improve seed-based mine rehabilitation. In this paper, we review steps that BHP Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO), a large iron ore company operates Pilbara bioregion north-west Australia,...
Summary Demographic recruitment processes, such as seed germination and seedling emergence, are critical transitional phases to the re‐establishment of degraded plant populations, but often fail due rainfall not supporting requirements. Using species from widespread arid Australian perennial grass genus Triodia , we investigated interactions seeds in different dormancy states their functional envelope response water stress after simulated pulse events. Seed was alleviated varying degrees by...
Seeds are a primary source for generating plants large-scale restoration and understanding the requirements seed germination establishment is fundamental to ecological restoration. Seed traits central defining niche identifying that may limit seedling provides insights into how seeds interact with abiotic environment soil substrates specific each site informs management practices. In this paper we review trait data derived from research improve practice across diverse ecosystems within...
Abstract Many countries have legislation intended to limit or offset the impact of anthropogenic disturbance and development on threatened plants. Translocations are often integral those mitigation policies. When translocation is used exclusively mitigate impacts, it termed a ‘mitigation translocation.’ However, both terminology processes vary regarding interpretation application, resulting in inconsistent standards, leading poorly planned implemented projects. These projects rarely achieve...
ABSTRACT Alongside gradual changes in climate, extreme events such as droughts and heatwaves have increased frequency globally. Together, chronic change been linked to forest die‐off, well larger, more severe wildfires. Increased disturbance inevitably increases the likelihood of compounding effects, highlighting importance understanding responses recovery. This study investigated physiological characteristics dominant canopy tree species, Eucalyptus marginata , on sites affected by a...
Energetics is considered a fundamental ‘currency’ of ecology and the way that metabolic rate (MR)—the energy expenditure on biological processes—scales relative to size organism can be both an adaptive benefit constraint in mediating energetic demands ecological processes. Since few investigations have examined this relationship for angiosperm seeds, we measured standard (SMR) 108 species’ spanning broad suite species. We used fluorescence-based closed-system respirometry at temperatures...
Grasslands across the globe are undergoing expansive degradation due to human impacts and climate change. If restoration of degraded native grassland is be achieved at scale now required, cost-effective means for seed-based establishment grass species crucial. However, seeds present numerous challenges associated with handling germination performance that must overcome improve efficiency seeding. Previous research has demonstrated complete removal palea lemma (husk) maximises performance,...
Seed germination traits are key drivers of population dynamics, yet they under-represented in community ecology studies, which have predominately focussed on adult plant and seed morphological traits. We studied the strategy eight woody species to investigate regeneration strategies arid zone eastern Australia. To cope with stochastic minimal rainfall, we predict that seeds will either rapid across a wide range temperatures, improved under cooler or dormancy and/or longevity delay stagger...
Abstract Recruitment for many arid‐zone plant species is expected to be impacted by the projected increase in soil temperature and prolonged droughts associated with global climate change. As seed dormancy considered a strategy avoid unfavorable conditions, understanding mechanisms underpinning vulnerability these factors critical recruitment intact communities, as well restoration efforts arid ecosystems. This study determined effects of water stress on processes six grass genus Triodia...
Context In ecosystems where rainfall is episodic or highly seasonal, plant recruitment from a soil-stored seed bank occurs during periods of elevated soil moisture conducive to germination and seedling establishment. The release dormancy in response environmental conditions has significant consequences for the temperature window over which occurs, as such timing can vary between years. Aims We aimed understand seeds two species Rutaceae, Diplolaena dampieri Rhadinothamnus anceps, how loss...
Regeneration dynamics in many arid zone grass species are regulated by innate seed dormancy mechanisms and environmental cues (temperature, moisture fire) that result infrequent germination following rainfall. This study investigated bet-hedging strategies associated with Triodia from north-west Australia, assessing (1) the effects of mechanical restriction imposed indehiscent floral bracts (i.e. floret) covering (2) impact alleviation on florets cleaned seeds removed) when germinated under...
Abstract Restoration of degraded arid and semi‐arid land faces the challenge reinstating vegetation communities exposed to limited variable rainfall events that in combination with a deficit original topsoil may exceed thresholds for seedling development. In series glasshouse experiments, we evaluated variation drought responses (i) 21 zone plant species from mining intensive Pilbara region Western Australia an substrate (ii) four selected ( Acacia inaequilatera , spondylophylla Eucalyptus...
Abstract Water availability is a critical driver of population dynamics in arid zones, and plant recruitment typically episodic response to rainfall. Understanding species’ germination thresholds key for conservation restoration initiatives. Thus, we investigated the role water traits keystone species an ecosystem with stochastic We measured seed responses five species, along gradients temperature potential under controlled laboratory conditions. then identified cardinal temperatures base...
As human activities destroy and degrade the world's ecosystems at unprecedented scales, there is a growing need for evidence‐based methods ecological restoration if we are to preserve biodiversity ecosystem services. Mining represents one of most severe anthropogenic disturbances, often necessitating intensive intervention restore basic attributes native ecosystems. Despite examples successful mine‐site restoration, re‐establishing vegetation in these degraded landscapes remains significant...
Abstract Short‐range endemic plants often have edaphic specializations that, with their restricted distributions, expose them to increased risk of anthropogenic extinction. Here, we present a modeling approach understand habitat suitability for Ricinocarpos brevis R.J.F.Hend. & Mollemans (Euphorbiaceae), threatened shrub confined three isolated populations in the semi‐arid south‐west Western Australia. The model is maximum entropy species distribution projection constructed on basis...
Translocation of threatened species is challenging in semiarid environments, especially when seeds are the principal means situ establishment. Worldwide, overall success translocations using highly variable and generally unpredictable. Most seed-based embarked upon with limited understanding species’ seed biology or nuances local abiotic environment which to guide restoration approaches. For instance, within Australia just 14% use directly sown consequently, improve chances success, both...
The incorporation of conservation physiology into environmental management, particularly ecological restoration, is underutilized, despite the capacity such approaches to discern how populations respond challenges unpredictable and potentially inhospitable environments. We explore several examples where detailed mechanistic understanding physiological constraints keystone foundational species, service providers as insect pollinators, species concern has been used optimize return these...
Seed germination responses for most narrow-range endemic species are poorly understood, imperilling their conservation management in the face of warming and drying terrestrial ecosystems. We quantified realized microclimatic niches hydrothermal thresholds four threatened taxa (
Ascertaining the traits important for acclimation and adaptation is a critical first step to predicting fate of populations species facing rapid environmental change. One primary challenges in trait-based ecology understanding patterns processes underpinning functional trait variation plants. Studying intraspecific across latitudinal gradients offers an excellent
Dynamic processes of seed germination, influenced by niche–climate interactions, underpin successful seedling establishment. For threatened species with niches restricted to specific landforms, such as Banded Ironstone Formations (BIF), understanding germination opportunities in relation long-term rainfall patterns can be critical for management. We quantified profiles (germinating fraction and speed varying dormancy states) from six taxonomically diverse that are endemic BIF Western...