A5042735197- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Landslides and related hazards
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Forest Management and Policy
- Forest ecology and management
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
Charles Darwin University
2016-2025
The University of Western Australia
2025
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2023
University of Tasmania
2009-2020
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
2020
Agriculture and Food
2020
Western Sydney University
2020
CSIRO Land and Water
2020
Australian National University
2020
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
2020
Abstract The 2019/20 Black Summer bushfire disaster in southeast Australia was unprecedented: the extensive area of forest burnt, radiative power fires, and extraordinary number fires that developed into extreme pyroconvective events were all unmatched historical record. Australia’s hottest driest year on record, 2019, characterised by exceptionally dry fuel loads primed landscape to burn when exposed dangerous fire weather ignition. combination climate variability long-term trends generated...
Abstract Aim Comparative analyses of fire regimes at large geographical scales can potentially identify ecological and climatic controls fire. Here we describe A ustralia's broad regimes, explore interrelationships trade‐offs between regime components. We postulate that patterns will be governed by moisture, productivity, frequency intensity. Location Australia. Methods reclassified a vegetation map ustralia, defining classes based on typical fuel types. Classes were intersected with climate...
Abstract Obligate seeder trees requiring high‐severity fires to regenerate may be vulnerable population collapse if fire frequency increases abruptly. We tested this proposition using a long‐lived obligate seeding forest tree, alpine ash ( Eucalyptus delegatensis ), in the Australian Alps. Since 2002, 85% of Alps bioregion has been burnt by several very large fires, tracking regional trend more frequent extreme weather. High‐severity removed 25% aboveground tree biomass, and switched fuel...
Although biomass burning of savannas is recognised as a major global source greenhouse gas emissions, quantification remains problematic with resulting regional emissions estimates often differing markedly. Here we undertake critical assessment Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) savanna methodology. We describe the methodology developed for, and results associated uncertainties derived from, landscape-scale abatement project in fire-prone western Arnhem Land, northern...
To recruit to reproductive size in fire-prone savannas, juvenile trees must avoid stem mortality (topkill) by fire. Theory suggests they either grow tall, raising apical buds above the flames, or wide, buffering from However, growing tall wide is of no advantage without protection In Litchfield National Park, northern Australia, we explored importance bark thickness survival following fire a eucalypt-dominated tropical savanna. We measured thickness, prefire height, diameter and resprouting...
For decades, there has been enormous scientific interest in tropical savannahs and grasslands, fuelled by the recognition that they are a dynamic potentially unstable biome, requiring periodic disturbance for their maintenance. However, not translated into widespread appreciation of, concern about threats to, biodiversity. In terms of biodiversity, grassy biomes considered poor cousins other dominant biome tropics—forests. Simple notions being species-poor cannot be supported; some key taxa,...
Aim To test the hypothesis that 'islands' of fire-sensitive rain forest are restricted to topographic fire refugia and investigate role topography–fire interactions in fire-mediated alternative stable state models. Location A vegetation mosaic moorland, sclerophyll scrub, wet eucalypt rugged, fire-prone landscapes south-west Tasmania, Australia. Methods We used geospatial statistics to: (1) identify determinants distribution on nutrient-poor substrates, (2) variables important controlling...
Abstract Despite the challenges wildland fire poses to contemporary resource management, many fire‐prone ecosystems have adapted over centuries millennia intentional landscape burning by people maintain resources. We combine fieldwork, modeling, and a literature survey examine extent mechanism which anthropogenic alters spatial grain of habitat mosaics in ecosystems. distribution C allitris intratropica , conifer requiring long fire‐free intervals for establishment, as an indicator...
Abstract. The seasonal climate drivers of the carbon cycle in tropical forests remain poorly known, although these account for more assimilation and storage than any other terrestrial ecosystem. Based on a unique combination pan-tropical data sets from 89 experimental sites (68 include aboveground wood productivity measurements 35 litter measurements), their associated canopy photosynthetic capacity (enhanced vegetation index, EVI) climate, we ask how allocation are related to seasonality...
Small mammal (<2 kg) numbers have declined dramatically in northern Australia recent decades. Fire regimes, characterised by frequent, extensive, late-season wildfires, are implicated this decline. Here, we compare the effect of fire extent, conjunction with frequency, season and spatial heterogeneity (patchiness) burnt area, on declines Kakadu National Park over a decadal period. extent – an index incorporating size frequency was best predictor declines, superior to proportion...
A critical step towards reducing the incidence of extinction is to identify and rank species at highest risk, while implementing protective measures reduce risk such species. Existing global processes provide a graded categorisation risk. Here we seek extend complement those focus more narrowly on likelihood most imperilled Australian birds mammals. We considered an extension existing IUCN NatureServe criteria, used expert elicitation species, assuming current management. On basis these...
Context Feral cats (Felis catus) are a threat to biodiversity globally, but their impacts upon continental reptile faunas have been poorly resolved. Aims To estimate the number of reptiles killed annually in Australia by and list Australian species known be cats. Methods We used (1) data from >80 studies cat diet (collectively >10 000 samples), (2) estimates feral population size, model map Key results Australia’s natural environments kill 466 million yr–1 (95% CI; 271–1006 million)....
Recent studies at some sites in northern Australia have reported severe and rapid decline of native mammal species, notwithstanding an environmental context (small human population size, limited habitat loss, substantial reservation extent) that should provide relative conservation security. All the more speciose taxonomic groups mammals species for which status has been assessed as threatened, with 53% dasyurid, 46% macropod potoroid, 33% bandicoot bilby, possum, 31% rodent, 24% bat being...
Carbon markets afford potentially useful opportunities for supporting socially and environmentally sustainable land management programs but, to date, have been little applied in globally significant fire-prone savanna settings. While fire is intrinsic regulating the composition, structure dynamics of systems, north Australian savannas frequent extensive late dry season wildfires incur environmental, production social impacts. Here we assess potential market-based burning greenhouse gas...
Research and management attention on the impacts of introduced domestic cat (Felis catus) Australian fauna have focussed mainly feral population. Here, we summarise evidence for predation by pet cats wildlife. We collate examples local wildlife population decline extirpation as a result, at least in part, cats. assemble information across 66 studies worldwide (including 24 studies) to estimate toll Australia, plus pressure per unit area residential areas. compared these estimates those...