A5033793363- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Plant and animal studies
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Seed Germination and Physiology
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Forest ecology and management
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Landslides and related hazards
- Plant Reproductive Biology
The University of Western Australia
2016-2025
The University of Adelaide
2024
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
2018-2023
The King's College
2018-2020
Meertens Institute
2019
University of Washington
2019
Curtin University
2003-2018
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
2008-2017
University of Manitoba
2014
University of Auckland
2013
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,...
Summary Changing disturbance–climate interactions will drive shifts in plant communities: these effects are not adequately quantified by environmental niche models used to predict future species distributions. We the of more frequent fire and lower rainfall – as projected occur under a warming drying climate on population responses shrub biodiverse M editerranean‐climate type shrublands near E neabba, southwestern A ustralia. Using experimental fires, we measured density all for four...
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...
Heat waves have profoundly impacted biota globally over the past decade, especially where their ecological impacts are rapid, diverse, and broad-scale. Although usually considered in isolation for either terrestrial or marine ecosystems, heat can straddle ecosystems of both types at subcontinental scales, potentially impacting larger areas taxonomic breadth than previously envisioned. Using climatic multi-species demographic data collected Western Australia, we show that a massive wave event...
Abstract. The efficiency of four nonparametric species richness estimators — first‐order Jackknife, second‐order Chao2 and Bootstrap was tested using simulated quadrat sampling two field data sets (a sandy ‘Dune’ adjacent ‘Swale’) in high diversity shrublands (kwongan) south‐western Australia. each comprised > 100 perennial plant 10 000 individuals, the explicit ( x‐y co‐ordinate) location every individual. We applied strategies to these based on quadrats unit sizes 1/400th 1/100th total...
Abstract There is currently a poor understanding of the nature and extent long‐distance seed dispersal, largely due to inherent difficulty detection. New statistical approaches molecular markers offer potential accurately address this issue. A log‐likelihood population allocation test ( aflpop ) was applied plant metapopulation characterize interpopulation dispersal. Banksia hookeriana fire‐killed shrub, restricted sandy dune crests in fire‐prone shrublands Eneabba sandplain, southwest...
Putative hybrids between Banksia hookeriana and B. prionotes were identified among 12 of 106 populations located at or near anthropogenically disturbed sites, mainly roadways, but none in 156 undisturbed populations. Morphometrics AFLP markers confirmed that a hybrid swarm existed selected habitat, whereas no intermediates present where the two species co-occurred vegetation. Individuals both habitats sites more vigorous, with greater size flower heads than their counterparts These fecund...
Abstract Fire has long shaped biological responses of plants and plant communities in many ecosystems; yet, uncontrolled wildfire frequently puts people infrastructure at risk. Fuel or hazard reduction burning outside the historic fire season is a common widespread practice aimed reducing risk high‐severity fires, which ideally also considers biodiversity values. Within fire‐prone systems, seed banks are critical for species’ regeneration, seeds typically adapted to survive passage...
Abstract Wildfires are increasing in size and severity fire seasons lengthening, largely driven by climate land-use change. Many plant species from fire-prone ecosystems adapted to specific regimes corresponding historical conditions shifts beyond these bounds may have severe impacts on vegetation recovery long-term persistence. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis of field-based studies across different types regions investigate how post-fire recruitment, reproduction survival affected fires...
Abstract Aim Megafire events generate immediate concern for wildlife and human well‐being, but their broader ecological impacts likely extend beyond individual species single fire events. In the first mechanistic study of effects focussed on ecosystems, we aimed to assess sensitivity exposure ecosystems multiple fire‐related threats, placing in context changing regimes interactions with other threats. Location Southern eastern Australia. Time period 2019–2020. Major studied Australian...
Abstract Many plant species in fire‐prone environments maintain persistence through fire via soil seedbanks. However, seeds stored within the are at risk of mortality from elevated temperatures during fire. Seeds may be protected fire‐temperature impacts by burial, however, those buried too deeply germinate but fail to emerge. Thus, successful post‐fire seed regeneration is contingent upon a trade‐off between burial depth and survival We examined relationships seedling emergence behaviour,...
Abstract Seed set, size, viability and germination requirements were investigated for two rare ( Acacia ausfeldii A. willianisonii ) three common pycnantha, genistifolia A.paradoxa co‐occurring congeners in box‐ironbark eucalypt forests near Bendigo, south‐east Australia to investigate correlates of rarity. size was significantly smaller the species germinants less able emerge from deeper sowing depths than larger seeded congeners. All had a strong heat‐stimulated response. While showed only...
The fire-prone shrublands of southwestern Australia are renowned for their high plant species diversity and prominence canopy seed storage (serotiny). We compared richness, abundance, life history attributes soil banks in relation to extant vegetation among four sites with different substrate conditions turnover (50–80%) identify whether this unusual community-level organization might contribute maintenance richness. Soil bank (SSB) densities were low moderate (233–1435 seeds/m2) other...
Abstract Question: The drivers of spatial patterning among plant species and the implications those patterns for structure function communities are ongoing interest debate. Here we explore shown by individual in species‐rich communities. We (1) compare levels aggregation these to observed other communities, particular tropical rain forests, (2) consider how abiotic conditions might influence observed. Location: describe four Mediterranean‐type shrubland near Eneabba, Western Australia. sites...
Summary Species diversity and genetic are fundamental components of biodiversity. A primary goal biodiversity studies is to explain the distribution species alleles in space time. new challenge cross discipline boundaries explore relationship between these two scales diversity. In biodiverse northern sandplain shrublands south‐western Australia, woody shrub Banksia attenuata occurs on patchily distributed sand dunes, coexists with B. hookeriana , menziesii small tree species, Eucalyptus...
Most commentary on Europe's economy focuses its precarious financial system and anemic employment recovery since the Great Recession. But Europe faces a challenge of equal or even greater magnitude that has received far less attention: lagging productivity. After long period during which was closing productivity gap with United States, 1995 widened steadily shows no signs narrowing. If is going to catch back up it must follow same path drove U.S. growth: more ubiquitous adoption — as...