Biography
I studied zoology at the University of Melbourne and Monash University (1990-1994) before undertaking a Master of Environmental Studies at the University of Melbourne (1996-1998). I worked for some time in the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment on a variety of forestry research projects before beginning a PhD, again at the University of Melbourne, investigating space use and resource selection by swamp wallabies in a landscape modified by timber harvesting (2003-2007). I am currently a member of the Fire Ecology and Management research group in the School of Forest and Ecosystem Science.
Primarily, I am interested in the role of disturbance on ecosystem function and processes, particularly with respect to animals and the way they interact with their surroundings. My recent research has focused on changes to forest structure resulting from timber harvesting, and the effect this has on the behaviour of swamp wallabies.
Currently, I am working on a project investigating the impact of fire management strategies on biodiversity and associated ecosystem processes in the heathy woodlands of western Victoria. My focus is determining habitat characteristics important to a community of small mammals, and using these data to inform future fire regimes.
A secondary research interest is the way data are collected, analysed and presented. I am particularly interested in the development of protocols that ensure monitoring programs are statistically defensible, and the continuing debate about the use of statistical null hypothesis testing as the predominant analytical paradigm in ecology.
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards
Qualifications
| Title | Institution | Date Awarded | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Environmentsl Studies | University of Melbourne | 27-May-1999 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy | University of Melbourne |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
- Applied Statistics (STATISTICS) (230204)
- Terrestrial Ecology (ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION) (270703)
- Conservation and Biodiversity (ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION) (270708)
- Management and Environment (FORESTRY SCIENCES) (300604)
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
- Native forests (FORESTRY) (620301)
- Land and water management (FOREST AND WOODED LANDS) (770702)
- Control of pests and exotic species (FOREST AND WOODED LANDS) (770704)
- Rehabilitation/reafforestation (FOREST AND WOODED LANDS) (770707)
- Biological sciences (NON-ORIENTED RESEARCH) (780105)
- Other (NON-ORIENTED RESEARCH) (780199)
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Grants
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Scheme | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactions between native forest timber harvesting, wildfire and swamp wallabies, Wallabia bicolor | Chief Investigator | ANZ EXECUTORS AND TRUSTEE COMPANY LTD | Postgraduate Student Research Grants (HOLSWORTH WILDLIFE RESEARCH FUND) | 05/11/2004 |
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.