ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2550-585X
Current Organisation
University of Melbourne
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Environmental Science and Management | Ecology | Population And Ecological Genetics | Wildlife And Habitat Management | Conservation | Population Ecology | Environmental Impact Assessment | Landscape Ecology | Landscape Ecology | Sociobiology And Behavioural Ecology | Conservation And Biodiversity | Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics | Freshwater Ecology
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Land and water management | Living resources (flora and fauna) | Urban and Industrial Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity | Urban and Industrial Water Management | Natural Hazards in Forest and Woodlands Environments | Natural Hazards in Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments | Civil | Living resources (flora and fauna) | Living resources (flora and fauna) | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales |
Related Links
Publications
Environmental and spatial variables influence the composition of frog assemblages in sub-tropical eastern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2004
Frog occupancy of polluted wetlands in urban landscapes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-11-2018
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.13210
Abstract: Urban sprawl and the rising popularity of water-sensitive urban design of urban landscapes has led to a global surge in the number of wetlands constructed to collect and treat stormwater runoff in cities. However, contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, in stormwater adversely affect the survival, growth, and reproduction of animals inhabiting these wetlands. A key question is whether wildlife can identify and avoid highly polluted wetlands. We investigated whether pond-breeding frogs are attempting to breed in wetlands that affect the fitness of their offspring across 67 urban wetlands in Melbourne, Australia. Frog species richness and the concentration of contaminants (heavy metals and pesticides) were not significantly related, even in the most polluted wetlands. The proportion of fringing vegetation at a wetland had the greatest positive influence on the number of frog species present and the probability of occurrence of in idual species, indicating that frogs inhabited wetlands with abundant vegetation, regardless of their pollution status. These wetlands contained contaminant levels similar to urban wetlands around the world at levels that reduce larval hibian survival. These results are, thus, likely generalizable to other areas, suggesting that urban managers could inadvertently be creating ecological traps in countless cities. Wetlands are important tools for the management of urban stormwater runoff, but their construction should not facilitate declines in wetland-dependent urban wildlife.
Limited genetic differentiation between acoustically divergent populations of urban and rural silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis)
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-06-2012
Designing occupancy surveys and interpreting non-detection when observations are imperfect
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-01-2012
Silvereyes decrease acoustic frequency but increase efficacy of alarm calls in urban noise
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2014
Local and landscape determinants of amphibian communities in urban ponds
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2011
DOI: 10.1890/10-0390.1
Abstract: Urbanization is currently responsible for widespread declines of hibian populations globally through the loss, isolation, and degradation of habitat. However, it is not clear how urbanization affects hibian communities at both local (pond) and landscape scales. We assessed the breeding distribution of frogs in ponds along an urban-rural gradient in Greater Melbourne, Australia, and examined community relationships with habitat quality and landscape context. We s led frog larvae at 65 ponds on four separate occasions and collected data on local pond and landscape variables. Using Bayesian Poisson regression modeling we found that species richness decreased at ponds surrounded by high densities of human residents and at ponds with high water conductivity, whereas species richness increased substantially at ponds surrounded by a high proportion of green open space. Ordination of in idual species presence-absence data by canonical correspondence analysis largely confirmed these findings. Ordination also highlighted the negative influences of pond shading and density of predatory fish, and the positive influence of aquatic vegetation, on community composition. In idual species' responses to urbanization varied. Urbanization had strong negative effects on species that were associated with well-vegetated, sunny, fish-free ponds. Our study highlights the importance of strategic management actions in urban landscapes to improve terrestrial habitat and connectivity around ponds and other wetlands, and local management actions to improve water quality, remove predatory fish, and plant aquatic vegetation at breeding sites.
Existing ecological theory applies to urban environments
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-06-2018
More bang for your buck: the effect of caller position, habitat and chorus noise on the efficiency of calling in the spring peeper
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2002
Urban ecological connectivity as a planning tool for different animal species
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 08-11-2022
DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.06.515356
Abstract: The application of ecological theory to urban planning is becoming more important as land managers focus on increasing urban bio ersity as a way to improve human welfare. City authorities must decide not only what types of bio ersity-focused infrastructure should be prioritized, but also where new resources should be positioned and existing resources protected or enhanced. Careful spatial planning can contribute to the successful return and conservation of urban nature by maximizing the contribution of green infrastructure to landscape connectivity. By using ecological connectivity theory as a planning tool, governments can quantify the effect of different interventions on the ease with which wildlife can move across the landscape. Here we outline an approach to a) quantify ecological connectivity for different urban wildlife species and b) use this to test different urban planning scenarios using QGIS. We demonstrate four extensions to the work by Deslaurier et al. (2018) and Spanowicz & Jaeger (2019) which improve the application of this method as a planning tool for local government: A step-by-step method for calculating effective mesh size using the open-source software QGIS. Conversion of the effective mesh size value ( m eff ) to a “probability of connectedness” ( P c , for easier interpretation by local government and comparisons between planning scenarios). Guidance for measuring species-specific connectivity, including how to decide what spatial information should be included and which types of species might be most responsive to connectivity planning. Advice for using the method to measure the outcome of different urban planning scenarios on ecological connectivity.
Reptiles in restored agricultural landscapes: The value of linear strips, patches and habitat condition
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-04-2014
DOI: 10.1111/ACV.12121
Integrating variability in detection probabilities when designing wildlife surveys: a case study of amphibians from south-eastern Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-12-2011
Habitat Fragmentation, Landscape Context, and Mammalian Assemblages in Southeastern Australia
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 18-08-2000
What influences the structure of frog assemblages at forest streams?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-1999
Genetic structure and diversity of the endangered growling grass frog in a rapidly urbanizing region
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 08-2015
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.140255
Abstract: Two pervasive and fundamental impacts of urbanization are the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats. From a genetic perspective, these impacts manifest as reduced genetic ersity and ultimately reduced genetic viability. The growling grass frog ( Litoria raniformis ) is listed as vulnerable to extinction in Australia, and endangered in the state of Victoria. Remaining populations of this species in and around the city of Melbourne are threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation due to urban expansion. We used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellites to study the genetic structure and ersity of L. raniformis across Melbourne's urban fringe, and also screened four nuclear gene regions (POMC, RAG-1, Rhod and CRYBA1). The mtDNA and nuclear DNA sequences revealed low levels of genetic ersity throughout remnant populations of L. raniformis . However, one of the four regions studied, Cardinia, exhibited relatively high genetic ersity and several unique haplotypes, suggesting this region should be recognized as a separate Management Unit. We discuss the implications of these results for the conservation of L. raniformis in urbanizing landscapes, particularly the potential risks and benefits of translocation, which remains a contentious management approach for this species.
Precision and bias of methods for estimating point survey detection probabilities
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2004
DOI: 10.1890/02-5166
Spatio-temporal changes in the structure of an australian frog hybrid zone: A 40-year perspective
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-06-2013
DOI: 10.1111/EVO.12140
Abstract: Spatio-temporal studies of hybrid zones provide an opportunity to test evolutionary hypotheses of hybrid zone maintenance and movement. We conducted a landscape genetics study on a classic hybrid zone of the south-eastern Australian frogs, Litoria ewingii and Litoria paraewingi. This hybrid zone has been comprehensively studied since the 1960s, providing the unique opportunity to directly assess changes in hybrid zone structure across time. We compared both mtDNA and male advertisement call data from two time periods (present and 1960s). Clinal analysis of the coincidence (same center) and concordance (same width) of these traits indicated that the center of the hybrid zone has shifted 1 km south over the last 40 years, although the width of the zone and the rate of introgression remained unchanged. The low frequency of hybrids, the strong concordance of clines within a time period, and the small but significant movement across the study period despite significant anthropogenic changes through the region, suggest the hybrid zone is a tension zone located within a low-density trough. Hybrid zone movement has not been considered common in the past but our findings highlight that it should be considered a crucial component to our understanding of evolution.
Towards a comparative ecology of cities and towns
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date: 25-06-2009
Supplementary Data from FGFR2c Mesenchymal Isoform Expression Is Associated with Poor Prognosis and Further Refines Risk Stratification within Endometrial Cancer Molecular Subtypes
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 31-03-2023
DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.22477944
Abstract: Supplementary method
Multiple Homozygous Variants in the STING-Encoding TMEM173 Gene in HIV Long-Term Nonprogressors
Publisher: The American Association of Immunologists
Date: 15-05-2018
Abstract: Among HIV-infected in iduals, long-term nonprogressor (LTNP) patients experience slow CD4 T cell decline and almost undetectable viral load for several years after primary acquisition of HIV. Type I IFN has been suggested to play a pathogenic role in HIV pathogenesis, and therefore diminished IFN responses may underlie the LTNP phenotype. In this study, we examined the presence and possible immunological role of multiple homozygous single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the stimulator of IFN genes (STING) encoding gene TMEM173 involved in IFN induction and T cell proliferation in HIV LTNP patients. We identified LTNPs through the Danish HIV Cohort and performed genetic analysis by Sanger sequencing, covering the R71H-G230A-R293Q (HAQ) single-nucleotide polymorphisms in TMEM173. This was followed by investigation of STING mRNA and protein accumulation as well as innate immune responses and proliferation following STING stimulation and infection with replication-competent HIV in human blood–derived cells. We identified G230A-R293Q/G230A-R293Q and HAQ/HAQ homozygous TMEM173 variants in 2 out of 11 LTNP patients. None of the 11 noncontrollers on antiretroviral treatment were homozygous for these variants. We found decreased innate immune responses to DNA and HIV as well as reduced STING-dependent inhibition of CD4 T cell proliferation, particularly in the HAQ/HAQ HIV LTNP patients, compared with the age- and gender-matched noncontrollers on antiretroviral treatment. These findings suggest that homozygous HAQ STING variants contribute to reduced inhibition of CD4 T cell proliferation and a reduced immune response toward DNA and HIV, which might result in reduced levels of constitutive IFN production. Consequently, the HAQ/HAQ TMEM173 genotype may contribute to the slower disease progression characteristic of LTNPs.
The value of question‐first citizen science in urban ecology and conservation
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-04-2023
DOI: 10.1111/CSP2.12917
Abstract: Citizen‐science projects focused on ecology and conservation have been growing in popularity in recent years, offering many opportunities for researchers and volunteers alike. Two principal approaches to citizen‐science projects in ecology can be characterized as the data‐first approach and the question‐first approach. Here, we highlight the value of question‐first citizen‐science projects for providing insights into the ecology and management of urban wildlife, using case studies on (1) beneficial insects (pollinators, predators and parasitoids) and (2) possums and gliders in Australian cities and towns. The question‐first approach has many benefits, offering a platform to engage volunteers with the scientific process and the broader context of an ecological or conservation problem, while also connecting them with their local environment. Identifying the questions to be addressed in a citizen‐science project ahead of data collection allows for co‐design and stronger collaboration with volunteers, community groups, local experts, and landscape managers. Question‐first citizen science can also provide valuable ecological data that extend substantially beyond presence‐only records, including presence‐absence data collected via timed surveys and information on animal behavior and interspecific interactions. However, establishing and maintaining question‐first citizen‐science projects can be challenging, requiring the building and maintenance of many relationships and a multidisciplinary approach that goes well beyond the usual activities of an academic researcher. Well‐designed, question‐first citizen science has the capacity to achieve both scientific rigor and meaningful engagement with volunteer participants.
Contaminant-induced behavioural changes in amphibians: A meta-analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2019.07.376
Abstract: Environmental contamination contributes to the threatened status of many hibian populations. Many contaminants alter behaviour at concentrations commonly experienced in the environment, with negative consequences for in idual fitness, populations and communities. A comprehensive, quantitative evaluation of the behavioural sensitivity of hibians is warranted to better understand the population-level and resultant ecological impacts of contaminants. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating behavioural changes following exposure to contaminants. Most studies were conducted in North America and Europe on larval stages, and 64% of the 116 studies focussed on the effects of insecticides. We found that a suite of contaminants influence a wide range of behaviours in hibians, with insecticides typically invoking the strongest responses. In particular, insecticides increased rates of abnormal swimming, and reduced escape responses to simulated predator attacks. Our analysis identified five key needs for future research, in particular the need: (1) for researchers to provide more details of experimental protocols and results (2) to develop a strong research base for future quantitative reviews, (3) to broaden the suite of contaminants tested, (4) to better study and thus understand the effects of multiple stressors, and (5) to establish the ecological importance of behavioural alterations. Behavioural endpoints provide useful sub-lethal indicators of how contaminants influence hibians, and coupled with standard ecotoxicological endpoints, can provide valuable information for population models assessing the broader ecological consequences of environmental contamination.
Understanding co-occurrence by modelling species simultaneously with a Joint Species Distribution Model (JSDM)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-2014
Planning for ex situ conservation in the face of uncertainty
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-12-2015
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.12613
Abstract: Ex situ conservation strategies for threatened species often require long-term commitment and financial investment to achieve management objectives. We present a framework that considers the decision to adopt ex situ management for a target species as the end point of several linked decisions. We used a decision tree to intuitively represent the logical sequence of decision making. The first decision is to identify the specific management actions most likely to achieve the fundamental objectives of the recovery plan, with or without the use of ex-situ populations. Once this decision has been made, one decides whether to establish an ex situ population, accounting for the probability of success in the initial phase of the recovery plan, for ex le, the probability of successful breeding in captivity. Approaching these decisions in the reverse order (attempting to establish an ex situ population before its purpose is clearly defined) can lead to a poor allocation of resources, because it may restrict the range of available decisions in the second stage. We applied our decision framework to the recovery program for the threatened spotted tree frog (Litoria spenceri) of southeastern Australia. Across a range of possible management actions, only those including ex situ management were expected to provide >50% probability of the species' persistence, but these actions cost more than use of in situ alternatives only. The expected benefits of ex situ actions were predicted to be offset by additional uncertainty and stochasticity associated with establishing and maintaining ex situ populations. Naïvely implementing ex situ conservation strategies can lead to inefficient management. Our framework may help managers explicitly evaluate objectives, management options, and the probability of success prior to establishing a captive colony of any given species.
Modest de novo Reactivation of Single HIV-1 Proviruses in Peripheral CD4+ T Cells by Romidepsin
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 10-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FVIRO.2021.736395
Abstract: A cure for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is restricted by the continued presence of a latent reservoir of memory CD4 + T cells with proviruses integrated into their DNA despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). A predominant strategy currently pursued in HIV-1 cure-related research is the “kick and kill” approach, where latency reversal agents (LRAs) are used to reactivate transcription from integrated proviruses. The premise of this approach is that “kicking” latent virus out of hiding allows the host immune system to recognize and kill infected cells. Clinical trials investigating the efficacy of LRAs, such as romidepsin, have shown that these interventions do induce transient spikes in viral RNA in HIV-1-infected in iduals. However, since these trials failed to significantly reduce viral reservoir size or significantly delay time to viral rebound during analytical treatment interruptions, it is questioned how much each in idual latent provirus is actually “kicked” to produce viral transcripts and/or proteins by the LRA. Here, we developed sensitive and specific digital droplet PCR-based assays with single-provirus level resolution. Combining these assays allowed us to interrogate the level of viral RNA transcripts from single proviruses in in iduals on suppressive ART with or without concomitant romidepsin treatment. Small numbers of proviruses in peripheral blood memory CD4 + T cells were triggered to become marginally transcriptionally active upon romidepsin treatment. These novel assays can be applied retrospectively and prospectively in HIV-1 cure-related clinical trials to gain crucial insights into LRA efficacy at the single provirus level.
The SAFE index should not be used for prioritization
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-2011
DOI: 10.1890/11.WB.027
TLR9 agonist MGN1703 enhances B cell differentiation and function in lymph nodes.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
Ecological connectivity as a planning tool for the conservation of wildlife in cities
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Are incentive programs working? Landowner attitudes to ecological restoration of agricultural landscapes
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2013.04.034
Abstract: Private property accounts for much of the planet's arable land, and most of this has been cleared for agricultural production. Agricultural areas retain only fragments of their original vegetation and this has been detrimental to many native plant and animal species. Habitat restoration and revegetation may be able to reconnect and enlarge existing remnant areas in agricultural landscapes and, thereby, enhance native plant and animal communities. However, conservation initiatives will be successful only if landowners actively participate in restoration actions. This study used four hundred postal questionnaires to assess the degree to which landowners in two regions of south-eastern Australia adopt restoration activities, their opinions regarding remnant and revegetated land and their management actions in these areas. One hundred and seventy nine completed questionnaires were received. Three quarters of respondents had undertaken restoration on their property or were planning to revegetate in the future. Landcare members were most likely to have previously revegetated and future revegetation intentions were best predicted by previous restoration activities and a primary income source that was off-farm. Landowners were more likely to manage restored and remnant areas if they perceived threats such as weeds, pest animals and fire risk would be detrimental to their property, than to enhance environmental outcomes. These results indicate that landowners are interested in restoring natural areas, but without greater assistance to restore ground layers and manage perceived threats posed by fire and invasive plants and animals, restoration actions will not have their desired bio ersity benefits.
HABITAT FRAGMENTATION, LANDSCAPE CONTEXT, AND MAMMALIAN ASSEMBLAGES IN SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 08-2000
Identifying hybridization and admixture using SNPs: application of the DArTseq platform in phylogeographic research on vertebrates
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 07-2017
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.161061
Abstract: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches are increasingly being used to generate multi-locus data for phylogeographic and evolutionary genetics research. We detail the applicability of a restriction enzyme-mediated genome complexity reduction approach with subsequent NGS (DArTseq) in vertebrate study systems at different evolutionary and geographical scales. We present two case studies using SNP data from the DArTseq molecular marker platform. First, we used DArTseq in a large phylogeographic study of the agamid lizard Ctenophorus caudicinctus , including 91 in iduals and spanning the geographical range of this species across arid Australia. A low-density DArTseq assay resulted in 28 960 SNPs, with low density referring to a comparably reduced set of identified and sequenced markers as a cost-effective approach. Second, we applied this approach to an evolutionary genetics study of a classic frog hybrid zone ( Litoria ewingii–Litoria paraewingi ) across 93 in iduals, which resulted in 48 117 and 67 060 SNPs for a low- and high-density assay, respectively. We provide a docker-based workflow to facilitate data preparation and analysis, then analyse SNP data using multiple methods including Bayesian model-based clustering and conditional likelihood approaches. Based on comparison of results from the DArTseq platform and traditional molecular approaches, we conclude that DArTseq can be used successfully in vertebrates and will be of particular interest to researchers working at the interface between population genetics and phylogenetics, exploring species boundaries, gene exchange and hybridization.
Are only the strong surviving? Little influence of restoration on beetles (Coleoptera) in an agricultural landscape
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2013
Butterfly richness and abundance along a gradient of imperviousness and the importance of matrix quality
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-06-2020
DOI: 10.1002/EAP.2144
Situation of physical activity in the prevention of non-communicable diseases in Bhutan: challenges and the way forward
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BMJSEM-2022-001448
Abstract: Bhutan is a lower-income–middle-income country in the Himalayas, between India and China. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and premature mortality in Bhutan, accounting for 69% and 71% of all deaths in 2014 and 2019, respectively. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified physical activity as a key strategy to reduce the burden of NCDs, with rapid urbanisation, motorised transportation, and rural–urban migration, people are adapting to sedentary lifestyles, inflating the incidence of NCDs in the country. The increasing incidence of NCDs exerts a burden on the human and financial resource constraints in the health system in Bhutan. In this view point, we report evidence-based benefits of physical activity for health promotion, primary prevention of NCDs and health benefits for in iduals living with NCDs. We also briefly assess the situation of physical activity in Bhutan. Then, shortcomings of existing NCDs prevention programmes are discussed along with opportunities and ways forward to effectively implementing physical activity to harness the benefits of physical activities.
Improving precision and reducing bias in biological surveys: Estimating false-negative error rates
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2003
DOI: 10.1890/02-5078
Optimal Marking of Threatened Species to Balance Benefits of Information with Impacts of Marking
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2008
DOI: 10.1111/J.1523-1739.2008.00999.X
Abstract: Marking animals so that they are uniquely identifiable provides information that may assist conservation efforts. Nevertheless, some methods used to mark animals can be harmful. We used mathematical methods to assess the trade-off between the impact of marking threatened species and the value of the information gained. We considered the case where 2 management strategies, each aiming to improve a species' survival rate, are implemented in an experimental phase. The results of the experiment were applied in a postexperimental management phase. We expressed the expected number of survivors in both phases mathematically, accounting for any mortality caused by the experiment, and determined the proportion of animals to mark to maximize this number. The optimal number of animals to mark increased with the number of in iduals available for the experiment and with the number of in iduals to be managed in the future. The optimal solution was to mark only 25% of the animals when there were 1000 in iduals available for the experiment, the results were used to manage 2000 in iduals, and marking caused mortality of 1%. Fewer animals were marked when there were fewer animals in either phase or when marking caused higher mortality. In the case of the Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix), the optimal proportion to mark was 0.15%-1%, with the threshold depending on the number of animals in the experimental and postexperimental phases. The trade-off between gaining more information about a species and possibly harming in iduals of that species by marking them is difficult to assess subjectively. We show how to determine objectively the optimal proportion of animals to mark to enhance the management of threatened species.
Ecological Impacts of Road Noise and Options for Mitigation
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2015
Correlation Between Intraocular Pressure and Central Corneal Thickness in Persian Children
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-10-2016
Geographically pervasive effects of urban noise on frequency and syllable rate of songs and calls in silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis)
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 05-01-2011
Abstract: Recent studies in the Northern Hemisphere have shown that songbirds living in noisy urban environments sing at higher frequencies than their rural counterparts. However, several aspects of this phenomenon remain poorly understood. These include the geographical scale over which such patterns occur (most studies have compared local populations), and whether they involve phenotypic plasticity or microevolutionary change. We conducted a field study of silvereye ( Zosterops lateralis ) vocalizations over more than 1 million km 2 of urban and rural south-eastern Australia, and compared possible effects of urban noise on songs (which are learned) and contact calls (which are innate). Across 14 paired urban and rural populations, silvereyes consistently sang both songs and contact calls at higher frequencies in urban environments. Syllable rate (syllables per second) decreased in urban environments, consistent with the hypothesis that reflective structures degrade song and encourage longer intervals between syllables. This comprehensive study is, to our knowledge, the first to demonstrate varied adaptations of urban bird vocalizations over a vast geographical area, and to provide insight into the mechanism responsible for these changes.
Stormwater wetlands can function as ecological traps for urban frogs
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-04-2018
DOI: 10.1002/EAP.1714
Abstract: Around cities, natural wetlands are rapidly being destroyed and replaced with wetlands constructed to treat stormwater. Although the intended purpose of these wetlands is to manage urban stormwater, they are inhabited by wildlife that might be exposed to contaminants. These effects will be exacerbated if animals are unable to differentiate between stormwater treatment wetlands of varying quality and some function as "ecological traps" (i.e., habitats that animals prefer despite fitness being lower than in other habitats). To examine if urban stormwater wetlands can be ecological traps for frogs, we tested if survival, metamorphosis-related measures, and predator avoidance behaviors of frogs differed within mesocosms that simulated stormwater wetlands with different contaminant levels, and paired this with a natural oviposition experiment to assess breeding-site preferences. We provide the first empirical evidence that these wetlands can function as ecological traps for frogs. Tadpoles had lower survival and were less responsive to predator olfactory cues when raised in more polluted stormwater wetlands, but also reached metamorphosis earlier and at a larger size. A greater size at metamorphosis was likely a result of increased per capita food availability due to higher mortality combined with eutrophication, although other compensatory effects such as selective-mortality removing smaller in iduals from low-quality mesocosms may also explain these results. Breeding adults laid comparable numbers of eggs across wetlands with high and low contaminant levels, indicating no avoidance of the former. Since stormwater treatment wetlands are often the only available aquatic habitat in urban landscapes we need to better understand how they perform as habitats to guide management decisions that mitigate their potential ecological costs. This may include improving wetland quality so that fitness is no longer compromised, preventing colonization by animals, altering the cues animals use when selecting habitats, pretreating contaminated water prior to release, providing off-line wetlands nearby, or simply not constructing stormwater treatment wetlands in sensitive areas. Our study confirms the potential for urban stormwater treatment wetlands to function as ecological traps and highlights the need for greater awareness of their prevalence and impact at landscape scales.
The seven lamps of planning for biodiversity in the city
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2018
A Bayesian model of metapopulation viability, with application to an endangered amphibian
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-2013
DOI: 10.1111/DDI.12052
Histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin inhibits De Novo HIV-1 infections
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 07-2015
DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00574-15
Abstract: Adjunct therapy with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) romidepsin increases plasma viremia in HIV patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). However, a potential concern is that reversing HIV latency with an HDACi may reactivate the virus in anatomical compartments with suboptimal cART concentrations, leading to de novo infection of susceptible cells in these sites. We tested physiologically relevant romidepsin concentrations known to reactivate latent HIV in order to definitively address this concern. We found that romidepsin significantly inhibited HIV infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CD4 + T cells but not in monocyte-derived macrophages. In addition, romidepsin impaired HIV spreading in CD4 + T cell cultures. When we evaluated the impact of romidepsin on quantitative viral outgrowth assays with primary resting CD4 + T cells, we found that resting CD4 + T cells exposed to romidepsin exhibited reduced proliferation and viability. This significantly lowered assay sensitivity when measuring the efficacy of romidepsin as an HIV latency reversal agent. Altogether, our data indicate that romidepsin-based HIV eradication strategies are unlikely to reseed a latent T cell reservoir, even under suboptimal cART conditions, because romidepsin profoundly restricts de novo HIV infections.
Mitochondrial DNA diversity and historical biogeography of a wet forest-restricted frog (Litoria pearsoniana) from mid-east Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-1998
DOI: 10.1046/J.1365-294X.1998.00329.X
Abstract: MtDNA sequencing was used to investigate the genetic population structure of Litoria pearsoniana, a wet forest-restricted hylid frog, endemic to southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales, Australia. L. pearsoniana is regarded as endangered under Queensland legislation. Significant genetic ergence among populations of frogs from different rainforest isolates was identified, but the lack of reciprocal monophyly among adjacent isolates suggests this is the result of a relatively recent disruption to gene flow. A paired catchment study within a single rainforest isolate, the Conondale Range, revealed no substantial genetic structuring, indicating the occurrence of terrestrial dispersal among nearby streams either in the recent past or currently. Two major reciprocally monophyletic clades of mtDNA alleles were identified. These corresponded to two geographical regions separated by the Brisbane River valley one consisting of the Conondale and D'Aguilar Ranges, and the other of the southern isolates in the Main, Border and Gibraltar Ranges. Sequence ergence between the two regions was more consistent with a late Miocene or Pliocene rather than late Pleistocene separation, and is similar to that found among phylogeographic isions of rainforest reptiles and hibians in north Queensland rainforests. The molecular evidence for long-term separation of these two regions is corroborated by the pattern of species turnover in the distributions of species of rainforest-restricted hibians and reptiles. Bioclimatic modelling suggests that appropriate conditions for L. pearsoniana would have been restricted to isolated refugees in each phylogeographic ision under cooler and drier climates, such as predicted for the last glacial maximum. Currently isolated montane areas may have been connected transiently during the past 2000 years. Identification of long-term zoogeographic isions among southeast Queensland rainforest herpetofauna has important implications for conservation and management. Conservation management of L. pearsoniana should be applied at the scale of major rainforest isolates and the conservation status of the species should be assessed independently north and south of the historical ision.
Contaminant mixtures interact to impair predator-avoidance behaviours and survival in a larval amphibian
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.ECOENV.2018.06.028
Abstract: Global declines in hibian populations are a significant conservation concern, and environmental contamination is likely a contributing driver. Although direct toxicity may be partly responsible, contaminants are often present at sub-lethal concentrations in the wild. Behavioural end-points are becoming an increasingly useful method to estimate the impact of contaminants, particularly if the behavioural responses manifest to affect in idual fitness (i.e. survival, growth, or reproduction). In the wild, most animals are affected by multiple stressors, and determining how these interact to affect behaviour is critical for understanding the ecological implications of contaminant exposure. Here, we examined the in idual and interactive effect of the heavy metal copper and the insecticide imidacloprid on mortality rates and anti-predator behaviours of spotted marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) tadpoles. This common species frequently occupies and breeds in contaminated stormwater and agricultural wetlands, where copper and imidacloprid are often present. These contaminants may alter behaviour via physiological and neurological pathways, as well as affecting how tadpoles respond to chemical cues. Tadpoles suffered unexpectedly high mortality rates when exposed to imidacloprid concentrations well below published LC50 concentrations. Only unexposed tadpoles significantly avoided predator cues. Copper and imidacloprid reduced swimming speed and distance, and escape responses, while increasing erratic swimming. We observed an interactive effect of imidacloprid and copper on erratic swimming, but in general imidacloprid and copper did not act synergistically. Our results suggest that as contaminants enter waterbodies, tadpoles will suffer considerable direct mortality, reduced foraging capacity, and increased susceptibility to predation. Our results provide the first evidence of imidacloprid affecting hibian behaviour, and highlight both the adverse effects of copper and imidacloprid, and the importance of exploring the effect of multiple contaminants simultaneously.
Assessing ethical trade‐offs in ecological field studies
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-01-2010
Structure and fragmentation of growling grass frog metapopulations
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-11-2012
The Optimal Number of Surveys when Detectability Varies
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 19-12-2014
Urban amphibian assemblages as metacommunities
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-2006
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-2656.2006.01096.X
Abstract: 1. Urban ecosystems are expanding throughout the world, and urban ecology is attracting increasing research interest. Some authors have questioned the value of existing ecological theories for understanding the processes and consequences of urbanization. 2. In order to assess the applicability of metacommunity theory to urban systems, I evaluated three assumptions that underlie the theory - the effect of patch area, the effect of patch isolation, and species-environment relations - using data on assemblages of pond-breeding hibians in the Greater Melbourne area of Australia. I also assessed the relative impact of habitat fragmentation, habitat isolation, and changes to habitat quality on these assemblages. 3. Poisson regression modelling provided support for an important increase in species richness with patch area (pond size) and a decrease in species richness with increasing patch isolation, as measured by surrounding road cover. Holding all other variables constant, species richness was predicted to be 2.8-5.5 times higher at the largest pond than at the smallest, while the most isolated pond was predicted to have 12-19% of the species richness of the least isolated pond. Thus, the data were consistent with the first two assumptions of metacommunity theory evaluated. 4. The quality of habitat at a pond was also important, with a predicted 44-56% decrease in the number of species detected at ponds with a surrounding vertical wall compared with those with a gently sloping bank. This demonstrates that environmental differences between habitat patches were also influencing hibian assemblages, providing support for the species-sorting and/or mass-effect perspectives of metacommunity theory. 5. Without management intervention, urbanization may lead to a reduction in the number of hibian species persisting in urban ponds, particularly where increasing isolation of ponds by roads and associated infrastructure reduces the probability of re-colonization following local extinction. Journal of Animal Ecology (2006) 75, 757-764 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01096.x.
Palissya cones from the Mesozoic of Australia and New Zealand
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 1995
Biotic effects of climate change in urban environments: The case of the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) in Melbourne, Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2005
Acoustic, morphological, and genetic adaptations to urban habitats in the silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: 14-11-2013
Supporting urban ecosystem services across terrestrial, marine and freshwater realms
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2021.152689
Abstract: The terrestrial, freshwater and marine realms all provide essential ecosystem services in urban environments. However, the services provided by each realm are often considered independently, which ignores the synergies between them and risks underestimating the benefits derived collectively. Greater research collaboration across these realms, and an integrated approach to management decisions can help to support urban developments and restoration projects in maintaining or enhancing ecosystem services. The aim of this paper is to highlight the synergies and trade-offs among ecosystem services provided by each realm and to offer suggestions on how to improve current practice. We use case studies to illustrate the flow of services across realms. In our call to better integrate research and management across realms, we present a framework that provides a 6-step process for conducting collaborative research and management with an Australian perspective. Our framework considers unifying language, sharing, and understanding of desired outcomes, conducting cost-benefit analyses to minimise trade-offs, using multiple modes of communication for stakeholders, and applying research outcomes to inform regulation. It can be applied to improve collaboration among researchers, managers and planners from all realms, leading to strategic allocation of resources, increased protection of urban natural resources and improved environmental regulation with broad public support.
The distribution and habitat requirements of the great barred frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus)
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2002
DOI: 10.1071/WR01107
Abstract: The great barred frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus) is a common, ground-dwelling frog from the forests of eastern Australia, with a wide geographic distribution extending from mid-east Queensland to southern New South Wales. This paper presents a quantitative assessment of the distribution and habitat requirements of M. fasciolatus, using data collected during a stratified survey across its geographic and environmental range. I found M. fasciolatus at 55 of 124 sites, and in all areas of forest surveyed except for Girraween National Park in Queensland and the southern highlands of New South Wales. I detected 42 other species of frogs during the survey, including the introduced cane toad (Bufo marinus). Statistical habitat modelling indicated that in forests within its climatic range, M. fasciolatus was most likely to occur in wetter forests (wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest), in areas with lower precipitation and intermediate temperatures in the warmest (summer) quarter of the year. When present at a site, the number of in iduals of M. fasciolatus detected during a survey (a measure of relative abundance) was predicted to decrease with increasing summer precipitation. This frog survey represents one of the largest ever undertaken in Australia, with a study area of 125�000 km2, and 124 survey sites in 21 State Forests and nine National Parks. Field data collected during the study and the resulting habitat models provide a baseline against which future changes in the distribution or abundance of M. fasciolatus may be assessed.
Evidence that creation of a Pinus radiata plantation in south-eastern Australia has reduced habitat for frogs
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2004
Impacts of climate change and urban development on the spotted marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-03-2013
Anthropogenic noise constrains acoustic communication in urban-dwelling frogs
Publisher: ASA
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1121/1.4800665
The habitat hectares approach to vegetation assessment: an evaluation and suggestions for improvement
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-03-2004
Distribution, habitat requirements and conservation of the cascade treefrog (Litoria pearsoniana, Anura: Hylidae)
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2001
Correcting common misconceptions to inspire conservation action in urban environments
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-10-2019
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.13193
Genetic erosion and escalating extinction risk in frogs with increasing wildfire frequency
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-11-2016
Predation Modifies Larval Amphibian Communities in Urban Wetlands
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-05-2013
Identifying effects of toe clipping on anuran return rates: the importance of statistical power
Publisher: Brill
Date: 2001
DOI: 10.1163/156853801317050070
Abstract: Toe clipping is a common method of marking anurans for population studies. We re-analysed data from four published studies investigating the relationship between return rate and number of toes clipped for three anuran species: Bufo fowleri, Crinia signifera and Hyla labialis. Although these studies claimed contradictory results, a re-analysis of the data with proper attention to statistical power demonstrated a statistically significant decline of 6-18% in the probability of return for each toe removed after the first, in three of the four studies examined. The probability that the fourth study would detect a statistically significant effect of toe clipping was low unless the size of the effect was overwhelming. These results provide consistent evidence that toe clipping decreases the return rate of marked anurans, and demonstrates the importance of considering statistical power during data analysis. Use of toe clipping for mark-recapture studies may produce estimates of population parameters that are biased by the same magnitude as the return rates, unless researchers control for the effect of this marking method.
Bringing nature back into cities
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-04-2020
DOI: 10.1002/PAN3.10088
Song convergence in multiple urban populations of silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-07-2012
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.320
Detecting Extinction Risk from Climate Change by IUCN Red List Criteria
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-02-2014
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.12234
Abstract: Anthropogenic climate change is a key threat to global bio ersity. To inform strategic actions aimed at conserving bio ersity as climate changes, conservation planners need early warning of the risks faced by different species. The IUCN Red List criteria for threatened species are widely acknowledged as useful risk assessment tools for informing conservation under constraints imposed by limited data. However, doubts have been expressed about the ability of the criteria to detect risks imposed by potentially slow-acting threats such as climate change, particularly because criteria addressing rates of population decline are assessed over time scales as short as 10 years. We used spatially explicit stochastic population models and dynamic species distribution models projected to future climates to determine how long before extinction a species would become eligible for listing as threatened based on the IUCN Red List criteria. We focused on a short-lived frog species (Assa darlingtoni) chosen specifically to represent potential weaknesses in the criteria to allow detailed consideration of the analytical issues and to develop an approach for wider application. The criteria were more sensitive to climate change than previously anticipated lead times between initial listing in a threatened category and predicted extinction varied from 40 to 80 years, depending on data availability. We attributed this sensitivity primarily to the ensemble properties of the criteria that assess contrasting symptoms of extinction risk. Nevertheless, we recommend the robustness of the criteria warrants further investigation across species with contrasting life histories and patterns of decline. The adequacy of these lead times for early warning depends on practicalities of environmental policy and management, bureaucratic or political inertia, and the anticipated species response times to management actions.
Enablers and challenges when engaging local communities for urban biodiversity conservation in Australian cities
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-08-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S11625-021-01012-Y
Abstract: Across all landscape types, environmental managers work with communities to conserve bio ersity. The effectiveness of conservation practice, however, relies on acknowledging differences in preferences and values of nature. Implementing urban conservation is challenging because cities have erse social, cultural and ecological attributes, meaning there are no simple solutions for the management or co-management of bio ersity. There is little guidance for urban environmental managers on how to 1) engage local urban communities and 2), implement conservation actions specific to cities and their communities. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 environmental managers from government and not-for-profit organizations across five Australian capital cities to 1) explore how environmental managers engaged local communities, and 2) understand the factors that enabled or constrained that engagement in conservation. Our aim was to understand the enablers and constraints of engagement with a view to share insights and patterns in the context of the Intergovernmental Platform on Bio ersity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) conceptual framework’s recognition of the ersity of values associated with nature’s contributions to people (NCP). We found that urban environmental managers facilitated NCP by working to improve people’s relationship with nature. Interviewees reported a range of enablers for community-based bio ersity conservation, including supportive organizational policies and strategies, community support, engaging Indigenous advisory groups, and deploying multi-use, integrative human-nature designs. Constraints and challenges included a lack of top-down commitment, reliance on in iduals, and overly simplistic engagement strategies. Based on these findings, we identified opportunities for improved community engagement relevant to organizations responsible for urban environmental management.
Modelling the benefits of habitat restoration in socio-ecological systems
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2014
Review: Toward management of urban ponds for freshwater biodiversity
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1002/ECS2.2810
Predicting the Effect of Urban Noise on the Active Space of Avian Vocal Signals
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: 10-2013
DOI: 10.1086/671906
Abstract: Urbanization changes the physical environment of nonhuman species but also markedly changes their acoustic environment. Urban noise interferes with acoustic communication in a range of animals, including birds, with potentially profound impacts on fitness. However, a mechanistic theory to predict which species of birds will be most affected by urban noise is lacking. We develop a mathematical model to predict the decrease in the active space of avian vocal signals after moving from quiet forest habitats to noisy urban habitats. We find that the magnitude of the decrease is largely a function of signal frequency. However, this relationship is not monotonic. A metaregression of observed increases in the frequency of birdsong in urban noise supports the model's predictions for signals with frequencies between 1.5 and 4 kHz. Using results of the metaregression and the model described above, we show that the expected gain in active space following observed frequency shifts is up to 12% and greatest for birds with signals at the lower end of this frequency range. Our generally applicable model, along with three predictions regarding the behavioral and population-level responses of birds to urban noise, represents an important step toward a theory of acoustic communication in urban habitats.
Multi-Scale, Direct and Indirect Effects of the Urban Stream Syndrome on Amphibian Communities in Streams
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 29-07-2013
Optimizing habitat management for amphibians: From simple models to complex decisions
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2019
Interspecific variation in the phenology of advertisement calling in a temperate
A
ustralian frog community
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-08-2015
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.1666
Impacts of human‐induced environmental change in wetlands on aquatic animals
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-09-2017
DOI: 10.1111/BRV.12358
Abstract: Many wetlands harbour highly erse biological communities and provide extensive ecosystem services however, these important ecological features are being altered, degraded and destroyed around the world. Despite a wealth of research on how animals respond to anthropogenic changes to natural wetlands and how they use created wetlands, we lack a broad synthesis of these data. While some altered wetlands may provide vital habitat, others could pose a considerable risk to wildlife. This risk will be heightened if such wetlands are ecological traps - preferred habitats that confer lower fitness than another available habitat. Wetlands functioning as ecological traps could decrease both local and regional population persistence, and ultimately lead to extinctions. Most studies have examined how animals respond to changes in environmental conditions by measuring responses at the community and population levels, but studying ecological traps requires information on fitness and habitat preferences. Our current lack of knowledge of in idual-level responses may therefore limit our capacity to manage wetland ecosystems effectively since ecological traps require different management practices to mitigate potential consequences. We conducted a global meta-analysis to characterise how animals respond to four key drivers of wetland alteration: agriculture, mining, restoration and urbanisation. Our overarching goal was to evaluate the ecological impacts of human alterations to wetland ecosystems, as well as identify current knowledge gaps that limit both the current understanding of these responses and effective wetland management. We extracted 1799 taxon-specific response ratios from 271 studies across 29 countries. Community- (e.g. richness) and population-level (e.g. density) measures within altered wetlands were largely comparable to those within reference wetlands. By contrast, in idual fitness measures (e.g. survival) were often lower, highlighting the potential limitations of using only community- and population-level measures to assess habitat quality. Only four studies provided habitat-preference data, preventing investigation of the potential for altered wetlands to function as ecological traps. This is concerning because attempts to identify ecological traps may detect previously unidentified conservation risks. Although there was considerable variability amongst taxa, hibians were typically the most sensitive taxon, and thus, may be a valuable bio-indicator of wetland quality. Despite suffering reduced survival and reproduction, measures such as time to and mass at metamorphosis were similar between altered and reference wetlands, suggesting that quantifying metamorphosis-related measures in isolation may not provide accurate information on habitat quality. Our review provides the most detailed evaluation to date of the ecological impacts of human alterations to wetland ecosystems. We emphasise that the role of wetlands in human-altered ecosystems can be complex, as they may represent important habitat but also pose potential risks to animals. Reduced availability of natural wetlands is increasing the importance of altered wetlands for aquatic animals. Consequently, we need to define what represents habitat quality from the perspective of animals, and gain a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms of habitat selection and how these factors could be manipulated. Furthermore, strategies to enhance the quality of these wetlands should be implemented to maximise their conservation potential.
Related Organisations
Related Funding Activities
Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP140100343
Start Date: 02-2015
End Date: 06-2018
Amount: $299,963.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP0343787
Start Date: 10-2004
End Date: 12-2006
Amount: $240,500.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0990161
Start Date: 03-2010
End Date: 12-2013
Amount: $340,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP100200158
Start Date: 02-2011
End Date: 02-2014
Amount: $210,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0667815
Start Date: 06-2006
End Date: 12-2010
Amount: $221,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity