ORCID Profile
0000-0001-6307-1680
Current Organisations
Universiti Malaya
,
Macquarie University
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)
Ecology | Ecological Impacts of Climate Change | Other Biological Sciences | Ecological Applications | Global Change Biology | Conservation And Biodiversity | Behavioural Ecology | Evolutionary Biology not elsewhere classified | Climatology (Incl. Palaeoclimatology) | Global Change Biology
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Climate variability | Climate change | Living resources (flora and fauna) | Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales | Forest and Woodlands Land Management | Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
Related Links
Publications
Extinction risk from climate change
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2004
DOI: 10.1038/NATURE02121
How can knowledge of the climate niche inform the weed risk assessment process? A case study of Chrysanthemoides monilifera in Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-03-2014
DOI: 10.1111/DDI.12190
Does the choice of climate baseline matter in ecological niche modelling?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
MTRR gene variant rs1801394 found in Malaysian patients with neural tube defects
Publisher: Neurotak Publishing
Date: 05-03-2020
DOI: 10.31117/NEUROSCIRN.V3I1.41
Abstract: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are congenital anomalies resulting from the failure of neural tube closure during embryogenesis. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying this multifactorial disease is poorly understood, although single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in the one-carbon metabolism cycle are believed to contribute towards NTD development. Among them is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase reductase (MTRR). Protein function prediction algorithms (PolyPhen-2, PROVEAN, SIFT, SMART-Ensembl) were employed to evaluate its pathogenicity potential caused by the replacement of isoleucine with methionine. Seven NTD patients and 12 of their parents were recruited for this study. DNA s les were collected through blood or saliva whereby the extracted DNAs were then sent for whole exome sequencing (WES). Zygosity of the variant was confirmed from WES data of each subject and further validated through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing. The results revealed that 57% of patients and 83% of parents carried rs1801394 mutation in their MTRR gene, based on either homozygous (G/G) or heterozygous (A/G) genotypes. Bioinformatics analysis of this missense mutation predicted that this change is damaging to MTRR protein function by 2 of the 3 predictor algorithms and that the change from isoleucine to methionine amino acid affects flavodoxin domain of the protein. This impacts enzyme activity within the one-carbon metabolism pathway, which is linked to the aetiology of NTDs. From population databases, this variant was considered common with a MAF .3, however, it was not found in the Singapore Genome Variation Project (SGVP), whose population is a closer representation of the Malaysian subjects investigated here. Hence, we explored the prevalence of this variant in other studies and found that its association with NTDs differed across populations worldwide. Finally, we conclude that rs1801394 may be an NTD risk factor in the Malaysian population and should be further investigated as a potential prenatal screening tool.
Environmental tolerance governs the presence of reef corals at latitudes beyond reef growth
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-04-2016
DOI: 10.1111/GEB.12459
Biological responses to the press and pulse of climate trends and extreme events
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-07-2017
Combined Impacts of Climate and Land Use Changes on Long-Term Streamflow in the Upper Halda Basin, Bangladesh
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 11-2021
DOI: 10.3390/SU132112067
Abstract: In Bangladesh, rapid population growth and associated land-use changes are escalating water scarcity issues, which will be further exacerbated under ongoing climate change. As such, predicting the consequences of climate and land-use change on freshwater supplies is critical for the sustainable management of water resources. In this study, a Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) associated with a Land Cover Model (LCM) were used to simulate long-term stream flows in the Halda Basin, Bangladesh, under baseline and future climate and land-use change scenarios. In addition, the separate and combined impacts of both types of change on long-term streamflow projections were assessed. Results indicate that by the 2060s, the maximum temperature of the Halda Basin may rise by 1.6 °C in comparison to the baseline 1986–2005 period, while minimum temperature will also increase, albeit at a lower rate than maximum temperature. Precipitation during the dry season is expected to increase, although it may decline in the monsoon period. Simulations show that these changes in climate are likely to increase future streamflow in the Halda catchment, with monthly streamflow influenced mainly by the variability in precipitation. The LCM projected decreases in grassland along with cultivated land at the expense of artificial areas. Combined, future climate and land-use changes are projected to increase annual streamflow, with climate change likely to be a greater driver of altered streamflow than land-use changes. Our results should guide environmental management authorities in more sustainable and strategic water resource planning under global climate change.
Shifting time: Recent changes to the phenology of Australian species
Publisher: Inter-Research Science Center
Date: 20-05-2015
DOI: 10.3354/CR01294
Generalized avatar niche shifts improve distribution models for invasive species
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-07-2014
DOI: 10.1111/DDI.12233
Prioritizing the protection of climate refugia: designing a climate-ready protected area network
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 13-04-0055
Evidence for climatic niche and biome shifts between native and novel ranges in plant species introduced to Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-06-2010
Global Projections of 21st Century Land-Use Changes in Regions Adjacent to Protected Areas
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 30-08-2012
Potential impacts of climate change on habitat suitability for the Queensland fruit fly
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-10-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-13307-1
Abstract: Anthropogenic climate change is a major factor driving shifts in the distributions of pests and invasive species. The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Qfly), is the most economically damaging insect pest of Australia’s horticultural industry, and its management is a key priority for plant protection and biosecurity. Identifying the extent to which climate change may alter the distribution of suitable habitat for Qfly is important for the development and continuation of effective monitoring programs, phytosanitary measures, and management strategies. We used Maxent, a species distribution model, to map suitable habitat for Qfly under current climate, and six climate scenarios for 2030, 2050 and 2070. Our results highlight that south-western Australia, northern regions of the Northern Territory, eastern Queensland, and much of south-eastern Australia are currently suitable for Qfly. This includes southern Victoria and eastern Tasmania, which are currently free of breeding populations. There is substantial agreement across future climate scenarios that most areas currently suitable will remain so until at least 2070. Our projections provide an initial estimate of the potential exposure of Australia’s horticultural industry to Qfly as climate changes, highlighting the need for long-term vigilance across southern Australia to prevent further range expansion of this species.
Why is the choice of future climate scenarios for species distribution modelling important?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-10-2008
DOI: 10.1111/J.1461-0248.2008.01231.X
Abstract: Species distribution models (SDMs) are common tools for assessing the potential impact of climate change on species ranges. Uncertainty in SDM output occurs due to differences among alternate models, species characteristics and scenarios of future climate. While considerable effort is being devoted to identifying and quantifying the first two sources of variation, a greater understanding of climate scenarios and how they affect SDM output is also needed. Climate models are complex tools: variability occurs among alternate simulations, and no single 'best' model exists. The selection of climate scenarios for impacts assessments should not be undertaken arbitrarily - strengths and weakness of different climate models should be considered. In this paper, we provide bioclimatic modellers with an overview of emissions scenarios and climate models, discuss uncertainty surrounding projections of future climate and suggest steps that can be taken to reduce and communicate climate scenario-related uncertainty in assessments of future species responses to climate change.
Climate and land-use changes reduce the benefits of terrestrial protected areas
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-11-2021
Potential impacts of a future persistent El Nino or La Nina on three subspecies of Australian butterflies
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-07-2017
DOI: 10.1111/BTP.12356
A journey through time
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 18-08-2018
Peer reviewers need a code of conduct too
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-08-2019
Continental scale analysis of bird migration timing: influences of climate and life history traits-a generalized mixture model clustering and discriminant approach
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-07-2014
DOI: 10.1007/S00484-013-0707-2
Abstract: There is substantial evidence of climate-related shifts to the timing of avian migration. Although spring arrival has generally advanced, variable species responses and geographical biases in data collection make it difficult to generalise patterns. We advance previous studies by using novel multivariate statistical techniques to explore complex relationships between phenological trends, climate indices and species traits. Using 145 datasets for 52 bird species, we assess trends in first arrival date (FAD), last departure date (LDD) and timing of peak abundance at multiple Australian locations. Strong seasonal patterns were found, i.e. spring phenological events were more likely to significantly advance, while significant advances and delays occurred in other seasons. However, across all significant trends, the magnitude of delays exceeded that of advances, particularly for FAD (+22.3 and -9.6 days/decade, respectively). Geographic variations were found, with greater advances in FAD and LDD, in south-eastern Australia than in the north and west. We identified four species clusters that differed with respect to species traits and climate drivers. Species within bird clusters responded in similar ways to local climate variables, particularly the number of raindays and rainfall. The strength of phenological trends was more strongly related to local climate variables than to broad-scale drivers (Southern Oscillation Index), highlighting the importance of precipitation as a driver of movement in Australian birds.
Impacts of climate change on the world's most exceptional ecoregions
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 24-01-2011
Abstract: The current rate of warming due to increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is very likely unprecedented over the last 10,000 y. Although the majority of countries have adopted the view that global warming must be limited to °C, current GHG emission rates and nonagreement at Copenhagen in December 2009 increase the likelihood of this limit being exceeded by 2100. Extensive evidence has linked major changes in biological systems to 20th century warming. The “Global 200” comprises 238 ecoregions of exceptional bio ersity [Olson DM, Dinerstein E (2002) Ann Mo Bot Gard 89:199–224]. We assess the likelihood that, by 2070, these iconic ecoregions will regularly experience monthly climatic conditions that were extreme in 1961–1990. Using realizations from climate model ensembles, we show that up to 86% of terrestrial and 83% of freshwater ecoregions will be exposed to average monthly temperature patterns SDs (2σ) of the 1961–1990 baseline, including 82% of critically endangered ecoregions. The entire range of 89 ecoregions will experience extreme monthly temperatures with a local warming of °C. Tropical and subtropical ecoregions, and mangroves, face extreme conditions earliest, some with °C warming. In contrast, few ecoregions within Boreal Forests and Tundra biomes will experience such extremes this century. On average, precipitation regimes do not exceed 2σ of the baseline period, although considerable variability exists across the climate realizations. Further, the strength of the correlation between seasonal temperature and precipitation changes over numerous ecoregions. These results suggest many Global 200 ecoregions may be under substantial climatic stress by 2100.
Simulating streamflow in the Upper Halda Basin of southeastern Bangladesh using SWAT model
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-11-2020
Land use planning to support climate change adaptation in threatened plant communities
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2021
Land-use and climate risk assessment for Earth's remaining wilderness
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.CUB.2022.10.016
Abstract: Earth's wilderness areas are reservoirs of genetic information and carbon storage systems, and are vital to reducing extinction risks. Retaining the conservation value of these areas is fundamental to achieving global bio ersity conservation goals however, climate and land-use risk can undermine their ability to provide these functions. The extent to which wilderness areas are likely to be impacted by these drivers has not previously been quantified. Using climate and land-use change during baseline (1971-2005) and future (2016-2050) periods, we estimate that these stressors within wilderness areas will increase by ca. 60% and 39%, respectively, under a scenario of high emission and land-use change (SSP5-RCP8.5). Nearly half (49%) of all wilderness areas could experience substantial climate change by 2050 under this scenario, potentially limiting their capacity to shelter bio ersity. Notable climate (>5 km year
Habitat in flames: How climate change will affect fire risk across koala forests
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2023
Potential changes in the distributions of latitudinally restricted Australian butterfly species in response to climate change
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-09-2002
The risk to Myrtaceae of Austropuccinia psidii, myrtle rust, in Mexico
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-03-2018
DOI: 10.1111/EFP.12428
Climate change increases global risk to urban forests
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-09-2022
How well documented is Australia's flora? Understanding spatial bias in vouchered plant specimens
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-03-1970
DOI: 10.1111/AEC.12487
Which species distribution models are more (or less) likely to project broad-scale, climate-induced shifts in species ranges?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
Assessment and prioritisation of plant species at risk from myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) under current and future climates in Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2018
A global comparison of the climatic niches of urban and native tree populations
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2018
DOI: 10.1111/GEB.12728
Climate change threatens the most biodiverse regions of Mexico
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
Impacts of climate change on the distributions of allergenic species
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date: 09-08-2016
First report of brown widow spider sightings in Peninsular Malaysia and notes on its global distribution
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-05-2015
New methods for measuring ENM breadth and overlap in environmental space
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-09-2019
DOI: 10.1111/ECOG.03900
Where will species go? Incorporating new advances in climate modelling into projections of species distributions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-04-2007
Cranial neural tube defect after trimethoprim exposure
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-07-2018
Hydraulic failure and tree size linked with canopy die‐back in eucalypt forest during extreme drought
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-04-2021
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.17298
Abstract: Eastern Australia was subject to its hottest and driest year on record in 2019. This extreme drought resulted in massive canopy die‐back in eucalypt forests. The role of hydraulic failure and tree size on canopy die‐back in three eucalypt tree species during this drought was examined. We measured pre‐dawn and midday leaf water potential (Ψ leaf ), per cent loss of stem hydraulic conductivity and quantified hydraulic vulnerability to drought‐induced xylem embolism. Tree size and tree health was also surveyed. Trees with most, or all, of their foliage dead exhibited high rates of native embolism (78–100%). This is in contrast to trees with partial canopy die‐back (30–70% canopy die‐back: 72–78% native embolism), or relatively healthy trees (little evidence of canopy die‐back: 25–31% native embolism). Midday Ψ leaf was significantly more negative in trees exhibiting partial canopy die‐back (−2.7 to −6.3 MPa), compared with relatively healthy trees (−2.1 to −4.5 MPa). In two of the species the majority of in iduals showing complete canopy die‐back were in the small size classes. Our results indicate that hydraulic failure is strongly associated with canopy die‐back during drought in eucalypt forests. Our study provides valuable field data to help constrain models predicting mortality risk.
Conservation prioritization can resolve the flagship species conundrum
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-02-2020
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-020-14554-Z
Abstract: Conservation strategies based on charismatic flagship species, such as tigers, lions, and elephants, successfully attract funding from in iduals and corporate donors. However, critics of this species-focused approach argue it wastes resources and often does not benefit broader bio ersity. If true, then the best way of raising conservation funds excludes the best way of spending it. Here we show that this conundrum can be resolved, and that the flagship species approach does not impede cost-effective conservation. Through a tailored prioritization approach, we identify places containing flagship species while also maximizing global bio ersity representation (based on 19,616 terrestrial and freshwater species). We then compare these results to scenarios that only maximized bio ersity representation, and demonstrate that our flagship-based approach achieves 79−89% of our objective. This provides strong evidence that prudently selected flagships can both raise funds for conservation and help target where these resources are best spent to conserve bio ersity.
Using a species distribution model to guide NSW surveys of the long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-10-2020
DOI: 10.1111/AEC.12804
ENMTools 1.0
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-01-2021
DOI: 10.1111/ECOG.05485
Abstract: The ENMTools software package was introduced in 2008 as a platform for making measurements on environmental niche models (ENMs, frequently referred to as species distribution models or SDMs), and for using those measurements in the context of newly developed Monte Carlo tests to evaluate hypotheses regarding niche evolution. Additional functionality was later added for model selection and simulation from ENMs, and the software package has been quite widely used. ENMTools was initially implemented as a Perl script, which was also compiled into an executable file for various platforms. However, the package had a number of significant limitations it was only designed to fit models using Maxent, it relied on a specific Perl distribution to function, and its internal structure made it difficult to maintain and expand. Subsequently, the R programming language became the platform of choice for most ENM studies, making ENMTools less usable for many practitioners. Here we introduce a new R version of ENMTools that implements much of the functionality of its predecessor as well as numerous additions that simplify the construction, comparison and evaluation of niche models. These additions include new metrics for model fit, methods of measuring ENM overlap, and methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses. The new version of ENMTools is also designed to work within the expanding universe of R tools for ecological biogeography, and as such includes greatly simplified interfaces for analyses from several other R packages.
Modelling the impact of Hieracium spp. on protected areas in Australia under future climates
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-09-2009
Predicting species distributions: use of climatic parameters in BIOCLIM and its impact on predictions of species' current and future distributions
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2005
Climate, soil or both? Which variables are better predictors of the distributions of Australian shrub species?
Publisher: PeerJ
Date: 22-06-2017
DOI: 10.7717/PEERJ.3446
Abstract: Shrubs play a key role in biogeochemical cycles, prevent soil and water erosion, provide forage for livestock, and are a source of food, wood and non-wood products. However, despite their ecological and societal importance, the influence of different environmental variables on shrub distributions remains unclear. We evaluated the influence of climate and soil characteristics, and whether including soil variables improved the performance of a species distribution model (SDM), Maxent. This study assessed variation in predictions of environmental suitability for 29 Australian shrub species (representing dominant members of six shrubland classes) due to the use of alternative sets of predictor variables. Models were calibrated with (1) climate variables only, (2) climate and soil variables, and (3) soil variables only. The predictive power of SDMs differed substantially across species, but generally models calibrated with both climate and soil data performed better than those calibrated only with climate variables. Models calibrated solely with soil variables were the least accurate. We found regional differences in potential shrub species richness across Australia due to the use of different sets of variables. Our study provides evidence that predicted patterns of species richness may be sensitive to the choice of predictor set when multiple, plausible alternatives exist, and demonstrates the importance of considering soil properties when modeling availability of habitat for plants.
Effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on development and consumption rates of Octotoma championi and O-scabripennis feeding on Lantana camara
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-08-2003
Tracing climate and land-use instability reveals new insights into the future of Earth’s remaining wilderness
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 17-06-2021
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-620309/V1
Abstract: Accelerated loss of Earth’s wilderness over the last five decades underscores the urgency for efforts to retain the conservation value of these areas. Assessing how wilderness areas are likely to be impacted by the future environmental change is fundamental to achieving global bio ersity conservation goals. Using scenarios of climate and land-use change during baseline (1970–2005) and future (2015–2050) epochs, we found that climate change within wilderness areas is predicted to increase by ~ 47%, compared to a 19% increase in land-use change. Half (52%) of all wilderness areas may undergo climate change by 2050, limiting their capacity to shelter bio ersity. More significant changes are especially predicted to occur in the unprotected wilderness that supports unique assemblages of species and are therefore more important for bio ersity persistence. Countries with smaller and disconnected wilderness areas are disproportionately at risk from the combined impacts of climate and land-use change. Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and preserving remaining intact natural ecosystems can help fortify these frontiers of bio ersity.
Influence of adaptive capacity on the outcome of climate change vulnerability assessment
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-10-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-13245-Y
Abstract: Climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA) has become a mainstay conservation decision support tool. CCVAs are recommended to incorporate three elements of vulnerability – exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity – yet, lack of data frequently leads to the latter being excluded. Further, weighted or unweighted scoring schemes, based on expert opinion, may be applied. Comparisons of these approaches are rare. In a CCVA for 17 Australian lizard species, we show that membership within three vulnerability categories (low, medium and high) generally remained similar regardless of the framework or scoring scheme. There was one exception however, where, under the warm/dry scenario for 2070, including adaptive capacity lead to five fewer species being classified as highly vulnerable. Two species, Eul rus leuraensis and E . kosciuskoi , were consistently ranked the most vulnerable, primarily due to projected losses in climatically suitable habitat, narrow thermal tolerance and specialist habitat requirements. Our findings provide relevant information for prioritizing target species for conservation and choosing appropriate conservation actions. We conclude that for the species included in this study, the framework and scoring scheme used had little impact on the identification of the most vulnerable species. We caution, however, that this outcome may not apply to other taxa or regions.
Identifying climate refugia for 30 Australian rainforest plant species, from the last glacial maximum to 2070
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-11-2019
The effect of co-occurring heat and water stress on reproductive traits and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Publisher: Japanese Society for Horticultural Science
Date: 2020
The Global Urban Tree Inventory
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-08-2020
DOI: 10.1111/GEB.13169
Eph and Ephrin Variants in Malaysian Neural Tube Defect Families
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 26-05-2022
Abstract: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects with a complex genetic etiology. Mouse genetic models have indicated a number of candidate genes, of which functional mutations in some have been found in human NTDs, usually in a heterozygous state. This study focuses on Ephs-ephrins as candidate genes of interest owing to growing evidence of the role of this gene family during neural tube closure in mouse models. Eph-ephrin genes were analyzed in 31 Malaysian in iduals comprising seven in iduals with sporadic spina bifida, 13 parents, one twin-sibling and 10 unrelated controls. Whole exome sequencing analysis and bioinformatic analysis were performed to identify variants in 22 known Eph-ephrin genes. We reported that three out of seven spina bifida probands and three out of thirteen family members carried a variant in either EPHA2 (rs147977279), EPHB6 (rs780569137) or EFNB1 (rs772228172). Analysis of public databases shows that these variants are rare. In exome datasets of the probands and parents of the probands with Eph-ephrin variants, the genotypes of spina bifida-related genes were compared to investigate the probability of the gene–gene interaction in relation to environmental risk factors. We report the presence of Eph-ephrin gene variants that are prevalent in a small cohort of spina bifida patients in Malaysian families.
Identifying in situ climate refugia for plant species
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-03-2018
DOI: 10.1111/ECOG.03431
Climate ready street tree trials
Publisher: Macquarie University
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.25949/V8N7-WT66
Can we integrate ecological approaches to improve plant selection for green infrastructure?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2022
Simulating the impact of projected West African heatwaves and water stress on the physiology and yield of three tomato varieties
Publisher: Advances in Horticultural Science
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.13128/AHSC-8494
A matter of timing: changes in the first date of arrival and last date of departure of Australian migratory birds
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-10-2007
The Biodiversity and Climate Change Virtual Laboratory: Where ecology meets big data
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2016
Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-11-2017
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.2627
Abstract: Establishing corridors of connecting habitat has become a mainstay conservation strategy to maintain gene flow and facilitate climate‐driven range shifts. Yet, little attention has been given to ascertaining the extent to which corridors will benefit philopatric species, which might exhibit localized adaptation. Measures of genetic connectivity and adaptive genetic variation across species’ ranges can help fill this knowledge gap. Here, we characterized the spatial genetic structure of Cunningham's skink ( Egernia cunninghami ), a philopatric species distributed along Australia's Great Dividing Range, and assessed evidence of localized adaptation. Analysis of 4,274 SNP s from 94 in iduals s led at four localities spanning 500 km and 4° of latitude revealed strong genetic structuring at neutral loci (mean F ST ± SD = 0.603 ± 0.237) among the localities. Putatively neutral SNP s and those under ergent selection yielded contrasting spatial patterns, with the latter identifying two genetically distinct clusters. Given low genetic connectivity of the four localities, we suggest that the natural movement rate of this species is insufficient to keep pace with spatial shifts to its climate envelope, irrespective of habitat availability. In addition, our finding of localized adaptation highlights the risk of outbreeding depression should the translocation of in iduals be adopted as a conservation management strategy.
Tracking habitat or testing its suitability? Similar distributional patterns can hide very different histories of persistence versus nonequilibrium dynamics
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-04-2022
DOI: 10.1111/EVO.14460
Abstract: The expansions and contractions of a species' range in response to temporal changes in selective filters leave genetic signatures that can inform a more accurate reconstruction of their evolutionary history across the landscape. After a long period of continental decline, Australian rainforests settled into localized patterns of contraction or expansion during the climatic fluctuations of the Quaternary. The environmental impacts of recurring glacial and interglacial periods also intensified the arrival of new lineages from the Sunda shelf, and it can be expected that immigrant versus locally persistent taxa responded to environmental challenges in quantifiably different manner. To investigate how such differences impact on species' distribution, we contrast landscape genomic patterns and changes in habitat availability between a species with a long continental history on Doryphora sassafras and a Sunda-derived species (Toona ciliata), across a distributional overlap. Extensive landscape-level homogeneity across chloroplast and nuclear genomes for the Sunda-derived T. ciliata, characterize the genetic signature of a very recent invasion and a rapid southern "exploratory" expansion that had not been previously recorded in the Australian flora (i.e., of Gondwanan origin or Sahul-derived). In contrast, D. sassafras is consistent with other Sahul-derived species characterized by strong geographical ergence and regional differentiation. Interestingly, our findings suggest that admixture between genetically ergent populations during expansion events might be a contributing factor to the successful colonization of novel habitats. Overall, this study identifies some of the mechanisms regulating the rearrangements in species distributions and assemblage composition that follow major environmental shifts, and reminds us how a species' current range might not necessarily define species' habitat preference, with the consequence that estimates of past or future range might not always be reliable.
Taxonomic shortfalls in digitised collections of Australia’s flora
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-10-2020
Phenological Changes in the Southern Hemisphere
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 10-2013
Different climatic envelopes among invasive populations may lead to underestimations of current and future biological invasions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-04-2009
Embedding biodiversity research into climate adaptation policy and practice
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-07-2021
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.15770
Abstract: Addressing climate change risks requires collaboration and engagement across all sectors of society. In particular, effective partnerships are needed between research scientists producing new knowledge, policy‐makers and practitioners who apply conservation actions on the ground. We describe the implementation of a model for increasing the application and useability of bio ersity research in climate adaptation policy and practice. The focus of the program was to increase the ability of a state government agency and natural resource practitioners in Australia to manage and protect bio ersity in a changing climate. The model comprised a five‐stage process for enhancing impact (i) initiation of research projects that addressed priority conservation policy and management issues (ii) co‐design of the research using a collaborative approach involving multiple stakeholders (iii) implementation of the research and design of decision tools and web‐based resources (iv) collaborative dissemination of the tools and resources via government and community working groups and (v) evaluation of research impact. We report on the model development and implementation, and critically reflect on the model's impact. We share the lessons learnt from the challenges of operating within a stakeholder group with erse objectives and criteria for success, and provide a template for creating an environmental research program with real world impact.
Assessing the vulnerability of Australia’s urban forests to climate extremes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-08-2019
DOI: 10.1002/PPP3.10064
Combining dispersal, landscape connectivity and habitat suitability to assess climate-induced changes in the distribution of Cunningham’s skink, Egernia cunninghami
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 05-09-2017
National assessments of species vulnerability to climate change strongly depend on selected data sources
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-05-2021
DOI: 10.1111/DDI.13275
Abstract: Correlative species distribution models (SDMs) are among the most frequently used tools for conservation planning under climate and land use changes. Conservation‐focused climate change studies are often conducted on a national or local level and can use different sources of occurrence records (e.g., local databases, national bio ersity monitoring) collated at different geographic extents. However, little is known about how these restrictions in geographic space (i.e., Wallacean shortfall) can lead to restrictions in environmental space (i.e., Hutchinsonian shortfall) and accordingly affect conclusions about a species’ vulnerability to climate change. Americas with a focus on Mexico. We present an ex le study constructing SDMs for three Mexican tree species ( Alnus acuminata , Liquidambar styraciflua and Quercus xalapensis ) using datasets collated at a global (Americas), national (Mexico) and local (cloud forests of eastern Mexico) level to demonstrate the potential effects of a Wallacean shortfall on the estimation of the environmental niche—and thus on a Hutchinsonian shortfall—its projection in space and time and, consequently, on species’ potential vulnerability to climate change. The consequence of using the three datasets was species‐specific and strongly depended on the extent to which the Wallacean shortfall affected estimations of environmental niches (i.e., Hutchinsonian shortfall). Where restrictions in geographic space lead to an underestimation of the environmental niche, vulnerability to climate change was estimated to be substantially higher. Additionally, the restrictions in geographic space may increase the likelihood of issues with non‐analogue climates, increasing model uncertainty. We recommend assessing the extent to which a species’ entire realized environmental niche is captured within the target conservation area, and increasing the geographic extent, if needed, to account for environments and occurrences reflecting potential future conditions. This way, the risk of underestimating the climatic potential of the species (i.e., Hutchinsonian shortfall), as well as the errors induced by extrapolation into “locally novel” climates, can be minimized.
The Prevalence and Distribution of Spina Bifida in a Single Major Referral Center in Malaysia
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 09-11-2017
An integrated approach to assessing abiotic and biotic threats to post-fire plant species recovery
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-03-2022
DOI: 10.1111/GEB.13478
Abstract: Existing abiotic and biotic threats to plant species (e.g., disease, drought, invasive species) affect their capacity to recover post‐fire. We use a new, globally applicable framework to assess the vulnerability of 26,062 Australian plant species to a suite of active threats after the 2019–2020 fires. Australia. 2019–2020. Plants. Spatial data for existing threats and information on species‐level susceptibility were combined with estimates of the extent of range burnt in southern Australia ( 22°S) to assign species against 10 criteria into vulnerability categories ( high , medium , low , none , data deficient ). We explore in detail results for three threats (drought, disease, feral animals), highlighting where impacts from multiple threats ranked high vulnerability may compound to reduce post‐fire recovery. Analysis of the full suite of 10 vulnerability criteria, which encompass a broad range of threats, revealed large numbers of species vulnerable to poor post‐fire recovery from one or more different hazards ( high vulnerability: 1,243 species medium vulnerability: 2,450 species). Collectively, 457 plant species that burnt extensively ( 50%) across their range are highly vulnerable to poor recovery due to exposure to pre‐fire drought conditions (235 species), disease (186 species), or feral animals (97 species). Of these 457 species, 61 are vulnerable to more than one of these three threats, highlighting how a suite of interacting hazards can impact plant recovery after fire. While fire can renew plant populations by stimulating recruitment and resetting competitive interactions, the presence of existing threats in post‐fire landscapes jeopardizes recovery. The simultaneous impact of multiple threats that impact recovery can create a suite of hazards that contribute to declines and, potentially, extinction. Our method for rapid post‐fire vulnerability assessment can be applied to large numbers of plant species or other biota in fire affected regions globally.
Incorporating future climate uncertainty into the identification of climate change refugia for threatened species
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
Biodiversity conservation - Uncertainty in predictions of extinction risk - Effects of changes in climate and land use - Climate change and extinction risk - Reply
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2004
DOI: 10.1038/NATURE02719
The impacts of climate change on Australian and New Zealand flora and fauna
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date: 22-12-2015
Substantial declines in urban tree habitat predicted under climate change
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2019.05.287
Abstract: Globally, local governments are increasing investment in urban greening projects. However, there is little consideration of whether the species being planted will be resilient to climate change. We assessed the distribution of climatically suitable habitat, now and in the future, for 176 tree species native to Australia, commonly planted across Australia's Significant Urban Areas (SUAs) and currently grown by commercial nurseries. Species' occurrence records were obtained from inventories and herbaria, globally and across Australia, and combined with baseline climate data (WorldClim, 1960-1990) and six climate scenarios for 2030 and 2070 using climatic suitability models (CSMs). CSMs for each species were calibrated and projected onto baseline and future scenarios. We calculated changes in the size of climatically suitable habitat for each species across each SUA, and identified urban areas that are likely to have suitable climate for either fewer or more of our study species under future climate. By 2070, climatically suitable habitat in SUAs is predicted to decline for 73% of species assessed. For 18% of these species, climatically suitable area is predicted to be more than halved, relative to their baseline extent. Generally, for urban areas in cooler regions, climatically suitable habitat is predicted to increase. By contrast, for urban areas in warmer regions, a greater proportion of tree species may lose climatically suitable habitat. Our results highlight changing patterns of urban climatic space for commonly planted species, suggesting that local governments and the horticultural industry should take a proactive approach to identify new climate-ready species for urban plantings.
Impacts of climate change on high priority fruit fly species in Australia
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 13-02-2020
MOLECULAR DETECTION OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE DETERMINANTS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM THE ENDANGERED AUSTRALIAN SEA LION (NEOPHOCA CINEREA)
Publisher: Wildlife Disease Association
Date: 07-2015
DOI: 10.7589/2014-08-200
Abstract: Greater interaction between humans and wildlife populations poses significant risks of anthropogenic impact to natural ecosystems, especially in the marine environment. Understanding the spread of microorganisms at the marine interface is therefore important if we are to mitigate adverse effects on marine wildlife. We investigated the establishment of Escherichia coli in the endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) by comparing fecal isolation from wild and captive sea lion populations. Fecal s les were collected from wild colonies March 2009-September 2010 and from captive in iduals March 2011-May 2013. Using molecular screening, we assigned a phylotype to E. coli isolates and determined the presence of integrons, mobile genetic elements that capture gene cassettes conferring resistance to antimicrobial agents common in fecal coliforms. Group B2 was the most abundant phylotype in all E. coli isolates (n = 37), with groups A, B1, and D also identified. Integrons were not observed in E. coli (n = 21) isolated from wild sea lions, but were identified in E. coli from captive animals (n = 16), from which class I integrases were detected in eight isolates. Sequencing of gene cassette arrays identified genes conferring resistance to streptomycin-spectinomycin (aadA1) and trimethoprim (dfrA17, dfrB4). Class II integrases were not detected in the E. coli isolates. The frequent detection in captive sea lions of E. coli with resistance genes commonly identified in human clinical cases suggests that conditions experienced in captivity may contribute to establishment. Identification of antibiotic resistance in the microbiota of Australian sea lions provides crucial information for disease management. Our data will inform conservation management strategies and provide a mechanism to monitor microorganism dissemination to sensitive pinniped populations.
Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium occurrence in Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) exposed to varied levels of human interaction
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2014
Related Organisations
Related Funding Activities
Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP220102323
Start Date: 07-2022
End Date: 07-2025
Amount: $403,431.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP0877979
Start Date: 07-2008
End Date: 07-2013
Amount: $519,697.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP140100232
Start Date: 02-2015
End Date: 12-2018
Amount: $331,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity