Managing Australia's Ecosystems. Closes 15 June 2018

The ESA Bulletin

VOLUME 48, ISSUE 2 J U N E 2 0 1 8

CONTENTS

The science and poli- 1 Have your say: Managing Australia’s cy of managing Aus- tralia’s ecosystems ecosystems. Closes 15 June 2018 By David Keith David Goodall 2 David Keith other forms of life that depend on them. 1918–2018 Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of By Andy Gillison & New South Wales Many Australians are awakening to the very Ladislav Mucina real possibility that the Great Barrier Reef, as ecent ecological changes to the Great we knew it, may not be around for our Guarding Against 6 children and grandchildren to see. While the Questionable Re- Barrier Reef have captured public spatial extent and magnitude of ecosystem search Practices as a R attention in Australia unlike any other Graduate Student recent environmental issue. A succession of decline are shocking to many who value the By Hannah Fraser & mass bleaching events of unprecedented Reef, this kind of phenomenon is not new. Fiona Fidler severity are occurring so frequently in the Ecologists have studied ecosystem northern reefs that there is insufficient time transformations for a decades. Not just on The real value of 8 for coral to recover. Additionally, ocean coral reefs but in a range of marine, attending conferences freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. By Alison Matthews acidification is slowing rates of coral growth, creating further barriers to recovery. Although ecosystem transformations are variously described as regime shifts, state The secret to confer- 9 The southern reefs are declining for different changes, ecological catastrophes and mass ence success reasons, with catchment runoff bearing eroded By David M Watson mortality events, the generic phenomenon is sediments and fertilisers that reduce habitat known as “ecosystem collapse”. suitability for corals and make them more Australia’s draft Na- 10 susceptible to disease and predators. Periodic Collapse is a transformation of ecosystem tional Biodiversity identity that involves loss of defining Strategy underwhelms cyclones further reduce coral cover under features—living things, the relationships By Jenny Lau & Charlie these muted conditions for recovery. The Sherwin systematic and rapid decline in coral cover with their environment and the processes that over recent decades offers undeniable sustain them. Attending conferences 12 evidence of the combined impact of these as a postgrad student: pressures. Of course, the declines are not Continued Page 4 perspectives, dos and limited to corals but cascade through many don’ts By Suz Everingham

Welcome to ESA’s 13 new Book Review Editor: Maggie Wat- son! By Gail Spina

Stronger legislation is required to protect Australia’s ecosystems. Credit: Wikimedia Commons P a g e 2 Vale David Goodall 1914–2018

Andy Gillison1 & Ladislav Mucina2 clustering and ordination was conducted on a hand 1ESA President 1981–1982, (former colleague and calculator. This way, it took him several weeks to friend) accomplish a simple-matrix PCA analysis, David 2The University of Western Australia (a much once admitted. younger friend of David’s) In effect, Goodall’s Australian work set the research avid William Goodall was born April 4, agenda for the next generation of vegetation 1914 in Edmonton, England. So began the ecologists. His modelling skills were recognised by D extraordinarily productive life of one of the the United States National Academy of Science world’s leading scholars, practitioners, and mentors. which appointed him as the Director of the International Biological Program’s Desert Biome David graduated some 83 years ago and completed Program from 1968 to 1974. Aside from his his doctorate at Imperial College of Science and modelling expertise, David published more than 168 Technology in 1939. Trained originally as a plant scientific papers between 1936 and 2014, and became physiologist he was a senior lecturer in the School of widely known as the Editor-in-Chief of the 38 Botany at Melbourne for four years (1948–1952). volume “Ecosystems of the World” (Elsevier, David moved to Ghana before Amsterdam)—a massive taking up the Chair of scholarly undertaking over 34 Agricultural Botany at “Goodall’s Australian work years. Reading University in 1954. set the research agenda for When his academic and He then joined the CSIRO as a the next generation of administrative roles as a Senior Principal Research vegetation ecologists” Professor or Honorary Staff Scientist in 1956. It was member in several universities around that time he developed and as a leader in field-based his initial approaches to numerically-based vegetation research are taken into account, his influence on the classification while with the CSIRO Division of discipline of ecology has been immense. Mathematics and Statistics from 1961 to 1967. David’s field experience covered an extraordinary David Goodall was one of the pioneers of spectrum of vegetation that included (among many quantitative plant ecology and much of his seminal others) detailed ecological studies of hot desert work was based in Australia. He became a significant chenopods through to lichens in Swedish Lapland. and leading figure, along with contemporaries Bill Williams and Peter Greig-Smith, in developing He was a member of 14 learned societies and his innovative, quantitative approaches to the analysis of many prestigious awards included promotion to plant patterns, resemblance, ordination and Doctor Honoris Causa at the University of Trieste, classification of vegetation. His passion for Italy in 1990. He received the Distinguished multivariate statistics fostered progress in ordination Statistical Ecologist Award from the International techniques and paved the way for its wide acceptance Association for Ecology in 1994, and in 1997 he was throughout the world of ecological sciences. made an Honorary Member of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS), the From his early work on the adaptation of factor organization's highest award. analysis and principal component analysis to ecological problems, he continued to refine these ESA members will know that he received the Gold techniques through non-linear approaches and the Medal of the Ecological Society of Australia in 2008. introduction of probability to provide a more realistic At all stages of his term in Australia, David basis for the understanding vegetation patterns. For maintained close ties with the ESA and was a valued those of us used to laptops, it has to be remembered mentor to many ESA members. Goodall turned 100 that much of Goodall’s initial research on numerical in 2014 when a book of scientific contributions

The ESA Bulletin P a g e 3 resulting from the Annual Symposium of the IAVS in living to such an advanced age. Before the lethal Perth was dedicated injection ended his life to him and the on May 10, 2018, to an following year he was assembled international honoured in a special “A lesson for all to maintain a fresh media, in a strong voice issue of the journal and active mind after the pressures he sang in German, a Plant Ecology. of academic life: challenge yourself, passage from and keep an open mind to the Beethoven’s 9th In the 2016 Australia changing world” symphonic version of Day Honours list he Schiller’s ‘Ode to Joy’. was made a Member Perhaps an enduring of the Order of message to others, epitomising his unwavering Australia for "significant service to science as an attitude to life. Unlike many who “never die but only academic, researcher and author in the area of plant fade away” David Goodall went out with a ecology and natural resources management." characteristic bang.¤ David was an outstanding illustrious member of the scientific scene of Western Australia for many years. From his home in Yanchep, he drove to work at the Edith Cowan University in north Perth almost daily for many years. A beacon of passion for science in service to the scientific community at large, he was an inspiration to all his colleagues and students alike. After his retirement he did exactly what a scientist passionately in love with science should do: ‘stay afloat’. A lesson for all to maintain a fresh and active mind after the pressures of academic life: challenge yourself; and, keep an open mind to the changing world. David did exactly that… and still was able to publish aged 100! What a remarkable role model! A family man, David was married three times and had four children and 12 grandchildren. In later life, Goodall advocated for the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia, being a member of assisted dying advocacy group Exit International for over twenty years. Aged 104, Goodall chose to end his own life with the aid of physicians in Switzerland. Euthanasia advocates said that his quality of life had deteriorated, and he publicly expressed regret about

David Goodall during a field excursion in South Africa, 2008. Photo L. Mucina P a g e 4

The science and policy of managing Australia’s consequences. Ecosystem collapse often has negative ecosystems by David Keith, continued from Page 1 consequences for regional economies, physical and mental health, and cultural identity, key elements of Collapsed ecosystems are replaced by novel human well-being. Indeed, new evidence on the ecosystems that have different properties and relationship between mental health and connection with organisational processes, but which may have some nature reinforces historical beliefs about the benefits of features in common with the prior system. ‘fresh air’, so poignantly expressed in the legislation declaring Australia’s first national park. Australia has had a checkered history of ecosystem collapse after European arrival. A number of Evidence about the importance of ecosystems to human contemporary ecosystems are essentially derivatives well-being is notable for its antiquity, strength, and of prior systems. Several rangeland ecosystems volume. The ecological collapse of the Aral Sea collapsed in the late 19th century when squatters precipitated economic collapse of shipping and flooded into western NSW with their sheep and fisheries industries, and generated a surge in dust- introduced herbivores and predators. When drought related illness and infant mortality. inevitably came, the loss of perennial vegetation to overgrazing triggered dust storms and extensive soil In western NSW, the ecological collapse of rangelands erosion. Interactions between these processes and generated a collapse of the regional economy that was introduced pests caused extinctions of medium-sized so severe that ensuing public concern precipitated a mammals and other biota. Royal Commission in 1901 to investigate the causes. The story in is not unlike recent public discourse The ecosystems that replaced the prior rangelands around overexploitation of water in the Murray-Darling are less resilient to drought, dominated by ephemeral Basin, which weakened the capacity of the system to plants, with persistent erosion scalds and constraints withstand the millennium drought. Among the on regeneration of long-lived perennial plants. The consequences were mass mortality of river red gum carrying capacity of forests, toxic blooms in the rangelands for livestock is Darling River and Coorong unreliable and much lower “Almost all of the causes of lagoon, crop failures, destruction than that of the antecedent ecosystem collapse in of orchards and vineyards, ecosystems. Similarly, the modern times are connected decline of fisheries, and social extensive floodplain with humans. ” and economic hardship. Rain ecosystems of the southeast arrived in time to reverse only coast were an early casualty some of these transformations. of vegetation clearing and drainage programs. They As public memory of ecosystem collapse (or near- are no longer functional as effective landscape collapse) fades, ecologists search for ways to build filters, and lack signature species such as Magpie resistance and resilience, enabling ecosystems to geese, now only seen in large numbers on tropical withstand recurrence of similar events which will floodplains. inevitably come in the future. But the problem is only The symptoms of ecosystem collapse are diverse and partly scientific. Advances in knowledge are valuable, therefore difficult to generalise. The causes and but only influence outcomes when public awareness, mechanisms are equally diverse and include managers’ willingness to act, and/or political deterministic transformations of structure (e.g. land commitment lead to actions that reduce risks of clearing), resource overexploitation (e.g. water ecosystem collapse. extraction), environmental forcing (e.g. climate Although tragedies of the commons and other social change), changes to disturbance regimes (e.g. fire), pathologies (“it won’t affect me”) mitigate against such overharvesting of trophic or structural dominants positive outcomes, there is growing evidence on how (e.g. overfishing), introductions of new dominants or connecting with nature benefits our physical and engineers (e.g. invasive species), and changes to mental health, with flow-on benefits to economic movement patterns (e.g. migration). productivity and health costs. The key messages Almost all causes of ecosystem collapse in modern emerging from the examples above are that ecosystem times are connected with humans. So too are the collapse has dire consequences for people as well as

The ESA Bulletin P a g e 5 biodiversity, and that we must learn from experience Historical inconsistencies between jurisdictions in to confront and prevent the collapse of ecosystems listing methods are as important. To rectify this, all today if we are to avoid further erosion of Australian governments recently agreed in-principle biodiversity and human well-being. to adopt international standards based on IUCN Red List criteria for listing both species and ecosystems. Global agreements such as the Convention on Although the reform of listing processes for Biological Diversity and the UN’s Sustainable ecological communities is lagging, NSW has adopted Development Goals reflect the many imperatives to the international standard. minimise risks of ecosystem collapse. Signatories are obliged to ensure on-ground action through Progressing the adoption of international standards in jurisdictional laws, policies, planning instruments, ecosystem risk assessment can strengthen the link and resourcing programs. between policy and ecosystem science. The many benefits include: The principal legal instrument for ecosystem protection in Australia is the Environment Protection  A more rigorous connection with risk assessment Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, theory will make listings more robust to new supported by legislation in the states and territories. information and challenge; The EPBC Act defines ecosystems as “dynamic complex[es] of plant, animal and micro-organism  Ecosystem-specific diagnoses, which the communities and their non-living environment international standard promotes, overcoming interacting as a functional unit”, but lacks explicit limitations of one-size-fits all approaches to statutory provisions for their protection. assessing the ‘condition’ or ‘integrity’ across ecosystems with diverse functions and traits; However, the Act does provide for listing, protection and restoration of “ecological communities”, defined  Consistent environmental reporting across as “assemblage[s] of native species that inhabits a Australian jurisdictions and internationally; and, particular area in nature” (§528). Ecosystem concepts  Leveraging support infrastructure including such as ecological interactions are implicit in the application guidelines, analytical tools, and term, “assemblage,” and the physical environment is typological frameworks for ecosystems. implicit in “area in nature”. Ecological communities are thus effectively proxies of ecosystems in law, and Beyond adoption of international standards, Australia would seem to be one of few countries with Australian ecologists, widely regarded as world legal provisions for listing ecosystems at risk of leaders in ecosystem risk assessment, have much to collapse. offer in the development of policy to improve biodiversity and human well-being. Two (among The Australian legislation pre-dates recent scientific many) areas for consideration include: the need for a advances in this area. For example, the Act (§182(1)) comprehensive systematic assessment of Australian currently states that “an ecological community is… ecosystems to support strategic decision making and critically endangered if…facing an extremely high international reporting obligations; and, improved risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate provisions for evaluation of ecosystem functions and future…”, yet ‘extinction’ is undefined for ecological services in regulatory approval processes, strategic communities and there are no provisions for listing assessments, and funding schemes. ‘extinct’ ecological communities. The EPBC Act will be reviewed in October 2019 and Moreover, the meaning of extinction in relation to provides one avenue for scientific input from ecosystems or communities is problematic because ecologists. In the short term, the Federal Government they do not vanish as species do when the last is undertaking a review into the interaction between individual dies. Rather, they undergo transformative agriculture and the EPBC Act. Australian scientists changes and are replaced by novel systems. The can make a valuable contribution to this inquiry by distinction is likely important because effective offering ideas about how the EPBC Act can provide policy apparatus should provide for protection of more effective support for the roles and ecosystem composition, structure and functions, all of responsibilities that the farm sector has in managing which are directly relevant to assessing collapse but ecosystems to benefit biodiversity, human health, not well connected with the concept of extinction. regional and national economies and Australian cultural identity. Submissions close 15 June 2018.¤ P a g e 6 Guarding against questionable research practices as a graduate student

Hannah Fraser & Fiona Fidler It is typical to judge the significance of an analysis University of Melbourne based on p < 0.05, this means you are accepting a 1 in 20 chance of finding a significant relationship by ou may have heard about the reproducibility chance alone. When researchers report only a subset crisis in psychology. When psychologists of the analyses performed, it's not possible for readers have redone previously published Y to moderate their interpretation of the results to experiments as part of systematic replication projects, account for the increased likelihood of a false more than half the time they find different results to positive result. the original project. The three practices mentioned above are tempting The difficulty of reproducing psychology findings because you have to publish to make a career in has been linked to publication bias and certain science, and articles that include non-significant common research practices that are now considered results or blow-by-blow accounts of methods are questionable. Mounting evidence suggests that considered less desirable by editors and reviewers. questionable research practices and the associated difficulty of reproducing findings is likely to be Importantly, these practices have also been part of the common across all scientific fields. standard research practice for a long time and are not widely recognised as problematic. As a result, there is Recently, we contributed to this body of work with a good chance that you have been encouraged to use Tim Parker, Shinichi Nakagawa, and Ashley Barnett one of these practices by a supervisor, reviewer, or by showing that ecology and evolutionary biology editor. researchers are just as likely to use questionable When are questionable research practices as “Mounting evidence suggests research practices likely psychologists. that questionable research to occur? We surveyed ecology and practices and the associated Let’s paint the picture: evolutionary biology difficulty of reproducing You finished your field researchers, asking findings is likely to be common work. You collected data whether and how across all scientific fields” on the occurrence of an frequently they had used 9 animal species at sites different questionable with different vegetation research practices. characteristics. After careful consideration, you build The most common of these practices among ecology a model for the occurrence of your species based on and evolutionary biology researchers were: the vegetation characteristics you think are most likely to influence its occurrence. 1) not reporting all dependent variables (64.1% of ecologists, 63.6% of evolutionary biologists); The model shows no statistically significant relationships between occurrence and the vegetation 2) not reporting all models (53.5% of ecologists, characteristics you picked out. 53.4% of evolutionary biologists); and, You present your results to you supervisor and… 3) switching analyses to get a better result (54.4% of ecologists, 52.3% of evolutionary Your supervisor takes a close look at the model and biologists). after trying a few things decides that you should have log transformed data from one of your vegetation These practices are problematic because they increase characteristics. This transformation means that the the chances of reporting a false positive result. outcome is now statistically significant.

The ESA Bulletin P a g e 7 A log transform isn’t something you had considered explored (e.g. one with raw data, one where the data before but it sounds reasonable when your supervisor is log transformed) in your article or thesis, even if points it out, and your data now tell a simple, this just means mentioning them briefly in the main statistically significant, story. However, if you don’t text and describing them in detail in an appendix. describe this transformation as being a post hoc decision in your article or thesis chapter, you have You submit your research to a journal and… used a questionable research practice. You have The reviewers say that your methods section is overly increased the probability that any statistically complicated and that your work would tell a clearer significant result you found was due to chance, rather story if you didn’t describe the non-significant than reflecting an ecologically meaningful analyses. They ask you to trim out these details and relationship. resubmit the work. Agreeing to this would mean Decisions about whether or which transformation to using a questionable research practice; specifically, use (or to exclude outliers, and other data cleaning not reporting all of the models you used. practices) should not be outcome based, that is, they This may not feel true, but you don’t necessarily need should not be made on the grounds that they produce to do everything the reviewers ask for. If there is a a statistically significant effect where there wasn’t good reason for not changing something it is one before. completely appropriate to write a rebuttal instead. Firstly, you could try making the above argument to You could point out that omitting results from a study your supervisor. Be prepared, they may or may not based on their significance is a problem in research, agree. If they don’t see the problem, then you may leading to the proliferation of false positive results in have bigger problems! Try the podcast “The PhD the literature. It might also be worth referencing some Who Caught the Car” on The Black Goat for further key pieces of work like Fidler et al 2017, Forstmeier advice. et al 2016, Fanelli 2012, Simmons et al 2011, and In this situation it would be best scientific practice to Cassey et al 2004 in your rebuttal, to back up your describe all of the variations of the model you point.¤

Questionable research practices are common within ecology. HARKing = Hypothesising after results are known. Credit: Hannah Fraser P a g e 8 The real value of attending conferences

Alison Matthews can introduce you to the people you want to meet Research Professional Development and connect you to other researchers working in Charles Sturt University your field. Ask them to introduce you at the tea break. hen I think back on my first talk at a scientific conference, I’m hard-pressed 2) Seek out other students and early career researchers. W to remember what it was about. Attend pre-conference or dinner events specifically organised for this cohort. It can be easier to bond Was I nervous? Probably. Did I respond to with people who are at the same career stage as you, questions with authority? Probably not. and this may help you to network as a united front. What I do remember is the morning tea break and 3) Give a talk. Many students opt to present a poster at being introduced by my senior colleague to people a conference but if you have sufficient data for a attending the conference. People he greeted with spoken presentation you should do this in hugs and handshakes and who he knew well preference. Apart from sharing your research through a shared history of meetings. findings with a bigger audience, the conference Some people call this networking. This word may delegates will see your face and be able to identify cause your heart to beat faster and your mouth to you later. dry up just thinking about approaching Dr X. But 4) Engage with the conference sessions and participate the networking opportunities that come with in question time. A raised hand and an intelligent conference attendance is the real value of a question will help raise your profile with people in scientific meeting. the audience. The people are the life-blood of a society, and it’s 5) Be sociable. Ask people what plans they have for their expertise and knowledge that you will draw the evening and gather a group for drinks or dinner. on over your career. Networking in this environment is just like meeting people at a party. 6) Stay at the conference venues. Most conferences The friendships that you form can lead to recommend hotels for delegates and this is a place productive and long-lasting research where you can meet other attendees. Ask to join collaborations. people at breakfast or on the walk to the conference. I’m now in a position where I support the 7) Sign up for field trips. This is the easiest one for professional development of researchers, including ecologists who are happiest in the field. Talking to higher degree research students. In my work I often people on the bus and at the field site won’t seem hear from early career researchers uncertain about like networking (even though it is!) who they should be collaborating with and how they should go about developing those 8) Attend the conference dinner. Don’t forget to relationships. mingle or even get on the dance floor. Dr X won’t seem so intimidating once you’ve seen his or her While there are many answers to this question, I moves on the dance floor. believe that conferences play a major role. Having attended many scientific conferences over the My final advice if you are a grad student nervous about years, I’ve drawn up a list of tips for making the giving your first conference paper, prepare well in most of those networking opportunities: advance. Practice and get feedback from your peers, but then don’t worry. In the long run, it won’t matter 1) Attend your first conference(s) with your whether your presentation was award-winning or not. supervisor or a senior colleague. As a grad What is important is that you attend and meet your first student, you need a good host—someone who new friend and future collaborator over a cup of tea.¤

The ESA Bulletin P a g e 9 The secret to conference success

David M Watson Institute for Land, Water & Society Charles Sturt University ssst. Hey you, yes, YOU! Wanna’ hear a secret about getting the most out of P conferences? There’s a secret system that’s been operating for years that surprisingly few people know about. Those that know ‘the secret’ have a great time at conferences—talking freely, meeting new people, sharing ideas, finding areas of mutual interest, even embarking upon new and exciting collaborations. Here’s the deal.

You’re at a conference, waiting in line for a coffee, Conference trophies. Credit: David M Watson vegie curry, beer, whatever, and there’s one of And, we’re all in the same boat! your science champions right there, right in front of you. You want to strike up a conversation with her, You’re an Honours student at your very first talk about a paper you recently read, share your conference, I’m a professor at my umpteenth amazing new idea, but you feel self-conscious. conference. But we’re both lanyard-sporting, beer- queuing delegates. Striking up a conversation with You don’t want to bother her, or waste her time, let random folk we encounter is one of the main reasons alone come across as a weirdo. we both came here. If she’s wearing a name tag then she has already So, make sure your name tag hasn’t flipped around to given you a free pass. A free pass to come up and say advertise the full drinks card from last night’s poster ‘hello’. Introduce yourself and start a conversation, session, swallow your pride, introduce yourself, and talk about that paper, and share *THAT* idea. see where the conversation takes you. More than that, and here’s the kicker, she actually The more you do it, the less uncomfortable it wants to interact with you and to talk about the becomes. Really! science that inspires both of you. That’s why she’s there. Now that you know the secret, share it. If you spot a person you’d like to talk to (and they’re not in the The only thing preventing this interaction from middle of a talk or giving an interview on live happening is your self-confidence. And hey, what’s television), just jump in. Great things will happen. this here, around your neck? Oh look, it’s your name Beyond science, research, jobs and all that serious tag, telling the whole world (or at least anyone within stuff, you’ll meet amazing people, establish firm view) your name, your institution, maybe even your friendships. twitter handle and, by extension, the stuff you really care about. I’m a fan of conferences. Heck, I met my wife at a conference. We both wandered away from the This is an invitation to other delegates to come up conference mixer at the St Louis Zoo and made the and introduce themselves to you. most of the last hour of daylight to see the animals You see, that’s the whole point of conferences. going about their business and both happened to Conferences are necessarily contrived. They are pause at a peahen pottering along the path. She engineered to make these invariably awkward first noticed my name tag, struck up a conversation and beginnings a little less awkward. the rest, as they say, is history. ¤ P a g e 10 Australia’s draft National Biodiversity Strategy: Underwhelming Jenny Lau & Charlie Sherwin “The draft National Birdlife Australia Biodiversity Strategy is not e have the knowledge and resources to even a strategy, let alone a demonstrate that conserving biodiversity world class one.” W is both achievable and worthwhile. And to do so, we need to take urgent, strategic, and Another definition of strategy is “skilful sufficient action to address the global nature management in attaining an end”. The draft NBS conservation crisis. In December 2017, the Federal lacks basic elements of a best practice management Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE) document like problem definition, logic, SMART released Strategy for Nature 2018–2030; Australia’s objectives (Specific, Measurable, Assignable, draft National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS) meant to Realistic and Time-related), and a commitment to address the crisis. evaluation and review. That’s what the Department said to a room full of The draft NBS is not even a strategy, let alone a biodiversity stakeholders at a workshop in March. world class one. At the workshop, we heard the DoEE is keen to have the Strategy finalised to show off at the next The draft NBS relies heavily on the truism that if Conference of the Parties to the Convention on people value something they’ll look after it. Basing Biological Diversity in Egypt this November. Australia’s nature conservation system on this platitude runs the risk that state governments may But, instead of a strategy assuring the world that abrogate their multilateral and governance Australia is leading the way in conserving responsibilities for conservation. The draft biodiversity, the draft NBS offers 17 pages of “strategy” centres on urging Australians to care for waffle. nature, without committing governments to even Strategy is defined as “a set of actions designed to one substantive action. achieve a specific goal”. The draft NBS doesn’t Even if the above truism was a sufficiently strategic describe any ‘actions’. insight on which to base a nation’s nature conservation efforts, the draft fails to back this truism with any SMART objectives or actions that form a plausible critical path to improved engagement with nature, let alone conservation outcomes. The one action the strategy hints at taking is to compile a list of actions, designed to “showcase” what various players (or perhaps only state and national Governments—the wording is not clear) are doing in nature conservation. However, no definitive description of, nor commitment to, creating this We need a stronger National Biodiversity Strategy to protect species such as “action inventory” is provided. The the Swift Parrot. Credit: Chris Tzaros

The ESA Bulletin P a g e 11 of more than 40 environment groups, convened an Australian Panel of Experts on Environmental Law and asked them to develop a blueprint to guide the development of new, stronger nature laws. From this blueprint, the Places You Love Alliance has derived the following policy recommendations to underpin a Next Generation of Environmental Laws for Australia:

 National environment laws that Federal budget cuts have put further strain on protecting endangered species, such as Car- genuinely protect naby’s Black Cockatoo. Credit: Georgina Steytler Australia's natural & cultural heritage;

wording conveys a distinct lack of confidence that  An independent National Sustainability any such inventory will come to fruition. Commission to develop strategy and standards;

The draft strategy also gives little indication of the  An independent National Environmental long-standing need for increased resourcing to Protection Authority to drive oversight of improve Australia’s capacity for nature conservation. administration and compliance; and, Successive State of the Environment Reports make it clear that greater public investment is needed to  Guaranteed community rights and participation improve biodiversity conservation outcomes, but the in environmental decision making, allowing draft strategy’s silence on this point is condemning. people’s love for nature to be more readily expressed through our laws. It’s hard not to be cynical. Over the last decade, vested interests have waged a sustained attack on our More effective environmental laws are crucial to national nature laws (the EPBC Act 1999) and ensuring the long-term viability of ecological lobbied the Federal Government to strip donor gift systems, and so of agricultural production, recipient status from environmental groups that community amenity, and wellbeing. Real reform will undertake advocacy to improve environmental laws, also require the Commonwealth to work with the or just try to have today’s weak states and private sector to laws upheld. develop an effective funding model for environmental In another blow, last month’s “We need stronger nature governance to ensure costs of Federal Budget stripped more laws, increased environmental stewardship are resources from the Biodiversity investment, less waffle, borne equitably across the and Conservation Division of and more gumption.” community and across the DoEE, which will likely generations. result in the loss of a third of the Division’s staff. If the draft National Biodiversity Strategy makes you cross, have a look at actforbirds.org.au, and tell your We cannot allow strategy to flounder, investment to friends, community, and parliamentary shrink, and biodiversity’s decline to go unchecked. representatives about it. We need stronger nature So, what can we do? laws, increased investment, less waffle, and more BirdLife Australia and Places You Love, an alliance gumption. ¤ P a g e 12 Attending EcoTAS as a postgrad: Perspectives, dos, and don’ts for the next conference Suz Everingham students’ work. This was not my experience at PhD Candidate, University of New South Wales EcoTAS. I was thrilled that other people were @SuzEveringham interested in what I thought was just my insignificant honours project. s a first time conference attendee, and someone with a strong introvert personality, I  Ask questions. If another person’s research is in A was hesitant to attend EcoTAS in November, your field or really interesting, use this as a 2017. I went to the conference because I knew that it conversation starter. A lot of people are thrilled to was important for my PhD, and future career in discuss their research. By going to conferences ecology. Although it was energy-draining and nerve- and hearing presentations or seminars about the racking at times, I had a fantastic time. field you’re particularly interested in, you can network widely. Ecology is a relatively small field I didn’t realise all the benefits that a national in Australia, and you never know where you will conference would bring, but came away with a far end up working, or whom you will end up deeper perspective. working with. It pays to meet people and discuss similar interests. Conferences are important for sharing your research with a range of people from diverse backgrounds and DO NOT: professions. Alongside ecologists, Government personnel and policy makers regularly attend  Sit and talk to your friends or colleagues all day. conferences too. Communicating the implications of This is a tempting scenario, especially by the end your research to this audience is important. of the conference when your energy begins to dwindle. Make an effort to meet new people and Conferences are excellent places to practice your step out of your comfort zone. After all, everyone science communication skills. This could include knows that conferences are an opportunity to giving a talk or explaining your poster, which are network and meet people, so you won’t be acting both great ways of flexing your presentation and out of the norm. communication muscles.  Get bogged down in negativity about others’ Networking at morning teas, lunches or planned achievements. There are a lot of students doing events can also help you practice communicating the amazing projects, or who may have heaps of importance of your research in a short snap-shot, and publications and win conference awards. Just prepare you to answer questions about your research remember, it is not a competition. Everyone has that you may never have even thought about. strengths and weaknesses. Celebrate each other’s achievements, work together and be proud of what Here are a few dos and don’ts that I found useful for you have accomplished, no matter how many getting the most out of the conference. papers you have published or prizes you have DO: won.

 Present something, whether it is a poster or talk. Leaving EcoTAS 2017, I had little of my voice left Although preparation can be time consuming, and and I quickly fell asleep on the trip home. When I got speaking to a group can be daunting, it is worth it. back to Sydney, I needed a nap, a cuddle from my Not only is it an instant line on your CV, it is the dog, and a break from human communication for 24 easiest way to break the ice. After my presentation hours. at EcoTAS, many other students and academics in Although it was a huge week, it was a fantastic one. I my field wanted to talk to me about my research. learnt a lot, met some brilliant people, and was There is a myth that professors and other reminded why I love ecology.¤ academics are too busy or not interested in

The ESA Bulletin P a g e 13 Welcome to ESA’s new Book Review Editor: Maggie Watson! Gail Spina hopes to encourage PhD students and ECRs to write Executive Officer, ESA reviews of books. Secretly, as a true bibliophile, she is eager to get her hands on all the great new and fter an incredible 9 years (yes 9 years!!!) in exciting ecological books that pass over the desk of the role of Book Review Editor for Austral the book reviews editor.¤ A Ecology, Pep Turner is stepping down to take on the role of Editorial Board Chair of Ecological Maggie can be contacted via Management & Restoration. Dr Maggie J Watson has email: [email protected] now stepped into the role and took over the reins in May 2018. Maggie is a Lecturer in the School of Environmental Sciences at Charles Sturt University where she teaches Ornithology and Conservation Biology subjects at the post- graduate level. She was previously a member of the School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, as well as a qualified science teacher both overseas in the USA, and New South Wales. Her research interests are primarily related to the effects of parasites and other symbionts on the life-history strategies of hosts and has published and presented a number of articles in this field. Maggie is also a serving executive board member for the Petaurus Education Group which develops and creates ecology-based educational materials for primary and secondary schools. Maggie is looking forward to continuing Pep Turner’s excellent editorial work, especially finding just the right reviewer for each book. Most importantly, as an educator, she

Maggie Watson has stepped up as our new book review editor for ESA The Ecological Society of Australia Ltd (ESA) is the peak group of ecologists in Australia, with over 1500 members from all states and territories. The ESA has an impressive 50 year history supporting ecologists, promoting ecology and ecological research. We aim to create a community of knowledge and understanding amongst ecologists, and reach out to those working in Ecological Society of Australia Ltd related fields. We invite you to join us in our efforts to promote the scientific study of all organisms in relation ESA Office to their environment, and encourage the application of Gail Spina ecological principles in the development, use and PO Box 2187 conservation of Australia's natural resources. The ESA Windsor QLD 4030 is a Registered Environmental Organisation with the Phone: 07 3357 3029 Department of the Environment, and Registered Mob: 0409 279 068 Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for- E-mail: [email protected] profits Commission. The ESA has Deductible Gift Recipient status.

Copyright Notice: Items printed in this Bulletin should not be reproduced without the permission of the ESA or the author of the material. Opinions expressed by contributors do no necessarily represent the views of the ESA, unless otherwise stated. Any mention of companies or products in the Bulletin are not endorsements.

Rock pool inhabitants by Alex Pike.