Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 1 EDITORIAL Sue Murray-Jones, Hon. Bulletin Editor

ESA11 gave all we expect of our annual unsuccessfully and not very convincingly conference and more—great program, nice trying to resign for the last few years, the time mix of talks and socialising, and even has finally come, and this is my last issue. magnificent weather. I managed to squeeze in Megan Evans is going to take it over, and the ‘Wild West Coast’ pre-conference tour, move us into a new and more exciting format, which was amazing. Not very coastal, but in this age of electronic media. included a nature walk on the Franklin River, Also ending is the contribution of a trip to a sub-alpine mine site, and walks at Bernie Masters, who has tirelessly kept us Cradle Mountain, it was well run, and its updated on what’s happening with other leader, John Davey, had lined up a societies for longer than I have been editing remarkable variety of experts and experiences the beast. Thanks Bernie, I have always for us. I also went to the Southern Forests enjoyed your contribution, and particularly with Simon Grove, another enjoyable trip. appreciated its timely arrival. I’d like to take Conference tours are always good value, and this opportunity to thank everyone who’s a chance to learn heaps because most of the contributed over the past 10 years, and made others along are ecologists. the job so easy. Particular thanks to our It’s the end of an era, at least for me. finance officer, Lyn, for sorting out printing At the 2001 AGM in Wollongong, suffering a issues, and our exec officers Gail, and rush of sugar to the brain (which was all Rob previously Larelle, for proof reading and Whelan’s fault, for handing out chocolate as providing material, usually without much an inducement to get people to attend said nagging. It’s been a lot of fun, and AGM), I said I’d edit the ESA Bulletin if no surprisingly I will miss it, even though I one else put their hand up. I didn’t realise I haven’t always appreciated it at the time! was signing up for a 10 year stint! After

Copy Deadlines  keep formatting to a minimum Material for publication in the March 2012 issue of the  no extra lines between paragraphs Bulletin, including regional reports, should be sent to the  use single spacing Editor, email: [email protected]) by Friday February 10 2012. Note that material for ‘Ecology Advertising around Australia’ should go directly to Regional The Bulletin is an A5 size publication delivered to more Councillors, not the Editor. Contact details inside back than 1500 individuals and institutions. The rates for cover. camera-ready copy printed in the Bulletin are: Instructions to authors One issue Four issues The preferred format is a minimally formatted text or RTF 1/2 page $100 $300 file submitted as an attachment to an email message. Full page $150 $400 Please avoid sending copy as text within email messages. Attachment file names should include the author’s family General guidelines for Bulletin deadlines: Second Friday name and the issue for which copy is intended. Please do of February, May, August, and November. not use names such as ‘abstract.doc’ or ‘bulletin.doc’. Please observe the following conventions when preparing your contribution.  single font (Times New Roman 12 point) throughout  italicise all scientific names  give the full wording of acronyms for organisations, agreements etc. on first mention

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 2

SOCIETY NEWS

PRESIDENT’S REPORT Kris French

Our conferences really are great, aren’t they? the process of doing ecological research, of They are a mix of research: Some talks you understanding pattern, then process, of setting know a lot about which are near to your own up questions to investigate a model, has not research field and some talks are about changed. Good science in the 1970s is still ecosystems or concepts which you know good science now. I still enjoy hearing about nothing about. That is the good thing about it. a study that uses a tape measure and a pen and The conference provides one with brand new pad as much as I enjoy listening to someone things to think about. New techniques, new using GIS technology to investigate landscape concepts, new ideas presented provide you scale processes or some other analytical tool. with new ideas for directions in your own I like the way the data helps reveal new research. New connections with researchers knowledge about the world. with complementary ideas provide new One of the other consequences of this collaborations, new opportunities. I always technological and digital era is the way we come back invigorated, wanting to start lots communicate. I haven’t sent a letter in ages; I of new experiments and eager to get some of only found out the other day that postage has these new projects going. gone up (quite a few months ago!!) I used to Malcolm Gill reminded me of how so send lots of letters…now it is email or a text. many things have changed in ecological It is just so much faster. And it is time that research over the past 50 years. The digital this bulletin caught up with the new way age arrived in my lifetime as an ecologist. members communicate. The next bulletin you Modelling was something for the future, and get will be sent to you on email or you can my ANOVAs were all done by hand!! This download it from the net if you want to print made you keep your experiments relatively it out. Exactly what it looks like and how it simple! While my honours theses (yes, there connects with blogs, the web, twitter etc are were 2!) were typed up by my dad’s typist, being left to Megan, our new bulletin editor my PhD was done on a computer with those who is the right age to implement such variety large truly floppy discs. As I was doing my in communication. Combined with the new PhD, there were a range of other students in webpage, the following year will see our my cohort struggling to investigate freshwater membership communication opportunities communities with virtually no capacity to reach new and exciting heights. A learning analyse the multivariate data. curve for us ‘oldies’ but always exciting. But while our tools and techniques See you next time…electronically. have changed, his talk also reminded me that

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 3 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS’S REPORT Gail Spina

It is with a mixture of sadness and excitement forward any nominations to Glenda Wardle at that I write this Executive Officer’s report for [email protected] by close of business what is our last hard copy edition of the April 30. Society bulletin. Sadness because it is the end of an era where print was the primary means Student Awards Closing of communicating with our members and date recording the Society’s history, and Student Research Grants Round 1 April 30 excitement because this change is part of our Jill Landsberg Trust Fund May 31 new member communication strategy built Scholarship around the almost limitless multimedia Student Travel Grants July 1 interactive scope offered through online NT Student Travel Award July 31 communication. The Nature Conservancy Applied July 31 While planning has already started on Ecology Award implementing this central change, our Student Research Grants Round 2 October 30 business as usual continues alongside. Our weekly e-news is back online and items from So there’s plenty happening – keep up members are always welcome. We are happy to date on facebook and e-news and please to receive anything from job vacancies, contact me [email protected] student scholarships, volunteer opportunities, with any suggestions or concerns, and stay conference updates or general ecology news tuned for our new website and bulletin which may be of interest to our members. formats—2012 will be another big year! ESA’s student program of awards and And finally I would not like to send grants continues and a table of relevant this last printed report to press without deadlines for 2012 is listed below. See the including a very big thankyou to our retiring website for more details on the awards and for Bulletin Editor, Sue Murray-Jones, who has applications forms. coordinated this document for over ten years. Nominations are also now invited for Sue’s input to Council will be sincerely the 2012 Australian Ecology Research Award missed and we wish her well in filling her (AERA). The AERA Lecture recognises bulletin-free spare time ! excellence in research in Australian ecology, for a specific body of recent work by a mid- Gail Spina, December 2011 career researcher, and is delivered annually as a Plenary at the Society’s conference, next year in Melbourne, December 3-7. Please

SECRETARY’S REPORT Raghu Sathyamurthy

Ecological Society of Australia Council Meetings COUNCIL MINUTES 1.2 Attendees & Apologies Friday 12 August 2011 (Meeting #3) Present: Kris French (President), Nigel Meeting started at 11:05 AEST Andrew (Treasurer), Liz Tasker (VP-Public Liaison), Glenda Wardle (VP-Research), Ian 1.0 WELCOME AND APOLOGIES Williamson (VP-Student Affairs), Michael 1.1 Chairperson’s Welcome and Introduction Bull (Austral Ecology – Chair, Editorial

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 4 Board), Gary Luck (EMR – Chair, Editorial any meetings. Update: Revised due date. Board), Sue Murray-Jones (Bulletin Editor), Carla/Kris, Oct Council. Don Driscoll (ACT Councillor), Ben Gooden Coun_Feb11_4.4.1 Develop mechanisms for (NSW Councillor), Christine Schlesinger (NT better links between ESA and NZES in light Councillor), Nerissa Haby (SA Councillor), of contractual arrangements with Wiley- Kerry Bridle (TAS Councillor), Lyn Blackwell, and ESA’s Strategic and Business McCormick (Finance Officer), Gail Spina Plans. Update: Kris is meeting with NZES (Executive Officer), Raghu Sathyamurthy President in June and will report back to (Secretary). Apologies: Carla Catterall (Past- August Council. Completed. President), Andrew Hayes (QLD Councillor), Coun_Feb11_4.6.1 Revise membership Peter Vesk (VIC Councillor), Eddie van Etten brochure. Update: Revised due date. Gail, Feb (WA Councillor). 2012 Council. Coun_Apr11_3.5.4 Report on the progress of 1.3 Minutes of Previous Council Meeting establishing EMR Project Summary website (June 2011) – for ratification* and commence process to recruit a voluntary MOTION: That the minutes of the previous Project Summary Editor; and establish Project Council meeting be accepted as a true and Summaries Webpage. Update: Final correct record, pending minor edits. agreements are currently under review by W- Moved: Nigel Andrew, Seconded: Ian B’s legal department, and progress is Williamson. All in favour. Motion carried. contingent on their sign-off. Revised due date. Gary, October Council. 1.4 Minutes of Previous Executive Coun_Apr11_4.4.1 Seek permission from Meeting (July 2011) – For noting* ESA 50th anniversary symposium presenters Council noted the minutes of previous to post their Power Point slides, and any Executive meeting written summary related to their talk, on the ESA webpage. Carla, Planning Day 2011. 2.0 ACTION ITEMS FROM Coun_Apr11_4.4.2 Compile ‘statistical’ PREVIOUS MEETINGS summary of office bearers, medallists, student 2.1 Matters Arising from Previous Council & prize winners, conference locations, etc., Executive Meetings* updating the list put together in the Slatyer & Person(s) responsible and due dates are Saunders history. Update: Revised due date. indicated. Gail, Feb 2011 Council. Agenda Item # Action arising Person By Exec_May11_3.2 Identify what membership ExecSep10_4.1.2 Review funding support for price should be if it had been increased in line EMR Editor’s attendance of ESA’s annual with CPI over the past decade. Update: Based conference. Exec, Sep 2013. on an analysis of the past four years, the lost CounOct10_4.8.1 Periodic review of time revenue to ESA as a result of not increasing offsets for ESA President and associated membership has been >$20,000. Revised due honorarium. Council, October 2013. date. Lyn, August Council. Coun_Feb11_4.1.1 Develop draft Exec_May11_3.3 Discuss options for criteria/operation guidelines for equitable diversifying ESA revenue (including selection of speakers at conferences to ensure appropriate revenue-raising opportunities that members get regular opportunities for through the webpage). Council, PD 2011. presentation at the annual conference; bring to Coun_Jun11_3.4.1 Establish Project Council for ratification as part of Conference Summaries website. Integrated with Guidelines for LOCs. Update: The WG is Coun_Apr11_3.5.4. Completed. meeting in August. Revised due date. Coun_Jun11_4.1.1. Complete Business Plan Conferences WG, PD2011. incorporating financial governance guidelines Coun_Feb11_4.3.1 Discuss with Jann the and process/guidelines for annual review. possibility of her serving as a back-up to Nigel, FGWG, August Council. Carla as ESA’s representative in interactions with TERN, should Carla be unable to attend

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 5 Coun_Jun11_4.3.1 Revise Position Exec_Jul11_4.4.5 Have a teleconference and Description template for RCs and associated provide input to Council on transitioning the By-Laws. Kris, August Council. Bulletin from its current print format to a Coun_Jun11_4.4.1 Revise policy on future electronic format. Also include input involvement of ESA in research and funded on the changed nature of the role that will projects. Completed. replace the Bulletin Editor’s role once this Coun_Jun11_4.6.1. Update on website change takes effect. Kris, Sue, Gail, October redevelopment and E-communications Council. contracts. Completed. Exec_Jul11_4.4.6 Update on guidelines for Coun_Jun11_4.8.1 Present ideas of intended evidence-based synthesis of hot topics use of sponsorship money to W-B and also (Strategic Plan, Aim 3b) Update: Revised due enquire about access to ESA10’s funds that date. Glenda, PD 2011. were not used. Also inform ESA11 LOC and Exec_Jul11_4.4.7 Indexation of funding for ConLog about this sponsorship. Update: student grants (Strategic Plan, Aim 4b). Ian, These monies are to be used to support a PD 2011. second poster session and an ECR paper- Exec_Jul11_4.4.8 Seek a Communications writing workshop at ESA11. Completed. Editor (formerly Bulletin Editor) to join Coun_Jun11_4.11.1 Revise guidelines for Council. Sue, Gail, Kris, October Council. applicants and judging criteria for ESA Photo Exec_Jul11_4.4.9 Succession Plan for 2012 Competition. Completed. Council. Completed. Exec_Jul11_3.1.1 Round to nearest dollar in Exec_Jul11_4.4.10 Review ESA involvement balance sheet, income statement and cashflow with FASTS in light of ongoing FASTS statements for future financial reports. review of their own structure. Carla, PD 2011. Update: it is standard auditing practice to Exec_Jul11_5.2.1 Update Council on ESA show dollars and cents, and it is not possible input to the Terms of Reference of the to round to the dollar without considerable Commonwealth Standing Committee on effort and time to change with the way Climate Change, Environment and the Arts’ automated reports are run in the current inquiry into Australia’s Biodiversity in a financial management software. Completed. Changing Climate. Completed. Exec_Jul11_4.1.1 Incorporate, within the LOC Guidelines, a process by which a past 3.0 REPORTS chair of the LOC can work with the LOC of 3.1 Treasurer’s/Finance Report – Nigel an upcoming annual conference, and the Andrew/Lyn McCormick* PCO. LOC Guidelines WG, October Council. Nigel tabled the balance sheet, income and Exec_Jul11_4.4.1 Increase fees for ESA cashflow statements to Council. These membership from 2012 to: Standard Member statements captured the ESA’s end of FY $90; Concession Member $45; Family (2010-11) position, and indicated a net profit Membership $120. The change to the of $70158.11. Lyn informed Council that the Standard Member fee reflects an increase in conference expenses line in the income line with indexation to CPI since the last fee statement was likely to change from the change. All other fees are adjusted relative to presented figure as these expenses are the Standard Member fee as instructed in the ongoing to fund ESA11 expenses. Council ESA Constitution. Completed. noted significant cash movements in the ESA Exec_Jul11_4.4.2 Put in place principles for accounts. Lyn explained to Council that these fee restructure in the Business Plan. were the result of annual payments being Completed. made to W-B for provision of the journal to Exec_Jul11_4.4.3 Develop mechanisms for members, and towards payment of bills. future fee restructure. Completed. Finalised accounts for FY 2011 are in the Exec_Jul11_4.4.4 Put together a position/job process of being submitted to the auditor prior description for the ESA Web Officer. E- to presentation of audited accounts at the comm. WG, October Council. 2011 AGM. Council noted that the society’s finances were in good order.

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 6

3.2 Vice President (Student Affairs) Report – MOTION: That the ESA Business Plan 2011- Ian Williamson 2015 be accepted by the Council for Ian advised Council that there has been a dissemination to the ESA membership. substantial increase in Travel Grant Moved: Nigel Andrew. Seconded: Sue applications from students to attend the Murray-Jones. All in favour. Motion carried. Hobart conference; 42 applications were received. Five applicants from regional areas MOTION: That the Council supports the ESA have been offered Wiley-Blackwell grants of Business Plan 2011-2015 to be tabled for $450 to $550 and remaining applicants have ratification by the membership at the 2011 been offered grants that would cover AGM in Hobart. Moved: Nigel Andrew. approximately two-thirds of an economy Seconded: Liz Tasker. All in favour. Motion airfare from their home city ($140 to $450). carried. Ian also reported that The Society for Conservation Biology have agreed to BP11-15 makes specific mention of the continue sponsorship of their student prize Treasurer’s role being guided by the Financial again for the 2011 conference, and that the Governance and Investment Policy. Details of Australian Flora Foundation’s Executive are this policy are being finalised and are to be meeting in August to discuss whether they tabled for ratification by the ESA Executive will continue to sponsor their two prizes this Committee. year. Coun_Aug11_4.1.1 Table Financial 3.3 EMR (Chair) Report – Gary Luck* Governance and Investment Policy to ESA Gary tabled a detailed publisher’s report for Executive for ratification. Nigel, FGWG, Sept 2010 prepared by W-B. This report showed Exec. that there has been a decline in institutional subscriptions, a fact W-B attributes to The ratification of BP11-15 changes the role declining library budgets. Renewal rates are of the Treasurer requiring this revised role to strong for the current year and some of the be codified in the by-laws of the ESA through declines of the previous year are expected to an amendment. Nigel tabled an amendment to be recouped. Of note was the fact that there is the ESA by-laws for ratification by Council. a decline in the number of ESA members subscribing to EMR. Council discussed ways MOTION: That By-Law 7(i) associated with by which this decline could be arrested; the role of the Treasurer be amended highlighting the journal’s strong submission to publication timelines of 2-3 months was FROM: ‘The Treasurer ….. proposed as one way to do this. Council also (i) Should prepare an annual budget on the noted a decline in revenue from EMR; this basis that the net assets of the Society (at the loss is attributed to the strong value of the end of the financial year) shall not fall below Australian currency against the US dollar (the one hundred and fifty (150) percent of that currency used for ESA’s contract with W-B). year’s expenditure on recurrent items. If the estimated assets are predicted to fall below 4.0 GENERAL BUSINESS one hundred and fifty (150) percent of 4.1 ESA Business Plan– Nigel Andrew/Kris estimated annual expenditure, the Treasurer French* should advise Council and prepare a Nigel tabled the ESA Business Plan 2011- recommendation for the next AGM increasing 2015 for ratification by Council, and subscription rates and/or other fees charged subsequent tabling of BP11-15 to the by the Society so as to restore the ratio to one membership at the 2011 AGM. A draft of the hundred and fifty (150) percent.’ BP11-15 was circulated to Council, and the final version was revised on the basis of TO: ‘The Treasurer ….. feedback from Council.

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 7 (i) Should prepare an annual budget based on benefit, enjoyment or education of local the guidelines set out in the ESA Financial members.’ Governance and Investment Policy.’ Moved: Nigel Andrew. Seconded: Sue TO: ‘15. A Regional Councillor shall: Murray Jones. All in favour. Motion carried. (a) Act as local correspondent for the Bulletin, by coordinating regional reports and Council thanked Nigel and the Financial forwarding them to the Bulletin editor, at a Governance Working Group for their rate no less than two issues per year; significant efforts in planning for the financial (b) Be ex officio member of any organising sustainability of the ESA. committee appointed by the Executive to arrange general meetings or other activities of 4.2 RC Position Description – Kris French* the Society in their region; Following-up from discussions at earlier (c) Provide liaison with other appropriate Council meetings, Kris tabled a revised state based scientific societies; Position Description for Regional Councillors (d) Be ex officio Chairperson of any local for ratification by Council. The Position group established in their region and report to Descriptions are there to enable the the Council on the meetings or other activities membership to better know the details of the of such local group; role, and to facilitate succession planning. (e) Attend in person or via phone, or provide a written report, to at least 4 Council meetings MOTION: That the Position Description for per year; offer official apologies when unable Regional Councillors be approved. Moved: to attend; Ben Gooden. Seconded: Ian Williamson. All (f) As the Regional representative, and where in favour. Motion carried. appropriate, coordinate at least one regional event per year for the benefit, enjoyment or An amendment to the ESA by-laws was education of local members. required to better capture the role of the RC. (g) Be an active member of Council working groups and engage in other activities of MOTION: That the by-laws associated with Council that facilitate the aims and activities the Regional Councillors be changed of the Society.’ Moved: Ben Gooden. Seconded: Ian FROM: ‘15. A Regional Councillor shall: Williamson. All in favour. Motion carried. (a) Act as local correspondent for the Bulletin, by coordinating regional reports and 4.3 ESA Bulletin – Kris French* forwarding them to the Bulletin editor, at a The role and the future of the ESA Bulletin, rate no less than two issues per year; in light of emerging electronic forms of (b) Be ex officio member of any organising communication and the development of the committee appointed by the Executive to ESA’s E-communications capabilities, has arrange general meetings or other activities of been a topic for discussion for Council over the Society in their region; the past few months. With this in mind, Kris (c) Provide liaison with other appropriate tabled a discussion paper on the potential state based scientific societies; options for the Bulletin from 2012 onwards. (d) Be ex officio Chairperson of any local Four options—(i) continue as is [opt-in to group established in their region and report to receive the electronic version], (ii) continue the Council on the meetings or other activities the present format but send everyone a print of such local group; copy, (iii) revised and shortened format sent (e) Attend in person or via phone, or provide only electronically except to those who do not a written report, to at least 4 Council meetings have email, and (iv) revised format with a per year; offer official apologies when unable reduced frequency—were presented and their to attend; pros and cons were discussed. Council gave (f) As the regional representative, coordinate an in-principle acceptance to option (iii), and at least one regional event per year for the agreed that a revamped Bulletin along the

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 8 lines of existing exemplars such as Wingspan, content on the new ESA webpage. Council the Birds Australia equivalent, was worth discussed the need to have a position developing. Council suggested a mock-up description outlining the role of a Webpage version of such a Bulletin be developed for Officer. Since the creation of this position discussion. will increase the number of paid officers of the society, this will require an amendment to Coun_Aug11_4.3.1 Check potential the by-laws of the ESA. amendments to ESA Constitution and by-laws for changing the format of the ESA Bulletin. Coun_Aug11_4.5.1 Develop position Gail, Kris, Sept Exec. description for Webpage Officer, and associated amendment to the by-laws. Liz, 4.4 ESA Membership Fees – Kris Gail, October Council. French/Nigel Andrew* In line with discussions on BP11-15, Council 4.6 Policy on involvement of ESA in research discussed the need to index ESA membership & funded projects – Kris French* fees annually to the CPI and to improve ways ESA has recently applied for funding, and has to retain members, and the revision of the in turn been requested to serve as a partner in membership fee structure. The ESA funded projects. To clarify the role of ESA in membership fees were last changed in 2002. research and funded projects Kris tabled a As any change to the membership fee needs draft policy for ratification by Council. An to be ratified at an AGM, appropriate earlier draft of this policy was reviewed by amendments to the fees and membership Council at the June meeting, and Kris has categories are developed for ratification at the revised the policy based on the feedback next AGM to come into effect from 2013. received.

MOTION: That Council agrees to increase MOTION: That Council approves the policy fees for ESA membership from 2013 to: on involvement of ESA in research and Standard Member $90; Concession Member funded projects. Moved: Nigel Andrew. $45; Family Membership $120. The change Seconded: Ian Williamson. All in favour. to the Standard Member fee reflects an Motion carried. increase in line with indexation to CPI since the last fee change. All other fees are adjusted 4.7 Queensland Regional Event – Andrew relative to the Standard Member fee as Hayes* instructed in the ESA Constitution, and Andrew tabled a proposal for a regional ESA event in Queensland for approval by Council. That the increase in membership fees is This event is a seminar by Michael Jeffords presented to the 2011 AGM for ratification. and Susan Post on October 3 2011 at the Ecosciences Precinct entitled: Moved: Nigel Andrew. Seconded: Glenda ‘Communicating Nature: trials, tribulations Wardle. All in favour. Motion carried. and rewards of science communication’. Council unanimously supported ESA Coun_Aug11_4.4.1 Prepare constitutional sponsorship of the proposed Queensland amendments to increase membership fees and regional event. expand membership categories to include long-term (5y, 15y and lifetime [~35y]) 4.8 ESA Conferences memberships. Nigel, Kris, Sept Exec. 4.8.1 ESA11 – Kerry Bridle* Kerry and ConLog presented a detailed report 4.5 Webpage Officer – Kris French* on the progress of the ESA11 conference in In anticipation of the redeveloped webpage Hobart. Council noted that all preparations for Kris tabled a discussion paper to plan for the the meeting were progressing well. Council appointment of part-time paid officer discussed the issue of having a Friday (1day/week) of the ESA to manage web deadline for abstracts, particularly in light of

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 9 the usual flood of last minute submissions Kris tabled a document titled ‘Fostering links causing the abstracts webpage to malfunction, between the New Zealand Ecological Society and resulting in submitting authors missing and the Ecological Society of Australia’ that out on submitting an abstract for the meeting. she has forwarded to Bruce Burns (NZES). This document outlines potential ways of Coun_Aug11_4.8.1 Discuss the optimal sharing reciprocal benefits for members of the timing of the Abstract submission deadline two societies. Council intends to discuss it in for future conferences with ConLog. Gail, greater details at the October Council October Council? meeting.

4.8.2 ESA12 – Peter Vesk* Coun_Aug11_4.11.1 Discuss the document Peter tabled the minutes of a recent meeting ‘Fostering links between the New Zealand of the ESA12 Organizing Committee. Council Ecological Society and the Ecological Society noted that plans for the 2012 annual of Australia’. Council, October Council. conference were progressing well. 4.12 ESA Support for Statement of 4.9 ESA Council Succession Plan 2012 – Gail Concern on SW Marine Region – Gail Spina* Spina* Gail tabled a Statement of Concern on SW Gail informed Council that the positions of Marine Region prepared by Prof. Hugh Vice President – Student Affairs, Bulletin Possingham. Prof. Possingham had requested Editor and Secretary were going to be vacant ESA Council’s formal support of this for 2012. A call for interested applicants is statement. In discussing this request Council being circulated as part of E-News. noted that there was no formal process by which Council could provide such support 4.10 E-Communications & Website without circulating it among members. Redevelopment Update – Gail Spina/Liz Council did support the display of this Tasker* statement on the ESA webpage and its Liz and Gail updated Council on the selection circulation to the membership via E-News to of Interlated Pty Ltd as the vendor for enable individual members to indicate their redeveloping the ESA webpage and provider support. In light of similar recent requests, of E-Communications services. This vendor Council noted the need for a formal was shortlisted and interviewed along with a mechanism for dealing with such requests in second company for the provision of these the future. services. The final choice of Interlated was strongly influenced by their use of open- Coun_Aug11_4.12.1 Develop mechanism for source platforms enabling ESA to retain dealing with ESA endorsement of Statements ownership of the structure and content of the of Concern/Position Statements from other website. A draft of the detailed contract agencies. Glenda, Council, PD2011. between ESA and Interlated was also tabled to Council. Council delegated the Executive 4.13 2012 photo competition – Liz Committee with finalising these contract Tasker/Gail Spina* negotiations. Liz tabled the conditions of entry, application and advertisement for the 2011 ESA MOTION: That the Executive Committee be photographic competition to be held as part of delegated to finalize the E-communication the 2011 annual conference in Hobart. The and website redevelopment contract with main changes from last year’s competition are Interlated Pty Ltd. Moved: Liz Tasker. that judging will primarily be based on the Seconded: Gary Luck. All in favour. Motion quality of the photo and less on the caption carried. [i.e. less of a photo-essay competition], and the renaming of the competition categories 4.11 ESA-NZES interactions – Kris into more catchy themes. Council thanked Liz French/Ben Gooden*

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 10 and Gail for their continuing efforts in Kris informed Council that Gail’s contract as sustaining this competition. Executive Officer has been extended for another three years. The Council thanked Gail 4.14 ESA-TERN Interactions – Kris French* for her contributions to date and for her Kris tabled recent communications between continuing role with the ESA. her and Stuart Phinn (TERN) on the ESA’s LTER database and its integration with a 4.19 International Network of Next related project at ANU. Council noted that the Generation Ecologists – Andrew Hayes* level of funding was lower than that applied Andrew tabled a written update on ESA’s for, and that this funding would be allocated involvement in the setting up the International to the ANU. Kris has agreed to continue to Network of Next Generation Ecologists. A engage with TERN to communicate ESA is website for INNGE has been set up adequately included into the process. (http://innge.net/), as well as a Facebook group (search for INNGE), Twitter account 4.15 ESA Member Services Prize – Kris (search for INNGEcologist) and Linked-In French group (search for INNGE). Updates on the Kris nominated Jann Williams for receipt of INNGE will be circulated to members the ESA Member Services prize for her many through E-News. years of service on the ESA Council and her diverse contributions to the membership. 4.20 ECR Workshop at ESA11 – Andrew Council unanimously supported this Hayes* nomination. Andrew informed Council that Wiley- 4.16 ESA 2012 Gold Medal – Kris French* Blackwell have agreed to sponsor a paper- Kris informed Council that she has decided to writing workshop at ESA11 targeted at ECRs. award the ESA 2012 Gold Medal to Dr. The members of the ECR-WG will be having Malcolm Gill for his numerous significant a phone-linkup with W-B to finalize this, and contributions to fire ecology and report back to Council as details are finalized. management. She tabled a summary of Dr. Gill’s contributions in support of her 4.21 AGM Reminder – Gail Spina* nomination. Gail informed Council that 2011 AGM papers are due by August 26, and advised Council Coun_Aug11_4.16.1 Produce a list of media members to send their respective reports to outlets where ESA media releases can be sent. her by the due date. Gail, Sep Exec. Coun_Aug11_4.16.2 Prepare and circulate 5.0 OTHER BUSINESS media release about ESA 2012 Gold Medal. 5.1 Indigenous Working Group Update – Kris, Gail, Sep Exec. Christine Schlesinger* Christine informed Council that the 4.17 Federal Government’s Climate Change Indigenous Working Group are in the final Enquiry – Kris French* phases of planning of a symposium Kris informed Council that Lesley Hughes, integrating indigenous and western Alistair Hobday, David Keith and Sam Capon perspectives on ecology at ESA11 and a have developed a submission to the stimulating symposium is anticipated at Commonwealth Government’s Climate ESA11. Eighteen applicants have applied for Change Enquiry on ESA’s behalf. This the indigenous travel grant associated with the submission was reviewed by the Executive symposium. A fieldtrip on this topic is also Committee and submitted on July 31. Council being organized as part of the conference in thanked Lesley, Alistair, David and Sam for collaboration with the Six Rivers Aboriginal their contributions on behalf of ESA. Corporation. Sponsorship to facilitate attendance of this symposium and fieldtrip 4.18 Renewal of Executive Officer’s Contract has been obtained from the Cradle Coast – Kris French* NRM and other sources. Council thanked the

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 11 Indigenous Working Group for their efforts unanimously supported the ESA sponsorship on this important initiative. of this regional event.

5.2 SA Regional Event – Nerissa Haby* 6.0 NEXT MEETING Nerissa informed Council that she intends to 6.1 Next Council Meeting – 14 October 2011 run a grant-writing workshop as the regional 6.2 Next Executive Meeting – 9 September event for SA in 2011 in place of the ESA SA 2011 Ecology Day that she has successfully organized in past years. She indicated that Meeting ended at 13:05 AEST Margaret Cargill has agreed to assist with running this workshop, and that she intends to * Papers related to this agenda item were use examples of common errors in grant- circulated prior to the meeting, and are writing. Council thanked Nerissa for her available on request from the Executive efforts in developing this idea, and Officer and Secretary.

OTHER ESA NEWS

New members 2005-2010, Chair, Editorial Board, Ecological Management & Restoration. A warm welcome to the following One of Jann’s most important new members (up to the end of September): contributions as President of the ESA (2000- Lesley Patterson; Nigel Fisher; Chris Gordon; 2001) was to oversee the development of the Paul Malligan; Helen Smith; Genevieve first Business Plan for the Society, which was Perkins; Rebecca Diete; Peta-Marie Standley; ratified in 2002. This was a significant step, Tracy Rout; Phil Hrstich; Nicole Evans; Nils leading to the employment of paid staff and Krueck; Will Edwards; Ian Cresswell; Jenny providing both strategic and practical Scott; Tomas Bird; Joanna Lyall; Amanda directions for the Society. Bates; David De Angelis; Beth Gott; Phuong During Jann’s period as Chair of the Thanh Doan; April Gloury; Linda Editorial Board of EMR (2005-2010), the Grootendorst; Justine Smith; Liz Martin; journal celebrated its 10th anniversary, Wanda Robinson; Wun Ho; Md Nazim finalized a new contract with Wiley- Uddin. Blackwells and underwent a major review

which led to a number of operational changes. 2011 Members’ Service Award— In 2009 a panel set up by EMR, of which Jann Professor Jann Williams was a member, identified 25 outstanding Congratulations to Professor Jann Williams restoration projects across Australasia. These who has been selected to receive the 2011 projects, as well as 18 that were highly Ecological Society of Australia Members’ commended, are listed on the Global Service Prize. Restoration Network website. Dr Tein The award recognises Jann's important McDonald, the Editor of EMR, played a vital contribution to the operations of the ESA over role supporting Jann during her period as the more than 20 years, as past president, in her Chair. role as chair of the Editorial Board, ESA Conferences Ecological Management & Restoration, and Jann has attended every ESA conference and her participation in the development of key special symposia since 1987, apart from 3 operational initiatives. meetings when she was overseas at the time. Council positions: 1991, Public Officer; She has given spoken presentations at many 1992-1996, Regional Councillor for the ACT; of the conferences and also co-convened 1997-1999, Vice President; 2000-2001, several symposia, most recently in 2010. President; 2002-2004, Past-President; and

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 12 Jann was a member of the Local decision for the judging panel—Dr James Organising Committees for five ESA Fitzsimons, Dr Raghu Sathyamurthy, and Dr conferences. In addition, at various times and Ian Williamson. places she was a member of the Scientific Gill has won the $6000 scholarship to Review Committee, reviewed conference support her research on ‘Social Values of abstracts and was Chair of the Volunteer Australian Threatened Birds—Black Coordination Committee (in Albury). Cockatoo Case Study’. Other contributions Gill received her award at ESA11 in  2011: Working in partnership with the Six Hobart and will present her research at Rivers Aboriginal Corporation to organize ESA12 in Melbourne. The 2010 winner, a field trip on Indigenous culture and Cairo Forrest, also attended ESA11 and conservation associated with the ESA presented his research outcomes for his conference in Tasmania. project “Threatened semi arid Acacias of far  2000 (and ongoing): Editorial Board western NSW”. member, Ecological Management & Congratulations, Gill, and check the Restoration ESA website for 2012 student award  1995 to present: Taken an active role in the opportunities—closing dates have now been updating, maintenance, analysis and posted. Details of all the awards offered by accessibility of the Societies Long Term ESA can be found at: Ecological Research database. www.ecolsoc.org.au/prizes.html.  1995 to 2000: Editorial Board member, Australian Journal of Ecology (now Austral Ecology) STUDENT NEWS  1999: Jann developed ‘A protocol for the development of ESA position statements’. ESA11 Hobart Student Prize (See the Bulletin of the Ecological Society Winners of Australia. 29(4): 12-15). Student presenters again made up a  1997: Jann led the development of the first significant proportion of the presenters at the ‘ESA Position Statement on the Use of annual ESA conference in Hobart in late Fire in Ecosystem Management’. (See the November. There were 104 students Bulletin of the Ecological Society of presenting standard 12 minute talks, 45 Australia. 27(1): 12-14). students presenting posters, and 34 students Jann received her Members' Prize at presenting speed talks. In addition to the usual ESA11 in Hobart, November 21-25, 2011. In prizes for spoken and poster presentations, 2004 the ESA Council created the Member there were also prizes offered for speed talks. Service prize to recognise outstanding The usual high quality of student contributions to ecology made by Ecological presentations made it a difficult task deciding Society of Australia (ESA) members. More the winners. details about the prize and how to nominate can be found at the ESA website. The prize-winners were:

Winner of the 2011 Nature ESA Marilyn Fox Award for best inaugural Conservancy Applied Conservation presentation at a conference: Yui Osanai Award (University of Tasmania). Elevated CO2 and ESA and The Nature Conservancy are very warming alter the soil microbial community's pleased to award the 2011 Applied ability to decompose litter. Conservation Award to Gill Ainsworth, PhD candidate at Charles Darwin University. This ESA Wiley-Blackwell Student prizes for year saw a record number of applications outstanding spoken presentation (three across a diverse range of applied ecology awards): research directions, and it was not an easy

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 13 Megan Good (University of New England). Society for Conservation Biology Prize for a Dense regeneration of coolabah: invasive spoken paper on conservation: Leigh Martin scrub or invaluable revegetation? (University of Technology, Sydney). How do Sacha Jellinek (Melbourne University). The native reptile assemblages respond to invasion value of revegetated linear strips and by exotic plant species of differing growth patches of habitat for faunal conservation: form? Reconciling ecological and landholder perspectives. Speed Talk Prizes: Petah Low (Sydney University). Do eucalypt- Lisa Smallbone (Charles Sturt University). feeding insects pay a high price for good Woodland bird responses to passive food? regeneration following agricultural retirement. ESA Wiley-Blackwell Student prizes for Habacuc Flores-Moreno (University of New outstanding poster presentation (two awards): South Wales). Are invaders better Tony Popic (Sydney University). Boom - dispersers? A global study on dispersal busted! Small mammal florivory reduces distance on plants. seed set of nectar rich Crotalaria Rebecca Runting (University of Queensland). cunninghamii in arid Australia Is Less More? The cost-effectiveness of Adam McKiernan (University of Tasmania). investing in process-based models and Stability of genetic based plant defensive high resolution data for conservation traits in two Eucalyptus species under planning under sea level rise. elevated carbon dioxide. Nathan Emery (Sydney University). Understanding how population differences Wiley-Blackwell/EMR prize for a spoken contribute to changed distributions using presentation on management or restoration: Actinotus as a model system. Nola Hancock (Macquarie University). Chloe Cadby (University of Tasmania). The Should we continue to use local provenance role of mothers in facilitating reptile in restoration projects? persistence in changing environmental conditions. Wiley-Blackwell/EMR prize for a poster Alan Kwok (University of New South Wales). presentation on management or restoration: Do animals on the ground really need Claire Laws (University of New South trees? Arthropod community structure in Wales). Understanding Pittosporum the mallee of western NSW. undulatum in Sydney's urban bushland: bushland management in a changing Congratulations to all the winners, and thank environment. you to our long term sponsors of student prizes: Wiley Blackwell, Australian Flora Australian Flora Foundation prize for best Foundation and the Society for Conservation spoken presentation on the biology or Biology. Thank you also to Springer, CSIRO cultivation of native plants: Sarah Butler Publishing, Wiley Blackwell and Allen and (University of Queensland). Agricultural land Unwin for supplying the speed talk prizes. use history increases invasions in regenerating Awarding student prizes would not be fragmented ecosystems, compromising possible without the time and effort given by understorey flora diversity. the judges—so a big thank you also to the many judges who rushed between sessions Australian Flora Foundation prize for best and from poster to poster to help decide on poster on the biology or cultivation of native the prize-winners. plants: Amity Williams (Murdoch University). Climate change impacts on the ESA Student Travel Grants northern sandplain Kwongan vegetation of The ESA and Wiley-Blackwell also offer SW Australia. grants to assist student presenters with conference travel costs. There were 40

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 14 applications for travels grants to ESA11. All habitat which could function as a source of applicants received some funding based on migration. However, if habitats are the relative cost of airfares to Hobart from repopulated by survivors, the size and shape their home base. of the fire may be less important for fire- specialist species. The aim of this project was Student Research Grant Report to develop a solid understanding of the role of Investigating dispersal in fire sensitive dispersal in post-fire succession of reptiles reptiles: an important step to managing using microsatellite DNA genotypes. fire for biodiversity.1 Succession theory predicts that species with Annabel Smith, Fenner School of high dispersal rates will be early colonisers, Environment and Society, ANU and while there is sufficient evidence for this Background: Fire occurs naturally in many in plants, few studies have quantified ecosystems globally but recent large-scale dispersal parameters in relation to animal habitat clearing and changes in land succession. In particular, I aimed to determine management practices have led to drastic the effect of fire on dispersal rates in three changes in fire regimes. This, coupled with lizard species from mallee vegetation on the continuing climate change, means that the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. Each of the effect of fire on plant and animal communities target species have contrasting responses to is becoming increasingly uncertain. Computer fire: Ctenotus atlas (the striped skink) is a late simulation modelling presents one way of coloniser, Nephrurus stellatus (the starred predicting the effect of future fire regimes on knob-tailed gecko) is an early coloniser, and biodiversity. However, detailed demographic Amphibolurus norrisi (the mallee tree dragon) data on target species are needed to accurately has a fire response that varies among parameterise such models, and these are not locations. available for most ecosystems. Life history I examined whether post-fire data on fauna after fire are particularly succession either inhibited or promoted gene lacking. Our knowledge of the effect of fire flow, and also investigated the effect of fire on biota is often limited to the observed on genetic diversity and movement patterns in patterns of post-fire succession which often these three species. Funding from the vary among locations, even within species. Ecological Society of Australia allowed me to Developing a process-based understanding of expand the spatial scale of my analyses to animal fire ecology will build a stronger investigate genetic structure over the whole foundation from which to predict the effects Eyre Peninsula region. This support of different fire management decisions. It is contributed to a unique, interdisciplinary popularly assumed that maintaining a fire study of fire ecology in reptiles. The mosaic in an ecosystem caters for the knowledge gained from this research will aid contrasting needs of different plants and the development of decision making tools for animal species. However, the optimal land managers aiming to conserve temporal and spatial scales for habitat biodiversity through informed fire mosaics remain poorly known. A better management. understanding of how fire affects animal Methods: DNA sample and data demographics will help to close this collection: The study took take place on the knowledge gap. In particular, knowledge of Eyre Peninsula (EP), South Australia (SA). In post-fire animal dispersal may influence how this region, large areas of mallee vegetation fire regimes are implemented. For example, if which support diverse plant and animal immigration is essential for recolonisation, communities occur within protected areas. prescribed fires should be restricted in size Four conservation reserves across the EP and conducted adjacent to a suitable, unburnt were sampled during this study: Pinkawillinie, Heggaton, Munyaroo and Hincks. The mallee parks of the EP are ideal 1 Note: an illustrated, fully referenced version was locations for studying fire ecology because of submitted, but was edited to save space. For the full the ability to replicate at a broad, landscape version, contact author: [email protected].

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 15 scale and for the well known fire history and function of time since fire using a Poisson complex habitat mosaics within the reserves. generalised linear mixed model with capture Samples from the four reserves were method and season fitted as random effects. used to study landscape-scale gene flow The microsatellite data were analysed at the across the EP and to characterise dispersal by region-wide scale across reserves and the fire studying broad genetic structure. The samples mosaic scale within reserves to understand from Heggaton and Munyaroo were collected how dispersal is affected by both geography during a previous study on the target species. and fire. At the region wide scale FST, a Funding from the ESA allowed me to take measure of genetic differentiation based on advantage of these samples and increase the allele frequency differences between spatial scale of my study. In addition, more populations, was calculated for each species intensive sampling was undertaken directly among all conservation parks. The for this study across complex fire mosaics at significance of the values was determined by Hincks and Pinkawillinie. At these locations permuting genotypes among locations. three fire categories were sampled based on Genetic diversity was calculated in each time since last fire: ‘early’ sites had 2-3 yr species at each study site across the region since fire at the time of first data collection using allelic richness which was standardised (2008), ‘medium’ sites had 7-9 yr and ‘late’ for sample size. The distance moved per day sites had 42-48 yr. Two replicate sites in each between capture and recapture was modelled category were sampled. as a function of fire category using a linear At each 1 ha site, lizards were mixed model, with individual lizards fitted as captured using twenty-five pitfall traps (20 l a random effect. At the fire mosaic scale, plastic buckets buried flush with the ground), population structure was examined using intersected by a 10 m drift fence. Traps were three Bayesian clustering algorithms: run for three 1-2 week periods over three Structure , BAPS and Geneland. These each summers between January 2008 and February use slightly different methods to determine 2010. Captured lizards were measured, the number of genetic clusters in a sample, weighed, marked to allow identification on without the need to specify prior population subsequent capture, and a small blood sample boundaries. was taken for DNA. Mark-recapture data Results and discussion: Abundance in were collected during the trapping sessions to N. stellatus and C. atlas both showed quantify direct movement patterns to significant main and interactive effects of compliment the genetic study on dispersal. time since fire and location. The response in DNA amplification and data analysis: A. norrisi was not significant, but the large Lizard DNA was extracted from a total of variation from smaller sample sizes might 1429 samples, and microsatellite genotypes have masked any effects. Abundance were generated using primers described in my predictions from these models provide a recently published paper2 . measure of the magnitude of effect of In order to build a detailed picture of succession on the three species. I am currently the fire response in each target species, using these results to parameterise landscape capture data from this study were combined genetics models to explicitly test the effect of with four years of previous trapping data fire on gene flow through landscape (including two years of data used in Driscoll resistance. Results for these analyses will be and Henderson 2008), from different sites in finalised soon. the same conservation reserves. Counts from At the region-wide scale across the pitfall trap data were modelled as a reserves, genetic differentiation, measured by FST, was low to moderate but significant between most conservation parks. A. norrisi 2 Smith A.L., Gardner M.G., Bull C.M. and Driscoll and N. stellatus had significant FST values D.A. (2011) Primers for novel microsatellite markers in ‘firespecialist’lizards (Amphibolurus norrisi, Ctenotus between all conservation parks, whereas C. atlas and Nephrurus stellatus) and their performance atlas showed slightly weaker structure, with across multiple populations. Conservation Genetics the central EP locations being genetically Resources 3: 345-350.

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 16 similar. These low to moderate values of decline in genetic diversity with time since genetic differentiation indicate these species fire in N. stellatus reflects the successional all probably have naturally high dispersal response in abundance of this species. As the rates. However the significant differentiation population size declines with time since fire, suggests that dispersal is restricted, as would so does the genetic diversity. Although I did be expected at this large scale. The current not find reduced dispersal with time since fire analysis does not give insight into the effect in the other genetic analyses, the mark- of recent habitat fragmentation on dispersal, recapture data showed significantly lower but I am currently conducting further analyses movement rates in the ‘late’ fire category than to examine the importance of habitat the ‘early’ and ‘medium’ sites. It is thus connectivity across the landscape. possible that N. stellatus suffer from reduced Levels of gene flow were found to be genetic diversity because of decreased high at the fire mosaic scale within reserves, movement ability, probably from the complex with two of the three clustering algorithms habitat structure in the late sites. indicating a single genetic cluster in the Alternatively, the decreased population overall sample. The third clustering method, density might mean individuals can only find Geneland, indicated several genetic clusters, closely related mates which could reduce which probably resulted from the greater diversity, and potentially fitness. sensitivity in this analysis from including Communication of results and spatial data in the model. However, when the conclusions: This study is part of a broad, results were examined more closely, each long-term field project which began in 2004 individual lizard had been assigned to to examine the effect of fire on reptiles, birds, multiple clusters indicating little invertebrates and plants in mallee vegetation differentiation in the overall sample. These of the Eyre Peninsula. results indicate that all three species have high This study, supported by the ESA, has levels of gene flow in continuous habitats given a deeper insight into the mechanisms affected by multiple fires. behind fire responses in reptiles. In general, I have found little evidence that post- high gene flow was found across complex fire fire succession inhibits or promotes gene mosaics, indicating high dispersal, and thus flow. To investigate this further, I am potential ability to colonise new habitats. currently examining genetic structure in However, there was some evidence in N. relation to landscape resistance. Results from stellatus that fire reduces dispersal and the generalised linear models are being used genetic diversity. Understanding how fire to parameterise the fire categories across the affects animal dispersal is critical for landscape with resistance values that capture implementing management actions such as the magnitude effect of fire on the species. prescribed burning at appropriate scales. These analyses will give a more specific Results from this study, and additional measure of the effect of fire on gene flow. analyses currently being finalised, will aid the Analysis of data from 25 different development of fire management plans which sample sites across the EP showed that incorporate data on the effect of fire on genetic diversity in N. stellatus, measured by animal dispersal rates. The majority of this allelic richness, declined with time since fire. research is in late stages of preparation for This effect was not found in either A. norrisi publication, and is expected to appear in or C. atlas, but the smaller sample sizes for international peer-reviewed journals in the those species makes it unclear if this was due ecological genetics field in coming months. to a lack of power or lack of effect. The

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 17

The EDG network consists of 26 MISCELLANEOUS primary researchers, plus their post-docs, students and staff. The EDG is spread across Sell your Species! five Australian universities and CSIRO, Sell your Species is a one minute segment on University of Queensland, University of Catalyst where scientists showcase the species Melbourne, Australian National University, they are researching. It is a platform for University of Western Australia and RMIT. scientists to communicate their research to a The CEED branch of EDG also collaborates wider audience. The segments are to be with six universities from overseas. All in all written, voiced and filmed by the scientist/s, it represents some 200 researchers and staff, and cover: all united by a deep and professional interest  Introduction - the scientist and the species in arresting the catastrophic declines we are  Inspiration for the research? witnessing in biodiversity both here and  Description of the research around the world.  Big picture - applications for the research? Much of the resources of EDG will  Style—anything goes! But they want support NCEAS-style workshops to solve passion, they want the scientist to sell their specific problems in environmental decision- science! making. These provide a great opportunity for At the end of the first half of the series there researchers, including those from outside of is the opportunity to have a people's choice EDG, and government agency staff, to vote on the ‘Best Science Salesperson’. More: contribute to collaborative project http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/336010 development, problem solving and 0.htm publication. Though the network is new, it didn’t EDG: the birth of a new research network come into being overnight. Antecedents lie in Contributed by Don Driscoll, David Salt and the network known as the Applied Hugh Possingham Environmental Decision Analysis Hub (also The EDG (Environmental Decisions Group) known as AEDA). AEDA was funded under is a new collaboration of researchers who the Australian Government’s Commonwealth share a common interest in the science of Environment Research Facility program environmental decision making, and which ended in 2010. specifically decisions surrounding the Our magazine Decision Point conservation of biodiversity. Professor Hugh (http://ceed.edu.au/dpoint-news/) will remain Possingham directs the new research group. the primary vehicle for communication to our The EDG received funding from two many stakeholders. This magazine is free to sources: the Australian Government’s new download and provides engaging summaries National Environmental Research Program of research projects that impact on (NERP) and the Australian Research Council biodiversity-related management and policy. where the group won a Centre of Excellence Professor Possingham framed (ARC CoE). The NERP funding ($11 million expectations for the EDG in a recent editorial to run over four years) has enabled us to in Decision Point. ‘Our legacy will be a large establish a group called the NERP body of new science and better ways of Environmental Decisions Hub, co-directed by managing our environment and biodiversity. Brendan Wintle. The ARC funding ($11.9 Given the calibre and passion of its million to run over seven years, 2011-2017) constituent researchers, I guarantee the EDG has created the ARC Centre of Excellence for will deliver on its promise of producing the Environmental Decisions (or CEED) and is science that can underpin a profound change co-directed by Mick McCarthy. Together we in the way we manage our threatened are the EDG (sometimes referred to as ‘the biodiversity. We focus on the pursuit of edge’). excellence, cooperation, quality outcomes and making a difference.’

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 18 Climate change effects on body size two long-term ‘banding stations’ in central Some species are reducing in size due to California, where a wide variety of birds are climate warming and this will have captured, banded about the leg with an repercussions across many food webs and identification tag, and weighed and measured potentially synergistic negative effects on before being released. The birds may be biodiversity. A recent study provided responding to climate-related changes in plant evidence from the literature that climate growth or increased climate variability in change has an unexpected effect on body size central California. Climate change may affect for many species. Increasing temperatures body size in a variety of ways. Birds might have had far-reaching effects on the body size get bigger as they store more fat to ride out of a wide array of species, from plants to top severe weather events. Climate change could predators. Many organisms are already also alter a region's plant growth, which may getting smaller and more are likely to shrink eventually lead to changes in a bird's diet that as a result of continued climate warming. This affect its size. trend is evident in numerous studies. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/1 The effects of shrinking organisms 0/111031154127.htm will be varied and difficult to predict. The main problem is not necessarily the shrinking Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010 itself, but the differential responses of A new report on Australian birds has added species—some are shrinking while others do four more species to the critically endangered not appear to be affected in the same manner. list and found that a total of 39 species or sub- Reduced size of individuals due to climate species are more threatened now than they change will have repercussions across many were a decade ago. The Plan analyses the food webs and potentially synergistic negative International Union for Conservation of effects on biodiversity. Smaller plants mean Nature (IUCN) status of all the species and fewer resources for consumers, which can subspecies of Australia's birds, including lead to smaller body size and/or smaller those of the offshore territories. For each bird populations of consumers. Ultimately, the size and trend in their population and decreasing organism size could result in loss distribution has been analysed using the latest of biodiversity and effects that would not be iteration of IUCN Red List Criteria to beneficial to society, for example, crop determine their risk of extinction. The book harvests getting smaller or ecosystem services also provides an account of all those species being compromised or limited. and subspecies that are or are likely to be http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/1 extinct. Each categorisation is justified on the 0/111017092029.htm basis of the latest research, including much unpublished material that has been made Bigger birds with climate change available during workshops conducted with Birds are getting bigger in central California. ornithologists and conservation biologists as Birds' wings have grown longer and birds well as phone interviews and correspondence. have increased in mass over the last 27 to 40 The result is the most authoritative account years. Bergmann's Rule states that animals yet of the status of Australia's birds. The tend to be larger at higher latitudes. One status of some birds has improved over the reason for this rule might be that larger last two decades as a result of dedicated animals conserve body heat better, allowing conservation management. Some have not them to thrive in the generally colder climate changed status but are holding their own. of higher latitudes. Under this reasoning, Many, however, are continuing to decline and some scientists have predicted that animals a distressing number are new to the list. The would get smaller as Earth has warmed up four species that that were added to the over the past 100 years. But the connection Critically Endangered list are the Grey- may not be so simple. headed Albatross, the Western Ground Parrot, Most of the birds had longer wings the Regent Honeyeater and the Norfolk Island and bigger bodies. The bird data come from Tasman Parakeet. Seven have been

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 19 downlisted because conservation efforts have Attractive dads have more grandchildren improved population numbers. A study of zebra finches has shown that http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6781.htm males' attractiveness influences the number and size of eggs their daughters produce Australia's ocean resources undervalued. through the effect of their attractiveness on A report, Stocking Up: Securing Our Marine their mate's behaviour. The research Economy, has looked at the value of manipulated the males’ ‘attractiveness’ by ecosystem services like clean air, clean water, giving them coloured leg rings. This fish nursery services, recreation fishing. The demonstrated that it was the mothers' report suggests our oceans provide an perception of their attractiveness, rather than unrecognised $25 billion in value every year the males’ genetic fitness, that was to our national economy that is currently influencing the reproductive characteristics of unaccounted for in official statistics. The their offspring. The study aimed to test the report includes essential ecosystems services: effects of the mother's perception of her mate  $15.8 billion a year in carbon storage. on the reproductive quality of the next Seagrasses store 10 to 40 times as much generation, using zebra finches which are carbon per hectare as forests and Australia’s easy to breed in captivity. The researchers seagrass meadows are the largest in the world. swapped clutches around after eggs were laid.  around $6.2 billion a year in fish nursery Hence the mothers would continue to react to services, pest and disease control. These the perceived attractiveness of their mates, but services are crucial for our commercial at this stage it could not influence biological fishing industry. investment in the egg, only through the way  $1.85 billion per year in fish and mothers cared for the nestlings. The next recreational services for the 1 in 5 Australians phase of the experiment involved testing the who go fishing at least once a year new generation's fecundity, or reproductive http://cpd.org.au/2011/09/stocking-up/ potential. Fecundity was related to the attractiveness of both biological fathers and Climate change impact for WA foster-fathers. Daughters of attractive fathers Rainfall patterns in Western Australia have produced both more eggs and heavier eggs, changed over the last 40 years. There is while daughters of attractive foster-fathers significant evidence that climate change has produced more, but not heavier, eggs. contributed to the marked drying trend in the http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/0 southwest. This has had serious implications 7/110720085653.htm for urban water supplies and agriculture. Sea levels along the west coast of Australia have Biodiversity critical for maintaining been rising at more than double the global ecosystem services average. With a significant part of the By combining data from 17 of the largest and population living in coastal cities and towns, longest-running biodiversity experiments, rising sea levels pose significant risks to scientists have found that previous studies Western Australia’s coastal infrastructure. have underestimated the importance of Western Australia is home to internationally biodiversity for maintaining multiple recognised biodiversity, already stressed by ecosystem services across many years and habitat fragmentation and further threatened places. Most previous studies considered only by a changing climate. Suitable habitat for a the number of species needed to provide one range of iconic species is likely to be service under one set of environmental substantially reduced as the climate changes. conditions, and found that many species The world famous Ningaloo Reef, like other appeared redundant. Now, by looking at coral reefs, is highly sensitive to a changing grassland plant species, investigators have climate. found that most of the studied species were http://climatecommission.gov.au/topics/weste important at least once for the maintenance of rn-australia-climate-change-impacts/ ecosystem services, because different sets of species were important during different years,

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 20 at different places, for different services, and azimuths to known distant landmarks. The under different global change (e.g. climate or bats may have an additional, back-up land-use change) scenarios. Furthermore, the navigational mechanism to help when species needed to provide one service during landmarks are unreliable. This mechanism multiple years were not the same as those might involve sensing the magnetic fields or needed to provide multiple services during directional odours. one year. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/0 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/0 8/110815113541.htm 8/110819155422.htm Electronic Flora of South Australia Wildlife response to climate change Since 1998 there has been an online version Species have responded to climate change up of the South Australian (vascular) flora to three times faster than previously (www.flora.sa.gov.au). The Electronic Flora appreciated. Species have moved towards the of South Australia or eFloraSA provides poles at three times the rate previously access to up-to-date information from the accepted in the scientific literature, and they Census of South Australian Plants, Algae and have moved to cooler, higher altitudes at Fungi database, species fact sheets, mapping twice the rate predicted. Analysing data for capabilities based on herbarium specimens over 2000 responses by animal and plant and some identification tools. Since 2010 species, on average, species have moved to eFloraSA has also provided fact-sheets on higher elevations at 12.2 m per decade and to algae (created from Womersley 1984–2003). higher latitudes at 17.6 km per decade. The 5th edition of the Flora of South Australia Individual species showed greater variation. is currently being prepared by over 60 Some species have moved much more slowly contributors from all over Australia. It is than expected, others have not moved, and published in PDF form on the website of the some have even retreated where they are South Australian Department of Environment expected to expand. For example, Cetti's and Natural Resources with one PDF file per warbler moved northwards in Britain by 150 family or larger group. This makes it possible km during the same period when the Cirl to release treatments as they become bunting retreated southward by 120 km, the available, and to easily up-date and amend latter experiencing a major decline associated them as necessary. Each treatment will with the intensification of agriculture. receive its own ISBN. Superseded flora http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/0 treatments will continue to be available for 8/110818142727.htm reference purposes. The first 17 treatments of the new Flora of SA are online. Fruit bats navigate with internal maps http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/Knowledg For many animals, the ability to successfully e_Bank/Science_research/State_Herbarium/R navigate a landscape is essential. Egyptian esources/Publications/Flora_of_SA/Flora_trea fruit bats fly dozens of kilometres each night tments to feed on specific fruit trees. Scientists attached tiny GPS devices to the bats in the Alpha, beta and gamma biodiversity first-ever comprehensive GPS-based field Over the last 60 years, my colleagues & I study of mammal navigation. The results of have been researching the physico-chemical this study showed that the bats carry around processes that determine the structure an internal, cognitive map of their home (Foliage Projective Cover, leaf attributes & range, based on visual landmarks, such as height of overstorey and understorey strata) in lights or hills, but the study also suggests an major plant communities from the tropical additional, large-scale navigational north to the temperate south of Australia. All mechanism. Navigational cues include these major plant communities (TWINSPAN distant landmarks, and the bats most likely Floristic Groups) throughout Australia were compute their own location by employing a objectively defined by computer analysis of form of triangulation based on the different the plant ecological surveys that had covered

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 21 almost every 30' latitude x 30' longitude grid- Species richness of rainforest stands on non-serpentinite & serpentinite substrates in Central Queensland. Proc. R. Soc. square of the continent. Annual energy Qld 113, 17-35 (2007) fixation per hectare by foliage in these plant Structure & species richness in wetland continua on sandy formations has been shown to determine the soils in subtropical & tropical Australia. Austral Ecology 34, 761-772 (2009) Alpha Biodiversity (number of species per Ratio of foliar nitrogen to foliar phosphorus: A determinant hectare or kilometre square) of plants and of leaf attributes and height in life-forms of subtropical and resident vertebrates in this climatic gradient tropical plant communities, Aust. J. Bot. 58, 527-538 (2010) Species richness of vascular plants and amphibia in major (± soil nutrient levels). plant communities in temperate to tropical Australia: Major climatic changes during the Relationship with annual biomass production. International mid-Tertiary when temperatures increased by Journal of Ecology 2010. about 5ºC decimated the vegetation in many plant formations (especially in north-eastern FASTS news Queensland and south-west Western FASTs has evolved to become Science & Australia)—speciation occurred in these Technology Australia. The new trading name disjunct stands. When the climate was chosen following extensive consultation ameliorated, the relictual vegetation invaded and feedback and reflects a challenge for the the landscape—Alpha Biodiversity, typical of science sector to better communicate the the major plant communities, was restored, critical work of scientists. ESA is currently but the new vegetation showed increased talking to STA aiming to develop a strategy Gamma Biodiversity (number of species per that will include the communication of region) as it contained these newly evolved ecological principles as a part of the STA taxa. These physico-chemical processes that advocacy portfolio.Visit the new STA website determine Alpha, Beta & Gamma at www.sta.org.au. Biodiversity have been outlined in 'Australian SmP Plant Communities. Dynamics of Structure, th Growth and Biodiversity' Oxford University On 20 and 21 June STA held the 12 annual Press, Melbourne, 1999). Science meets Parliament. The event exposed Since 1999, the community- some 200 scientists to the political, policy and physiological concepts of biodiversity have media worlds and allowed them to showcase been investigated further in the five papers their work to parliamentarians. On the listed below. Much more research is needed occasion of SmP2011, Science & Technology to understand the basic mechanisms that Australia launched the Respect the Science determine Alpha Biodiversity in ecosystems Campaign, calling on all Australians to take (of component producer, consumer & some time to understand how scientific decomposer species). evidence is generated so they can place the Ray Specht Vegetation structure & biodiversity along the appropriate weight on the information they eucalypt forest to rainforest continuum in Central receive and use it to inform the decisions they Queensland. Austral Ecology 32, 394-407 (2006) make. See www.respectthescience.org.au.

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 22

ECOLOGY AROUND AUSTRALIA

interviewed during the week. David Bowman talked to Radio Australia about his plenary: TASMANIA http://blogs.radioaustralia.net.au/english/2011 Kerry Bridle, Regional Councillor /other/conservation-biology-the-most-dismal- of-sciences ESA 2011 All in all, the majority of people So ESA2011 is over. We all survived—the seemed to have a good time, which is great wind abated, and the sun came out towards and we thank you for your positive feedback. the end of the week, and put on a show for the Congratulations to all prize winners and thank Friday field trips (at least in the south). We you to all participants. We worked hard to ended up with over 650 delegates, many more deliver the best conference that we could and than we had anticipated. The AV seemed to we think we did that, with a great deal of work well for most talks. The sessions support from Conference Logistics, seemed to run smoothly apart from the rush to particularly Tricia Hopkins, and from the get to the next room after the plenaries ESA Council. finished. The food was often praised though one person needed an emergency visit to the Excursion reports local butcher due to all the veggie food on ‘It was a cold and windy day…’ Jamie offer. Uni accommodation was less than Kirkpatrick and Jennie Whinam desirable for some due to asbestos removal in It was not. In fact it was warm, sunny and an adjoining building. Speed talks were well calm, making it hard to convince 40 odd received, with Pep Turner securing prizes for ecologists of the severity of the Tasmanian the best speed talk of the session, and poster alpine climate. In fact, at least two of the sessions were well attended with many excursion members immersed themselves in presenters commenting on the amount of Ladies Tarn and all the anglos were a bit red feedback they received (e.g. ‘I thought the at the end of the day. It was a great day for poster sessions were really good, with an invertebrates, with flightless grasshoppers of excellent turnout to both the Monday and varying hue springing in all directions. The Tuesday evening sessions. Lots of good food waratah was out in red flower as was one and service kept people there, and many individual of Aciphylla procumbens, very people were surprised and pleased to see so much appreciated by Susannah Venn. Steve many posters. Personally, I'm a convert to Leonard failed to catch a trout, but did see a posters—I got great feedback on my poster, sea eagle; Ken Green and his adventurous and was able to talk for a long time with group didn't quite make the summit; but we several people about my work and theirs. This all made it to the shoulder of Hartz Peak to hasn't always been my experience when see the impressive peaks of the south-west giving an oral talk- depending on what day wilderness from our lunch time dolerite and time you talk, there is not always much of plateau below Hartz Peak. Participants were a chance to engage with people.) given informative (slightly coloured by The dinner was noisy (aren’t they cynicism) descriptions by Jamie Kirkpatrick always?) and people enjoyed the ferry trip to of the landscape en route to the alpine zone and from the venue, but perhaps not the late (starting with residential developments at arrival back to their accommodation which Tolmans Hill), with descriptions of the was followed by an 8.30 start the next interesting animals (particularly the morning. The plenary speakers and prize charismatic ants) given by Peter McQuillan. winners are thanked for their contributions to To finish off the day we did a short walk in a making this conference a successful event, as dank rainforest. That was a bit more like it, are the sponsors. Many people were

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 23 although no-one perished. Credit for keeping community that occupied the site before the the field trip to time, not losing any of the fires. However, abundance was low and these participants and for the photo of a slightly sites were in poor condition compared to the disreputable group of alpine ecologists should lush bryophyte cover at the long unburned (she says with some bias) go to Jennie and 1939 burned sites. The sites that had been Whinam. ESA2011 alpine enthusiasts subject to intense fire in 2009 had only a few species of bryophyte because every From Jann Williams microhabitat at these sites had been scorched. The Indigenous culture field trip went The fires were so intense that rocks fractured extremely well. A great group of people, a and large logs and stumps were almost all wonderful bus driver and fantastic consumed. In the eerie quiet after the fires, it experiences at the various places we visited is hard to imagine what it must have been like made it very special. A memorable event for when such intense fires were raging, although all involved which should see some enduring the lack of persisting bryophytes anywhere on collaborations and friendships. these sites gives some insight into its depth and intensity.' From Kerry Bridle The Day on the Derwent went ahead with a Forest Practices Authority sunny start at Wrest Point. Catriona and Amelia Koch, local contact Christine provided an overview of Staff and associated students of the FPA have management issues for the Derwent Estuary been as busy as ever despite the recent and then we were loaded on the boat. The trip turmoil in the forest industry. Research on took us past the urban sprawl of Hobart (such tree hollows, some done in conjunction with that it is) past penguin rookeries, a sea eagle Forestry Tasmania, has led to the nest and on to North Bruny Island where we development of the ‘Mature Habitat saw not so shy albatross, shearwaters, a Availability Map’. It is hoped that this map juvenile sea eagle and many dolphins. It was will help improve the management of the quite cool on the water (said the person Tasmanian landscape for species dependent acclimatised to Tasmania) but we soon on mature forest features like tree hollows. warmed up with soup and rolls for lunch at The next step will be to test how well the map Adventure Bay. A guided walk past penguin reflects areas used by hollow-using fauna. and shearwater rookeries on ‘The Neck’ This will be done using data collected by (thanks Luke) followed by a trip to a local people like PhD student Lisa Cawthen, who winery topped off what many of us thought has been busy radio-tracking bats and was a grand day out. Thanks to all of you who possums over the last few years to identify responded to my persistent sales pitch for this roost and den trees. event. Other news of FPA-related students is that Mick Todd submitted his PhD on masked Other news owl ecology earlier this year. Among other Emma Pharo spent six months in Canberra things, Mick examined where masked owls with David Lindenmayer's group. She and are most likely to be found in Tasmania. PhD fellow bryologist David Meagher (UMelb) student Shannon Troy has finished her field worked on David's long term monitoring sites work tracking quolls, and she is now in the in the Victorian Central Highlands. With the data analysis stage. And a new student, Jillian assistance of David's field crew (David Blair Smith, is starting her honours project trying to and Lachlan McBurney), they looked at the work out the secrets of where Tasmanian correlation between time since fire and burn devils construct their dens. intensity on bryophyte diversity. The richest sites were those only lightly burned in the Feb Atlas of Living Australia 7, 2009 fires because both the cosmopolitan Lee Belbin, Geospatial Team Leader, , local fire mosses and liverworts were present, as contact well as remnants of the wet sclerophyll

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 24 The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA, d. Supported pilot projects to develop http://www.ala.org.au/) has delivered the innovative ways to rapidly image and following key infrastructure components for digitise collections—two museums are the integration and dissemination of trialling the use of volunteers to improve Australian biodiversity data: efficiency in imaging and digitising 1. Species distribution records. More than 26 specimens. million species occurrence records (> 133,000 e. Worked with its partners to analyse their species) have been integrated from specimen imaging procedures, and develop guidance collections, observations, site-based on imaging, image and metadata monitoring, survey data sets, molecular data, management and imaging strategies and images, audio recordings and literature. All approaches. records are available from the ALA website, providing a valuable resource for research, 6. National databases. The ALA has policy, management and education. developed integrated digital repositories for 2. Data quality control. Standardised quality biodiversity images, literature, identification control rules and record review processes keys and tools, and species fact sheets. have been implemented. These processes 7. Field data recording software. The ALA detect and respond to issues on taxonomy, has developed web-based templates and geography and other components to ensure software for recording and managing appropriate handling of records of species biodiversity data in the field. The software considered sensitive from the standpoints of and tools are already being used in research conservation and biosecurity. projects, urban biodiversity surveys, museum 3. Information associated with occurrence outreach activities, science education, records. Additional properties associated with biosecurity monitoring, CMA and Natural occurrence records includes images, sounds, Resource Management and reporting. molecular sequences, links to site- and 8. National Species List. The ALA is making project-based metadata, descriptive substantial progress on the most characters, functional properties and comprehensive and accurate names list for legislative status of the associated species. Australian species. The National Species List 4. Geospatial analysis. The Atlas Spatial includes preferred names and synonyms for Portal provides rich geospatial capabilities all described Australian plant, animal and including tools for the analysis of species fungal species, with tools and services to distribution records, over 800,000 named access and use this data set and to download areas and over 250 environmental and context data for further analysis. layers. Layers include climate, marine, soil, 9. Key role with international infrastructure vegetation, reserves, eco regions, political and capabilities. The ALA serves as a gateway for NRM boundaries and fire history. data sharing between Australian projects and 5. Digitising biological collections. The ALA international biodiversity informatics and its partners have made significant programmes, including the Global progress on digitising the information held in Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, biological collections. The infrastructure http://www.gbif.org/), the Encyclopedia of enables institutions to image and database Life (EOL, http://www.eol.org/), the their specimens, laying the foundation for Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL, future expansion. The ALA has http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/) and the a. Supported the purchase of digital imaging Barcode of Life Database (BOLD, infrastructure and software. http://www.barcodinglife.com/). It provides b. Established Morphbank as a central an efficient model for consistent inclusion of repository for the storage, management and Australian data as a component in these sharing of biodiversity images and data. projects, and at the same time serves as a c. Provided an integrated portal to present bridge for integrating data from international these data online. institutions into Australian data summaries.

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 25 known populations of the Northern Bettong. QUEENSLAND Prior to acquisition by AWC in 2004, the Andrew Hayes, Regional Councillor property was managed for cattle grazing and timber for over 50 years. Like similar forests As usual, not too many respondents to my call elsewhere in the Wet Tropics, substantial for stories this time, but as always we have parts of the wet sclerophyll forests on Mount something from John Kanowski and I am Zero-Taravale have been invaded by pleased to say that we have an abstract from a rainforest plants. As a consequence, the recently completed thesis from Kate Reardon- availability of habitat for the northern bettong Smith from the University of Southern has declined. Queensland. This is a great and convenient Since acquisition, AWC has attempted way to tell others about your exciting to restore a grassy under-storey to wet research, and I’d be keen to include other sclerophyll forests on Mount Zero–Taravale thesis updates any time. If you think you are by the re-establishment of regular burning. up for the challenge please drop me an email Hot fires have carried through much of the at: [email protected]. Until next time… wet sclerophyll forests on the sanctuary in

2009 and 2011. Unfortunately, a recent paper Australian Wildlife Conservancy, North- published in Austral Ecology has shown that east Australia ‘invaded’ wet sclerophyll forest on Mount John Kanowski, local contact Zero–Taravale is quite resistant to the In this bulletin, I’d like to present some reintroduction of fire, with many rainforest information about one of the research project species resprouting or reseeding after fire being conducted by AWC ecologists in north- (see: Williams et al. 2011 Mechanisms of east Australia: the experimental restoration of rainforest persistence and recruitment in wet sclerophyll forests at Mount Zero– frequently burnt wet tropical eucalypt forests. Taravale Sanctuary, north-west of Austral Ecology). Townsville, in the Wet Tropics of north If fire by itself is not sufficient to Queensland. restore a grassy understorey to wet Wet sclerophyll forests (dominated by sclerophyll forest, then more active Eucalyptus grandis, E. resinifera and intervention may be necessary. In 2009, AWC Syncarpia glomifera) occur along the margins began an experiment to examine the of rainforests in the Wet Tropics of north-east effectiveness of thinning rainforest plants on Australia; similar forests are widespread in the restoration of wet sclerophyll forests on south-east Australia. In northern Australia, Mount Zero–Taravale. The experiment several fauna species are largely restricted to required a permit under the Qld Vegetation wet sclerophyll forests including the northern Management Act, which restricted the treated bettong, yellow-bellied glider and swamp rat. area to 15 ha. Wet sclerophyll forests are maintained by A trial 1 ha plot was thinned in 2009. regular fire, and when so managed support a All rainforest trees and shrubs, wattles, all grassy and herbaceous understorey. In recent eucalypt saplings <10 cm dbh, and some decades, however, the cessation of Aboriginal eucalypt trees <20 cm dbh were felled or ring- fire regimes has resulted in the invasion of barked, and painted with glyphosate extensive areas of wet sclerophyll forests by herbicide. The slash was allowed to dry and rainforest plants. Rainforest invasion results the site burnt in a hot fire in November 2009. in a closed canopy which suppresses the Subsequently, there was a vigorous growth of grassy understorey and inhibits the vines and shrubs on the plot; some grass also recruitment of eucalypts, greatly reducing its became established. All woody regrowth value as habitat for specialised fauna (e.g. (except some eucalypt saplings) and vines both the northern bettong and swamp rat feed were slashed across the unburnt part of the on grasses). plot in 2011; grass cover has responded Mount Zero–Taravale Sanctuary positively to this treatment. An additional 3 supports a substantial area of wet sclerophyll ha was thinned using similar protocols in forest (c. 2500 ha) and supports one of three

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 26 November 2011 with the help of the Girrigun potentially due to a lack of understanding of Rangers. the key drivers of ecological change operating The experiment is being monitored in this complex socio-ecological landscape. using a BACI design, with vegetation This research addressed questions structure and composition, and small mammal about the drivers of floristic composition, assemblages, being the response variables. functional diversity and woodland condition For further information, contact in fragmented riparian woodland communities [email protected]. associated with a regulated dryland river system, and embedded in a production Australian Centre for Sustainable landscape. In particular, it investigated Catchments, University of Southern ecological responses to the range of Queensland disturbances (including altered hydrology, Jarrod Kath, local contact land use intensity, resource availability, and An abstract for a recently completed PhD key species interactions) prevalent in this thesis from Kate Reardon-Smith is below. highly modified landscape. Two of the four This thesis and the one by Peter Wagner that studies presented test the hypothesis that the was reported earlier should be available on composition and condition of riparian the USQ open access ePrints site (and through woodland remnants on the Upper Condamine the ADT website) within the next month. floodplain are associated with current levels Disturbance and resilience in riparian of longitudinal and lateral hydrological woodlands on the highly modified Upper connectivity. These studies used a stratified Condamine floodplain. sampling design which partitioned the study Remnant ecosystems in agricultural area into river sections, and also considered landscapes are poorly understood in terms of the influence of lateral overbank and overland their diversity, function and dynamics under flood flows, and grazing within ecosystem altered disturbance regimes, and in how these fragments (remnants). Full floristic sampling factors influence resilience to future and condition assessments of mature disturbance. Understanding native ecosystem Eucalyptus camaldulensis/E. tereticornis trees responses to novel and multiple disturbances were conducted at a total of 24 sites in is a crucial foundation for adaptive 2004/05. Significant patterns in floristic management to maintain and enhance composition, functional diversity and biodiversity and critical ecosystem services in woodland condition were explained by production landscapes. This is particularly differences in hydrological variability; significant where environmental change however, the confounding influence of land drives irreversible threshold responses and use and interaction between within-remnant ecosystem transitions to less functional, or land use (specifically grazing) and less preferred, alternative ecological states. hydrological factors for some measures, This research was conducted in remnant indicated response to a complexity of drivers. riparian woodland ecosystems along a A third study investigated the regulated section of the Condamine River, influence of local and landscape-scale southern Queensland, an ephemeral dryland hydrological and land use variables. It used a river system draining an intensively farmed Bayesian model averaging (BMA) approach landscape in eastern Australia. Riparian to identify informative model sets of woodland remnants on the Upper Condamine explanatory variables, and key environmental floodplain are subject to significant changes predictors of floristic composition, in hydrological regimes and land use community structure and ecological intensity. They also exhibit dieback and condition. A novel method was developed to limited recruitment of canopy species, as well examine dynamic transitions in species as widespread invasion by the introduced richness and abundance between reciprocal perennial herb Phyla canescens (lippia); pairs of functional groups; this method used however, efforts to address these issues have the ratio of species richness (or total largely failed to curb ongoing degradation, abundance) in corresponding pairs of

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 27 functional trait groups (e.g. C3:C4 species) as diversity of non-lippia species in these grassy a community response variable reflecting the woodlands. relative importance of each group along the Results of this research are environmental gradients tested. Groundwater synthesised in a conceptual resilience-based decline was the primary predictor of state and transition ‘riparian woodland ecosystem response, with lower floristic and response’ model identifying three critical functional diversity and more severe dieback transitions for riparian ecosystem condition associated with increasing depth to and function related to effectively irreversible groundwater; this result suggests an changes in the landscape: (i) transformation to overarching reliance on shallow groundwater a lippia-invaded landscape with the resources for maintenance of ecosystem introduction, establishment and spread of resilience not previously reported for this lippia on the floodplain; (ii) transformation ecosystem type in Australia. Lippia from riparian communities which are well abundance and dominant tree condition were buffered against drought, due to connection also important biotic drivers of ecosystem with shallow groundwater, to communities condition in these communities, and key reliant on and susceptible to stochastic predictors of floristic composition and climatic variability; and (iii) population functional group richness and abundance failure in the dominant functional canopy transitions. Poor tree condition and loss of species complex, Eucalyptus hydraulic function was associated with camaldulensis/E. tereticornis, and secondary impacts on less well adapted transformation to non-eucalypt-dominant ‘terrestrial’ groundcover species, while the floodplain ecosystem types such as Acacia subdominant species Acacia stenophylla stenophylla-dominant woodlands, floodplain responded positively to competitive release grasslands or lippia-dominant herblands with due to poor tree function and reduced tree significantly reduced capacity to provide density. Lippia cover was also strongly essential ecosystems services in riparian associated with the density (positively) and contexts. mortality (negatively) of mature trees. In conclusion, this research indicates Small scale species interactions were that observed condition in riparian woodlands investigated in a study which tested on the Upper Condamine floodplain is an differences in groundcover vegetation integrated response to a range of disturbances, composition and lippia cover, reproductive but that certain changes (in particular, condition and growth habit between ‘distance groundwater decline due to overextraction in from tree’ and topographic position combination with extended drought) may be treatments in a riparian woodland on the critical to the long-term persistence and Upper Condamine floodplain. Sampling was function of these remnants. This study conducted along twelve transects extending indicates the importance of systems-based from the base of mature Eucalyptus empirical research to developing better camaldulensis/E. tereticornis trees into understanding of the function and dynamics canopy gaps. Results indicated that scattered of remnant ecosystems in highly modified trees play a significant role in facilitating the landscapes subject to both natural and abundance and condition of lippia in this anthropogenic disturbance regimes. The landscape, with evidence of high lippia resilience-based approach also focuses abundance, reproductive effort and attention on the key drivers of stability and consolidated clonal growth under trees critical transitions in these complex socio- canopies (described as a ‘halo’ effect). This ecological systems. Such research is vital to interaction is likely to play a significant role evaluating and predicting changes in remnant in the persistence of this mesic, though highly native ecosystems and the provision of adaptive, species in this drought prone important ecosystem services, and as a basis landscape. Lippia cover greater than for adaptive management in multi-use approximately 20% was also found to have a production landscapes. significant impact on the abundance and

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 28 A total of 23 enthusiastic ecologists, at SA different stages of their career, registered for Nerissa Haby, Regional Councillor the workshop. Most were PhD candidates from the University of Adelaide and Flinders

University, but also represented were an Writing Grant Proposals: Tips for NGO, two consulting groups and Flinders addressing criteria effectively University. 2 November, Field Geology Room, Mawson Over generous quantities of cheese, laboratories, North Terrace, University of dips, fruit and cupcakes, beer and wine, this Adelaide. Nerissa Haby. dynamic group shared their key issues, and

heard about burrowing for information, the This brand new workshop grew from the idea significance of train rides in the lives of that past grant applications submitted to ESA reviewers and some common mistakes. and NCSSA could be used to identify Armed with this new insight, participants had common problems and act as a teaching aid the opportunity to apply evaluate snippets of for developing ecologists. To make this idea a text from a range of scientific sources and reality, I sought permission from ESA and past grant applications brought along by two NCSSA to share material while protecting the brave participants. confidentiality of past applicants, many of Overall, the workshop was delightful; whom would have moved on and would be no helped in no small way by those who longer contactable. Next came funding. randomly volunteered on the day (Guanfang, Everything was progressing well with the full Ana, Matt, Amy and Sam) and by participants support of the ESA Council behind the keen to use their initiative and improve their development of this event. The most grant writing ability. important component came last; engaging Dr To finish this piece, I would just like Margaret Cargill, an applied linguist with a to share some of Margaret’s words: ‘...for a wealth of experience in scientific writing first draft it is fine, ladies and gentlemen, but methods, to work through old applications try not to submit it!’ and criteria and derive pearls of wisdom for us all to learn from. Margaret’s evaluation would form the basis of the workshop.

NEWS FROM OVERSEAS SOCIETIES Bernie Masters

The British Ecological Society’s August increasingly popular winter birthing period Bulletin has a couple of articles of interest to allow vegetation to start growing earlier, Aussie ecologists. With climate change providing cattle with more nutritious plant affecting virtually all parts of the planet, its growth which in turn allows more cows to impact on the breeding behaviour of conceive earlier. mammals—in this case, Chillingham cattle Rock climbing may not be as popular that have been feral for over a century— a leisure activity in Australia as it is in Europe confirms that spring flowers and songbird but it may be time to think about conservation breeding aren’t the only things changing. measures needed to protect rare plants whose Over the past 60 years, more calves have been preferred habitat is cliffs. In Germany, born in winter and these have formed a larger climbers on popular cliffs are physically proportion of all births. Mortality is higher, interfering with a rare grass, either through however, suggesting that this mammal won’t abrasion from climbing ropes or from direct be favoured by climatic change. Why are physical damage as hands and toes use cracks more calves being born in winter? Because and ledges for ascent. Seed dispersal was warmer springs nine months prior to the

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 29 enhanced, although the overall genetic impact article about arguably the greatest ecologist of on this rare species was negative. all time, Charles Darwin. With numerous Books reviewed and recommended by photos and drawings, it’s a lively and BES members include: informative description of Darwin’s The Ecosystem Approach to Marine contributions to evolutional ecology. Planning and Management. Edited by S Kidd K. A. Nicholas and W. Gordon et al., (2011). Earthscan, London. About provide a detailed ‘quick guide’ on how to A$50 paperback. write a ‘solid’ peer review. After considering Ecology of Freshwaters: A View for and accepting the request, you should read the the Twenty-First Century (4th ed.). Brian R paper three times, once to ensure it’s Moss (2010). Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester. publishable or not, the second time to draft About A$60 paperback. the main points of your review and the third Climate Change Impacts on reading to look for organisational issues prior Freshwater Ecosystems. Edited by M Kernan to you then finalise the review. et al., (2010). Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester. The Bulletin contains a set of forum About A$70 hardback. papers on Earth Stewardship which highlight Terms Used in Bionomenclature: The the wide range of roles available to people in Naming of Organisms (and Plant different parts of the world to manage our Communities). D L Hawksworth (2010). environment. An article by Philippe Cohen Global Biodiversity Information Facility, mentions the use of domestic garbage by the Copenhagen. Free from www.gbif.org. town of Umea in Sweden to provide heating through combustion. The town even collects New Zealand has an active ecological waste from neighbouring urban areas to society with their newsletter available online supplement its own garbage shortfall. Sarah at www.nzes.org.nz/resources/newsletter. Hobbie et al. write about Planetary Now 60 years old, the society has 664 Stewardship beginning at home, outlining the members and a modest membership fee of relative contributions of different household NZ$130 for overseas residents. An article by activities to the total input fluxes of carbon, Tim Curran announces the existence of nitrogen and phosphorous. Andrew Mack et INNGE—the International Network for Next al. discuss the role of the Papua New Guinea Generational Ecologists—for early career Institute of Biological Research in training ecologists interested in what their peers are scientists and giving them the capacity to doing in other parts of the world. The network meet national ecological research needs. allows environmental problems to be solved A report from the ESA’s 2011 annual by building ties between ecologists. meeting on ‘Revolutionary Ecology’ also The newsletter reproduces a letter sent raises the issue of stewardship and actions to by NZES to the Minister for Conservation, be taken by ecologists and other ‘global lamenting the proposed loss of jobs and citizens’. Five papers are summarised. In technical/scientific capacity within the additional to an address from Paul Ehrlich, a Department of Conservation. Considering paper on student involvement in earth NZ’s significant biodiversity values, a stewardship was not encouraging, with 58% reduction in staff numbers within a of ESA’s surveyed student members not government agency that is comparatively involved in such activities. One of the small could have serious implications for interesting conclusions from the symposium biodiversity conservation in general and for was that an action ecologist is one who the one third of NZ currently managed by conducts research that leads to social change. government. Personally, I’m not sure if I want to agree The Ecological Society of America’s with this definition. quarterly Bulletin is also available online at Another report from the ESA annual www.esajournals.org/toc/ebul/current. Frank meeting discusses the need to integrate new Egerton continues his excellent ‘History of technologies with Mother Nature. One Ecological Sciences’ series with a 19 page presenter pointed out that most teachers of

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 30 ecology fail to apply one of the most essential computer games all have something to offer scientific procedures to their students: pre- and need to be incorporated into modern and post-manipulation measurements. teaching programs. Students are tested only after they’ve sat After 15 or 16 years, this will be my through a year of lectures but there are few final ‘News from Overseas Societies’ data to define the success or failure of contribution. I thoroughly recommend this teaching interventions. pleasurable task to others as it has helped me While modern and novel digital keep abreast of developments in the fields of imaging technologies can greatly assist in the ecology, ecological policy and politics. For teaching of ecology, there appears to be no me, though, it’s time to mow the lawn and do substitute for stories – a very old technology - some gardening. if you want students (and others) to remember facts, figures and concepts. Even so, mobile Bernie Masters, Capel. [email protected] computing, new software and ecological

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS 2012 July 9-13, 2012. 12th Int. Coral Reef Symp. Feb 7-9, 2012. Australian Island Arks Symp. 2. Cairns, Qld. www.icrs2012.com Canberra, ACT. www.islandarks.com.au Sept 3-5, 2012. 1st Int. Symp. on Hedgerow April 18-20, 2012. 12th Int.Public Communication Ecology, Conservation and Management. of Science and Technology Conf. Florence, Italy. Staffordshire, UK. www.pcst2012.org http://207.58.145.198/~hedgel/Hedgerow-Futures- Conference-2012.htm May 1-5, 2012. Australasian Aquaculture 2012. Melbourne, Vic. Sept 6-15, 2012. IUCN World Conservation www.marevent.com Congress Forum. Jeju, Korea. www.iucn.org/congress May 7-11, 2012. 6th World Fisheries Congress. Edinburgh, Scotland. Sept 17-21, 2012. Coast to Coast 2012. Brisbane, www.6thwfc2012.com Qld. http://www.coast2coast.org.au

May 29-May 31, 2012. Adaptation Futures: 2nd Sept 23-27, 2012. 17th Aust. Rangeland Soc. Int. Climate Change Adaptation Conf. Tucson, Biennial Conf. Kununurra, WA. Arizona, USA. http://www.austrangesoc.com.au/site/whatson_co http://www.adaptation.arizona.edu/adaptation201 nference.php 2 Dec 3-7, 2012. ESA12. Ecology: Fundamental June 26-28, 2012. Climate Adaptation in Action: Science of the Biosphere. Melbourne, Vic. sharing knowledge to adapt'. NCCARF. http://www.ecolsoc.org.au/ Melbourne, Vic.. 2013 July 1-5, 2012. AMSA and NZMSS: Marine June 24-28, 2013. 9th Indo-Pacific Fish Conf. extremes and everything in between.’ Hobart, Okinawa, Japan Tasmania www.fish-isj.jp/english/IPFC.html http://www.amsa.asn.au/conference/ August 18-23, 2013. INTECOL 11 Congress July 2-6, 2012. MMM3: Meeting on Mangrove (Ecology—Into the Next 100 Years). London, ecology, functioning and Management. Galle, Sri UK. INTECOL 2013 – Lanka. http://www.intecol2013.org/. http://www.vub.ac.be/APNA/greendyke/MMM3/

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia 41(4) December 2011 31

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