Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Research Unit Annual Report
RESEARCH UNIT NAME: Centre for Ecosystem Management
RESEARCH UNIT LEVEL (tick):
Level I Research Group Level II Research Centre
Level III Research Institute Centre of Excellence
REPORTING YEAR: 2012
BRIEF OVERVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS
CEM members Mark Lund and Clint McCullough co-chaired the International Mine Water Conference (IMW) at the Bunbury campus of ECU. The conference was the first IMW Conference held in Australia since 1988 and attracted over 300 local and international delegates from 26 countries. More than 100 referred papers were published in the proceedings (edited by the co-chairs) and was sponsored by BHP Billiton, Golder Associates, Weir Minerals, Rio Tinto and ECU. The conference included a mid- conference excursion to the Collie Coalfield hosted by CEM members and highlighting research currently being undertaken at ECU.
Other highlights included a full day research symposium on Biodiversity, Sustainability and Ecosystem Health as part of the ECU Research Week held in September 2012. The symposium was opened by the Director, Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation and involved 12 CEM and 6 external speakers. The symposium covered existing collaborative research as well as fostered the development of new collaborations with industry and external research institutions.
MEMBERSHIP
Director Professor Will Stock
Management Committee Associate Professor Ray Froend Associate Professor Andrea Hinwood Associate Professor Mark Lund
Academic Staff Dr Ian Bennett Dr Mary Boyce Dr Robert Davis Associate Professor Rod Giblett Professor Pierre Horwitz Dr Annette Koenders Dr Kristina Lemson
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Dr Clint McCullough Dr Eddie van Etten
Adjuncts Dr Allan Burbidge Associate Professor Adrianne Kinnear Emeritus Professor Harry Recher Dr Esmee Webb
Post-Doctoral Research Fellows Dr Melanie Blanchette Dr Dimity Boggs Dr Anna Callan Dr Xinhua He Dr Bea Sommer
Honorary Research Associates Professor David Goodall
Research Staff Ms Muriel Davies Dr Simon Judd Ms Shireen McGuinness Ms Michelle Newport Ms Jennifer Wilson Ms Lorraine Wyse
Research Students PhD Mr Demetrios Bertzeletos Mr David Blake Mr John Bunn Mr Quinton Burnham Ms Zoe Car Mr Jeffry Cargill Ms Kelly Chapman Mr Timothy Doherty Mr Kwasi Frimpong Mr Chatchai Intatha Ms Umm Kalsoom Ms Iris Lee Mr Christopher Kavazos Mr Josef Krawiec Ms Karunia MacDonald Mr Shaun Molloy Ms Ana Muler Mr Craig Pentland Ms Malarvili Ramlingam Mr Rylan Shearn Ms Katesuda Sitthisuntikul Ms Meenu Vitarana
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
MSc Ms Sawsan Alawadi Ms Gemma Broderick Mr Robert Campbell Ms Shannon Clohessy Ms Julia Coggins Ms Belinda Delaney Ms Natasha Dunham Mr David Galeotti Ms Lauren Hibbird Ms Teagan Johnston Mr Justin King Miss Megan Ladbrook Mr Michael Pezzaniti Mr William Phelps Ms Maria Ramirez Caro Mr Justin Reynolds Ms Heather Salomons Mrs Alice Sedgman Mr Badin Thornton Ms Sharon Zuiddam
NEW GRANTS
Value of Funding Years Chief Investigator Title of Grant/Project Collaborators Grant Body Funded
The development of operational rules for Water FROEND, Ray management of shallow $139,152 1.5 n/a Corporation groundwater in water limited ecosystems. Identifying wetlands of Department of significance within the Environment Gnangara pine plantations – and Evaluation of general FROEND, Ray $26,791 Conservation 1 n/a landscape and land-use (DEC) & attributes (Step 1) and Emerge habitat attributes and socio- Associates political values (Step 2). Botanic The population genetic Gardens and KRAWIEC, Josef structure of Ctenotus fallens $8,000 1 n/a Parks in urban habitat fragments. Authority Australian Enhancing ecological values Coal Research of coal pit lakes with simple Premier Coal LUND, Mark $321,886 Association 2 nutrient additions and Ltd Research bankside vegetation. Program Evaluating the performance of "The Water Cleanser" Marine Easy LUND, Mark $25,000 2 n/a produced by Marine Easy Clean Clean. Midge & water quality City of LUND, Mark $14,800 1 n/a desktop audit. Cockburn
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Value of Funding Years Chief Investigator Title of Grant/Project Collaborators Grant Body Funded
City of Cockburn: Adult City of LUND, Mark $114 1 n/a midge identification. Cockburn Rio Tinto Iron Ore pit lake Rio Tinto Pty Rio Tinto Pty LUND, Mark bioremediation (III): Water $80,000 1 Ltd Ltd quality characterisation. Acid pit lake breach effects MCCULLOUGH, Premier Coal Golder on water quality and aquatic $55,000 2 Clint Ltd Associates biota. Mulching bioremediation for City of acidity problems in an urban RADHAKRISHNAN, Stirling/ECU lake (Spoonbill Lakes) $72,330 1 n/a Naresh Collaborative resulting from Acid Sulfate Grant Soils. Topsoil assessment for Roy Roy Hill Iron VAN ETTEN, Eddie $58,834 1 n/a Hill project area. Ore The systematics of the harvestman genus Nunciella Australian Western (Opiliones: Triaenonychidae) Biological ZUIDDAM, Sharon $10,000 1 Australian in south-western Australia: A Resources Museum morphological and molecular Study (ABRS) approach.
PUBLICATIONS, REFERRED BOOKS, CHAPTERS, JOURNAL ARTICLES, CONFERENCE PAPERS, REPORTS (CEM members are in bold).
Books
Patz, J., Corvalan, C., Horwitz, P. and Campbell-Lendrum, D. (2012). Our planet, our health, our future. Human health and the Rio Conventions: Biological diversity, climate change and desertification. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organisation.
Book Chapters
Wilcox, B. A., Aguirre, A. A. & Horwitz, P. (2012). Ecohealth: Connecting ecology, health, and sustainability. In A. A. Aguirre, R. S. Ostfield & P. Daszak (Eds.), New directions in Conservation medicine: Applied cases of ecological health (pp. 17-32). New York, USA: Oxford University Press.
Kumar, N. R., McCullough, C. D. & Lund, M. A. (2012). Pit lakes in Australia. In W. Geller & M. Schultze (Eds.), Acidic pit lakes - Legacies of surface mining on coal and metal ores (pp. 342-361). Berlin, Germany: Springer.
Ramalingam, M., Hinwood, A., Boyce, M., McCafferty, P., Callan, A., Barton, C., Heyworth, J., & Odland, J. O. (2012). Concentrations of maternal blood metals in Western Australia: Preliminary investigation. In J. Nriagu, J. Pacyna, P. Szefer, B. Markert, S. Wuenschmann & J. Namiesnik (Eds.), Heavy metals in the environment: Selected papers from the ICHMET-15 Conference (pp. 331-336). Series: Progress in Environmental Science, Technology and Management. Voorschoten, The Netherlands: Maralte Books.
Parkes, M., Waltner-Toews, D., Horwitz, P. (2012 in press). Ecohealth. In A. C. Michalos (Ed.), Encyclopedia of quality of life research. Springer, Dordrecht.
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
McCullough, C. D. (2012). Closing Western Australian Mine pit lakes. In Minesite (pp. 105-107). Perth, Australia: WA Mining Club.
Journal Articles
Abbiss, H., Maker, G. L., Gummer, J., Sharman, M. J., Phillips, J. K., Boyce, M. C., Trengove, R. D. (2012). Development of a non-targeted metabolomics method to investigate urine in a rat model of polycystic kidney disease. Nephrology, 17(2), 104-110.
Bertzeletos, D., Davis, R. A. & Horwitz, P. (2012). Importance of Lake MacLeod, northwestern Australia, to shorebirds: a review and update. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 95(1), 115–124.
Blake, D., Lu, K., Horwitz, P. & Boyce, M. Fire suppression and burnt sediments: Effects on the water chemistry of fire-affected wetlands. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 21(5), 557-561.
Botwright Acuña, T. L., He, X. & Wade, L. J. (2012).Temporal variation in root penetration ability of wheat genotypes through thin wax layers in contrasting water regimes and in the field. Field Crops Research, 138, 1-10. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2012.09.018
Burnham, Q., Koenders, A. & Horwitz, P. (2012) The status of the critically endangered freshwater crayfish Engaewa pseudoreducta (Crustacea: Parastacidae) in south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 27, 45–54.
Callan, A. C., Hinwood, A. L., Heffernan, A., Eaglsham, G., Mueller, J. & Odland, J. O. (2012 in press). Urinary bisphenol A concentrations in pregnant women. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2012.10.002
Callan, A. C., Winters, M., Barton, C., Boyce, M., & Hinwood, A. L. (2012). Children's exposure to metals: A community-initiated study. Archives Of Environmental Contamination And Toxicology, 62(4), 714- 722. doi:10.1007/s00244-011-9727-2
Canham, C., Froend, R., Stock, W., & Davies, M. (2012). Dynamics of phreatophyte root growth relative to a seasonally fluctuating water table in a Mediterranean-type environment. Oecologia, 170(4), 909-916. doi:10.1007/s00442-012-2381-1
Calvino-Cancela, M., Rubido-Bará, M. & van Etten, E. J. B. (2012). Do eucalypt plantations provide habitat for native forest biodiversity? Forest Ecology & Management, 270, 153-162. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2012.01.019
Davis, R. A., Gole, C. & Roberts, J. D. (2012 in press). Impacts of urbanisation on the native avifauna of Perth, Western Australia. Urban Ecosystems. doi:10.1007/s11252-012-0275-y
Davis, R. A. & Wilcox, J. A. (2012 in press). Adapting to suburbia: Bird ecology on an urban-bushland interface in Perth, Western Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology.
Giblett, R. (2012). Nature is ordinary too: Raymond Williams as the founder of ecocultural studies. Cultural Studies, 26(6), 922-933. doi: 10.1080/09502386.2012.707221
Hahn, M. B., Barrett, M. A. & Horwitz, P. (2012). Student dialogues: EcoHealth offers a home to the interdisciplinary student. EcoHealth, 9(3), 241-242. doi:10.1007/s10393-012-0788-0
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Hinwood, A., Heyworth, J., Tanner, H., McCullough, C. (2012). Recreational use of acidic pit lakes – human health considerations for post closure planning. Journal Water Resource and Protection, 4(12), 1061-1070. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2012.412122
Horwitz, P. & Finlayson, M. (2012). Water and health: On the notion of a healthy wetland. Human Evolution, 27(1-3), 65-69.
Hunt, L., Koenders, A. & Gynnild, V. (2012). Assessing practical laboratory skills in undergraduate molecular biology courses. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 37(7), 861-874. doi:10.1080/02602938.2011.576313
Koenders, A., Martens, K., Halse, S. & Schoen, I. (2012). Cryptic species of the Eucypris virens species complex (Ostracoda, Crustacea) from Europe have invaded Western Australia. Biological Invasions, 14(10), 2187-2201. doi:10.1007/s10530-012-0224-y
Lazenby, V., Hinwood, A., Callan, A., Franklin, P. (2012). Formaldehyde personal exposure measurements and time weighted exposure estimates in children. Chemosphere, 88(8), 966- 973. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.03.029
Lee, I. S. L., Boyce, M. C., Breadmore, M. C. (2012). Extraction and on-line concentration of flavonoids in Brassica oleracea by capillary electrophoresis using large volume sample stacking. Food Chemistry, 133(1), 205-211. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.01.006
Liang, B., Yang, X., He, X., Murphy, D. V., Zhou, J. (2012). Long-term combined application of manure and NPK fertilizers influenced nitrogen retention and stabilization of organic C in Loess soil. Plant and Soil, 353(1-2), 249 – 260. doi:10.1007/s11104-011-1028-z
Liu, Y., Mao, L., He, X., Cheng, G., Ma, X., An, L., Feng, H. (2012). Rapid change of AM fungal community in a rain-fed wheat field with short-term plastic film mulching practice. Mycorrhiza, 22(1), 31-39. doi:10.1007/s00572-011-0378-y
Lou, Y., Xu, M., Chen, X., He, X. & Zhao, K. (2012). Stratification of soil organic C, N and C:N ratio as affected by conservation tillage in two maize fields of China. Catena, 95, 124-130. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2012.02.009
Lou, Y., Xu, M., He, X., Duan, Y., Li, L. (2012). Soil nitrate distribution, N2O emission and crop performance after the application of N fertilizers to greenhouse vegetables. Soil Use and Management, 28(3), 299-306. doi:10.1111/j.1475-2743.2012.00412.x
Lu, J. K., He, X., Huang, L. B., Kang, L. H., Xu, D. P. (2012). Two Burkholderia strains from nodules of Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen in Hainan Island, southern China. New Forests, 43(4), 397-409. doi:10.1007/s11056-011-9290-8
Mahmood, T., Anwar, F., Abbas, M., Boyce, M. C., Saari, N. (2012). Compositional variation in sugars and organic acids at different maturity stages in selected small fruits from Pakistan. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 13(2), 1380-1392. doi:10.3390/ijms13021380
McBride, M. F., Garnett, S. T., Szabo, J. K., Burbidge, A. H., Butchart, S. H. M., Christidis, L., Dutson, G. Ford, H. A., Loyn, R. H., Watson, D. M. & Burgman, M. A. (2012). Structured elicitation of expert judgments for threatened species assessment: a case study on a continental scale using email. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 3(5), 906-920. doi:10.1111/j.2041-210X.2012.00221.x
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
McQueen, H., Callan, A. C. & Hinwood, A. L. (2012). Estimating maternal and prenatal exposure to glyphosate in the community setting. International Journal Of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 215(6), 570-576. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2011.12.002
Prober, S. M., Thiele, K. R., Rundel, P. W., Yates, C. J., Berry, S. L., Byrne, M., Christidis, L., Gosper, C. R., Grierson, P. F., Lemson, K., Lyons, T., Macfarlane, C., O’Connor, M. H., Scott, J. K., Standish, R. J., Stock, W. D., van Etten, E. J. B., Wardell-Johnson, G. W. & Watson, A. (2012). Facilitating adaptation of biodiversity to climate change: A conceptual framework applied to the world’s largest Mediterranean climate woodland. Climatic Change, 110(1-2), 227–248. doi:10.1007/s10584-011-0092-y
Standish, R. J., Fontaine, J. B., Harris, R. J., Stock, W. D., & Hobbs, R. J. (2012). Interactive effects of altered rainfall and simulated nitrogen deposition on seedling establishment in a global biodiversity hotspot. Oikos, 121(12), 2014-2025. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20553.x
Stock, W. D., Bourke, L., & Froend, R. H. Dendroecological indicators of historical responses of pines to water and nutrient availability on a superficial aquifer in south-western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management, 264, 108-114. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2011.09.033
Stock, W. D., & Verboom, G. A. (2012). Phylogenetic ecology of foliar N and P concentrations and N:P ratios across mediterranean-type ecosystems. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 21(12), 1147-1156. doi:10.1111/j.1466-8238.2011.00752.x van Etten, E. J. B., McCullough, C. D. & Lund, M. A. (2012). Importance of topography and topsoil selection and storage in successfully rehabilitating post-closure sand mines featuring pit lakes. Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, Section A: Mining Technology, 121(3), 139- 150.
Webb, R. E. (2012). New year in the New Forest. Quaternary Australasia, 29(1), 21-24.
Whitley, R., Taylor, D., Macinnis-Ng, C., Zepple, M., Yunusa, I., O’Grady, A., Froend, R., Medlyn, B. & Eamus, D. (2012). Developing an empirical model of canopy water flux describing the common response of transpiration to solar radiation and VPD across five contrasting woodlands and forests. Hydrological Processes, 27(8), 1133-1146. doi:10.1002/hyp.9280
Wu, Q.-S., He, X. H., Zou, Y.-N., He, K.-P., Sun, Y.-H., Cao, M.-Q. (2012). Spatial distribution of glomalin-related soil protein and its relationships with root mycorrhization, soil aggregates, carbohydrates, activity of protease and β-glucosidase in the rhizosphere of Citrus unshiu. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 45, 181- 183. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.10.002
Wu, Q.-S., He, X. H., Zou, Y.-N., Liu, C.-Y., Xiao, J. & Li, Y. (2012). Arbuscular mycorrhizas alter root system architecture of Citrus tangerine through regulating metabolism of endogenous polyamines. Plant Growth Regulation, 68(1), 27-35. doi:10.1007/s10725-012-9690-6
Zhu, J., He, X., Wu, F., Yang, W., Tan, B. (2012). Decomposition of Abies faxoniana litter varies with freeze-thaw stages and altitudes in subalpine/alpine forests of southwest China. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 27(6) 586-596. doi:10.1080/02827581.2012.670726
Book Reviews
Horwitz, P. (2012). From pillars to principles: affirming the field of ecohealth. EcoHealth, 9(3), 361-362. doi:10.1007/s10393-012-0792-4
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Horwitz, P. (2012 in press). Erratum to: From pillars to principles: Affirming the field of ecohealth. EcoHealth.
Webb, E. (2012). Peopled landscapes: Archaeological and biogeographic approaches to landscape [Book Review]. Quaternary Australasia, 29(1), 30-31.
Referred Conference Papers
Castendyk, D., Figueroa, L. & McCullough, C. D. (2012). Enhancing communication between industry, academia and students. ICARD 9th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage. Ottawa, Canada. 20-26 May 2012.
Froend, R., Davies, M. & Martin, M. (2012). A shift in the ecohydrological state of groundwater dependent vegetation due to climate change and groundwater drawdown on the Swan Coastal Plain of Western Australia. In Groundwater and Ecosystems, IAH Selected Papers on Hydrogeology (Proceedings from the XXXV IAH World Congress "Groundwater and Ecosystems", held in Lisbon from 17-21 September 2007).
Kumar, N. R., McCullough, C. D. & Lund, M. A. (2012). Upper and lower concentration thresholds for bioremediation of acid mine drainage using bulk organic substrates. In C. D. McCullough, M. A. Lund, & L. Wyse (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Mine Water Association (IMWA) Congress (pp. 525-532). Bunbury, Australia.
Loomes, R., Froend, R. & Sommer, B. (2012). Response of wetland vegetation to climate change and groundwater decline on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia: Implications for management. In Groundwater and Ecosystems, IAH Selected Papers on Hydrogeology (Proceedings from the XXXV IAH World Congress "Groundwater and Ecosystems", held in Lisbon from 17-21 September 2007).
Lund, M. A., McCullough, C. D. & Kumar, N. R. (2012). The Collie pit lake district, Western Australia: An overview. In C. D. McCullough, M. A. Lund, & L. Wyse (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Mine Water Association (IMWA) Congress (pp. 287-294). Bunbury, Australia.
Mauric, A. P., McCullough, C. D., Wilson-Clark, C., Witcomb, A. & Millgate, J. (2012). Closure planning in a developing country – a case study from the Phu Kham Mine, Laos, south-east Asia. In A. B. Fourie & M. Tibbett (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Mine Closure 2012 Congress (pp. 295- 304). Brisbane, Australia.
McCullough, C. D., Kumar, N. R., Lund, M. A., Newport, M., Ballot, E. & Short, D. (2012). Riverine breach and subsequent decant of an acidic pit lake: Evaluating the effects of riverine flow-through on lake stratification and chemistry. In C. D. McCullough, M. A. Lund, & L. Wyse (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Mine Water Association (IMWA) Congress (pp. 533-540). Bunbury, Australia.
McCullough, C. D., Marchand, G., Unseld, J., Robinson, M. & O'Grady, B. (2012). Pit lakes as evaporative ‘terminal’ sinks: An approach to best available practice mine closure. In C. D. McCullough, M. A. Lund, & L. Wyse (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Mine Water Association (IMWA) Congress (pp. 167-174). Bunbury, Australia.
Reports
Hinwood, A., Callan, A., McCafferty, P., & Sly, P. (2012). Children’s exposure to PM10 and metals in Perth. ECU Industry Collaboration Grant: A collaborative project between the Centre for Ecosystem research, BHP, ChemCentre WA and University of Queensland.
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Hinwood, A., Barker, T., Gaborit, C., Wilkinson, S., Reibau, A., & Weerasekara, C. (2012) Peat Smoke Characterisation. Submitted to Fire and Emergency Services Authority. Centre for Ecosystem Management, 30 Oct 2012.
Horwitz, P., Finlayson, M. & Weinstein, P. (2012). Healthy wetlands, healthy people. A review of wetlands and human health interactions. Published jointly by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the World Health Organisation. Ramsar Technical Report No. 6. Gland, Switzerland.
Horwitz, P., Morrison, K., Parkes, M., Patz, J. & Zinsstag, J. (2012). Integrating health, sustainability and ecosystems in the post-2015 development agenda. http://www.worldwewant2015.org/health.
Patz, J., Corvalan, C., Horwitz, P. & Campbell-Lendrum, D. (2012). Our Planet, our health, our future. Human health and the Rio Conventions: biological diversity, climate change and desertification. World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland.
CEM Reports
Davies, M. & Froend, R. (2012). Mitigation of impacts on groundwater dependent vegetation through adaptive abstraction regimes. Winter drawdown trial data synopsis. Prepared for the Water Corporation. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-06. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Davis, R. (2012). The impacts of fire on the herpetofaunal communities of Kings Park: Spring 2009 – April 2012. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-09. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Froend, R. & Sommer, B. (2012). Input to phase 2 of the independent expert study on the Arrow and Santos coal seam gas proposals to fulfil the requirements of Section 255AA of the Water Act (2007). Evaluation of ecological impacts, risks of these occurring and adequacy of proposed mitigation measures. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-12. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Judd, S. & Horwitz, P. (2012). Annual report for the wetland macroinvertebrate monitoring program of the Gnangara mound environmental monitoring and shallow groundwater survey projects for spring 2011. Final report to the Western Australian Department of Water, May 2012. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-07. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Krawiec, J. & Davis, R. (2012). The impacts of fire on the herpetofaunal assemblages of Kings Park: Spring 2009- April 2011. Report to Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-01. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Lund, M. & Newport, M. (2012). Point Frazer monitoring and evaluation program 2011 report. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-02. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Newport, M. & Lund, M. (2012). Review of Yellagonga Regional Park wetlands groundwater data. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-08. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Newport, M. & Lund, M. (2012). Yellagonga Regional Park wetlands water quality monitoring 2012 report. Mine Water and Environment Research/Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. 2012- 10, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Sommer, B., Froend, R. & Blake, D. (2012). Prioritizing wetlands for restoration within the Gnangara pine plantation. Report to Emerge Associates. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-05. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia. van Etten, E. (2012). Fire regimes and their effects on vegetation at Charles Darwin Reserve & surrounding land. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-11. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Wilson, J., Froend, R. & McGuiness, S. (2012). Wetland vegetation monitoring 2011 survey of Gnangara wetlands. Prepared for the Department of Water, Western Australia. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No CEM 2012-03. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Wilson, J. & Froend, R. (2012). Wetlands vegetation monitoring 2011 survey of Jandakot wetlands. Prepared for the Department of Water, Western Australia. Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No CEM 2012-04. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
Wyse, L. & Lund, M. A. (2012) Midge and water quality monitoring program of the City of Cockburn: A review. Unpublished report to the City of Cockburn, Mine Water and Environment Research/Centre for Ecosystem Management Report No. CEM 2012-13, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia. 96 pp.
Non Refereed Papers / Proceedings
Carter, M, Horwitz, P. & Shadbolt, R. (2012). Developing the useability index for the Swan River Trust. Australasian Parks and Leisure Journal, 15, 31-33.
PERFORMANCE AGAINST ANNUAL OBJECTIVES CEM initiatives according to the Centre Business Plan (ongoing and specific to 2012): • In association with SoNS and CMER the CEM will continue to organise a weekly seminar series for members, postgraduate students and visitors on topics related to the activities of the CEM. • The Centre will organise an annual one-day postgraduate seminar for its affiliated postgraduate students. o CEM organised the Biodiversity, Sustainability and Ecosystem Health Symposium during research week 2012, which involved a number of postgraduate presenters. • The CEM will continue to foster post-doctoral appointments to promote early career researchers at ECU. o The CEM contributed to ongoing post-doc appointments and provided research funds to support purchase of capital items and travel to conferences. • The CEM will continue to support visiting scholars and speakers. o Support for visiting fellows (in conjunction with Faculty Scheme) was provided through the CEM Member Research Support scheme. • Members of the CEM will continue to strengthen research links, collaborations and engagement with government agencies, industry and non-governmental organizations active in the environmental field. o CEM members achieved ongoing success in securing research funds from nationally competitive grant schemes, government agencies and industry partners. • The CEM will, funding permitting, initiate a staff small grants scheme to promote the research of early career academic staff. o The CEM has established a CEM Member Research Support scheme since 2010 and in 2012 $27,757 was committed to supporting staff applications for capital items, travel, sample analysis costs.
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
• The CEM will attempt to raise income through the implementation of a levy on all non- competitive research grants to provide supplementary funding for some of the above schemes. o The implementation of a levy scheme to supplement CEM funds did not occur in favour of a School-based levy to support PG students. • The CEM will implement a more equitable cost recovery scheme associated with research equipment usage. o This scheme was abandoned in favour of a School-based scheme. CEM members contributed to the development of a scheme to recover costs associated with sample analysis, boat and vehicle usage and equipment maintenance. • The CEM will contribute to ERA FOR codes (ranks for 2012): o 0501 Ecological Applications – Not Assessed. o 0502 Environmental Science and Management – Rank 3. o 0602 Ecology – Rank 3. o 0607 Plant Biology – Rank 3.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES n/a
HIGHER DEGREE BY RESEARCH LOAD
Sawsan Alawadi – MSc Demetrios Bertzeletos – PhD David Blake – PhD Gemma Broderick – MSc John Bunn – PhD Quinton Burnham – PhD Robert Campbell – MSc Zoe Car – PhD Jeffry Cargill – PhD Kelly Chapman – PhD Shannon Clohessy – MSc Julia Coggins – MSc Belinda Delaney – MSc Timothy Doherty – PhD Natasha Dunham – MSc Kwasi Frimpong – PhD David Galeotti – MSc Lauren Hibbird – MSc Chatchai Intatha – PhD Teagan Johnston – MSc Umme Kalsoom – PhD Christopher Kavazos – PhD Justin King – MSc Josef Krawiec – PhD Megan Ladbrook – MSc Iris Lee – PhD Karunia MacDonald – PhD Shaun Molloy – PhD Ana Muler – PhD Craig Pentland – PhD Michael Pezzaniti – MSc William Phelps – MSc
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Maria Ramirez Caro – MSc Malarvili Ramlingam – PhD Justin Reynolds – MSc Heather Salomons – MSc Alice Sedgeman – MSc Rylan Shearn – PhD Katesuda Sitthisuntikul – PhD Badin Thornton – MSc Meenu Vitarana – PhD Sharon Zuiddam – MSc
HIGHER DEGREE BY RESEARCH COMPLETIONS
HDR Graduations
Zoe Car, PhD, See through others’ eyes: Towards a hybrid ecology of marine turtle and dugong in Australia.
Malarvili Ramalingam, PhD, Metal exposure in non-occupationally exposed women of Western Australia and contribution to environmental sources.
HDR Submissions
Iris Lee, PhD, Development of capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of phenolics and glucoraphanin in Brassica oleracea.
Marian Patrick, PhD, Scale and justice in water allocation.
William Phelps, MSc, The physical structure and chemical nature of detrital floc and their role in wetland nutrient dynamics.
Honours Completions
Christian Polson-Brown: The value of remnant and revegetated woodland on Rottnest Island to the red-capped robin and Golden Whistler.
Laura Harris: An investigation into the relationship between plant secondary metabolites and the habitat parameters of the Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis).
VISITORS AND COLLABORATIONS AND OTHER ENGAGED ACTIVITIES
Visitors
Edward Gazzetti – An intern from State University of New York, Oneonta, working with MiWER/CEM on research programs for a period of 6 months as a volunteer. 13th June – 18th December 2012.
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
Collaborations
Clint McCullough (also of Golder Associates), Mark Lund and Melanie Blanchette are collaborating with the Perth office of Golder Associates Pty Ltd in a long-term project involved with closure of Lake Kepwari in Collie south of Perth. The research involves long-term biological and chemical monitoring and specific studies of the acidic pit lake and associated Collie River to provide scientific understanding of key aquatic processes during a trial period of flow-through of the river through the lake.
Community Engagement Activities and Linkages
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) & Annette Koenders – Joint field trip to Pelican Point with SCB3322 Applications in Molecular Biology students and Dr Alan Kendrick from DEC.
West Australian – 5th Jan 2012. ‘Call for mine pit lakes to be community facilities’, Clint McCullough.
North West Telegraph – 11th Jan 2012. South Hedland. ‘Old, disused mine pits could be water parks’, Clint McCullough.
Quaternary Research Association meeting in New Forest, Hampshire, UK, January 2012. Problems of trying to study the Anthropcene in Western Australia, Esmee Webb.
Wetland conference at the Cockburn Wetland Centre, February 2012. Horwitz, P., Sommer, B. & Wilson, B. presented workshop ‘When wetlands run out of water: a case study of Loch McNess’.
Andrea Hinwood & Anna Callan travelled to Kalgoorlie, Albany, Margaret River, Dunsborough, Bunbury and Busselton to present results of the Australian Maternal Exposure to Toxic Substances study to participants and stakeholders (February 23-29th).
Australasian Quaternary Association meeting at Lake Tekapo, South Island, NZ, February 2012. Bedrock geology, landscape evolution and Aboriginal usage of the Western Desert and Murchison Basin, WA, Esmee Webb.
WA Air Quality Forum, 15 March 2012. Keynote speaker Andrea Hinwood - Air quality: Past, present and future.
Anna Callan - Visit to Montessori School in Kingsley (March 29th) to talk to students about a research study, ‘Children’s Exposure to Dust (PM10) and Metals in Perth and run a science based classroom activity.
Woodvale Secondary College year 12 students visited ECU over a two week period to participate in a genetic transformation experiment with students from SCB2222 Molecular and Cellular Biology, organised by Annette Koenders.
Wetland Worries was the topic of Pierre Horwitz's talk to Urban Bushland Council members and supporters in April. He talked about possible future scenarios for wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain and presented case studies on the Yanchep wetland system, Lake Jandabup and Lake Jualbup.
North Perth Primary School students participated in a Chemical Reactions activity – Mary Boyce.
Ellenbrook Secondary College students complete a chemistry activity in the School of Natural Sciences – Nardia Bordas, Mark Bannister and Mary Boyce.
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
St Stephens High School students complete a chemistry activity in the School of Natural Sciences – Nardia Bordas and Mary Boyce.
The West Australian, 20 April 2012. ‘Heavy metals detected in tests on mums-to-be’, Andrea Hinwood & Anna Callan.
Mix 94.5 Radio (Perth), 20 April 2012. AMETS study mentioned on 07:00 news, Andrea Hinwood.
Channel 10 (Perth), 20 April 2012. AMETS study mentioned on 5pm news, Andrea Hinwood.
The West Australian, 21 April 2012. ‘Experts’ Concerns for Pregnant Women’, Andrea Hinwood.
Science Network (Western Australia) – 15 May 2012. ‘UV filter residues from personal care products potential aquatic contaminant’, Pierre Horwitz.
The West Australian, 17 May 2012. ‘Coastal wetlands turn toxic’, Pierre Horwitz.
The Kalgoorlie Miner, 17 May 2012. ‘Seminal study on Chemicals’, Andrea Hinwood & Anna Callan.
Department of Environment and Conservation Fire Symposium, 8 June 2012. Invited presentation: ‘Impacts of fire on reptiles in Kings Park’, Rob Davis.
Avian Conservation in Australasia – two comparative studies. Uppsala University, Sweden, 12 September 2012, Rob Davis.
International Mine Water Association (IMWA) Conference, Bunbury, 3 - 4 October 2012. Organised by Mark Lund & Clint McCullough.
Collie Mail, October 2012. Newspaper articles (3) on Lake Kepwari, Clint McCullough.
Lake Kepwari Closure Community Engagement Workshop, 18 – 19 October 2012, Collie, Western Australia, Clint McCullough.
Radio and Newspaper, December 2012. Bisphenol A in Pregnant women, Andrea Hinwood & Anna Callan.
Convened workshop, ‘Conservation priorities for Palau’s threatened birds’, 17 December 2012, Rob Davis.
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au
Edith Cowan University Faculty of Computing Health and Science
FINANCIAL REPORT
INCOME
FCHS contribution $40,000 Consulting work contribution $387 Total $40,387 EXPENDITURE
Salaries and on-costs $1,699 CEM research day $490 Journal subscription $208 Software licences $597 Postage and printing $483 Capital purchases (equipment) $27,160 Total $30,637 Income-Expenditure +$9,750
PRIORITIES FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR
• In association with SoNS and CMER the CEM will continue to organise a weekly seminar series for members, postgraduate students and visitors on topics related to the activities of the CEM. • The Centre will organise an annual one-day symposium for its members and other attendees, proving the opportunity for PG students and staff to communicate the outcomes of their research on themes relevant to the CEM. • The CEM will continue to support visiting scholars and speakers. • The CEM will continue to foster, where possible, research links, collaborations and engagement with government agencies, industry and non-governmental organizations active in the environmental field. • The CEM will continue to maintain a website that promotes the activities of members of the centre and to collate information on member research outcomes. • The CEM will, funding permitting, continue to implement a staff small grants scheme to foster member research, particularly early career academic staff. • The CEM will contribute to ERA FOR codes (ranks for 2012): o 0501 Ecological Applications – Not Assessed. o 0502 Environmental Science and Management – Rank 3. o 0602 Ecology – Rank 3. o 0607 Plant Biology – Rank 3.
Faculty Office Telephone: +61 8 6304 3460 Fax: +61 8 6304 5577 Web: www.ecu.edu.au