DIRECTOR’S SUMMARY 2009

Australian Tropical Herbarium Our Values

Through leadership, integrity, service, innovation and team-building, these values and beliefs guide our actions: Q We are committed to providing leadership in research and through such e!orts be an exemplar for others Q We are dedicated to best practice in all our endeavours Q We are resolved to produce in a timely manner innovative and relevant outputs Q We are pledged to seek better ways and better science Q We value a collaborative, engaging, caring approach to team-building. Our Vision

To make the Australian Tropical Herbarium a leader in tropical biodiversity research, that conducts diverse, relevant and innovative research; converts that research into useful products; o!ers training, inspiration and engagement with the community; and, by collaborating with others, achieves a greater understanding of sustainable tropical systems.

ATH sta! and students. Back row (l-r): Paul Gadek, Caroline Puente-Lelievre, Peter Bannink, Katharina Schulte, Sandra Abell-Davis, Mark Harrington, Andrea Lim, Louise Hucks, Melissa Harrison, Eda Addicott, Yumiko Baba. Front row (l-r): Fanie Venter, Frank Zich, Stuart Worboys, Darren Crayn, Gary Wilson, Mark Newton. Absent: Mason Campbell, Jonathan Cornelius, Craig Costion, Tony Page, Gerry Turpin.

Front cover: spectabilis, photo Gary Wilson. Sta! photo: Robyn Wilson. Contents

From the Director 2 Introduction 3 2009 Highlights 3 Governance 3 Board 3 ATH Director 3 Major Achievements in 2009 4 Publications 4 Regional Ecosystem Map Sheets 4 Scienti!c Papers 4 General Articles (Unrefereed) 4 Research Seminars and Posters 5 Talks 5 Events 5 MycoBlitz 2009 5 CHAH/HISCOM Joint Annual Meeting 5 MAHC Workshop 5 Research Students 6 New Enrolments 6 Continuing Students 6 Completions 6 Research Income 6 Visiting Scientists 6 Collaborative Projects 7 Facilities 9 Herbarium 9 Public Reference Collection 9 Specimen Database 9 Library 9 Laboratory 9 DNA and Tissue Bank 9 Research Projects 10 Theme 1 – Biodiversity, , Evolution 10 DNA-Barcoding Australian Trees 10 Systematics of Wilkiea (Monimiaceae) 10 Fungi of Northeast Queensland 10 Phylogenetics and Evolutionary Dynamics of Elaeocarpaceae 10 Phylogeny and Population Dynamics of Cunoniaceae 11 Phylogenetic Diversity Analysis in The Wet Tropics Flora 11 Phylogenetics and the Evolution of Ecophysiological Traits in Bromeliaceae 11 Systematics and Evolution of Styphelioideae (Ericaceae) 11 Origin and Diversi!cation of Dracophyllum (Ericaceae) 12 Origins, Evolution and Molecular Identi!cation of Lauraceae 12 Plant Diversity of Mt Spurgeon 12 Theme 2 – Threats and Impacts 12 In"uence of Climate Change on Phenology of Tropical Rainforest 12 Theme 3 – Human Uses of Flora 13 Ethnobotany 13 Agroforestry 13 Theme 4 – Planning and Management 15 Regional Ecosystem Mapping 15 Theme 5 – Unlocking our Knowledge 15 Rain Forest Key 15 Participants in Activities 16 Board 16 Sta# 16 Students 16 Volunteers 16 Representation on External Committees 16

Director’s Summary 2009 1 From the Director

At the close of the second year of operation of the Our engagement with the public continues to be Australian Tropical Herbarium, it is rewarding to re"ect healthy. This year usage of our Public Reference on our activities and achievements over the last 12 Collection – an important interface between our science months. We were able in 2009 to consolidate and and our stakeholders – increased considerably. We build on the administrative and policy foundations welcomed a wide range of visitors to the ATH, including that consumed much of our time in the previous, several VIPs such as Senator the Hon. Penny Wong establishment year. It was heartening to see our (Federal Minister for Climate Change, Energy E$ciency publication outputs substantially increase, and our and