School of Biological Sciences

Potential Honours Projects in 2015

Honours Projects ............................................................................................... 2

Honours Programme ........................................................................................ 3

Scholarships ....................................................................................................... 4 Molecular Genetics of Eucalyptus ................................................................ 5

Conservation Biology ....................................................................................... 6

Developmental Genetics ............................................................................... 8

Cell Biology & Biotechnology ....................................................................... 10

Ecology ............................................................................................................ 12

Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology ....................................................... 16

Animal Physiology .......................................................................................... 18

Origins and Evolution of our Biota ............................................................... 19

Forest Biodiversity ........................................................................................... 22

Restoration Ecology ....................................................................................... 24

Forest Practices Authority Biodiversity program ........................................ 26

Projects associated with Forestry Tasmania’s R&D Branch...................... 29 Contacts .......................................................................................................... 30

Careers in Biological Sciences ..................................................................... 36

Current Honours Students ............................................................................. 38

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Honours Projects

In this booklet we have listed the potential projects available in 2015 for students interested in undertaking an honours year in the School of Biological Sciences. The teaching and research excellence of the School of Biological Sciences is recognised at the local, national and international levels. Biological Sciences staff have won numerous research grants, including prestigious ARC Discovery grants over the last few years to support our research students. Furthermore, we are able to provide our students with access to a network of researchers in Tasmania, interstate and around the world. The School is very diverse and covers the entire spectrum of biological research:

● conservation biology ● plant development ● behaviour ● ecology ● physiology ● climate change ● environmental change ● forestry ● plant/animal interactions ● population genetics ● breeding ● evolution ● biogeography ● palaeoclimatology ● taxonomy ● cell biology ● biotechnology

We encourage you to contact the supervisors listed for further information about the projects or to discuss options. For general Honours questions contact our Honours coordinators: Mr Paddy Dalton P.J.Dalton@utas.edu.au Phone: 03 6226 7873 Dr Chris Burridge Chris.Burridge@utas.edu.au Phone: 03 6226 7653

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Honours Programme

The Honours course for 2015 will consist of a number of components, which are outlined below. Literature Review: An individual topic will be decided by the School for the literature review, which may be related to your research interests. It is to be no more than 5000 words, excluding references, and should be submitted for assessment in accordance with the guidelines below, as an unbound copy. This review will be completed and assessed in the first half of the Honours year. At the end of the year it is to be bound and submitted with the experimental thesis. Seminars: Each student will give two seminars during the course of the year 1. An introductory seminar in which an outline of the research topic and

proposed research plan will be presented. This will be given about 6 weeks after the start of the Honours course.

2. A final seminar will be given about one month before the submission of your thesis. This will provide the opportunity to present the results of your research project.

In addition to your own seminar presentations, other members of the School (academic, postgraduate and visitor) will also present seminars throughout the year. It is imperative that you are available to attend these as well. Grant Application: A budgeted research proposal, which is prepared in accordance with the current ARC guidelines and submitted on a modified application form. Experimental Thesis: Present a thesis on a research project, which has been supervised by a member(s) of the academic staff. Part of the assessment of this component will include a short oral interview before an examining panel. This takes place after the submission of your thesis but before marks (grades) are determined. Three (3) hardbound copies of the Thesis, submitted in accord with the guidelines, are required for assessment. Any approved corrections can be made on a copy following the determination of your grade and this should be lodged with the Honours Coordinator before you leave the School.

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Scholarships

Professor Bill Jackson Tasmanian University Scholarship For entry into any area of Plant Science Honours. Valued up to $10,000. Professor Newton Barber Honours Scholarship For entry into any area of Plant Science Honours Valued at $4000 Jane R. Gillies Scholarship. For entry into Honours in field of Botany Valued at $2000 J. Malcolm Gillies Scholarship For entry into Honours in the field of Plant Genetics Valued at $2000 Zoology Honours Scholarship For entry into any area of Zoology Honours Governors Environment Award Valued at $6000 Tasmanian Devil Honours Scholarships Valued at up to $7000 Tasmania Honours Scholarships Valued up to $10,000 University Club Scholarships Valued at $2,500+HECS for one year Natural and Environmental Science Honours Scholarship Valued at $6,000 To apply go to: http://www.utas.edu.au/scholarships-bursaries

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Conservation Biology

Predator-prey interactions - indirect effects of dingo predation on agile wallabies Supervisor: Chris Johnson Recent work in northern Australia has shown that dingoes limit populations of macropods, and that agile wallabies are especially strongly affected. This project will use behavioural and landscape-scale experiments to test how the presence of dingoes affects behaviour and habitat use by agile wallabies, to better understand the mechanisms by which dingoes limit wallaby abundance. Mammal declines in northern Australia Supervisor: Chris Johnson A large collaborative project will be investigating the causes of current declines of the distribution and abundance of small and medium-sized mammals through the savannas of northern Australia. We will be examining the effects on mammal communities of fire, livestock grazing and predation in diverse landscapes. Specific PhD projects can be developed within this framework. Can we save the Tasmanian devil from extinction in the wild through understanding and managing Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease? Supervisor: Menna Jones Our research provides the scientific grounding for adaptive management of devil populations in the wild and in captivity. We are currently investigating the basis for heterogeneity in susceptibility of the devil to facial tumour disease, adaptation of the devil, and coevolutionary dynamics of host and pathogen. These projects link in with potential genetic restoration of devils in the wild. We are also investigating the ecological, behavioural and genetic basis for managing captive and semi-wild insurance populations to minimise adaptation to captivity and maximise suitability for reintroduction to the wild. The responses of terrestrial vertebrates to multiple land uses (farming, forestry and urban), and habitat loss at landscape and regional scales. Supervisor: Menna Jones Projects in this area are related also to changing predator dynamics, the availability of predator refuges in the habitat, and with a view to landscape restoration.

Predator – prey interactions in Tasmania with changing predator dynamics. Supervisors: Menna Jones, Chris Johnson

The decline of the Tasmanian devil across its mainland Tasmania range from facial tumour disease and the introduction of devils to Maria Island as a conservation measure for devils are leading to changes in the structure of Tasmanian ecosystems. There are multiple direct and indirect effects cascading through vertebrate food web. There are a range of projects on offer in this area.

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Ecological restoration – restoring resilience in wildlife in the Tasmanian Midlands Supervisors: Menna Jones, Chris Johnson

Ecological restoration projects traditionally focus on vegetation leading to restored landscapes that remain empty of wildlife. Enabling the persistence of wildlife in the landscape, frequently under high predation pressure from non-native species such as feral cats, requires a mechanistic approach to understand how animals use habitat elements to balance the need to forage whilst avoiding predators. Identifying these habitat elements and restoring them in landscapes will improve the biodiversity value of restoration programs. This research program is part of a large restoration project being undertaken in the Tasmanian Midlands by Greening Australia. There are possibilities for Honours projects on plant – animal interactions as well as wildlife projects.

Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease and devil conservation Supervisors: Menna Jones, Rodrigo Hamede

The Tasmanian devil is threatened with extinction from an unusual transmissible cancer. Our group is studying the ecology, epidemiology and evolution of devils and DFTD so that we can better predict the epidemic outcome and possibly find an evolutionary management tool in which we could enhance evolution of the host or pathogen towards coexistence. There are a range of project possibilities incorporating field and behavioural studies.

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Developmental Genetics

Studies on the genetics of plant development have been a central feature of research in the School for over 50 years. Honours projects in this area investigate a range of different factors and processes in the life of the plant, including stem and leaf growth, the transition to flowering, the response to environmental stimuli, the biosynthesis and roles of plant hormones, and the formation of symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms. The research provides experience in a range of techniques, including molecular biology, plant physiology, genetics and analytical chemistry/biochemistry. Plant development, flowering time and domestication Supervisor: Jim Weller Flowering is an important step in the life of a plant, and many plants use environmental cues such as daylength and temperature to regulate flowering. In nature, genetic variation for flowering allows plants to grow successfully across a wide range of climatic zones, and the same applies for many crop plants. Projects in my group investigate the genes, physiology and evolution of flowering in legumes. We are interested in discovering the fundamental molecular mechanisms that control flowering, but also in applying our finding to practical problems in agriculture, and in using DNA to investigate how these species were first domesticated and have spread around the planet. Other projects investigate novel genes controlling other aspects of plant development, including plant growth and tropic responses. 1. Exploring florigen/FT gene functions in legumes using reverse genetics

FT genes encode mobile signals (florigens) that play a central role in regulation of the plant life cycle and the transition to flowering. Legumes have three main types of FT genes, but their individual roles are not clear. This project uses mutants for two newly-discovered florigen genes to explore their function using gene expression, grafting, and double mutant analyses. 2. Characterizing domestication genes in pea

One important approach to understanding how genes control plant development involves the study of naturally-occurring variation. Major differences in plant form and function have arisen during domestication. This project will use crosses between domesticated and wild peas and a range of molecular, genetic and physiological approaches to identify genes that control these differences. Other potential projects include: 3. Examining the role of photoperiod response genes in fruit and seed growth 4. Isolation of genes and loci controlling vegetative phase change 5. Genetic control of photoperiod response and leaf movements in bean 6. Molecular cloning of genes controlling stem elongation and gravitropism 7. Vernalization mechanisms in legumes

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Biosynthesis of the “master hormone”, auxin Supervisors: John Ross Auxin was the first growth hormone to be discovered, but we still do not understand how it is produced in the plant. Honours projects in this area would exploit the large size and accessibility of the pea plant, as well as exciting new developments in the University’s Central Science Laboratory that enable the detection of minute amounts of auxin and its precursors with a minimum of work-up. In this area we also have a fruitful collaboration with members of the School of Chemistry. Symbioses of legumes Supervisors: Eloise Foo, Jim Reid Application of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers to nutrient poor soils is a major cost to farming. Legumes, such as pea, have the unique advantage of being able to form symbioses with two distinct soil microbes that supply nutrients that would be otherwise unavailable. Legumes form a relationship with bacteria, which convert nitrogen to a form that the plant can take up (nodulation), and also form a symbiosis with phosphorous-acquiring soil fungi (mycorrhizae). We are interested in investigating how legumes balance the development of these symbioses to ensure that the nutrient requirements of the plant are most efficiently met. We use a variety of techniques, including mutant analysis, hormone quantification, gene expression studies and microscopy and we can design a project to suit a student’s preference. Other projects are also available in the area of plant light responses and other plant hormones. We are open to discuss more options, including the possibility of joint supervision. For more information contact Jim Weller Jim.Weller@utas.edu.au John Ross John.Ross@utas.edu.au Jim Reid Jim.Reid@utas.edu.au Eloise Foo Eloise.Foo@utas.edu.au

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Cell Biology & Biotechnology

Hop breeding and understanding genetic variation in hop Supervisors: Anthony Koutoulis, Simon Whittock The cones of female hop are important to the brewing industry as they contain the resins and essential oils that impart bitterness and aroma to beer. What is the natural range of variation in hop chemical characteristics? What proportion of this variation is under genetic control, and what contribution does the environment play make? What are the genetic relationships between hop chemical characteristics? A project based on these questions would make a fundamental contribution to hop breeding in Australia. Skills acquired would include hop chemistry, field operating skills, genetic and statistical analysis and data management. In conjunction with Hop Products Australia, this research utilises conventional and modern biotechnological approaches to improve the efficiency of the Australian hop breeding program. Applying Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) in hop Supervisors: Anthony Koutoulis, Simon Whittock UTAS in collaboration with other hop researchers around the world and DArT (Canberra) has developed a set of dominant molecular markers for use in hop. Such markers could: 1) be developed for use in quality control (varietal identification); 2) provide insight into the genes controlling biosynthesis important hop chemicals such as bitter-acids (alpha and beta), phyto-estrogens, xanthohumol and essential oils; 3) provide the basis on which to identify marker-trait associations with a view to developing marker assisted selection in hop breeding. Acacia polyploid breeding Supervisors: Anthony Koutoulis, Jane Harbard Several species of Australian Acacia are of high commercial importance in tropical to temperate regions. In conjunction with researchers in Australia and Vietnam, polyploid breeding strategies are being developed and evaluated for Acacia improvement, including the generation of sterile triploids. Near Infrared Spectroscopy in hop and/or Acacia Supervisor: Anthony Koutoulis, Simon Whittock, Jane Harbard Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) is a broadly applicable tool for the indirect assessment of biochemical variation. By relating NIR spectra to lab based chemical assessments it is possible to develop models for the assessment of chemical traits. Such technology could potentially reduce the need for lengthy lab based chemical assays, and would reduce the use of chemicals such as lead-acetate and toluene, resulting in faster, more efficient assessment of plant traits. Plant tissue culture for conservation and commercialisation Supervisor: Anthony Koutoulis This work focuses on the conservation of rare and threatened Tasmanian plants using in vitro techniques. An additional aim of this work is to generate elite quality Tasmanian plants for local and export markets.

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Barley Malt quality: Making better quality beer and more of it! Potential supervisors: Evan Evans, Anthony Koutoulis This research aims to improve the quality and processing efficiency of food products from agricultural crops primarily by facilitating genetic selection by plant breeders. For brewing and barley malt quality the research objectives are to modify malt quality to improve beer quality and the efficiency of the brewing process. In malting barley research, Dr Evans’ philosophy is to follow malt quality from barley genetics through biochemistry to the finished beer, that is from “Grass to Glass”. This ensures that the selection of new quality genes by Australian barley breeders results in the desired changes in malt quality without unexpected negative consequences that can occur. The specific areas for which honours projects could be developed are as follows: · Malt components that influence mash and beer filtration – barley modification during germination. · The diastase enzymes that hydrolyse starch into fermentable sugars. · The microbial safety and quality of barley – more good than bad. · Protein modification during malting and mashing. For more information contact: Anthony Koutoulis Anthony.Koutoulis@utas.edu.au 03 6226 2737

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Ecology

Ecology of bryophytes. Supervisors: Paddy Dalton, Greg Jordan. The diversity of bryophytes in Tasmania is exceptional. In wet forests, bryophytes account for nearly all of the plant diversity, yet we have few details of the ecological requirements of these species, particularly their response to disturbance such as logging. As a major component of the flora, further studies are available that explore their ecological distribution (substrate preferences), biogeography, phyto-associations and life history attributes. How does plant competition actually occur and why does it matter? Supervisor: Mark Hovenden. Plants interact with other plants of their own species as well as with those of other species and understanding how these interactions differ will help us to understand how ecosystems work. Projects addressing this topic will combine experimental work in the field and glasshouse as well as observations in natural forests and laboratory analyses and will help us to understand what exactly controls the way that plants compete and how these interactions affect ecosystem function. How does plant community diversity affect ecosystem processes? Supervisor: Mark Hovenden. The productivity and resilience of ecosystems is dependent upon which plants are present and how many of each species there are. Importantly, it seems that the diversity of plant characters or traits is just as important as the diversity of species. Projects addressing this topic will combine experimental work in the field and glasshouse as well as observations in natural forests and laboratory analyses and will help us to understand what exactly controls the way that ecosystems function and the role of species and trait diversity. How do competition and facilitation occur together in regenerating populations? Supervisor: Mark Hovenden. Plants growing together necessarily compete for limiting resources like water, light, nutrients and space. However, plants also benefit from the presence of other plants through amelioration of harsh conditions and spreading the load of herbivores and pathogens. So how do the two fundamental processes interact and when is one more important than the other? Projects addressing this topic will combine experimental work in the field and glasshouse as well as observations in natural forests and will help us to understand what exactly controls ecosystem productivity. How can spatial patterns in plant populations and communities help us to understand fundamental ecological processes? Supervisor: Mark Hovenden. Patterns exist in nature as a result of interactions among plants, interactions between plants and the abiotic environment and from chance events. If we can understand patterns better, we can understand the processes operation in plant populations and communities better. Projects addressing this topic will use extensive field work and computer analyses to help us understand how processes lead to patterns in nature.

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Using individual based models to understand plant-plant interactions. Supervisor: Mark Hovenden. The growth in computing power means that we are now able to model each individual plant in an ecosystem using simple ecological rules. If we get the rules right, then the patterns produced on a computer should reflect natural patterns that we find in nature. By doing this we can test whether or not our understanding of plant and ecosystem ecological processes are correct. Projects addressing this topic will use non-mathematical computer models to simulate plants growing and interacting in natural environments. Computing skills are beneficial for this type of project. Plant-animal interactions. Supervisors: Brad Potts and Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra, Plants and their herbivores have a coevolutionary relationship somewhat akin to an arms race. Plants from low productivity environments, such as occur in Tasmania, are constantly adapting to browsing pressure from animals and the animals are responding. We have recently been awarded an ARC Linkage grant to study the genetics and mechanisms controlling bark stripping of Pinus radiata seedlings by mammals. Such bark stripping causes significant economic losses to the industry. This project involves understanding browsing choices in the field, the impact of differences in bark chemistry and morphology, and development of molecular approaches to screening for susceptibility. The ecology of forested headwater streams. Supervisor: Leon Barmuta Small, headwater streams make up a very large proportion of the total drainage network of a catchment, but we know little about their ecology. Previous collaborations with the Forest Practices Authority of Tasmania and the CRC for Forestry and Freshwater Systems Pty Ltd have developed a portfolio of projects examining the impacts of forestry on these potentially sensitive systems. While we have documented the short-term impacts of forestry on ecosystem processes, the biodiversity implications remain unknown, and several projects are possible examining biodiversity issues especially for invertebrates and non-vascular aquatic plants. Do introduced plant species pose a problem to freshwater fauna? Supervisor: Leon Barmuta My group has conducted a number of projects on the effects of introduced willows and aquatic vascular plants (e.g. Canadian pondweed) on the community structure of invertebrates. In 2014 we have initiated new research in the flagship restoration of Lagoon of Islands and in Great Lake and Woods Lake in which we expand this research to investigate the roles of herbivores in plant recruitment and nutrient dynamics. Mid-year start projects would focus in the roles of aquatic invertebrate herbivory in macrophyte beds, while Honours projects that start in February are best suited to researching interactions with detritus and the possible impacts of vertebrate herbivores in temporary systems.

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Behavioural and functional responses to habitat complexity. Supervisor: Leon Barmuta My research group has already documented instances of how habitat shape can change the outcome of predation and dominance in guilds. One of the new challenges is to identify how the shape of the habitat alters the behavioural interactions between individuals and species to bring about these marked changes in community structure. Recent Ph.D. projects have included use fine-scale video techniques in lab experiments to unravel the interactions between two distinctive invertebrate predators and field experiments with artificial plants and other structures to examine the effects on predation by both invertebrates and fish. There is plenty of scope to build on my group’s existing research base to develop highly innovative, exciting projects at both Honours and Ph.D. levels. Responses of native invertebrates to terrestrial detritus. Supervisor: Leon Barmuta Detritus drives the food-webs of forested streams, and I am collaborating with Dr Luz Boyero of the University of The Basque Country on a number of projects contrasting temperate and tropical detritivore assemblages and their feeding responses to different detrital resources. Our recent publications document some surprising results, and I am offering at least one Honours and one M.Sc. or Ph.D.-level project in this area. The ecology of endemic galaxiid fish in lakes. Supervisor: Leon Barmuta A collaboration between a consultant and former Ph.D. student, Dr Scott Hardie, Hydro Tasmania and the Inland Fisheries Service is currently discovering and documenting the spawning and habitat preferences of some of the endemic fish species of Great Lake and Arthurs Lake. An honours project is available to work up the collected material to examine the feeding ecology of these species. Marsupials as ecosystem engineers in Tasmania Supervisor: Chris Johnson Several species of Tasmanian marsupials forage by digging for underground fungi (‘truffles’). In the process, they may affect soil structure and litter decomposition, and create micro-sites that promote plant regeneration. It is also possible that these effects could interact with fire in dry open woodlands, to both reduce the impacts of fire and promote plant regeneration in the aftermath of fire. This project will test these effects in studies of Tasmanian bettongs, potoroos and bandicoots. Using dendrochronology to understand the changed fire regimes and demographic collapse of native Australian conifer populations Supervisor: David Bowman The study of tree growth rings (dendrochronology) provides insights into past climates and fire events. Although ‘dendro-fire ecology’ is a well-established discipline in the USA it has not been widely used in Australia, in part because of the limited number of suitable species. However, native Australian conifers are an important exception. In Tasmania there are several species that are excellent for dendro-fire ecology research including celery top pine (Phyllocladus) and pencil and king billy pines (Athrotaxis). Large areas of the endemic Tasmanian conifers have been killed by very large bushfires. Across northern Australia dead cypress

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pine (Callitris) has proved to be power indicator species of changed fire regimes following cessation of Aborigine management. As part of larger research programs there are a number of honours projects using dendrochronological techniques to reconstruct past fire regimes and to chart the demographic collapse of some native conifer populations. The projects involve remote fieldwork, field ecology and land based dendrochronology. The Tasmanian project is supported by Australian and USA research grants, and the north Australian program involve collaboration with Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory and Bush Heritage in the north Kimberley.

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Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology

(1) Mechanisms for sex ratio adjustment Supervisor: Elissa Cameron Sex ratios at birth show significant variation in some mammals. While there has been a lot of attention on the evolutionary causes and consequences of such variation, there has been little research on the mechanisms by which sex ratios are adjusted. Marsupials show adaptive variation in sex ratios, and provide an excellent experimental system given the short duration of gestation, enhancing the opportunity for experimental manipulation. (2) Harassment, bonding and reproduction Supervisor: Elissa Cameron Male aggression can have significant consequences for females, which may be countered by a variety of strategies in females, including social bonding. Social contact may enhance reproductive success through reducing harassment directly, but may also reduce stress levels. Furthermore, immune function and disease resistance may be enhanced by the quality of social relationships. The benefits of social contact seem to transcend kin benefits. Consequently, while difficult to measure, social integration may be an important overlooked variable in determining reproductive success and shaping social structure. In addition, it may explain some conservation successes and failures, since reintroductions are more successful when familiar individuals are translocated. (3) Non-lethal effects of predation Supervisor: Elissa Cameron There is emerging evidence that predation comprises multiple levels of effects on prey populations. These can be divided into 1) direct (lethal) effects, 2) risk effects, and 3) secondary effects. I am interested in the latter two effects, which relate closely to my other areas of research. Risk effects include changes in vigilance and habitat use resulting from predator avoidance behaviour, which can result in reduced survival, growth or reproduction. Recent studies have shown that these risk factors can influence prey dynamics at least as much as direct effects. Secondary effects of predation occur when the loss of the killed individual impacts the remaining individuals. For example, stable social relationships moderate stress responses, immune function and health, and even rate of reproduction. This effect level has been the least studied, and has yet to be incorporated into a model of top-down effects. (4) Climate variability and climate change and their impacts on vertebrate populations Supervisor: Erik Wapstra Assessing species' responses to climate change is one of the greatest challenges ecologists face because global warming is expected to have significant, and at this stage largely unknown, effects on a range of species. We use ectothermic reptiles in which temperature affects key life history traits including timing of birth, offspring size and offspring sex. Our system is particularly powerful because snow skinks have temperature-dependent sex determination and natural fluctuations in climatic conditions results in significant shifts in offspring sizes and sex. This could

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potentially have large and long-term impacts but these have not been assessed in detail. (5) Maternal effects of offspring characters Supervisor: Erik Wapstra Maternal effects arise when the phenotype of a female affects the phenotype of her offspring, over and above that of her direct genetic effects. These effects can either be the result of a direct response of females or their embryos to the environment conditions, e.g., decreased offspring size in response to low food quality, or alternatively, may be a result of a female’s ability to shift behaviour in order to actively manipulate offspring phenotype in line with environmental conditions. The importance of these non-genetic influences of female phenotype on offspring fitness has become an increasing area of focus for evolutionary biologists with recent research documenting many strong and persistent effects of environmental factors acting during embryogenesis on fitness-related traits. (6) Maintenance of individual variation in behaviour Supervisor: Geoff While What determines (and maintains) individual variation in behaviour within populations? In recent years there has been an acceptance that not all individuals behave in the same way and that individuals often are consistent in their behaviour (that is they have a behavioural type - some individuals are consistently more aggressive or less aggressive than their counterparts). What remains poorly understood is what causes the variation in behavioural types, what maintains the variation observed and what are the consequences of the behavioural type for an individual’s fitness. (7) Origin and Maintenance of Social Behaviour Supervisor: Geoff While Why complex social behaviour evolved has fascinated philosophers and scientists since classical times. To address this I use a social lizard group, the Egernia group, as a model organism. Egernia display relatively complex social behaviour (for reptiles) which exhibits variation between and within species. I have previously documented variation in social organisation within a natural population of Egernia whitii and demonstrated that behavioural traits, such as aggression, are key to explaining variation in social strategies (e.g. extra-pair paternity parental care). My ongoing work is aimed at testing these patterns more thoroughly through the use of experimental (large outdoor enclosures), theoretical and comparative techniques (looking at variation in social organisation across the group). I also hope to expand our understanding of key social traits which may mediate variation in social organisation at the individual level (e.g., aggression, birthing asynchrony, kin recognition).

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Animal Physiology

The School has a long history of research into the role of hormones in the regulation of physiology in vertebrates, particularly endocrinology. Key questions involve the physiological roles of sex steroid hormones such as testosterone and estradiol—how do vertebrate animals signal reproductive readiness to conspecifics, synchronise gamete maturation and mating behaviours, or time all these events to fit within a single reproductive season of limited duration? Reptiles have been a focus of this research within the School, as they make excellent models to examine the roles of not only sex steroid hormones such as estradiol and testosterone, but also the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG axis) and reproductive hormones in the regulation of the onset of sexual maturity and the timing of seasonal reproductive events. Stored energy resources are also crucial in decisions to breed—how and when do female lizards in particular make the “decision” to reproduce? A mechanistic approach can be taken to investigating the underlying hormonal controls related to both storage and mobilisation of energy reserves, in which thyroid hormones may play an important role. This research addresses the interface between physiology and ecology, looking to identify the mechanisms by which ecological decisions about breeding are made and physiologically regulated. Potential projects include

1) Using hormones to sex newborn lizards 2) The role of androgens in female reproduction 3) The role of estrogens in male reproduction

We have the facilities and experience to address a wide variety of either laboratory- or field-based research projects, including, but not limited to, those listed below. The School of Biological Sciences has a well-equipped endocrinology laboratory. We regularly use RIA, TLC and other endocrine-related and histological techniques, and have access to GC-MS, HPLC (with radiometric detection) and excellent technical assistance at the University of Tasmania’s Central Science Laboratory. Contact: Ashley Edwards (Ashley.Edwards@utas.edu.au)

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Origins and Evolution of our Biota

(1) Evolution of adaptive syndromes in Eucalyptus This project is to reconstruct the evolution of key adaptive traits that have made eucalypts so successful. Some of the most obvious of these characters may have contributed to the high adaptability of species (e.g. the very marked phase change from juvenile to adult foliage). This project will exploit a new as yet unpublished molecular phylogeny of eucalypts to reconstruct the relative timing of the evolution of key traits, and testing whether these traits are correlated with each other in time, whether they show evolutionary linkage with major features of the environment (climate, soils, fire frequency, spatial distribution) and whether they are associated with major changes in environment. It will involve field and laboratory measurement and literature surveys of the key traits, and analysis using phylogenetic methods.

For further information contact:

Greg Jordan G.Jordan@utas.edu.au, Brad Potts B.M.Potts@utas.edu.au, Rebecca Jones Rebecca.Jones@utas.edu.au, or Dorothy Steane Dorothy.Steane@utas.edu.au (2) Our ancient plants and how they tell us about the past Supervisor: Greg Jordan Tasmania is a world centre for ancient plant groups such as Athrotaxis (King Billy and Pencil Pine) and Huon Pine. Recently we have developed a method of objectively identifying these palaeo-endemic plants. This means that it is now possible to identify where the hotspots of these plants are, and to work out what features of environment are important for them. This project will develop a map of the hotspots, identify the environmental features they are associated with and use this information to predict how vulnerable they will be to warmer and possibly drier climates, and especially to changes in fire regimes. 3) Refugia for rainforest species Supervisors: Rene Vaillancourt, Greg Jordan It is critical that we understand how plants respond to major environmental change. One of the best ways of understanding long term responses are studies of how the massive climate changes of the ice ages over the last two million years affected the distribution of plant genotypes (i.e. using plant phylogeographic methods). We now have good evidence for these processes in eucalypts and some rainforest trees, but know relatively little about the sclerophyll shrubs that make up much of Australia’s plant diversity (including a high proportion of threatened species). This project is part of a large ARC funded project on how species respond to environmental change. You will use DNA analysis and field work to identify where species survived the extreme climates of the ice ages. (4) History of Southern Hemisphere alpine floras Supervisor: Greg Jordan The alpine floras of the different southern hemisphere landmasses (Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and South America) are striking in their similarities and differences. Although there are important similarities and differences in the

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environments of these regions, history has played a large part in the assembly of these alpine floras. This project will look at key traits of the plants in these regions, and use phylogenetic methods to reconstruct the histories of these traits and the floras. (5) Evolution of drought tolerance Supervisors: Tim Brodribb and Greg Jordan This project is about what drives the success or failure of the major groups of vascular plants (Ferns, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms). Although we have long known that there are large differences in the ecology of these groups of plants, it is only recently that the physiological basis of these differences has become apparent. How these plants use water and carbon dioxide are critical factors. This project will use physiological methods to identify some of the key components of these differences, and use phylogenetic methods to reconstruct their evolution. (6) Why is Allocasuarina crassa rare? Supervisors: Greg Jordan, Anthony Koutoulis The Cape She-oak, Allocasuarina crassa, is a rare, endemic Tasmanian species that only occurs on the Cape Pillar Peninsula. It is one of the dominant species on this further end of this peninsula, but small populations occur further inland mostly in close proximity to a related species, the Necklace She-oak (A. monilifera). Even though the two species are obviously different in form, A. crassa is an octoploid (8n) that appears to be derived from chromosome doubling in a tetraploid (4n) species (possibly A. monilifera). Even more interestingly, the two species hybridise to produce hexaploid (6n) hybrids, and possibly even 5n and 7n forms. Furthermore, while the plants at the end of the Peninsula are octoploid, the isolated inland plants are 6n. This raises the possibilities that these plants are either the last remnants of old populations of A. crassa or that they are new hybrids of the species. This project will assess the origins of this species – whether it is a recently evolved species that is expanding its range by hybridising with A. monilifera, or a species that evolved much earlier (perhaps under the different climatic conditions of the ice ages) and is being overrun by A. monilifera. It will do this by using morphological measurements and flow cytometry to assess the distribution of different hybrid forms. (7) Mainland connections: Supervisor: Chris Burridge The Tasmanian fauna is comprised of taxa that are endemic to the island, and those that are also shared with mainland Australia. What is the evolutionary history of our endemic taxa? Are these the product of isolation from the mainland following the most recent Pleistocene sea level rise, or do they have a much older history of isolation? Has speciation proceeded between Tasmanian and mainland populations, or among Tasmanian populations? A phylogenetic approach involving the Tasmanian passerine fauna will address these questions.

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(8) Evolution of galaxiid fishes: Supervisor: Chris Burridge A comprehensive phylogeny for galaxiid fishes now exists, and provides a framework to investigate a wide range of questions regarding their evolution. This study will examine patterns of variation in features such as morphology (e.g. caudal fin shape, number of vertebrae) and rates of diversification while controlling for phylogenetic history of lineages. (9) Phylogeography of Tasmanian species: Supervisor: Chris Burridge Through the reconstruction of genetic relationships among populations of species with narrow habitat requirements, we can open a window into the past distribution of these habitats or the conditions that led to the contemporary distributions of species. For example, what do the genetic relationships among ‘sky island’ populations of snow skinks tell us about the distribution of glacial refugia for these taxa? Likewise, what are the genetic relationships among populations of freshwater crayfish, and what do they tell us about the past connections of rivers (paleodrainages)? (10) Cryptic species of galaxiid fishes: Supervisor: Chris Burridge Recent molecular analysis of Australian and New Zealand galaxiid species has revealed variation that is worthy of consideration at a taxonomic level (i.e. new species). This project will investigate genetic and morphological variation in the widespread species Galaxias brevipinnis, which is presently recognised as a single species in Tasmania, mainland Australia, New Zealand, and several subantarctic islands.

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Forest Biodiversity

Numerous honours projects are available in the field of Forest Biodiversity. Projects can be developed that fit student interests as well as link with organizations have the responsibility for the management of forest biodiversity in Tasmania (e.g. Forest Practices Authority and Greening Australia). Possible areas for honours projects include: 1. Plant ecology in production forests. Contacts: Robert Wiltshire, Mark Hovenden (with staff from Forestry Tasmania, Forest Practices Board). The impacts and sustainability of production forestry in terms of plant ecology can be divided into two aspects: the impact on sensitive or threatened species; the impact on ecological processes and services. Impacts of forestry activities on threatened species is dealt with by the Forest Practices Board and we have strong collaboration with botanists there. Research projects into the long term impact of forestry on the forest ecosystem are detailed in a separate hand-out. These projects can be supervised by Biological Sciences staff. 2. Genetics of growth and survival in a changing environment. Contact: Brad Potts This project will study the genetic control of growth and survival of eucalypts in a changing environment. It will mainly adopt a quantitative approach and use large progeny trials already established in multiple environments. The project aims to determine the extent to which these fitness surrogates are: under genetic control; influenced by different genes in different environments; and relate to genetic variation in functional traits. This information will ultimately inform us of the potential of species to locally adapt to environmental change. 3. Community and ecosystem genetics. Contact: Brad Potts Community genetics is a field of research which links genetics and ecology. It aims to understand the extent to which genetic variation extends beyond the phenotype of an individual to affect the composition of dependent communities and ecosystem processes and ultimately community evolution. Knowledge of community and ecosystem genetic effects not only enhances our understanding of evolutionary processes, but can be used to better inform management strategies around conservation and restoration. This is particularly relevant given the extensive rural dieback of eucalypt trees throughout central regions of Tasmania. In collaboration with Greening Australia we offer projects to investigate community and ecosystem effects of plant genetics as part of ongoing forest restoration programmes in central Tasmania. 4. Impacts of contemporary forestry practices on plant diversity. Contacts: Greg Jordan This project will investigate how proximity to forest edges affects the ability of species to regenerate after disturbance. It will be based in Tasmanian forestry

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areas, and will be directed at understanding the effects of different forest practices, but is relevant to the effects of disturbance in any forested ecosystem. 5. Factors affecting the flowering of Eucalyptus globulus Contacts: Brad Potts, Rene Vaillancourt We need to understand the environmental factors affecting flowering precocity, abundance and success of Eucalyptus globulus growing in native forests and plantations because (i) the species is a major food resource for the endanged swift parrot, (ii) flowering is a key determinant of the risk of seed and pollen escape from plantations, and (iii) reproductive capacity may be one of the first sign of maladaptation brought about by climate change. This information is required to guide forest management decisions, as well as understand the factors likely to affect the reproductive output of this species and thus its ability to regenerate in different environments. 6. How effective is forestry patch retention for maintaining bryophyte diversity? Contacts: Greg Jordan, Paddy Dalton and Sue Baker This project will investigate the effectiveness of retaining patches of unlogged forest within harvesting coupes for maintaining mature-forest bryophytes. The project will compare bryophyte assemblages in small patches to larger areas of intact forest and explore the degree to which microclimatic edge effects influence species occurrence. Results will assist forest managers design ecologically sustainable logging practices. 7. Impacts of contemporary forestry practices on invertebrate diversity Contacts: Greg Jordan and Sue Baker Using spiders, myriapods or another group of invertebrates, this would be one of very few Tasmanian studies to investigate the impacts of forest management practices on arthropods other than beetles. There are several possible projects that can be based on existing pitfall trap collections. These include:

● investigate the effectiveness of retaining patches of unlogged forest within harvesting coupes for maintaining mature-forest spiders (or other invertebrates)

● assess the relationship between spider guild composition and functional traits and the forest successional age and structural conditions

● investigate edge effects into harvested areas to determine how proximity to adjacent oldgrowth forest edges affects the ability of species to re-establish after disturbance

8. Does the amount of retained mature forest at the landscape-level impact beetles within harvested areas? Contacts: Greg Jordan, Sue Baker and Tim Wardlaw (Forestry Tasmania) This project would investigate the importance of mature forest at the landscape-level as a source population for beetles (or other invertebrates) to re-establish into harvested areas. The project would help determine whether there are thresholds of the proportion of forest occurring in a mature age-class. Results will assist managers in reserve planning.

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Restoration Ecology

1. The contribution of restoration plantings to carbon sequestration, water use and biodiversity We are participants in an ARC grant which aims to demonstrate how to establish restoration plantings of local native species (eucalypts and their common understorey species) in degraded farmland in the dry Midlands of Tasmania. This will lay the way for carbon credits (as carbon stored in restoration plantings) to be used to fund landscape scale restoration of the dry agricultural landscapes of Tasmania. This project has strong links with Greening Australia – the projects’ industry partner. Questions we will be addressing

● What contribution does restored native forest make to carbon sequestration? Comparisons will be made between farm land, restoration plantings and healthy remnant forest.

● How much water is stored and consumed by restored native forest? Again, comparisons will be made between farm land, restoration plantings and healthy remnant forest.

● What plantation design [eucalypt and grass, eucalypt and early successional species (Acacia, Bursaria), or eucalypt and late successional species (Callitris, Allocasuarina)] maximises survival, productivity and carbon storage.

● What animal biodiversity arises from establishing restoration plantings, and in what order do functional groups start to use restoration plantings?

2. Oldfield succession as a model for restoration Important in restoration ecology is the proposal that degraded forests pass through thresholds from which they will not recover without intervention. However in the Midlands of Tasmania there are many examples of ‘oldfield succession’, where native plants are slowly returning to abandoned degraded farmland. An insight into the changes in soil processes that are occurring during ‘oldfield succession’ will play a major role in informing approaches to restoration. 3. Restoration and fire For 3 years we have been running a Bushfire CRC project, ‘Eucalypt decline in the absence of fire’ in which we have demonstrated a link between poor fire management practice, altered soil processes and death of eucalypts in their prime. We have also shown loss of regeneration in long unburnt dry sclerophyll forests. We are keen to:

● Study trajectory of nutrient dynamics following fire and its effect on forest structure and function. It is possible that nutrient dynamics can be used to predict a point where fire should be applied

● Study the effect of fire on seeding regeneration in native forests across a rainfall gradient now we know that hot fire next to logs provides safe sites for seeding regeneration (85% of seedling are in this position) and improves moisture infiltration.

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4. New strategies for large-scale re-vegetation of degraded landscapes As part of a recently awarded ARC Linkage grant with Greening Australia (2012-2015) we have funding for research to back the development of direct seeding technology for vegetation restoration in the dry midlands of Tasmania. Greening Australia has recently received major funding for re-vegetation/re-forestation projects to produce corridors linking the Eastern Tiers to the Central Plateau of Tasmania. While direct planting will be possible for components, to achieve the required scale of restoration, cheaper and more efficient approaches are needed. Direct seedling approaches, widely used in agriculture and used in re-vegetation on mainland Australia, will be explored. We will study the germination of restoration species, as well as biotic and abiotic factors affecting the success of direct sown seed mixes as well as their community and genetic trajectories. This research will provide insights into the complex dynamics of selection acting at this critical phase in the life cycle of plants and its importance to the success and biodiversity values of planted forests.

Contacts: Mark Hovenden Mark.Hovenden@utas.edu.au Tanya Bailey Tanya.Bailey@utas.edu.au Brad Potts B.M.Potts@utas.edu.au Dugald Close Dugald.Close@utas.edu.au

5. Lagoon of Islands: Tasmania’s first decommissioned dam In April 2013 Hydro Tasmania removed the dam that had flooded the previously seasonal Lagoon of Islands, Central Plateau, Tasmania since the 1960s. This is only the second lake restoration project of this kind in Australia, and the first studies of seed-banks were initiated in an Honours project in March 2014. There is at least one Honours project to follow seed bank processes over summer, and other projects examining the potential roles of both invertebrate and vertebrate herbivory in the recruitment dynamics and early successional processes of this exciting restoration project.

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Forest Practices Authority Biodiversity program

This document lists higher degree projects which would enhance the applied research being undertaken in the FPA Biodiversity program. The FPA biodiversity program contributes to the conservation of biodiversity in areas outside of reserves by conducting research, developing planning processes and planning tools, training industry personnel, providing advice on proposed harvest operations and monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of management strategies. Publications by FPA staff, information on current research priorities and details of the FPA student grant can be found on the FPA web page www.fpa.tas.gov.au. Contact Dr Amy Koch for more information (Amy.Koch@fpa.tas.gov.au, Tel. 6165 4082). Please note that the viability of these projects is dependent on the support of an academic supervisor within the appropriate disciplines. The FPA could potentially contribute technical and logistical support for these projects, and a student grant is available for students conducting research relevant to the forest practices system. Site and landscape level attributes of grey goshawk habitat Contact: Amy Koch (Forest Practices Authority) Grey goshawks are a threatened species with special habitat requirements. This project would develop a model of grey goshawk habitat that could be used to guide management for this species at both a landscape and local scale. Expert elicitation would be used to determine important structural attributes of grey goshawk habitat. Field and LiDAR data would be used to model suitable habitat, and the model would then require field testing and validation. Habitat use by masked owls Contact: Amy Koch (Forest Practices Authority) Masked owls are a threatened species that roost in large tree hollows. Management for this species currently focuses on retaining intact patches of mature forest. However, masked owls are known to use paddock trees, and agricultural areas may provide a rich food resource for this species. This study will use established call playback techniques to compare owl activity between forested and agricultural areas to gain greater understanding of how they use the Tasmanian landscape. This study will be used to review current management of this species. Bat activity in relation to the availability of mature forest in the surrounding landscape Contact: Amy Koch (Forest Practices Authority) Tree hollows provide important habitat for a range of species, but take very long periods of time to form. This study would look at the activity of hollow-using bat species in the wet forests of south-western Tasmania, in harvested and unharvested areas that differ in the amount of mature forest in the surrounding landscape. This study would add to a growing body of work looking at the importance of managing habitat availability at a landscape-scale.

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Habitat use by giant freshwater crayfish Contact: Amy Koch (Forest Practices Authority) Giant freshwater crayfish are a threatened species found only in Tasmania. A map is available which predicts habitat suitability for this species. This study would assess the accuracy of the map, and the impact of harvesting activities on this species. The results of this study would be used to revise current management. Distribution and characteristics of habitat utilised by Skemps snail Unpublished information suggests that this snail which is listed on the Threatened Species Protection Act, 1995, occupies a small range in the NE of Tasmania. It appears to prefer riparian areas where it is believed to graze on detritus on the underside of logs. A detailed study is required to determine the actual distribution of the species and to determine the characteristics of its preferred habitat. Distribution and ecological requirements of the threatened dwarf galaxiid This species is found in three main areas (2 in NE and 1 in NW) and can live in temporary water bodies. This study would determine the occurrence of dwarf galaxiids throughout their range and would examine the characteristics of the wetlands in which they are found. The importance of remnant native trees in plantation areas Contact: Amy Koch (Forest Practices Authority) Remnant native trees in plantations can help maintain native biota in these modified landscapes, but we need greater understanding of how the value of these trees changes over time as the plantations mature. Data on bird diversity and use of hollows by birds were collected in very young plantations in 2007 and 2008. This study will re-survey the retained trees and compare bird species diversity and use of hollows as the plantations have grown and provide more structure. This study could also look at the bat activity in plantations with and without retained native trees. Regeneration of threatened vegetation communities that have been harvested Contact: Amy Koch (Forest Practices Authority) Some threatened vegetation communities are available for harvest if they are regenerated to the same community. This study will do vegetation condition assessments of a range of vegetation communities that have been harvested in the past, to confirm whether the vegetation communities do recover adequately after harvest. This study will be used to inform current management practices. Assessing the effectiveness of management for threatened flora Contact: Amy Koch (Forest Practices Authority) One of the strategies used to manage threatened fauna in production forestry areas, is to retain small patches of forest around known plant localities. This study will examine whether this management practice has been applied appropriately, and will survey the retained areas to determine whether the threatened plant species are being maintained under this management strategy. Monitor the health of remnant rainforest? Rainforest is widely distributed in Tasmania; however in drier parts of the state, notably lowland environments in the east, north and north–east, it is restricted to small, disjunct patches amidst eucalypt forest types. The term ‘relict rainforest’

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refers to such patches, which are outside the typical climatic ‘envelope’ of rainforest. Patches of relict rainforest are protected under the Tasmanian forest practices system, as outlined in FPA Flora Technical Note No 4. However, some vegetation types can be negatively affected by edges. This project will assess the health and integrity of small patches of retained rainforest to determine the effectiveness of current management. Monitor the health of Sphagnum communities? Sphagnum peatlands are of special importance in Australia. They make up a small part of the landscape but they are ecologically unique and provide distinctive habitat for flora and fauna. Sphagnum moss has an extremely high water holding capacity, making it a useful commodity in the nursery industry. Harvesting occurs at a relatively small scale in Tasmania (and on the Australian mainland), however the scarcity of Sphagnum peatlands means that the impacts of harvesting can be high. FPA Flora Technical Note No. 6 outlines current management practices for Sphagnum communities in Tasmania. This project aims to assess the effectiveness of current management by determining the impact of adjacent harvesting on Sphagnum communities.

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Projects associated with Forestry Tasmania’s Research and Development Branch

Note: the primary contact within FT for further details of the research project appears in brackets after the project description, with email addresses at the end of the document. Potential University supervisors have also been identified and approached for some, but not all, of these projects. Warra WARRA – LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH SITE http://www.forestrytas.com.au/science/warra-long-term-ecological-research The Warra LTER site of 15,900 ha was designated in 1995 to encourage long-term ecological research and monitoring in wet forests in Tasmania. The site is supported by eight LTER site partners from Tasmanian and national research agencies. Forestry Tasmania are interested in projects that help understand understand how components of the E. obliqua forest ecosystem contribute to the carbon cycle - eg. biomass accumulation, respiration of different components, and how those contributions vary seasonally and with climate. Data from a recently installed carbon flux tower is available to back these projects (Tim Wardlaw) Pathology and forest health ● What is the identity and role of an Armillaria species in the mortality of celery

top pine (Phyllocladus aspleniifolius)? (Tim Wardlaw) ● How does production of native truffles in eucalypt plantations compare with

native forests? (Tim Wardlaw) Native forest silviculture ● What are the relative impacts on the soil of aggregated retention harvesting

and clearfell burn and sow harvesting? (Robyn Scott) ● How does stand development in thinned compare with unthinned stands of

silvicultural regeneration? (Mark Neyland) ● How does stand development in wildfire-origin regrowth compare with

silvicultural regeneration? (Mark Neyland) Email contacts within Forestry Tasmania: mark.neyland@forestrytas.com.au tim.wardlaw@forestrytas.com.au

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Contacts

Assoc Prof Leon Barmuta BSc Hons (Adel), PhD (Monash) Tel: 03 6226 2785; E-mail: Leon.Barmuta@utas.edu.au My research interests are in the general area of community ecology, with an emphasis on experimental studies. I specialise in freshwater systems (although I digress into terrestrial and estuarine topics

occasionally) and have five active areas of research that ultimately bear on conservation biology in freshwater systems.

Dr Chris Burridge BSc Hons, PhD (Tas) GradCertULT Tel: 03 6226 7653 Email: chris.burridge@utas.edu.au My research interests encompass three disciplines. Firstly, I am interested in the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships based on DNA sequences to address questions of biogeography and earth

history, trait evolution, macroecology, and taxonomy. Secondly, I am interested in the use of molecular data for the inference of historical and contemporary movement of individuals among populations, and changes in population size (impact of perturbations, past climate changes etc.).

Prof David Bowman BSc (Hons) PhD DSc Email: David.Bowman@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 1943 My research is focused on the ecology, evolution, biogeography and management of Australian forested landscapes. Specifically, I undertake pure and applied research to understand the effects of

global environmental change, natural climate variability and the cessation of Aboriginal landscape burning on bushfire activity and landscape change.

Dr Tim Brodribb PhD (Tas) Email: timothyb@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 1707 How plants transport and use water is one of the most important factors in determining the success of plants in different environments. I use physiological methods to study the movement of water in leaves and stems, and how this is different among major groups of plants

(conifers, flowering plants, cycads and ferns).

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Prof Elissa Cameron MSc (Canterbury NZ); PhD (Massey) Tel: 03 6226 7632 Email: Elissa.Cameron@utas.edu.au My research interests centre on integrating evolutionary behavioural and population ecology with conservation and management issues using a variety of techniques and approaches. The basis of my

research programme is intensive behavioural and demographic sampling on known individuals, combined with experimental manipulations. I am currently working in three main areas, within which there is potential for a variety of different projects: Mechanisms for sex ratio adjustment; Harassment, bonding and reproduction; Non-lethal effects of predation

Dr Scott Carver BSc MSc (Victoria Uni Wellington), PhD (UWA) Tel: 03 6226 2794 E-mail: Scott.Carver@utas.edu.au I am a disease ecologist, with emphasis on conservation, ecosystem, wildlife and human health. My main areas of interest are community ecology and the ecology of infectious diseases across both natural

and anthropogenic environments. Most pathogens infect multiple species and their transmission is inherently an ecological process among organisms. Thus, the health of ecosystems plays a profound, but poorly appreciated, role in incidence of many diseases, wildlife and human health. Broadly, the goal of my research is to use pathogens to better comprehend the intimate connections between environment, wildlife and humans.

Mr Patrick (Paddy) Dalton BSc Hons, Dip Ed, MSc (Tas) Tel: 03 6226 7873 Email: P.J.Dalton@utas.edu.au Paddy’s research interests and favourite plants are bryophytes – the mosses and liverworts - and he’s keen on ferns as well.

Dr Ashley Edwards BSc Hons (Macquarie), PhD (Tas) GradCertULT Tel: (03) 6226 2617 Email: Ashley.Edwards@utas.edu.au I am a comparative endocrinologist fascinated by the role of hormones in the regulation of physiology in vertebrates. My own research focuses on the physiological roles of sex steroid hormones

such as testosterone and estradiol: how do vertebrate animals signal reproductive readiness to conspecifics, synchronise gamete maturation and mating behaviours, or time all these events to fit within a single reproductive season of limited duration?

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Prof Chris Johnson B. Nat. Res; PhD (UNE) Tel: 03 6226 6634 Email: C.N.Johnson@utas.edu.au I work in wildlife ecology, conservation biology and wildlife management. I specialize in the ecology of Australian mammals, especially the marsupials. My work on mammal ecology has two

main goals: (1) to provide the underpinning science for the management of threatened species, and prevent further declines of mammalian biodiversity; and (2) to understand the way in which mammals interact with other elements of the Australian fauna and flora to maintain ecological processes and sustain biodiversity. Beyond this, I have broad interests that include ecological modelling, Quaternary environmental change and human impacts in prehistory, macroecology and biogeography, and the biology of extinction.

Assoc Prof Greg Jordan PhD (Tas) Email: Greg.Jordan@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 7237 I am mainly interested in the evolution of Australia's vegetation and particularly Tasmania's unique flora. This involves both the study of Tasmania's rich fossil record from the last 50 million years and also

studies of the ecology and biogeography of the living flora.

Assoc Prof Mark Hovenden PhD (Tas) Email: Mark.Hovenden@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 7874 My main interest is in improving our understanding of ecological processes. In particular, how various plant strategies affect the way species interact and how this translates into ecosystem processes. My major projects focus on the function of different species, how these

species interact and how these interactions lead to ecosystem-level processes.

Dr Menna Jones BSc Hons (UNE), PhD (Tas) Tel: (03) 6226 2593, 0407 815606 E-mail: Menna.Jones@utas.edu.au My research interests are in the conservation biology and evolutionary ecology of Australian mammals, with a special focus on marsupial carnivores: the Tasmanian devil, spotted-tailed quolls and

eastern quolls. My current focus is on two urgent and related conservation issues: the Devil Facial Tumour Disease and the ecosystem impacts that result from devil decline, both leading to ecological restoration.

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Dr Rebecca Jones BSc (Hons), PhD (Tas) Email: Rebecca.Jones@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 2736 Rebecca’s research interests include eucalypt gene pool management, genetic control of flowering in eucalypts and conservation genetics of Australian plants

Assoc Prof Anthony Koutoulis PhD (Melb) Email: Anthony.Koutoulis@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 2737 Anthony’s research areas include cellular and molecular biology as well as biotechnology.

Dr Julianne O'Reilly-Wapstra PhD (Tas) Email: joreilly@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 2482 My research focuses on plant/herbivore interactions. I merge the fields of ecology, chemical ecology and community genetics to understand the ecological and evolutionary relationships between

eucalypts and their herbivores.

Prof Brad Potts PhD (Tas) Email: B.M.Potts@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 2641 I am a specialist in eucalypt genetics with interests from gene pool utilization and conservation and genetic pollution, to understanding the evolutionary relationships and process that have shaped extant variation patterns in this iconic genus. A major line of my research is

understanding the genetic control and adaptive significance of variation in tree phenotype. I also work in the field of community and ecosystem genetics.

Distinguished Prof James Reid PhD (Tas), DSc (Tas) Email: Jim.Reid@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 2604 I am investigating the biological functions and interactions of a number of different plant hormones, including the gibberellins, brassinosteroids, auxin, abscisic acid and ethylene. This work involves

defining biosynthetic pathways, characterising mutants deficient in hormone biosynthesis or signalling, environmental regulation of hormone biosynthesis, and cross-talk between hormone systems.

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Dr Jim Weller BSc PhD (Tas) Email: Jim.Weller@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 7828 Jim's research focuses on understanding how plants respond to environmental factors such as light and temperature. His work uses

genetics, physiology and molecular biology to investigate these basic biological mechanisms and their application to crop improvement..

Dr Geoff While Tel: 03 6226 7822 E-mail: Geoff.while@utas.edu.au My main area of interest lies in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. While my general interests within this area are relatively wide (I have

published on foraging ecology, hatching asynchrony, social behaviour, parental care, maternal effects, life-history trade-offs, and sex allocation theory), the majority of my research fits within the overriding theme of examining the links between ecologically induced short-term phenotypic change (with a particular focus on behaviour), population dynamics, and long-term evolution.

Dr Rob Wiltshire PhD (Tas) Email: rob.wiltshire@utas.edu.au Tel: 03 6226 2690 Rob’s research interests include ecology, biodiversity and conservation, and eucalypt genetics.

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Careers in Biological Sciences

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Current Honours Students

Emily BarnesHonours Student

Emily is studying the mating strategies of White’s skink (Egernia whitii), by looking at the environmental and social factors which influence them, including habitat quality, social ranking and aggressive phenotype.

Findings will then be compared to a long-term data set on a natural population of the species, to determine the level applicability.

This will give us insights into social monogamy and allow us to better understand the evolution and maintenance of monogamy.

Michael BirdHonours Student

In conjunction with Hop Products Australia, UTas is working towards a flavoromics (linking chemistry to flavour/aroma) approach to hop -Humulus lupus L. flavour and aroma in beer.

Michael will be working on testing the plausibility of brewing on a micro scale (4L), to observe the chemical variation attributed to the addition of hops in fermented, carbonated beer.

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Tom Botterill-JamesHonours Student

There is large variation in the extent, form and function of parental care across a wide range of animal taxa, with this variation dependent on the costs and benefits of care. However, current understanding of the evolution of parental care is limited, as most empirical studies have focused on birds and mammals, where care behavioursare complex and difficult to quantify.

Using a model reptile system, Tom aims to quantify the costs and benefits of parental care and show how key ecological variables influence these costs and benefits - and hence the expression - of parental care. This will be done using a large scale experiment manipulating habitat structure along with an analysis of field data.

Yiping ChenHonours Student

Yiping’s project is in collaboration with seedEnergy. This project involves utilizing novel tetra, hexa and penta-nucleotide microsatellite markersto fingerprint every Eucalyptus dunniiin seedEnergy’s main genetic pool up in Stockdale, Victoria.

Using that information, he can verify all of the clones present in seedEnergy’s clonal seed orchards.

Lastly, parental analysis can be performed on seedEnergy’s progeny trials to determine the best performing father.

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Corrine DuncanHonours student

Corrine is assessing the genetic structure and diversity of natural populations of Nothofagus cunninghamii, the dominant rainforest tree of Tasmania and Southern Victoria.

She will be using nuclear microsatellites to answer some key questions;

• To what extent does gene flow occur between and within populations?

• How does having a disjunct distribution impact genetic structure and diversity of this species?

• Have highland populations diverged from lowland populations (or vice versa) or do they share completely unique gene pools?

Ben FrenchHonours Student

Southwest Tasmania’s button grass moorland has a long history of burning, however climate change is predicted to drastically increase the frequency and severity of fires in this landscape. The ecological consequences of this change in fire regime are poorly understood.

Ben is studying the effects of a number of fires near Port Davey on regeneration and peat soil depth, and hopes to shed some light on what long term trends to expect in these communities.

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Saan Ketelaar-JonesHonours Student

Ancestral state reconstruction seeks to identify when, and in what groups, characteristics of organisms evolved. It does this by mapping character states onto the parts of a phylogenetic tree. This provides insights into the shared properties of members and allows inferences to be made about ancestral properties. But what if we get it wrong?

Saan is using simulation and mathematical modelling to assess biases in ancestral state reconstruction. She hopes to improve the accuracy and biological validity of current reconstruction methods.

Honours StudentCatherine Morrison

Cat is investigating the stress response in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) following their translocation from captive facilities - such as zoos, wildlife parks and free-range enclosures - into the semi-wild population on Maria Island.

She will be examining their stress levels through the translocation process using non-invasive faecal glucocorticoid monitoring and behaviour analysis. In addition, she will attempt to find a connection between behavioural rakings given to individual devils and their stress hormone levels.

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Andy RubenachHonours Student

Andy’s project is working with the pea flower group. The group aims to understand pea flowering control at the molecular level. Andy hopes to characterise the early flowering ppdmutant by conducting genetic analysis to answer:

1) Is there a mutation in PPD candidate genes?

2) How does PPD influence flowering signals between the leaves and apex?

3) How does PPD interact with other genes in the flowering pathway?

Kellie SimpsonHonours Student

Kellie is investigating the effects of sarcoptic mange on the thermal and nutritional ecology of common wombats (Vombatus ursinus) at Narawntapu National Park.

Sarcoptic mange is caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrows into the skin and causes changes in wombat behaviour . Kellie’s project aims to find out whether increasing severity of infection causes wombats to forage for longer periods and whether this activity is concentrated in the optimal climatic activity range of healthy wombats.

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Ally Pasanen

Plants have limited options for surviving environmental change –they may migrate to other areas, adapt to the new environment, or plastically respond by changing their phenotype.

Ally is investigating plastic responses of Eucalyptus pauciflora across altitudinal gradients in Tasmania. She hopes to identify the differences between plastic responses of plants from high and low altitudes in response to climate change.

Honours Student

Inger VisbyHonours Student

Inger is investigating the seed bank at Lagoon of Islands across four habitats, and its response to different rewetting regimes.

Lagoon of Islands was dammed in 1964, and then decommissioned by Hydro Tasmania in April 2013.

Inger will assess the potential contribution the seed bank can make to the early phases of rehabilitation in the wetland.

Questions include:• How does the community composition of

early recruits vary across major habitats?• What is the effect on germination of the

two likely extremes of rewetting regimes?• How does the seed bank composition

compare with that of the extant vegetation?

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Renate is looking at how maternal stress influences the morphology, physiology and behaviour of sons.

She is also looking at how this altered phenotype in sons may allow them to manipulate the sex ratio through differential success and survivorship of X/Y sperm in the seminal fluid.

Her work has relevance to human studies as well as important applications for the conservation of captive and wild animal populations.

Renate WiesmannHonours Student

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School of Biological Sciences

Tel: 03 6226 2603

Biological.Sciences@utas.edu.au

http://www.utas.edu.au/plantsci http://www.utas.edu.au/zoology