KEY AREAS OF RESEARCH EXPERTISE:• Fire ecology, including the response

of flora and fauna to changing fireregimes

• Grazing ecology: the impact oflivestock and native herbivores onnative vegetation

• Habitat fragmentation, includingthe impacts of isolation on the viabilityof populations of plants and animals

• Invasive species ecology

• The ecological impacts ofurbanisation

• Human-wildlife conflict

• Threatened species conservation

OTHER RESEARCHCAPABILITIES:• Vegetation survey and analysis. We

have surveyed and studied a broadrange of ecosystems, includinggrasslands, woodlands, arid andsemiarid regions, tropical rainforests,and alpine habitats

• Fauna monitoring and capture. Wehave extensive experience in faunaresearch in a similarly broad range ofecosystems

• Ecological genetics. We use DNAanalysis to gain ecological insight intothe impacts of ecologicaldisturbances

• Applied ecological research. We havea long-standing history of workingwith government agencies and otherinstitutions to deliver applied researchknowledge applicable to real-worldproblems

We live in a time of profound ecological change. An understandingof how ecosystems respond to disturbances is vital to meet thechallenges associated with maintaining our natural resources andassets into the future.

We understand this well at Federation University Australia, and we are at the forefront ofresearch into how Australian ecosystems respond to disturbances in a changing climate.

Our research investigates natural disturbances (e.g. fire, storms), disturbances causedby human activity (e.g. land clearing, livestock grazing), and – importantly – naturaldisturbances altered by human activity (e.g. changing fire regimes, climatic variability,changes to population densities of native herbivores).

Our success in understanding Australian ecosystems has led to invitations to contributein other countries, including China, Nepal, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.

Our research meets the needs of natural resource managers, including governmentagencies, farmers, industry and not-for-profit organisations. We have a strong reputationfor working successfully and productively with research partners to provide theecological knowledge and solutions necessary for the successful management oflandscapes, native vegetation and native fauna into the future. We also recognise thattheoretical advances in ecological knowledge underpin the continual improvement ofnatural resource management, and this also guides our research into disturbanceecology.

Australia’s National Research Priorities, articulated by the Federal Government, highlightthe need for our nation to understand, respond and adapt to the impacts ofenvironmental change on biological system. Understanding the impact of natural andhuman disturbances is central to addressing this challenge. Our research also addressesstate and institutional research priorities

KEY CAPABILITIES 2017

Disturbance Ecology

FACULT Y OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYPitfall trap line in Mallee vegetation at Wyperfeld National Park

1800 FED UNI | federation.edu.au/fost/researchhttps://twitter.com/feduni_fostCRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO 4909

A SAMPLE OF CURRENT PROJECTS:Research in disturbance ecology is undertaken by our academic staff, as well as bypost-doctoral researchers, postgraduate students and honours students. In addition toour primary research interests, we have the opportunity to undertake pilot studies andaddress smaller research questions through research projects conducted by third-yearstudents in our Bachelor of Environment and Conservation Science. Some of our currentresearch projects include:

• Fire in temperate forest landscapes of southeast Australia and the nature of firemosaics that shape fauna communities and their habitats (collaboration with DeakinUniversity and University of Melbourne, and supported by DELWP);

• WildDNA, consultancy which conducts DNA analysis of wild fauna and flora

• Causes of tree decline and death in southeast South Australia (Coorong and TatiaraDistrict Councils);

• Impact of the invasive Acacia longifolia subsp. longifolia in Grampians National Parkand its surrounds (Parks Victoria);

• The role of disturbance in Victoria’s grassy ecosystems – collaboration with La Trobeand Charles Sturt universities;

• Human-wildlife conflict in Nepal’s Terai Landscape;

• Management of rattan agroforests in Kalimantan, Indonesia;

• Reforestation of agricultural landscapes in the Yangtze Valley, Sichuan, China;

• Conserving sharks and rays to alleviate poverty in the Philippines;

• The social and ecological drivers that underpin the composition of urban birdcommunities – collaboration with University of Melbourne, Deakin University and The Nature Conservancy;

• The effect of habitat fragmentation on the genetic diversity of Victoria’s koalapopulations.

FEDUNI CONTACT:

MT HELEN

Dr Simon Cook

s.cook@federation.edu.au

Call: +61 3 5327 9122

GIPPSLAND

Dr Fiona Hogan

fiona.hogan@federation.edu.au

Call: +61 3 5122 6466

RESEARCH CENTRES ANDTESTING LABS

• Impact Ecology Research Group

• Seed Ecology Laboratory

• WildDNA

TEACHING EXPERTISE

Course

Australian Fauna

Australian Flora

Population and Community Ecology

Fire Ecology: Burning issues for science and

management

Biodiversity conservation

Environmental Assessment

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Disclaimer: Information contained in this brochure was correct at the time of printing (March 2017). Federation University Australia reserves the right to alter any

program, procedure or fee, as deemed necessary. Prospective students should confirm program information by visiting federation.edu.au and vtac.edu.au or by

contacting the University directly. The information contained in this brochure may not apply to international students. To find out more regarding International Education,

please call +61 3 5327 9018. Produced by Federation University Australia, Marketing & Communications. Federation University Australia programs are delivered with

Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. CRICOS Provider No. 00103D. National RTO Code: 4909. CC_220317./FedUniAustralia

Call: 1800 333 864Visit: federation.edu.au/fost/researchInternational phone: +61 3 5327 9018

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