Kwongan Workshop 2010 On the ecology of WA’s arid zone

29 June 2010

Organisers: School of Plant Biology, UWA, together with Science Division of the Department of Environment and Conservation, with sponsorship from Fortescue Metals Group.

Audience: Environmental officers working with mining companies in WA’s arid zone, environmental consultants working in WA’s arid zone, fellow scientists, growers, managers of the land, anybody with a keen interest in the ecology of WA’s arid zone.

Aims: To enhance awareness of the significance of native plants and wildlife in the arid zone of WA and to build stronger links between UWA’s School of Plant Biology and its associates with the conservation and mining industry and the wider community. Explore options to work towards collaboration, e.g., in ARC-Linkage proposals with conservation and mining industry and any other interested parties.

Location: The University Club, UWA.Time: Tuesday, 29 June, 2010.Cost: $300, including morning and afternoon tea, lunch, sundowner, dinner and a USB containing all the

presentations. Concessions are available for Patrons of the Kwongan Foundation, UWA Alumni and unwaged attendees.

Themes and speakers

07.45 Arrival and coffee08.10 Welcome by Philippa Nikulinsky 08.15 General overview to set the theme (Bill Low, Low Ecological Services P/L)

Plants and Vegetation09.00 Floristic diversity of Banded Iron Formation ranges of the Yilgarn (Neil Gibson, DEC) 9.30 Functional diversity of arid zone plants – implications in natural and rehabilitated ecosystems (Erik

Veneklaas, UWA) 10.00 Morning tea 10.30 March of the arid zone samphires; from sea to salt lake – and back again? (Kelly Shepherd, DEC)11.00 Ecological water requirements of riparian and floodplain vegetation (Pauline Grierson, UWA)

Invertebrate Fauna11.30 An anomaly – arid zone stygofauna? (Brenton Knott, UWA) 12.00 An invertebrate group: pseudoscorpions and schizomids – a fancy title will be sent shortly (Mark Harvey,

WA Museum) 12.30 Lunch 13.30 Suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous unpredictability: Aquatic invertebrates in Australia’s arid

zones (Adrian Pinder, DEC)

Vertebrate Fauna14.00 Species modelling and habitat preference of ground dwelling Pilbara mammals (Lesley Gibson, DEC) 14.30 Ecology and diversity of arid zone frogs or geckos or reptiles in general (Paul Doughty, WA Museum)

Honorary Patrons: Marion Blackwell, Peter Cundell, Donna Faragher, JP MLC,Professor Steve Hopper, Philippa Nikulinsky, Professor Alan Robson,

Patrons: Professor Hans Lambers and Dr Marion Cambridge, Dr Cleve Hassell, Dr Rob Keogh, Jock Clough, Professor John Pate

Land Management - Conservation Planning - Rehabilitation15.00 Evolutionary history of the arid zone biota (Margaret Byrne, DEC) 15.30 Afternoon tea16.00 An integrated approach to ecological restoration in the Pilbara -investigating dormancy and germination

requirements to maximise the use of finite seed resources (Todd Erickson, KPBG) 16.30 The scale of the rehabilitation task that confronts the Mining Industry in the Arid Lands (Harley Lacy,

Outback Ecology) 17.00 Monitoring impacts of the Pilbara islands – mutton birds (title may change) (Vicki Long, Astron)17.30 Closing remarks (Hans Lambers), followed by drinks and canapés18.15 Dinner – Guest Speaker (to be advised)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------REGISTRATION FORM/TAX INVOICE

ABN: 378 8281 7280

DELEGATE INFORMATIONPlease print clearly using block letters

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Please note special dietary requirements: ______________________________________________

WORKSHOP FEES

Date, Time Event Cost29 June 2010 Workshop Registration $300 pp incl. GST $300

TOTAL $300

Sundowner (Included in Registration) Attending Yes No

Dinner (Included in Registration) Attending Yes No

Would you like to display a poster? Yes No

Payments in AUD $ by Cheque payable to: The University of Western Australia

Mailing address : On the ecology of WA’s arid zone School of Plant Biology (M084)The University of Western Australia35 Stirling HighwayCrawley 6009

Payments by credit card at: http://msc.uwa.edu.au/plants/cart

Signature: ______________________________ Date: ________________________

Closing date for registration is 15 June 2010, no registrations will be accepted if received after this date. Cancellations received after 15 June 2010 or "no-shows" are subject to the entire event fee.