The Forest Ecology and Silviculture research group focuses on understanding how native forests develop, how they change over time, how they respond to disturbances and climate, and how this knowledge can inform better forest management.
We work across multiple fields—from silviculture to temperate and tropical forest ecology to palaeoclimatology—and in a wide range of forest ecosystems—from eucalypt woodlands, tall moist forests, cool temperate rainforests and urban forests in Australia to tropical forests in Southeast Asia. Our research combines a deep understanding of the natural history of the forests with rigorous quantitative analyses and modeling to address questions focused on improving our understanding of forests and how they can be better managed for a wide range of values.
More Forest Ecology and Silviculture
Academics
Kathryn Allen, Kathryn works on reconstructing historical climate variability from tree rings.
Cristina Aponte, Cristina is an ecosystem ecologist whose research focuses on the effects of management and climate change on forest carbon at different spatial and temporal scales.
Assoc. Prof. Patrick Baker, Patrick conducts research on forest dynamics, silviculture, and reconstructing past climate.
Lauren Bennett, Lauren's research focuses on effects of disturbances, like fire and climate change, on the ecosystem processes that underpin carbon and nutrient cycles.
Sabine Kasel, Sabine is an ecologist, her research investigates the effects of management and climate change on ecosystem processes in native forests and restored landscapes.
Craig Nitschke, Craig is a forest and landscape ecologist whose research focuses on the impacts of management, disturbance and climate on forest ecosystems, adaptation to climate change and the sustainable management of forests.
Luba Volkova, Luba is an eco-physiologist whose research focuses on fire effects on forest carbon pools, greenhouse gas emissions and smoke dispersion. Luba is currently working on developing spatial fuel maps for States and a national fuel database for the Federal Government.
Chris Weston, Chris is an ecosystem ecologist whose research focuses on forest net productivity, nutrient and carbon cycles. Current areas of research include fire effects on forest carbon balance, black carbon formation and impact of climate change on forest fuel accumulation and structure.
Students
Matt Chick, Matt is studying the community ecology of heathy woodland communities and the role of fire and planned burning on species composition and dynamics.- Kunzang Choden, Kunzang is studying the interaction between social and ecological systems to develop a climate-smart framework for adapting forest management to climate change.
Tom Fairman, Tom is studying the impacts of frequent high severity fires on stand structure and tree demography in the temperate Eucalypt forests of southeast Australia.
Melissa Fedrigo, Melissa is studying the use of remote sensing data to improve predictive ecosystem distribution models and carbon estimates of southeastern Australian temperate forests.
Laura Levetan, Laura is investigating the feasibility of a certifiable financial mechanism for trading in forest assets and ecosystem services to augment the flow of finance to the conservation sector.
Eko Maiguo, Eko is studying the the role of climate and disturbance on the regeneration ecology of tropical forests in the Huon Pennisula of Papua New Guinea.
Arne Matthesius, Arne is studying the ecology and management of lowland mixed eucalypt forests in East Gippsland.
Linda Parker, Linda's research examines aspects of the ecology of Astelia australiana, a threatened herb of Victoria’s Cool Temperate Rainforests.- Thuy Nguyen, Thuy is studying the dynamics of deciduous dipterocarp forests in Vietnam.
- Stephen Stewart, Stephen is studying uncertainty in climate data and the associated implications for species distribution modelling.
Helen Vickers, Helen's research examines climate change and disturbance effects on woody understorey species within temperate Eucalypt forests.
Sean Walsh, Sean is exploring the role of plant reproductive ecology (including canopy and soil seed banks) in determining how vegetation communities respond to changes in climate and fire frequency.- Ruvinie Withanage, Ru is studying the role of symbiotic associations on the adaptive capacity of different tree species to climate change.
Heidi Zimmer, Heidi is studying the population ecology of the Wollemi Pine.
Professional Staff
- Julio Najera, Julio is the technical officer providing professional support to scientists and postgraduate students with the research in the Landscape Carbon, biodiversity and associated fire behaviour research projects.
- Scott Nichols, Scott is a research technician providing professional support to scientists and postgraduate students research on tree rings and associated projects.
- Ben Smith, Ben is the technical officer providing professional support to scientists and postgraduate students research on forest ecology and associated research projects.
- Tim Willersdorf, Tim is a research technician providing professional support to scientists and postgraduate students research on forest dynamics and silviculture project.