Category Archives: Historical ecology

Art vs Science: von Guérard’s pot plants

Posted on 06/08/2011 by

Many ecologists would kill for an accurate ‘scientific’ description of native grasslands and woodlands before European settlement. These threatened ecosystems have been so cleared and disturbed that it is impossible to know what they looked like originally. How abundant were … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Ecology, Forest history, Grassland, Historical ecology, Landscape painting, Woodland | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Chronosequences: travelling forward in space and time

Posted on 15/05/2011 by

I had a fantastic day in the field last week: beautiful weather, great company and lots to see and learn. PhD student, Lisa Smallbone, took her supervisory team, Alison Matthews, John Morgan and I, to visit her field sites. Lisa … Continue reading →

Posted in Cassinia, Ecology, Encroachment, Forest, Forest history, Historical ecology, Passive regeneration project, Regeneration, Research, Succession | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading the bush: juxtapositions in history

Posted on 25/04/2011 by

… An historical post for Anzac Day … Everyone sees something different in a patch of bush. I usually wonder: were these patterns that we see created by natural forces (such as soils and geology) or by a hidden mosaic … Continue reading →

Posted in Callitris, Forest history, Historical ecology | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Growing biolinks for climate change

Posted on 09/04/2011 by

Climate change presents huge challenges for nature conservation. One important way to save species as climate change worsens is to maximize linkages or ‘connectivity’ between natural ecosystems. Initiatives such as Gondwana Link, the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative (or Alps to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cassinia, Ecology, Encroachment, Forest history, Historical ecology, Passive regeneration project, Regeneration, Restoration | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment