Category Archives: Succession

Steve Packard was my Steve Jobs

Posted on 18/05/2012 by

Who was it? Who first rocked your boat, flipped your lid, pushed your button, turned you on? (Intellectually, of course). Were you shaken by the medium (a sassy speaker) or the message (a call to arms)? Either way, someone special … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Ecology, Encroachment, Forest history, Grassland, Prairie, Research, Savanna, Succession | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Sieving the seeds of the future

Posted on 26/04/2012 by

I did something the other day that I haven’t done for ages. I spent the morning gazing down my old microscope, separating intact from dodgy Acacia seeds. Like other ecologists, I’ve searched for seeds in different ways. I’ve spread soil … Continue reading →

Posted in Acacia, Ecology, Eucalyptus, Fire, Forest, Forest history, Regeneration, Research, Seed banks, Seeds, Succession, Woodland | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Stake your future

Posted on 21/10/2011 by

Forty years ago a young PhD student left a great legacy. She did all the things that PhD students are supposed to do. She wrote a great thesis, and put a copy in the library for others to read. Better … Continue reading →

Posted in Acacia, Allocasuarina, Ecology, Encroachment, Monitoring, Regeneration, Succession, Woodland | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interact, said the tortoise to the hare

Posted on 09/10/2011 by

Predicting how ecosystems will change as climate change progresses is a major challenge. A popular view is that species will move from warmer to cooler regions – towards the alps and poles – as global warming intensifies. We can think … Continue reading →

Posted in Callitris, Climate change, Ecology, Eucalyptus, Fire, Forest, Regeneration, Research, Succession | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Growing old in a shrubland: gravity always wins

Posted on 18/09/2011 by

It’s sunny, it’s Sunday, and I’m writing a blog. How sad is that? Fortunately it’s not too bad as I’ve spent a couple of weeks in the field soaking up vitamin D. In lieu of an armchair ecology blog, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Acacia, Cassinia, Ecology, Encroachment, Passive regeneration project, Regeneration, Research, Succession | 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