Current Research

Current Major Research Projects

Scientists at Kings Park are engaged in many major research projects. These projects are primarily funded by industry and from nationally competitively grants schemes, such as Australian Research Council grants.

Most projects involve collaboration with other researchers from local, national and international universities, as well as environmental managers and practitioners from industry and the community.

Research largely underpins practical outcomes in the conservation of rare or threatened species and/or ecological restoration of native plant communities. Benefits flow on to the restoration and management of BGPA lands - Kings Park and Bold Park.

A full list of current major research projects follows:

Nationally Competitive Government Grant Funded Research

1. Development of cryopreservation for high value provenance collections of recalcitrant species used in post mining restoration.

ARC Linkage grant (2009-2012). Collaborative partners: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority; Curtin University of Technology; Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology; The University of Queensland; and, The University of Western Australia.

2. A multidisciplinary research program to assess limiting factors and predict impacts of climate change for endangered Australian orchids.

ARC Linkage grant (2009-2012). Collaborative partners: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority; Australian National University; and, The University of Western Australia.

3. Broad scale implementation of native grass germination enhancement technologies.

RIRDC research grant (2008-2014).

4. Managing evolutionary-ecological process in restoring Banksia woodland resilient to global environmental changes.

ARC Linkage Project (2010-2013). Collaborative partners: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority; The University of Western Australia; and, Rocla Quarry Products.

5. Establishing genetic guidelines for the effective ecological restoration of seagrass meadows.

ARC Linkage Project (2010-2013). Collaborative partners: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority; The University of Western Australia; Department of Environment and Conservation; and, Cockburn Cement Ltd.

6. Above and below-ground specialisation in Australian orchids and its implications for diversification and vulnerability.

ARC Linkage Project (2011-2014). Collaborative partners: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority and The Australian National University.

7. The roles viruses play in the decline of terrestrial orchids in Australia's hotspot of global biodiversity.

ARC Linkage Project (2011-2014). Collaborative partners: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority; The Australian Orchid Foundation; and, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

8. The spatial energetic of pollination failure in habitat restoration.

ARC Linkage Project (2011-2016). Collaborative partners: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority and The University of Western Australia.

9. Defining biologically significant units in Spinifex (Triodia spp.) for improved ecological restoration in arid Australia.

ARC Linkage Project (2012-2015). Collaborative Partners: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority; The University of Western Australia; Chevron Australia Pty Ltd; Rio Tinto; and, Department of Environment and Conservation.

Industry Funded Research

1. Rocla Quarry Products: Developing sustainable restoration of Banksia woodland communities disturbed through sand quarrying activities (2000-ongoing).

2. Westralia Airports Corporation: Deriving Research Benchmarks for Nationally Threatened Plant Species occurring on Westralia Airports Corporation Land (2004-2010).

3. Fire and Emergency Services Authority: Impact of fire suppressing agents on native vegetation in Western Australia (2005-2009). (PhD project to 2011)

4. Millennium Seedbank Project: Western Australian Seeds Program (2005-2009, 2011).

5. Millennium Seedbank Project: Seed conservation science for Western Australian orchids (2005-2009, 2011).

6. Department of Environment and Conservation, Great Southern District: Rare Plant Translocations program for Grevillea scapigera.

7. Department of Environment and Conservation, Yilgarn District, Wheatbelt Region Rare Plant Translocations program for Symonanthus bancroftii.

8. Catalpa Resources (was Westonia Mines Ltd) New translocation sites for Eremophila resinosa at Westonia.

9. Public Transport Authority: Conservation of Verticordia lindleyi subsp. lindleyi.

10. Rocla Quarry Products: Understanding the ecophysiological reasons that underpin Banksia species establishment (2006 – 2011).

11. Department of Environment and Conservation: Clonal propagation through tissue culture of the critically endangered Dryandra montana (Proteaceae) (2007-ongoing).

12. Newcrest Operations: Ecosystem Restoration Principles for Newcrest Operations, Telfer (2007-2011).

13. Main Roads Department: Glossy Leaved Hammer Orchid conservation (2008-2010).

14. BHP Billiton. 'Seed Atlas for the Pilbara' - practical guidelines for the collection, processing, storage, germination and use of seeds in restoration for dominant and priority species in the Pilbara region. (2008-2013)

15. Iluka Resources: Conservation of the rare species Leucopogon ‘ciliate’ (2008-2010). (PhD project to 2012)

16. Gindalbie Metals Ltd: Conservation genetics of DRF Acacia karina  (2009-2013).

17. Grange Resources Limited: An integrated research program focused on practical outcomes for the ex situ and in situ conservation, restoration and translocation of the DRF Commersonia sp. Mt. Groper. (Sterculiaceae) – a five year research and development program (2010-2015).

18. Griffin Coal Mining Co: Integrated conservation and translocation of Caladenia lodgeana project (2009-2015).

19. BHP Billiton: Investigation into the effect of topsoil stockpile age and depth on topsoil seed-bank and seedling recruitment (2010-ongoing).

20. Pilbara Iron Company (Services) Pty Ltd: Investigating seed biology and optimising seed management to improve rehabilitation outcomes in the Pilbara (2010-2014).

21. Polaris Metals NL: Scoping study - Ecophysiological study of Tetratheca aphylla for restoration (2010).

22. Cliffs Natural Resources: A population genetic assessment of Ricinocarpos brevis (Euphorbiaceae) (2010-2011)

23. Rio Tinto: Genetic composition of key tree species at Weeli Wolli Creek (2010-2013).

24. Shark Bay Resources: An integrated research program focused on approaches for scaling-up rehabilitation of two seagrass species, Posidonia australis and Amphibolis antarctica impacted by bitterns discharge from crystallizing ponds (2010-2012).