Research interests:
Seasonal ecology, dispersal and recrutiment of hydrophytes in the monsoonal arid-tropics
Seed germination biology in short-range vernal pool endemic flora
Ecology, physiology and carnivory in the rare carnivorous aquatic plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Conservation biology of freshwater aquatic flora
Academic background:
2007-2009 Bachelor of Science (BSc.) Conservation Biology, University of Western Australia.
2010 Bachelor of Science (BSc. Hons) with first class Honours in Conservation Biology, University of Western Australia. Thesis title: ‘Disjunction and constraints to dispersal in the rare hydrophyte Aldrovanda vesiculosa’. Supervisors: Ass. Prof. Kingsley Dixon, Dr. David Merritt and Dr. Shane Turner.
Current Project:
Title: Recruitment, dispersal and disjunction in Kimberley hydrophytes, informing conservation of wetland flora in north Western Australia.
University: School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia
Supervisors: Ass. Prof. Kingsley Dixon, Dr. David Merritt and Dr. Shane Turner
Description: Habitat decline and degradation in aquatic ecosystems is a global issue of increasing significance. Despite the high ecological, cultural and economic value of these regions our knowledge of their biology is rudimentary, and the driving factors of key environmental processes are poorly understood. This is especially true for remote and geologically unique areas such as the Kimberley region of Western Australia, where ancient landscapes and unusual climatic conditions have produced highly disjunct and often ecologically novel floral assemblages. Wetlands in this region are also poorly recorded, especially in terms of biodiversity and cultural values, and are subject to increasing pressure from human activities.
The project will focus on the ecological processes governing dispersal, disjunction and habitat specificity in seasonal aquatic plants. The mechanisms involved in these crucial processes are poorly understood in hydrophytes worldwide, particularly in relation to threatened or heavily disjunct species. An understanding of how dispersive and reproductive biology drive ecological function is especially important in climatic and geologically unique areas such as the Kimberley - here strong seasonal shifts in climate coupled with variable landform and geology have produced extremely temporary aquatic habitats, often disjunct and frequently exhibiting an extremely high turnover of species.
Publications:
Cross AT (2012) Aldovandra, The Waterwheel Plant. Redfern Natural History Productions. Dorset, UK