- Position:
- PhD Candidate
- Phone:
- (+61 8) 9480 3917
- Fax:
- (+61 8) 9480 3641
- Email:
- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Research interests:
- Seasonal ecology, dispersive biology and recruitment mechanisms of hydrophytes in the monsoonal arid-tropics
- Factors influencing dormancy alleviation and seed germination biology in short-range vernal pool endemic flora
- Ecology, physiology, reproductive biology and carnivory in the rare carnivorous aquatic plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa
- Conservation biology of freshwater aquatic flora
- Restoration and conservation of threatened and at risk carnivorous plant species
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.
2011 Awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship and commenced PhD.
Current Project:
Title: Ecology, distribution and endemism in arid tropic vernal pool flora of the Far North Kimberley.
University: School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia
Supervisors: Ass. Prof. Kingsley Dixon, Dr. David Merritt, Dr. Shane Turner and Dr. Matthew Barrett
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 the seasonal aquatic flora of the Kimberley arid tropics. 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.
Conferences:
Cross, AT (2012) Aldrovanda, The Waterwheel Plant. Worldwide decline, threats and conservation. International Carnivorous Plant Society Conference, Seekonk, MA, USA. August 11-13, 2011.
Publications:
Books
Cross, A.T. (2012) Aldrovanda, The Waterwheel Plant. Redfern Natural History Productions. Dorset, UK.
Refereed articles
Cross, A.T. (2012) Aldrovanda vesiculosa. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. www.iucnredlist.org.
Non-refereed articles
Cross, A. (2012) Unlocking the Hidden Secrets of the Kimberley Flora. Part 2. HortJournal, 5(3): 46-47.
Cross, A. (2012) Carnivores of the North Kimberley. Australasian Carnivorous Plant Society Magazine, 1-17.
Cross, A. (2012) Unlocking the Hidden Secrets of the Kimberley Flora. Part 1. HortJournal, 5(2): 10-14.
Cross, A. (2011) Raiders of the Lost World - Expedition and Exploration in Modern Conservation. For People and Plants, 74: 11-15.
Cross, A. (2011) Kings Park Science - protecting and conserving the Western Australian Flora. HortJournal, 4(2): 30-32.
Cross, A. (2011) From Bare to Bush - the challenges of ecological restoration. HortJournal, 4(3): 28-31.
Cross, A. (2011) Chasing the Rainbow: Byblis gigantea. HortJournal, 4(4): 11-13.
Cross, A. (2011) Caring for Our Coast - community, horticulture, and beachfront restoration. HortJournal, 4(5): 10-12.
Cross, A. (2009) The Western Australian Rainbow Plant, Byblis gigantea. For People and Plants, 66: 18-19.