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Professor Brendan Choat is a leading plant physiologist and Professor at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University. With a distinguished career in plant hydraulics and water relations research, he has established himself as a global expert in understanding how plants respond to drought stress. His work spans both natural ecosystems and agricultural systems, with particular emphasis on Australian native forests and crop species. Choat's research focuses on the intricate relationship between plant water transport systems and environmental stressors, particularly drought. His work examines how the xylem tissue functions as a hydraulic system that must balance water delivery to leaves while avoiding cavitation (embolism) that can lead to plant mortality. His groundbreaking research has demonstrated that many woody plant species operate close to their physiological safety margins with respect to drought, making them vulnerable to future climate changes. His laboratory employs cutting-edge non-invasive imaging techniques, including X-ray Micro Computed Tomography (microCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to directly visualize xylem function in living plants. This approach has allowed his team to address fundamental questions about how cavitation forms and spreads through plant vascular systems during drought stress. Analysis of Professor Choat's extensive publication record reveals a consistent focus on plant drought responses, with particular emphasis on Eucalyptus species and mangrove ecosystems. His research has increasingly incorporated large-scale monitoring approaches, remote sensing data, and trait databases to understand vegetation responses to climate extremes across broader spatial scales. Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2018-2024) ARC Future Fellowship (2013) Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers (2010) Thomson Reuters Citation and Innovation Award (2015) Professor Choat leads multiple significant research projects examining tree dieback in Australian forests, particularly focusing on Eucalyptus species. His work with citizen scientists through the 'Dead Tree Detective' project has provided valuable data on drought impacts across diverse forest biomes. He maintains active collaborations with researchers across Australia and internationally, contributing to large-scale initiatives like the AusTraits plant trait database. His research has direct implications for forest management, conservation strategies, and predicting ecosystem responses to climate change.

• Plant hydraulics
• Xylem function
• Drought stress responses
• +6 more

Dr Clément Duvert is a Senior Research Fellow in Hydrology and Biogeochemistry at Charles Darwin University's Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, part of the Faculty of Science and Technology. He leads projects on aquatic carbon cycling, ecohydrology, and stream-groundwater interactions in tropical regions. His work combines field studies, isotopic techniques, and numerical modeling. He co-leads the Top End Hydrology Lab with Dr Dylan Irvine and supervises PhD students in hydrology and aquatic biogeochemistry. Education: Completed his PhD at Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane) on isotope tracking in aquifers and streams. Prior to CDU, worked as a research associate in Mexico on erosion and sediment transport in tropical rivers. Research Interests: Focus on carbon transfer in tropical landscapes, groundwater-surface water interactions, and greenhouse gas emissions. Key areas include isotopic hydrology, tropical river dynamics, and climate impacts on water systems. Recent projects investigate carbon budgets, water quality trends, and groundwater recharge in Australia. Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator on projects like 'Breathing streams: integrating aquatic emissions into carbon budgets' (DE220100852) and 'Water Security for Northern Australia' (CRCNA WSP). Collaborates on initiatives addressing cultural-natural resource management and climate policy. Labs & Teams: Co-leads the Top End Hydrology Lab. Engages in cross-disciplinary collaborations across Australia and internationally, focusing on sustainable water solutions in tropical regions.

• Hydrology
• Biogeochemistry
• Carbon Cycling
• +3 more

Dr. Inigo Auzmendi is a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland within the Faculty of Science , affiliated with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture. His work focuses on functional-structural plant modeling to improve management practices in avocado, macadamia, and mango orchards through analysis of architecture, carbon balance, and environmental interactions. His research interests include: Biophysical processes in fruit trees (light interception, photosynthesis) Carbohydrate dynamics in grapevine growth Computational modeling of plant architecture and physiology Application of L-systems and L-Studio in horticultural research Recent publications emphasize modeling tree canopies to optimize yield through planting density and pruning strategies, with a strong focus on carbon allocation and multi-scale physiological interactions. Current projects involve supervising PhD and Honours students in computational approaches to orchard productivity and photosynthesis simulation. Dr. Auzmendi collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on projects funded by organizations including the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited.

• Functional-structural plant modeling
• Horticultural crop physiology
• Agricultural systems
• +6 more

Dr. Madeline Carins-Murphy is a Research Fellow at the School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania. Her work focuses on plant water transport systems under environmental stress, particularly drought and heat, with applications to climate change resilience in natural vegetation and crops. Education: B.Sc. (1st Class Hons., 2010) and Ph.D. (2016) from the University of Tasmania. Her research explores xylem vulnerability, stomatal coordination, and hydraulic recovery mechanisms, leveraging advanced imaging techniques like X-ray microtomography. Key projects include studying drought thresholds in plants and optimizing irrigation strategies for growers. She has secured competitive funding, including an ARC Linkage Project (2018), and collaborated with industry partners. Recent publications highlight her contributions to understanding xylem embolism, floral hydraulics, and hydraulic recovery in Eucalyptus. Her work has been cited extensively, with a field citation ratio indicating high impact. Scientific Awards: Travel grant to attend the Gordon Research Conference on Multiscale Plant Vascular Biology (Society for Experimental Biology). She has supervised doctoral students on topics like hydraulic vulnerability and plant water potential monitoring. Her current consultancy with TasNetworks Pty Ltd investigates drought-driven flammability to improve bushfire modeling.

• Plant Physiology
• Plant Hydraulics
• Drought Stress
• +6 more

Jon Lloyd is a prominent researcher specializing in tropical forest ecology with extensive focus on Amazon rainforest dynamics. His work spans multiple continents including South America, Africa, and Australia, examining critical ecological processes across diverse ecosystems. Lloyd has established himself as a key collaborator in large-scale international research initiatives studying forest carbon cycles, vegetation dynamics, and climate change impacts. His research interests center on tropical forest ecology, Amazon rainforest studies, carbon cycling mechanisms, plant physiological responses, and ecosystem dynamics under changing environmental conditions. Lloyd's work examines how forests respond to disturbances like fire, drought, and deforestation, with particular attention to the physiological and structural characteristics that determine forest resilience. His studies often integrate field measurements with modeling approaches to understand large-scale patterns in forest composition and function. Lloyd's publication record reveals a strong emphasis on understanding the biogeochemical processes that govern tropical forest function, particularly carbon and nutrient cycling. His research frequently addresses the relationship between plant functional traits and environmental gradients, examining how these relationships shape forest community assembly and ecosystem processes across spatial scales. His work has significant implications for understanding how tropical forests may respond to ongoing climate change. Lloyd has received recognition through extensive collaborations with major international research networks focused on tropical forest monitoring and carbon cycling. His work has been instrumental in advancing methodologies for measuring and modeling forest carbon stocks and fluxes across the tropics. His research extends to mentoring and collaborative supervision of numerous international projects, working with scientists across multiple institutions to address pressing questions in tropical ecology and global change biology. Lloyd's work frequently appears in high-impact journals covering ecology, biogeochemistry, and climate science.

• Tropical Forest Ecology
• Amazon Rainforest Studies
• Carbon Cycling
• +6 more

Brendan Choat is a researcher at James Cook University , focusing on plant physiological responses to environmental stressors, particularly drought and hydraulic failure in woody species. His work spans tropical and temperate forests, emphasizing ecosystem vulnerability to climate change . Key Research Areas : Drought tolerance, xylem hydraulics, carbon-water coupling in trees, and global forest resilience. Collaborative Networks : Extensive partnerships across Australia and internationally, including institutions like Western Sydney University and CSIRO. Publications : Major contributions to journals such as New Phytologist , Global Change Biology , and Nature , addressing forest mortality risk, hydraulic traits, and climate adaptation.

• Plant Physiology
• Ecology
• Drought Tolerance
• +7 more

Lindsay B. Hutley is a Professor of Environmental Science at Charles Darwin University's Faculty of Science and Technology, where he leads research through the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods. With a PhD in forest hydrology/botany from the University of Queensland, Hutley has established himself as a leading expert in tropical ecosystem dynamics, particularly focusing on carbon and water cycling in savanna and mangrove ecosystems. Institution: Charles Darwin University School: Faculty of Science and Technology Department: Environmental Science Education: PhD, University of Queensland (1997) Professor Hutley's research program centers on understanding the biophysical environment of tropical land and water systems, with expertise spanning plant ecology, ecophysiology, ecohydrology, land-atmosphere exchange, and soil science. His work employs eddy covariance systems to measure surface fluxes of carbon, water, and energy in tropical ecosystems, complemented by expertise in stable isotopes and soil biology. Research spans organizational scales from leaf to ecosystem to regions, incorporating ecosystem modeling and remote sensing techniques. Hutley's recent work has expanded into coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves, focusing on carbon sequestration, ecosystem loss drivers, and restoration efforts. He collaborates on international initiatives to restore Indonesia's peat forests and has contributed significantly to understanding blue carbon dynamics. His research directly informs water resource management, carbon accounting, and landscape-scale management practices in northern Australia. The analysis of Hutley's publication record reveals consistent contributions to understanding tropical ecosystem responses to climate change, fire, and land use change. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between terrestrial and coastal systems, with particular emphasis on carbon-water-energy interactions. Recent publications show increasing focus on mangrove ecosystems, blue carbon, and the impacts of extreme climate events on ecosystem function. Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Exceptional Performance in Research - Individual Award (2008) Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Exceptional Performance in Research CDU - Team Award (2009) National Carrick Institute Citation for innovative postgraduate education (2006) Dean's Research Awards for Superior Publication Outputs (2009) Best Research in NRM, Territory Natural Resource Management Awards (2014) Professor Hutley has successfully supervised numerous research students across diverse topics including mangrove dieback, blue carbon dynamics, frog physiology in monsoonal environments, and savanna land-atmosphere interactions. His current research portfolio includes significant projects such as 'Rainmaker Start-Up: Revisiting ecohydrological processes in the tropics,' 'Assessment of Climate Change Risks to NT Ecosystems and Biodiversity,' and 'Beyond burial: redefining the blue carbon paradigm.' His work contributes directly to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action and life on land.

• Plant Ecology
• Ecophysiology
• Ecohydrology
• +12 more

Aude Gourieroux is a research-active academic at Charles Sturt University, affiliated with the School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences. Her work centers on grapevine physiology, with a focus on vascular development, berry ripening, and Botrytis detection in wine grapes. Education: PhD in Grapevine Physiology, Charles Sturt University, awarded 17 Jul 2015 Master in Grapevine Physiology, ISVV, University of Bordeaux, awarded 12 Jun 2003 Master in Viticulture, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, awarded 24 Sept 2002 Her research explores the physiological mechanisms underlying grape development, particularly the role of xylem and phloem in berry growth and seededness. She investigates how structural investment in vascular tissues influences fruit quality and yield. Her work integrates plant anatomy, physiology, and applied viticulture. The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on vascular biology in grapevines, with a longitudinal study on vascular connections to seededness spanning two decades. More recently, her research has expanded into pathogen detection, particularly Botrytis, using antigen-based rapid tests, showing a shift toward post-harvest quality and disease management. Scientific Awards: Excellence Award 2021: Successful Graduates She has participated in industry-focused activities, including the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference in 2010, and her work on Botrytis antigen tests has received media attention. While no formal advising or grant information is provided, her collaborative publications suggest active engagement in research teams. She has not supervised any listed students, but her role in multi-author studies indicates integration within larger research networks.

• Grapevine Physiology
• Viticulture
• Plant Physiology
• +7 more

Professor Andy Leigh is a plant ecologist at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), specializing in plant responses to extreme environmental conditions, particularly thermal stress and climate change impacts. She holds a professorial position in the School of Life Sciences and has led interdisciplinary research on thermal tolerance, resilience of plant communities, and Indigenous knowledge integration. Her work bridges ecology, physiology, and climate science, with a focus on arid and alpine ecosystems. Education and Roles: PhD in Botany (Australian National University, 2007) BSc Honours and BA (Visual Arts) from ANU Past leadership roles: Head of School (Life Sciences), UTS; Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning (2015–2021) Research Focus: Her research investigates how plants acclimate to heatwaves, drought, and fire, with emphasis on thermal thresholds, genetic adaptation, and ecosystem resilience. Collaborations include Indigenous custodians at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and global networks like the Leaf Temperature Working Group. Awards and Recognition: Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy UTS Learning and Teaching Award (2013) Three UTS Faculty of Science Excellence Awards Grants and Leadership: Current grants include ARC-funded projects on thermal tolerance and alpine resilience. She co-leads the AusTraits plant trait database and IDEAcology expert elicitation tool. Over 50 peer-reviewed publications span plant physiology, climate adaptation, and ecological modeling. Labs and Teams: Leigh Lab members include 8 PhD/Honours students and co-supervised researchers. Partnerships with ANU, CSIRO, and Parks Australia drive field-based and genomic studies. Public engagement includes media appearances, podcasts, and blogs on plant science and climate change.

• Plant Ecology
• Climate Change
• Ecophysiology
• +4 more

Dr. Martin De Kauwe (University of New South Wales, Science School) is an Adjunct Associate Professor specializing in terrestrial biosphere modeling, climate-vegetation interactions, and ecosystem responses to global change drivers. His work bridges experimental data with predictive models to understand plant responses to elevated CO2, drought stress, and temperature extremes. Key affiliations: Climate Change Research Centre at UNSW Leadership role: Co-chair of CABLE (Community Atmosphere Biosphere Land Exchange) model management committee Research Focus: His research spans: Evidence-based modeling of vegetation-climate feedbacks CO2 fertilization effects on Australian ecosystems Drought and heatwave impacts on forest mortality Land surface model development and validation Integration of satellite/experimental data with ecosystem models Water-limited ecosystem productivity dynamics Publication Trends: Recent work analyzes 2024-2025: Urban heatwave mitigation through vegetation Amazonian understory responses to CO2 Plant hydraulic constraints in carbon models Multi-scale photosynthetic temperature responses Fire recovery dynamics Contact: Email: m.dekauwe@unsw.edu.au

• Climate Change
• Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
• Land Surface Modeling
• +4 more

Professor Samantha Setterfield is a faculty member at the School of Agriculture and Environment , University of Western Australia. Her expertise spans tropical ecology, focusing on savanna and wetland ecosystems, invasive plant management, and weed risk assessment. She joined UWA in 2016 after extensive work at Charles Darwin University (CDU) and CSIRO, where she led research on tropical plant ecology and fire dynamics. Her research is highly collaborative, involving partnerships with institutions like CSIRO and the National Environmental Science Program (NESP). Education & Career: Honours in Botany, Monash University PhD on fire effects in tropical savannas (CSIRO’s Kapalga Fire Experiment, Kakadu NP) Lecturing roles at CDU, leading education programs in tropical savannas Research Interests: Tropical Savannas: Impact of invasive grasses like Andropogon gayanus on fire regimes, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity. Breakthroughs include demonstrating ecosystem-transforming effects of invasive grasses. Tropical Wetlands: Ecology of rivers and wetlands, assessing impacts of water extraction, invasions, and climate change. Focus on riparian zones as critical refuges in fire-prone ecosystems. Awards & Recognition: Invasive Species Council Biosecure Australia Award (2014) CDU Vice-Chancellor’s Research Team Award (2008) Finalist, NT Government Research & Innovation Awards (2008) 2023 School of Agriculture Award for Research Impact Teaching & Grants: Teaches ecology, conservation, and environmental decision-making units at UWA. Current grants include ARC Discovery projects, NESP initiatives, and CSIRO collaborations. Labs & Collaborations: Leads interdisciplinary teams on invasive species management, fire ecology, and Indigenous-led environmental monitoring. Key collaborations with Prof Michael Douglas (UWA) and Dr Natalie Rossiter-Rachor (CDU).

• Tropical Ecology
• Savanna Ecology
• Wetland Ecology
• +4 more

Associate Professor Paul Rymer is an ecological geneticist at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), Western Sydney University. Specializing in plant evolutionary ecology, his research focuses on understanding how plants adapt to environmental challenges such as drought, climate change, and urbanization. He holds a BSc (Honours) from the University of Western Sydney (1999) and a PhD in Biological Science from the University of Wollongong (2006). His career includes postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford (2006-2007), a Marie Curie Fellowship at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Imperial College London (2007-2009), and work at Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney (2009-2010). At HIE, he leads a lab investigating the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying plant adaptation, with a focus on eucalypts, Proteaceae, and urban tree species. Key research themes include: Climate-driven adaptation in eucalypt species Genomic vulnerability of tree populations to climate extremes Urban tree resilience and functional traits Phylogenetic and genomic analyses of plant diversity Collaborations involve institutions like ANU, University of Melbourne, and Currency Creek Arboretum. Ongoing projects examine drought tolerance, local adaptation, and assisted gene migration strategies for threatened species.

• Plant Evolutionary Ecology
• Ecological Genetics
• Climate Adaptation
• +4 more

Christopher Jones is an Adjunct Teaching Fellow in the School of Engineering (Chemical Engineering Department) at The University of Western Australia. His research focuses on plant biochemistry and genetics, specifically investigating essential oil biosynthesis in sandalwood species ( Santalum album and Santalum spicatum ). He maintains an active research profile with collaborations evident through multi-author publications. Dr. Jones' primary research interests include: Terpenoid biosynthesis pathways and enzyme functions Genetic and environmental influences on essential oil composition Transcriptomic analysis of sandalwood metabolic processes Molecular mechanisms of fragrance compound production Genetic diversity in sandalwood populations His publication record (2006-2018) demonstrates consistent focus on sandalwood biochemistry, with recent work emphasizing transcriptomics and enzyme characterization. Articles frequently explore genetic regulation of terpenoid synthesis, oil composition analysis, and molecular breeding applications.

• Plant Biochemistry
• Essential Oil Biosynthesis
• Terpenoid Pathways
• +2 more

Adriana Vega Grau is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, part of the Forest Research Institute at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Her research focuses on ecohydrology, tropical forest ecology, and ecological dynamics in forest restoration. She holds a PhD in Ecology & Ecohydrology from The University of Queensland, an MSc in Tropical Ecology (Erasmus Mundus Tropimundo), and a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of Puerto Rico. Education: PhD (Ecology & Ecohydrology), The University of Queensland (Australia) MSc (Tropical Ecology), Sorbonne Paris VI (France) via Erasmus Mundus Tropimundo BSc (Environmental Science), Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (Puerto Rico) Research Interests: Adriana investigates how stable water isotopes and remote sensing can improve forest restoration and carbon sequestration. Her work explores functional trait models influencing tree growth, water use, and survival across species and environments. Recent studies include bark-xylem water interactions, tropical tree water sources, and isotopic fractionation in tree physiology. Awards: Cooperative Research Centre Student Competition Winner (2021) Skyrail Rainforest Foundation Research Fund (2020) Multiple travel and research grants from The University of Queensland and Wet Tropics Management Authority Grants & Advising: Adriana has secured competitive grants for fieldwork and international collaboration. While no formal advisees are listed, her projects involve interdisciplinary teams and global field sites (Puerto Rico, China, Peru, France, Belgium, USA). Labs/Teams: Active contributor to the Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, collaborating on ecohydrology and restoration ecology initiatives.

• Tropical forest ecology
• Ecohydrology
• Ecological dynamics in forest restoration
• +3 more

Benjamin Halliwell is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biological Sciences at the University of Tasmania's School of Natural Sciences. He holds a PhD from the same institution (2013-2017). His research focuses on phylogenetic analysis, computational ecology, and evolutionary adaptations to environmental stressors. Key areas include aridity tolerance in plants, social evolution in reptiles, and hydraulic traits in Eucalyptus species. Research Interests: Phylogeny and comparative analysis Computational phylogenetics Evolutionary ecology Adaptive strategies in plants and animals Funded Projects: "Comparing resistance to drought and freezing stress across eucalypts" (2023-2023, $6,080) "Testing causal relationships between ecology, promiscuity, and social organisation in lizards" (2013-2016, $17,000) Current Doctoral Supervision: Predicting Hydraulic Vulnerability of Australian Flora (2025) Climate's Role in Social Behavior (2023) Comparative Phylogenomics of Drought Resilience in Eucalyptus (2022) His work integrates statistical modeling with field experiments, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to evolutionary and ecological questions.

• Phylogeny and comparative analysis
• Computational ecology and phylogenetics
• Evolutionary ecology
• +3 more