Future of Australian islands: vegetation dynamics across space and time. Australia’s 8000 islands support ¼ of the continent’s plants acting as conservation refugia. However, little is known about how

Description

Future of Australian islands: vegetation dynamics across space and time. Australia’s 8000 islands support ¼ of the continent’s plants acting as conservation refugia. However, little is known about how island plants are affected by global change. My project will investigate plant diversity changes on Australia’s coastal islands in response to climate change, exotic species and sea level rise. Using a novel island dataset I will identify loss and shifts in vegetation across the continent. A field study designed with Queensland Parks will investigate ecological change on highly threatened reef islands. This project will guide conservation priorities, protect flora and help ensure islands remain key refuges for biodiversity by reframing Island Biogeography theory for enhanced conservation in the Anthropocene.. Scheme: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award. Field: 3103 - Ecology. Lead: Dr Julian Schrader