Our research seeks to address key questions associated with the etiology of snow-gum dieback; its extent, history and potential future in the Australian Alps; and the consequences of forest loss on hydrologic outputs, carbon sequestration and biodiversity in affected areas.
Funding
We are funded by a mix of local, State and Federal providers with research collaborators and partners across a suite of academic institutions and land-management agencies. Accordingly, our research team is composed of full-time academic staff, post-doctoral researchers, a mix of higher-degree research students and scientific and management staff across both private and public sectors. Collaboratively, we are working to no only understand snow-gum dieback, but to develop and implement effective responses for future management of the phenomenon.
Research students
Our research covers a broad range of disciplines. In addition to our research staff and collaborators, meeting our research goals reflects the contribution of research students. Our projects draw upon the contribution of Honours and higher-degree research students. To date, student research projects have both contributed fundamental research methods and generated key datasets central to understanding snow-gum dieback.
We are currently accepting applications for Honours research programs focussed on
wood-anatomy, dendrochronological reconstruction of environmental conditions, dynamics of intra-annual tree growth, and insect behaviour and morphology. Honours scholarships are available for suitable applicants. Email SOSnowgum for more information.
Partnerships
Our researchers are members of the Australian Mountain Research Facility (AMRF) that brings together researchers to guide adaptive management of Australia’s mountains. We are also part of the High-Country Dieback Network (HCDN)—a Centre for Biodiversity Analysis synthesis group that fosters exchange between a broad mix of researchers, land managers and other stakeholders.
