Dramatic ecology: how are extreme events reshaping our biological world?

Theme: Biodiversity and conservation science, Ecology genetics and evolution, Environmental management

Description: 

For the most part, ecological systems ‘bubble along’, changing slowly and/or in small ways but not really changing much at all. But ecological systems sometimes change dramatically, experiencing big changes over short periods of time. Examples include plagues and outbreaks, population collapses, as well as the ‘turning over’ of entire ecosystems. Sometimes these dramatic changes occur when systems reach a tipping point; other times these dramatic changes occur because of the effects of exogenous shocks such as extreme climatic events (e.g. heatwaves and floods). I have multiple Honours projects available that will explore these dramatic changes in ecological systems. There are different opportunities for exploring the effects of extreme events using different methods depending on students’ comfort-levels and experience. For example, there are opportunities to study extreme events theoretically (i.e. mathematically or with computer simulations), using lab and/or field experiments on freshwater plants, or through the analysis of large (i.e. global) databases of time series of population and community dynamics.

The ultimate goal of this work is to improve our ability to identify, understand, and predict these large, rapid, sometimes unprecedented, and often consequential changes, in population and community dynamics

Additional Information: 

These projects are likely to be best suited to students with an interest in developing quantitative skills (e.g. experimental and statistical skills; OR mathematical theory).  For information about who we are and what we do in the HartLab please see: hartlab-ecology.com 

Please contact Simon Hart for more information.

Contact: Dr Simon Hart