Dr Sue Baker
Research Fellow
PhD (Tas)
Contact Details
| Contact Campus |
Sandy Bay Campus |
| Building |
Life Sciences Building |
| Room Reference |
372d |
| Telephone |
+61 3 6226 2647 |
| Fax |
+61 3 6226 2698 |
| Email |
bakers@utas.edu.au |
Publications
- Baker, S. (2013). Management of Tasmanian eucalypt forests as complex adaptive systems, In: Managing forests as complex adaptive systems: building resilience to the challenge of global change. eds C. Messier, C. Puettmann, K.D. Coates. Chapter 12. Routledge, NY.
- L. Gustafsson, S.C. Baker, J. Bauhus, W. Beese, A. Brodie, J. Kouki, D.B. Lindenmayer, A. Lõhmus, G. Martinez-Pastur, C. Messier, M. Neyland, B. Palik, A. Sverdrup-Thygeson, J. Volney, A. Wayne, and J.F. Franklin (2012). Retention forestry to maintain multifunctional forests: a world perspective. Bioscience.62: 633-645.
- Baker, S.C. and Read, S.M. (2011). Variable retention silviculture in Tasmaniaâs wet forests; ecological rationale, adaptive management and synthesis of biodiversity benefits. Australian Forestry. 74(3): 218-232.
- Barbour, R.C., Baker, S.C., OâReilly-Wapstra, J.M., Harvest, T.M. and Potts, B.M (2009). A footprint of tree-genetics on the biota of the forest floor. Oikos. 118: 1917-1923.
- Baker, S.C., Barmuta, L.A., Grove, S.J. and Richardson, A.M.M. (2009). Are streamside buffers edge-affected habitat for ground-dwelling forest beetle assemblages? Biodiversity and Conservation. 18: 3467-3482.
- Baker, S.C., Grove, S.J., Forster, L., Bonham, K.J. and Bashford, D. (2009). Short-term responses of ground-active beetles to alternative silvicultural systems in the Warra Silvicultural Systems Trial, Tasmania, Australia. Forest Ecology and Management. 258, 444-459.
- Baker, S.C., Barmuta, L.A., McQuillan, P.B. and Richardson, A.M.M. (2007). Estimating edge effects on ground-dwelling beetles at clearfelled non-riparian stand edges in Tasmanian wet eucalypt forest. Forest Ecology and Management 239: 92-101.
- Baker, S.C., Richardson, A.M.M., Barmuta, L.A. and Thomson, R. (2006). Why conservation reserves should not always be concentrated in riparian areas: a study of ground-dwelling beetles in wet eucalypt forest. Biological Conservation 133: 156-168.
- Baker, S.C., Richardson, A.M.M., Seeman, A.D. and Barmuta, L.A. (2004). Does clearfell, burn and sow silviculture mimic the effect of wildfire? A field study and review using litter beetles. Forest Ecology and Management 199: 433-448
Full Publications List
Achievements
- 2012 Fulbright Post-doctoral scholar
Career Summary
After finishing a forestry degree from Melbourne University, I initially worked as a research assistant on a forest pest management project before volunteering on seabird research projects in Antarctica and Macquarie Island. I then did Honours and PhD degrees at UTAS looking at the impacts of forest management practices on ground-active beetles. Since then I have been working with Forestry Tasmania investigating the biodiversity benefits of variable retention harvesting compared to clearfelling. I completed a one-year fellowship at the World Forest Institute in Portland, USA before returning to the University of Tasmania.
Research Interests
My research investigates the impacts of native forest logging practices on biodiversity. I am interested in understanding the spatial and temporal impacts of harvesting systems and conservation measures on plant and animal habitats and populations. Understanding how species respond to environmental gradients is relevant to developing management practices necessary for effective conservation. My current project investigates ‘forest influence’ - how proximity to a mature forest edge influences recolonisation by biodiversity following timber harvesting. This is relevant to the variable retention harvesting system where patches of uncut forest are retained to maintain mature-forest biodiversity within sites. Our research will investigate whether such retention can assist recolonisation by plants, birds and beetles.
Research Areas
Research Project/s
