Profiles
Rebecca Harris
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Rebecca Harris
Lecturer Physical Geography (Climatology)
Geography & Spatial Sciences
Geography and Spatial Sciences
Room 435, Geography Building, Sandy Bay Campus
+61 3 6226 2920 (phone)
Bec’s principal research interests are in the areas of conservation management and climate change impacts on natural and human systems. She integrates climate science with ecological research to contribute to landscape management decisions that are necessary to adapt to climate change impacts. Recent research has focused on the impact of climate variability and extreme events on natural ecosystems and the adaptability of species and humans to change. This research has been applied to conservation management, emergency services (bushfire preparedness), agriculture (biosecurity, viticulture), and adaptation in the ski industry. She is a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, Working Group II.
Biography
Bec has 20 years’ experience working in research organizations, including the Australian Museum (Arachnology section (1995-1997) and the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Research (2000 – 2003)), the Key Centre for Biodiversity and Bioresources, Macquarie University (1998-2000), and the University of Tasmania (Antarctic Ecosystem and Climate CRC (2012 – present)). She moved from Sydney to Tasmania in 2003 and completed her PhD in 2012 in the School of Geography, University of Tasmania. In 2016 she was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship which supported a year’s research stay at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany.
Career summary
Qualifications
| Degree | Thesis Title | University | Country | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | The biophysical and behavioral strategies of thermoregulation in the wingless grasshopper – A model to test potential climate change impacts on insects. | University of Tasmania | Australia | 2012 |
| MSc | Cattle grazing in public forests: the response of ground-dwelling spider assemblages | Macquarie University | Australia | 2000 |
| BAppSc | The University of Technology | Australia | 1991 |
Memberships
Professional practice
- Ecological Society of Australia
- Society for Conservation Biology
- National Climate change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) Biodiversity Network and Primary Industry Network
Administrative expertise
Bec has experience in project management and the implementation of research projects, which have involved design of surveys and field experiments, site selection, supervision of staff and volunteers, and budget and time management skills.
Teaching
Teaching expertise
Biodiversity assessment (invertebrate and botanical), biogeography, island ecology, invasion and disturbance ecology, thermal biology, species distribution modelling, microclimatology and application of climate model output.
View more on Dr Rebecca Harris in WARP
Expertise
- Biodiversity assessment
- Thermal biology
- Invasive species biology
- Biogeography
- Behavioural ecology
- Biophysical ecology
- Climate change impact assessment
- Regional climate projections
- Climate adaptation
- Disturbance ecology
- Fire ecology
- Species Distribution Modelling
Research Themes
Microclimatology, climate change, ecology, fire and biodiversity.
Collaboration
Bec has ongoing collaborations with the Department of Conservation Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany; the Federal Institute for Hydrology, Germany; Macquarie University; CSIRO; the South Australian Research Development Institute and the Australian Wine Research Institute. With the Climate Futures team she has worked closely with stakeholders including Hobart City Council, TasFire, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and State Emergency Services.
Awards
- Linnaean Society of NSW Joyce W. Vickery Scientific Research Grant, 2005
- ANZ Holsworth Research Endowment, 2007
- Australian Museum Postgraduate Award, 2007
- Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship, 2016
- National Excellence in Educational Leadership Initiative (NEELI) Scholarship, 2018
Current projects
Bec is currently the lead researcher on the projects: An assessment of the viability of prescribed burning as a management tool under a changing climate. Funded by the National Disaster Resilience Grants Program, 2016 and the Tasmanian Bushfire Mitigation Grants Program, 2018; Australia’s wine future – adapting to short-term climate variability and long-term climate change, 2016-2019. Funded by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority; and A characterisation of synoptic weather features often associated with extreme events in SE Australia and Tasmania (soon to commence). Funded by the Bushfire Natural Hazards CRC.
She is involved in a range of projects investigating changes to native and invasive species distributions; shifts in growing season and phenology and changing fire fuel loads under future climate change in Tasmania and south-eastern Australia. She is currently working on methods to improve the application of climate science to ecological research and adaptation responses by incorporating the high frequency and seasonal information available in regional climate projections with species-specific biological information. She has ongoing collaborations in Germany investigating the impact of compounding extreme events on biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function.
Fields of Research
- Climate Change Processes (040104)
- Ecological Impacts of Climate Change (050101)
- Conservation and Biodiversity (050202)
- Global Change Biology (069902)
- Invertebrate Biology (060808)
- Environmental Engineering (090799)
- Landscape Ecology (050104)
- Terrestrial Ecology (060208)
- Forestry Management and Environment (070504)
- Forestry Fire Management (070503)
- Environmental Science and Management (050299)
- Tourist Behaviour and Visitor Experience (150606)
- Environmental Engineering Modelling (090702)
- Surfacewater Hydrology (040608)
- Natural Hazards (040604)
- Horticultural Crop Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds) (070603)
- Architectural Science and Technology (incl. Acoustics, Lighting, Structure and Ecologically Sustainable Design) (120104)
- Environmental Sciences (059999)
- Human Geography (160499)
- Agricultural Spatial Analysis and Modelling (070104)
- Optical Physics (020599)
- Environmental Management (050205)
- Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience (040699)
- Risk Engineering (excl. Earthquake Engineering) (091507)
- Forestry Pests, Health and Diseases (070505)
- Invasive Species Ecology (050103)
- Meteorology (040107)
- Land Use and Environmental Planning (120504)
- Social and Cultural Geography (160403)
- Climatology (excl. Climate Change Processes) (040105)
- Agro-ecosystem Function and Prediction (070301)
- Oenology and Viticulture (070604)
- Soil Biology (050303)
- Wildlife and Habitat Management (050211)
- Biogeography and Phylogeography (060302)
- Ecosystem Function (050102)
Research Objectives
- Climate Change Adaptation Measures (960301)
- Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Australia (excl. Social Impacts) (960307)
- Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change (960305)
- Climate Change Models (960303)
- Expanding Knowledge in Engineering (970109)
- Social Impacts of Climate Change and Variability (960311)
- Forestry (820199)
- Natural Hazards (961099)
- Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales (960805)
- Climate Variability (excl. Social Impacts) (960304)
- Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences (970106)
- Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Forest and Woodlands Environments (960505)
- Economic Issues in Tourism (900301)
- Control of Animal Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments (960403)
- Global Effects of Climate Change and Variability (excl. Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the South Pacific) (excl. Social Impacts) (960310)
- Construction Design (870299)
- Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Air Quality (960101)
- Effects of Climate Change and Variability on the South Pacific (excl. Australia and New Zealand) (excl. Social Impacts) (960309)
- Remnant Vegetation and Protected Conservation Areas in Forest and Woodlands Environments (961306)
- Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences (970105)
- Natural Hazards in Forest and Woodlands Environments (961004)
- Vegetables (820215)
- Remnant Vegetation and Protected Conservation Areas at Regional or Larger Scales (961308)
- Tourism Infrastructure Development (900303)
- Water Allocation and Quantification (960913)
- Weather (960203)
- Mountain and High Country Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (960810)
- Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Environments (excl. Social Impacts) (960306)
- Wine Grapes (820306)
- Environmental Policy, Legislation and Standards (960799)
- Cultural Understanding (959999)
- Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Mountain and High Country Environments (960509)
- Urban Land Policy (960708)
- Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (960806)
- Forest and Woodlands Land Management (960906)
- Climate Change Mitigation Strategies (960302)
Publications
Bec has published in a wide range of journals, including those with a focus on theoretical ecology (Journal of Biogeography, Ecology and Evolution, Climatic Change), conservation biology (Landscape and Urban Planning), and applied biodiversity management (Ecological Management and Restoration, Journal of Environmental Management). She has also contributed to several reports interpreting the climate science, uncertainty and adaptation options for resource managers and practitioners.
Total publications
43
Journal Article
(25 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Ojeda JJ, Rezaei EE, Remenyi TA, Webb MA, Webber HA, et al., 'Effects of soil- and climate data aggregation on simulated potato yield and irrigation water requirement', The Science of The Total Environment Article 135589. ISSN 0048-9697 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135589 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Ojeda JJ; Remenyi TA; Mohammed CL; Meinke H | |
| 2018 | Harris RMB, Remenyi T, Fox-Hughes P, Love P, Bindoff NL, 'Exploring the future of fuel loads in Tasmania, Australia: shifts in vegetation in response to changing fire weather, productivity, and fire frequency', Forests, 9, (4) Article 210. ISSN 1999-4907 (2018) [Contribution to Refereed Journal] DOI: 10.3390/f9040210 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Remenyi T; Love P; Bindoff NL | |
| 2018 | Rumm A, Foeckler F, Dziock F, Ilg C, Scholz M, et al., 'Shifts in mollusc traits following floodplain reconnection: testing the response of functional diversity components', Freshwater Biology, 63, (6) pp. 505-517. ISSN 0046-5070 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13082 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 12 | |
| 2018 | Yadav S, Stow AJ, Harris RMB, Dudaniec RY, 'Morphological variation tracks environmental gradients in an agricultural pest, Phaulacridium vittatum (Orthoptera: Acrididae)', Journal of Insect Science, 18, (6) Article 13. ISSN 1536-2442 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iey121 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 | |
| 2018 | Harris RMB, Beaumont LJ, Vance TR, Tozer CR, Remenyi TA, et al., 'Biological responses to the press and pulse of climate trends and extreme events', Nature Climate Change, 8 pp. 579-587. ISSN 1758-678X (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0187-9 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 47Web of Science - 44 Co-authors: Vance TR; Tozer CR; Remenyi TA; Williamson G; Bowman DMJS | |
| 2017 | Harris RMB, Kriticos DJ, Remenyi T, Bindoff N, 'Unusual suspects in the usual places: a phylo-climatic framework to identify potential future invasive species', Biological Invasions, 19, (2) pp. 577-596. ISSN 1387-3547 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10530-016-1334-8 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Remenyi T; Bindoff N | |
| 2017 | Harrison PA, Vaillancourt RE, Harris RMB, Potts BM, 'Integrating climate change and habitat fragmentation to identify candidate seed sources for ecological restoration', Restoration Ecology, 25, (4) pp. 524-531. ISSN 1061-2971 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/rec.12488 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: Harrison PA; Vaillancourt RE; Potts BM | |
| 2016 | Harris RMB, Remenyi TA, Williamson GJ, Bindoff NL, Bowman DMJS, 'Climate-vegetation-fire interactions and feedbacks: trivial detail or major barrier to projecting the future of the Earth system?', Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 7, (6) pp. 910-931. ISSN 1757-7799 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/wcc.428 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 25Web of Science - 22 Co-authors: Remenyi TA; Williamson GJ; Bindoff NL; Bowman DMJS | |
| 2016 | McDonald J, McCormack PC, Fleming AJ, Harris RMB, Lockwood M, 'Rethinking legal objectives for climate-adaptive conservation', Ecology and Society, 21, (2) Article 25. ISSN 1708-3087 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.5751/ES-08460-210225 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: McDonald J; McCormack PC; Fleming AJ; Lockwood M | |
| 2016 | Porfirio LL, Harris RMB, Stojanovic D, Webb MH, Mackey B, 'Projected direct and indirect effects of climate change on the swift parrot, an endangered migratory species', Emu, 116, (3) pp. 273-283. ISSN 0158-4197 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1071/MU15094 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2 | |
| 2015 | Harris RMB, Carter O, Gilfedder L, Porfirio LL, Lee G, et al., 'Noah's ark conservation will not preserve threatened ecological communities under climate change', PLoS One, 10, (4) Article e0124014. ISSN 1932-6203 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124014 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Lee G; Bindoff NL | |
| 2015 | Harris RMB, McQuillan P, Hughes L, 'The effectiveness of common thermo-regulatory behaviours in a cool temperate grasshopper', Journal of Thermal Biology, 52 pp. 75-83. ISSN 0306-4565 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2015.06.001 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: McQuillan P | |
| 2015 | Lechner AM, Doerr V, Harris RMB, Doerr E, Lefroy EC, 'A framework for incorporating fine-scale dispersal behaviour into biodiversity conservation planning', Landscape and Urban Planning, 141 pp. 11-23. ISSN 0169-2046 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.04.008 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 16Web of Science - 16 Co-authors: Lechner AM; Lefroy EC | |
| 2015 | Lechner AM, Harris RMB, Doerr V, Doerr E, Drielsma M, et al., 'From static connectivity modelling to scenario-based planning at local and regional scales', Journal for Nature Conservation, 28 pp. 78-88. ISSN 1617-1381 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.09.003 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 12Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Lechner AM; Lefroy EC | |
| 2015 | Raymond CM, Lechner AM, Lockwood M, Carter O, Harris RMB, et al., 'Private land manager capacity to conserve threatened communities under climate change', Journal of Environmental Management, 159 pp. 235-244. ISSN 0301-4797 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.04.048 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 3 Co-authors: Lechner AM; Lockwood M | |
| 2014 | Fox-Hughes P, Harris RM, Lee G, Grose MR, Bindoff NL, 'Future fire danger climatology for Tasmania, Australia, using a dynamically downscaled regional climate model', International Journal of Wildland Fire, 23, (3) pp. 309-321. ISSN 1049-8001 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1071/WF13126 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 25Web of Science - 26 Co-authors: Lee G; Grose MR; Bindoff NL | |
| 2014 | Gould SF, Beeton NJ, Harris RMB, Hutchinson MF, Lechner AM, et al., 'A tool for simulating and communicating uncertainty when modelling species distributions under future climates', Ecology and Evolution, 4, (24) pp. 4798-4811. ISSN 2045-7758 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1319 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 28Web of Science - 25 Co-authors: Beeton NJ; Lechner AM | |
| 2014 | Grose MR, Fox-Hughes P, Harris RM, Bindoff NL, 'Changes to the drivers of fire weather with a warming climate - a case study of southeast Tasmania', Climatic Change, 124, (1-2) pp. 255-269. ISSN 0165-0009 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10584-014-1070-y [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 12Web of Science - 10 Co-authors: Grose MR; Bindoff NL | |
| 2014 | Harris RM, Grose MR, Lee G, Bindoff NL, Porfirio L, et al., 'Climate projections for ecologists', Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 5, (5) pp. 621-637. ISSN 1757-7799 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/wcc.291 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 56Web of Science - 52 Co-authors: Grose MR; Lee G; Bindoff NL | |
| 2014 | Porfirio LL, Harris RM, Lefroy EC, Hugh S, Gould SF, et al., 'Improving the use of species distribution models in conservation planning and management under climate change', PLoS ONE, 9, (11) Article e113749. ISSN 1932-6203 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113749 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 94Web of Science - 89 Co-authors: Lefroy EC; Lee G; Bindoff NL | |
| 2014 | Williamson GJ, Prior LD, Grose MR, Harris RMB, Bowman DMJS, 'Projecting canopy cover change in Tasmanian eucalypt forests using dynamically downscaled regional climate models', Regional Environmental Change, 14, (4) pp. 1373-1386. ISSN 1436-3798 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10113-013-0577-5 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 8 Co-authors: Williamson GJ; Prior LD; Grose MR; Bowman DMJS | |
| 2013 | Harris R, McQuillan PB, Hughes L, 'Experimental manipulation of melanism demonstrates the plasticity of preferred temperature in an agricultural pest (Phaulacridium vittatum)', PLoS One, 8, (11) Article e80243. ISSN 1932-6203 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080243 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 6 Co-authors: McQuillan PB | |
| 2013 | Harris R, Porfirio LL, Hugh S, Lee G, Bindoff NL, et al., 'To Be Or Not to Be? Variable selection can change the projected fate of a threatened species under future climate', Ecological Management and Restoration, 14, (3) pp. 230-234. ISSN 1442-7001 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/emr.12055 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 21 Co-authors: Lee G; Bindoff NL; Beeton N | |
| 2013 | Harris RM, McQuillan PB, Hughes L, 'A test of the thermal melanism hypothesis in the wingless grass-hopper Phaulacridium vittatum', Journal of Insect Science, 13 Article 51. ISSN 1536-2442 (2013) [Refereed Article] PMID: 23909454 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 13Web of Science - 15 Co-authors: McQuillan PB | |
| 2012 | Harris R, McQuillan P, Hughes L, 'Patterns in body size and melanism along a latitudinal cline in the wingless grasshopper, Phaulacridium vittatum', Journal of Biogeography, 39, (8) pp. 1450-1461. ISSN 0305-0270 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2012.02710.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 20Web of Science - 21 Co-authors: McQuillan P |
Review
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Harris RMB, 'Book review: Adapting to an uncertain climate: lessons from practice. Edited by Tiago Capela Lourenco et al', Quarterly Review of Biology, 91, (1) pp. 79. ISSN 0033-5770 (2016) [Review Single Work] |
Conference Publication
(6 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Harris R, Schoeman D, 'Regional climate-information needs for ecological studies and assessment', Expert Meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Assessing Climate Information for Regions, 16-18 May 2018, Trieste, Italy, pp. 46-46. (2018) [Plenary Presentation] | |
| 2017 | Harris RMB, Remenyi T, Fox-Hughes P, Love P, Phillips HE, et al., 'An assessment of the viability of prescribed burning as a management tool under a changing climate: a Tasmanian case study', Research Forum 2017: Proceedings from the Research Forum at the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and AFAC Conference, 04-06 September 2017, Sydney, pp. 48-63. ISBN 9780994169693 (2017) [Refereed Conference Paper] Co-authors: Remenyi T; Love P; Phillips HE; Bindoff NL | |
| 2017 | Harris RMB, Remenyi T, Fox-Hughes P, Love PT, Bindoff NL, 'Exploring the future of fuel loads in Tasmania. Shifts in vegetation in response to changing fire weather, productivity, and fire frequency', Abstracts from the 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, 03-08 December 2017, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1097-1103. ISBN 9780987214362 (2017) [Refereed Conference Paper] Co-authors: Remenyi T; Love PT; Bindoff NL | |
| 2017 | Remenyi TA, Love PT, Harris RMB, Thatcher M, Rafter T, et al., 'High resolution regional climate model simulations available through the ACECRC Climate Futures team: what we have and how they can be used', Abstracts from the 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, 03-08 December 2017, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1222-1228. ISBN 9780987214362 (2017) [Refereed Conference Paper] Co-authors: Remenyi TA; Love PT; Bindoff NL | |
| 2012 | Bindoff NL, Lee G, Harris R, Grose MR, 'Downscaling climate projections for application to biodiversity research', AMOS 2012, 31 January - 3 February 2012, University of New South Wales, Sydney, pp. unknown. (2012) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] Co-authors: Bindoff NL; Lee G; Grose MR | |
| 2006 | Harris R, 'Latitude, temperature and insect body size - will the wingless grasshopper get bigger as the world gets hotter?', School of Geography and Environmental Studies Conference 2006: Full Program with Abstracts, October, Hobart, pp. 17-17. (2006) [Conference Extract] |
Contract Report, Consultant's Report
(6 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Love P, Remenyi T, Harris R, Bindoff N, 'Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Climate Change and Bushfire Research Initiative', Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Tasmania (2019) [Contract Report] Co-authors: Love P; Remenyi T; Bindoff N | |
| 2018 | Bindoff NL, Love P, Grose MR, Harris RMB, Remenyi TA, et al., 'Review of climate impact change work undertaken, research gaps and opportunities in the Tasmanian context', Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Australia (2018) [Contract Report] Co-authors: Bindoff NL; Love P; Grose MR; Remenyi TA; White CJ | |
| 2018 | Harris RMB, Remenyi T, Fox-Hughes P, Love P, Phillips HE, et al., 'An assessment of the viability of prescribed burning as a management tool under a changing climate. A Report for the National Bushfire Mitigation - Tasmanian Grants Program (NBMP)', Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Australia (2018) [Contract Report] Co-authors: Remenyi T; Fox-Hughes P; Love P; Phillips HE; Bindoff NL | |
| 2017 | Love P, Fox-Hughes P, Remenyi T, Harris R, Bindoff NL, 'Impact of Climate Change on Weather Related Fire Risk in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Climate Change and Bushfire Research Initiative', Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Australia (2017) [Contract Report] Co-authors: Love P; Fox-Hughes P; Remenyi T; Bindoff NL | |
| 2016 | Remenyi TA, Harris R, White CJ, Corney S, Jabour J, et al., 'Projecting Volunteer Resource Requirements Under Extreme Climate Futures Technical Report', Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, and the University of Tasmania, Australia (2016) [Consultants Report] Co-authors: Remenyi TA; White CJ; Corney S; Jabour J; Kelty S; Norris K; Denny L; Julian R; Bindoff N | |
| 2012 | Grose MR, Harris R, Lee G, 'Future climate projections for Tasmanian IBRA regions: A report to the Independent Verification Group for the Tasmanian Forest Agreement', Independent Verification Group for the Tasmanian Forest Agreement, Report 6 (2012) [Contract Report] Co-authors: Grose MR; Lee G |
Thesis
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Harris R, 'The thermal biology of the wingless grasshopper (Phaulacridium vittatum). A model to test potential climate change impacts on insects' (2012) [PhD] |
Other Public Output
(4 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Harris RMB, Remenyi T, Bindoff NL, 'The potential impacts of climate change on Victorian alpine resorts. A report for the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council', Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Tasmania (2016) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Remenyi T; Bindoff NL | |
| 2015 | Cowan T, Forrest S, Guo Y, Harris RM, Huang C, et al., 'Group 1: temperature and extreme weather events', Climate change challenges to health - Risks and opportunities. Recommendations from the 2014 Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, ACT, ISBN 978 0 85847 414, pp. 6-9. (2015) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Law T | |
| 2015 | Leith PB, Harris RMB, Bridle K, Kemmerer E, Baldwin A, et al., 'A means-to-an-end: a process guide for participatory spatial prioritisation in Australian natural resource management', Southern Slopes Climate Change Adaptation Research Partnership (SCARP), University of Tasmania, Hobart (2015) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Leith PB; Bridle K | |
| 2015 | Wallis P, Harwood A, Leith PB, Hamilton L, Bosomworth K, et al., 'Southern slopes information portal report: climate change adaptation information for natural resource planning and implementation', Southern Slopes Climate Change Adaptation Research Partnership (SCARP), Monash University, University of Tasmania, RMIT (2015) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Harwood A; Leith PB; Bridle K |
Grants & Funding
Bec has a strong track record of attracting funding and working with stakeholders to develop the tools necessary to adapt to climate change impacts.
Funding Summary
Number of grants
19
Total funding
$2,482,056
Projects
Using pre and post LIDAR to assess the severity of the 2019 Tasmanian Bushfires (2019)$88,105
- Description
- This project aims to use pre and post fire high resolution three-dimensional remote sensing data (LiDAR) to understand the geographic variation of the environmental impacts of bushfire in unlogged and logged forested landscapes in southern Tasmania and develop new tools for post fire fuel hazard score assessment.
- Funding
- Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC ($88,105)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC
- Research Team
- Bowman DMJS; Leonard S; Baker SC; Harris R; Jordan GJ; Lucieer A; Wardlaw TJ; Turner DJ; Williamson G; Turner PAM; Styger JK
- Year
- 2019
A characterisation of synoptic weather features often associated with extreme events in SE Australia and Tasmania. Stage 1 - Common features of recent events (2019 - 2020)$179,520
- Description
- The project will identify how often negatively tilted troughs occur, how often they are associated with extreme storms/fires/lightning, and whether this pattern is an amplifier of extreme events or a stand-alone phenomenon. This will provide important information of relevance to fire managers and emergency services managing extreme storm impacts, for government and the broader community.
- Funding
- CRC for Bushfire Research ($179,520)
- Scheme
- Grant-Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Harris R; Love PT; Remenyi TA; Bindoff NL; Fox-Hughes P
- Period
- 2019 - 2020
Governing Bushfire in Australia (2019)$6,275
- Description
- This project will map Australias legal, policy and institutional frameworks for bushfire governance and analyse whether existing scholarship supports the emergence of a new sub-discipline that could be described as bushfire law. This analysis is important because, if bushfire law can be identified as a separate body of law, then urgent work is needed to clarify the relevant institutional frameworks, the scope of decision-making authority and responsibilities, and appropriate principles to guide legal and policy implementation.
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($6,275)
- Scheme
- null
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- McCormack P; McDonald J; Bowman DMJS; Harris R
- Year
- 2019
Modelling coincident extreme weather events under Tasmania's future climate (2018 - 2019)$100,000
- Description
- This project has three objectives: To increase our understanding and awareness of the current likelihood and impact of the highest priority coincident extreme events in Tasmania. To better understand how the frequency and impact of coincident extreme events may change in the future. To inform state and local government, industries and communities so as to enable them to build their capacity to prepare for and respond to coincident extreme events.
- Funding
- Department of Premier and Cabinet ($100,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Remenyi TA; Love PT; Harris R
- Period
- 2018 - 2019
An assessment of the viability of prescribed burning as a management tool under a changing climate - Stage 2 (2018 - 2019)$136,533
- Description
- Recent research by the ACE CRC suggests there may be fewer opportunities for prescribed burning in the future as autumn and spring become warmer and drier. Changes to vegetation may also need to be considered when planning fuel management. In workshops associated with the research, Tasmanian fire managers identified several aspects that would enhance the research to help them make decisions about the timing of prescribed burning in the future. These are to:i)assess changes in plant productivity throughout the year, to indicate potential changes to fuel growth in the future;ii)further refine the vegetation model to incorporate fire intensity and improve the representation of fuel treatments;iii)model the future distributions of target species and vegetation communities (eg. Athrotaxis, alpine/subalpine communities) that may not persist under climate change;iv)assess combinations of extreme events that may occur simultaneously or successively to influence bushfire behaviour or amplify its severity in the autumn/spring periods.
- Funding
- Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management [TAS] ($136,533)
- Scheme
- Grant - Tasmanian Bushfire Mitigation Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Harris R; Remenyi TA; Love PT; Bindoff NL; White CJ; Williamson G; Bowman DMJS; Fox-Hughes P
- Period
- 2018 - 2019
High-Resolution Reanalysis for Tasmania project: Stage 3 (2018 - 2019)$50,000
- Description
- A reanalysis is a consistent reconstruction of the state of the atmosphere through time. This data allows users to compare weather parameters such as wind, rainfall or temperature (or derived quantities such as fire danger) through time and across the area of the reanalysis, and provides a complete description of the weather in the reanalysis domain. This project will generate a reanalysis dataset for Tasmania at 1.5 km grid spacing with hourly time steps for a 25-year period, producing a high-resolution meteorological and climatological data to inform emergency management and disaster risk activities in Tasmania. The Bureau of Meteorology has agreed to produce the reanalysis for Tasmania for ACE CRC, forming part of a wider project that will generate a nationwide Australian reanalysis product at a lower 12 km resolution. In the first phase of the project (Stage 1), the Bureau of Meteorology will provide a 5-year high-resolution NWP climatology for Tasmania at a spatial resolution of about 5 km and at an hourly time step. Both ACE CRC and the Bureau of Meteorology have declared their intention to provide the 25-year high-resolution reanalysis at 1.5 km resolution for Tasmania (Stage 2) if the Tasmania State Emergency Service provides the required additional funding in 2016.Project partners will evaluate the dataset, both at the broad scale and for specific sub-regions and time periods in considerable detail to ensure the quality of the data, with the resulting approximately 70 terabytes of data stored by TPAC. Partners will engage with stakeholders to highlight the implications of the results for emergency management in Tasmania. On completion, project and technical reports will be presented, and peer-review journal articles prepared.
- Funding
- Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management [TAS] ($50,000)
- Scheme
- Grant - Tasmanian Bushfire Mitigation Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- White CJ; Bindoff NL; Corney SP; Remenyi TA; Harris R; Fox-Hughes P; Jakob D; Steinle P
- Period
- 2018 - 2019
Review of Climate Science (2017)$48,000
- Description
- Review climate impact change work undertaken to date and identify research gaps and opportunities in the Tasmanian context. Develop options for program design and stakeholder engagement.
- Funding
- Department of Premier and Cabinet ($48,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Bindoff NL; Remenyi TA; Harris R; Love PT
- Year
- 2017
Climate Change and Bushfire Research Initiative (2017 - 2018)$100,000
- Description
- Development of high priority tools and research products to enable protection of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) from adverse impacts of wildfire.
- Funding
- Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($100,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-National Environmental Science Prgm (NESP)
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Remenyi TA; Bindoff NL; Harris R; Love PT; Fox-Hughes P
- Period
- 2017 - 2018
Analysis of the impact of climate change on weather-related fire risk factors in the TWWHA, TWWHA01/16 (2016)$95,000
- Description
- The provision of those services is required to improve the States understanding of how climate change will impact on bushfire risk in the Tasmanias Wilderness World Heritage Areas (TWWHA) and further, to improve the States knowledge base for management of bushfires and prescribed burning regimes under a changing climate.
- Funding
- Department of Premier and Cabinet ($95,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Remenyi TA; Bindoff NL; Harris R; Love PT; Fox-Hughes P
- Year
- 2016
Australia's wine future - adapting to short-term climate variability and long-term climate change. (2016 - 2019)$1,167,184
- Description
- The project will assess the impact of climate change on Australia's wine industry, and provide information to assist Australian grape growers adapt to a changing climate. The project will:I. provide high resolution climate information in an accessible and useful form to the wine regions of Australia;2. develop region-specific indices of "heat wave";3. develop variety-specific indices of heat accumulation (GDD);4. report the changes in these indices between current and future periods;5. report changes in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration between current and future periods;6. identify new varieties that could be planted in each region as the climate shifts, including varieties not currently grow1in Australia;7. estimate the temperature threshold at which returns from different varieties may diminish in different regions andidentify the point at which a transition to alternative varieties may be needed;8. identify regionally relevant adaptation options in addition to variety switching;9. identify the relationship between relevant climate variables and large scale climate drivers such as El Nifio-SouthernOscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation;10. report changes in the frequency and intensity of the large scale climate drivers under future climate change.
- Funding
- Wine Australia ($1,064,821)
- Scheme
- Grant-R&D Projects
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Harris R; Hayman P; Remenyi TA; Kerslake FL; O'Kane TJ; Katzfey J; Thomas D; Petrie P; Sadras V; Krstic M; Bindoff NL; Close DC; White CJ; Corney SP
- Period
- 2016 - 2019
High-Resolution Reanalysis for Tasmania Project: Stage 2 (2016 - 2017)$74,889
- Description
- A reanalysis is a consistent reconstruction of the state of the atmosphere through time. This data allows users to compare weather parameters such as wind, rainfall or temperature (or derived quantities such as fire danger) through time and across the area of the reanalysis, and provides a complete description of the weather in the reanalysis domain. This project will generate a reanalysis dataset for Tasmania at 1.5 km grid spacing with hourly time steps for a 25-year period, producing a high-resolution meteorological and climatological data to inform emergency management and disaster risk activities in Tasmania. The Bureau of Meteorology has agreed to produce the reanalysis for Tasmania for ACE CRC, forming part of a wider project that will generate a nationwide Australian reanalysis product at a lower 12 km resolution. In the first phase of the project (Stage 1), the Bureau of Meteorology will provide a 5-year high-resolution NWP climatology for Tasmania at a spatial resolution of about 5 km and at an hourly time step. Both ACE CRC and the Bureau of Meteorology will then provide the 25-year high-resolution reanalysis at 1.5 km resolution for Tasmania (Stages 2 and 3) if the Tasmania State Emergency Service provides the required additional funding in 2016 and again in 2017.Project partners will evaluate the dataset, both at the broad scale and for specific sub-regions and time periods in considerable detail to ensure the quality of the data, with the resulting approximately 70 terabytes of data stored by TPAC. Partners will engage with stakeholders to highlight the implications of the results for emergency management in Tasmania. On completion, project and technical reports will be presented, and peer-review journal articles prepared.
- Funding
- Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management [TAS] ($74,889)
- Scheme
- Grant - Tasmanian Bushfire Mitigation Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- White CJ; Bindoff NL; Corney SP; Remenyi TA; Harris R; Fox-Hughes P; Jakob D; Steinle P
- Period
- 2016 - 2017
Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Victorian Alpine Resorts - Stage 1: Impact of Investing in Snow Making (2015)$15,860
- Description
- 1.A literature review of Australian and international research into the economic viability of snow-making under climate change;2.An overview of the changes projected to occur in mean temperature, precipitation and snow over the Australian Alps region, based on the new projections;3.Updating the model developed, as a part of the Landscapes and Policy Hub, by Dr Lee and Prof Tisdell, to include new 2013 and 2014 data;4.Report on the major findings of Dr Lee and Prof Tisdells work analysing the impact of snow making on visitation patterns on a yearly basis;5.Provision of the updated model as an R script (for use by the ARCC); and6.Extraction of sub-daily data for variables used in calculating snow making conditions (Stage 2).
- Funding
- Alpine Resort Co-ordinating Council ($15,860)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Harris R; Remenyi TA; Bindoff NL
- Year
- 2015
Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Victorian Alpine Resorts - Stage 1b & Stage 2 Overview of Widespread Impacts of Climate Change on Individual Alpine Resorts at Finer Temporal Scales (2015)$35,690
- Description
- An assessment of the economic viability and impact of investing in snow making in the Victorian alpine resorts in the context of the potential impacts of climate change.
- Funding
- Alpine Resort Co-ordinating Council ($35,690)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Harris R; Remenyi TA; Bindoff NL
- Year
- 2015
Updating Hobart City Council draft Climate Change Guidelines (2015)$2,000
- Description
- The project will calculate climate variables at suitable intervals to provide more detailed information to be used for decision making across Hobart City Council, and provide a background report considering the Climate Futures for Tasmania projections in the context of recently released projections from the new CMIPS archive.
- Funding
- Hobart City Council ($2,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Harris R; Remenyi TA
- Year
- 2015
An assessment of the viability of prescribed burning as a management tool under a changing climate (2015 - 2016)$130,000
- Description
- The project will investigate three aspects that could affect the viability of prescribed burning under climate change.1. Changes in the seasonality of factors that determine when prescribed burning can be applied;2. Changes in the frequency and seasonality of daily weather patterns related to prescribed burning;3. Changes to broad vegetation types caused by the interaction between climate change and frequency of burning (natural or prescribed).
- Funding
- Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management [TAS] ($130,000)
- Scheme
- Grant - Tasmanian Bushfire Mitigation Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Harris R; Remenyi TA; Bindoff NL; White CJ
- Period
- 2015 - 2016
Projecting Volunteer Resource Requirements Under Extreme Climate Futures (2015)$86,800
- Description
- This project will consider the impacts of a changing climate on emergency service volunteer resources in Tasmania.
- Funding
- Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management [TAS] ($86,800)
- Scheme
- Grant-Emergency Volunteer Fund
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Remenyi TA; Harris R; White CJ; Corney SP; Bindoff NL; Kelty SF; Denny LJ; Julian RD; Norris K; Jabour JA
- Year
- 2015
High-Resolution Reanalysis for Tasmania Project: Stage 1 (2015 - 2016)$160,000
- Description
- A reanalysis is a consistent reconstruction of the state of the atmosphere through time. This allows users to compare weatherparameters such as wind, rainfall or temperature (or derived quantities such as fire danger) through time and across the area of the reanalysis, and provides a complete description of the weather in the reanalysis domain. The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI), Victoria, commissioned the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Nevada, to create a reanalysis for Victoria, with a resolution of 4 km and 1 hour. A Tasmanian project would leverage off the experience, and some of the background data, of the Victorian reanalysis. The project will generate a reanalysis dataset for Tasmania at 3 km grid spacingwith 1 hour time steps for 1980-2014. Project partners will evaluate the dataset, both at the broad scale and for specific sub regions and time periods in considerable detail to ensure the quality of the data, with the resulting approximately 70 terabytes of data stored by TPAC. A user interface will be constructed for data access, and partners will engage with stakeholders to highlight the implications of the results for emergency management in Tasmania. On completion, project and technical reports will be presented, and peer-review journal articles prepared.
- Funding
- Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management [TAS] ($160,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-NDRGP
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- White CJ; Bindoff NL; Corney SP; Remenyi TA; Harris R; Fox-Hughes P; Jakob D; Steinle P
- Period
- 2015 - 2016
Impacts of Climate Change on the Body Size of the Wingless Grasshopper (2008)$5,000
- Funding
- Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment ($5,000)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- McQuillan PB; Harris R
- Year
- 2008
Insect Body Size: the Importance of Temperature and the Potential Influence of Climate Change (2007)$1,200
- Funding
- Australian Museum ($1,200)
- Scheme
- Grant-Postgraduate Award
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- McQuillan PB; Harris R
- Year
- 2007
Research Supervision
Current
4
Current
| Degree | Title | Commenced |
|---|---|---|
| Masters | An Analysis of Existing and Experimental Weather Based Ratings, Indicators and Metrics in Reference to Fire Potentiality and Behaviour in Australia | 2019 |
| PhD | Estimating Uncertainty in Agricultural Model Scaling (EUAgMS) | 2019 |
| PhD | Understanding the Socioecological Drivers of Public Perceptions of Species Non-Nativeness in the Context of Novel Urban Ecosystem Services and Disservices | 2019 |
| PhD | Recognition of Rugged Terrains Causing Atypical Fire | 2019 |