Profiles
Sue Baker
Sue Baker
Research Fellow
Room 375a , Life Sciences Building
0478 222 697 (phone)
Dr Sue Baker is a Research Fellow in forest ecology and conservation biology. She studies a wide variety of biodiversity groups and ecosystem processes and supervises several research students. Her research aims to improve conservation of forest biodiversity through developing better logging practices and reserve networks. Sue’s time working for the forest industry provides important practical background, enabling her to work very closely with forest management agencies in Australia and internationally to translate research findings into management outcomes. Sue is a globally recognised expert in retention forestry practices. She also participates in marine research as a volunteer diver with Reef Life Survey Foundation.
Biography
After completing her BSc (Hons) and PhD studying responses of beetles to forest management practices, Sue worked for Forestry Tasmania for five years developing and researching variable retention as an alternative to clearfelling. Her work demonstrated benefits to plants and animals of this new logging system, which is now adopted in Tasmanian high conservation value forests.
In 2010, Sue was awarded a forest industry scholarship to spend a year in the International Fellowship Program at the World Forest Institute in Portland, USA where she conducted the project ‘Seeking a balance between forestry and biodiversity – the role of variable retention silviculture. Insights from western USA and Canada’.
On her return to Australia, Sue received an ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry) for an ARC-Linkage project ‘Managing variable retention harvesting to maintain forest biodiversity – effect of forest influence and successional stage on recolonisation’. During this time she was awarded the Fulbright Australia post-doctoral scholarship to conduct plant and beetle surveys in USA. Sue’s current position is Research Fellow on the project ‘A new integrated approach for ecologically sustainable forest management’. This ARC-Linkage grant partners with Forestry Tasmania and VicForests.
Sue’s love of adventure and conservation volunteering has included conducting seabird surveys in Antarctica and Macquarie Island, and dive survey expeditions to awesome places like Galapagos Is., Okinawa (Japan), Rose Atoll (American Samoa), Raja Ampat (West Papua) and Arnhem Land (Australia).
Recent Activity - Expedition Class Tree House Challenge
Sue participated in a primary schools forest education project, the Expedition Class Tree House Challenge. This video was produced by Daisy Pyefinch from Lenah Valley Primary School.
LVPS Treehouse Challenge (made by Daisy) from David Pyefinch on Vimeo.
Career summary
Qualifications
Degree | Thesis title | University | Country | Date of award | |
PhD | Edge and riparian effects on forest litter beetles in relation to reserve design | University of Tasmania | Australia | 2006 | |
BSc (1st Class Hons) | Forest litter beetles and their habitat: A comparison of forest regenerated by wildfire and logging practices | University of Tasmania | Australia | 2000 | |
BFSc | University of Melbourne | Australia | 1993 |
Languages (other than English)
Spanish (TAFE Certificate Level III)
Memberships
Professional practice
- Ecological Society of Australia
- Ecological Society of America
- Institute of Foresters of Australia
- Society for Conservation Biology
- Australian Entomological Society
- Reef Life Survey Foundation
- Fulbright Alumni Association
Administrative expertise
Sue’s role as Research Fellow on two ARC Linkage grants has involved managing large projects with multiple staff and students.
Teaching
Field methods in biology, invertebrate ecology, community ecology
Teaching expertise
Sue has experience giving lectures and running practicals for undergraduate students at UTAS. She loves to enthuse students about field-based invertebrate collection and laboratory identification. She also enjoys working with school groups. Sue attended the International Educators Institute in USA in 2010 (a week-long study tour for teachers and natural resources professionals).
Research Appointments
Editorial advisory board member for Forest Ecology and Management
Research Invitations
- 2016: Invitation by the World Forestry Centre and the Society for American Foresters as an expert panellist in ‘The Hagenstein Lectures – Emerging Voices in Forestry’
- 2013: Expert witness to Tasmanian Legislative Council Select Committee on the Tasmanian Forest Agreement Bill 2012
- 2012: Fulbright post-doctoral scholar with University of Washington and WA Department of Natural Resources
- 2011: Invited workshop participant ‘Global overview of tree retention as a biodiversity conservation tool’, Krusenberg, Sweden
- 2010: Visiting Scholar, Michigan Technological University, Houghton USA
- 2010: Courtesy Faculty appointment, Oregon State University, USA
- 2004: Junior Visiting Fellow, School of Natural Resources, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
- 2002: Visiting Research Associate, Canterbury Museum, New Zealand
View more on Dr Sue Baker in WARP
Expertise
- Forest management practices for both native and plantation forestry
- Impacts of forestry on biodiversity
- Reservation approaches to maintain biodiversity in managed landscapes
- Interactions between biological communities and site variables
- Fire ecology
- Landscape ecology
- Forest fragmentation, edge effects and forest influence
- Field methods in forest ecology
- Invertebrate collection, identification and curation
- Statistical methods in ecology
- Science communication and engagement with forest industry and general public
- Adaptive management
- Long-term research at the Warra TERN SuperSite
Research Themes
Sue’s research is closely aligned to the University’s research theme ‘Environment, Resources and Sustainability’. She is interested in understanding the spatial (from local to global) and temporal impacts of harvesting systems and conservation measures on plant and animal habitats and populations. By studying the impact of various commercial logging practices on key indicator groups, results can be synthesized into recommendations for management practices necessary for effective conservation. Sue works collaboratively with scientists and industry professionals to develop policies, practices and monitoring systems that can achieve these objectives in a practical way. Her research has resulted in ~50 journal articles including two in Nature.
Forestry impacts on ground-active beetles and other biodiversity
Sue’s honours and PhD research focused on the extremely diverse communities of beetles that inhabit the forest floor. She showed that ground-active beetles are highly sensitive to forest management and environmental gradients such as edge and riparian effects. Her edge effects research is used to inform reserve designs in forestry areas. Sue continues to research beetles, but has expanded her scope to other biodiversity groups to build a more unified view of management impacts on biodiversity.
Variable retention as an alternative to clearfelling
Sue is an internationally recognised expert on variable retention silviculture and has participated in several international collaborations including leading a global field study of biological responses to this harvesting approach. She previously worked for Forestry Tasmania as a conservation biologist and developed and researched variable retention as an alternative to clearfelling in wet eucalypt forests. The ‘aggregated retention’ logging system went from concept to operational practice around Tasmania and Sue’s research has shown that outcomes for biodiversity are better than with traditional clearfelling. She received World Forest Institute and Fulbright Postdoctoral fellowships to study variable retention in North America in 2010 and 2012.
Forest influence - edge effects into harvested areas
Sue co-ordinated an ARC-Linkage grant investigating the ecological basis for a management ‘forest influence’ target aiming to facilitate biodiversity re-establishment following harvesting. A team of students and researchers surveyed birds, beetles, plants, bryophytes, microclimate and habitat variables along transects into regenerating clearfells; also documenting how communities changed with forest succession. Proximity to unlogged mature forest was found to facilitate recovery of nearby harvested areas, but different spatial and temporal scales of recovery were evident for the taxa surveyed.
Cost-effective monitoring approaches for forest biodiversity
Sue is currently co-ordinating an ARC-Linkage grant that is investigating cost-efficient approaches to monitor forest biodiversity: metabarcoding for beetles, automated call recognition for birds from acoustic recorders, and remote sensing for plants.
Collaboration
Sue’s current ARC-Linkage project involves close collaboration with Forestry Tasmania, VicForests and the US Forest Service. She has collaborated with researchers and forest management agencies across Australia, Scandinavia, USA, Canada and Argentina
(e.g. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/62/7/633/243304/Retention-Forestry-to-Maintain-Multifunctional). Sue led a research collaboration to investigate biological responses to retention forestry in Australia, Sweden, Minnesota and Washington State USA
(http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eap.1406/abstract). Lena Gustafsson, Jerry Franklin, Tom Spies, Charlie Halpern and Bill Beese have been influential collaborators and mentors.
Awards
- 2012: Fulbright Australia Post-doctoral Fellowship to conduct research with the University of Washington Seattle and the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
- 2012: UTAS Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology Research Excellence Award. Awarded to the Plant Evolutionary Biology Research Group.
- 2010: ARC Post-doctoral Fellowship – Industry.
- 2010: Gottstein Trust/FWPA/WFI World Forest Institute Fellowship, Portland USA.
- 2003: Phil Carne Prize Highly Commended Paper for “No long-term differences in litter invertebrates after logging and wildfire in wet eucalypt forest.”
Current projects
A new integrated approach for ecologically sustainable forest management
This ARC-Linkage grant with Forestry Tasmania and VicForests is in progress, with four PhD students and several honours students. The project will develop new, more efficient ways to measure forest biodiversity (machine learning recognisers for bird calls from acoustic recorders, metabarcoding for beetles and remote sensing for plants). Collaboration with experts in decision science at Melbourne University will create new models that will allow forest managers to decide where and when to harvest or reserve forests.
Fields of Research
- Forestry management and environment (300707)
- Conservation and biodiversity (410401)
- Terrestrial ecology (310308)
- Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) (310305)
- Forest health and pathology (300704)
- Invertebrate biology (310913)
- Natural resource management (410406)
- Behavioural ecology (310301)
- Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) (310302)
- Environmental management (410404)
- Genetics (310599)
- Evolutionary biology (310499)
- Freshwater ecology (310304)
- Biogeography and phylogeography (310402)
- Photogrammetry and remote sensing (401304)
- Ecological physiology (310303)
- Animal behaviour (310901)
- Forestry fire management (300706)
- Physical geography and environmental geoscience (370999)
- Landscape ecology (410206)
- Environment policy (440704)
- Health services and systems (420399)
Research Objectives
- Native forests (260204)
- Terrestrial biodiversity (180606)
- Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences (280111)
- Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems (180301)
- Harvesting and transport of forest products (260202)
- Hardwood plantations (260201)
- Other environmental management (189999)
- Evaluation, allocation, and impacts of land use (180603)
- Rehabilitation or conservation of terrestrial environments (180604)
- Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments (180404)
- Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems (180601)
- Marine biodiversity (180504)
- Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences (280102)
- Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences (280105)
- Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems (180501)
- Public health (excl. specific population health) (200499)
- Government and politics (230299)
- Soils (180605)
Publications
Dr Sue Baker has numerous publications on various aspects of ecologically sustainable forest management. She has also published in the fields of forest pest management, Antarctic science and global marine conservation. She focuses on publishing in top-quartile journals, including Nature, Biological Conservation, Ecological Applications, BioScience, Forest Ecology and Management, and Conservation Letters. A recent major contribution was a cross-continental study of retention forestry and biodiversity (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eap.1406/abstract).
Sue is a member of the editorial advisory board for Forest Ecology and Management and regularly reviews papers for various academic journals and book chapters. She has reviewed ARC funding proposals in the Discovery, DECRA, Future Fellowship and Linkage programs.
Total publications
66
Highlighted publications
(11 outputs)| Year | Type | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Journal Article | Baker SC, Halpern CB, Wardlaw TJ, Kern C, Edgar GJ, et al., 'A cross-continental comparison of plant and beetle responses to retention of forest patches during timber harvest', Ecological Applications, 26, (8) pp. 2493-2504. ISSN 1051-0761 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/eap.1406 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 19Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Wardlaw TJ; Edgar GJ; Thomson RJ | |
| 2014 | Journal Article | Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith RD, Willis TJ, Kininmonth SJ, Baker SC, et al., 'Global conservation outcomes depend on marine protected areas with five key features', Nature, 506, (7487) pp. 216-220. ISSN 0028-0836 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/nature13022 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 783Web of Science - 750 Co-authors: Edgar GJ; Stuart-Smith RD; Kininmonth SJ; Barrett NS; Berkhout J; Buxton CD; Cooper AT; Davey M; Soler G; Thomson RJ | |
| 2014 | Journal Article | Fedrowitz K, Koricheva J, Baker SC, Lindenmayer DB, Palik B, et al., 'Can retention forestry help conserve biodiversity? A meta-analysis', Journal of Applied Ecology, 51, (6) pp. 1669-1679. ISSN 0021-8901 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12289 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 199Web of Science - 181 | |
| 2013 | Journal Article | Baker SC, Spies TA, Wardlaw TJ, Balmer J, Franklin JF, et al., 'The harvested side of edges: Effect of retained forests on the re-establishment of biodiversity in adjacent harvested areas', Forest Ecology and Management, 302 pp. 107-121. ISSN 0378-1127 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.03.024 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 76Web of Science - 75 Co-authors: Balmer J; Jordan GJ | |
| 2013 | Journal Article | Stuart-Smith RD, Bates AE, Lefcheck JS, Duffy JE, Baker SC, et al., 'Integrating abundance and functional traits reveals new global hotspots of fish diversity', Nature, 501 pp. 539-542. ISSN 0028-0836 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/nature12529 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 258Web of Science - 247 Co-authors: Stuart-Smith RD; Bates AE; Thomson RJ; Stuart-Smith JF; Hill NA; Soler GA; Edgar GJ | |
| 2012 | Journal Article | Gustafsson L, Baker SC, Bauhus J, Beese WJ, Brodie A, et al., 'Retention forestry to maintain multifunctional forests: a world perspective', Bioscience, 62, (7) pp. 633 - 645. ISSN 0006-3568 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1525/bio.2012.62.7.6 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 459Web of Science - 428 Co-authors: Neyland M | |
| 2012 | Journal Article | Lindenmayer DB, Franklin JF, Lohmus A, Baker SC, Bauhus J, et al., 'A major shift to the retention approach for forestry can help resolve some global forest sustainability issues', Conservation Letters, 5, (6) pp. 421-431. ISSN 1755-263X (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00257.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 239Web of Science - 220 Co-authors: Neyland M | |
| 2011 | Journal Article | Baker SC, Read SM, 'Variable retention silviculture in Tasmania's wet forests: ecological rationale, adaptive management and synthesis of biodiversity benefits', Australian Forestry, 74, (3) pp. 218-232. ISSN 0004-9158 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/00049158.2011.10676365 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 59Web of Science - 59 | |
| 2009 | Journal Article | Baker SC, Grove SJ, Forster L, Bonham KJ, Bashford D, 'Short-term responses of ground-active beetles to alternative silvicultural systems in the Warra Silvicultural Systems Trial, Tasmania, Australia', Forest Ecology and Management, 258, (4) pp. 444-459. ISSN 0378-1127 (2009) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2009.03.044 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 30Web of Science - 24 | |
| 2007 | Journal Article | Baker SC, Barmuta LA, McQuillan PB, Richardson AMM, 'Estimating edge effects on ground dwelling beetles at clearfelled non-riparian stand edges in Tasmanian wet eucalypt forest', Forest Ecology and Management, 239, (1-3) pp. 92-101. ISSN 0378-1127 (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.11.012 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 22Web of Science - 23 Co-authors: Barmuta LA; McQuillan PB; Richardson AMM | |
| 2004 | Journal Article | Baker SC, Richardson AMM, Seeman OD, Barmuta LA, 'Does clearfell, burn and sow silviculture mimic the effect of wildfire? A field study and review using litter beetles', Forest Ecology and Management, 199, (2-3) pp. 433-448. ISSN 0378-1127 (2004) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2004.05.047 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 40Web of Science - 35 Co-authors: Richardson AMM; Seeman OD; Barmuta LA |
Journal Article
(57 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Edgar GJ, Cooper A, Baker SC, Barker W, Barrett NS, et al., 'Reef Life Survey: establishing the ecological basis for conservation of shallow marine life', Biological Conservation, 252 Article 108855. ISSN 0006-3207 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108855 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Edgar GJ; Cooper A; Barrett NS; Clausius E; Ling SD; Oh E; Shields J; Soler GA; Stuart-Smith J; Stuart-Smith RD | |
| 2020 | Liu MX, Clarke LJ, Baker SC, Jordan GJ, Burridge CP, 'A practical guide to DNA metabarcoding for entomological ecologists', Ecological Entomology, 45, (3) pp. 373-385. ISSN 0307-6946 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/een.12831 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Liu MX; Clarke LJ; Jordan GJ; Burridge CP | |
| 2019 | Baker SC, Kasel S, van Galen LG, Jordan GJ, Nitschke CR, et al., 'Identifying regrowth forests with advanced mature forest values', Forest Ecology and Management, 433 pp. 73-84. ISSN 0378-1127 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.10.048 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 3 Co-authors: van Galen LG; Jordan GJ | |
| 2019 | Scott RE, Neyland MG, Baker SC, 'Variable retention in Tasmania, Australia: trends over 16 years of monitoring and adaptive management', Ecological Processes, 8 Article 23. ISSN 2192-1709 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/s13717-019-0174-8 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 7 Co-authors: Neyland MG | |
| 2019 | Van Galen LG, Jordan GJ, Baker SC, 'Relationships between coarse woody debris habitat quality and forest maturity attributes', Conservation Science and Practice, 1, (8) Article e55. ISSN 2578-4854 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/csp2.55 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Van Galen LG; Jordan GJ | |
| 2018 | Hingston AB, Wardlaw TJ, Baker SC, Jordan GJ, 'Data obtained from acoustic recording units and from field observer point counts of Tasmanian forest birds are similar but not the same', Australian Field Ornithology, 35 pp. 30-39. ISSN 1448-0107 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.20938/afo35030039 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3 Co-authors: Hingston AB; Wardlaw TJ; Jordan GJ | |
| 2018 | van Galen LG, Jordan GJ, Musk RA, Beeton NJ, Wardlaw TJ, et al., 'Quantifying floristic and structural forest maturity: an attribute-based method for wet eucalypt forests', Journal of Applied Ecology, 55, (4) pp. 1668-1681. ISSN 0021-8901 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13133 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: van Galen LG; Jordan GJ; Beeton NJ; Wardlaw TJ | |
| 2017 | Baker SC, Grove SJ, Wardlaw TJ, McElwee DJ, Neyland MG, et al., 'Monitoring the implementation of variable retention silviculture in wet eucalypt forest: A key element of successful adaptive management', Forest Ecology and Management, 394 pp. 27-41. ISSN 0378-1127 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.03.013 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: Grove SJ; Wardlaw TJ; Neyland MG | |
| 2017 | Baker TP, Jordan GJ, Fountain-Jones NM, Balmer J, Dalton PJ, et al., 'Distance, environmental and substrate factors impacting recovery of bryophyte communities after harvesting', Applied Vegetation Science, 21, (1) pp. 64-75. ISSN 1402-2001 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/avsc.12343 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Baker TP; Jordan GJ; Fountain-Jones NM; Balmer J; Dalton PJ | |
| 2017 | Curzon MT, Baker SC, Kern CC, Palik BJ, D'Amato AW, 'Influence of mature overstory trees on adjacent 12-year regeneration and the woody understory: aggregated retention versus intact forest', Forests, 8, (2) Article 31. ISSN 1999-4907 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3390/f8020031 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 7 | |
| 2017 | Elek JA, Baker SC, 'Timing and frequency are the critical factors affecting the impact of defoliation on long term growth of plantation eucalypts', Forest Ecology and Management, 391 pp. 1-8. ISSN 0378-1127 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.02.004 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 8 | |
| 2017 | Fountain-Jones NM, Jordan GJ, Burridge CP, Wardlaw TJ, Baker TP, et al., 'Trophic position determines functional and phylogenetic recovery after disturbance within a community', Functional Ecology, 31, (7) pp. 1441-1451. ISSN 0269-8463 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12845 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 8 Co-authors: Fountain-Jones NM; Jordan GJ; Burridge CP; Wardlaw TJ; Baker TP; Forster L; Petersfield M | |
| 2017 | Stuart-Smith RD, Edgar GJ, Barrett NS, Bates AE, Baker SC, et al., 'Assessing national biodiversity trends for rocky and coral reefs through the integration of citizen science and scientific monitoring programs', Bioscience, 67, (2) pp. 134-146. ISSN 0006-3568 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw180 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 31Web of Science - 30 Co-authors: Stuart-Smith RD; Edgar GJ; Barrett NS; Bax NJ; Berkhout J; Blanchard JL; Cooper AT; Day PB; Kininmonth S; Ling SD; Strain E | |
| 2017 | Wood SW, Wardlaw TJ, Pryde EC, Baker SC, 'Landscape structure and mature forest biodiversity in wet eucalypt forests: a spatial analysis of timber production areas in South-Eastern Australia', Forests, 8, (3) Article 89. ISSN 1999-4907 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3390/f8030089 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 6 Co-authors: Wood SW; Wardlaw TJ | |
| 2016 | Baker SC, Halpern CB, Wardlaw TJ, Kern C, Edgar GJ, et al., 'A cross-continental comparison of plant and beetle responses to retention of forest patches during timber harvest', Ecological Applications, 26, (8) pp. 2493-2504. ISSN 1051-0761 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/eap.1406 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 19Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Wardlaw TJ; Edgar GJ; Thomson RJ | |
| 2016 | Baker TP, Baker SC, Dalton PJ, Fountain-Jones NM, Jordan GJ, 'Temporal persistence of edge effects on bryophytes within harvested forests', Forest Ecology and Management, 375 pp. 223-229. ISSN 0378-1127 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.05.044 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 8 Co-authors: Baker TP; Dalton PJ; Fountain-Jones NM; Jordan GJ | |
| 2016 | Baker TP, Jordan GJ, Baker SC, 'Microclimatic edge effects in a recently harvested forest: do remnant forest patches create the same impact as large forest areas?', Forest Ecology and Management, 365 pp. 128-136. ISSN 0378-1127 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.01.022 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 24Web of Science - 23 Co-authors: Baker TP; Jordan GJ | |
| 2016 | van Galen LG, Baker SC, Dalton PJ, Jordan GJ, 'The effectiveness of streamside versus upslope reserves in conserving log-associated bryophytes of native production forests', Forest Ecology and Management, 373 pp. 66-73. ISSN 0378-1127 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.04.030 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 3 Co-authors: van Galen LG; Dalton PJ; Jordan GJ | |
| 2015 | Baker SC, Halpern CB, Wardlaw TJ, Crawford RL, Bigley RE, et al., 'Short- and long-term benefits for forest biodiversity of retaining unlogged patches in harvested areas', Forest Ecology and Management, 353 pp. 187-195. ISSN 0378-1127 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2015.05.021 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 34Web of Science - 34 Co-authors: Wardlaw TJ; Edgar GJ; Jordan GJ; Karpievitch YV; Thompson RJ | |
| 2015 | Fountain-Jones NM, Baker SC, Jordan GJ, 'Moving beyond the guild concept: developing a practical functional trait framework for terrestrial beetles', Ecological Entomology, 40, (1) pp. 1-13. ISSN 0307-6946 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/een.12158 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 43Web of Science - 41 Co-authors: Fountain-Jones NM; Jordan GJ | |
| 2015 | Fountain-Jones NM, Jordan GJ, Baker TP, Balmer JM, Wardlaw T, et al., 'Living near the edge: being close to mature forest increases the rate of succession in beetle communities', Ecological Applications, 25, (3) pp. 800-811. ISSN 1051-0761 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1890/14-0334.1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 20Web of Science - 23 Co-authors: Fountain-Jones NM; Jordan GJ; Baker TP; Balmer JM | |
| 2015 | Puettmann KJ, Wilson SMcG, Baker SC, Donoso PJ, Drossler L, et al., 'Silvicultural alternatives to conventional even-aged forest management - what limits global adoption?', Forest Ecosystems, 2, (8) pp. 1-16. ISSN 2095-6355 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/s40663-015-0031-x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 130Web of Science - 124 | |
| 2015 | Stuart-Smith RD, Bates AE, Lefcheck JS, Duffy JE, Baker SC, et al., 'The potential of trait-based approaches to contribute to marine conservation', Marine Policy, 51 pp. 148-150. ISSN 0308-597X (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2014.07.002 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Stuart-Smith RD; Thomson RJ; Stuart-Smith JF; Hill NA; Soler G; Strain EMA; Edgar GJ | |
| 2014 | Baker TP, Jordan GJ, Dalton PJ, Baker SC, 'Impact of distance to mature forest on the recolonisation of bryophytes in a regenerating Tasmanian wet eucalypt forest', Australian Journal of Botany, 61, (8) pp. 633-642. ISSN 0067-1924 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1071/BT13250 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 15 Co-authors: Baker TP; Jordan GJ; Dalton PJ | |
| 2014 | Baker TP, Jordan GJ, Steel EA, Fountain-Jones NM, Wardlaw TJ, et al., 'Microclimate through space and time: microclimatic variation at the edge of regeneration forests over daily, yearly and decadal time scales', Forest Ecology and Management, 334 pp. 174-184. ISSN 0378-1127 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.09.008 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 39Web of Science - 40 Co-authors: Baker TP; Jordan GJ; Fountain-Jones NM | |
| 2014 | Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith RD, Willis TJ, Kininmonth SJ, Baker SC, et al., 'Global conservation outcomes depend on marine protected areas with five key features', Nature, 506, (7487) pp. 216-220. ISSN 0028-0836 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/nature13022 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 783Web of Science - 750 Co-authors: Edgar GJ; Stuart-Smith RD; Kininmonth SJ; Barrett NS; Berkhout J; Buxton CD; Cooper AT; Davey M; Soler G; Thomson RJ | |
| 2014 | Fedrowitz K, Koricheva J, Baker SC, Lindenmayer DB, Palik B, et al., 'Can retention forestry help conserve biodiversity? A meta-analysis', Journal of Applied Ecology, 51, (6) pp. 1669-1679. ISSN 0021-8901 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12289 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 199Web of Science - 181 | |
| 2014 | Hingston AB, Jordan GJ, Wardlaw TJ, Baker SC, 'Bird assemblages in Tasmanian clearcuts are influenced by the age of eucalypt regeneration but not by distance from mature forest', Global Ecology and Conservation, 2 pp. 138-147. ISSN 2351-9894 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2014.09.003 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 8 Co-authors: Hingston AB; Jordan GJ | |
| 2013 | Baker S, 'Variable retention silviculture and landscape-scale management field day', Forest Practices News, 11, (4) pp. 10-11. ISSN 1441-1288 (2013) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2013 | Baker SC, Garandel M, Deltombe M, Neyland MG, 'Factors influencing initial vascular plant seedling composition following either aggregated retention harvesting and regeneration burning or burning of unharvested forest', Forest Ecology and Management, 306 pp. 192-201. ISSN 0378-1127 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.06.027 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 6 Co-authors: Neyland MG | |
| 2013 | Baker SC, Spies TA, Wardlaw TJ, Balmer J, Franklin JF, et al., 'The harvested side of edges: Effect of retained forests on the re-establishment of biodiversity in adjacent harvested areas', Forest Ecology and Management, 302 pp. 107-121. ISSN 0378-1127 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.03.024 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 76Web of Science - 75 Co-authors: Balmer J; Jordan GJ | |
| 2013 | Stuart-Smith RD, Bates AE, Lefcheck JS, Duffy JE, Baker SC, et al., 'Integrating abundance and functional traits reveals new global hotspots of fish diversity', Nature, 501 pp. 539-542. ISSN 0028-0836 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/nature12529 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 258Web of Science - 247 Co-authors: Stuart-Smith RD; Bates AE; Thomson RJ; Stuart-Smith JF; Hill NA; Soler GA; Edgar GJ | |
| 2012 | Gustafsson L, Baker SC, Bauhus J, Beese WJ, Brodie A, et al., 'Retention forestry to maintain multifunctional forests: a world perspective', Bioscience, 62, (7) pp. 633 - 645. ISSN 0006-3568 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1525/bio.2012.62.7.6 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 459Web of Science - 428 Co-authors: Neyland M | |
| 2012 | Hindrum L, Hovenden MJ, Neyland MG, Baker SC, 'The effects of mechanical disturbance and burn intensity on the floristic composition of two-year old aggregated retention coupes in Tasmanian wet eucalypt forests', Forest Ecology and Management, 279 pp. 55-65. ISSN 0378-1127 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2012.05.003 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Hindrum L; Hovenden MJ; Neyland MG | |
| 2012 | Lindenmayer DB, Franklin JF, Lohmus A, Baker SC, Bauhus J, et al., 'A major shift to the retention approach for forestry can help resolve some global forest sustainability issues', Conservation Letters, 5, (6) pp. 421-431. ISSN 1755-263X (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00257.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 239Web of Science - 220 Co-authors: Neyland M | |
| 2012 | Scott RE, Neyland MG, McElwee DJ, Baker SC, 'Burning outcomes following aggregated retention harvesting in old-growth wet eucalypt forests', Forest Ecology and Management, 276 pp. 165-173. ISSN 0378-1127 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2012.03.026 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Scott RE; Neyland MG | |
| 2012 | Stephens HC, Baker SC, Potts BM, Munks SA, Stephens D, et al., 'Short-term responses of native rodents to aggregated retention in old growth wet Eucalyptus forests', Forest Ecology and Management, 267 pp. 18-27. ISSN 0378-1127 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2011.11.037 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 7 Co-authors: Stephens HC; Potts BM; Munks SA; O'Reilly-Wapstra JM | |
| 2011 | Baker SC, Read SM, 'Variable retention silviculture in Tasmania's wet forests: ecological rationale, adaptive management and synthesis of biodiversity benefits', Australian Forestry, 74, (3) pp. 218-232. ISSN 0004-9158 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/00049158.2011.10676365 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 59Web of Science - 59 | |
| 2011 | Koch AJ, Baker SC, 'Using aerial photographs to remotely assess tree hollow availability', Biodiversity and Conservation, 20, (5) pp. 1089-1101. ISSN 0960-3115 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10531-011-0018-z [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 13Web of Science - 13 Co-authors: Koch AJ | |
| 2010 | Baker S, 'Using aggregated retention to maintain and restore mature forest values in managed forest landscapes in Tasmania', Ecological Management and Restoration, 11, (1) pp. 82. ISSN 1839-3330 (2010) [Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2009 | Baker S, Barmuta L, Grove S, Richardson A, 'Are streamside buffers edge-affected habitat for ground-dwelling forest beetle assemblages? ', Biodiversity and Conservation, 18, (13) pp. 3467-3482. ISSN 0960-3115 (2009) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10531-009-9655-x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 7 Co-authors: Barmuta L; Richardson A | |
| 2009 | Baker SC, Barmuta LA, Richardson AMM, 'Response of ground-dwelling beetles across logging coupe edges into streamside reserves', Australian Journal of Entomology, 48, (3) pp. 194-203. ISSN 1326-6756 (2009) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.2009.00694.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: Barmuta LA; Richardson AMM | |
| 2009 | Baker SC, Grove SJ, Forster L, Bonham KJ, Bashford D, 'Short-term responses of ground-active beetles to alternative silvicultural systems in the Warra Silvicultural Systems Trial, Tasmania, Australia', Forest Ecology and Management, 258, (4) pp. 444-459. ISSN 0378-1127 (2009) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2009.03.044 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 30Web of Science - 24 | |
| 2009 | Barbour RC, Baker SC, O'Reilly-Wapstra JM, Harvest TMA, Potts BM, 'A footprint of tree-genetics on the biota of the forest floor', Oikos, 118, (12) pp. 1917-1923. ISSN 0030-1299 (2009) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2009.17609.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 23Web of Science - 24 Co-authors: Barbour RC; O'Reilly-Wapstra JM; Harvest TMA; Potts BM | |
| 2009 | Barbour RC, Forster LG, Baker SC, Steane DA, Potts BM, 'Biodiversity consequences of genetic variation in bark characteristics within a foundation tree species', Conservation Biology, 23, (5) pp. 1146-1155. ISSN 0888-8892 (2009) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01247.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 26Web of Science - 25 Co-authors: Barbour RC; Forster LG; Steane DA; Potts BM | |
| 2007 | Baker SC, Barmuta LA, McQuillan PB, Richardson AMM, 'Estimating edge effects on ground dwelling beetles at clearfelled non-riparian stand edges in Tasmanian wet eucalypt forest', Forest Ecology and Management, 239, (1-3) pp. 92-101. ISSN 0378-1127 (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.11.012 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 22Web of Science - 23 Co-authors: Barmuta LA; McQuillan PB; Richardson AMM | |
| 2007 | Baker SC, Richardson AMM, Barmuta LA, 'Site effects outweigh riparian influences on ground-dwelling beetles adjacent to first order streams in wet eucalypt forest', Biodiversity and Conservation, 16, (7) pp. 1999-2014. ISSN 0960-3115 (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10531-006-9056-3 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: Richardson AMM; Barmuta LA | |
| 2006 | Baker SC, 'A comparison of litter beetle assemblages (Coleoptera) in mature and recently clearfelled Eucalyptus obliqua forest', Australian Journal of Entomology, 45, (2) pp. 130-136. ISSN 1326-6756 (2006) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.2006.00526.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 27Web of Science - 26 | |
| 2006 | Baker SC, Barmuta LA, 'Evaluating spatial autocorrelation and depletion in pitfall-trap studies of environmental gradients', Journal of Insect Conservation, 10, (3) pp. 269-276. ISSN 1366-638X (2006) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10841-006-0016-8 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 40Web of Science - 38 Co-authors: Barmuta LA | |
| 2006 | Baker SC, Lauck V, 'Association of common brown froglets, Crinia signifera, with clearcut forest edges in Tasmania, Australia', Wildlife Research, 33, (1) pp. 29-34. ISSN 1035-3712 (2006) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1071/WR04120 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 7 Co-authors: Lauck V | |
| 2006 | Baker SC, Richardson AMM, Barmuta LA, Thomson RJ, 'Why conservation reserves should not always be concentrated in riparian areas: A study of ground-dwelling beetles in wet eucalypt forest', Biological Conservation, 133, (2) pp. 156-168. ISSN 0006-3207 (2006) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2006.05.029 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 15Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Richardson AMM; Barmuta LA; Thomson RJ | |
| 2004 | Baker SC, Richardson AMM, Seeman OD, Barmuta LA, 'Does clearfell, burn and sow silviculture mimic the effect of wildfire? A field study and review using litter beetles', Forest Ecology and Management, 199, (2-3) pp. 433-448. ISSN 0378-1127 (2004) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2004.05.047 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 40Web of Science - 35 Co-authors: Richardson AMM; Seeman OD; Barmuta LA | |
| 2003 | Baker SC, Elek JA, Bashford R, Paterson SC, Madden JL, et al., 'Inundative release of coccinellid beetles into eucalypt plantations for biological control of chrysomelid leaf beetles', Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 5, (2) pp. 97-106. ISSN 1461-9555 (2003) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1046/j.1461-9563.2003.00169.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 13Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Paterson SC; Madden JL; Battaglia M | |
| 2002 | Baker SC, Elek JA, Candy SG, 'Comparison of feeding efficiency, development time and survival of Tasmanian eucalyptus leaf beetle larvae Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on two hosts', Australian Journal of Entomology, 41 pp. 174-181. ISSN 1326-6756 (2002) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2002 | Candy SG, Baker SC, 'Calculating food consumption in the laboratory: a formula to adjust for natural weight loss', Australian Journal of Entomology, 41 pp. 170-173. ISSN 1326-6756 (2002) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2001 | Baker SC, Barbraud C, 'Foods of the South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormickii at Ardery Island, Windmill Islands, Antarctica', Polar Biology, 24 pp. 59-61. ISSN 0722-4060 (2001) [Refereed Article] | |
| 1998 | Barbraud C, Baker SC, 'Fulmarine Petrels and South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormickii populations on Ardery Island, Windmill Islands, Antarctica', Emu: Austral Ornithology, 98 pp. 234-236. ISSN 0158-4197 (1998) [Refereed Article] |
Chapter in Book
(2 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Baker S, 'Tall, wet eucalypt forests in Tasmania, Australia', Ecological Forest Management Handbook, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, GR Larocque (ed), Boca Raton, USA, pp. 22-24. ISBN 9781482247855 (2016) [Other Book Chapter] | |
| 2012 | Baker S, 'Management of Tasmanian Eucalypt Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems', Managing Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems, Routledge, C Messier, KJ Puettmann, KD Coates (ed), United Kingdom, pp. 269-2. ISBN 978-0-415-51977-9 (2012) [Other Book Chapter] |
Conference Publication
(2 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Soja MJ, Baker SC, Jordan GJ, Lucieer A, Musk R, et al., 'Unveiling the complex structure of Tasmanian temperate forests with model-based Tandem-X tomography', Proceedings of the 2018 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2018), 22-27 July 2018, Valencia, Spain, pp. 383-386. ISBN 978-1-5386-7150-4 (2018) [Refereed Conference Paper] DOI: 10.1109/IGARSS.2018.8518350 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Soja MJ; Jordan GJ; Lucieer A; White RJ | |
| 1999 | Mendham NJ, Baker SC, Dingle JK, Smethurst PJ, Beadle CL, et al., 'Impact of Competition from Weeds on Early Growth Eucalypts and Pines at Five Sites in Tasmania and Victoria', Practising Forestry Today, 3-8 October 1999, Hobart, pp. 187-187. ISBN 0959459286 (1999) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] Co-authors: Mendham NJ; Dingle JK; Smethurst PJ; Beadle CL; Adams P; Holz GK; Hetherington S; Naughton P |
Other Creative Work
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Baker SC, 'Seeking a balance between forestry and biodiversity - the role of variable retention silviculture. Insights from western USA and Canada', Forest & Wood Products Australia, Melbourne, pp. 60 (2011) [Minor Creative Work] |
Thesis
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Baker SC, 'Ecology and conservation of ground-dwelling beetles in managed wet eucalypt forest: edge and riparian effects' (2006) [PhD] |
Other Public Output
(3 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Scott R, Baker S, 'Variable Retention Manual', Sustainable Timber Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania (2018) [Report of Restricted Access] Co-authors: Scott R | |
| 2010 | Baker SC, 'Evolution of variable retention: Western Canada, the USA and Tasmania', BC Forest Professional Magazine, International Perspectives on Forestry, Vancouver, Nov - Dec 2010 (2010) [Magazine Article] | |
| 2009 | Baker S, Blanks T, Chuter D, Ford R, Grove S, et al., 'A New Silviculture for Tasmania's Public Forests: a review of the variable retention program', Forestry Tasmania, Australia, May (2009) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Scott R |
Grants & Funding
As well as numerous smaller grants and fellowships, I co-wrote two successful ARC-Linkage grant applications. For the first of these I was a named investigator and recipient of an ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship – Industry: LP1010050, ‘Managing Variable Retention Harvesting to Maintain Forest Biodiversity - Effects of Forest Influence and Successional Stage on Recolonisation’. I co-wrote the application for our second Linkage grant and was subsequently employed as the research fellow: LP140100075, ‘A new integrated approach for ecologically sustainable forest management’, $410,933 (Jordan, Burridge, Lucieer, Karpievitch, Vesk, Wardlaw, Powell, Spies).
Funding Summary
Number of grants
12
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- The VicForests Science Committee will provide independent advice to VicForests on research relating to ecologically sustainable forest management.
- Funding
- VicForests ($26,700)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Baker SC
- Period
- 2020 - 2022
- Description
- Intensified forestry to meet rising demand for timber is placing biodiversity at risk. The aim of this project is to develop and field-test a novel framework to reconcile forest conservation with production. The project seeks to resolve whether intensive forestry coupled with a large reserve network produces better biodiversity outcomes than less intensive forestry with fewer reserves. I will integrate abundances of plant and animal species with forest industry timber yield data in a uniquely suited landscape. Survey results will be synthesised with global data on biodiversity responses to forestry. This research will benefit the forest industry by providing guidelines that improve conservation outcomes while maintaining timber yield.
- Funding
- Australian Research Council ($775,869)
- Scheme
- Fellowship-Future
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Baker SC
- Period
- 2019 - 2023
- Grant Reference
- FT190100674
- 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
- University of Tasmania
- 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
- Description
- Forest managers and scientist are seeking different management models and practices aiming to reconcile demand for timber with biodiversity conservation. Strategies range from retention networks within production landscape to site-level retention. These practices aim to better integrate the wood production and biodiversity in the broad context of ongoing transformation and simplification of forests. However, few studies address how much of this influence is due the amount of mature forests and how much is due to the proximity to mature forests.
- Funding
- Forest Practices Authority ($1,750)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Burridge CP; Baker SC; Jordan GJ; Liu M
- Year
- 2019
- Description
- This EU COST Action project is a large collaboration of European forest ecologists aimed at sharing and analysis of existing data for biodiversity responses to forestry. The project is strongly aligned to the international component of my Future Fellowship, so will facilitate my accessing datasets from Europe to integrate from other forest regions globally. I may also adopt their data platform for my global data compilation. The Action challenge is to increase the degree of sustainability of European temperate forest management for biodiversity. It will adopt a bottom-up approach by: i) creating a synergy of local research efforts; ii) using information on several taxa to inform sustainable management. The Action network will make available existing information on multi-taxon biodiversity, structure and management for more than 2100 sampling units across all temperate and hemiboreal forest types, and will involve managers of up to 200 million hectares of forests, as well as a large number of protected areas' managers. Action objectives are to deliver: -a standardized platform of multi-taxon data for European forests;-a network of forest sites with baseline information for future monitoring;-shared protocols for multi-taxon sampling;-an analysis of the relationships between multi-taxon biodiversity, structure and management;-a coordinated network of forest manipulation experiments;-indicators and thresholds of sustainable forest management directly tested on biodiversity;-management guidelines to be applied foremost in forest certification and within protected areas.
- Funding
- European Cooperation in Science & Technology ($805,700)
- Scheme
- Open Call for Proposals - Collection OC-2018-2
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Burrascano S; Baker SC
- Period
- 2019 - 2022
- Description
- This project will model the impacts of forestry management practices on the composition and succession of soil microbial communities, and investigate their links with regenerating plant communities. The soil microbiome and plant community will be sampled across a logging and burning severity gradient at four points in time. By extracting soil DNA and sequencing the 16SrRNA and ITS regions, the biodiversity of the bacterial and fungal communities can be characterised. This project will focus on important taxa involved in symbiotic and pathogenic relationships with plants, and free-living taxa that are responsible for the availability of essential plant nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous.
- Funding
- Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment ($12,750)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Jordan GJ; Baker SC; Hunt MA; Ammitzboll HC; Freeman JS; Bissett A
- Period
- 2019 - 2020
- Description
- Conservation efforts for large ecosystems require monitoring in order to determine how well they are working. In particular, terrestrial ecosystems such as production forests, which are heavily regulated for conservation, require detailed monitoring in order to fulfil federal requirements of the sustainable production of wood - DAFF 2008 policy Australias Sustainable Forest Management Framework of Criteria and Indicators: Criterion 1. Conservation of biological diversity; and Criterion 3. Maintenance of ecosystem health and vitality speak specifically to the need for cheap and reliable monitoring methods.Since bird populations are a well recognised key indicator of ecosystem health we are leveraging long-term environmental audio recordings of forests under conservation management in order to assess biodiversity and ecosystem health. Such acoustic data need to be annotated with which bird species are present, before ecological research can be done, but engaging experts to perform annotation at these scales is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. This is a pattern recognition task that has proven difficult to automate, but humans are naturally well equipped to perform. Since there are many enthusiastic amateur birdwatchers, crowd-sourcing may be a solution.The application of crowd-sourcing to the task of bird recognition will involve recruiting citizen scientists to use our custom made annotation web application Birdsong (https://tasbirdsong.duckdns.org/). In image annotation for example, combining multiple overlapping non-expert annotations (e.g., by majority vote) has been shown to be comparable to expert annotations. We will investigate to what degree the idea of Wisdom of the Crowd applies to annotation of ecological field recordings.To the best of our knowledge there are no active efforts to crowd-source bird call recognition, or any research published on bird call annotation/annotator quality or how learning affects bird call recognition in citizen scientists.What we learn from this pilot project will guide us in how to recruit, train and retain citizen scientists. It will produce valuable annotations and meta-data for research in the fields of ecology, human cognition, and machine learning and statistics. Further, it will inform future research efforts towards community involvement in conservation research and the efficient production of annotated data for ecological monitoring.
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($4,000)
- Scheme
- null
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Charleston M; Baker SC; Garg SK; Heathcote A
- Year
- 2018
- Description
- A PhD scholarship: a study that evaluates the performance of machine learning algorithms in analysing digitally-recorded data to classify bird calls
- Funding
- Forest Practices Authority ($4,000); Forestry Tasmania ($15,000); Southern Regional Natural Resource Management Association Inc ($9,000); Tasmanian Land Conservancy ($9,000); VicForests ($15,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Charleston M; Jordan GJ; Baker SC; Whitemore S
- Period
- 2017 - 2019
- Description
- I aim to develop an index to classify forest maturity that can be used by the managers of Tasmania's wet eucalypt forests to efficiently and economically classify forest stands. The project will initially investigate which biological and structural variables are associated with wet eucalypt forests of different successional stages, and whether these variables can be used as indicators to define maturity level. I then aim to develop a statistically derived, quick and easy to use index that describes forest maturity.
- Funding
- Ecological Society of Australia Limited ($2,000)
- Scheme
- Scholarship - Applied Forest Ecology
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Jordan GJ; Baker SC; van Galen LG
- Year
- 2016
- Funding
- Institute of Foresters of Australia ($2,400)
- Scheme
- Grant-Maxwell Ralph Jacobs Fund
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Jordan GJ; Fountain-Jones NM; Baker SC
- Year
- 2012
- Funding
- Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment ($10,000)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Jordan GJ; Burridge CP; Baker SC; Fountain-Jones NM
- Period
- 2012 - 2014
- Description
- This project will critically appraise and test 'forest influence', a poorly understood ecological concept that is pivotal to the sustainable management of forestry. It will determine whether a new and increasingly common approach, variable retention (VR) harvesting, will attain its objective of sustaining natural diversity in a managed forest landscape. It will do this by collecting and analysing data from two major and disparate forestry regions - Tasmania and the Pacific North-West of USA - and use these to assess how VR affects the colonisation of vascular plants, birds and beetles after forest harvesting. Knowledge gained will identify where and how VR silviculture provides greatest ecological benefits for practical forest management.
- Funding
- Australian Research Council ($355,000)
- Collaborators
- Forestry Tasmania ($120,168); Forests and Forest Industry Council of Tasmania ($15,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Linkage Projects Round 1
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Jordan GJ; Baker SC; Spies TA; Burridge CP; Wardlaw TJ; Franklin JF
- Period
- 2010 - 2012
- Grant Reference
- LP1010050
Research Supervision
Dr Sue Baker greatly enjoys acting as a mentor for students. She is seeking HDR candidates interested in field and/or analytical studies of various aspects of biodiversity responses to forest management and disturbance. Sue has co-supervised several PhD, honours and undergraduate-level students:
- PhD: Helen Stephens, Nick Fountain-Jones, Tom Baker, Bechu Yadav (current), Mingxin Liu (current), Scott Whitemore (current)
- Honours: Liam Hindrum, Tom Baker, Morgana Petersfield, Laura van Galen, Richard White (current)
- International intern students: Isabel Jaisli, Mona Garandel, Martin Deltombe
- Dean’s summer scholarship students: Laura van Galen (x2), Simon Marshall
Current
3
Completed
4
Current
| Degree | Title | Commenced |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Using DNA Metabarcoding to Assess Beetle Biodiversity for Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management | 2016 |
| PhD | Acoustic Sensing of Birds in Wet Eucalypt Forest | 2017 |
| PhD | Below Ground Effectiveness of Habitat Clumps and Corridors | 2017 |
Completed
| Degree | Title | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Mapping Species Composition and Structure in Wet Eucalypt Forest using Multi-source Remote Sensing Data Candidate: Bechu Kumar Vinwar Yadav | 2019 |
| PhD | Recovery of Mature Forest Microclimate and Bryophyte Communities in Previously Logged Forests Candidate: Thomas Peter Baker | 2015 |
| PhD | Examining the effects of distance from mature forest and successional stage on beetle community recolonisation and assembly Candidate: Nicholas Michael Fountain-Jones | 2014 |
| PhD | The effects of different forestry practices on two native rodent species, the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) and the long-tailed mouse (Pseudomys higginsi) Candidate: Helen Catherine Stephens | 2013 |