Research in ecosystems
The ecosystems we study include forests and woodlands, rivers and wetlands, rural landscapes and urban centres.
The processes we study range from catchment hydrology to fire events and recovery, from germination to natural succession, from ecosystem to atmosphere exchange to the energy balance.
Some of these processes are disturbances in their own right (fire and flood), but all of these processes are studied in light of impacts from climate change and changes in land management, such as afforestation, urban greening or environmental flows.
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Biodiverse Cities
The Biodiverse Cities research group investigates questions related to the ecology in, of, for and with cities.
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Biodiversity Dynamics Research Group (biodynamos)
Undertaking research on plant evolution and global change, fire management, animal ecology and conservation decision making.
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Ecophysiology and Flux
Ecophysiology and flux focuses on the interactions of plants with their environment and the processes that control the functioning of ecosystems. We investigate how trees, shrubs and herbs cope with changes in environmental conditions.
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FLARE Wildfire Research
FLARE Wildfire Research group is one of Australia’s largest fire research groups. Our team of fire scientists have backgrounds in landscape ecology, forest science, combustion engineering, mathematical modelling, data analysis and computer programming.
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Forest Hydrology
Ecohydrology, evapotranspiration and streamflow dynamics, sediment dynamics and geomorphology, catchment evolution, with a particular interest in the hydrologic effects of fire.
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Green Infrastructure Research Group (GIRG)
Creating and embedding knowledge and technologies in smart design, construction and maintenance of green spaces, trees, parks, rain gardens, green roofs and facades throughout the urban landscape.
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Integrated Forest Ecosystem Research (iFER)
A research program supported by the Victorian government that aims to develop the evidence base for managing multiple forest values in the context of changing climate and fire regimes.
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Landscape and Forest Dynamics (LaForDy)
LaForDy focuses on understanding how forest ecosystems and forested landscapes develop and respond to climate and natural and anthropogenic disturbances.
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Quantitative and Applied Ecology (QAEco)
QAEco researchers work on a range of topics, species and locations related to ecosystem management.
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Urban Forests for Resilient Communities, Climate and Environment (UrbanFORCCE)
Improving the urban forest is central to many strategies that seek to mitigate urban heat, reduce air and water pollution and provide human-nature connections.
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Wana
Wana, coming from ‘Gondwana’ origin means ‘a land of forests’ in many Asian languages– reflecting our focus on forests, with our group members coming from across Asia.
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Waterway Ecosystem Research Group (WERG)
The Waterway Ecosystem Research Group (WERG) studies interactions between landscapes and running waters and generates knowledge and tools for achieving healthy streams and rivers in urban and rural landscapes.
Other affiliated research groups
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CropGEM Lab: Crop Genetics and Molecular Evolution Lab
The Crop Evolution and Molecular Genetics Group (CropGEM) researches the genetic and molecular basis of cereal improvement, focussing primarily on cereal crops including wheat, barley, and oat.
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Environmental Social Science
Understanding how people relate to environments, ecosystems and non-human species, and how this knowledge can support more sustainable forests and cities.
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Sustainable and Renewable Forest Products
The Sustainable and Renewable Forest Products Group creates knowledge and builds capability in the innovative uses of sustainably-managed timber resources for high-performance timber products.