Gunnar has a broad background in vegetation ecology, island biogeography and conservation biology. He leads the Ecology of Global Change Lab, that focuses on understanding and addressing the ecological implications of global environmental changes on biodiversity. The principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to his research, publications, mentoring, and teaching. Current key projects are 1) Refugia as safe havens for biodiversity in the Anthropocene, 2) Dieback of stringybark forests in South Australia, 3) Current and future impacts of tropical cyclones on forests, and 4) Microclimate and biodiversity.
About me
Gunnar has a broad background in vegetation ecology, island biogeography and conservation biology. He leads the Ecology of Global Change Lab, that focuses on understanding and addressing the ecological implications of global environmental changes on biodiversity. The principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to his research, publications, mentoring, and teaching. Current key projects are 1) Refugia as safe havens for biodiversity in the Anthropocene, 2) Dieback of stringybark forests in South Australia, 3) Current and future impacts of tropical cyclones on forests, and 4) Microclimate and biodiversity.
About me
Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, Australian Flora Foundation, Ecological Society of Australia, IUCN Species Survival Commission on Conifers Specialist group, NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, Royal Society of South Australia
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of Queensland
Master of Science Univeristy of the South Pacific
Bachelor of Science University of the South Pacific
2012 - now Associate Professor in Environmental Biology: University of South Australia
2017 - 2018 Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung Research Fellow at the University of Goettingen
2010 - 2012 Research Fellow in Climate Change Refugia: Curtin University
2009 Temporary Lecturer (Tropical Rainforest Management): Centre for Rainforest Studies, School for Field Studies (Yungaburra, Queensland)
2001 - 2009 Lecturer (Plant Biology): University of the South Pacific (Suva, Fiji)
I am an internationally recognised high-calibre researcher at the interface of biogeography, conservation and ecology. I strongly believe in working across boundaries (instituional, geographic, disciplinary and others) and have published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles that have been cited >5000 times. My research centres around the conservation of biodiversity in Oceania and I have been an Alexanfer von Humboldt Foundation and MAK'IT fellow. Details about current research projects can be found on the Ecology of Global Change Lab webpage.
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Aetiology and consequences of stringybark eucalyptus dieback in the Mount Lofty Ranges., Royal Society of South Australia, 28/11/2023 - 31/12/2024
Red Stringybark dieback research, Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, 21/09/2023 - 30/06/2024
The impacts of tropical cyclones on rain forest structure and functioning, Hermon Slade Foundation, 01/10/2019 - 01/10/2023
The role of native vegetation and associated root suction and reinforcement on the stabilisation of transport corridors and sloping ground, City of Salisbury, 01/07/2013 - 31/12/2016
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
19
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
17
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
40
|
| 2022 |
Open access
19
16
310
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
8
90
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
|
| 2019 |
Open access
|
| 2015 |
3
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
12
|
| 2024 |
Open access
22
|
| 2024 |
Open access
19
|
| 2024 |
Open access
11
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
17
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
58
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
|
| 2024 |
Open access
18
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
4
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
3
18
|
| 2023 |
Open access
15
346
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
4
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
11
12
88
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
40
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
11
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
177
|
| 2023 |
Open access
69
1180
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
13
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
3
|
| 2022 |
Open access
120
4
3023
|
| 2022 |
Open access
19
16
310
|
| 2022 |
Open access
7
6
11
|
| 2022 |
Open access
42
40
178
|
| 2022 |
Open access
1
1
11
|
| 2022 |
Open access
8
8
12
|
| 2021 |
Open access
1
1
11
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
8
90
|
| 2021 |
Open access
19
18
59
|
| 2021 |
Open access
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
24
22
4
|
| 2021 |
Open access
25
18
24
|
| 2020 |
Open access
9
|
| 2020 |
Open access
31
31
34
|
| 2020 |
Open access
22
22
2
|
| 2020 |
7
6
8
|
| 2020 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
10
8
14
|
| 2020 |
Open access
11
10
|
| 2020 |
Open access
73
71
19
|
| 2020 |
51
46
21
|
| 2019 |
Open access
46
44
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
12
9
|
| 2019 |
Open access
65
62
12
|
| 2019 |
Open access
11
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
7
8
|
| 2019 |
Open access
7
7
3
|
| 2019 |
Open access
41
38
19
|
| 2019 |
Open access
407
378
502
|
| 2019 |
Open access
1
1
91
|
| 2019 |
Open access
39
36
|
| 2018 |
Open access
14
14
6
|
| 2018 |
Open access
17
12
16
|
| 2018 |
Open access
40
36
6
|
| 2018 |
Open access
47
41
94
|
| 2018 |
Open access
55
53
11
|
| 2018 |
Open access
10
9
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
9
9
|
| 2018 |
Open access
4
5
6
|
| 2017 |
Open access
56
50
16
|
| 2017 |
Open access
35
33
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
39
38
16
|
| 2017 |
Open access
21
22
2
|
| 2017 |
Open access
20
22
5
|
| 2016 |
Open access
41
38
2
|
| 2016 |
Open access
29
29
14
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2015 |
Open access
226
218
31
|
| 2015 |
Open access
5
12
|
| 2014 |
Open access
21
19
1
|
| 2014 |
Open access
56
|
| 2014 |
27
78
18
|
| 2014 |
Open access
61
53
83
|
| 2014 |
55
52
|
| 2014 |
20
42
|
| 2013 |
26
24
|
| 2013 |
22
21
|
| 2012 |
66
59
|
| 2012 |
139
129
|
| 2012 |
Open access
69
56
|
| 2012 |
Open access
830
787
|
| 2012 |
Open access
|
| 2011 |
Open access
20
14
|
| 2011 |
Open access
28
25
|
| 2011 |
Open access
20
16
|
| 2011 |
30
|
| 2010 |
Open access
73
65
|
| 2009 |
92
87
|
| 2009 |
Open access
4
4
|
| 2008 |
26
23
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2015 |
Open access
|
| 2014 |
8
5
3
|
Research
I am an internationally recognised high-calibre researcher at the interface of biogeography, conservation and ecology. I strongly believe in working across boundaries (instituional, geographic, disciplinary and others) and have published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles that have been cited >5000 times. My research centres around the conservation of biodiversity in Oceania and I have been an Alexanfer von Humboldt Foundation and MAK'IT fellow. Details about current research projects can be found on the Ecology of Global Change Lab webpage.
I recently completed a MAK'IT fellowship at the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) through the University of Montpellier. I remain actively engaged in the conservation of biodiversity in Oceania. In addition, I am an Associate editor for Ecology and Evolution, a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission on Conifers Specialist group, and the Principal Co-ordinator of the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA).
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| AAM Pty Limited | AUSTRALIA |
| Abaca Village | FIJI |
| Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic | CZECH REPUBLIC |
| Aggtelek National Park Directorate | HUNGARY |
| Airborne Research Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| American Samoa Government | AMERICAN SAMOA |
| Apathy István Association | HUNGARY |
| Arizona State University | UNITED STATES |
| Beijing Forestry University | CHINA |
| Bentley Delivery Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Biodiversity and Conservation Science | AUSTRALIA |
| Canadian Forest Service | CANADA |
| Catholic University of Louvain | BELGIUM |
| Charles Darwin Foundation | ECUADOR |
| Charles Darwin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Charles University in Prague | CZECH REPUBLIC |
| Chinese Academy of Forestry | CHINA |
| Conservation International | UNITED STATES |
| CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
| CSIRO Land and Water, Glen Osmond, SA | AUSTRALIA |
| Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Czech Academy of Sciences | CZECH REPUBLIC |
| Czech University of Life Sciences | CZECH REPUBLIC |
| Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Department for Environment and Water (SA) | AUSTRALIA |
| Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources | AUSTRALIA |
| Department of Parks and Wildlife | AUSTRALIA |
| Department of Parks and Wildlife WA | AUSTRALIA |
| Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment | AUSTRALIA |
| Environment Consulting Fiji | FIJI |
| Eszterházy Károly College | HUNGARY |
| Eszterhazy Karoly University | HUNGARY |
| Federal University of Minas Gerais | BRAZIL |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Florida Institute of Technology | UNITED STATES |
| Florida State University | UNITED STATES |
| Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | FRANCE |
| Forestry Department, Ministry of Fisheries and Forests | FIJI |
| German Aerospace Center | GERMANY |
| GIP Ecofor | FRANCE |
| Gouvernement de Polynesire Francaise | FRENCH POLYNESIA |
| Government of French Polynesia | FRENCH POLYNESIA |
| Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
| Herbarium of IRD Nouméa | NEW CALEDONIA |
| Hokkaido University | JAPAN |
| Hungarian Academy of Sciences | HUNGARY |
| Institut Agronomique néo-Calédonien | NEW CALEDONIA |
| Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement | NEW CALEDONIA |
| International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) | SWITZERLAND |
| IRD-Institut de pour le developpement | NEW CALEDONIA |
| Islamic Azad University | IRAN |
| James Cook University | AUSTRALIA |
| Kagoshima University | JAPAN |
| Kyoto University | JAPAN |
| Laboratory for Ocean Physics and Satellite remote sensing | FRANCE |
| Landcare Research | NEW ZEALAND |
| Louisiana State University | UNITED STATES |
| Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research | NEW ZEALAND |
| Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg | GERMANY |
| Masaryk University | CZECH REPUBLIC |
| Massey University | NEW ZEALAND |
| Mauritius Herbarium | MAURITIUS |
| Milvus Group | ROMANIA |
| Ministry of Fisheries and Forests | FIJI |
| Ministry of Forestry and Research | SOLOMON ISLANDS |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | UNITED STATES |
| Montpellier 3 University | FRANCE |
| MTA Centre for Ecological Research | HUNGARY |
| MTA-DE Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group | HUNGARY |
| National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis | UNITED STATES |
| National Herbarium of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| National University of Singapore | SINGAPORE |
| Nature Glenelg Trust | AUSTRALIA |
| NatureFiji | FIJI |
| NatureFiji-MareqetiViti | FIJI |
| New Caledonian Agronomic Institute | NEW CALEDONIA |
| Paris-Sorbonne University | FRANCE |
| Parks and Wildlife, WA | AUSTRALIA |
| Polish Academy of Sciences | POLAND |
| Pondicherry University | INDIA |
| Private Individual | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Purdue University | UNITED STATES |
| Queensland Herbarium | AUSTRALIA |
| Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts | SLOVENIA |
| Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Santa Clara University | UNITED STATES |
| Sorbonne University | FRANCE |
| South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) | AUSTRALIA |
| Southern Utah University | UNITED STATES |
| Stanford University | UNITED STATES |
| State Herbarium of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Stellenbosch University | SOUTH AFRICA |
| Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) | SWITZERLAND |
| Taronga Zoo | AUSTRALIA |
| Telangana University | INDIA |
| Trees For Life Inc | AUSTRALIA |
| Trent University | CANADA |
| Tropik Wood Industries Ltd | FIJI |
| Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México (Unam) | MEXICO |
| Universitat De Lleida | SPAIN |
| Université de Montpellier | FRANCE |
| University College London | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University Libre Bruxelles | BELGIUM |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Arizona | UNITED STATES |
| University of California | UNITED STATES |
| University of California Davis | UNITED STATES |
| University of California, Los Angeles | UNITED STATES |
| University of California, Riverside | UNITED STATES |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | UNITED STATES |
| University of Copenhagen | DENMARK |
| University of Denver | UNITED STATES |
| University of Florida | UNITED STATES |
| University of Gottingen | GERMANY |
| University of Hawaii | UNITED STATES |
| University of Helsinki | FINLAND |
| University of Mauritius | MAURITIUS |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Michigan | UNITED STATES |
| University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | UNITED STATES |
| University of Montpellier | FRANCE |
| University of Munich | GERMANY |
| University of Nova Gorica | SLOVENIA |
| University of Oviedo | SPAIN |
| University of Oxford | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Papua | INDONESIA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Reunion | FRANCE |
| University of Reunion Island | RÉUNION |
| University of San Francisco | UNITED STATES |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Szeged | HUNGARY |
| University of Tasmania | AUSTRALIA |
| University of the Ryukyus | JAPAN |
| University of the South Pacific | FIJI |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Tubingen | GERMANY |
| University of Vienna | AUSTRIA |
| University of Wageningen | NETHERLANDS |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Zurich | SWITZERLAND |
| University Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| US Department of Agriculture | UNITED STATES |
| US Geological Survey | UNITED STATES |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | UNITED STATES |
| Wageningen University and Research Centre | NETHERLANDS |
| Western Sydney University | AUSTRALIA |
| Yookamurra Sanctuary | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
External SupervisorUniversity of Adelaide |
2020 |
Ecology and EvolutionJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd |
2019 |
Editor for Ecology and EvolutionJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd |
2019 |
Research FellowshipAlexander von Humboldt Foundation |
2017 |
Specialist Group MemberIUCN Species Survival Commission on Conifers |
2017 |
UniSA RepresentativeAustralian Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (ACEDD) |
2016 |
Invited Speaker100th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Baltimore, USA |
2015 |
I am passionate about teaching and have experience lecturing in the fields of plant biology, conservation, vegetation ecology, resource management and biogeography. In addition to undergraduate, I contribute to the developing budding researchers and professionals through supervising Honours and final-year project students. I am particulary engaged in enhancing the experience for Honours and HDR students in the environmental field and organise a monthly forum for discussing and sharing research related to biodiversity as part of the Biodiversity Group. In addition to the UniSA HDR students listed below, I contribute to the supervison of the following students:
Alivereti Naikatini (PhD student, University of the South Pacific): Behavioural ecology of Fiji’s woodland songbirds.
Siteri Tikoca (PhD student, University of Adelaide). Ecology and conservation of an endangered Fijian cave roosting bat.
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Aetiology and consequences of stringybark dieback in the Mount Lofty Ranges | Current |
| Environmental drivers of River Murray mosquito community structure | Current |
| Quantifying dieback of Eucalypt forests using remote sensing | Current |
| The impact of tropical cyclones on rainforest structure and functioning in the Australian wet tropics | Current |
| Statistical analysis of dynamic patterns in insular biogeography | Completed |
| Urban vegetation and invertebrate biodiversity: revegetated and remnant site effects | Completed |
