Gunnar has a broad background in vegetation ecology, island biogeography and conservation biology. Most of his recent work focusses on drivers of diversity patterns. At the local scale (within meters) he investigates how environmental heterogeneity impacts microclimate and species distributions. On a regional scale, he studies the role of refugia in facilitating the persistence of biodiversity. Finally, he investigates the roles of climatic, biogeographic and topographic drivers in effecting patterns of biodiversity on large and global scales.
Gunnar's research group (https://biodiversityoceania.com/) focusses on four themes:
About me
Gunnar has a broad background in vegetation ecology, island biogeography and conservation biology. Most of his recent work focusses on drivers of diversity patterns. At the local scale (within meters) he investigates how environmental heterogeneity impacts microclimate and species distributions. On a regional scale, he studies the role of refugia in facilitating the persistence of biodiversity. Finally, he investigates the roles of climatic, biogeographic and topographic drivers in effecting patterns of biodiversity on large and global scales.
Gunnar's research group (https://biodiversityoceania.com/) focusses on four themes:
About me
NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, IUCN Species Survival Commission on Conifers Specialist group, Society for Conservation Biology, Ecological Society of Australia, Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung
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 Senior Lecturer 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)
Just Published:
Ibanez T, WJ Platt, PJ Bellingham, G Vieilledent, J Franklin, PH Martin, C Menkes, DR Pérez Salicrup, J Russell-Smith & G Keppel (2022) Altered cyclone–fire interactions are changing ecosystems. Trends in Plant Science, in press.
Liang J, JG Gamarra, N Picard, M Zhou, B Pijanowski, DF Jacobs, PB Reich, TW Crowther, G-J Nabuurs, S de-Miguel, J Fang, CW Woodall, J-C Svenning, T Jucker, J-F Bastin, SK Wiser, F Slik, B Hérault, G Alberti, G Keppel, … & Hui C. (2022) Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients. Nature Ecol. Evol. 6: 1423–37. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01831-x
Lowe C, G Keppel, K Waqa, S Peters, RN Fisher, A Scanlon, T... Read more
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
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 PROJECTS:
Effects of tropical cyclones on the functioning of rainforests supported through the Hermon Slade Foundation.
Dieback of stringybarks in the Mount Lofty Ranges supported through a recent small grant by the Royal Society of South Australia
Environmental heterogeneity as a predictor of species diversity on Islands supported by a 12-month research fellowship (2017/18) from the Alexander von Humboldt foundation.
Microclimate and biodiversity supported by a PEGS grant from the University of South Australia
Climate change refugia as Safe Havens for Biodiversity with various researchers
AVAILABLE RESEARCH PROJECTS (please contact me, if you are interested):
Project 1: Drivers of Stringybark Dieback in the Mount Lofty Ranges
Project 2: Microclimate and Biodiversity
Project 3: Microrefugia and their Importance under Anthropogenic Climate Change
More details on the Biodiversity Lab webpage.
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
Year | Output |
---|---|
2022 |
3
2
159
|
2021 |
Open access
4
4
93
|
2020 |
Open access
44
43
18
|
2019 |
Open access
43
42
6
|
2017 |
Open access
34
30
16
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2022 |
3
|
2019 |
Open access
|
2019 |
|
2015 |
1
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2023 |
Open access
|
2023 |
Open access
|
2022 |
Open access
29
26
3087
|
2022 |
Open access
3
|
2022 |
Open access
2
2
13
|
2022 |
3
2
159
|
2022 |
Open access
1
12
|
2022 |
Open access
15
|
2022 |
Open access
1
1
13
|
2021 |
Open access
1
1
12
|
2021 |
Open access
4
4
93
|
2021 |
Open access
5
5
53
|
2021 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
Open access
5
5
7
|
2021 |
Open access
12
9
35
|
2020 |
Open access
10
|
2020 |
Open access
15
13
38
|
2020 |
Open access
18
17
1
|
2020 |
5
5
8
|
2020 |
Open access
1
1
|
2020 |
Open access
6
6
14
|
2020 |
Open access
5
4
|
2020 |
Open access
44
43
18
|
2020 |
25
24
21
|
2019 |
Open access
28
26
1
|
2019 |
Open access
7
6
|
2019 |
Open access
43
42
6
|
2019 |
Open access
11
7
|
2019 |
Open access
5
5
|
2019 |
Open access
4
4
3
|
2019 |
Open access
26
23
19
|
2019 |
Open access
257
244
530
|
2019 |
Open access
1
91
|
2019 |
Open access
25
23
|
2018 |
Open access
11
11
6
|
2018 |
Open access
14
10
16
|
2018 |
Open access
29
26
6
|
2018 |
Open access
33
29
94
|
2018 |
Open access
39
34
11
|
2018 |
Open access
8
8
1
|
2018 |
Open access
8
8
|
2018 |
Open access
4
4
6
|
2017 |
Open access
50
43
17
|
2017 |
Open access
22
20
1
|
2017 |
Open access
34
30
16
|
2017 |
Open access
19
20
2
|
2017 |
Open access
12
14
6
|
2016 |
Open access
35
32
3
|
2016 |
Open access
22
23
16
|
2015 |
|
2015 |
Open access
184
175
31
|
2015 |
Open access
4
12
|
2014 |
Open access
12
12
1
|
2014 |
Open access
43
|
2014 |
27
64
20
|
2014 |
Open access
59
49
83
|
2014 |
52
48
|
2014 |
20
39
1
|
2013 |
20
18
1
|
2013 |
18
17
|
2012 |
56
53
|
2012 |
127
115
2
|
2012 |
Open access
59
48
8
|
2012 |
Open access
679
646
45
|
2012 |
Open access
3
|
2011 |
Open access
15
10
|
2011 |
Open access
24
22
|
2011 |
Open access
20
16
|
2011 |
28
|
2010 |
Open access
65
59
|
2009 |
83
79
|
2009 |
Open access
4
4
|
2008 |
26
23
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2015 |
Open access
|
2014 |
8
5
3
|
Research
Just Published:
Ibanez T, WJ Platt, PJ Bellingham, G Vieilledent, J Franklin, PH Martin, C Menkes, DR Pérez Salicrup, J Russell-Smith & G Keppel (2022) Altered cyclone–fire interactions are changing ecosystems. Trends in Plant Science, in press.
Liang J, JG Gamarra, N Picard, M Zhou, B Pijanowski, DF Jacobs, PB Reich, TW Crowther, G-J Nabuurs, S de-Miguel, J Fang, CW Woodall, J-C Svenning, T Jucker, J-F Bastin, SK Wiser, F Slik, B Hérault, G Alberti, G Keppel, … & Hui C. (2022) Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients. Nature Ecol. Evol. 6: 1423–37. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01831-x
Lowe C, G Keppel, K Waqa, S Peters, RN Fisher, A Scanlon, T Osborne-Naikatini & N Thomas-Moko (2022) Fijian sea krait behavior relates to fine-scale environmental heterogeneity in old-growth coastal forest: The importance of integrated land–sea management for protecting amphibious animals. Ecol. Evol. 12, e8817. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8817
Naikatini AN*, G Keppel, G Brodie & S Kleindorfer (2022) Interspecific competition and vertical niche partitioning in Fiji’s forest birds. Diversity 14: 223. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030223
Current Research Grants:
Keppel G, Ibanez T, Vesk P, Dwyer JM, Menkes C & Metcalfe D (2019-2023) The impacts of tropical cyclones on rain forest structure and functioning. Hermon Slade Foundation.
Guerin G, G Keppel & B Medlyn (2021-22) Dieback of Stringybark Forests in the Mount Lofty Ranges – measuring and monitoring to inform adaptive management to climate change. Trees For Life, Adelaide Hills Council, Mount Barker Council, Hills & Fleurieu Landscapes SA Board, Northern & Yorke Landscapes SA Board.
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 |
American Samoa Government | UNITED STATES |
Apathy István Association | HUNGARY |
Arizona State University | UNITED STATES |
Beijing Forestry University | CHINA |
Bentley Delivery Centre | AUSTRALIA |
Biodiversity and Conservation Science | AUSTRALIA |
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 University of Life Sciences | CZECH REPUBLIC |
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 |
ETH Zürich | SWITZERLAND |
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 |
GIP Ecofor | FRANCE |
Gouvernement de Polynesire Francaise | FRENCH POLYNESIA |
Government of French Polynesia | FRENCH POLYNESIA |
Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
Herbarium of IRD Nouméa | NEW CALEDONIA |
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 |
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 |
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 | AUSTRALIA |
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 |
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 |
The Czech Academy of Sciences | CZECH REPUBLIC |
Trent University | CANADA |
Tropik Wood Industries Ltd | FIJI |
Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México (Unam) | MEXICO |
Universitat De Lleida | SPAIN |
Université de Montpellier | FRANCE |
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 Island | REUNION |
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 Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
US Department of Agriculture | 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 |
Invited editor to a special issue in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution on Roles and Implications of Functional Traits and Phylogenies to Characterize Refugia Under Increasing Climate Variability.
Associate editor, Ecology and Evolution (since 2019)
Member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission on Conifers Specialist group (since 2017)
Invited speaker at a botany-themed Science in the Pub in August 2019
Principal Co-ordinator of the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA).(since 2016)
Invited expert for the 2019 IUCN Red-listing workshops for South Pacific tree species organised by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) in Fiji (February) and Samoa (September).
I greatly enjoy teaching and have experience lecturing in the fields of plant biology, conservation, vegetation ecology, resource management and biogeography. I supervise several postgraduate and honours students:
Michael Otasowie Eguagie (PhD student, UniSA): Cyclone impacts on the functioning of rain forests.
Alivereti Naikatini (PhD student, Yniversity of the South Pacific): Behavioural ecology of Fijian birds.
Siteri Tikoca (PhD student, University of Adelaide): Microbats in Fiji.
Stephen Fricker (Masters student, UniSA): Seasonal variation of mosquito assemblages in the Murraylands.
Shaun O’Sullivan (Masters student, UniSA): Arthropod diversity in native and artificial vegetation remnants.
Nathan Blight (Honours student, UniSA): Bird behaviour along woodland edges.
Brandon Turner (Honours student, UniSA): Chytridiomycosis in South Australian frogs.
Donna Fitzgerald (Honours student, UniSA): Quantifying dieback of red stringybark in Spring Gully Conservation Park using remote sensing.
Natasha McMahon (Honours student, UniSA): Quantifying dieback of Alyxia buxifolia using remote sensing.
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
Thesis title | Student status |
---|---|
Dieback of Stringybark Forests in the Mount Lofty Ranges - extent and causes | Current |
Ecophysiological response of various economic plants in tropical and temperate Australia exposed to acidic precipitation | Current |
Environmental drivers of River Murray mosquito community structure | Current |
Going South: establishment of invasive, tropical pearl oysters in the (temperate) gulfs of South Australia | Current |
Quantifying dieback of Eucalyptus forests using remote sensing | Current |
Urban vegetation and invertebrate biodiversity: revegetated and remnant site effects | Current |
Statistical analysis of dynamic patterns in insular biogeography | Completed |