SPEAKER: Ms Renee Hartley (PhD candidate), Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University

DATE & TIME: Friday, 24th July 2020 @ 12:00 noon

LOCATION: Seminar to be streamed via Zoom. Click HERE to connect.

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ABSTRACT.

Ecosystems in the Australian alpine region are facing increasing pressures, including human disturbance, fire and climate change. Invasive herbivores can have severe and sustained impacts on these sensitive ecosystems.

The Endangered alpine she-oak skink (Cyclodomorphus praealtus) occurs in the alpine region of New South Wales and Victoria, with populations in the two jurisdictions considered genetically distinct. The species’ conservation status and habitat requirements are poorly understood in New South Wales, despite much of its range occurring in Kosciuszko National Park. Its primary habitat is subalpine grasslands, which are key grazing habitat for invasive herbivores.

This research addresses important knowledge gaps for managing the unique Australian subalpine grasslands and the alpine she-oak skink by quantifying the impacts of native and invasive herbivores and determining the habitat and detectability of the alpine she-oak skink.

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BIO.

Renée commenced her PhD with ANU’s Fenner School of Environment and Society in 2018 after having worked for more than 10 years in the field of conservation.

With a focus on working with land managers, Renée hopes that her research will inform more effective management of high country ecosystems.

For more info click HERE.

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As a courtesy, we request that when connecting to the seminar that you mute your microphone unless you are required to speak, this would ensure that the sound from the speaker to the audience is not disrupted by feedback from your microphone.

Thanking you in advance!