Carole Elliott

Observational foraging behaviour of avian pollinators in restored and remnant Banksia woodlands

Pollinators, and the pollination services they provide, are critical for seed set and self-sustai... more Pollinators, and the pollination services they provide, are critical for seed set and self-sustainability of most flowering plants. Despite this, pollinators are rarely assessed in restored plant communities, where their services are largely assumed to re-establish. This data set contains the bird-pollinator richness, foraging and bird interaction behaviour between natural and restored Banksia woodland sites in Western Australia. These parameters were measured for natural communities of varying size and degree of fragmentation, and restored plant communities of high and low complexity for three years, in the summer and winter flowering of Banksia attenuata and B. menziesii, respectively. Data collected was used to assess the re-establishment of avian pollinators in restored sites.

IonXpress_016_Ricinocarpos

IonXpress_016_Ricinocarpo

Seed movement in small‐scale vegetation restoration

Ecological Management & Restoration, 2021

A framework for the practical science necessary to restore sustainable, resilient, and biodiverse ecosystems

Restoration Ecology, 2016

Demand for restoration of resilient, self-sustaining, and biodiverse natural ecosystems as a cons... more Demand for restoration of resilient, self-sustaining, and biodiverse natural ecosystems as a conservation measure is increasing globally; however, restoration efforts frequently fail to meet standards appropriate for this objective. Achieving these standards requires management underpinned by input from diverse scientific disciplines including ecology, biotechnology, engineering, soil science, ecophysiology, and genetics. Despite increasing restoration research activity, a gap between the immediate needs of restoration practitioners and the outputs of restoration science often limits the effectiveness of restoration programs. Regrettably, studies often fail to identify the practical issues most critical for restoration success. We propose that part of this oversight may result from the absence of a considered statement of the necessary practical restoration science questions. Here we develop a comprehensive framework of the research required to bridge this gap and guide effective restoration. We structure questions in five themes: (1) setting targets and planning for success, (2) sourcing biological material, (3) optimizing establishment, (4) facilitating growth and survival, and (5) restoring resilience, sustainability, and landscape integration. This framework will assist restoration practitioners and scientists to identify knowledge gaps and develop strategic research focused on applied outcomes. The breadth of questions highlights the importance of cross-discipline collaboration among restoration scientists, and while the program is broad, successful restoration projects have typically invested in many or most of these themes. Achieving restoration ecology's goal of averting biodiversity losses is a vast challenge: investment in appropriate science is urgently needed for ecological restoration to fulfill its potential and meet demand as a conservation tool.

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The critical role of ants in the extensive dispersal of Acacia seeds revealed by genetic parentage assignment

Oecologia, Jan 9, 2015

Ants are prominent seed dispersal agents in many ecosystems, and dispersal distances are small in... more Ants are prominent seed dispersal agents in many ecosystems, and dispersal distances are small in comparison with vertebrate dispersal agents. However, the distance and distribution of ant-mediated dispersal in arid/semi-arid environments remains poorly explored. We used microsatellite markers and parentage assignment to quantify the distance and distribution of dispersed seeds of Acacia karina, retrieved from the middens of Iridomyrmex agilis and Melophorus turneri perthensis. From parentage assignment, we could not distinguish the maternal from each parent pair assigned to each seed, so we applied two approaches to estimate dispersal distances, one conservative (CONS), where the parent closest to the ant midden was considered to be maternal, and the second where both parents were deemed equally likely (EL) to be maternal, and used both distances. Parentage was assigned to 124 seeds from eight middens. Maximum seed dispersal distances detected were 417 m (CONS) and 423 m (EL), more...

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Identifying germination opportunities for threatened plant species in episodic ecosystems by linking germination profiles with historic rainfall events

Australian Journal of Botany, 2019

Dynamic processes of seed germination, influenced by niche–climate interactions, underpin success... more Dynamic processes of seed germination, influenced by niche–climate interactions, underpin successful seedling establishment. For threatened species with niches restricted to specific landforms, such as Banded Ironstone Formations (BIF), understanding germination opportunities in relation to long-term rainfall patterns can be critical for management. We quantified germination profiles (germinating fraction and speed with varying dormancy states) from six taxonomically diverse threatened species that are endemic to BIF in Western Australia, and related this to historic rainfall patterns and events. The upper limit of the germination profiles (i.e. for dormancy-alleviated seed) was 1.2–60 times higher (germinating fraction; Gmax) and 1.1–4 times faster (T10) than the lower profile limit (i.e. dormancy not alleviated) in the physiologically dormant species studied (Tetratheca paynterae Alford subsp. paynterae and T. erubescens J.P.Bull; Ricinocarpos brevis R.J.F.Hend. & Mollemans; Darwi...

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A framework for the practical science necessary to restore sustainable, resilient, and biodiverse ecosystems

Demand for restoration of resilient, self-sustaining, and biodiverse natural ecosystems as a cons... more Demand for restoration of resilient, self-sustaining, and biodiverse natural ecosystems as a conservation measure is increasing globally; however, restoration efforts frequently fail to meet standards appropriate for this objective. Achieving these standards requires management underpinned by input from diverse scientific disciplines including ecology, biotechnology, engineering, soil science, ecophysiology, and genetics. Despite increasing restoration research activity, a gap between the immediate needs of restoration practitioners and the outputs of restoration science often limits the effectiveness of restoration programs. Regrettably, studies often fail to identify the practical issues most critical for restoration success. We propose that part of this oversight may result from the absence of a considered statement of the necessary practical restoration science questions. Here we develop a comprehensive framework of the research required to bridge this gap and guide effective re...

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Seed production areas for the global restoration challenge

Ecology and Evolution, 2016

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Phylogenetics and the conservation of rare taxa in the Eucalyptus angustissima complex in Western Australia

Conserv Genet, 2004

Effective conservation that preserves evolutionary entities and processes requires conservation a... more Effective conservation that preserves evolutionary entities and processes requires conservation action that is targeted at appropriate taxonomic units. Molecular phylogenetics can contribute to the resolution of taxonomic uncertainties by defining the relationships between populations and species, and allowing the recognition of taxonomic entities that reflect evolutionary history. Some uncertainty surrounds the status of taxa in the Eucalyptus angustissima complex, which includes threatened taxa with restricted distributions. The phylogenetic relationships between populations and taxa in the E. angustissima complex were investigated using nuclear and chloroplast RFLP analysis. Phylogenetic relationships confirmed the genetic differentiation of two taxa, identified species level divergence between two taxa currently recognised at subspecies level, and established the identity of a previously undetermined population. Phylogenetic relationships between the taxa were not congruent with presumed relationships based on morphological characters alone.

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Elliott CP, Byrne M.. Isolation and characterisation of microsatellites in the woody shrub, Calothmanus quadrifidus (Myrtaceae). Mol Ecol Notes 5: 757-759

Molecular Ecology Notes

ABSTRACT

Genetic Diversity Within and between Natural Populations of Eucalyptus occidentalis (Myrtaceae)

Silvae Genetica

Eucalyptus occidentalis is endemic to the south-west of Australia, occurring in small isolated po... more Eucalyptus occidentalis is endemic to the south-west of Australia, occurring in small isolated populations in wet depressions and along drainage lines. The level of genetic diversity and pattern of structuring within and between populations was investigated using nuclear RFLP analysis of 10 populations. The level of genetic diversity was moderate and similar in the populations from the main range but lower in the outlier populations from the eastern end of the range. There was no evidence of inbreeding within the populations. The level of population differentiation was low but significantly different from zero, and the populations from the eastern end of the range showed higher levels of differentiation from each other and from the populations in the main range. The pattern of genetic diversity in E. occidentalis indicates historical connectivity between populations and the species was probably more abundant with a wider distribution in the past, except for the eastern end of the range where the species distribution appears to have always been fragmented. The pattern of population differentiation is similar to the pattern of differentiation in quantitative traits that has been observed in provenance trials. Sampling strategies for breeding programs should focus on the main range of the species.

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Drummond and his Passion for Orchids

Restoring and maintaining genetic connections in a landscape context

Extensive pollen dispersal in a bird-pollinated shrub, Calothamnus quadrifidus , in a fragmented landscape

Molecular Ecology, 2007

Pollen dispersal was investigated in six populations of Calothamnus quadrifidus , a birdpollinate... more Pollen dispersal was investigated in six populations of Calothamnus quadrifidus , a birdpollinated shrub in the fragmented agricultural region of southern Western Australia. Paternity analysis using six microsatellite loci identified a pollen source within populations for 67% of seedlings, and the remainder were assumed to have arisen from pollen sources outside the populations. Outcrossing was variable, ranging from 5% to 82%, and long-distance pollen dispersal was observed in all populations with up to 43% of pollen sourced from outside the populations over distances of up to 5 km. This extensive pollen immigration was positively associated with population size but not isolation. Comparison of two populations of similar size but different density showed greater internal pollination and less selfing in the denser population, suggesting an influence of density on pollinator behaviour. The study revealed extensive long-distance pollen dispersal for C. quadrifidus within this fragmented agricultural landscape and highlighted the interaction between reserve populations and isolated road verge remnants in maintaining genetic connectivity at the landscape scale.

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Phylogenetics and the conservation of rare taxa in the Eucalyptus angustissima complex in Western Australia

Conservation Genetics, 2000

Effective conservation that preserves evolutionary entities and processes requires conservation a... more Effective conservation that preserves evolutionary entities and processes requires conservation action that is targeted at appropriate taxonomic units. Molecular phylogenetics can contribute to the resolution of taxonomic uncertainties by defining the relationships between populations and species, and allowing the recognition of taxonomic entities that reflect evolutionary history. Some uncertainty surrounds the status of taxa in the Eucalyptus angustissima complex, which includes threatened taxa with restricted distributions. The phylogenetic relationships between populations and taxa in the E. angustissima complex were investigated using nuclear and chloroplast RFLP analysis. Phylogenetic relationships confirmed the genetic differentiation of two taxa, identified species level divergence between two taxa currently recognised at subspecies level, and established the identity of a previously undetermined population. Phylogenetic relationships between the taxa were not congruent with presumed relationships based on morphological characters alone.

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Maintenance of high pollen dispersal in Eucalyptus wandoo, a dominant tree of the fragmented agricultural region in Western Australia

Conservation Genetics, 2008

Pollen dispersal was investigated in five remnant populations of Eucalyptus wandoo, a dominant in... more Pollen dispersal was investigated in five remnant populations of Eucalyptus wandoo, a dominant insect-pollinated tree in the fragmented agricultural region of southern Western Australia. Paternity analysis using six microsatellite loci identified a pollen source for 45% of seedlings, and the remainder were assumed to have arisen from pollen sources outside the stands. Outcrossing was variable, ranging from 52 to 89%, and long distance pollen dispersal was observed in all populations with up to 65% of pollen sourced from outside the populations over distances of at least 1 km. Modelling dispersal functions for pollination events within the two larger populations showed little difference between the four two-parameter models tested and indicated a fat-tailed dispersal curve. Similarity of direct and indirect historical estimates of gene flow indicates maintenance of gene flow at levels experienced prior to fragmentation. The study revealed extensive long distance pollen dispersal in remnant patches of trees within a fragmented agricultural landscape in the southern temperate region and highlighted the role of remnant patches in maintaining genetic connectivity at the landscape scale.

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Seed production, germinability and seedling growth for a bird-pollinated shrub in fragments of kwongan in south-west Australia

Biological Conservation, 2007

In this study we investigate the effect of population size on the proportion of flowers that prod... more

Composition of the pollinator community, pollination and the mating system for a shrub in fragments of species rich kwongan in south-west Western Australia

Biodiversity and Conservation, 2007

Abstract. In this study we investigate the composition of the potential honeyeater pollinator com... more

Morphometric, genetic and ecological studies clarify the conservation status of a rare Acacia in Western Australia

Australian journal of botany, 2002

PolyPatEx: An R package for paternity exclusion in autopolyploids

Molecular ecology resources, Jan 28, 2015

Microsatellite markers have demonstrated their value for performing paternity exclusion and hence... more Microsatellite markers have demonstrated their value for performing paternity exclusion and hence exploring mating patterns in plants and animals. Methodology is well established for diploid species and several software packages exist for elucidating paternity in diploids, however these issues are not so readily addressed in polyploids due to the increased complexity of the exclusion problem and a lack of available software. We introduce PolyPatEx, an R package for paternity exclusion analysis using microsatellite data in autopolyploid, monoecious or dioecious/bisexual species with a ploidy of 4n, 6n or 8n. Given marker data for a set of offspring, their mothers, and a set of candidate fathers, PolyPatEx uses allele matching to exclude candidates whose marker alleles are incompatible with the alleles in each offspring-mother pair. PolyPatEx can analyse marker data sets in which allele copy numbers are known (genotype data) or unknown (allelic phenotype data) - for data sets in which...

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