Fellow

Applied ecological theory, fire ecology, biodiversity in fragmented landscapes

Phone: +61 (0)2 61258130
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6125 0746
E-mail: don.driscoll@anu.edu.au

Career Brief

• PhD, UNI WA, metapopulation ecology of endangered frogs.
• CSIRO Post-Doc, Canberra. Impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on reptiles and beetles in agricultural landscapes.
• ARC Post-Doctoral Fellowship, UTAS. Habitat fragmentation and metapopulations.
• Lecturer, Flinders University. Coordinating/teaching a post-graduate biodiversity course. Fire and fragmentation research. 
• Fellow, Fenner School, ANU.

Professional Activities

All of my research has Conservation biology as a central theme, with a focus on how species use whole landscapes.  I take a range of approaches, including manipulative experiments, natural experiments, dispersal studies and the application of population genetic techniques.  I place a strong emphasis on testing ecological theory using applied conservation problems. 

Ecological Synthesis

Using David Lindenmayer’s large data sets, I will challenge a range of ecological theory, including metacommunity theory and assembly rules.  My objective is to understand where particular theory has predictive value and how that knowledge might be applied in conservation biology. 

Habitat Fragmentation and Loss

I am co-supervising two students who are examining the mechanics of connectivity for wildlife in agricultural landscapes.  These will examine how reptiles and beetles use linear remnants and planted strips in mallee habitats.  Collaborators include University of Melbourne, Flinders University and DEH SA.  A new project currently available will examine dispersal out of remnant vegetation.

Fire Ecology

In collaboration SA DEH, our manipulative, replicated, large-scale mallee-fire experiment is in its fourth year.  We have discovered important patterns of responses to fire in plants, birds, reptiles and beetles.  A new ARC Linkage Grant will enable us to understand the mechanisms underlying fire responses using a combination of field and genetic techniques.  Collaborators include ANU, Flinders Uni, Wollongong Uni, DEC NSW, DEH SA and the Native Vegetation Council, SA.

See more about my research at the Mallee Fire Ecology website.

Selected Publications

See full publication list.

Driscoll, D. A. 2008. The frequency of metapopulations, metacommunities and nestedness in a fragmented landscape. Oikos. 117: 297-309.

Driscoll, D.A., Henderson, M.K., 2008. How many common reptile species are fire specialists?  A replicated natural experiment highlights the predictive weakness of a fire succession model. Biological Conservation. 141: 460-471.

Driscoll, D. A. 2007. How to find a metapopulation. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 85: 1031-1048.

Driscoll, D. A. & Hardy, C. 2005. Dispersal and phylogeography of the agamid lizard Amphibolurus nobbi in fragmented and continuous habitat.  Molecular Ecology. 14: 1613-1629.

Driscoll, D. A. & Weir, T. 2005. Beetle responses to habitat fragmentation depend on ecological traits, remnant condition and shape. Conservation Biology. 19: 182-194.

Driscoll, D. A. 2004. Extinction and outbreaks accompany fragmentation of a reptile community.  Ecological Applications. 14:220-240.