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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social

@gunnarkeppel.bsky.social
410 followers 202 following 58 posts

Environmental biologist at Adelaide University passionate about biodiversity, conservation, and ecology. I live and work on Kaurna land in Adelaide, Australia.

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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Great work and important truth telling! Major post-contact population collapses occurred in parts of the Pacific Islands as well. theconversation.com/more-than-2-...
theconversation.com
More than 2 million Indigenous people lived in Australia in 1788: new research
Genetic, archaeological and environmental evidence suggest the Indigenous population fell by more than 90% in the 70 years after the British invaded.
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Interested in how drought and fire interact to impact the condition of trees? Looking for a PhD project where you can make a difference? Would you like to work on an applied project with the Department for the Environment and Water? APPLY BY 30 SEPTEMBER to work with us!
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Based on meticulous work by PhD candidate Chloé Bentze (@chloebentze.bsky.social), our paper shows that the increasing dieback in stringybark eucalypts is starting to negatively affect the abundance of canopy- and insect-feeding birds in the Adelaide Hills. lnkd.in/p/gapj9VTZ
lnkd.in
637 trees re-surveyed, 2 rounds of revisions (with a very thorough Reviewer 2) and 3 years in the making... Another one of my PhD chapters has finally been published in Biological Conservation (open… ...
637 trees re-surveyed, 2 rounds of revisions (with a very thorough Reviewer 2) and 3 years in the making... Another one of my PhD chapters has finally been published in Biological Conservation (open a...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Fully funded PhD Position that will use prescribed burns to investigate the impact of fire on drought-stressed trees! biodiversityoceania.com/2026/09/01/m...
biodiversityoceania.com
Managing Fire Impacts on Drought-stressed Trees: Fully Funded PhD Opportunity
Drought stress can cause canopy loss (Fig. 1) and hydraulic damage, affecting processes that are essential for tree survival. Subsequent recovery requires energy and time. Intensifying and more fre…
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Just out. We show that climate impacts the above-ground biomass through effects on forest structure that differ among regions. I enjoyed contributing and would like to congratulate lead author Pauline Depoortere for keeping a huge team of authors engaged in the process. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
doi.org
Region-specific forest structure pathways reveal climate effects on old-growth tropical forest biomass - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Region-specific forest structure pathways reveal climate effects on old-growth tropical forest biomass
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Why are cycads on islands in the Pacific Ocean special and how did they get there? I was asked what my favourite plant is and wrote a short post about that. biodiversityoceania.com/2026/08/06/c...
biodiversityoceania.com
Cycads in the Pacific: from Relicts to Supertramps
I was recently asked what my favourite plant species is. After some soul searching, I arrived at the the Pacific cycad, Cycas seemannii (Fig. 1), found in Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. B…
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
HIRING!!! We are looking for a plant biologist to join our team. Ideal for early career sceintists. There are great people to work with. jobs.adelaide.edu.au/jobs/lecture...
jobs.adelaide.edu.au
Lecturer, Botany/Plant Biology (Level A) - Adelaide CBD, SA, Australia
Based in the College of Science at the School of Biological Sciences, Adelaide City Campus Full-time, 3-year fixed term contract Salary Range: $81,293 - $109,307 per annum (plus 17% superannuation) A...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
www.linkedin.com/posts/gunnar...
linkedin.com
Disturbance and topography shape the capacity of microrefugia to support unique biodiversity | Gunnar Keppel
Honoured to have been part of this effort by the excellent Zoltan Batori and his team! We show that legacy effects of past #disturbance can impact the capacity of #refugia to support biodiversity unde...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Very sad to lose a trusted colleague, champion of ecology, and a kind soul. May she rest in peace natureglenelg.org.au/vale-joan-gi...
natureglenelg.org.au
Vale Joan Gibbs, an inspiration to many and a champion of ecology and restoration - Nature Glenelg Trust
A couple of weeks ago, I was extremely saddened to hear the news that Joan Gibbs, an early important influence in my journey towards becoming a practicing
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
www.linkedin.com/posts/refugi...
linkedin.com
South Australia Eucalyptus Dieback and Climate Change Refugia Conservation | Refugia Research Coalition posted on the topic | LinkedIn
In South Australia, climate change-induced droughts can cause dieback of Eucalyptus trees. Chloé Bentze and coauthors have studied how microrefugia knowledge can be used to strategically conserve a vu...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
Interested in climate-change refugia for conservation? This paper provides an overview of a special issue on the topic. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Conserving climate‐change refugia: Insights from research and practice
Climate-change refugia conservation is a strategy to reduce the impacts of climate change on natural and cultural resources. Although there are still gaps in implementation, there have been great adv....
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Where the wild things thrive: Finding and protecting nature’s climate change safe havens theconversation.com/where-the-wi...
theconversation.com
Where the wild things thrive: Finding and protecting nature’s climate change safe havens
Protecting places that are likely to remain cool and moist as global temperatures rise can save wildlife of all kinds, but first we have to find them.
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Fusing spectral and structural imagery to identify and understand tree #dieback. Donna Fitzgerald presenting at #ESA2025
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
@chloebentze.bsky.social presenting on widespread #dieback of red stringybark #eucalypt trees in the Clare Valley at #ESA2025
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
And we're on our way! Looking forward to a week of sharing knowledge and stimulating discussions! #ESA2025
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Very proud of Donna Fitzgerald. She's also producing top notch research on applying remote sensing to study dieback youtu.be/Gcv5oySYavE?...
youtu.be
Mum turns her love of gardening into stint at NASA | 9 News Australia
YouTube video by 9 News Australia
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
PhD opportunities available in my group. All involve plants and ensuring their survival under climate change. biodiversityoceania.com/2025/09/09/t...
biodiversityoceania.com
Tackling Hotter, Drier Climates: PhD Opportunities for 2026
Hotter, drier climates are emerging in many parts of the world, including South Australia. To protect biodiversity under these new conditions, we need to understand the environmental tolerances of …
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Great postdoc opportunity: jobs.smartrecruiters.com/WesternSydne...
jobs.smartrecruiters.com
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Forest Monitoring
Company Description: Western Sydney University is a modern, forward-thinking, research-led institution at the heart of Australia’s fastest-growing and most economically significant region. With 11 cam...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Planning to come to the #ESA #ecology #conference in Adelaide this year and are travelling with a #child? ESA provides grants of $250 to allow a child carer to travel with you. More information here: www.ecolsoc.org.au/grants-award...
ecolsoc.org.au
Childcare travel grants - Ecological Society of Australia
Applications for Childcare Travel Grants will open 1 August. The ESA is offering a number of Conference Childcare Travel Grants to assist delegates with young children to bring a support carer with th...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Case study of how #refugia could be help a unique #eucalypt population to survive during future #drought. Spoiler alert: Watering during extreme drought and heat may be required. Led by PhD candidate @chloebentze.bsky.social and with Greg Guerin and Amelia Hurren. doi.org/10.1111/csp2...
doi.org
Using in situ microrefugia to safeguard stringybark eucalypts from hot droughts
Facilitating species persistence under climate change is a pressing issue. Refugia, places where the impacts of climate change may be less severe, can constitute the only option for in situ persisten...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Missed out on getting your #abstract for #ESA25 submitted on time? All is not lost - the submission portal will remain open until 27 July! Just follow the link on this page: esa2025.org.au/call-for-abs...
esa2025.org.au
Call for Abstracts – ESA2025
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
How do you get from gardening to an internship at the Jet Propulsion Lab? Read the story of out PhD candidate Donna Fitzgerald and how she is using remote sensing to better understand #dieback in #eucalypt trees. womenlovetech.com/nasa-selects...
womenlovetech.com
NASA Selects Australian Donna Fitzgerald for Internship
SmartSat CRC PhD Student Donna Fitzgerald has secured a NASA internship. And will investigate vegetation health from space.
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Missed the symposium on #forest #dieback at the ESA last year? Would you like to revist the presentations by experts in the field throughout Australia? The symposium was sponsored by the Natural Resource Commission of NSW amd is now available on their webpage: www.nrc.nsw.gov.au/forest-dieback.
nrc.nsw.gov.au
Forest dieback research
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
Less than 3 weeks to get your abstracts in for #ESA2025 - Australia's premier conference for #ecology and #conservation. We're looking forward to welcoming you in #Adelaide! esa2025.org.au/call-for-abs...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Interested in hashtag#emergency interventions for extreme events to protect hashtag#biodiversity? This symposium at hashtag#ESA2025 is for you. Organised by Claire Mason, Hugh Possingham, Libby Rumpff and me. biodiversityoceania.com/2025/06/24/e...
biodiversityoceania.com
Emergency Interventions to Deal with Ecological Catastrophes
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and associated catastrophic ecological events. Recent Australian examples of catastrophic events include the 2019/20 mega…
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
www.linkedin.com/posts/gunnar...
linkedin.com
#iccb #refugia #esa25 | Gunnar Keppel
Looking forward to the #ICCB congress in Brisbane next week. Will be chairing a symposium on climate change #refugia. Also happy to answer any questions about #ESA25 in Adelaide later this year. Drop ...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Very excited for PhD candidate Donna Fitzgerald for this opportunity to work with experts at NASA to study vegetation health. smartsatcrc.com/branching-ou...
smartsatcrc.com
Branching Out: SmartSat PhD selected for prestigious NASA Internship - SmartSat CRC
Donna Fitzgerald’s passion for advancing environmental science is taking her from the leafy Adelaide Hills to sunny California, securing a competitive 10-week internship at one of the world’s most pre...
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Reposted by GunnarKeppel.bsky.social
Iris Hordijk @iris-hordijk.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Publication out on the effect of climate on traits of dominant and rare tree species in the world’s forests in natcomms.nature.com‬rdcu.be/enby2
rdcu.be
Effect of climate on traits of dominant and rare tree species in the world’s forests
Nature Communications - Species’ traits and environmental conditions determine the abundance of tree species across the globe. Here, the authors find that dominant tree species are taller and...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Scholarships for #PhD projects to save the #biodiversity in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, available now. If interested in working with me, project 5 will seek to ensure #ClimateResilient ecosystems. scholarships.adelaide.edu.au/Scholarships...
scholarships.adelaide.edu.au
Bob Croser Woodland Recovery Supplementary Scholarships - The Environment Institute | Scholarships & Prizes
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
www.linkedin.com/posts/chloe-...
linkedin.com
Drought is a major contributor to tree mortality - the local newspaper… | Chloé Bentze
Drought is a major contributor to tree mortality - the local newspaper brings our observations to light 🙌 Honoured to share with The Courier about the research work in our lab, thanks to Amelia Hurren...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
The MAK'IT #fellowships - MAK'IT Montpellier - are open. A great opportunity to collaborate with colleagues at the University of Montpellier in the broad area of #sustainable transitions! makit.edu.umontpellier.fr/en/calls-for...
makit.edu.umontpellier.fr
Visiting Fellows - Research Stay in Montpellier - Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions
tHIS CALL FOR APPLICATION is now OPEN This fellowship programme allows research units to host international researchers for stays of three to six months as part of the I-SITE excellence program led by...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Not sure what #RemoteSensing approach to use for your #vegetation assessment? Donna Fitzgerald of @UniversitySA provides some guidance in her recent systematic review focussing on #eucalypts. With Amelia Hurren and Stefan Peters onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Vegetation Assessment Using Remote Sensing: A Systematic Review for Eucalypts in Australia
Remote sensing enables vegetation assessment of eucalypt forests and woodlands across Australia at multiple scales. Despite its potential, remote sensing is underutilised, especially in remote, biodi...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Tree dieback in South Australia - where is it happening? We need your help! biodiversityoceania.com/2025/04/16/t...
biodiversityoceania.com
Taking stock of recent tree dieback in South Australia: can you help?
South Australia is in the midst of a severe drought. Many parts of the state have experienced little to no rain for months, resulting in a water crisis with water tanks and dams running dry. The ef…
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Forest Dieback: an emerging problem (summary of our recent symposium) biodiversityoceania.com/2025/04/11/f...
biodiversityoceania.com
Forest dieback induced by climate change: an emerging challenge for Australia
The impacts of climate change are placing increasing stress on organisms. For plants, drought and extreme heat are key stressors that have been intensifying, causing large-scale dieback events in t…
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Help shape #ESA2025. Only a couple more days left for submitting symposia. esa2025.org.au/call-for-sympo…
esa2025.org.au
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Australia's premier #conference in #ecology and #conservation is coming to #Adelaide !!!
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Reminder: #PhD position in our group to work on #dieback of #eucalypts available (sorry, only Australian citizens and residents are eligible): www.unisa.edu.au/research/deg...
unisa.edu.au
Ecosystem Impacts of Tree Diebackminus-thickplus-thickminus-thickplus-thickminus-thickplus-thickminus-thickplus-thickminus-thickplus-thickarrow-small-rightcloseglassesglassesglassesglassesFacebookXLin...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Our stringybark #eucalypt dieback team after a successful symposium on #dieback at the conference of the @ecolsocaus.bsky.social - with Chloe Bentze and Donna Fitzgerald
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Only 1 week to go for our symposium on #forest #dieback at #ESA2024 kaigi.eventsair.com/QuickEventWe...
kaigi.eventsair.com
Event Info Site_Program and Speakers
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Excited to have a little piece on #climate change #refugia in the latest Australian Geographic...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
Interested in tree #dieback caused by climate change and how it impacts ecosystems? Interested in joining our group for a #PhD project? Find out more (sorry, stipend is available for Australian citizens and residents only): www.unisa.edu.au/research/deg...
unisa.edu.au
Ecosystem Impacts of Tree Diebackminus-thickplus-thickminus-thickplus-thickminus-thickplus-thickminus-thickplus-thickminus-thickplus-thickarrow-small-rightcloseglassesglassesglassesglassesFacebookXLin...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 13/10/2024
Refugia: how to best use them to protect biodiversity under climate change biodiversityoceania.com/2024/09/18/u...
biodiversityoceania.com
Using refugia to resist biodiversity loss under global change
Refugia constitute the best places to resist the impacts of climate change and to retain biodiversity in rapidly changing landscapes. An international team of leading scientists suggests that manag…
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 02/10/2024
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Botanists identify 33 global ‘dark spots’ with thousands of unknown plants
Kew study reveals areas with at least 100,000 undiscovered plant species – most likely to be under threat of extinction
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 27/09/2024
Position in botany available at the University of Adelaide (not that there's another one in bioinformatics): careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/51...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 18/09/2024
Research on integrating refugia in conservation planning to reduce extinctions under climate change with Diana Stralberg, Toni Lyn Morelli and Zoltán Bátori featuring in the news: www.nationaltribune.com.au/scientists-u...
nationaltribune.com.au
Scientists urge new conservation approach to save vulnerable species from climate change impacts
A healthy strand of red stringybarks (above) on a sheltered, pole-facing slope compared with (top) a stand with severe dieback on an exposed
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 04/09/2024
Guide to using refugia from climate change to retain biodiverstiy in landscapes out in Trends in Ecology and Evolution. Greatly enjoyed working with Diana Stralberg, Toni Lyn Morelli, and Zoltán Bátori - leaders in the field.
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 18/07/2024
CONGRATULATIONS to friend and colleague Nunia Moko of local NGO NatureFiji-MareqetiViti for being awarded by the Society for Conservation Biology for her extraordinary contributions to the conservation of Fiji's natural heritage! Well-deserved!!! scboceania.org/2024/07/2024...
scboceania.org
2024 Regional Distinguished Service Award Winner announced! – Society for Conservation Biology Oceania
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 15/07/2024
Recent research suggests that #forest is resilient, yet vulnerable, to #cyclones #hurricanes #typhoons: biodiversityoceania.com/2024/07/08/t...
biodiversityoceania.com
Tropical Cyclones and the future of our forest: insights from recent research
Tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons) are ecological disturbances that vary in severity. The immediate impacts of cyclones on forest trees range from partial defoliation to extensive uprooting and ...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 22/05/2024
The taxon cycle suggests that today's invasive species may evolve into tomorrow's endemic species on islands. Find out more and how work with @jason_nge and @Thomas_P_Ibanez suggests that this is less likely on older islands. biodiversityoceania.com/2024/05/22/t...
biodiversityoceania.com
The Taxon Cycle: how current invasive species may become endemics on islands
The taxon cycle seeks to explain how the biodiversity on islands arises. The theory proposes that patterns of biodiversity across oceanic archipelagos can be explained by new taxa consistently arrivin...
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GunnarKeppel.bsky.social @gunnarkeppel.bsky.social · 03/05/2024
April Highlights: workshop with leaders in research and stewardship of forests from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia to establish a Melanesian Observatory (MELANOBS). It was great catching up with colleagues and friends.
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