As a Technical Officer (casual) in the Wetland Conservation Program, I am responsible for the day to day data collection for the fauna aspects of The State Salinity Strategy Wheatbelt Wetlands Monitoring Program
Biological survey and Monitoring of wetland fauna
1982 BSc (Zoology, Botany) The University of Western Australia
1984 MSc prelim.
Thesis investigating niche partitioning amongst shorebirds at Rottnest Island
1985-1992 MSc (Part-time) The University of Western Australia
Research thesis based on genetic and ecological interactions between two frog species in the south-west of Western Australia.
Employment and Research experience
1987-1998 Research officer with the Department of Zoology The University of Western Australia
1990-1992 Sub-contract consultant for Streamtec.
1992-1995 Self employed consultant to aquaculture industry (Marron).
1995-1998 Sub-contracting consultant providing expertise in aquatic invertebrate assemblages and their monitoring.
1999-present Casual Technical Officer Dept Parks and Wildlife, Science Division; Wheatbelt Wetlands Monitoring Program
I am involved in the State Salinity Strategy Wheatbelt Wetlands Monitoring Program. This program began in 1997 and focuses on tracking changes in biodiversity in a variety of wetland types commonly occuring in the wheatbelt. A selection of 25 representative wetlands are sampled for aquatic invertebrates, waterbirds and physico chemical variables on a biennial cycle. Sister projects focus on vegetation and wetland depth and water chemistry. This program is not designed to be an early warning system but rather a broad data collection exercise aimed at increasing our understanding of how wetlands function and vary over time. The collected data are available for analysis and researchers or land managers with particular questions relating to wetlands, particularly on broad temporal scales, are encouraged to make contact to determine the extent and suitability of the data. While a number of 'in house reports' have been published, the data has also been used by other researchers in activities as varied as; developing indices of ecological health, describing the ecological character of a RAMSAR wetland and identifying species useful as indicators of system health for Reserve Management Plans.
