eucalyptus canopy decline eucalyptus crown decline fire effects on invertebrates forest invertebrates invertebrate biodiversity silvicultural effects on invertebrates terrestrial earthworms tree pest insects


Email Allan

+61 8 4389 96352

Facsimile
+61 8 9777 1183
Street Address
Brain Street, Manjimup WA 6258, Australia
Postal Address
Locked Bag 2, Manjimup WA 6258, Australia

Profile

I provide advice and practical skills in several projects involving the collection, sorting and identification of terrestrial invertebrates, and analysis of responses of invertebrate assemblages to silviculture and fire.


Expertise

  • Invertebrate parataxonomy
  • Insects of Western Australian forests and timber
  • Effects of fire and silviculture on invertebrate assemblages
  • Western Australian earthworms

Brief CV

  • B. Sc. (Hons.) University of Western Australia.
  • Technical Officer- Pine silviculture, nutrition and water relations 1987-1991.
  • Technical Officer- Forest entomology 1992-present. Design, management, completion and reporting of projects involving: monitoring of Jarrah leafminer populations; effects of fire on Jarrah leafminer; insect faunas of Jarrah, Marri and Bluegum canopies; and distribution of earthworm species in Porongurup and Swan Coastal Plain landscapes. Sample collection identification and advice on analysis and interpretation of fire history effects on invertebrate assemablages of the Walpole Wilderness area and London Block small grain fire mosaic. Sample collection identification and analysis of invertebrate assemblage responses to silviculture: the FORESTCHECK  forest monitoring project. Monitoring gumleaf skeletonizer populations using pheromone baited traps: field data collection and analysis development of a predictive model outbreak conditions.

Projects

  • Influence of fire history and landscape on ground invertebrate community composition: Serpentine and Helena River valleys; Walpole Fire Mosaic.
  • FORESTCHECK invertebrates: Monitoring the long-term effects of Jarrah forest silviculture on invertebrate community composition.
  • Invertebrate threats to forest health: monitoring gumleaf skeletonizer populations using pheromone baited moth traps. Monitoring, refinement of methodology, predictive model for outbreak conditions.

Publications (97)

Departmental Publications (97)

Found 97 items

2020

Burrows N, Rampant P, Loewenthal G, Wills A (2020). Fire, plant species richness and plants of significance to Australian desert Aboriginal people. International Journal of Wildland Fire 29, pp. 939–942

Wills A (2020). Note on inspection for gumleaf skeletonizer (Uraba lugens) occurrence summer 2019-2020. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA. 2 p.

Wills AJ, Farr JD (2020). Climate, vegetation, and fire: confounded effects on Uraba lugens (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) moth trap catches across fire boundaries?. 28 p.

Wills AJ, Liddelow G, Tunsell V (2020). Wildfire and fire mosaic effects on bird species richness and community composition in south-western Australia. Fire Ecology 16,

2019

Burrows N, Ward B, Wills A, Williams M, Cranfield R (2019). Fine-scale change in jarrah forest understory vegetation assemblages over time is independent of fire regime. Available at https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/about-us/science-and-research/publications-resources/111-science-division-information-sheets. DBCA, Kensington, WA. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia, Information Sheet 94, p.

Burrows N, Ward B, Wills A, Williams M, Cranfield R (2019). Fine-scale temporal turnover of jarrah forest understory vegetation assemblages is independent of fire regime. Fire Ecology 15, pp.

Wills A (2019). Defoliation of Melaleuca rhaphiophylla by native sawflies on Peaceful Bay Road, 28 February 2019. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Manjimup. 5 p.

Wills A, Ettridge R (2019). Observation notes on a scale insect on Acacia pulchella at Kirup. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Manjimup. 13 p.

2018

Wills AJ, Cranfield RJ, Ward BG, Tunsell VL (2018). Cryptogam recolonization after wildfire: leaders and laggards in assemblages?. Fire Ecology 14, pp. 65–84

2017

Ward B, Cranfield R, Wills A, Tunsell V (2017). Influence of fire-age mosaics on macrolichens and bryophytes in southwestern Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 100, pp. 32–45

Wills AJ, Farr JD (2017). Defoliation of jarrah in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste region of Western Australia, September-October 2017. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Manjimup. 16 p.

Wills AJ, Farr JD (2017). Gumleaf skeletoniser, Uraba lugens (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) larval outbreaks occur in high rainfall Western Australian jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest after drought. Austral Entomology 56, pp. 424–432

2016

Abbott I, Wills A (2016). Review and synthesis of knowledge of insular ecology, with emphasis on the islands of Western Australia. Conservation Science Western Australia 11, pp. 1–212

2015

Marlow NJ, Williams AAE, Brazell R, Macmahon B, Withnell N, Thomas N et al. [Hamilton N] (2015). The development of a toxic 1080 bait, Pro-bait, for fox (Vulpes vulpes) control in Western Australia. Conservation Science Western Australia 9, pp. 249–257

Wills A (2015). A note on trends in soil dryness index in Western Australian forests 2000-2015. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Manjimup. 6 p.

Wills A (2015). Chronic defoliation of flooded gum. Western Wildlife: Newsletter of the Land for Wildlife Scheme 19(2), pp. 1, 4

2014

Farr JD, Wills AJ (2014). Common insect pests of Western Australia's southern jarrah forests (POSTER). 1 p.

Farr JD, Wills AJ (2014). Gumleaf skeletonizer (GLS) monitoring using pheromone baited moth traps 2011-2014. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Kensington, WA. 27 p.

2013

Wills A (2013). Bill Wills and the nature of memory. Landscope 28(3), pp. 46–51

Wills A (2013). Forest management: why the beetles, moths and other little creatures matter. PowerPoint presentation at Rotary Club of Pinjarra, 16 May 2013. 29 p.

Wills A (2013). Plant galls: the diverse abnormal growths on plants resulting from their intimate associations with parasitic organisms (BOOK REVIEW). Western Wildlife: Newsletter of the Land for Wildlife Scheme 17(2), pp. 11–13

Wills A (2013). Potential insect pest species observed at Boothendarra 4 plantation (DEC estate) on E. camaldulensis, 26 June 2013. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 6 p.

Wills AJ, van Heurck PF, Farr JD (2013). Persistence of velvet worms (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae): effects of fire and climate in forests of south-west Western Australia.Poster presented at the Australian Entomological Society 44th AGM & Scientific Conference, 29 September-2nd October 2013, Invertebrates in extreme environments.

2012

Farr J, Wills A (2012). FORESTCHECK: response of macro-invertebrates to silviculture in jarrah forest. Available at https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/about-us/science-and-research/publications-resources/111-science-division-information-sheets. 56/2012, 2 p.

Farr J, Wills A (2012). Gumleaf skeletonizer (Uraba lugens) outbreak, February 2010-2012 : update of the severity of gumleaf skeletonizer outbreak in Warren region. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 11 p.

Farr JD, Wills AJ (2012). Field testing Desire® Delta trap and GLS sex pheromone lure system for measuring outbreak and basal populations of Uraba lugens Walker (Lepidotera: Nolidae). Australian Forestry 75, pp. 175–179

Wills A (2012). Notes on terrestrial Oligochaeta (earthworms) collected c. 2 km SSE of Preston Beach town, Western Australia, December 2011. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 5 p.

Wills AJ (2012). Report on terrestrial Oligochaeta (earthworms) collected from the Newmont Asia Pacific Boddington gold mine residue disposal area and waste rock dump expansion, c. 15 km northwest of Boddington, Western Australia, 16 August-30 September 2011. Draft. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 22 p.

2011

Farr JD, Wills AJ, van Heurck PF, Mellican AE, Williams MR (2011). FORESTCHECK: the response of macro-invertebrates to silviculture in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest. Australian Forestry 74, pp. 315–327

Wills A (2011). Preliminary observations of bulls-eye borer (Phoracantha acanthocera) on marri (Corymbia calophylla): a bellwether for effects of climate trends on ecosystem quality in forest of south-west Western Australia?. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 19 p.

Wills A, Hooper R (2011). Decline and recovery of wandoo crowns involving the beetle Cisseis fascigera (Buprestidae) (POSTER). 1 poster

Wittkuhn RS, McCaw L, Wills AJ, Robinson R, Andersen AN, van Heurck P et al. [Farr J, Liddelow G, Cranfield R] (2011). Impacts of variation in fire interval sequences on species richness and composition (ABSTRACT). In Western Australian Bushfire Research Forum 2011, 12 and 13 October 2011: Book of Abstracts p. 16

Wittkuhn RS, McCaw L, Wills AJ, Robinson R, Andersen AN, van Heurck P et al. [Farr J, Liddelow G, Cranfield R] (2011). Variation in fire interval sequences has minimal effects on species richness and composition in fire-prone landscapes of south-west Western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 261, pp. 965–978

Wittkuhn RS, McCaw L, Wills AJ, Robinson R, Andersen AN, van Heurck P, Farr J, Liddelow G, Cranfield R, Burrows ND (2011). Resilience of open forests and shrublands to contrasting fire interval sequences in a Mediterranean environment of south-west Western Australia. In Wildfire 2011: the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference, 9-13 May 2011, South Africa: Living with Fire: Addressing Global Change through Integrated Fire Management: Sun City, South Africa, 9-13 May 2011 Conference Organising Committee, Sun City. pp. 1–11

2010

Farr J, Wills A (2010). Gumleaf skeletonizer (Uraba lugens) outbreak, February 2010: preliminary survey of the extent and severity of gumleaf skeletonizer outbreak in Warren region, February 2010. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 7 p.

Farr J, Wills A, van Heurck P, Mellican A, Williams M (2010). Response of invertebrates to timber harvesting and post-harvest burning in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest in Mediterranean south-west Western Australia: findings from the FORESTCHECK monitoring project 2001-2006 (ABSTRACT). In Entomology For Australia’s Future, Perth 2010: Australian Entomological Society’s 41st AGM and Scientific Conference: Perth, September 26-30, 2010, The Vines Resort, Swan Valley, Western Australia p. 18

Hooper RJ, Shearer BL, Wills A, Sivasithamparam K (2010). Novel hypothesis of growth-imbalance predicts a worrying trend for eucalypt woodlands under climate change. Poster presented at the ESA10: 2010 Annual Conference: Sustaining Biodiversity - the Next 50 Years: Manning Clark Centre, ANU Canberra, 6-10 December 2010. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA.

Hooper RJ, Wills A, Shearer BL, Sivasithamparam K (2010). A redescription and notes on biology of Cisseis fascigera Obenberger (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) on declining Eucalyptus wandoo in south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 49, pp. 234–244

Whitford K, Manning L, Wills A (2010). Wandoo crown condition 2010: report of five years of wandoo crown decline surveys. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 19 p.

2009

Whitford KR, Manning EJ, Wills AJ (2009). Wandoo crown condition 2009: report of wandoo crown decline surveys, 2009. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 11 p.

Wills A (2009). Decline and recovery of a wandoo tree at Wundabiniring Brook, 1999-2009 : a photohistory. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 12 p.

Wills A (2009). Earthworms on the Maret Islands and adjacent islands, north-west Kimberley region, Western Australia. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 31 p.

Wills A (2009). Jarrah leafminer: a damaging pest of jarrah forest. Available at https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/about-us/science-and-research/publications-resources/111-science-division-information-sheets. 16/2009, 2 p.

Wittkuhn R, McCaw L, Phelan G, Farr J, Liddelow G, van Heurck P et al. [Wills A, Robinson R, Cranfield R, Fielder J, Dornan C] (2009). Assessing the effects of contrasting fire intervals on biodiversity at a landscape scale. In Fire, Environment and Society: From Research into Practice, Adelaide Convention Centre, 1-3 September 2008: the International Bushfire Research Conference Incorporating the 15th AFAC Conference: Conference Papers Bushfire CRC, Melbourne. pp. 482–493

Wittkuhn R, McCaw L, Robinson R, Farr J, van Heurck P, Wills A, Liddelow G, Cranfield R, Andersen A (2009). Planning fire intervals for biodiversity conservation. Poster presented at the AFAC09, Conference of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authority Council and Bushfire CRC, Gold Coast, Qld, September 2009.

2008

Whitford K, Manning L, Wills A (2008). Wandoo crown condition 2008: report of wandoo crown decline surveys, 2008. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 7 p.

Whitford KR, Manning EJ, Wills AJ (2008). Wandoo crown condition: report of wandoo crown decline surveys, 2007. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 5 p.

Wills A (2008). 10 years of photo-observations from Wundabiniring Brook (ABSTRACT). In 5 year review - wandoo crown decline: program Wandoo Recovery Group, Perth. p. 5

Wills A (2008). Earwig flies?: ancient and mysterious insects. Western Wildlife: Newsletter of the Land for Wildlife Scheme 12(1), p. 5

Wills A (2008). Earwig-fly, Austromerope poultoni, Meropeidae, Mecoptera. pp. 2–3

Wittkuhn R, McCaw L, Phelan G, Farr J, Liddelow G, van Heurck P et al. [Wills A, Robinson R, Cranfield R, Fielder J, Dornan C] (2008). Assessing the effects of contrasting fire intervals on biodiversity at a landscape scale (ABSTRACT). In Fire, Environment and Society: From Research into Practice, Adelaide Convention Centre, Australia, 1-3 September 2008: the International Bushfire Research Conference incorporating the 15th AFAC Conference: delegate handbook p. 18

2007

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (2007). Austromerope poultoni (Insecta: Mecoptera) in south-west Western Australia: occurrence, modelled geographical distribution and phenology. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 90, pp. 97–106

Whitford KR, Manning EJ, Wills AJ (2007). Baselining wandoo crown condition: preliminary report of wandoo crown decline surveys, 2006. Department of Environment and Conservation, Manjimup. 11 p.

2006

Wills A (2006). Crown decline in wandoo: observations from Wundabiniring Brook 1999-2006. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 6 p.

Wills A (2006). Further notes on Agonis flexuosa foliage death at Yalgorup National Park : survival rates of affected trees, October 2006. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 8 p.

Wills A (2006). Note on Agonis flexuosa death at Yalgorup National Park, June 2006. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 7 p.

2005

Burbidge T, Wills A (2005). Northern extent of jarrah leafminer infestation: survey November 2004. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA. 10 p.

Stukely M, Wills A (2005). Observations of marri and jarrah crown decline near North Bannister. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA. 5 p.

Whitford K, Wills A, Manning L (2005). Surveying wandoo crown decline: a guide for assessors (PAMPHLET). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA.

Wills A (2005). Crown decline in wandoo: observations from Wundabiniring Brook 1999-2005. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA. 10 p.

2004

(2004). Crown decline in wandoo: supplement 2004. Draft. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA. 13 p.

Wills A (2004). Crown decline in wandoo: update for 2004: observations from Wundabiniring Brook, 1999-2004. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA. 15 p.

Wills AJ, Burbidge TE, Abbott I (2004). Impact of repeated defoliation on jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) saplings. Australian Forestry 67, pp. 194–198

2003

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Strehlow K, Mellican A, Wills A (2003). Logging and burning impacts on cockroaches, crickets and grasshoppers, and spiders in jarrah forest, Western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 174, pp. 383–399

Wills A, Abbott I (2003). Landscape-scale species richness of earthworms in the Porongurup Range, Western Australia: influence of aspect, soil fertility and vegetation type. Biology and Fertility of Soils 39, pp. 94–102

2002

Abbott I, Wills A (2002). Distribution of the native earthworm fauna of the Perth metropolitan sector of the Swan Coastal Plain. Pacific Conservation Biology 8, pp. 196–210

Wills A (2002). Insects and tuart health (ABSTRACT). In Tuart Science Workshop: Managing Sustainable Tuart Ecosystems: Wednesday 24 July 2002, Technology Park Theatre, Bentley p. 1

Wills A (2002). Insects and tuart health: an outline of potential threats. Paper presented at the Tuart Science Workshop: Managing Sustainable Tuart Ecosystems: Wednesday 24 July 2002, Technology Park Theatre, Bentley. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA. 22 p.

2001

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Strehlow K, Mellican A, Wills A (2001). Logging and burning impacts on cockroaches, crickets & grasshoppers, and spiders in jarrah forest, Western Australia. PowerPoint presentation. 22 p.

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Strehlow K, Mellican A, Wills A (2001). Logging and burning impacts on cockroaches, crickets and grasshoppers, and spiders in jarrah forest, Western Australia (ABSTRACT). In A Workshop on Environmental Effects of Timber Harvesting in the Jarrah Forest: Perup Forest Ecology Centre, 7 & 8 May 2001: a Synthesis of Recent Research by the Science Division, Department of Conservation & Land Management p. 10

Abbott I, Wills A (2001). Biodiversity of canopy arthropods in jarrah forest of south-west Western Australia: review of ecological theory and conservation management. Pacific Conservation Biology 7, pp. 101–117

Wills A, Stukely M, Tay F, Burbidge T (2001). Crown decline in wandoo: supplement 2001. Department of Conservation and Land Management, 27 p.

2000

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (2000). Jarrah leafminer, cutout boundaries, 1985-92, 1996 & 1999 (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA.

Abbott I, Wills A, Burbidge T, van Heurck P (2000). Arthropod faunas of crowns of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and marri (Corymbia calophylla) in Mediterranean-climate forest: a preliminary regional-scale comparison. Australian Forestry 63, pp. 21–26

Wills A, Tay F, Stukely M, Burbidge T (2000). Crown decline in wandoo, 1999-2000. Department of Conservation and Land Management, 17 p.

1999

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1999). 1999 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

Abbott I, Wills A, Burbidge T (1999). Historical incidence of Perthida leafminer species (Lepidoptera) in southwest Western Australia based on herbarium specimens. Australian Journal of Ecology 24, pp. 144–150

Abbott I, Wills A, Burbidge T (1999). Reinfestation of Eucalyptus marginata ground coppice by jarrah leafminer after scorch by autumn or spring fires. Australian Forestry 62, pp. 160–165

Abbott I, Wills A, Burbidge T (1999). The impact of canopy development on arthropod faunas in recently established Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 121, pp. 147–158

1998

Wills A, Burbidge T (1998). Insect scouting techniques: a survey of insect damage to foliage in E. globulus plantations in the Albany, Collie and Manjimup areas. Department of Conservation and Land Management, 8 p.

1996

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1996). 1996 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

Abbott I, Wills A (1996). Growth of young Eucalyptus globulus in plantations after manual defoliation simulating insect herbivory. CALMScience 2, pp. 129–132

1995

Abbott I, van Heurck P, Burbidge T, Wills A (1995). Cutting out the leafminer. Landscope 11(1), pp. 43–47

Wills A, Burbidge T (1995). The autumn gum moth, Mnesampela privata: a summary of observations from Western Australia and a possible method of risk assessment. Department of Conservation and Land Management, 38 p.

Wills A, Burbidge T (1995). Variation across provenance regions and families for damage to Eucalyptus globulus leaves by chewing insects. Department of Conservation and Land Management, 17 p.

Wills A, Donnelly D, Smith E, Burbidge T, Davis S (1995). An appraisal of methods for determining the age, distribution and extent within whole tree trunks of damage by wood boring insect larvae. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA. 24 p.

1994

Abbott I, van Heurck P, Burbidge T, Wills A (1994). Factors influencing the performance of jarrah leafminer (Lepidoptera) within stands of jarrah forest of Western Australia. Australian Forestry 57, pp. 165–170

Wills A, Burbidge T (1994). Borer damage to Eucalyptus and Acacia trees in remnant bush and suburban gardens: causes and remedies. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA. 2 p.

1992

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1992). 1992 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

1991

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1991). 1991 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

1990

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1990). 1990 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

1989

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1989). 1989 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

1988

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1988). 1988 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

1987

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1987). 1987 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

Wills A (1987). Pine trees steeped in history. CALM News 3(32), p. 3

1986

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1986). 1986 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.

1985

Abbott I, Burbidge T, Wills A (1985). 1985 jarrah leafminer survey (MAP). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, WA.