Please contact David Coates in the first instance or Peter Spencer, if you
need more details.
Honours projects - Plant Science & Herbarium Projects
(David Coates, DPaW)
Plant Science Research Projects
Department of Parks and Wildlife
The Department has the lead responsibility for conserving Western Australia’s biodiversity
and the protection, sustainable use and enjoyment of the State’s natural environment. It
provides a clear focus on key environmental and biodiversity conservation priorities such as
the sustainable use of our natural resources, climate related mitigation and adaptation
strategies, introduced pest plants, animals and diseases, salinity and other land, air and water
quality issues. It manages 27 million hectares covering the State’s national parks, marine
parks, conservation parks, State forests and timber reserves, nature reserves, marine nature
reserves and marine management areas. The department is also responsible pest animal and
weed control on 89 million hectares of unallocated Crown land and unmanaged reserves.
Plant Science and herbarium program 2014-2015
Science and conservation division
The Plant Science and Herbarium Program is one of eight thematic science programs within
the Department of Parks and Wildlife Science and Conservation Division. Key research
activities include developing an improved understanding of factors and processes that are
critical for the conservation of the State’s plant diversity and taxonomic and molecular
taxonomic studies on the State’s flora. Ensuring the persistence of rare and threatened
species, ameliorating key threats such as disease and weeds, developing threatened species ex
situ conservation and reintroduction methodologies, and improving our understanding of
genetic and ecological factors that are vital for the long term viability of plant species are
major objectives.
Contact: Dr David Coates,
Science and Conservation Division
Department of Parks and Wildlife
Email:dave.coates@dec.wa.gov.ao
Phone: 08 9334 0490
Research Theme: Genetic and ecological consequences of small population processes, rarity
and habitat fragmentation
Genetic and ecological consequences of habitat fragmentation and population viability
in key species in the Dongolocking area of the Wheatbelt and the Swan Coastal Plain
This project will build on studies already underway in this area that aim to understand and
quantify how genetic and demographic processes interact to influence the viability and longterm conservation value of native plant populations in remnant vegetation, and relate this to
easily measured landscape and population parameters. This information can then be used to
identify and prioritize high viability remnants for in-situ conservation and assess the value of
small remnants in maintaining connectivity in the landscape by facilitating pollen movement
and thus gene flow. The project also aims to test conservation genetics theory regarding the
genetic deterioration of small fragmented populations but focuses on common species rather
than rare species. This is important since it is the more abundant species that are the critical
components of landscapes with regard to maintenance of broader ecosystem function such as
hydrology and nutrient cycling, as well as provision of habitat for other native organisms.
This project will involve the use of molecular genetic and field base ecological and
demographic techniques.
Further Information:
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Dr David Coates, dave.coates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Margaret Byrne, margaret.byrne@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Colin Yates, colin.yates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
How does population size and isolation affect pollinator visitation, flowering,
pollination, seed production and seedling fitness in the rare Acacia woodmaniorum
The recently discovered Acacia woodmaniorum is endemic to the Banded Ironstone
Formation (BIF) ranges of Western Australia. The rare species is known from an area of
only 40km2 and may be placed under threat from future mining operations. The project will
investigate various aspects of pollination biology, including the determination of key
pollinators and what affect population size and isolation has on flowering, pollination, seed
production and seedling fitness. Information on these aspects of pollination biology will
further inform us about the patterns of pollen dispersal, that ultimately influence patterns of
genetic variation in this species. The research is important for the ongoing management of
natural populations that ensures any impacts from mining activities are minimised. This
project will involve field based ecological and demographic techniques as well as glasshouse
based work and will tie in with a larger study on fine scale genetic structure and patterns of
gene flow in A. woodmaniourm.
Further Information:
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Dr David Coates (08 9334 0490), dave.coates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Melissa A Millar (08 9334 0303), melissa.millar@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Genetic and ecological consequences of rarity in the critically endangered ghost wattle
Acacia sciophanes
Acacia sciophanes is an extremely rare species covering a geographic range of less than 7
Km. It is currently listed as threatened and ranked as Critically Endangered occurring in a
heavily fragmented landscape where much of the native vegetation has been cleared for
agricultural production. It develops into a diffuse, openly branched, wispy shrub up to 2.3 m
tall and is closely related to a more common species Acacia anfractuosa that occurs over a
range of some 200km. Previous studies indicate that it is characterised by reduced genetic
diversity and increased inbreeding in its two populations but there is no clear evidence for
inbreeding depression and reduced reproductive output influencing the viability of these
populations. The aim of this project will be to expand previous mating system, genetic
diversity and ecological studies to determine which key factors if any will limit the viability
and long term survival of this species. This project will involve the use of molecular genetic
and field base ecological and demographic techniques
Further Information:
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Dr David Coates, dave.coates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Colin Yates, colin.yates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Pollen dispersal, gene flow and connectivity among fragmented populations of key plant
species in the wheatbelt
Gene flow is a fundamental element of evolutionary processes maintaining cohesion of
species. Pollen dispersal is a major component of gene flow in shrubs in south-west WA and
recent studies have shown that pollen dispersal can be very extensive even in fragmented
landscapes. This project will investigate the patterns of pollen dispersal in key species,
including rare and common species, in the highly fragmented wheatbelt region and
complements previous ecological work on reproductive and pollination biology. Highly
variable molecular genetic markers will be used to facilitate paternity assignment of seed
crops and track pollen movement across the landscape. An improved understanding of
landscape scale pollen dispersal will not only greatly assist in the management of remnant
populations and but can also be a key factor in developing restoration programs.
Further Information:
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Dr Margaret Byrne, margaret.byrne@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr David Coates, dave.coates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Colin Yates, colin.yates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Species patterns in orchids in a fragmented landscape
Orchids are very species-rich in Western Australia, and many are restricted and threatened.
Orchid taxonomy in fragmented landscapes is made more difficult by the fragmentation –
many pieces of the puzzle are lacking. In particular, some populations that appear to
constitute distinct species may not have appeared distinct before clearing, when the full range
of variation would have been evident. Anecdotal evidence suggests that changes in the
ecology of remnants (e.g. through changed fire regimes and local extinction of fossorial
mammals) may be promoting clonality in orchid populations, further adding to the apparent
distinctness of some taxa. This project will assess detailed population-level patterns in a
number of orchid taxa in the fragmented wheatbelt, to assess species boundaries and
taxonomic distinctiveness.
Further Information:
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Dr Kevin Thiele, kevin.thiele@dpaw.wa.goc.au
Research Theme: Molecular taxonomy, phylogeny and evolutionary patterns
Hybridisation and the origin of a new species in Stylidium caricifolium complex
The Stylidium caricifolium (Stylidiaceae) complex consists of seven currently recognized
species and a taxon of putative hybrid origin. These taxa vary in geographical distribution
from widespread, extending over a range of 500 km, to extremely localized covering a range
of only 0.5 km. The taxon of putative hybrid origin is geographically restricted and rare and
has yet to be formally recognised although it is likely to be a new species. To date
hybridisation has not been considered an important process in the evolution of the south-west
flora although it has recently proven to be a complicating factor in assessing the taxonomic
status of a number of Critically Endangered Flora. Studies suggest that this rare Stylidium
taxon is a distinct species that has evolved following past hybridisation between S.
caricifolium and S. affine. The aim of this project is to further investigate the origin of this
putative hybrid taxon using molecular genetic markers such as cp DNA and also re-assess the
importance of hybridisation in the evolution and conservation of the south-west flora. This
project will involve field surveys and the use of molecular genetic and phylogenetic
techniques.
Further Information:
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Dr David Coates, dave.coates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies on highly endemic plants on the Banded
Ironstone Formation ranges.
The Banded Ironstone Formation (BIF) ranges of Western Australia have a unique flora and
fauna, with high species endemism on at least some ranges, and are under threat from mining
operations. An understanding of the history of species evolution on these ranges will be
important information for helping assess threats. Information on the phylogeny of Tetratheca
suggests that some BIF endemic taxa are allied to endemic taxa on other BIF ranges, while
others are related to geographically widely distant species. This project will develop
molecular phylogenies for targeted genera that have endemic species on the BIF ranges and
search for congruent patterns in their phylogenies to elucidate any common phylogeographic
history for the ranges.
Further Information:
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Dr Margaret Byrne, margaret.byrne@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr David Coates, dave.coates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Assessing historical and contemporary evolutionary processes in foundation species for
landscape restoration in the midwest of Western Australia.
Expansion of mining operations across the midwest region of Western Australia will see
significant investment in landscape restoration over future dpawades. To be successful,
restoration must consider the role genetic diversity plays in providing resilience and future
adaptive potential to species in altered landscapes. This project will assess historically
divergent lineages and contemporary processes of gene flow that shape genetic structure in a
number of foundation species for which future restoration will be required. This information
will be used to design appropriate seed sourcing regimes that optimise levels of genetic
diversity and genetic connectivity across the restoration landscape.
Further Information
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Dr David Coates, dave.coates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Melissa Millar, melissa.millar@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Margaret Byrne, margaret.byrne@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Research Theme: Seed biology, ecological restoration and reintroductions
Assessment of temperature thresholds for seed germination in south west Western
Australian species in relation to climate change scenarios
Current climate models predict rising temperatures and dpawlining winter rainfall across
much of fire-prone southern Western Australia. These changes have the potential to impact
on the Region’s rich plant diversity. One plant characteristic that may respond to climate
change is germination, with some species possibly vulnerable to even modest changes in
temperature. Successful regeneration after disturbance such as fire may be adversely affected.
This project would see the screening of selected SW WA species for their tolerance to a range
of temperatures during germination and early seedling performance to provide a more precise
understanding of the likely impact of predicted rising temperatures on these critical periods in
a plants life cycle.
Further Information:
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Dr Anne Cochrane, anne.cochrane@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Development of guidelines for use of artificial disturbance in flora management and
threatened species recovery
The process of plant colonisation and establishment in many areas has been altered through
human intervention and the management of threatened flora is increasingly relying on
artificial disturbance to stimulate recruitment. Despite knowing that many threatened species
require disturbance for recruitment, application of artificial disturbance treatments often fail
to achieve their desired outcome. The nature, frequency and timing of disturbance are
important for successful recruitment but using limited seed resources of threatened flora from
ex situ collections in field investigations can be wasteful. With limited seed resources, it may
be more appropriate to germinate seed under controlled conditions (eg temperature, moisture,
predators) and plant the resultant seedlings. In the light of this, it would be prudent to
establish disturbance guidelines based on surrogate common species as a priority. This
project would investigate the nature of artificial disturbance that would provide the most
effective result for recruitment and survival for plant species and to provide guidelines for
their use in flora management and threatened species reintroduction.
Further Information:
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Dr Anne Cochrane, anne.cochrane@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Good things come in small packages: seed biology of the triggerplants
Stylidium (the triggerplants) is a large and iconic plant group with more than 250 species in
Western Australia, a significant proportion of which are rare, geographically restricted or
poorly known. The genus is the subject of ongoing taxonomic research and seed banking
efforts within DPAW, however, to date there has been little research conducted on aspects of
seed biology and morphology. This project will investigate the germination characteristics,
and seedling growth forms of both common and rare, and annual and perennial species of
Stylidium. It will provide information fundamental to the conservation and management of
threatened triggerplants.
Further Information:
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Dr Andrew Crawford, andrew.crawford@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Anne Cochrane, anne.cochrane@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr Juliet Wege, juliet.wege@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Developing modeling, genetic and eco-physiology approaches for determining success of
threatened plant reintroductions
Plant reintroductions are now recognised as a key management tool for preventing the
extinction of species in the wild. They involve the planting of seed, seedlings or vegetatively
propagated plants into an area where the plant formerly or currently occurs or to a new safe
location. Plant reintroductions aim to create and maintain viable self sustaining populations,
yet developing criteria that can readily assess this objective is difficult, particularly in long
lived woody shrubs that make up many of Western Australia’s Critically Endangered Plants.
This project will assess the use of novel techniques that may include eco-physiological
approaches, use of molecular markers to estimate mating systems and population viability
analysis modeling as possible indicators of long term reintroduction success.
Further Information:
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Leonie Monks, anne.cochrane@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Dr David Coates, dave.coates@dpaw.wa.gov.au
Colin Yates, colin.yates@dpaw.wa.gov.au