9:30
9:45
10:15
10:45
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
1:00
2:00
2:15
2:45
3:15
3:45
4:00
4:30
5:00
7:30
Tuesday, August 14 Vegetation Dynamics and Climate Change
Session 1
Setting the scene: current conceptual & modelling approaches to the climate-land surface link and
Roger Gifford
vegetation dynamics (3 hrs)
Eva Kowalzyck
Land cover coupling to the
What attributes of vegetation and soil are being included as feedbacks of
(CMAR)
climate system
terrestrial ecosystems onto the climate system in current generation
Australian GCMs?
Steve Roxburgh
A modelling perspective for
How do LPJ and other DGVM approaches simplify the complex reality? Are
(UNSW, Bushfire CRC,
framing thoughts on vegetation
they suitable for Australian ecosystems? Can they assist the management
and Ensis’)
composition dynamics in relation
of Australian vegetation under continuous climatic change?
to climate change
Morning Tea Break – 15 minutes
Mark Westoby
The potential utility of, and
How can the diversity of species and their responses to climate change
(Macquarie
developments in, the plant
variables be effectively simplified for modelling purposes?
University)
functional type concept.
Dave Hilbert (CSIRO
Regional modelling of vegetation
What modelling approaches have been adopted for representing
Atherton)
distribution in Australia.
vegetation distribution at a regional level and how can they be used in
studies if vegetation-climate change interactions.
Gary Richards
Next decade research needs for
To help position Australian land managers for adapting land based
(NCAS, AGO)
managing the climate/vegetation
systems to climate change impacts, broadly, what areas of information
nexus in Australia: An NCAS/AGO and understanding are most required that should dictate research over
view.
the next decade?
General Discussion
Lunch – 1 hour
Session 2
Taking stock: Processes that shape the nature and distribution of Australian vegetation
John Raison
communities (3 hours)
Robert Hill
Climate & atmospheric
What has been the role of past climate and atmospheric composition on
(University of
composition: palaeo-evidence
the evolution of the present broad distribution of vegetation communities
Adelaide)
in Australia?
Neil McKenzie (CLW)
Soils and Nutrients
How important are soil type, nutrient-regime, position in landscape, etc
for shaping current vegetation distribution?
Ross Bradstock,
Fire
Is fire more than a response/recovery cycle or do historical patterns,
(Bushfire CRC)
frequency and intensity of fires shape current vegetation distributions?
Afternoon Tea Break – 15 minutes
Andrew Sheppard
Herbivory
How influential are each of native, exotic and domestic-mammal
(CSIRO Entomology)
herbivory on shaping Australian vegetation distributions?
Josh Dorrough
Human land management &
Beyond the dramatic land cover changes of deforestation and land use
(CSIRO)
impacts
change, are land management activities such as grazing of woodland and
rangeland management impacting on vegetation cover?
General Discussion
Workshop dinner – Theatre Vivaldi, Acton (?)
1
9:00
9:15
9:45
10:15
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00
1:00
1:15
1:45
2:15
2:45
3:00
6:00
Wednesday, August 15 Vegetation Dynamics and Climate Change
Session 3
Potential futures: Vulnerability of, and change in, vegetation composition and condition and
Mark Westoby
ecosystem function under climate change (2.5 hours)
Graham Farquhar
The changing atmosphere
What ramifications are being observed and expected for Australian
(ANU RSBS)
ecosystems from the changes in CO2 concentration, N deposition,
dimming, temperature and rainfall?
Rod Fensham
Impact of climate trends and
In a warming and potentially more variable climate, probably with more
(Queensland
extremes
intense extremes, will redistribution of vegetation types occur and over
Herbarium)
what timescale?
Morning Tea Break – 15 minutes
TBA
Human adaptation of land
Are changes in land management practice likely or able to be changed in
management
ways that will affect changes in vegetation distribution?
Geoff Cary (Bushfire
Changed fire patterns, frequency
Will changes in fire patterns, frequency or intensity likely to be significant
CRC)
and intensity
enough to change vegetation distribution?
Andy Pitman (UNSW) Data and research needs for
What will be needed, and what needs to be set in place soon to obtain
and Jason Beringer
validating an Australian DGVM
long data runs, for validation of DGVMs?
(Monash Univ)
Lunch – 1 hour
Session 4
Biogeochemical cycles: Potential effects of future vegetation dynamics on carbon and nutrient
Andy Pitman
cycling in the whole ecosystem, and on hydrology (2 hrs)
Roger Gifford and
Biomass and soil carbon
How will climate change alter the stocks of vegetation carbon? How will
John Raison
the balance between inputs to soil carbon and losses of soil carbon (soil C
turnover) be affected by climate change?
Derek Eamus, UTS
Hydrology
Will changed patterns of rainfall and other plant responses to climate
change affect changes in vegetation distribution?
Belinda Medlyn
Nutrient cycling
Will changed vegetation distribution and carbon cycling under climate
change effect change in nutrient cycling?
Afternoon Tea Break – 15 minutes
Session 5
Structured general discussion of the way forwards for a decadal plan. (3 hrs)
Will Steffen
 What is missing, or most needs stronger research emphasis, in current treatments of the land surface-climate coupling that is
required for
- predicting future climates,
- predicting impacts of climate change on vegetation,
- managing the adaptation of vegetation-based systems to climate change in the context of other changes?
 What should be the decadal priorities for research to fill these gaps?
 What are the short term needs to position us to service those longer term priorities?
 Should the workshop establish a future specialist reference group on this topic?
Workshop ends
2