Joanne M. Bennett
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
(iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Deutscher Platz 5e,
04103 Leipzig, Deutschland
E-mail: joanne.bennett@idiv.de
sDiv workshop: http://www.idi.de/sdiv/workshops/
workshops-2014/sweep
Webpage: http://joannembennett.wordpress.com/
RESEARCH STATEMENT
My goal is to improve our understanding of the general processes driving ecological systems and how
human activities affect these processes. I’ve worked with a range of flora and fauna, and instead of
focusing on one particular taxon my research has focused on how global change drivers have affected
species distributions at multiple scale from local up to the macroecological. I am interested in teasing
apart the relative importance of direct (land-use change), indirect (climate change) and derived (altered
species interactions and ecological services) factors on distributions as core components of modern
spatial ecology.
I am developing my research career by linking theoretical and empirical approaches to ecology, to
predict how ecological systems will respond to the major anthropogenic impacts affecting many
ecological systems. I believe in developing international research networks through collaborations,
publications and presentation of research. I seek to develop my teaching skills by, supervising projects
and students, while assembling long-term data sets to track changes in ecological systems as humaninduced global change intensifies.
ATTRIBUTES
 PhD in ecology
 Experience in legislation and policy
 High computer literacy, multivariate data analysis and Bayesian modelling experience
including R, Phython, WinBUGS, Statistica, Primer and SPSS
 Qualifications and experience with GIS, using Arc programming, Arc 9 and Phython
 Innovative problem solver with a high level of initiative and a demonstrated ability to
work in dynamic international research and development teams
 Strong interpersonal skills with experience in stakeholder engagement
 Experienced in project management and administration
 Strong oral and written communication skills, with lecturing and subject coordination
experience
EXPERIENCE: Roles, responsibilities and outcomes
2014-Present
Postdoctoral research fellow - German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity
Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig. Responsible postdoc for the SWEEP
project: Synthesizing Worldwide Ecology, Evolution and Physiology. To
integrate the fields of Macroecology, Macrophysiology and Macroevolution
across marine, coastal and terrestrial biomes to determine the processes
driving large scale diversity patterns.
 Coordinating and participating in a workshop
 Collaborating with an international team of scientists working in
different fields and biomes
 Database construction and management
 Data analysis
 Manuscript publication and public presentations
2013 - 14
Junior Honorary Research Fellow - Monash University, Australia
 Manuscript publications
2010 - 13
PhD in Ecology - Monash University Australia – Funded by the Australian
postgraduate award (APA).
Supervisors: Prof Ralph Mac Nally and Dr Rohan Clarke
Changes in forest-bird assemblage structure in response to multiple
pressures: climate and vegetation change.
 Manuscript publications
 Grant applications
 Development and management of research databases and data analysis
 Stakeholder engagement
2009 - 10
Natural Resource Officer - Department of Environment and Resource
Management, Queensland Government, Australia
 Interpreting and applying legislation
 GIS mapping and spatial analysis
 Report and assessment writing
 Database management and data analysis
 Field vegetation surveys, pasture assessments and soil identification
 Hydrological modelling
 Stakeholder negotiation concerning matters of agricultural infrastructure
and water licensing in addition to compliance and enforcement
2007 - 08
Research Assistant - CSIRO, Sustainable Ecosystems Australia
Research into how land use affects biodiversity
 Biodiversity surveys of reptiles, small mammals, birds and invertebrates
specializing in ant taxonomy.
 Invertebrate identification and referencing
 Development and management of research databases and data analysis
 Stakeholder engagement including surveys and cold calling
2002 - 04
Technical Officer and Departmental Administrator - Ivax’s International
pharmaceuticals UK, Research and Development department.
 Laboratory technician – Laboratory testing, report writing and data analysis
 Patent handling
 Project management and administration
TEACHING
2014
Lead Teaching Associate - Monash University
BIO3111: Ecological Applications
 Supervising, coordinating and preparing practical work, and a field tip
 Teaching, theory and field methods
 Criteria setting
 Acting subject coordinator (in the absence of the chief examiner)
2013 -14
Guest Lecturer - Monash University
BIO2022: Ecology
 Lecture preparation and delivery
 Preparation of examination material
2012 - 14
Senior Teaching Associate - Monash University
BIO2022: Ecology
Teaching, theory and field methods
 Criteria setting
2010 - 14
Teaching Associate - Monash University
BIO2022: Ecology
BIO1042: Environmental biology
 Teaching, theory and field methods
VOLUNTEERING EXPERIENCE
Chapple molecular lab
 Experience with DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing techniques.
Alignment and editing of sequences.
PUBLICATIONS
Bennett, J.M., Clarke, R.H., Horrocks G.F.B., Thomson, J.R. & Mac Nally, R. (In press) Climate
drying amplifies the effects of fragmentation and interspecific interactions on birds. Landscape
Ecology DOI :10.1007/s10980-015-0229-x
Bennett, J.M., Clarke, R.H., Thomson, J.R. & Mac Nally, R. (2015) Fragmentation, degradation
and altered species interactions limit the recruitment of native birds. Ecography 38 (2), 163–171
Bennett, J.M., Nimmo D.G., Clarke, R.H., Thomson, J.R., Mac Nally, R. & Bennett, A.F., (2014)
Species resistance v resilience: The prospects of avifauna to increasingly turbulent climate
futures? Diversity and Distributions 20 (11), 1321-1332
Bennett, J.M., Clarke, R.H., Thomson, J.R. & Mac Nally, R. (2015) Variation in abundances of
nectarivorous birds: Is flowering the only determinant? Journal of Animal Ecology 83 (6), 15311541
Bennett, J.M., Cunningham, S.C., Connelly, C.A., Clarke, R.H., Thomson, J.R. & Mac Nally, R.
(2013) The interaction between a drying climate and land use affects forest structure and
above-ground carbon storage. Global Ecology and Biogeography (22) 1238–1247.
Bennett, J.M., Kutt, A.S., Johnson, C.N. & Robson, S. (2009) Ants as indicators for vertebrate
fauna at a local scale: an assessment of cross-taxa surrogacy in a disturbed matrix. Biodiversity
and Conservation. (18), 3407-3419
SUBMITTED
McQueen, A., Morales-Villegas, H., Bennett, J.M., Delhey, K., (in 2nd Review) Can adaptation
to background colors explain the evolution of bird color diversity?
IN PREPARATION
Bennett, J.M., Clarke, R.H., Thomson, J.R. & Mac Nally, R. (in prep for 2015) Spatial variation
in the flowering of Eucalyptus spp: implications for plants and birds.
ACADEMIC AWARDS AND FUNDING
2013 - 14
Postgraduate Publication Award – Through a competitive process I was
awarded the role of Honorary Junior Research Fellow - $6,108 over three
months.
2012
Australian Centre for Biodiversity best student oral presentation on
conservation. Funding prize awarded to attend the, University of
Cambridge, Student Conference on Conservation Science.
2010 - 12
Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment to support PhD research. $7500
pa
2010
Australian Bird Environment Foundation (ABEF) - Birds life Australia, to
support PhD research $5000
2009
Nancy Millis Young Scientist Award - finalist
INVITED PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
2015
Imperial College London - Invited presentation
2015
Synthesis on Pollen Limitation and Terrestrial biodiversity - Invited
workshop participant
2015
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid - Invited presentation
2014
Synthesizing Worldwide Ecology, Evolution and Physiology (SWEEP)
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Germany.
CONFERENCES
2015
International Biogeography Society7th Biennial Conference - Poster
presentation
2012
Ecological Society of Australia Congress - Oral presentation
2012
The Student Conference on Conservation Science, Cambridge, UK Oral presentation (fully funded)
http://www.sccs-cam.org/previous/prizewinners.htm
2011
Australian Centre for Biodiversity - Oral presentation.
The Student Conference on Conservation Science, Cambridge, Student
Prize winner.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
2014
sDiv workshop: http://www.idi.de/sdiv/workshops/
workshops-2014/sweep. Responsible workshop postdoc. Coordination and
organization of a workshop.
2011
Australian Centre of Biodiversity - student representative executive
committee. Organized and run the annual student conference and
postgraduate student workshops (writing, statistics).
2010
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University - student
representative. Providing postgraduate student support and mentoring in
addition to organizing social functions.
EDUCATION
2010 - 13
PhD in Ecology - Monash University Australia
Changes in forest-bird assemblage structure in response to multiple
pressures: climate and vegetation change.
2008
James Cook University, Queensland, Australia. BSc (Honours) (1st
class). The impacts of pastoral land management on ant species
assemblages in eucalypt savanna woodlands in central Queensland,
Australia
INVITED PEER- REVIEWER
 Methods in Ecology and Evolution
 Diversity and Distributions
 Biological Conservation
 The Auk: Ornithological Advances
OTHER SKILLS AND COURSES
 Full driving licence and four wheel drive certified
 Competent in statistical methods and software; R, Phython, WinBugs Statistica, Primer, SPSS
 Completed qualifications in GIS, Arc programming and ArcMap
 Completed courses in project management and postgraduate-level statistics
 Scuba diving - Dive Master in progress
 Dual citizenship - Australian and U.K.
 TACT - Teaching Associate Conversational Training
REFEREES
Professor Ralph Mac Nally
Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Ph: +61-(0)2-6201-5152
ralph.macnally@gmail.com
Dr Rohan Clarke
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton VIC3800, Australia
Ph: +61-(0)3-9905-1968
Rohan.Clarke@monash.edu
Dr. Marten Winter
Scientific Coordinator Synthesis Centre sDiv
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Ph: +49(0)341-97-33129
marten.winter@idiv.de
Mr Gary Jensen
Manager Water Services, North Region
Department of Environment and Resource Management, Townsville Q 4810,
Australia
Ph: +61-(0)7-4799-7505
Gary.Jensen@DERM.qld.gov.au