Dr Tina Bell
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Research Interests |
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My main areas of research are in the broad fields of fire ecology and nutrition of native Australian and introduced plant species. Understanding the ways in which plants regenerate after fire can be used to determine how frequently an area can be burnt and how long an area can be left in an unburnt condition to maintain high levels of biodiversity. This concept has become an important land management tool. Our research group has the capacity to undertake large integrated biodiversity projects and we have adopted a framework that involves understanding whole ecosystems and underlying processes rather than investigation of individual species or isolated fire responses.
My current research interests include:
- Fire response of heathland, alpine, woodland and forest ecosystems
- Nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition of native Australian legumes
- Mycorrhizal associations and other root specialisations
- Ecological effects of fire management practices
- Ecological and health impacts of smoke from bushfires and prescribed burning
My current ‘weekend’ research is cataloguing the Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science Herbarium.
To find out more the Creswick Herbarium Web Page
Fire Ecology and Management Research Group