The University of Western Australia

Asst/Prof John Dwyer

Research Assistant Professor
School of Plant Biology

Contact details

Address

School of Plant Biology
The University of Western Australia (M084)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Email

john.dwyer@uwa.edu.au

Biography

John completed his PhD at the University of Queensland in 2009. His thesis focused on the restoration ecology of Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) regrowth in central QLD. Since then he has undertaken research on alpine grasslands in Switzerland and most recently joined the Ecological Restoration Lab at UWA and is exploring community assembly in annual plant communities throughout the WA Wheatbelt.

Key research

The project aims to determine the function and significance of novel annual plant species assemblages resulting from rapidly changing environmental conditions in the York Gum Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt. The study is unique in its potential to tackle fundamental ecological questions as well as providing information relevant to pressing environmental issues. It will shed light on the drivers of diversity and composition of natural species assemblages by assessing the relative importance of evolution, facilitation, competition and environmental filtering.

Publications

Dwyer, J. M., Fensham, R. J. & Buckley, Y. M. (2010) Agricultural legacy, climate and soil influence the restoration and carbon potential of woody regrowth in Australia. Ecological Applications, 20, 1838-1850.
Dwyer, J. M., Fensham, R. J. & Buckley, Y. M. (2010) Restoration thinning accelerates structural development and carbon sequestration in an endangered Australian ecosystem. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47, 681–691.
Dwyer, J. M., Fensham, R. J., Fairfax, R. J. & Buckley, Y. M. (2010) Neighbourhood effects influence drought-induced mortality of savanna trees in Australia. Journal of Vegetation Science, 21, 573-585.
Fensham, R. J., Fairfax, R. J. & Dwyer, J., M. (2010) Vegetation responses to the first 20 years of cattle grazing in an Australian desert. Ecology, 91, 681-692.
Dwyer, J. M., Fensham, R. J., Butler, D. W. & Buckley, Y. M. (2009) Carbon for conservation: assessing the potential for win-win investment in an extensive Australian regrowth ecosystem. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 134, 1-7.
Chandler, S. T., Buckley, Y. M. & Dwyer, J. M. (2007) Restoration potential of Brigalow regrowth: Insights from a cross-sectional study in southern Queensland. Ecological Management and Restoration, 8, 218-221.

Languages

English

Memberships

Ecological Society of America

Research profile

Research profile and publications