The University of Western Australia

Dr Mike Perring

Research Associate
School of Plant Biology

Contact details

Address

School of Plant Biology
The University of Western Australia (M090)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 4692

Fax

6488 7461

Email

michael.perring@uwa.edu.au

Biography

An ecosystem ecologist interested in how environmental change affects plant, animal and microbial communities. Using knowledge gained from fundamental research into organisms' responses to environmental changes I aim to improve our management of degraded ecosystems

Key research

In chronological order:

Mathematical model of the coupled cycles of nitrogen and phosphorus in ecosystems, focusing on the response of phosphorus to increased availability of nitrogen.

How to remove phosphorus from ecosystems to promote plant species richness.

Responses of ecosystems to carbon dioxide increases and climate changes.

How biodiversity mediates environmental changes.

Restoration of ecosystem function to degraded land.

Publications

- Perring, M.P., Cullen, B.R., Johnson, I.R. & Hovenden, M. 2010 Modelled effects of rising CO2 concentration and climate change on native perennial grass and sown grass - legume pastures Climate Research 42: 65-78
- Perring, M.P., Edwards, G.R. & de Mazancourt, C. 2009 Removing phosphorus from ecosystems through nitrogen fertilization and cutting with removal of biomass Ecosystems 12: 1130-1144
- Perring, M.P., Hedin, L.O., Levin, S.A., McGroddy, M. & de Mazancourt, C. 2008 Increased plant growth from nitrogen addition should conserve phosphorus in terrestrial ecosystems PNAS 105: 1971 - 1976
- Kerr, J., Perring, M. & Currie, D. 2006 The missing Madagascan mid-domain effect. Ecology Letters, 9, 149-159.
- Perring, M.P. & Hovenden, M. 2009 Climate change impacts on south-east Australian grasslands. Report for Australian Federal Department for Climate Change.
- Cullen, B., others & Perring, M. 2008 Climate change impacts on Australian grazing systems. Whole Farm Systems Analysis and Tools for the Australian and New Zealand Grazing Industries Project Report ISBN 9780734040916

Roles, responsibilities and expertise

Research associate.
Setting up and analysis of field and glasshouse experiments that examine the response of ecosystems and their constituent parts to environmental change. Mathematical modelling of ecosystem responses taking into account biodiversity.
Field, mathematical, and statistical skills.

Future research

Continued investigations into how environmental change will affect ecosystem function and service provision.

Funding received

2003 - 2006: BBSRC PhD Scholarship
2007 : JSPS Fellowship
2009 : NERC CPB Workshop organisation funds

Industrial relevance

Restoration of degraded land

Languages

English
Limited French

Memberships

British Ecological Society
Ecological Society of Australia
Ecological Society of America

Honours and awards

JSPS Short-term Postdoctoral Fellowship
Jesus College Fellowship 1999-2000, 2000-2001

Previous positions

Jan 08 - Apr 08: JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow, Ryukoku University
2008-2010: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Tasmania

Useful links

Ecosystem Restoration & Intervention Ecology Research Group
- http://www.erie-research.org
- http://www.plants.uwa.edu.au/research/ecosystem_restoration

Current projects

Research Associate in Richard Hobbs' ERIE Research Group; project title:
Intervention ecology: managing ecosystems in the 21st Century

Research profile

Research profile and publications