Staff at Applied Ecology believe in the importance of innovation in the development of best practice techniques for good environmental outcomes. Our environmental scientist, Dr Meredith Brainwood, holds a position as Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Western Sydney, where she is involved in ongoing projects with researchers in the School of Natural Resources (Hawkesbury campus). Meredith has published papers in international journals on aspects of aquatic and terrestrial ecology, and has presented at a number of conferences in recent years (see below). Areas of research interest include the Development of “flooded meadow” concept for treatment of water quality and stormflow attenuation in urbanized upper catchments (partners include Brown Consulting Engineers, DWE and Camden City Council); assessment of the effects of stormwater, wastewater and rainwater as water sources for faunal communities in constructed waterbodies (UWS-Hawkesbury); and bioremediation in maintaining stream health. Our operations manager and environmental scientist, Anne Carey, has authored fact sheets and education materials for community and stakeholder education, presented at numerous workshops, authored journal and conference papers and articles and contributed to numereous major reports. Anne has been involved in major research projects including the post-fire ecology of koalas study where she was one of two field ecologists collecting data and conducting field trials for the six years it took to complete this project with the vertebrate research division of NPWS. Anne has a continued interest in the conservation of koalas and a special interest in patterns of faunal distribution and diversity in fragmented habitats, conservation of wetlands, and EEC restoration. Our environmental safety officer, Caroline Forest, combines 12 years experience as a paramedic with extensive field research experience beginning in 1979 on the CSIRO/RAOU Northwest Expedition to Broome, WA. She continues to develop her expertise with ongoing study and in her role as Convener of the Safety, Leadership and Risk Management Committee for the Australian Speleological Federation. Caroline has presented papers and workshops on aspects of OH&S (see below) and regularly delivers first aid training courses in remote and occupational first aid.

Meredith’s publications

Peer reviewed publications

Brainwood, M. and Burgin, S. (2009) Hotspots of biodiversity or homogenous landscapes: farm dams as biodiversity reserves in Australia. Biodiversity and Conservation, 18(11), 3043-3052. Brainwood, M.A., Byrne, M. and Burgin, S. (2008) The impact of small and large impoundments on freshwater mussel distribution in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, Southeastern Australia. River Research and Applications, 24, 1325-1342 Brainwood, M.A., Burgin, S., Byrne, M. (2008) The role of geomorphology in substratum patch selection by freshwater mussels in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River (NSW), Australia. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Research, 18, 1285-1301 Burgin, S., Brainwood, M.A. (2008) Comparison of road kills in peri-urban and regional areas of New South Wales (Australia) and factors influencing death. In: Too close for comfort: Contentious issues in human-wildlife encounters, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, pp. 137-144 Brainwood, M.A., Burgin, S. and Byrne, M. (2006) An assessment of freshwater mussel populations in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system, a regulated coastal river in southeastern Australia. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Research, 16, 501-516 (listed among the top ten papers downloaded in 2006) Brainwood, M.A. and Burgin, S. (2006) An exploration of the relationships between macroinvertebrate community composition and physical and chemical habitat characteristics in farm dams. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 119, 459-480 Brainwood, M.A., Burgin, S. & Maheshwari, B. (2004) Temporal variations in water quality parameters of farm dams: impacts of landuse types and water sources. Water Management Research, 70, 151-176

Publications edited

Rutledge, J., Smith, G.K., Brainwood, M., Baker, A.C. (eds), 2008. Timor Caves: Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Australian Speleological Foundation Inc, Sydney Brainwood, M. (ed), 2007-2009. NewCaves Chronicles, Volumes 27-30. Journal of the Newcastle and Hunter Valley Speleological Society, NVHSS Newcastle

Meredith’s conference presentations

Australian Society of Limnologists Annual Conference, 2009. Paper titled: The role of scale in the effects of habitat factors on freshwater mussel populations and the implications for conservation: a case study from the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, NSW. Proceedings of the 48th Annual Conference, Alice Springs, September – October, 2009 (peer reviewed abstract) Restoring Biodiversity Industry Forum, 2009. Paper titled: Stormwater management for biodiversity outcomes. Restoring Biodiversity Industry Association, Sydney, September, 2009. Australian Society of Limnologists Annual Conference, 2006. Paper titled: Do large impoundments or smaller weirs impact mussel distribution in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, New South Wales? Proceedings of the 45th Annual Conference, Albury, September, 2005 (peer reviewed abstract) Royal Zoological Society of NSW Forum, 2006. Too close for comfort. Poster titled: Roadkills and factors influencing these deaths. Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society of NSW Annual Forum, Taronga Zoo, 2006 (peer reviewed abstract) Australian Society of Limnologists Annual Conference, 2005. Paper titled: Are freshwater mussels affected by “normal” variation in water quality? A case study from the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, NSW. Proceedings of the 44th Annual Conference, Hobart, December, 2005 (peer reviewed abstract) University of Western Sydney Innovations Conference, 2005. Paper titled: The ecology of freshwater mussel populations in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system. Innovations Conference Proceedings, University of Western Sydney, Kingswood, 2005 Ecological Society of Australia Annual Conference, 2004. Paper titled: Freshwater mussel populations in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, NSW. Proceedings of the 29th Annual Conference, Adelaide, December, 2005 (peer reviewed abstract) 2004 Proceedings of the 19th International Congress Zoology, 2004. Poster titled: Those dam bugs! Beijing, China, August 23-27, 2004 University of Western Sydney Innovations Conference, 2003. Paper titled: An exploration of the relationships between macroinvertebrate community composition and physical and chemical habitat characteristics in several farm dams. Innovations Conference Proceedings, University of Western Sydney, Kingswood, 2003 Ecological Society of Australia Annual Conference, 2003. Paper titled: Hotspots of Biodiversity or Homogeneous Landscapes? Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference, Armidale, November, 2003 (peer reviewed abstract) Ecological Society of Australia Annual Conference, 2003. Poster titled: Those dam bugs! Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference, Armidale, November, 2003 (peer reviewed abstract) Ecological Society of Australia Annual Conference, 2003. Poster titled: Comparative methods of assessing water quality and ecosystem health. Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference, Armidale, November, 2003 (peer reviewed abstract) University of Western Sydney Postgraduate Conference, 2002. Paper titled: Farm dams: do they contribute to the conservation of macroinvertebrate biodiversity? Royal Zoological Society Postgraduate Conference, Taronga Zoo, 2000. Paper titled: A comparative ecological survey of a number of farm dams in the Raglan district of NSW.  

Anne’s publications

Carey, A. (2007) Protecting swamps in the Blue Mountains, Australasian Plant Conservation, 16(2), 14-16.

554 koalas tell a story, Proceedings of the Australian Koala Conservation Conference, 1998. Flora of Blue Mountains Swamps, Factsheet, BMCC (2007) Blue Mountains Swamps, Factsheet, BMCC (2007).  

Caroline’s conference presentations

Australian Speleological Federation, 27th Biannual Conference, Sale Victoria, January, 2009. Paper titled: Here comes the Judge! Risk assessment for risk takers. Australian Speleological Federation, 27th Biannual Conference, Sale Victoria, January, 2009. Workshop titled: Duty of Care in a recreational environment: the volunteer trip leader.

Caroline’s publications

Forest, C. (2007) Did you know: Are Australian bats a health hazard? NewCaves Chronicles, Vol. 28, p. 44 Forest, C. (2008) Did you know: What is the breaking strain of a rope? NewCaves Chronicles, Vol. 29, p. 44