Jeremy VanDerWal
Postdoctoral Fellow
Spatial Ecologist
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Spatial Ecologist, Research Associate, |
BSc Hons (University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada)
MSc (University of Western Ontario, London, Canada)
PhD (University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada)
Spatial Ecologist,
Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change
School of Marine and Tropical Biology
Research Interests
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Determinants of patterns of species richness and abundance
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Spatially-explicit models and algorithms
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Application of null models in Ecology
Recent and Current Research Projects Include
I recently received my PhD (June ’06) looking at spatially explicit null models in Ecology and what they can tell us about the concept of the ecological niche. I then moved from Canada to Townsville to work as a Spatial Ecologist associated of the Centre for Tropical Biodiversity & Climate Change Research (CTBCC), a multidisciplinary research centre aimed at understanding the patterns and processes underlying tropical biodiversity and the impacts that global climate change will have on the natural environment.
My research is focused on determinants of patterns of species richness and abundance. A large part of this is examining spatially explicit models of species distributions and abundance in light of environmental correlates and null models.
Since arriving in Australia, I have continued projects that began in Canada:
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PVA, population genetics and distribution modeling of an endangered Cactus, Opuntia humifusa
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Examining geometric (mid-domain effect) and environmental correlates of amphibian, bird, mammal and tree richness in North America
and became involved in a number of new projects including:
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Past, present and future distribution modeling of rainforest vegetation and vertebrates for the Australia Wet Tropics region
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Distribution and prevalence of Chytrid disease in Costa Rica and Eastern Australia
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Distribution and phylogeography of platypus along the east coast of Australia
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Explorative synoptic modeling of distribution and niche in invasion biology: a case study of two invasive Tetramorium ant species
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Among others…
In my spare time, Australia being such a different environment from the Great White North that is Canada, I have been enjoying exploring the floristic, faunal and cultural distinctiveness of this country.
Recent and Currently Supervised Projects
Recent and Currently Supervised PhD Topics
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Predicting Climate Change Impacts on Vegetation & Fire Dynamics of Tropical Rainforest, Wet Sclerophyll Forest & Savanna Woodland Ecotones of the North-eastern Australian Wet Tropics (Jeremy Little)
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Mechanisms of resistance to chytridiomycosis in recovered and recolonised amphibian populations: insights from patterns and processes in sclerophyll and rainforest habitats (Robert Puschendorf)
Selected Publications
Articles
Murphy, H. T., J. VanDerWal, and J. Lovett-Doust 2006. Distribution of abundance across the range in eastern North American trees. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 15, 63-71.
Murphy, H. T., J. VanDerWal, N. Khalatkhar, and J. Lovett-Doust 2006. Geometric and environmental correlates of tree species richness in North America. Ecography. In Revision.
Thickett, K., J. VanDerWal, L. Lovett-Doust, and T. R. Anderson 2007. A method for screening soybean seedlings for resistance to northern stem canker caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 87: 443-446.
Valdez-Ramirez, V., J. VanDerWal, and S. Williams. 2007. Net primary productivity distribution patterns in the Wet Tropics Heritage Area. International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), James Cook University. Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
VanDerWal, J., H. T. Murphy, and J. Lovett-Doust 2006. Three-dimensional mid-domain predictions: examining the influence of geometric constraints on North American amphibian, bird, mammal and tree species richness patterns Ecography. In Review.
VanDerWal, J., C. L. Stewart, M. Sahar Moeen, É. Powles, and L. Lovett-Doust. 2005. Habitat requirements of a Canadian species at risk: transplants of Opuntia humifusa along a successional gradient. In Revision.
Peer-reviewed Book Chapters
Murphy, H. T., J. VanDerWal, L. Lovett-Doust, and J. Lovett-Doust. 2006. Immigration and naturalization as an ecological continuum: Are Ontario’s exotic plants part of a pattern? Pp. 65-105, In: (eds.) M. W. Cadotte, S. M. McMahon, and T. Fukami. Conceptual ecology and invasions biology: reciprocal approaches to nature. Kluwer Academic Press, New York, NY.
Reports
Evans, N., J. J. VanDerWal, and L. Lovett-Doust. 2007. Report to Parks Canada: Population viability analysis for Opuntia humifusa at Point Pelee National Park. 39 pp.
Lovett-Doust, L., J. J. VanDerWal, E. Golenberg and J. Skipper. 2002. Report to Parks Canada: Opuntia humifusa, the Eastern Prickly Pear at Point Pelee National Park: genetic diversity of patches based on DNA-AFLP fingerprint analysis. (Final Report, March, 2003). 149 pp.
VanDerWal, J. J. and L. Lovett-Doust. 2003. Report to Parks Canada: Habitat definition of Opuntia humifusa using seedling transplants along a successional gradient at Point Pelee National Park. 95 pp.
VanDerWal, J. J., I. Wozniczka, and L. Lovett-Doust. 2007. Report to Parks Canada: Demography of Opuntia humifusa at Point Pelee National Park. 29 pp.
VanDerWal, J. J., M. Sahar Moeen, and L. Lovett-Doust. 2007. Report to Parks Canada: Defining Habitat Requirements of Opuntia humifusa as Determined by Field and Lab Studies. 136 pp.
VanDerWal, J. J., K. Thickett, and L. Lovett-Doust. 2007. Report to Parks Canada: Genetic diversity of Opuntia humifusa throughout Ontario based on DNA-AFLP fingerprint analysis. In prep.
Contact Details
Research Associate
Campus: Townsville
Phone: +61 7 4781 5570
Fax: +61 7 4725 1570
Email: jjvanderwal@gmail.com or Jeremy.vanderwal@jcu.edu.au
Note: Please direct all student enquiries through the school Secretary.
