Stuart Worboys

Projects

My main research interests are in the ecology and biodiversity of the mountain flora of the Wet Tropics. Much of my work is involved with planning and leading expeditions to the high peaks of the Wet Tropics bioregion. The aim of these expeditions is manifold: to precisely map the distribution of the bioregion’s high altitude endemic flora, to collect samples for ex-situ conservation, to collect samples for genetic and physiological investigations, and to improve knowledge of the bioregion’s fern and bryophyte diversity.

I'm also responsible for development and presentation of “Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants” - a series of short courses aimed at teaching plant identification skills to students and interested members of the public. The diverse flora of the Wet Tropics rainforests is the subject of these courses, with focus given to the basic leaf, flower, bark and fruit features that help to distinguish each species.

I assist with the curation of the Australian Tropical Herbarium collection.

Teaching

• Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - A series of short courses developed for the teaching of plant identification skills.

• BT3620/5620 Tropical Flora of Australia

Selected Publications

Burgess TI, White D, McDougall KM, Garnas J, Dunstan WA, Català S, Carnegie AJ, Worboys S, Cahill D, Vettraino A-M, Stukely MJC, Liew ECY, Paap T, Bose T, Migliorini D, Williams B, Brigg F, Crane C, Rudman T, Hardy GESJ (2017) Distribution and diversity of Phytophthora across Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology, 23(2): 150-162.

Worboys SJ (2017) Botanical exploration of Australia’s tropical mountains. How the hunt for Australian rhododendrons turned into a major win for conservation in North Queensland. The Rhododendron, 57: 73-84.

Worboys SJ (2006) Rainforest Dieback Mapping and Assessment: 2004 Monitoring Report and Assessment of Dieback in High Altitude Rainforests. Report for the Wet Tropics Management Authority. School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University Cairns Campus, and Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management. Rainforest CRC, Cairns. (36 pp).

Worboys SJ, Jackes BR (2005) Pollination processes in Idiospermum australiense (Calycanthaceae), an arborescent primitive angiosperm of Australia's tropical rain forests. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 205:107-117.

Worboys S, Gadek P (2004) Rainforest Dieback: Assessment of the Risks Associated with Road and Walking Track Access in the World Heritage Area. School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University Cairns Campus, and Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management. Rainforest CRC, Cairns. (49 pp).

Worboys SJ (2003) Polycarpelly in Idiospermum australiense (Calycanthaceae). Austrobaileya, 6: 553-556.

Gadek PA, Worboys SJ (eds) (2003) Rainforest Dieback Mapping and Assessment: Phytophthora species diversity and impacts of dieback on rainforest canopies. Report for the Wet Tropics Management Authority. CRC Rainforest and School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns.

Edwards W, Gadek P, Weber E, Worboys S (2001) Idiosyncratic phenomenon of regeneration from cotyledons in the idiot fruit tree, Idiospermum australiense. Austral Ecology, 26: 254-258.

Guest DI, Anderson RD, Foard HJ, Phillips D, Worboys S, Middleton RM (1994) Long-term control of Phytophthora diseases of cocoa using trunk injected phosphonate. Plant Pathology, 43: 479-492.