John Hunter

• BSc (Hons 1st Class) PhD
• Professor at University of New England

We are in some agreement with Newsome et al. (2017): the differences between the ecosystems of Yellowstone and Sturt National Parks should not preclude examinations of the influences, whether costs (see Allen and Fleming, 2012) or benefits of the dingo (Canis familaris), on contemporary Australian ecosystems. It is important to note that at no poin...

While classification of vegetation can be conducted in many ways, international homogenization of procedures and typologies is desirable for human societies that are highly connected in terms of sharing biodiversity information. This Special Issue of Phytocoenologia includes 12 papers that document several of the plot-based classification approache...

Understanding the variation in community composition and species abundances, i.e., β-diversity, is at the heart of community ecology. A common approach to examine β-diversity is to evaluate directional turnover in community composition by measuring the decay in the similarity among pairs of communities along spatial or environmental distances. We p...

Recent advances in conceptual frameworks in vegetation classifications, such as the EcoVeg approach that underpins the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) developed by NatureServe staff and colleagues, offer opportunities to enhance national classification initiatives. National level initiatives provide an important stepping-stone between...

Changes in land use and fire regimes are a major threat to species and ecosystems worldwide. Species' responses to altered fire and livestock grazing likely vary depending on the local ecosystem and the attributes of the disturbance regimes. We used single‐species, single‐season occupancy modelling to investigate the responses of 15 commonly occurr...

Lack of ecological knowledge is a major challenge for effective conservation of threatened plant species in Australia as disturbance events, such as wildfire, increase in frequency and magnitude. Rapid on‐ground surveys are increasingly important to inform recovery strategies for rare and threatened plants in response to extreme wildfire events, ye...

We investigate the relationship between weed invasion within naturally frequently disturbed areas on Broughton Island in New South Wales, Australia. One-hundred and five 5 × 5 m plots were placed across dunal areas of the island which are favoured locations for ground nesting birds. All vascular flora was recorded and scored for percent cover along...

Aims : To develop an interim classification of the vegetation of the Northern Territory at the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) division (level 4) and macrogroup (level 5) levels. These types are produced to assist in the development of an integrated nationwide plot and floristically based classification of Australia allowing integrati...

Lamont (2022) reassessed our data (McKemey et al. 2021b) related to the population dynamics of Grevillea scortechinii subsp. sarmentosa, in response to different types of fire. The original data were collected through our ongoing cross-cultural research and presented in our paper, 'Indigenous cultural burning had less impact than wildfire on the th...

Aim: Understanding the variation in community composition and species abundances (i.e., β-diversity) is at the heart of community ecology. A common approach to examine β-diversity is to evaluate directional variation in community composition by measuring the decay in the similarity among pairs of communities along spatial or environmental distance...

Contemporary Indigenous cultural fire management facilitates opportunities for Indigenous peoples to connect to and manage their Country, as well as providing scope for research. Right‐way science is defined as collaborative process of bringing Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge and methods together to create ethical, productive and mutual...

Understanding broad trends in the distribution and composition of wetlands is essential for making evidence-based management decisions. Determining temporal change in the extent of inundation in wetlands using remote sensing remains challenging and requires on-ground verification to determine accuracy and precision. Therefore, optimization and vali...

Aims : Ecosystems nationally at risk in Australia are listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC Act), and many cross State jurisdictional boundaries. The determination of these ecosystems across the State boundaries are based on expert knowledge. The International Vegetation Classification has the potential to be useful a...

This editorial introduces the Australian Journal of Botany special issue ‘Vegetation science for decision-making’. Vegetation science and classification are crucial to understanding Australian landscapes. From the mulga shrublands of the arid interior to the monsoon rain forests of northern Australia, we have culturally and scientifically built upo...

Many previous vegetation description and mapping programs have highlighted the need for a hierarchical classification that easily translates from regional through to international scales. Often programs have not selected appropriate levels of vegetation classification and mapping for management purposes. Here, we provide an alternative broad vegeta...

Vegetation classification requires the defining of a hierarchy of types based on a spatial and temporal dimensionality. Spatial variation is achieved by plots being placed across the landscape; however, temporal dimensionality is generally only inferred but not directly tested and is rarely incorporated within the circumscription of types. Here, 10...

Indigenous self-determination, land rights and caring for Country programs are enabling Indigenous peoples across the world to re-establish customary roles in biodiversity conservation and cultural fire management. In Australia, Indigenous-controlled lands form the majority of the protected area estate, harbour almost 60% of listed threatened speci...

Aims : We attempt to review the conceptualisation, science and classification of biomes and propose to limit the definition of a biome to potential natural vegetation as determined by general environmental variables. Results : Classifying the distribution and abundance of vegetation types on earth has been a central tenet of vegetation science sinc...

In areas of poor plot data, limited funding and expertise, alternate approaches are needed to create elements of a hierarchical classification schema to assist in landscape planning. This is especially important for vulnerable systems under pressure from human activities. Within this paper we introduce an approach to help create a consistent classi...

Indigenous knowledge emphasises the importance of cultural connections between humans and the biophysical world. In the face of threats to the maintenance and transfer of Indigenous knowledge, novel approaches such as seasonal calendars are emerging as tools to share knowledge and guide management of natural and cultural resources. The renewal of I...

GLENRAC, requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to conduct a monitoring program within the Little Llangothlin Lagoon RAMSAR site. Specifically, this monitoring program was to follow changes in flora and vegetation to allow an understanding change due to management practices. In 2018 three monitoring transects were placed within Little Llangothlin and thr...

The vegetation communities within semi-permanent or ephemeral montane marshes colloquially known as lagoons are an under investigated wetland type of the New England Tablelands Bioregion (NETB) yet they are listed (Upland Wetlands) on both state and federal acts as endangered. Lack of survey and analysis of plot data has meant that the variation in...

This report presents the results of the placement of a series of permanent flora monitoring plots within the Yantabulla Station. The property is under conservation management (approx. 16,000 ha; Figure 1) and shares its north eastern boundary with Naree Station a Bush Heritage property (approx. 15,000 ha). Yantabulla is former sheep and cattle stat...

Aeolian sand dunes on the Broughton Island are heavily disturbed by nesting birds and invaded by Opuntia stricta (Prickly Pear). Biological control agents do not establish well on exposed coastal systems and thus herbicide treatment is currently the main control, but it is expensive in terms of resource allocation. Invasive species are generally co...

Comparing the abundance and diversity of small vertebrates between a conservation reserve and surrounding farmland

This report presents the results of the placement of a series of permanent flora monitoring plots within the properties Kewilpa and Myrtle Creek. The property is under conservation management (approx. 957 ha) and is in close proximity to Bundjalung State Conservation Area (< 400 m to the east to the north), Bungawalbin Nature Reserve (< 2.5 km) and...

Temporary wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems available to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Invertebrates play a critical role in wetlands linking aquatic and terrestrial carbon sources to higher trophic levels such as fish and waterbirds. We assessed the role of large-scale landscape variables (including altitude, longitude and l...

This report presents the results of the placement of a series of permanent flora monitoring plots within the properties Bezzants Lease. The property is under conservation management (approx. 2,600 ha) and share a border with Butterleaf National Park (Figure 1). The property occurs within the New England Tablelands Bioregion. The geology is granitic...

Environmental degradation is threatening biodiversity and ecosystem function globally. Mandating ecosystem-level protection in policy and legislative frameworks is essential to prevent biodiversity loss. Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is the key legislative mechanism for supporting biodiversity at the nati...

This report presents the results of the placement of a series of permanent flora monitoring plots within the properties Rockview and The Springs. Both properties are under conservation management (approx. 2,285 ha) and share a border with Ironbark Nature Reserve. The properties occur within the New England Tablelands Bioregion but the western bound...

Overall, vegetation classifications can help support the research endeavor by reducing thematic confusion within and among studies that sometimes leads to increased uncertainty in comparing results. In a rapidly changing world, ecological classifications can serve not only to catalogue ecological knowledge but help address fundamental questions on...

Indigenous cultural fire management is being recognised and revived across Australia, primarily in the centre and across the north. To explore the benefits of contemporary cultural fire management in southeast Australia and barriers to its revival, we undertook a systematic analysis of the literature. Seventy documented applications of cultural fir...

The combination of drought and intensive grazing pressure from neighbours’ sheep and cattle have significantly affected the condition of the biobanking area reducing diversity, threatened species numbers, community composition and the spread of weeds. The drought has significantly affected a number of overstorey trees particularly Eucalyptus mckiea...

This report has been prepared by Hewlett Hunter for the Central Coast Council for the purpose of identifying the presence and extent of two threatened ecological communities (TECs) potentially occurring on Winney Bay Reserve (R0177). These communities are: • Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and Coastal Headlands, a listed endangered ecological commun...

This report has been prepared by Hewlett Hunter for the Central Coast Council for the purpose of identifying the presence and extent of two threatened ecological communities (TECs) potentially occurring on Terrigal Haven Crown Land Reserve (R48416). These communities are: • Themeda grassland on Seacliffs and Coastal Headlands in the NSW North Coast...

Aims : To use unsupervised techniques to produce a hierarchical classification of grasslands on coastal headlands of New South Wales in eastern Australia. Methods : A dataset of 520 vegetation plots scored on cover and placed across grasslands on coastal headlands (ca. 2000 km of coastline). Vegetation assemblages were identified with the aid of a...

The Department of Primary Industries and Environment, under funding from the Saving Our Species (SOS) program requested, Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to conduct a post-fire survey and monitoring program for Eucalyptus camphora subsp. relicta within designated SOS management sites. The main outputs to include: a. Re-survey previously visited populations a...

The Department of Primary Industry and Environment under funding from the Saving Our Species program requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to revisit monitoring sites containing Callitris baileyi. Actions to be carried out included: a. Resurvey permanently marked plots. b. Record age class, habitat features, record threats. c. Record new populations if...

Under funding from the Saving Our Species program a request for Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to continue a monitoring program for the endangered ecological community - Themeda dominated grasslands on sea cliffs and headlands of the coastal New South Wales as they occur within Munmorah State Conservation Area. This monitoring program included the followin...

The Department of Primary Industries and Environment (DPIE) under funding from the Saving Our Species program requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to conduct a survey and mapping fof the endangered ecological community - Themeda dominated grasslands on seacliffs and headlands of the coastal New South Wales as they occur within Glenrock State Conservati...

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Environment under funding from the Saving Our Species (SOS) program requested, Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to revisit monitoring plots for Eucalyptus rubida subsp. barbigerorum within designated SOS management sites. Actions to be carried out included: a. Survey all Eucalyptus rubida subsp. barbigerorum t...

The Northern Tablelands Local Land Services requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to contintue a monitoring program for Montane Lagoons (Upland Wetlands) within the New England Bioregion. Actions to be carried out included: a. Direct engagement with landholders known to have lagoons on their lands, b. Revisit transects for rapid survey and monitoring, c...

Vegetation and mapping of Nocholeche Nature Reserve in far western New South Wales

Aims : To use unsupervised techniques to produce a hierarchical classification of montane mires of the study region. Study area : New England Tablelands Bioregion (NETB) of eastern Australia. Methods : A dataset of 280 vascular floristic survey plots placed across the variation in montane mires of the NETB was collated. Vegetation types were identi...

This literature review has been prepared by The Envirofactor for the North West Local Land Services to provide background for the control of feral deer and is part of the requirement of North West Local Land Services Deer impact Project, Agreement No: NW 00158. This project will provide a case study regarding the environmental impacts d of deer and...

This report has been prepared for the North West Local Land Services (NW LLS) as part of the requirement of NW LLS Deer Impact Project, Agreement No: NW 00158. The purpose of this project is to provide a case study regarding the environmental impacts of deer and the benefits and/or disbenefits of the existing deer control program to better inform a...

Aims: To use unsupervised techniques to produce a hierarchical classification of montane mires of the study region. Study area: New England Tablelands Bioregion (NETB) of eastern Australia. Methods: A dataset of 280 vascular floristic survey plots placed across the variation in montane mires of the NETB was collated. Vegetation types were identifie...

The Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to conduct a monitoring program within the Little Llangothlin Lagoon RAMSAR site. Specifically, this monitoring program was to follow changes in flora and vegetation to allow an understanding change due to management practices. IN 2018 three monitoring transects were plac...

Under funding from the Saving Our Species program a request for Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to continue a monitoring program for the endangered ecological community - Themeda dominated grasslands on sea cliffs and headlands of the coastal New South Wales as they occur within the Broughton Island part of Myall Lakes National Park. This monitoring program...

Globally, Indigenous cultural burning has been practiced for millennia, although colonization limited Indigenous people’s ability to access and manage their ancestral lands. Recently, recognition of Indigenous fire management has been increasing, leading to the re-emergence of cultural burning in Australia, the Americas, parts of Asia and Africa. W...

Continuous livestock grazing can have negative effects on biodiversity and landscape function in arid and semi‐arid rangelands. Alternative grazing management practices, such as rotational grazing, may be a viable option for broad‐scale biodiversity conservation and sustainable pastoral management. This study compared ground cover, plant species co...

Alternative vegetation types that switch from one to another under contrasting fire regimes are termed fire-mediated alternative stable states (FMASS). Typically, pyrophylic communities (i.e., vegetation assemblages favored by burning) dominate under high frequencies or intensities of fire. Conversely, fire-sensitive (pyrophobic) vegetation types p...

High grazing pressure from over-abundant macropods (kangaroos) is perceived to have a detrimental impact on biodiversity. Studies have shown potential changes in state and retardation of degraded vegetation recovery while other investigations have shown correlations with increased floristic diversity. The responses of grasslands to high impact macr...

The Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to conduct a review of known flora investigations that may have been completed within the Little Llangothlin Lagoon RAMSAR site. The project was also to include baseline surveys and the initiation of monitoring for floristic and vegetation community change within the 2018...

Despite the increasing extent of protected areas throughout the world, biodiversity decline continues. Grazing management that promotes both biodiversity and production outcomes has the potential to improve broad-scale conservation and complement the protected area network. In this study we explored the potential to integrate commercial livestock g...

This survey was performed at the request of the Office of Environment and Heritage through the Saving Our Species Program. Survey tasks included surveys to be restricted to NPWS Estate and that population boundaries are to be surveyed and sub-sampling occur within marked plots to occur. In additional recording of recruitment, population demographic...

The development and adoption of sustainable grazing strategies is important to improve the functionality andproductivity of agricultural landscapes. Alternative grazing systems incorporating periods of planned rest mayachieve this compared to continuous grazing systems, but the evidence is conflicting. Using paired paddockcontrasts, soil characteris...

Purpose: Shrub encroachment is an issue worldwide with soncsequences which may have both positive and negative outcomes for landscape and community health. Themeda-dominated communities on headlands are listed as endangered within New South Wales, Australia with shrub encroachment listed as threat. Coastal headlands are considered harsh environment...

The talk presents an overview of the current understanding the condition and threats to a listed endangered ephemeral wetland

We respond to Neil Gibson's reply to our paper "Overview of plot-based classification approaches within Aus-tralia" where Gibson advised on the location of plot data held by the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity , Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA). Based on that advice we have tabulated the available vegetation plot data on DBCA's Na...

The Office of Environment and Heritage, under funding from the Saving Our Species (SOS) program requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to initiate a Before and After Control Incident Design experimental survey program for Boronia repanda (F.Muell. ex Maiden & Betche) Maiden & Betche across public lands. Actions to be carried out included: 1) Design of a...

The Northern Tablelands Local Land Services requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to initiate a survey and monitoring program for Montane Lagoons within the New England Bioregion. Actions to be carried out included: a. Direct engagement with landholders known to have lagoons on their lands, b. Develop a rapid survey and monitoring technique appropriate...

The Office of Environment and Heritage under funding from the Saving Our Species program requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to initiate a monitoring program for the endangered ecological community - Themeda dominated grasslands on seacliffs and headlands of the coastal New South Wales as they occur within Munmora State Conservation Area. This monitor...

The Office of Environment and Heritage under funding from the Saving Our Species program requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to initiate a monitoring program for the endangered ecological community - Themeda dominated grasslands on seacliffs and headlands of the coastal New South Wales as they occur within the Broughton Island, part of Myall Lakes Nat...

Describing, classifying and quantifying vegetation communities is fundamental for understanding their current distribution, rarity, interrelationships and ecosystem functions. In the present study, we apply a consistent objective classification system for ephemeral wetlands of arid and semi-arid areas of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Our approa...

Methods for estimating aboveground herbaceous biomass in the field have generally involved calibrating visual estimates against clipped, dried and weighed biomass samples, requiring lengthy periods of estimation and destructive sampling in the field. Here we developed and tested a photographic estimation technique (PET) that minimises field time an...

We review vascular plant plot survey data, plot-based terrestrial vegetation classification protocols and schema by state and bioregions across Australia, discussing recent regional approaches in States and bioregions. A high degree of inconsistency exists in vegetation classification methods and management of plot data across jurisdictions and Aus...

Across western New South Wales agricultural practices have led to significant changes in the distribution and abundance of many native plant species. These changes have occurred due to past clearing practices and the introduction of grazing and pest animals. It is likely that such changes have affected the distribution of plant species used by Abor...

Eusdale Nature Reserve (NR) is located in the Central Tablelands of NSW, 30 km south-east of Bathurst. Eusdale NR is 1,880 hectares and became a conservation area as a result of broad community support of conservation of the Macquarie River Catchment area on the 17 of November, 2006. Eusdale NR was originally part of Sunny Corner State Forest and w...

The report presents information on the monitoring and survey for the threatened taxon Eucalyptus rubida subsp. barbigerorum within NSW, Australia.

The report presents information gathered on the distribution and population structure of the rare taxon Eucalyptus camphora subsp. relicta within NSW, Australia

The report presents information on the location and population density of the threatened species Eucalyptus scoparia within New South Wales, Australia.

The reserves (3669Ha Total) surveyed for this project include 3 of the 27 reserves which comprise the South West Woodland Nature Reserve (Killonbutta Section 1520Ha, Mandagery Section 1492Ha & Cookamidgera Section 529Ha) and one reserve from the Lachlan Valley National Park (Kiacatoo Section 128Ha). Killonbutta, Mandagery and Cookamidgera reserves...

The vegetation on granite inselbergs (island mountains) within the New England Bioregion of eastern Australia and the adjacent matrix were chosen to study the effects of above ground biomass removal on community recovery. Undisturbed inselberg vegetation was treated to manual removal of biomass by clipping and also to burning. Inselbergs and the ad...

A field survey was undertaken and monitoring plots established for the threatened species Acacia chrysotricha commonly known as the Newry Golden Wattle or the Bellingen River Wattle. The report contains demographic information along with speculation on the life history of the species.

The Office of Environment and Heritage under funding from the Saving Our Species program requested Hewlett Hunter Pty Ltd to conduct a survey of the current extant populations of Myriophyllum implicatum Orch. (Haloragaceae) within the Pilliga reserve network within north west New South Wales.

Headland Zieria (Zieria prostrata) is an endangered species restricted to four headlands with a potential population of 1000 individuals. The species also occurs within the endangered ecological community Themeda grassland on sea cliffs and coastal headlands in the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions. Shrub en...

Summarises some initial findings on shrub encroachment and fire issues and their effect on the Threatened Ecological Community of Themeda grasslands on coastal headlands on the NSW North Coast.

A survey for the threatened Bailey's Cypress Pine (Callitris baileyi) was undertaken within New South Wales. Two confirmed populations on public lands and other potential populations in need of verification on private lands were surveyed. Only a handful of plants (5) exist within reservation but potentially greater than 30,000 exist on crown lands...

Pultenaea maritima is a listed threatened species found within the Endangered Ecological Community Themeda grassland on seacliffs and coastal headlands in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions. Through the placement of monitoring plots, fire and macropod exclusions experiments we provide preliminary results that have a...

Results of a monitoring program for the endangered plant species Zieria prostrata are presented.

A population survey of the threatened plant Prostanthera staurophylla was carried out. It was established that 324 individual plants exist within a single locality. The species is currently threatened by fire, drought and browsing.

A survey of the current extent of the rare Homoranthus bebo was carried out for the Office of Environment and Heritage. The total known extent of the population is approximately 9 ha and potentially 10-20,000 clumps. The species was found to be readily clonal, suckering at nodes, but unable to recovery from fire.

We surveyed subtropical closed tussock grasslands on headlands within the North Coast Bioregion of New South Wales. The aims of the investigation were to provide baseline data on this listed threatened community. Additionally, we tested the effects of macropod grazing and biomass changes on assemblages. In total, 117 full floristic survey plots wer...

Wolves are widely regarded as top-down regulators of prey and trophic cascades in North America. Consequent expectations of biodiversity benefits from canid-driven trophic cascades have driven debate around reintroduction plans for dingoes in south-eastern Australia. The biophysical characteristics of Yellowstone National park predispose that envir...

Three co-occurring temperate montane non-riparian freshwater wetland communities of the New England Batholith of eastern Australia were chosen to test differences in resource allocation to select functional traits. Each of the wetlands was tested against inferred gradients of nutrient availability, fire and disturbance frequency. Collated functiona...

Aims The effects of pastoralism on grassy vegetation are predicted to vary across spatial scales. However, local‐scale effects have generally been better considered than large‐scale effects that may be pertinent for plant diversity conservation. We examined variation in plant diversity in an agricultural region by comparing patterns observed at lar...

Naree and Yantabulla stations (31,990 ha) are found 60 km southeast of Hungerford and 112 km northwest of Bourke, New South Wales (lat. 29° 55'S; long. 150°37'N). The properties occur on the Cuttaburra Creek within the Mulga Lands Bioregion. We describe the vegetation assemblages found on these properties within three hierarchical levels (Group, Al...

A survey of the population of the parasitic herb Thesium australe R.Br. (family Santalaceae) in Booroolong Nature Reserve, northwest of Armidale, found it was restricted to an eastern facing lower slope on metasediments, within regenerating grassy woodland of Eucalyptus nova-anglica H.Deane & Maiden (New England Peppermint) and a predominantly Them...

Aim Effective vegetation conservation requires reasonable certainty regarding the distribution, extent and classification of plant communities and ecoregions for assessing rarity. In this paper we describe a multivariate clustering approach based on environmental data for objectively defining temperate treeless palustrine wetland communities. Loca...