Annual scholarship to support a student undertaking applied research into fire ecology and/or fire management.
QFBC's Research Student Scholarship recipient Arianne Allen conducting field research into fire exclusion on fauna communities (picture supplied by Arianne Allen) QFBC supports an annual scholarship program providing financial assistance and research support to a student undertaking applied research that contributes to our understanding of fire ecology or best practice fire management.
The scholarship is valued between $1000-$3000 and is for projects to be deployed in the South East Queensland bioregion.
It is open to Honours, Masters or PhD students and applications are judged on merit by a panel of QFBC partners.
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Previous scholarship winners
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2019/20
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Arianne Allen, Southern Cross University
Arianne’s research aims to investigate how variations in ‘time since fire’ affect fauna composition in a wet sclerophyll forest. Her study targets comparisons of forest structure, application of fire and how this impacts variations in faunal species, particularly frogs and birds. By analysing vegetation, fauna, sound ecology and fire treatments across twelve sites, the research aims to determine variances that can inform appropriate fire management. Results will help land managers to prioritise appropriate ecological burns to reduce localised extinction of fauna species. (Influence of fire-exclusion on fauna communities in Peachester State Forest).
Kate Tunstill, Griffith University
Kate’s study aims to understand the impacts of the chemical fire retardant PHOS CHek on the endangered Fleay’s barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) of South-East Queensland. Previous studies have found that many fire chemicals are hazardous to ecosystems, but so far little is known about the effects of PHOS Chek on aquatic species, especially amphibians. A series of controlled laboratory exposure challenge experiments will be conducted to test the effects of toxins on tadpole metamorphic and behavioural changes. GIS mapping will be used to visually compare the impacts of fire and chemically treated areas on species distribution. It is expected that the results will encourage the development of more environmentally friendly fire retardants and inform policy and practice. (Effects of firefighting chemicals on endangered Fleay’s barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) tadpoles).
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| 2015 |
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Martyn Eliott, University of the Sunshine Coast
Martyn’s Honours research examined whether cerambycid beetles could be a useful bioindicator of environmental change associated with differing fire regimes. The study aimed establish a link between fire affected habitat, forest health and the composition of cerambycid beetles. |
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| 2013/2014 |
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Ross Waldron, University of the Sunshine Coast
Ross’ Honours project was entitled "Comparing impacts of wildfire and prescribed burning on woody understory composition in a dry open forest". The research made use of the valuable long term data set associated with the DAFF long term experimental sites in Bauple State Forest.
Brett Parker, University of the Sunshine Coast
Brett’s Honours project was entitled "Remotely sensed burnt analysis and validation: A procedure to effectively map spatiotemporal patchiness and severity of fire to guide appropriate ecological management”. The research applied remote sensing techniques, geographical information systems and field validation methods to map the patchiness of fuel load and the extent and severity of fire on the Sunshine Coast.
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| 2012/2013 |
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Diana Virkki, Griffith University
Diana’s project was entitled "Responses of small vertebrates to repeated management burns and heterogeneous fire regimes at the patch and local scales in dry eucalypt forests of southeast Queensland". The research aimed to explore the impact of fire on fauna to help determine appropriate and ecologically sustainable fire management regimes that better conserve species diversity. |
