 |
 |
School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences |
 |
|
Geographer
Research Interests:
Biogeography, Wildlife Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Remote Sensing and GIS.
Environmental Systems Research Group
Geographic Information Science
Biography
David Paull came to the School in 1991 from the University of Adelaide where he began his career as a biogeographer. He has a PhD from The University of New South Wales, and a Masters from the University of Adelaide. His research focuses on the biogeography, ecology and conservation of endangered Australian fauna, with a special interest in the southern brown bandicoot. Other interests include landscape ecology, environmental monitoring, Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing.
Teaching
Current Teaching
• ZPEM2202 Ecological Biogeography
UoC6 HPW5
S1 On-campus 2009
Staff Contact: Dr D Paull
An introduction to biogeography, the study of why organisms live where they do. In this course we will investigate factors that influence plant and animal distributions. Topics covered include: energy flow and nutrient cycling in ecosystems; habitat and niche concepts; how climate and topography affect the distribution of species; short and long distance dispersal of plants and animals; competition and interaction between species; the effects of natural and human-induced disturbance on biological communities; and, Island Biogeography Theory. Contemporary biogeographical and environmental issues may be highlighted. This course will involve a compulsory field school in 2009.course description from page 203 http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/student/handbook/2009hbook.pdf
• ZPEM3203 Conservation Biogeography
UoC6 HPW5
S1 On-campus 2009
Staff Contact: Dr D Paull
The contribution of biogeography in facing the current global extinction crisis. The course begins with a consideration of historical biogeography as the basis for understanding past, present and future patterns of biological diversity on earth. The principles and practice of the sub-discipline Landscape Ecology are then examined with particular emphasis given to wildlife ecology in Australia. Other ecological systems and their
management may also be emphasized.course description from page 206 http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/student/handbook/2009hbook.pdf
Previous Teaching
• Global Environmental Change (Level 1)
• Geographies of Contemporary Australia (Level 1)
• Biogeography (Level 2)
• Ecological Systems (Level 3)
• Geographic Information Analysis (Level 3)
• Resource Management (Level 3)
• Introduction to Digital Image Processing (Short course to the RAAF)
• Honours Coordination
Postgraduate and Honours Students
• Vijai Joseph (PhD, UNSW, 2008-) Modelling indundation impacts of climate change.
• Wen Wu (PhD, UNSW, 2008-) Coastal management issues of Australian Defence Force activities in Australian marine protected areas.
• Jin Cui “Tracy” (MSc, UNSW, 2008-) Error propagation in vegetation modelling land cover mapping and decision support.
• Dylan Horne (PhD, UNSW, 2006-) Evolution of chenier plains.
• Jasmin Packer (PhD, Adel, 2006-) The transition from degraded to rehabilitating habitat: Monitoring the impact on invertebrates and small mammals in South Australia.
• Takeshi Kawakami (PhD, UNSW, 2008) Systematics, phylogeography, and speciation of the morabine grasshopper (genus Vandiemenella) in south-eastern Australia.
• Bambang Trisasongko (MSc, UNSW, 2008) Monitoring a mine-influenced environment in Indonesia through radar polarimetry.
• James Dawson (MSc, UNSW, 2005) Impact of wildfire on the spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus in Kosciuszko National Park.
• Michael Rees (PhD, UNSW, 2004) A multi-scale assessment of the distribution, habitat and conservation requirements of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis).
• Tim Robinson (BSc Hons, UNSW, 2004) Assessing the role of off-park habitat in the conservation of the Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhyncus lathami).
• Phil Parkes (BSc Hons, UNSW, 2003) The application of Geographic Information Systems for locating wind energy sites for defence establishments in south-eastern New South Wales.
• Lisa Bush (BSc Hons, UNSW, 2001) Time, space and causality: Gully erosion in Milburn Creek catchment, central western NSW.
• James Watson (BSc Hons, UNSW, 1999) Some patchy principles: An assessment of the focal species approach for woodland avifauna within the northern ACT and surrounding areas of NSW.
• Kristin Devlin (BSc Hons, UNSW, 1999) Conserving native fauna in urban reserves: A spatial analysis of small mammal habitat using GIS.
• Michael Rees (BSc Hons, UNSW, 1997) Habitat suitability mapping for the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in south-western Victoria.
• Philippa Chapman (BSc Hons, ANU, 1995) Mycophagous mammals of Ben Boyd National Park : Distribution and abundance of diggings.
• Roger Grose (BSc Hons, UNSW, 1994) The distribution of reptiles in the ACT: A GIS approach.
Research
Infrared digital cameras and
olfactory attractants for
monitoring wildlife
Dr David Paull & Dr Andrew Claridge
This project aims to develop a humane and cost-effective method for detecting rare and threatened wildlife. In biogeography, one great problem lies in obtaining reliable field data on the distribution of animals that are of conservation concern. In south-eastern Australia this is particularly the case for small mammals such as bandicoots and rat kangaroos. Traditional methods used to detect these species are trapping and hair tubing, which are distressing to the captured individuals, costly in terms of labour, or simply ineffective when populations exist in low density. Therefore, alternative approaches are needed. The aim of our research is to determine whether automated digital surveillance cameras are a viable option for detecting small mammals in south-eastern Australia. The methodology involves deploying digital infrared cameras across large areas of habitat in south-eastern Australia to determine the distribution of species of small mammals such as the southern brown bandicoot. We use small quantities of scent attractant, for example truffle oil, in front of each camera to encourage animals to enter the field of view and ‘pose’ while photographs are automatically taken. This research is greatly improving the tool kit we currently have for detecting elusive animals in the wild.
 |
 |
Nationally endangered southern brown bandicoot visiting a truffle oil bait station in East Gippsland. |
Southern brown bandicoot, |
 |
 |
Deployment of remote infrared surveillance camera for detecting the southern brown bandicoot, Mt Gambier, South Australia 2007. |
Deployment of remote infrared surveillance camera for detecting bandicoots and potoroos, Nungatta, southern NSW 2008. |
 |
 |
Southern brown bandicoot visiting a scent attractant station, Mt Gambier 2007. |
Closeup of remote infrared surveillance camera for detecting bandicoots and potoroos, Nungatta, southern NSW 2008. |
The southern brown bandicoot
in south-eastern Australia: its
distribution, habitat use and
conservation
Dr David Paull, Dr Andrew Claridge, Dr
Michael Rees
The objective of this long-term project is to locate and map all remaining populations of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus in south eastern Australia. Commencing in 1986, extensive field investigations for this rare marsupial have been ongoing in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, with much of the historical distribution already having been surveyed. At sites where the species has been found, detailed habitat descriptions are made of vegetation, soils, climate and topography. This information is compiled as a baseline against which future changes to the species’ distribution and habitat can be measured. The data are also used for predictive spatial modeling using Geographical Information Systems to uncover new areas of potential habitat and estimate the extent of the species’ former distribution circa 1788. The research has been playing a vital role in the development of conservation plans. One outcome of the work to date has been a successful nomination by the principal investigator to have the species listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
 |
 |
|
Habitat suitability models for the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus)
in (a) 1788 and (b) 1988. The index (1-10) is based on suitability of climate, geology and vegetation for the species. Click on maps for more detail. |
Monitoring the environmental
impacts of large mining projects
in the Asia Pacific Region using
remote sensing
Dr David Paull, Dr Glenn Banks,
Bambang Trisasongko, Prof. Brian Lees,
Prof. David Gillieson, Dr Chris Ballard,
Simon Mockler
The mining industry has been an extensive user of remotely-sensed data and GIS for many years, but the focus has primarily been on using the technology to assist with mineral exploration and modelling. More recently, remote sensing and GIS have been incorporated into environmental management regimes of mining operations and the areas they affect. In this project we have compiled over 60 satellite images from a dozen mine sites located in the Asia-Pacific region for the purpose of conducting multitemporal monitoring of landscape change. Current work in the group includes radar polarametric analyses by Bambang Trisasongko. Our focus to date has been the Freeport copper/gold mine in Papua Province of Indonesia and the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea, with results summarized in Banks et al. (2005), Paull et al. (2006) and Trisasongko et al. (2006, 2007). In the future our project will examine the environmental impacts of other prominent mines throughout the region, for example Ok Tedi, Lihir and Marinduque.
Major anthropogenic land cover changes to the Timika region, 1988-2004.
Landsat 5 false colour composite display: red
channel Band 5 (1.55-1.75 μm), green channel Band 4 (0.76-0.90 μm), blue channel Band 1 (0.45-0.52 μm).
From Paull, D., Banks, G., Ballard, C. & Gillieson, D., 2006, Monitoring the environmental impact of mining in remote
locations through remotely sensed data, Geocarto International, 21, 33-42.
PhD Opportunities and Scholarships
There are many opportunities
available for postgraduate research
within the Environmental Systems
Research group.
Contact
Dr David Paull
(dpaull@adfa.edu.au)
for further information about
research within the
Environmental Systems and Geographic Information Science research
groups.
Publications
BIOGEOGRAPHY AND ECOLOGY
Robinson, T.J.M. and Paull, D.J. (in press). Comparative evaluation of suburban bushland as foraging habitat for the Glossy Black Cockatoo, Corella.
Paull, D.J., (2008). Revisions and introductions to Order Peramelemorphia: Bandicoots and Bilbies; Superfamily Perameloidia; Family Chaeropodidae: Pig-footed Bandicoot; Family Peramelidae: Typical Bandicoots; Subfamily Echymiperinae; Subfamily Peramelinae; Family Thylacomidae: Bilbies, in Mammals of Australia: 3rd Edition, S. van Dyke & R. Strahan (ed.), Reed New Holland publishing, Sydney. Proof pages169; 170-171; 172; 174; 176; 191. ISBN: 9781877069253
Paull, D.J., (2008). Southern Brown Bandicoot, in Mammals of Australia: 3rd Edition, S. van Dyke & R. Strahan (ed.), Reed New Holland publishing, Sydney. Proof pages 180-182. ISBN: 9781877069253.
Packer, J., Carthew, S., Long, K and Paull, D. (2008). Adapting to altered landscapes: the effect of blackberry on population persistence of the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus). Ecological Society of Australia. Sydney 1-5 December 2008.
Dawson, J.P., Claridge, A.W., Triggs, B. and Paull, D.J., (2007). Diet of a native carnivore, the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) before and after an intense wildfire, Wildlife Research, 34(5), 342-351.
Rees, M., Paull, D.J. and Carthew, S., (2007). Factors influencing the distribution of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis australis) in Victoria, Australia, Wildlife Research, 34(3), 228-233.
Paull, D.J. (2006). Fragmentation and the southern brown bandicoot at the continental scale. International Geographical Union IGU 2006 Brisbane Conference and joint meeting of the Institute of Australian Geographers and the New Zealand Geographical Society. Regional Responses to Global Changes: A view from the Antipodes, 3-7 July 2006.
Shan, Y., Paull D.J. and McKay , R.I. (2006). Machine learning of poorly predictable ecological data. Ecological Modelling 195, 129-138.
Claridge, A.W., Paull D., Dawson, J., Mifsud, G., Murray, A.J., Poore, R. and Saxon, M.J. (2005). Home range of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), a marsupial carnivore, in a rainshadow woodland. Wildlife Research 32, 7-14.
Watson, J., Watson, A., Paull, D. and Freudenberger, D. (2003). Woodland fragmentation is causing the decline of species and functional groups of birds in southeastern Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 8, 261-270.
Shan, Y., McKay , R.I. and Paull, D.J. (2002). Building ecological models using genetic programming. Proceedings of the Fourth Asia-Pacific Conference on Simulated Evolution and Learning, IEEE, Singapore, 19 November 2002, pp. 320-325.
Watson, J., Freudenberger, D., and Paull, D.J. (2001). An assessment of the focal species approach for conserving birds in variegated landscapes in southeastern Australia. Conservation Biology 15, 1364-1373.
Freudenberger, D., Watson, J., and Paull, D.J. (2000). Feathers, fur and fins: the habitat values of open urban spaces in Canberra. Australian Pacific Healthy Cities Conference, Canberra, June 26-28, 2000.
Watson, J., Freudenberger, D., and Paull, D.J. (1999). The development of revegetation guidelines for variegated landscapes in the ACT region using a focal species approach. Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Fremantle, Australia, 26 September-1 October, 1999.
Paull, D.J. (2004). Habitat fragmentation and the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus at multiple spatial scales. PhD Thesis, University of New South Wales, 226 pp.
Paull, D.J. (2004). Habitat fragmentation at multiple spatial scales. Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, Glenelg, 13-16 April 2004. Abstract available online at http://www.iag.org.au/2004abstracts.html
Paull, D.J. (2001). Assessing the Conservation Status of the Southern Brown Bandicoot. Interspecies Workshop 2001 - Speaking of Danger: Discourses and Debates around Endangered Species. Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University, 19 October 2001.
Rees, M. and Paull, D.J. (2000). Distribution and status of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus in the Portland region of southwestern Victoria. Wildlife Research 27, 539-545.
Paull, D.J. (1999). A survey of the distribution and abundance of the southern brown bandicoot in the south east of South Australia. Working Paper 1999/1, School of Geography and Oceanography, University College, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, 22pp. ISBN 0 7334 0561 4, ISSN 0819-3460.
Paull, D.J. (1999). Habitat selection by the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) at multiple spatial scales, Geodiversity: Readings in Australian geography at the close the 20th century , J.A. Kesby, J.M. Stanley, L.J. Olive and R.F. McLean (eds), School of Geography and Oceanography Canberra on behalf of the Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, 29 June-3 July 1998, pp. 55-65.
Paull, D.J. (1998) A survey of the distribution and abundance of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus in the south east of South Australia : Preliminary results and recommendations for action. Report to ForestrySA, 22 pp.
Paull, D.J. (1997). Bandicoots, barriers and biogeography: Habitat mapping using GIS, Proceedings of the Institute of Australian Geographers and New Zealand Geographical Society Second Joint Conference, Hobart, Australia, January 1997, Department of Geography, The University of Waikato, New Zealand Geographical Society Conference Series No. 19, pp. 407-409.
Paull, D.J. (1995). The distribution of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus obesulus in South Australia. Wildlife Research 22 , 585-600.
Paull, D.J. (1993). The distribution, ecology and conservation status of the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) in South Australia. MA Thesis, University of Adelaide, 251 pp.
Paull, D.J. (1992). Implications of habitat spatial configuration for the conservation of the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) in South Australia. Sixth International Theriological Congress, UNSW, Sydney 4 - 10 July 1993, abstract published in Augee M. L. (ed.). Abstracts of spoken papers and poster papers, Sydney, Secretariat School of Biological Science, UNSW,1993, p. 237.
Paull, D.J. (1990). The distribution and conservation status of the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) in South Australia. Report to World Wildlife Fund Australia, 46 pp.
Paull, D.J. (1989). Bandicoot colonies in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Report to the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Reserves Advisory Committee, 68 pp.
Paull, D.J. (1986). The conservation role of captive breeding: A case study of rare and threatened animals indigenous to South Australia. Honours Thesis, University of Adelaide, 93 pp.
MOLECULAR AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Kawakami, T., Butlin, R.K., Adams, M., Paull, D.J. and Cooper, S.J.B. (2009). Genetic analysis of a chromosomal hybrid zone in the Australian morabine grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica species group), Evolution, 63, 139-152.
Kawakami, T., Butlin, R.K., Adams, M., Saint, K.M., Paull, D.J. and Cooper, S.J.B. (2007). Differential gene flow of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers among chromosomal races of Australian morabine grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica species group), Molecular Ecology, 16, 5044-5066.
Kawakami, T., Butlin, R.K., Paull, D.J. and Cooper, S.J.B. (2007). Polymorphic
microsatellite markers for chromosomal
races of Australian morabine
grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica species group), Molecular Ecology
Notes, 7(6), 1181-1184.
Kawakami, T., Cooper, S., Adams, M., Paull, D. and Butlin, R. (2005). Chromosomal rearrangements and speciation of Australian morabine grasshoppers. The Combined Australian Entomological Society, Society of Australian Systematic Biologists and Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation Conference, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, 4-9 December 2005.
Kawakami, T., Cooper, S., Adams, M., Paull, D. and Butlin, R. (2005). Chromosomal rearrangements and speciation of Australian morabine grasshoppers. 10th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland. 15-20 August 2005.
Johnston, P.G., Watson, C.M., Adams , M. and Paull, D.J. (2002). Sex chromosome elimination, X-chromosome inactivation and reactivation in the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae). Cytogenetics and Genome Research 99, 119-124 .
Johnston , P.G., Watson, C.M., Adams , M., and Paull, D.J. (2000). The paternally derived X chromosome is eliminated in female bandicoots. Abstracts of the Australian Mammal Society Conference, Alice Springs, 12-14 April, 2000, p 42. Available online at:http://www.australianmammals.org.au/Conferences/Past%20Conferences
%20AMS/2000%20AMS%20conference%20Abstracts.pdf
Johnston , P.G., Watson, C.M., Adams, M., and Paull, D.J. (1999). Sex chromosome elimination and X-chromosome inactivation in bandicoots. International Symposium on X-chromosome Inactivation in Mammals, Novosibirsk, Russia, 6-12 September, 1999.
REMOTE SENSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Trisasongko, B., Lees, B., & Paull, D. (2007). Discrimination of scatterer responses on tailings deposition zone using radar polarimetry, Sensing and Imaging: An International Journal, 8(3-4), 111-120.
Paull, D., Banks, G., Ballard, C. and Gillieson, D. (2006). Monitoring the environmental impact of mining in remote locations through remotely sensed data. Geocarto International 21, 33-42.
Trisasongko, B., Lees, B. and Paull, D. (2006). Polarimetric Classification in a Tailings Deposition Area at the Timika Mine Site, Indonesia. Mine Water and the Environment 25, 246-250.
Banks, G., Paull, D. and Mockler, S. (2005). The Social and Environmental Impact of Mining in Asia-Pacific: The Potential Contribution of a Remote-Sensing Approach. Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Working Paper No. 60. Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Program, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University . Canberra, ISSN – 1444-187X. Available online at http://rspas.anu.edu.au/papers/rmap/Wpapers/rmap_wp60.pdf
Paull, D.J. and Banks, G. (2005). Monitoring the Social and Environmental Impact of Mining in Asia-Pacific through Remote Sensing. 11th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Östersund Sweden, June 16-19 2005.
Banks, G. and Paull, D.J. (2004). The social and environmental impact of mining in Asia-Pacific: the potential contribution of a remote-sensing approach. 11 November 2004 Resource Management in Asia-Pacific (RMAP) Program, Research School of Pacific & Asian Studies
Wang, X.H. and Paull, D.J. (2003). Can Landsat imagery provide high resolution mapping of sea surface temperature in a small embayment after a convective cooling event? Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 4892 Ocean Remote Sensing and Applications, Robert J. Frouin, Yeli Yuan, Hiroshi Kawamura (eds), pp. 426-433.
Recent Grants
Paull, D. and Claridge, A. Indirect methods in wildlife research. A question of detection: Are infrared cameras better than hair-tunnels for monitoring cryptic mammals? UNSW@ADFA Early Career Researchers Grant, 2009: $31, 250.
Paull, D. and Claridge, A. Infrared digital surveillance
cameras and olfactory attractants for
monitoring endangered species, UNSW@ADFA Special Research Grant, 2008:
$3,720.
Lees, B., Paull, D. Modelling inundation
impacts of climate change, UNSW@ADFA
Research Training Scholarships, 2007.
Paull, D.J., Cooper, S., Butlin, R., & Kawakami, T. Speciation, phylogeography,
and systematics of chromosomally
diverse Australian morabine grasshoppers
(Orthoptera: Eumastacidae: Morabinae:
Vandiemenella) UNSW@ADFA Faculty
Research Grant, 2006: $20,000.
Paull, D. & Banks, G. Monitoring
the environmental impacts of large-scale
mining in Asia-Pacific using remote sensing,
University of New South Wales, Faculty
Research Scheme ECR Award, 2005-2006:
$22,000.
Niven, R. & Paull, D. The first radon
risk map for Australia, University of New
South Wales, Faculty Research Scheme ECR
Award, 2005-2006: $20,000.
Paull, D. Systematics, phylogeography, and
speciation of the morabine grasshopper
(genus Vandiemenella) in south-eastern
Australia, UNSW@ADFA Special Research
Grant, 2005: $5,000.