Service to conservation management
State and Federal wildlife and environmental management policy and implementation, engagement with industry and agencies
o The Wildlife Genetic Management Group works with the Victorian department of environment (DELWP) and other agencies on genetic management of wildlife.
o Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis - genetic data in population viability analysis and conservation planning (Pierson et al. 2015, 2016)
o Monitoring large-scale connectivity initiatives: Slopes-to-Summit and Great Eastern Ranges (Watson et al. 2018)
o National Garnaut Climate Change Review (2008) on climate change risks and preparedness
o National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility: Genetic Translocations workshop -led to influential recommendations and decision-tree for environmental managers (Weeks et al. 2011)
o Arid zone management of freshwater biodiversity - two Davis et al. (2013) books plus influential papers, including Davis et al. (2013)
World-leading Genetic Risk Index for large-scale inclusion of genetic considerations in wildlife management
With Andrew Weeks’s group at U Melbourne and DELWP, we conducted genetic risk assessment of >1,100 native species in the State of Victoria. The outputs are integrated into DELWP biodiversity investment decisions. It was included in the emergency biodiversity responses during the catastrophic 2019-2020 bushfires, and is being shared with the other States and the Federal government. DELWP is among world leaders in considering genetic variation in conservation planning, as can be seen in their innovative Genetic Risk Index website
The usefulness of the Wildlife Genetic Management Group’s research is reflected in our engaging Partner Organisations for ARC Linkage grants since 2004.
Collaborators and organisations encompass many key agencies in wildlife and environmental management, including:
Victoria: Department of environment (under various names, currently DELWP), Zoos Victoria, Museum Victoria, Parks Victoria, Catchment Management Authorities, VicRoads, Melbourne Water, Victorian Fisheries Authority
NSW/ACT: NSW Industry and Investment/DPI, Icon Water, NSW Government Environmental Trust, ACT Government conservation and environment department, Diversity Arrays Technology P/L
NT: Parks & Wildlife Commission
SA: South Australian Research & Development Institute
QLD: Department of Natural Resources & Mines
WA: Department of Environment & Conservation (under various names)
National: CSIRO, NCCARF, ACEAS, CERF, Birdlife Australia, Australian Geographic Society, Bush Heritage Australia, Greening Australia
International: Revive & Restore
Contributions to practical conservation management
Our data have been instrumental in setting the course for genetic management of threatened fish including Macquarie perch (the recommendations of Pavlova et al. 2017 was adopted in the National Management Plan), and Murray cod (our report to the NSW stocking agency made their broodstock policy far more effective).
Similar impacts are true for a mammal (Leadbeater’s possums) and a grassland daisy, button wrinklewort), and a bird, the helmeted honeyeater. The helmeted honeyeater research has attracted national and international media attention – cross-bred birds were release into the wild for genetic management purposes (a clip from The Guardian is shown to the right).
Our research on forest invertebrates was the only information on invertebrates used in management plans at the creation of Tallaganda National Park (NSW) – such data are essential for understanding the impacts of the savage bush fires that severely burnt more than half the park.
Conservation management reports
Mac Nally RC, Cunningham S, Shelly K, Sgro C, Thompson R, Lake PS, Sunnucks P, Cavagnaro T, O'Dowd D, Baker P, and Beardall J (2008). Biodiversity and climate change, in Garnaut Climate Change Review, R. Garnaut, Editor. Cambridge University Press: Melbourne. p. 680.
Sinclair S.J., Rodger, Y., Sunnucks, P. and Farmilo, B. (2020). Planting and monitoring plan for Button Wrinklewort. Unpublished Client Report for Glenelg Hopkins CMA. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria.
International leadership in conservation biology regarding genetic management, eg founding membership of the IUCN Conservation Genetics Specialist Group
Science evaluation including for granting agencies, universities scientific publishing, and in the profession.