Assoc Prof Caroline Gross
Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, School of Environmental and Rural Sciences
Contact
| Email: | cgross@une.edu.au |
| Room: | Ecosystem Management Building 310 |
| Phone: | 02 6773 3759 (or +61 2 6773 3759 overseas) |
| Fax: | 02 6773 2769 |
Qualifications
- B.Sc.Hons - Flinders
- Ph.D. - Flinders
- Grad. Cert. Higher Ed.- UNE
Introduction
I am a Associate Professor in Ecosystem Management and teach Ecology, Biological Conservation and Vegetation Management. I joined the Department in 1994.
Areas of Teaching
I am the Unit coordinator for ECOL220 Terrestrial Ecology, EM425/525 Vegetation Management and co- coordinator EM453/553 Biological Conservation. I also co-teach in the third year unit GENE322 Conservation Genetics. All units are taught both internally and externally.
I have recently undertaken a Graduate Certificate In Higher Education and have found this a rewarding avenue to learn more about teaching, learning processes and assessment skills.
Postgraduate and honours supervision - click here to see a list of current and former students and projects
Research interests
Current Research Interests:
I unravel how species perform within their ecosystems particularly in regard to reproductive functions.
I use a variety of techniques (e.g. pollination experiments in the field and glasshouse, seed bank analyses, seed viability testing, allozyme electrophoresis) to work out why some species are in decline and how this may be arrested.
Northern NSW is a terrific location for this kind of work as it is a hot-spot for endangered flora with some 380 local species listed nationally as being threatened. I and many of my students have applied our expertise in plant reproductive ecology for the rehabilitation of such species and I feel that this is probably some of the most exciting work that we can ever be involved with. We are currently studying some twelve species which vary in their case histories and management needs. I see our studies in this area as being a litmus test for our skills as plant ecologists - can we recover an endangered species? - and to date we have several success stories.
I am also interested in the impacts of introduced honeybees on plant and native bee fitness. My work on comparative impacts of native bee and introduced honeybee foraging on plant fitness challenges many accepted ideas regarding plant reproduction and pollinator behaviour and is contributing to changes in accepted theory. A major outcome from my work is that I have demonstrated for the first time in Australia that honeybees are indeed detrimental to seed output and native bee behaviour. This work could alter the way we manage apiaries in conservation areas and UNE has been in the spotlight with my management recommendations.
Accurate taxonomic information is fundamental to biodiversity conservation and I also have a long-standing interest in the systematics of the Australian Flora. I am particularly interested in the Euphorbiaceae, Proteaceae and Sesbania (Fabaceae).
Qualifications
- B.Sc.Hons - Flinders
- Ph.D. - Flinders
- Grad. Cert. Higher Ed.- UNE
Publications
- Book chapters - fully refereed
- Refereed journal articles (2008-1990)
- Non-refereed articles (Key Reports Only)
- Refereed conference papers - recent
- Non-refereed conference papers - recent
Book chapters – fully refereed
Boulter, S.L., Kitching, R.L., Gross, C.L., Goodall, K.L., & B.G. Howlett (2008). Floral morphology, phenology and pollination in the Wet Tropics. In: N. Stork & S. Turton (eds) Living in a Dynamic Tropical Forest Landscape, Blackwell Publishing. ISBN: 9781405156431, ISBN10: 1405156430
Ahmad, F., Banne, S., Castro, M., Chavarria, G., Clarke, J., Collette, L., Eardley, C., Fonseca, V., Freitas, B., French, C., Gemmill, B., Griswold, T., Gross, C., Kwapong, P., Lundall-Magnuson, P., Medellin, R., Partap, U., Potts, S., Roth, D., Ruggiero, M., Urban, R., & G.Willemse (2006). Pollinators and Pollination: A Resources Book For Policy And Practice. Editors Connal Eardley, Dana Roth, Julie Clarke, Stephen Buchmann and Barbara Gemmill. African Pollinator Initiative (API). Secretariat: ELCI, Nairobi, Kenya. Agricultural Research Council: Plant Protection Research Institute, Queenswood, 0121, Pretoria, South Africa. ISBN 1-86849-310-5
*Gross, C.L. (2005). Chapter 6. Pollinator Efficiency. In Dafni, A., Kevan, P. (Eds). Practical Pollination Biology. Enviroquest LtD, Cambridge, Canada. ISBN 0-9680123-0-7.
*Gross, C.L. (1995). Macadamia. Flora of Australia 16: 419-425. ISBN 0 643 05692 0 0
Refereed journal articles (2008-1990)
Pisanu, P., Gross, C.L. & L. Flood (ms). Reproduction in Wild Populations of the Threatened Tree Macadamia tetraphylla (Proteaceae) — Inter-Population Pollen Enriches Fecundity in a Declining Species. Biotropica (in press)
Fatemi, M., & C.L. Gross (2008). Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for lippia (Phyla canescens: Verbenaceae). Molecular Ecology Resources, 8: in press
Fatemi, M., Gross, C.L. & J.J Bruhl (2007). The first phenetic analysis of species limits in Bertya (Euphorbiaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 20, 448–463.
*Gross C.L., & H.A.R. Caddy (2006). Are differences in breeding mechanisms and fertility among populations contributing to rarity in Grevillea rhizomatosa (Proteaceae)? American Journal of Botany, 93(12):1791-9.
Caddy, H.A.R., & C.L. Gross (2006). Population structure and fecundity in the putative sterile shrub, Grevillea rhizomatosa Olde & Marriott (Proteaceae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW, 127: 11-18, invited contribution for special issue.
Hogendoorn, K., Gross, C.L., Sedgley, M., & M.A. Keller (2006). Increased tomato yield through pollination by native Australian blue-banded bees. Journal of Economic Entomology, 99(3):828-33
*Sjöström, A., & C.L. Gross (2006). Life history characters and phylogeny are correlated with extinction risk in the Australian Angiosperms. Journal of Biogeography 33: 271-290
*Simpson, S., Gross, C.L., & L. Silberbauer (2005). Brooms and honeybees: an alien liaison. Plant Biology 7(5): 541-548.
*Gross, C.L. (2005). A comparison of the sexual systems in the trees from the Australian tropics with other tropical biomes – more monoecy but why? American Journal of Botany, 91(6):907-919. *nb. published as a Special Paper*
*Rossetto, M., Gross, C.L., Jones, R., & J. Hunter (2004). The Impact of Clonality on an Endangered Tree (Elaeocarpus williamsianus) in a Fragmented Rainforest. Biological Conservation 117:33-39.
Scott, B., & C.L. Gross (2004). Recovery directions for monoecious and endangered Bertya ingramii using autecology and comparisons with common B. rosmarinifolia (Euphorbiaceae).Biodiversity and Conservation. 13: 885-899.
Gross C.L., Bartier F.V. & D.R. Mulligan (2003) Floral Structure, Breeding System and Fruit-set in the Threatened Sub-shrub Tetratheca juncea Smith (Tremandraceae). Annals of Botany 92 (6): 771-777.
Smith, J.A., & C.L. Gross (2002). The pollination ecology of Grevillea beadleana McGillivray (Proteaceae), an endangered shrub from Northern NSW. Annals of Botany 89: 97-108.
Gross, C.L., & P.F. Kukuk (2001). Foraging strategies of Amegilla anomola at flowers of Melastoma affine – no evidence for separate feeding and pollinating anthers. Acta Horticulturae 561:171-178.
Tierney, D., & C.L. Gross (2001). The reproductive ecology of Prostanthera junosis - is recovery possible? Pacific Conservation Biology 7 (2): 118-123.
*Gross C.L. (2001). The effect of introduced honeybees on native bee visitation and fruit-set in Dillwynia juniperina (Fabaceae) in a fragmented ecosystem. Biological Conservation 102 (1): 89-95.
Gross, C.L., D.A. Mackay & M.A. Whalen (2000). Aggregated flowering phenologies among three sympatric legumes - The degree of randomness and the effect of overlap on fruit set. Plant Ecology 148 (1):13-21.
*Gross, C.L., & D. Mackay (1998). Honeybees reduce fitness in the pioneer shrub Melastoma affine (Melastomataceae). Biological Conservation 86(2): 169-178.
Gross, C.L., & M.A. Whalen (1996). A taxonomic revision of Adriana (Euphorbiaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 9(5):749-771.
*Gross, C.L. (1996). Is resource overlap detrimental to three sympatric legumes? Australian Journal of Ecology 21: 133-143.
*Gross, C.L. (1993). The breeding system and pollinators of Melastoma affine (Melastomataceae); A pioneer shrub in tropical Australia. Biotropica 25 (4): 468-474.
Gross, C.L. (1993). The reproductive ecology of Canavalia rosea on Anak Krakatau, Indonesia. Australian Journal of Botany 41(4,5): 591-599.
Gross, C.L., & B.P.M. Hyland (1993). Two new species of Macadamia (Proteaceae) from north Queensland. Australian Systematic Botany 6: 343-350.
*Gross, C.L. (1992). Floral traits and pollinator constancy: foraging by native bees among three sympatric legumes. Australian Journal of Ecology 17(1): 67-74.
Gross, C.L., & P.H. Weston (1992). Macadamia jansenii (Proteaceae) a new species from Central Queensland. Australian Systematic Botany. 5: 725-728
Gross, C.L., Whalen M.A., & M.H. Andrew (1991). Seed dispersal and predation in a tropical savanna woodland in Northern Australia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 7: 99-112
Gross, C.L. (1990). The breeding systems of three co-occurring legumes: Dillwynia hispida, D. uncinata and Pultenaea densifolia. Australian Journal of Botany 38(2): 207-215.
Non-refereed articles (Key Reports Only)
Gross, C.L. (2007). A Blueprint for the Restoration of the Warkworth Sands. 107 pp plus four appendices. UNEGross, C.L. (2001). Final Report for Investigations into the Reproductive Ecology of Olearia flocktoniae (Asteraceae). A report prepared for NSW-NPWS. June 2001. Pp 88 plus appendices.
Bartier, F., Gross, C.L., Mulligan, D., Bellairs, S. & Bowen, D. (2001). Understanding the biology and ecology of a vulnerable plant species - a case study with Tetratheca juncea occurring over coal leases. ACARP Project C8012. A report prepared for Australian Coal Research. June 2001.
Mackay, D. & Gross, C.L. (1998). Recovery plan, Olearia flocktoniae (Dorrigo Daisy).Report to NSW-NPWS. 44 pp plus 2 Appendices. Report to NSW-NPWS.
Mackay, D. & Gross, C.L. (1998). Indigofera efoliata survey, 1997-98 - Interim report. 27, pp plus 11 appendices. Report to NSW-NPWS.
Gross, C.L. & Steed, A. (1997). Grevillea beadleana. Recovery Plan. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia Threatened Species and Communities Section, Endangered Species Program. Endangered Species Project No. 300.
Baverstock, P., Cavanaugh, J., Ferrier, S. & Gross, C.L. (1996). Genetic Diversity. In Regional Report of Upper NorthEast New South Wales, Volume 4. NRAC, Resource and Conservation Assessment Council. Pp 20-34.
Gross, C.L. & B.R. Jackes (1992). Remnant Vegetation in the Mackay Region. Report to the NPWS and The Department for Minister of Environment and Heritage, Qld. 63 pp. plus a 1:100 000 vegetation map.
Refereed conference papers - recent
Fatemi M., Gross C.L., Duggin JA, & M. Julien (2008). Phyla canescens: Multiple introductions into Australia as revealed by ISSR Markers and Nuclear Ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) In '16th Australian Weed Conference'. Cairns Convention Centre, North Queensland. (Eds RD van Klinken, VA Osten, FD Panetta and JC Scanlan) pp. 247-249. (Queensland Weed Society, Brisbane).
Price, J.N., Duggin, J., Whalley, R.D.B. & C.L. Gross (2007). Strategic grazing for the control of lippia (Phyla canescens) an invasive wetland weed. A poster was presented at the 9th International Conference on the Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions held in Perth on the 17th -21st September 2007.
Non-refereed conference papers - recent
Gross, C.L., & W. Waters (2008). Pollinator food-webs on granite outcrops – diversity, specificity and a fly story. Invited Session Chair Section 12, Pollination Biology Botanical Society of America, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC July 26 – 30, 2008.
Gross, C.L., & W. Waters (2008). Pollinator food-webs on granite outcrops – diversity, specificity and a fly story. Invited Presentation Symposium 6.7 Pollinators in Bloom. XXIII International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa, 6-12 July 2008
Gross, C.L. (2008). Introduced bees in Australia – a control regime for integrated weed management. Invited Presentation, Symposium 16.6 Invasive Pollinators, XXIII International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa, 6-12 July 2008
Gross, C.L., Newstrom-Lloyd L.E., Howlett B., Plunkett G. & B.J. Donovan, (2008). Monitoring Pollinators: case studies from Australia and New Zealand. Invited Presentation May 22nd 2008 at the 9th Conference of the Parties (COP-09) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Side event on "Caring for Pollinators (BfN - Uni Bonn)" in Bonn, Germany.
Caddy, H., Gross, C.L. & R. D.B Whalley (2007). Poster for the 2007 ESA conference Perth. Grazing on Artesian Springs.
Gross, C.L., & S.Simpson. (2007). Invited presentation. to the 9th International Pollination Symposium, Iowa, US. Pollination resilience in a fragmented landscape – towards a synthesis of the most informative reproductive parameters. June 24-28, 2007
Price, J., Duggin, J., Whalley, R.D.B & C. L. Gross (2007). Strategic grazing for the control of lippia (Phyla cansecens) an invasive wetland weed. Poster presented at the 9th International Conference on the Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions held in Perth, WA Sep 2007.