Assoc Prof Peter Clarke
Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, School of Environmental and Rural Sciences
Contact
| Email: | pclarke1@une.edu.au |
| Room: | Botany (S2) |
| Phone: | 02 6773 3712 (or +61 2 6773 3712 overseas) |
| Fax: | 02 6773 3283 |
Areas of Teaching
I have been teaching in Botany and Plant ecology for more than a decade and I enjoy it. I began teaching as a demonstrator at the University of Sydney in Botany. This was followed by teaching Adult Education Classes and CAE classes in Botany and Ecology. These skills were refined and developed as a full-time academic over the past five years at UNE.
My teaching includes designing ecology internal/external 200 and 300 level units, engaging students in ecological problem solving, refining assessments for large ecology units and taking part in professional development (e.g. post-graduate supervision workshops) and student assessment of units.
At UNE I teach a broad range of Botany and Ecology units at the undergraduate level (Biology 120, Ecology 203, Ecology 204 and Ecology 302). These are taught both internally and externally. I also teach a broad range of post-graduate levels from Graduate Diploma through to Ph.D. levels. Currently I supervise both Ph. D. and Masters students.
Research interests
My major research interest is understanding recruitment processes (regeneration) of natural and semi-natural plant communities. This information is of fundamental importance in the management of plant species and vegetation. This program is divided into three sub-programs; mangrove dynamics, woodland dynamics, and fire ecology. Four basic principles drive this research; a) it is based on rigorous repeatable field experiments, b) it will be useful to managers, c) it has a broader ecological context, and d) pleasure is gained from doing it. This research is support by ARC, LWRRDC, NSW NPWS, and UNE funding. Other research interests include saltmarsh biogeography, sub-alpine wetlands, & plant co-existence.
Publications
Clarke PJ, Dorji K (2008) Are trade-offs in plant resprouting manifested in community seed banks? Ecology 89 (7), 1850-1858.
Curran TJ, Clarke PJ, Bruhl JJ (2008) A broad topology of dry rainforests on the western slopes of New South Wales. Cunninghamia 10 (3), 381-405.
Lewis T, Clarke PJ, Reid N, Whalley RDB (2008) Perennial grassland dynamics on fertile plains: Is coexistence mediated by disturbance? Austral Ecology 33 (2), 128-139.
Nano CEM, Clarke PJ (2008) Variegated desert vegetation: Covariation of edaphic and fire variables provides a framework for understanding mulga-spinifex coexistence. Austral Ecology 33, 848-862.
Wills K, Clarke PJ (2008) Plant trait-environmental linkages among contrasting landscapes and climate regimes in eucalypt woodlands. Australian Journal of Botany 56, 422-432.
Wright BR, Clarke PJ (2008) Relationships between soil temperatures and properties of fire in feathertop spinifex (Triodia schinzii (Henrard) Lazarides) sandridge desert in central Australia. The Rangeland Journal 30 (3), 317-325.
Myerscough PJ, Clarke PJ (2007) Burnt to blazes: landscape fires, resilience and habitat interaction in frequently burnt coastal heath. Australian Journal of Botany 55, 91-102.
Wright BR, Clarke PJ (2007) Fire regime (recency, interval and season) changes the composition of spinifex (Triodia spp.)-dominated desert dunes. Australian Journal of Botany 55, 709-724.
Wright BR, Clarke PJ (2007) Resprouting responses of Acacia shrubs in the Western Desert of Australia - fire severity, interval and season influence survival. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, 317-323.
Campbell MC, Clarke PJ (2006) Seed dynamics of resprouting shrubs in grassy woodlands: Seed rain, predators and seed loss constrain recruitment potential. Austral Ecology 31, 1016-1026.
Campbell MC, Clarke PJ (2006) Response of montane wet sclerophyll forest understorey species to fire: evidence from high and low intensity fires. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 127, 63-73.
Clarke PJ, Myerscough PJ (2006) Introduction to the biology and ecology of Gibraltar Range National Park and adjacent areas: patterns, processes and prospects. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 127, 1-3.
Knox KJE, Clarke PJ (2006) Fire season and intensity affect shrub recruitment in temperate sclerophyllous woodlands. Oecologia 149, 730-739.
Knox KJE, Clarke PJ (2006) Response of resprouting shrubs to repeated fires in the dry sclerophyll forest of Gibraltar Range National Park. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 127, 49-56.
Williams PR, Clarke PJ (2006) Fire history and soil gradients generate floristic patterns in montane sedgelands and wet heaths of Gibraltar Range National Park. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 127, 27-38
Clarke PJ, Knox KJE, Campbell M, Wills KE (2005) Landscape patterns of woody plant response to crown fire: disturbance and productivity influence sprouting ability. Journal of Ecology 93, 544-555
Clarke PJ, Latz PK, Albrecht DE (2005) Long-term changes in semi-arid vegetation: Invasion of an exotic perennial grass has larger effects than rainfall variability. Journal of Vegetation Science 16, 237-248.
Knox KJE, Clarke PJ (2005) Nutrient availability induces contrasting allocation and starch formation in resprouting and obligate seeding shrubs. Functional Ecology 19, 690-698.
Williams PR, Congdon RA, Grice AC, Clarke PJ (2005a) Germinable soil seed banks in a tropical savanna: seasonal dynamics and effects of fire. Austral Ecology 30, 79-90.
Williams PR, Congdon RA, Grice AC, Clarke PJ (2005b) Effect of season of burning and removal of herbaceous cover on seedling emergence in a eucalypt savanna of north-eastern Australia. Austral Ecology 30, 491-496.
Bell DM, Clarke PJ (2004) Seed-bank dynamics of Eleocharis: can spatial and temporal variability explain habitat segregation? Australian Journal of Botany 52, 119-131
Clarke PJ (2004) Effects of experimental canopy gaps on mangrove recruitment: lack of habitat partitioning may explain stand dominance. Journal of Ecology 92, 203-213.
Clarke PJ, Davison EA (2004) Emergence and survival of herbaceous seedlings in temperate grassy woodlands: Recruitment limitations and regeneration niche. Austral Ecology 29, 320-331.
Knox KJE, Clarke PJ (2004) Fire response syndromes of shrubs in grassy woodlands in the New England Tableland Bioregion. Cunninghamia 8 (3), 348-353.
McCarthy P, Clarke PJ, Bruhl J (2004) Floristic patterns in coastal rainforest of Shoalwater Bay, Central Queensland. Cunninghamia 8 (3), 362-370.
Williams PR, Congdon RA, Grice AC, Clarke PJ (2004) Soil temperature and depth of legume germination during early and late dry season fires in a tropical eucalypt savanna of north-eastern Australia. Austral Ecology 29, 258-263.
Clarke PJ (2003) Composition of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time. Journal of Vegetation Science 14, 5-14.
Williams PR, Congdon RA, Grice AC, Clarke PJ (2003a) Fire-related cues break seed dormancy of six legumes of tropical eucalypt savannas in north-eastern Australia. Austral Ecology 28, 507-514.
Williams PR, Congdon RA, Grice AC, Clarke PJ (2003b) Effect of fire regime on plant abundance in a tropical eucalypt savanna of north-eastern Australia. Austral Ecology 28, 327-338.
Clarke PJ (2002) Experiments on tree and shrub establishment in temperate grassy woodlands: Seedling survival. Austral Ecology 27, 606-615.
Clarke PJ (2002) Habitat islands in fire-prone vegetation: do landscape features influence community composition? Journal of Biogeography 29(5-6), 677-684.
Clarke PJ (2002) Habitat insularity and fire response traits: evidence from a sclerophyll archipelago. Oecologia 132, 582-591.
Clarke PJ, Kerrigan RA (2002) The effects of seed predators on the recruitment of mangroves. Journal of Ecology 90, 728-726.
Clarke PJ, Knox KJE (2002) Post-fire response of shrubs in the tablelands of eastern Australia: do existing models explain habitat differences? Australian Journal of Botany 50, 53-62.
Clarke PJ, Davison EA (2001) Experiments on the mechanism of tree and shrub establishment in temperate grassy woodlands: Seedling emergence. Austral Ecology 26, 400-412.
Clarke PJ, Kerrigan RA, Westphal CJ (2001) Dispersal potential and early growth in 14 tropical mangroves: do early life history traits correlate with patterns of adult distribution? Journal of Ecology 89, 648-659.
Clarke PJ, Davison EA, Fulloon L (2000) Germination and dormancy of grassy woodland and forest species: effects of smoke, heat, darkness and cold. Australian Journal of Botany 48, 687-700.
Clarke PJ, Kerrigan RA (2000) Do forest gaps influence the population structure and species composition of mangrove stands in northern Australia? Biotropica 32(4a), 642-652.
Clarke PJ, Martin ARH (1999) Sphagnum peatlands of Kosciuszko National Park in relation to altitude, time and disturbance. Australian Journal of Botany 47, 519-546.
Hunter JT, Clarke PJ (1998) The vegetation of granitic outcrop communities on the New England Batholith of eastern Australia. Cunninghamia 5(3), 547-618.
Williams PR, Clarke PJ (1997) Habitat segregation by serotinous shrubs in heaths: Post-fire emergence and seedling survival. Australian Journal of Botany 45, 31-39.
Clarke PJ, Allaway WGA (1996) Litterfall in Casuarina glauca coastal wetland forests. Australian Journal of Botany 44, 373-380.
Clarke PJ, Myerscough PJ, Skelton N (1996) Plant coexistence in coastal heaths: Between- and within-habitat effects of competition, disturbance, and predation in the post-fire environment. Australian Journal of Ecology 21, 55-63.
Myerscough PJ, Clarke PJ, Skelton NJ (1996) Plant coexistence in coastal heaths: Habitat segregation in the post-fire environment. Australian Journal of Ecology 21, 47-54.
Myerscough PJ, Skelton N, Clarke PJ (1996) Management and vegetation of coastal sands in New South Wales, Australia, with special reference to Pleistocene beach sands. Landscape and Urban Planning 34, 347-350.
Clarke PJ (1995) The population dynamics of the mangrove Avicennia marina; demographic synthesis and predictive modelling. Hydrobiologia 295, 83-88.
Clarke PJ (1995) The population dynamics of the mangrove shrub Aegiceras corniculatum (Myrcinaceae): fecundity, dispersal, establishment and population structure. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 115, 35-44.
Morrison DA, Le Brocque AF, Clarke PJ (1995) An assessment of some improved techniques for estimating the abundance (frequency) of sedentary organisms. Vegetatio 120, 131-145.
Myerscough PJ, Clarke PJ, Skelton N (1995) Plant coexistence in coastal heaths: Floristic patterns and species attributes. Australian Journal of Ecology 20, 482-493
Clarke PJ (1994) Baseline studies of temperate mangrove growth and reproduction; demographic and litterfall measures of leafing and flowering. Australian Journal of Botany 42, 37-48.
Clarke PJ, Jacoby CA (1994) Biomass and above-ground productivity of salt-marsh plants in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 45, 1521-28.
Clarke PJ, Ward TJ (1994) The response of southern hemisphere saltmarsh plants and gastropods to experimental contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 175, 43-57.
Clarke PJ (1993) Dispersal of grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) propagules in southeastern Australia. Aquatic Botany 45, 195 -204.
Clarke PJ (1993) Mangroves, saltmarsh and peripheral vegetation of Jervis Bay. Cunninghamia 3(1), 231-254.
Clarke PJ, Adam P (1993) Distichlis distichohylla (Labill.) Fassett., a new coastal record for a saltmarsh grass in New South Wales. Wetlands (Australia) 12, 13-15.
Clarke PJ, Allaway WGA (1993) The regeneration niche of the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina): effects of salinity, light and sediment factors on establishment, growth and survival in the field. Oecologia 93, 548-556.
Clarke PJ, Myerscough PJ (1993) The intertidal distribution of the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) in southeastern Australia: The effects of physical conditions, interspecific competition, and predation on propagule establishment and survival. Australian Journal of Ecology 18, 307-315.
Grant DL, Clarke PJ, Allaway WGA (1993) The response of grey mangrove (Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. ) seedlings to spills of crude oil. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 171, 273-295.
Clarke PJ (1992) Predispersal mortality and fecundity in the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) in southeastern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 17, 161-168.
Clarke PJ, Myerscough PJ (1991a) Buoyancy of Avicennia marina propagules in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 39, 77-83.
Clarke PJ, Myerscough PJ (1991b) Floral biology and reproductive phenology of Avicennia marina in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 39, 283-293.
Logan VS, Clarke PJ, Allaway WG (1989) Mycorrhizas and root attributes of plants of coastal sand-dunes of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 16, 141-46.
Clarke PJ, Benson DH (1988) The natural vegetation of Homebush Bay - two hundred years of changes. Wetlands (Australia) 8, 3-15.
Clarke PJ (1985) Nitrogen pools and soil characteristics of a temperate estuarine wetland in eastern Australia. Aquatic Botany 23, 275-290.
Clarke PJ (1983). Nitrogen pools in a mangrove-saltmarsh system. Wetlands (Australia) 3, 85-95.