Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Telephone: +61 (02) 9850 8160

Facsimile: +61 (02) 9850 8245

Email: carla.harris[at]mq.edu.au

I am a plant ecologist, with my research focusing on both native and exotic plants. Previous research on invasive species has concentrated on introduced climbing plants in Australia and the role that their life-history and introduction-history traits play in their invasion success at multiple spatial. These days I spend a lot of time studying seeds, for instance comparing differences in reproductive traits of invasive Acacia species in their native and introduced ranges.

My research has enabled me to travel to some amazing places including the South east and south west coasts of Australia, the Hunter Valley, and South Africa.

Carla in the field

Vines

A. longifolia seeds

Hunter valley field site

I am interested in all things plant related but in particular I am fascinated with how introduced plants become so successful in their new environment and subsequently, become invasive. Obtaining a greater understanding of why some species become invasive over others can lead to useful predictive frameworks and, ultimately, better management of invasive species.

Another research interest is obtaining a greater understanding of seeds present in riparian systems. Answering questions such as “can soil stored seedbanks be used in revegetation initiatives within degraded riparian systems - or are the seeds present predominately exotic”? for instance has the potential to provide important insights for the future of revegetation approaches across Australia.

Currently I am exploring the role of seedbank and seed rain dynamics (such as seed density, germination and seedling establishment) in the successful rehabilitation of riparian zones in the Lower Hunter. I am also assessing differences in seedbank and seed rain quality and quantity across different geomorphic units to explore the differences in seed composition across geomorphic units and thus whether certain zones of the riparian area are better to target for seedbank germination than others.

This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration with the Department of Environment and Geography, as well as the Hunter Central Rivers CMA.

Harris, C,J., Leishman M.R., Fryirs, K. & Kyle G. How does restoration of native canopy affect understory vegetation composition? Evidence from riparian communities of the Hunter Valley Australia. Restoration Ecology (accepted).

Michelle R. Gibson, David M. Richardson, Elizabete Marchante, Hélia Marchante, James G. Rodger, Graham N. Stone, Margaret Byrne, Andrés Fuentes-Ramírez, Nicholas George, Carla Harris, Steven D. Johnson, Johannes J. Le Roux, Joseph T. Miller, Daniel J. Murphy, Anton Pauw, Matthew N. Prescott, Elizabeth M. Wandrag, and John R. U. Wilson. Reproductive biology of Australian Acacia species: important mediator of invasiveness?Diversity and Distributions (accepted).

Harris, C.J. & Gallagher, R. (2010) Vines and Lianas. Invited author: In Encyclopedia of Biological Invasions (eds D. Simberloff and M. Rejmanek), pp627-631. University of California Press.

Leishman, M.R. & Harris, C.J. (2010) Seed Ecology. In Encyclopedia of Biological Invasions eds D. Simberloff and M. Rejmanek), pp680-684. University of California Press.

Harris C.J., Murray B.R., Hose G.C. & Hamilton M.A. (2007) Introduction history and invasion success in exotic vines introduced to Australia. Diversity and Distributions 13: 467-475.

Hamilton M.A., Murray B.R., Cadotte M.W., Hose G.C., Baker A.C., Harris C.J. & Licari D. (2005) Life-history correlates of plant invasiveness at regional and continental scales. Ecology Letters 8: 1066-1074.

Manuscripts in preparation
Harris, C.J., Leishman, M.R, Moles, A. and Murray, B.R. Seed predation and reproductive output of introduced Fabaceae species across their native and introduced ranges in Australia. In review.

Harris C.J. & Murray B.R. Relationships between life-history traits and invasion success of exotic vines in Australia.

Harris C.J. & Murray B.R. Extent of herbivory and leaf traits are not related to the success of invasive versus non-invasive exotic vines in Australia.
 

• Faculty of Science Helix Doctoral Scholarship 2005-2008
• IWERM PhD Scholarship top-up 2005-2008
• Vice Chancellor Conference Travel Fund Award 2005
• ESA Student Research Grant 2005
• Vice Chancellor Conference Travel Fund Award 2006
• ESA Conference Attendance Student Travel Grant 2006

• Tutor, Introduction to Statistics 2011
• Demonstrator in Cells Genetics and Evolution 2005, 2007
• Demonstrator in Animal Function and Biodiversity 2005-2007
• Tutor for Contemporary Environmental Issues 2005-2007
• Demonstrator in Plants People and the Environment 2006
• Demonstrator in Ecology 2006-2008