Ms Laura Falkenberg

Qualifications

PhD candidature (2009 – thesis submitted September 2012), Thesis title: Mediation of global change by local biotic and abiotic interactions, Supervisors: Prof Sean Connell, Dr Bayden Russell, The University of Adelaide

First Class Honours in Science (Marine Biology) (2008), Thesis title: Interactions between global- and local- scale stressors, consequences for marine assemblages of rocky temperate coasts, The University of Adelaide 

Bachelor of Arts (Geography and Environmental Studies) / Bachelor of Science (Ecology/Marine Biology) (2004 - 2007), The University of Adelaide

 

Awards & Achievements

2010: 5^th AMSA-SA Annual Symposium, poster presentation, runner-up for “Best Poster”

2010: The University of Adelaide School of Earth and Environmental Sciences Poster Day, 2^nd place

2009: 8^th International Temperate Reef Symposium, poster presentation

2008: Australian Water Association H.J.N. Hodgson Medal Finalist

2008: First Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Level III Environmental Biology

Research Interests

 

My research is focussed on identifying the potential effects of combined global (climate change) and local (species removal, nutrient pollution) change on species assemblages of marine systems.

Given the interactive nature of these changes I am interested in determining (1) if management at local scales to either retain key components of the system (grazers and kelp canopies) or reduce nutrient pollution (from run-off or waste water outfalls) can mitigate the effects of global change and (2) how timing the implementation of local management (before or after the establishment of future climate conditions) will influence its effectiveness.

In addition to informing the management of marine ecosystems, this research will increase understanding of interactions which occur in marine ecosystems both currently and into the future.

Research Funding

2010: Nature Foundation SA ($ 2000)

2009: Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, Conservation Biology Grant ($ 800)

2009: SARDI Science Bursary ($ 1500)

Publications

Falkenberg LJ, Russell BD, Connell SD Contrasting resource limitations of marine primary producers: implications for competitive interactions under enriched CO₂ and nutrient regimes. Oecologia 172: 575-583

Falkenberg LJ, Connell SD, Russell BD (2013) Disrupting the effects of synergies between stressors: improved water quality dampens the effects of future CO₂ on a marine habitat. Journal of Applied Ecology 50: 51-58

Falkenberg LJ, Russell BD, Connell SD (2012) Stability of strong species interactions resist the synergistic effects of local and global pollution in kelp forests. PLoS ONE 7(3): e33841. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033841

Falkenberg LJ, Burnell OW, Connell SD, Russell BD (2010) Sustainability in near-shore marine systems: promoting natural resilience. Sustainability 2: 2593-2600

Russell BD, Thompson JI, Falkenberg LJ, Connell SD (2009) Synergistic effects of climate change and local stressors: CO₂ and nutrient driven change in subtidal rocky habitats. Global Change Biology 15: 2153-2162

 

 

Entry last updated: Friday, 17 May 2013