Dear Deadwooders

I recently sent this query to three email discussion lists (Bryonet, the
Ecological Society of Australia and Oz-Entomology) and had some helpful
responses, but wondered if any members of this list would also be able to help:


We're considering putting together a research proposal to investigate the
dispersal ability of a selection of organisms (e.g. invertebrates, bryophyte
[spores], fungi [spores]) inhabiting coarse woody debris (CWD) in Tasmanian wet
forests. As you will be well aware, CWD is a key resource for biodiversity, and
one whose responses to different forms of forest management we are currently
trying to model. As far as I am aware, the most successful direct studies of
dispersal have been in highly simplified landscapes with discrete habitat
patches, where it is (relatively) straightforward to track individuals (or their
propagules) or to infer where they have come from. Trying to get a handle on
dispersal ability in a complex densely forested landscape might not be feasible
by this approach.

We're looking for ideas as to how best to tackle this issue. Would anyone care
to comment on whether looking at gene flow would be the right way to go
(genetics not being my area) or whether a more traditional ecological approach
could still deliver?
Is anyone aware of anyone doing any similar research, in Australia or elsewhere?
Would anyone be interested in collaboration if we get this thing up and running?
Can anyone point to key published sources of information to get me started on a
literature review, if indeed one is warranted?

Basically, any advice will be greatly appreciated - please send directly to me
(simon.grove@...) unless you feel there's likely to be more
general interest in this subject amongst list members.

Many thanks in advance

Simon Grove


Dr Simon J Grove, Biology and Conservation Branch,
Division of Forest Research and Development
Forestry Tasmania, GPO Box 207, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
Tel. 61 3 6233 8141. Fax 61 3 6233 8292.
Email: simon.grove@....
Web address: http://forestrytas.com.au/