Personal details
- Name
- Professor Jennifer Firn
- Position(s)
- Professor
Science and Engineering Faculty,
School of Biology & Environmental Science - Discipline *
- Ecology, Ecological Applications, Plant Biology
- Phone
- +61 7 3138 9016
- jennifer.firn@qut.edu.au
- Location
- View location details (QUT staff and student access only)
- Identifiers and profiles
-
- Qualifications
-
PhD (University of Queensland)
- Professional memberships
and associations Australia Flora Foundation Vice President
Ecological Society of Australia Vice President
co-EIC of the journal Ecology and Evolution
FIDO member
- Keywords
-
community ecology, ecosystem ecology, invasion plant species management, theoretical ecology
Biography
From grasslands to tropical forests: understanding the implications of pervasive environmental change on plant populations, plant communities and local people. I am a restoration ecologist who specializes in studying ecological theory and then linking these theoretical constructs to the practical management of grasslands and tropical forests. The driving motivation in my Academic career is to find smarter, cheaper and more sustainable ways of restoring degraded plant communities, whether that be grasslands or forests. Globally, unsustainable land use has led to the degradation of many valuable ecosystems and the loss of irreplaceable biodiversity. My research and the research of my HDR students focuses on developing a better understanding of how the loss of native biodiversity impacts on ecosystems and subsequently finding better ways to bring it back. I am a co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Ecology and Evolution .
I am also the Director for QUT’s Centre for the Environment.
Publications
- Firn J, Ladouceur E, Dorrough J, (2018) Integrating local knowledge and research to refine the management of an invasive non-native grass in critically endangered grassy woodlands, Journal of Applied Ecology p321-330
- Firn J, Schutz M, Nguyen H, Risch A, (2017) Herbivores sculpt leaf traits differently in grasslands depending on life form and land-use histories, Ecology p239-252
- Harpole W, Sullivan L, Lind E, Firn J, Adler P, Borer E, Chase J, Fay P, Hautier Y, Hillebrand H, other a, (2016) Addition of multiple limiting resources reduces grassland diversity, Nature p93-96
- Firn J, Maggini R, Chades I, Nicol S, Walters B, Reeson A, Martin T, Possingham H, Pichancourt J, Ponce Reyes R, Carwardine J, (2015) Priority threat management of invasive animals to protect biodiversity under climate change, Global Change Biology p3917-3930
- Firn J, Martin T, Chades I, Walters B, Hayes J, Nicol S, Carwardine J, (2015) Priority threat management of non-native plants to maintain ecosystem integrity across heterogeneous landscapes, Journal of Applied Ecology p1135-1144
- Firn J, Moore J, MacDougall A, Borer E, Seabloom E, Hille Ris Lambers J, other a, (2011) Abundance of introduced species at home predicts abundance away in herbaceous communities, Ecology Letters p274-281
- Firn J, House A, Buckley Y, (2010) Alternative states models provide an effective framework for invasive species control and restoration of native communities, Journal of Applied Ecology p96-105
- Firn J, MacDougall A, Schmidt S, Buckley Y, (2010) Early emergence and resource availability can competitively favour natives over a functionally similar invader, Oecologia p775-784
- Firn J, Rout T, Possingham H, Buckley Y, (2008) Managing beyond the invader: manipulating disturbance of natives simplifies control efforts, Journal of Applied Ecology p1143-1151
- Firn J, Erskine P, Lamb D, (2007) Woody species diversity influences productivity and soil nutrient availability in tropical plantations, Oecologia p521-533
For more publications by this staff member, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.
Awards
Awards and recognition
- Type
- Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- Editor in Chief for the journal Ecology and Evolution http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2045-7758
- Type
- Appointment to Prestigious Positions
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- Australian Flora Foundation Invited member of the Scientific Research Committee Invited Council member http://www.aff.org.au/index.htm
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2013
- Details
- WIT Rising Star Award
- Type
- Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
- Reference year
- 2011
- Details
- Journal of Applied Ecology, British Ecological Society
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2010
- Details
- Fresh Science Award
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2009
- Details
- University of Queensland Dean's Commendation for an Outstanding Research Higher degree theses
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2007
- Details
- Smart State Women in Science Postgraduate Award (group entry)
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2007
- Details
- Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries
Research projects
Grants and projects (Category 1: Australian Competitive Grants only)
- Title
- Managing Complex Networks in Endangered Grasslands to Restore Food Webs
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP190100500
- Start year
- 2019
- Keywords
- Title
- Precision Ecology: The Modern Era of Designed Experiments in Plant Ecology
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP200101263
- Start year
- 2020
- Keywords