Publications
Investigating the role of the World Heritage brand in attracting visitors to protected areas in Queensland, Australia
Approximately one in four visitors to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Queensland, Australia, indicated that the World Heritage brand influenced their decision to visit. This study is the first in-depth exploration of visitor awareness and preference for the World Heritage brand, revealing that while brand recognition varies significantly across sites—with only one-third of visitors recalling it spontaneously—it remains a powerful motivator for tourism. The research developed a practical framework for understanding protected area brands' roles among stakeholders and established baseline sociodemographic data across Queensland’s World Heritage Sites. Methodologically, the study employed focus groups, visitor surveys (1,827 valid responses), expert interviews, and on-site observations, analyzing data through descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess brand influence. Findings have already informed national and international policy on World Heritage branding.
What type of rainforest burnt in the South East Queensland's 2019/20 bushfires and how might this impact biodiversity
During Australia's 2019/20 bushfires, 12% of South East Queensland's (SEQ) rainforest estate, including parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Gondwana Rainforests, was affected by fires. Surprisingly, the wettest rainforest types and putative past refugia experienced higher burn rates than expected, challenging traditional assumptions about fire resilience in such ecosystems. The study used NIAFED data combined with regional ecosystem mapping to estimate burn areas and severity, revealing that while most fires were low-severity, patches of high severity occurred. Biodiversity impacts were assessed using previous estimates for each rainforest type, highlighting the potential threat to endangered rainforest species like semi-evergreen vine thickets on igneous rocks, where 50% of remnants may have burned. The findings suggest that under drought conditions, any rainforest is vulnerable, implying a contraction of rainforest areas if climate change exacerbates wildfires and droughts.
A new species of Philoria (Anura: Limnodynastidae) from the uplands of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area of eastern Australia
Researchers have identified a new species of mountain frog, Philoria knowlesi, within the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area of eastern Australia. This discovery was made through comprehensive genetic sampling and analysis, including SNP data from the nuclear genome, which revealed distinct genetic lineages in the central and western McPherson Ranges. The study also clarified the distributions of two other species, P. loveridgei and P. kundagungan, while highlighting significant threats to these amphibians, including climate change and chytridiomycosis. All three taxa—Philoria knowlesi, P. loveridgei, and P. kundagungan (including its northern subpopulation)—are classified as Endangered (EN), with the southern subpopulation of P. kundagungan critically endangered (CR). The findings underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these highly threatened species.
Beyond bushfire severity: mapping the ecological impact of bushfires on the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area
Bushfire severity mapping in Queensland's Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area properties following the 2019/20 wildfires was found to under-predict ecological impact, particularly in closed-canopy rainforests. This oversight biased against prioritizing rainforest-dependent threatened fauna for assessment and recovery resource allocation. The study introduces an approach that incorporates fire tolerance of vegetation communities to extend bushfire severity mapping, predicting potential ecological impact on ecosystems and priority species. By prioritizing threatened species based on ecological impact rather than fire severity alone, post-fire surveys and monitoring can be more effectively targeted, directing resources and recovery actions towards areas of greatest concern.
Extensive range contraction predicted under climate warming for two endangered mountaintop frogs from the rainforests of subtropical Australia
Two endangered mountaintop frogs, Philoria kundagungan and Philoria richmondensis, endemic to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area (GRAWHA), face severe range contraction due to climate warming. Under projected low and high warming scenarios by 2055, their habitats are expected to shrink by 64% to 91% for P. kundagungan and 50% to 85% for P. richmondensis, respectively. The study used the maximum entropy approach to model current and future distributions, validated against field data, revealing alarming declines that necessitate urgent conservation action. Proposed strategies include establishing ex-situ insurance populations and conservation translocations to ensure long-term survival amid ongoing threats such as wildfires.
Disparate origins for endemic bird taxa from the ‘Gondwana Rainforests’ of Central Eastern Australia
A phylogenetic analysis of eight bird taxa endemic to Central Eastern Australia's Gondwana Rainforests reveals disparate origins, with five showing Plio-Pleistocene divergences from northern relatives, indicating recent lowland rainforest expansion and contraction. In contrast, two upland species, the rufous scrub-bird and logrunner, diverged during the Miocene, suggesting longer persistence and temperate origins. Additionally, reciprocal monophyly was not recovered in mitogenomes of Albert’s lyrebird and superb lyrebird. These findings support the rainforests' biota comprising isolates of varying ages and origins.
Using automated acoustic monitoring to detect elevational migration in the avian community of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
Automated acoustic monitoring revealed seasonal elevational migration among resident bird species in Australia's Gondwana Rainforests, marking the first comprehensive avian biodiversity survey in the region. This study demonstrated that affordable bioacoustic recorders could efficiently collect large-scale, long-term data on species distributions, migratory patterns, and breeding behaviors—previously challenging to obtain. By analyzing 14 months of continuous recordings along two elevational gradients in northern New South Wales, researchers identified key insights into avian ecology, including the arrival and departure times of migratory species and the reproductive activity of cryptic species. These findings provide critical baseline data for understanding climate change impacts on rainforest avifauna and guiding conservation strategies.
Two new species ofEuastacus(Decapoda: Parastacidae) from the Gondwana Rainforests of central eastern Australia
Researchers have identified two new species of crayfish, Euastacus binzayedi and Euastacus angustus, within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. These species, distinguished by unique morphological traits such as dorsal and ventral chelae protrusions in E. binzayedi and a laterally compressed body with prominent ventromesial carpal spine in E. angustus, exhibit significant genetic divergence from closely related species, with estimates of 4.8% and 8.7%, respectively. Both species are exceptionally rare, known only from single localities. The study highlights the biodiversity richness of the Gondwana Rainforests while emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to protect these newly discovered taxa.
The scenic rim of southeastern Queensland, Australia: A history of mid Cenozoic intraplate volcanism
A study of the Scenic Rim in southeastern Queensland, Australia, reveals a detailed history of mid Cenozoic intraplate volcanism linked to significant changes in the Australian plate's velocity. The research indicates that a major slowdown in plate movement began around 26 million years ago and lasted until 23 million years ago, coinciding with the collision of the Ontong Java plateau with the northern subduction margin of the Australian plate. Trace element and isotopic analyses show minimal contamination for most volcanic units, except rhyolites formed during the slow plate velocity period. The study also highlights the presence of highly evolved rocks, such as comendites, with extreme concentrations of incompatible elements, and provides insights into the melting and mixing processes in the upper mantle and lower crust. The region's diverse landscapes and wildlife habitats, including parts of the World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests, offer excellent exposures of subsurface magmatic architecture.
Promoting Gondwana: presentation of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area in tourist brochures
Only 3% of tourism brochures in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area mention 'Gondwana' or 'Gondwana Rainforests,' highlighting a significant gap in branding awareness despite its importance as a tourist drawcard. This study analyzed 343 brochures to assess the representation of key terms like 'rainforest,' 'World Heritage,' and 'Gondwana' in both text and imagery. The findings underscore the need for stronger promotion of this globally recognized brand to enhance visitor engagement and community awareness, given its role as a remnant sub-tropical rainforest ecosystem declared a World Heritage site in 1986.
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