Professor Jennifer Firn
Faculty of Science,
School of Biology & Environmental Science
Biography
Professor Firn is an applied plant ecologist who is committed to discovering, in collaboration with local people, how the loss of native biodiversity impacts on ecosystem function and subsequently finding better ways to build more resilient landscapes. Firn’s research has focused on finding ways to control invasive grass species such as African lovegrass and buffel grass; and restoring forest ecosystems including critically endangered ecosystems such as Melaleuca irbyana thickets and ecosystem-level impacts of the invasive pathogen myrtle rust.Firn’s research approach, together with collaborators and students, employs a diverse set of tools including empirical and observational studies, and expert and local knowledge elicitation. She works collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including the Tjuwanpa Women Rangers, the Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Logan City Council, South East Local Land Services and Far South Coast Landcare, NSW.
Personal details
Positions
- Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Biology & Environmental Science
Keywords
community ecology, invasive plant species, restoration ecology, forests, grasslands
Research field
Ecology, Ecological Applications, Plant Biology
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (University of Queensland)
Professional memberships and associations
Australian Flora Foundation Vice President
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, 55(1), 321–330. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/223065
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Jennifer, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2013
- Details
- WIT Rising Star Award
Selected research projects
- 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
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.