Michael Lawes

My research interests include: (1) the community ecology and tree dynamics of tropical savannas and monsoon forests; (2) the causes of the decline of small mammals in north Australia; and (3) the ecology of feral cats and their interaction with other feral predators. I am especially interested in sprouting ecology and the role of the persistence niche in tropical savannas under climate change. In pursuance of the latter I am currently researching the effect of fire on tree dynamics in tropical savannas; in particular how bark thickness affects individual persistence and resprouting capacity after fire.