Ian Potter Foundation – Ecology Fellowship

The Ecology Fellowship provides an early career ecologist with the opportunity to conduct research as part of the collaborative program ‘Evidence-based restoration of an Australian semi-arid landscape‘. The recipient develops a broad, practical grounding in ecological research applied to landscape-scale management and restoration, and as part of the inter-disciplinary team, supports components of ALT’s broader program. The purpose of the Ecology Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for a young ecologist to broaden their skills—both practical and theoretical—in a real-world setting, and to explore various potential pathways in the field of Ecology.

The current IPF Ecology Fellow (2018 – 2021) Is Dr. Heather Neally.  Heather is interested in the role of fauna in ecological restoration.  In particular, she is exploring how Malleefowl act as ‘ecosystem engineers’ in the Mallee and their influence on soil and plant dynamics.   Heather is also conducting studies on the application of woody debris as a multi-purpose restoration tool and the response of the fauna community to environmental watering.