1. HIE Home
  2. People
  3. Postgraduate Students
  4. Current Postgraduate Students
  5. Amy Smart

Amy Smart

Candidature

PhD Candidate

Thesis Title

Sensitivity of Gondwanan rainforest recovery to drought and fire

Research Project

Amy SmartThis project investigates the resilience of World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforests in New South Wales to the increasing threats of drought and bushfire. Having evolved in environments characterized by regular rainfall and low fire occurrence, these rainforests are particularly vulnerable to climate change-related events such as drought and fire. These threats pose significant challenges to the effective management and conservation of these ecosystems, which play a crucial role in carbon storage.

The research involves quantifying the vulnerability of rainforest tree species to drought stress and examining the recovery of these forests following the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires of 2019–2020. These events, along with the severe drought from 2017 to 2019, exemplify the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disturbances. By establishing critical baseline data, the study aims to inform future drought and fire management strategies while providing insights into the resilience and vulnerabilities of these ancient ecosystems.

Supervisors

Professor Brendan Choat, A/Prof Rachael Nolan,  Dr Kristine Crous, Prof Benjamin Smith,  Ross Peacock