Zahra Emlaei

Candidature

PhD Candidate

Thesis title

Priority sites for conservation in Cumberland based on resilience and ecosystem services

Research project

Australia is facing an extinction crisis, driven by the ongoing loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions—primarily caused by habitat clearing and degradation. Climate change, manifesting in more frequent and intense droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires, is compounding these challenges and increasing the vulnerability of remaining natural habitats. To effectively protect and restore these landscapes, we need a clearer understanding of how plants respond to environmental stress, particularly under the combined pressures of climate extremes and landscape fragmentation.

In this context, my PhD research explores ecosystem resilience in response to both habitat fragmentation and climate change. The core focus is the development of spectral models that can predict plant stress. By integrating controlled climate experiments, field-based sampling, and satellite remote sensing data, I aim to build mechanistic models that assess ecosystem health across fragmented urban and agricultural regions. Each chapter of this thesis addresses a different aspect of these challenges, contributing to improved monitoring, management, and restoration of stressed ecosystems. Ultimately, this work will provide critical insights for developing targeted conservation strategies and guiding future ecological restoration efforts.

Supervisory panel

Associate Professor Paul Rymer, Doctor Laura Williams, Doctor Michael Franklin, Associate Professor Ben Moore