Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Karl Vernes, Todd F. Elliott, Stephen M. Jackson
Summary: Koonchera Dune in northeastern South Australia, originally a habitat for various native Australian mammals, has seen some species globally extinct or critically endangered, primarily due to predation by introduced species such as feral cats and foxes. Research indicates a decline in native mammal populations and an increase in introduced species, highlighting the need for coordinated management to protect the remaining native biodiversity in Koonchera.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Todd F. Elliott, Karl Vernes
Summary: This study deployed thirty camera traps to assess post-fire recovery of pademelons in northern New South Wales, with one camera accidentally documenting a highly productive site for the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus Amanita. The camera provided a rare opportunity to observe a diversity of co-habitating vertebrates utilizing these fungi as food sources and contributing to important ecosystem functions through the dispersal of spores.
Article
Ecology
Ireri A. Carbajal-Valenzuela, Ariel H. Munoz-Sanchez, Juan Hernandez-Hernandez, Francisco Barona-Gomez, Camille Truong, Angelica Cibrian-Jaramillo
Summary: The study investigated the differences in endophytic microbiomes between symptomatic and asymptomatic vanilla plants, showing the presence of specific core microbiota in roots and stems. However, there were no significant differences in microbial community richness among feral, asymptomatic, and symptomatic cultivated vanilla. The findings lay the groundwork for a better understanding of the role of the microbiome in vanilla fungal diseases.
Article
Plant Sciences
Steven L. Stephenson, Todd F. Elliott
Summary: This study investigates the assemblages of myxomycetes associated with members of the Cactaceae in Australia, highlighting their occurrence on the continent. It provides insights into the biogeography, distribution, and ecology of succulenticolous myxomycetes and adds a new species record for Australia.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Alija Bajro Mujic, Nahuel Policelli, Martin A. Nunez, Camille Truong, Matthew E. Smith
Summary: This study found that the invasion of Pinaceae plants affects the soil fungi of Nothofagaceae plants in southern South America. The invasive Pinaceae plants reduced the soil organic matter content and the relative abundance of Mortierellaceae fungi and Nothofagaceae-associated ECM fungi in the soil.
Article
Plant Sciences
Steven L. Stephenson, Todd F. Elliott, Kelsey Elliott, Karl Vernes
Summary: This study provides the first insight into the diversity of myxomycetes associated with the genus Callitris, highlighting the importance of cypress pine as a substrate for myxomycetes. It contributes to a better understanding of the biogeography, distribution, and ecology of myxomycetes and their associated organisms.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Dan Du, Stephen J. Livesley, Stefan K. Arndt, Camille Truong, Rebecca E. Miller
Summary: A study found that the use of compost tea did not have a positive effect on the growth and root mycorrhizal colonization of container-grown trees. This suggests that compost tea may not be beneficial for tree growth in a nursery setting, and further research is needed to investigate its potential benefits in urban landscapes.
Article
Ecology
Conor Nest, Todd F. Elliott, Tani Cooper, Karl Vernes
Summary: The temperate forests of Australia have a diverse community of mycophagous mammals that consume a variety of fungi, but the relationships between mammals and fungi are still poorly understood. This study examined the seasonal fungal diets of eight sympatric mammals and identified 55 different fungal taxa. The results showed that winter was the peak season for fungal consumption and dietary diversity, with variation in the fungal taxa consumed between species and seasons. The study supports the importance of a diverse mycophagous mammal community for maintaining natural variation in fungal community composition.
Article
Zoology
Todd F. Elliott, Judy Rainbird, Karl Vernes
Summary: By examining the stomach and scat contents of southern brown bandicoots and eastern barred bandicoots, we found that both species consume fungi and play a key role in ecosystem function through their dispersal of mycorrhizal fungal spores.
AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Todd F. Elliott, C. E. Timothy Paine, Guy-Anthony Ballard, Heath Milne, Josh Van der Eyk, Kelsey Elliott, Paul Meek, Jeremy J. Bruhl, Karl Vernes
Summary: This study reveals that Australia's free-ranging dogs serve as long-distance spore dispersers by consuming smaller mycophagous animals and subsequently dispersing the fungi consumed by these prey species. The importance of dingoes in this ecosystem service has been previously overlooked. The study also suggests that similar modeling approaches can be applied to understand the dispersal potential of spore dispersers globally. It is hoped that this research will stimulate further studies to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem functions of other apex predators.
Article
Ecology
Todd F. Elliott, Kelsey Elliott, Karl Vernes
Summary: Rodents play an important role in the dispersal of mycorrhizal fungi in eastern Australia. The specific fungal taxa consumed varied depending on the site and forest type.
Article
Ecology
Ana I. Bermudez-Contreras, Camila Monroy-Guzman, Lizbeth Perez-Lucas, Jorge Alberto Escutia-Sanchez, Mariana Del Olmo-Ruiz, Camille Truong
Summary: Juniperus deppeana planting can significantly alter the ECM native fungal communities, while the presence of oak trees does not have a significant impact on the planting of Juniperus deppeana. The composition of AM fungal communities is mainly host-dependent, while the composition of ECM fungal communities is strongly affected by disturbance.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Karl Vernes, Todd F. Elliott, Kelsey Elliott
Summary: Red-legged pademelons have different conservation statuses and activity patterns across subspecies in eastern Australia, with T. s. stigmatica being common and T. s. wilcoxi being rare and threatened. However, pademelons at different locations displayed remarkably similar activity patterns within rainforest, which was unexpected based on what is known of their behavior.
AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY
(2022)
Review
Zoology
Todd F. Elliott, Kenny J. Travouillon, Natalie M. Warburton, Melissa A. Danks, Karl Vernes
Summary: Research on the diet and digestive morphology of New Guinea's marsupials shows that they have a varied diet including fungi, insects, and plant material, similar to Australian bandicoots. However, there are differences in dental morphology and digestive tract lengths between species, suggesting potential differences in their diets and water reabsorption capacities.
AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Karl Vernes, Stephen M. Jackson, Todd F. Elliott, Kelsey Elliott, Steven G. Carr
Summary: The desert rat-kangaroo has not been collected since the 1930s, but reported sightings in recent years offer some hope for its continued existence. Extensive field searches conducted in 2018 and 2019 did not find evidence of the species, but did detect other threatened species, demonstrating the value of such surveys.
AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY
(2022)
