Mark Ooi
@markooiecol.bsky.social
Scientia Associate Professor at the Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Sydney | co Editor-in-Chief Australian Journal of Botany | Plants, fire and conservation biology | Leads the TRE Plant Ecology Research group | Dad, coffee drinker, sometime surfer
Reposted by Mark Ooi
The first chapter of my PhD is out! 🌱🔥
We looked at whether fatty acids (a common seed oil) changed composition across fire-prone and fire-free habitats + dormancy-breaking temperatures in physically dormant seeds! (1/2)
@markooiecol.bsky.social @ryantangney.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
We looked at whether fatty acids (a common seed oil) changed composition across fire-prone and fire-free habitats + dormancy-breaking temperatures in physically dormant seeds! (1/2)
@markooiecol.bsky.social @ryantangney.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
October 20, 2025 at 1:05 AM
The first chapter of my PhD is out! 🌱🔥
We looked at whether fatty acids (a common seed oil) changed composition across fire-prone and fire-free habitats + dormancy-breaking temperatures in physically dormant seeds! (1/2)
@markooiecol.bsky.social @ryantangney.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
We looked at whether fatty acids (a common seed oil) changed composition across fire-prone and fire-free habitats + dormancy-breaking temperatures in physically dormant seeds! (1/2)
@markooiecol.bsky.social @ryantangney.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
The "living fossil" Wollemi pine🌲can self-fertilise! New research from #CharlesSturtUni shows this critically endangered conifer produces viable seeds without cross-pollination - which helps explain their low genetic diversity in natural systems 🧬
Open access paper 🔗 buff.ly/l3yG5Rt
Open access paper 🔗 buff.ly/l3yG5Rt
August 27, 2025 at 4:19 AM
The "living fossil" Wollemi pine🌲can self-fertilise! New research from #CharlesSturtUni shows this critically endangered conifer produces viable seeds without cross-pollination - which helps explain their low genetic diversity in natural systems 🧬
Open access paper 🔗 buff.ly/l3yG5Rt
Open access paper 🔗 buff.ly/l3yG5Rt
Reposted by Mark Ooi
Riverbank erosion in SW Australia exposed previously undocumented root clusters in Kingia australis. Research by Lamont et al. suggests these novel 'kingioid roots' enhance water and nutrient uptake rather than storage, linking with seasonal root-cluster types🫚
Paper here 🔗 buff.ly/Hi3BxLE
Paper here 🔗 buff.ly/Hi3BxLE
September 3, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Riverbank erosion in SW Australia exposed previously undocumented root clusters in Kingia australis. Research by Lamont et al. suggests these novel 'kingioid roots' enhance water and nutrient uptake rather than storage, linking with seasonal root-cluster types🫚
Paper here 🔗 buff.ly/Hi3BxLE
Paper here 🔗 buff.ly/Hi3BxLE
Reposted by Mark Ooi
🌱 New research from The Australian PlantBank reveals how 4 threatened Australian Grevillea species respond to temperature changes. Good news, 3 species show resilience to future warming, but G. iaspicula prefers cooler conditions & may struggle with climate change.
Read more 🔗 buff.ly/b4pbbgv
Read more 🔗 buff.ly/b4pbbgv
September 10, 2025 at 6:01 AM
🌱 New research from The Australian PlantBank reveals how 4 threatened Australian Grevillea species respond to temperature changes. Good news, 3 species show resilience to future warming, but G. iaspicula prefers cooler conditions & may struggle with climate change.
Read more 🔗 buff.ly/b4pbbgv
Read more 🔗 buff.ly/b4pbbgv
Reposted by Mark Ooi
Are you eligible for APC-free #OpenAccess? 🌱
Researchers from institutions with agreements in place between their library and CSIRO Publishing can publish #OA in our journal without needing to pay Article Processing Charges (APCs).
Find your institution:
www.publish.csiro.au/journals/ope...
Researchers from institutions with agreements in place between their library and CSIRO Publishing can publish #OA in our journal without needing to pay Article Processing Charges (APCs).
Find your institution:
www.publish.csiro.au/journals/ope...
CSIRO PUBLISHING | Journals
Read and Publish
www.publish.csiro.au
July 14, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Are you eligible for APC-free #OpenAccess? 🌱
Researchers from institutions with agreements in place between their library and CSIRO Publishing can publish #OA in our journal without needing to pay Article Processing Charges (APCs).
Find your institution:
www.publish.csiro.au/journals/ope...
Researchers from institutions with agreements in place between their library and CSIRO Publishing can publish #OA in our journal without needing to pay Article Processing Charges (APCs).
Find your institution:
www.publish.csiro.au/journals/ope...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
Traits such as spines & water storage vessels allow #cacti to thrive in #aridecosystems. These traits are also useful indicators of #ecosystemintegrity. Paredes Cubas & colleagues from @universidadjaen explore 12 standardised measures of functional traits in #Cactaceae 🌵🔗https://buff.ly/Rc1J5K4
August 3, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Traits such as spines & water storage vessels allow #cacti to thrive in #aridecosystems. These traits are also useful indicators of #ecosystemintegrity. Paredes Cubas & colleagues from @universidadjaen explore 12 standardised measures of functional traits in #Cactaceae 🌵🔗https://buff.ly/Rc1J5K4
Reposted by Mark Ooi
Quantifying the life history (fire tolerance) of six shrub and tree species reveals the historical, highly variable fire history of #banksia #woodlands in south-western #westernaustralia, according to Russel Miller and colleagues from @murdoch.edu.au doi.org/10.1071/BT23...
Plant life-history data as evidence of an historical mixed-severity fire regime in Banksia Woodlands
Context The concept of the fire regime is central to understanding and managing fire-prone ecosystems globally, and information on past regimes can provide useful insights into species disturbance…
doi.org
May 23, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Quantifying the life history (fire tolerance) of six shrub and tree species reveals the historical, highly variable fire history of #banksia #woodlands in south-western #westernaustralia, according to Russel Miller and colleagues from @murdoch.edu.au doi.org/10.1071/BT23...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
The germination success of tussock grass #Themeda triandra, a keystone species of many #grassland #ecosystems is hampered by variable seed quality and a lack of standardised germination protocols, according to Marne Durnin and colleagues from University of Adelaide 🌱 doi.org/10.1071/BT24...
Variable seed quality hampers the use of Themeda triandra (Poaceae) for seed production, agriculture, research and restoration: a review
Themeda triandra (Forssk.) is a tussock grass of international importance for its keystone role in grassy ecosystems and, hence, is often a focus for seed production, research and ecological…
doi.org
June 6, 2025 at 7:31 AM
The germination success of tussock grass #Themeda triandra, a keystone species of many #grassland #ecosystems is hampered by variable seed quality and a lack of standardised germination protocols, according to Marne Durnin and colleagues from University of Adelaide 🌱 doi.org/10.1071/BT24...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
🌿 How did plants respond to postglacial warming near Tasmania’s treeline?
New research by Astorga et al. shows that some species survived the Last Glacial period locally, while others, like fire-adapted shrubs, arrived much later.
Read more in Australian Journal of Botany 🔗 doi.org/10.1071/BT24...
New research by Astorga et al. shows that some species survived the Last Glacial period locally, while others, like fire-adapted shrubs, arrived much later.
Read more in Australian Journal of Botany 🔗 doi.org/10.1071/BT24...
June 25, 2025 at 11:26 PM
🌿 How did plants respond to postglacial warming near Tasmania’s treeline?
New research by Astorga et al. shows that some species survived the Last Glacial period locally, while others, like fire-adapted shrubs, arrived much later.
Read more in Australian Journal of Botany 🔗 doi.org/10.1071/BT24...
New research by Astorga et al. shows that some species survived the Last Glacial period locally, while others, like fire-adapted shrubs, arrived much later.
Read more in Australian Journal of Botany 🔗 doi.org/10.1071/BT24...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
In New Caledonia’s rainforests, the rare monocarpic tree Cerberiopsis candelabra may owe its success to fast seasonal growth and high juvenile survival. Salmon et al. tracked 134 individuals for 18 months, revealing traits that may help them thrive after disturbance 🌱
🔗Read more: buff.ly/CUN2V5V
🔗Read more: buff.ly/CUN2V5V
July 2, 2025 at 3:00 AM
In New Caledonia’s rainforests, the rare monocarpic tree Cerberiopsis candelabra may owe its success to fast seasonal growth and high juvenile survival. Salmon et al. tracked 134 individuals for 18 months, revealing traits that may help them thrive after disturbance 🌱
🔗Read more: buff.ly/CUN2V5V
🔗Read more: buff.ly/CUN2V5V
Finite resources, lots of species requiring conservation. @saltandbrine.bsky.social asks the question - how far do we go for each plant species? A simple question generating deep thought! #ICCB2025
June 17, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Finite resources, lots of species requiring conservation. @saltandbrine.bsky.social asks the question - how far do we go for each plant species? A simple question generating deep thought! #ICCB2025
Reposted by Mark Ooi
We're delighted to announce the reappointment of @jwmorganecology.bsky.social and @markooiecol.bsky.social as Co-Editors-in-Chief of Australian Journal of Botany!
Their continued leadership ensures the journal remains at the forefront of botanical research in Australia and beyond 🌱 📖
Their continued leadership ensures the journal remains at the forefront of botanical research in Australia and beyond 🌱 📖
June 13, 2025 at 2:27 AM
We're delighted to announce the reappointment of @jwmorganecology.bsky.social and @markooiecol.bsky.social as Co-Editors-in-Chief of Australian Journal of Botany!
Their continued leadership ensures the journal remains at the forefront of botanical research in Australia and beyond 🌱 📖
Their continued leadership ensures the journal remains at the forefront of botanical research in Australia and beyond 🌱 📖
Reposted by Mark Ooi
The stunning Southwest Australian Floristic Region is #biodiversityhotspot - and a hotspot of equally diverse plant pollination strategies. Mark Brundett and colleagues from Uni. Western Austalia catalogue pollination mechanisms of > 8800 species doi.org/10.1071/BT23...
Pollination strategies are exceptionally complex in southwestern Australia – a globally significant ancient biodiversity hotspot
Context The Southwest Australian Floristic Region has exceptional plant evolutionary complexity for fire, nutrition and pollination traits.Aims Our aim was to allocate pollination strategies to all…
doi.org
April 27, 2025 at 5:01 AM
The stunning Southwest Australian Floristic Region is #biodiversityhotspot - and a hotspot of equally diverse plant pollination strategies. Mark Brundett and colleagues from Uni. Western Austalia catalogue pollination mechanisms of > 8800 species doi.org/10.1071/BT23...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
Freshwater biota rely on #silicon, often from rock weathering. But in #Argentina, the sedge Schoenoplectus californicus is providing an important #ecosystemservice as a key silicon source to freshwater ecoystems. Mara De Rito & colleagues, Uni. Nacional de Mar del Plata-CIC doi.org/10.1071/BT23...
Schoenoplectus californicus (Cyperaceae) amorphous silica contribution to the silicon cycle in pampean shallow lakes: an analysis of spatio-temporal variation and silicon–lignin relations
Context Phytoliths constitute an important source of silicon in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A.Mey.) Soják (Cyperaceae) is an important phytolith producer.Aims…
doi.org
April 28, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Freshwater biota rely on #silicon, often from rock weathering. But in #Argentina, the sedge Schoenoplectus californicus is providing an important #ecosystemservice as a key silicon source to freshwater ecoystems. Mara De Rito & colleagues, Uni. Nacional de Mar del Plata-CIC doi.org/10.1071/BT23...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
A surprising discovery was made by CSIRO botanists which revealed the daisy fleabane (thought to be a rare Australian species) is an introduced plant! Molecular data suggests it likely hails from the Northern hemisphere as it is not distinctly different from the widespread bitter fleabane.
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Origins of the rare Australian daisy Erigeron conyzoides and its implications for biological control research and conservation management
Context Confidence in risk analyses for weed biological control (biocontrol) agents is underpinned by knowledge of the phylogenetic associations between the target weed and off-target plant species,…
doi.org
May 7, 2025 at 11:49 PM
A surprising discovery was made by CSIRO botanists which revealed the daisy fleabane (thought to be a rare Australian species) is an introduced plant! Molecular data suggests it likely hails from the Northern hemisphere as it is not distinctly different from the widespread bitter fleabane.
🔗⬇️
🔗⬇️
Reposted by Mark Ooi
Addition and removal experiments by McDougall et al. in subalpine grassland within Kosciuszko National Park reveal that the invasive Ox-eye daisy affects grassland diversity. Luckily, undisturbed communities seem resilient to the daisy's invasion despite its abundance.
🔗 ⬇️
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Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.) invasion has only a small effect on the diversity of a subalpine grassland
Context Ox-eye daisy (OED; Leucanthemum vulgare) has invaded subalpine communities in Australia.Aims We evaluated the effect of OED on subalpine grassland diversity in Kosciuszko National Park…
doi.org
May 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Addition and removal experiments by McDougall et al. in subalpine grassland within Kosciuszko National Park reveal that the invasive Ox-eye daisy affects grassland diversity. Luckily, undisturbed communities seem resilient to the daisy's invasion despite its abundance.
🔗 ⬇️
🔗 ⬇️
Reposted by Mark Ooi
New paper out! After the 2019-2020 #fires in Australia our team undertook #IUCN Red List assessments of fire affected #plant species, to handle the volume we undertook paired rapid and full assessments and compared their accuracy 1/4
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
May 12, 2025 at 7:43 AM
New paper out! After the 2019-2020 #fires in Australia our team undertook #IUCN Red List assessments of fire affected #plant species, to handle the volume we undertook paired rapid and full assessments and compared their accuracy 1/4
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
New paper open access in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social: nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Cit sci data quality is a hot topic, and assumptions about ID accuracy are often made without evidence. We decided to test identification accuracy for a WA plants @inaturalist.bsky.social dataset
Cit sci data quality is a hot topic, and assumptions about ID accuracy are often made without evidence. We decided to test identification accuracy for a WA plants @inaturalist.bsky.social dataset
Expert identification blitz: A rapid high value approach for assessing and improving iNaturalist identification accuracy and data precision and confidence
Citizen science data are increasingly used in research and conservation, so assessing and improving data accuracy is important. We recruited 50 experts to review a dataset of Western Australian plant....
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
March 17, 2025 at 4:42 AM
New paper open access in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social: nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Cit sci data quality is a hot topic, and assumptions about ID accuracy are often made without evidence. We decided to test identification accuracy for a WA plants @inaturalist.bsky.social dataset
Cit sci data quality is a hot topic, and assumptions about ID accuracy are often made without evidence. We decided to test identification accuracy for a WA plants @inaturalist.bsky.social dataset
Reposted by Mark Ooi
BEES is now on Bluesky. Looking forward to sharing the latest news and research from staff and students.
March 27, 2025 at 6:57 AM
BEES is now on Bluesky. Looking forward to sharing the latest news and research from staff and students.
Reposted by Mark Ooi
Five of our journals are now on Bluesky!
Aus J Botany: @ausjbotany.bsky.social 🌱
Aus J Chem: @ausjchem.bsky.social 🧪
Aus J Primary Health: @ausjph.bsky.social 🩺
Reproduction, Fertility & Development: @repfertdev.bsky.social 🥚
Wildlife Research: @wildliferesearchj.bsky.social 🐾
Aus J Botany: @ausjbotany.bsky.social 🌱
Aus J Chem: @ausjchem.bsky.social 🧪
Aus J Primary Health: @ausjph.bsky.social 🩺
Reproduction, Fertility & Development: @repfertdev.bsky.social 🥚
Wildlife Research: @wildliferesearchj.bsky.social 🐾
March 13, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Five of our journals are now on Bluesky!
Aus J Botany: @ausjbotany.bsky.social 🌱
Aus J Chem: @ausjchem.bsky.social 🧪
Aus J Primary Health: @ausjph.bsky.social 🩺
Reproduction, Fertility & Development: @repfertdev.bsky.social 🥚
Wildlife Research: @wildliferesearchj.bsky.social 🐾
Aus J Botany: @ausjbotany.bsky.social 🌱
Aus J Chem: @ausjchem.bsky.social 🧪
Aus J Primary Health: @ausjph.bsky.social 🩺
Reproduction, Fertility & Development: @repfertdev.bsky.social 🥚
Wildlife Research: @wildliferesearchj.bsky.social 🐾
Reposted by Mark Ooi
We're seeking Associate Editors to join the #AusJZoology editorial board!
Associate Editors help manage the peer review process, uphold the journal's high publication ethics, and contribute to the publication of impactful zoological research.
Find out more: www.publish.csiro.au/zo/Expressio...
Associate Editors help manage the peer review process, uphold the journal's high publication ethics, and contribute to the publication of impactful zoological research.
Find out more: www.publish.csiro.au/zo/Expressio...
March 10, 2025 at 11:31 PM
We're seeking Associate Editors to join the #AusJZoology editorial board!
Associate Editors help manage the peer review process, uphold the journal's high publication ethics, and contribute to the publication of impactful zoological research.
Find out more: www.publish.csiro.au/zo/Expressio...
Associate Editors help manage the peer review process, uphold the journal's high publication ethics, and contribute to the publication of impactful zoological research.
Find out more: www.publish.csiro.au/zo/Expressio...
How will the spread of varroa impact feral bees and the pollination of native plant species? Our paper in @AusJBotany.bsky.social asks that question. Led admirably by @tomlebreton.bsky.social with @saltandbrine.bsky.social and Amy-Marie Gilpin #UNSWScience www.publish.csiro.au/BT/BT24020
Implications of varroa mite establishment for Australian plants and their persistence
The European honeybee (Apis mellifera) is a highly abundant introduced pollinator with widely established feral populations across a large proportion of Australia. Both managed and feral populations c...
www.publish.csiro.au
March 11, 2025 at 4:49 AM
How will the spread of varroa impact feral bees and the pollination of native plant species? Our paper in @AusJBotany.bsky.social asks that question. Led admirably by @tomlebreton.bsky.social with @saltandbrine.bsky.social and Amy-Marie Gilpin #UNSWScience www.publish.csiro.au/BT/BT24020
Reposted by Mark Ooi
Fire ecology database for documenting plant responses to fire events in Australia
by José Rafael Ferrer-Paris, Ada Sánchez-Mercado, David Keith @willcornwell.bsky.social @markooiecol.bsky.social et al.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
by José Rafael Ferrer-Paris, Ada Sánchez-Mercado, David Keith @willcornwell.bsky.social @markooiecol.bsky.social et al.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Fire ecology database for documenting plant responses to fire events in Australia - Scientific Data
Scientific Data - Fire ecology database for documenting plant responses to fire events in Australia
www.nature.com
March 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Fire ecology database for documenting plant responses to fire events in Australia
by José Rafael Ferrer-Paris, Ada Sánchez-Mercado, David Keith @willcornwell.bsky.social @markooiecol.bsky.social et al.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
by José Rafael Ferrer-Paris, Ada Sánchez-Mercado, David Keith @willcornwell.bsky.social @markooiecol.bsky.social et al.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Mark Ooi
To get started we are launching a citizen science project on iNaturalist where anyone can contribute images of honeybees or native pollinators visiting native flowers so we can have a baseline for how flower visitation changes before and after varroa mite reaches different parts of the country 4/5
Honeybee visitation and native plant pollination Australia
Honeybee visitation and native plant pollination Australia What insect pollinators are visiting flowers in your area? Are the pollinators European honeybees or are they something else? As varroa mite ...
www.inaturalist.org
March 11, 2025 at 1:39 AM
To get started we are launching a citizen science project on iNaturalist where anyone can contribute images of honeybees or native pollinators visiting native flowers so we can have a baseline for how flower visitation changes before and after varroa mite reaches different parts of the country 4/5
Reposted by Mark Ooi
There is a huge need for more research on pollination in native species and support for existing work. Collection of baseline data is crucial as is monitoring already threatened species. There may also be unexpected impacts arise through interactions with other threats like fragmentation or fire 3/5
March 11, 2025 at 1:39 AM
There is a huge need for more research on pollination in native species and support for existing work. Collection of baseline data is crucial as is monitoring already threatened species. There may also be unexpected impacts arise through interactions with other threats like fragmentation or fire 3/5