Steven Leonard

La Trobe Co-author Network

My main research interest is the ecology of disturbance. Disturbances such as fire and herbivory are known to be shapers of ecosystem composition and function, but disturbances may also interact with each other in unexpected ways. In addition vegetation and fauna may not only be influenced by but also influence disturbance regimes. Unraveling these complex relationships is an intriguing area in which to work and crucial to the conservation management of many ecosystems.

Positions

Ecology, Environment and Evolution , School of Life Sciences

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selected publications

academic article
- Richardson ENimmo DGAvitabile STworkowski LWatson SJWelbourne DLeonard SWJ. Camera traps and pitfalls: an evaluation of two methods for surveying reptiles in a semiarid ecosystem. Wildlife Research. 44:637-647. 2017
- Leonard SKingdom D. Disturbance ecology of Tasmanian highland grassland - an overview and implications for conservation management. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, Hobart. 151:1-10. 2017
- Humphrey JERobert KALeonard SWJ. Elliott traps found to be ineffective for the survey of swamp skink (Lissolepis coventryi): a cautionary tale of outdated survey guidelines. Wildlife Research. 44:514-522. 2017
- Kelly LTHaslem AHolland GJLeonard SWJMacHunter JBassett MBennett AFBruce MJChia EKChristie FJClarke MFDi Stefano JLoyn RMcCarthy MAPung ARobinson NSitters HSwan MYork A. Fire regimes and environmental gradients shape vertebrate and plant distributions in temperate eucalypt forests. Ecosphere. 8:1-31. 2017
- Bassett MLeonard SWJChia EKClarke MFBennett AF. Interacting effects of fire severity, time since fire and topography on vegetation structure after wildfire. Forest Ecology and Management. 396:26-34. 2017
- Robinson NMLeonard SWJBennett AFClarke MF. Are forest gullies refuges for birds when burnt? The value of topographical heterogeneity to avian diversity in a fire-prone landscape. Biological Conservation. 200:1-7. 2016
- Haslem ALeonard SWJBruce MJChristie FHolland GJKelly LTMacHunter JBennett AFClarke MFYork A. Do multiple fires interact to affect vegetation structure in temperate eucalypt forests?. Ecological Applications. 26:2412-2421. 2016
- Chia EKBassett MLeonard SWJHolland GJRitchie EGClarke MFBennett AF. Effects of the fire regime on mammal occurrence after wildfire: Site effects vs landscape context in fire-prone forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 363:130-139. 2016
- Kirkpatrick JBMarsden-Smedley JBDi Folco M-BLeonard SWJ. Influence of grazing and vegetation type on post-fire floristic and lifeform composition in Tasmania, Australia. Plant Ecology. 217:57-69. 2016
- Smith AAvitabile SCLeonard SWJ. Less fuel for the fire: malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) nesting activity affects fuel loads and fire behaviour. Wildlife Research. 43:640-648. 2016
- Verdon SJGibb HLeonard SWJ. Net effects of soil disturbance and herbivory on vegetation by a re-established digging mammal assemblage in arid zone Australia. Journal of Arid Environments. 133:29-36. 2016
- Chia EKBassett MNimmo DGLeonard SWJRitchie EGClarke MFBennett AF. Fire severity and fire-induced landscape heterogeneity affect arboreal mammals in fire-prone forests. Ecosphere. 6. 2015
- Bassett MChia EKLeonard SWJNimmo DGHolland GJRitchie EGClarke MFBennett AF. The effects of topographic variation and the fire regime on coarse woody debris: Insights from a large wildfire. Forest Ecology and Management. 340:126-134. 2015
- Leonard SWJBennett AFClarke MF. Determinants of the occurrence of unburnt forest patches: Potential biotic refuges within a large, intense wildfire in south-eastern Australia. Forest Ecology and Management. 314:85-93. 2014
- Nugent DLeonard SClarke M. Interactions between the superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) and fire in south-eastern Australia. Wildlife Research. 41:203-211. 2014
- Robinson NLeonard SBennett AClarke M. Refuges for birds in fire-prone landscapes: The influence of fire severity and fire history on the distribution of forest birds. Forest Ecology and Management. 318:110-121. 2014
- Robinson NMLeonard SWJRitchie EGBassett MChia EKBuckingham SGibb HBennett AFClarke MF. REVIEW: Refuges for fauna in fire-prone landscapes: their ecological function and importance. Journal of Applied Ecology. 50:1321-1329. 2013
- Kirkpatrick JBMarsden-Smedley JBLeonard SWJ. Influence of grazing and vegetation type on post-fire flammability. Journal of Applied Ecology. 48:642-649. 2011
- STYGER JKKIRKPATRICK JBMARSDEN-SMEDLEY JONLEONARD SWJ. Fire incidence, but not fire size, affects macropod densities. Austral Ecology: a journal of ecology in the Southern Hemisphere. 36:no-no. 2010
- Leonard SKirkpatrick JMarsden-Smedley J. Variation in the effects of vertebrate grazing on fire potential between grassland structural types. Journal of Applied Ecology. 47:876-883. 2010
- Leonard S. Predicting Sustained Fire Spread in Tasmanian Native Grasslands. Environmental Management (New York): an international journal for decision-makers, scientists and environmental auditors. 44:430-440. 2009
- Leonard SWJKirkpatrick JB. Effects of grazing management and environmental factors on native grassland and grassy woodland, Northern Midlands, Tasmania. Australian Journal of Botany. 52:529-529. 2004
other publication
- Kelly LTHaslem AHolland GJLeonard SWJMacHunter JBassett MBennett AFBruce MJChia EKChristie FJClarke MFDi Stefano JLoyn RMcCarthy MAPung ARobinson NSwan MYork A. Fire Regimes and Environmental Gradients Shape Bird, Mammal and Plant Distributions in Temperate Forests. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 227-230. 2017
report
- Leonard SWHaslem ABennett AClarke M. Guidelines for ecosystem resilience monitoring, evaluation and reporting within the Victorian Bushfire Monitoring Program. 1-84. 2018
- Leonard SSmith N. Nyangumarta Warren Indigenous Protected Area: Principles for Ecological and Cultural Fire Management. 1-13. 2017
- Leonard SBruce MChristie FDi Stefano JHaslem AHolland GKelly LLoyn RMacHunter JRumpff LStamation KBennett AClarke MYork A. Foothills Fire and Biota. Fire and Adaptive Management Report no. 96. i-82. 2016
- Clarke MBennett AAvitabile SCSchedvin NLeonard SWJConnell JHaslem AKelly LWatson SKenny STaylor RNimmo DWarren CPayne C. Mallee HawkEye Project: Final Report 2011-2014. i-50. 2014
- Leonard SMarsden-Smedley JB. Vale of Belvoir Reserve Fire Management Strategy and Fire Management Plan: 2014-2029. 1-49. 2014