School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

Trish Fleming
Plant-animal interactions

In the Cape Floristic Region (South Africa), I quantified both sides of the mutualistic relationship between Protea humiflora and its non-flying mammal pollinators. The rare Cape spiny mouse plays an important role in pollination of these plants and also plays an important role in seed dispersal for a number of species.

With Sally Hofmeyr (Masters in African Mammalogy), we examined the role giraffes play in pollinating knobthorns (Acacia nigrescens). The giraffe is the largest mammal that shows a significant seasonal dependence on flowers. This study examined the nutritional rewards offered by knobthorn flowers and alternate browse, and the pollination benefits afforded to the plants.

- The importance of vegetation structure

Plant pathology: with the Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management at Murdoch University, we are working on various aspects of the influence of plant pathogens on fauna.

Minesite rehabilitation: As a part of an ARC-funded linkage project with Alcoa World Alumina Australia and the Department of Conservation and Land Management, we are examining management of rehabilitated bauxite mines in order to accelerate the return of vertebrate fauna. This research focuses on identifying key features of the jarrah forest that are important for mammals and reptiles.

- Habitat heterogeneity

Native vegetation and honeyeaters: For my Masters, I used GIS to examine how honeyeater distributions are linked to remnants of native vegetation in southwest Western Australia (unpublished data).