Adrienne Nicotra

Adrienne Nicotra

Contacts

Contact email:adrienne.nicotra@anu.edu.au
Contact phone:+61 2 6125 9763
Location:Rm E304A, Level 3, RN Robertson Building (46)
Centre:Division of Ecology and Evolution
Centre:Division of Plant Sciences
Centre:Australian Mountain Research Facility
Link:ANU Researchers profile
Associate Dean (Research), College of Science

Group membership

Group Leader, Nicotra Group - Plant physiological ecology, plant evolutionary biology, reproductive ecology

Prof Adrienne Nicotra is a plant evolutionary ecologist with interest in the capacity of plants to respond to environment and environmental change – what we call phenotypic plasticity. Her work focusses on native species from a wide range of environments, though she is particularly fond of mountain flora.  Adrienne joined ANU as a postdoctoral fellow in 1998 and has been there ever since, now as a Professor in the Division of Ecology and Evolution in the Research School of Biology. In addition to her research work, Adrienne teaches, supervises honours and postgraduate students and is the director of the Australian Mountain Research Facility.

Research interests

Research in my lab applies novel approaches in plant comparative ecology to the study of evolutionary ecology and ecophysiology to give insights into patterns and processes underlying plant function at multiple scales.

We are interested in phenotypic plasticity - the range of forms a given genetic individual can exhibit under different environments - and when and how it evolves and when it matters. We also have a soft spot for alpine ecology and enjoy exploring the links between plant reproductive ecology and ecophysiology.

A wide range of projects are underway in the lab and most of these provide options for undergraduate, Honours or PhD projects - see our Research projects for more detail and feel free to contact me if you'd like more information

Recent grants

  • 2023-2025  Leigh Andrea, Genevieve Wright, Adrienne Nicotra, Melessa Schroder, Maurizio Rossetto, Rosie McVeigh. Determining plant resilience to temperature stress in NSW alpine Threatened Ecological Communities. NSW Environmental Trust, Research 2022 grant.  
  • 2023-2027  Nicholson, Jaylen and Adrienne Nicotra, The influence of drought, heatwaves, and microclimate on culturally significant plants in Uluru-Kata Tjuta national park, Parks Australia
  • 2022-2027 Nicotra, Adrienne, Matthew Brookhouse, Saul Cunninghan, Jamie Pittock, Owen Atkin, Ben Smith, Paul Miller, Josh Dorrough, Melessa Schroder, John Wright, Rosie Cooney, ARC LP210300506. Understanding snow gum dieback for effective and integrated management
  • 2021-2023 Brookhouse Matthew, Saul Cunningham, Adrienne Nicotra, Patrick Meir, Graham Farquhar, Marta Yebra, Environmental drivers, landscape determinants and control of snow- gum dieback (NSW Environmental Trust) 
  • 2020-2023  Nicotra, Adrienne, Susanna Venn, Saul Cunningham, ARC Discovery DP200101382 Drivers of phenotypic evolution in a vulnerable alpine ecosystem 
  • 2020-2023  Venn, Susanna, Adrienne Nicotra, John Morgan, Samantha Grover, Adam Miller, Dave Cantril, Marie Keatley, ARC LP190100844 Building resilient alpine environments with less snow
  • 2019-2022 Nicotra, Leigh, Offord, Guja, Rosetto, Bravo, ARC LP (LP180100942) Living on the edge: how do Australian plants cope with extreme temperature? 
  • 2019-2020 Nicotra, Adrienne, Justin Borevitz ; Eelco Rohling ; Geoffrey Cary ; Angela Moles ; Mark Hovenden ; Ben Kefford ; Don Driscoll ; Susanna Venn ; William Cornwell ; David Keith ; Marta Yebra ; Gregory Summerell, ARC LIEF, LE190100039 Australian mountain environmental research infrastructure facility, AMRIF
  • 2017-2020 Kruuk, Loeske, Adrienne Nicotra and Christina Richards, ARC DP Program, DP170101681,  Multi-trait plasticity in response to a changing environment

Projects

  • Harris, R, Bryant, C, Coleman, M et al. 2023, 'A novel and high throughput approach to assess photosynthetic thermal tolerance of kelp using chlorophyll α fluorometry', Journal of Phycology, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 179-192.
  • Notarnicola, R, Nicotra, A, Kruuk, L et al. 2023, 'Effects of warming temperatures on germination responses and trade-offs between seed traits in an alpine plant', Journal of Ecology, vol. 111, no. 1, pp. 62-76.
  • Thompson, L, Thurman, L, Cook, C et al. 2023, 'Connecting research and practice to enhance the evolutionary potential of species under climate change', Conservation Science and Practice, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. e12855.
  • Courtney Jones, S, Geange, S, Hanea, A et al. 2023, 'IDEAcology: An interface to streamline and facilitate efficient, rigorous expert elicitation in ecology', Methods in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. 2019-2028.
  • Nicotra, A, Geange, S, Abdul Bahar, N et al. 2022, 'An innovative approach to using an intensive field course to build scientific and professional skills', Ecology and Evolution, vol. 12, no. 10, pp. e9446.
  • Rixen, C, Wipf, S, Rumpf, S et al. 2022, 'Intraspecific trait variation in alpine plants relates to their elevational distribution', Journal of Ecology, vol. 110, no. 4, pp. 860-875.
  • Wang, S, Feng, W, Liu, M et al. 2022, 'Inherent conflicts between reaction norm slope and plasticity indices when comparing plasticity: a conceptual framework and empirical test', Oecologia, vol. 198, pp. 593-603.
  • Arnold, P, Wang, S, Catling, A et al. 2022, 'Patterns of phenotypic plasticity along a thermal gradient differ by trait type in an alpine plant', Functional Ecology, vol. 36, no. 9, pp. 2412-2428.
  • Venn, S, Gallagher, R & Nicotra, A 2021, 'Germination at extreme temperatures: Implications for alpine shrub encroachment', Plants, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 1-9.
  • Arnold, P, Briceno Rodriguez, V, Gowland, K et al. 2021, 'A high-throughput method for measuring critical thermal limits of leaves by chlorophyll imaging fluorescence', Functional Plant Biology, vol. 48, pp. 634-646.
  • Wang, S, Gowland, K, Kruuk, L et al. 2021, 'Decoupling the effects of parental and offspring warming on seed and seedling traits', Alpine Botany, vol. 131, pp. 105-115.
  • Notarnicola, R, Nicotra, A, Kruuk, L et al. 2021, 'Tolerance of Warmer Temperatures Does Not Confer Resilience to Heatwaves in an Alpine Herb', Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 9, pp. 20pp.
  • Geange, S, Arnold, P, Catling, A et al. 2021, 'The thermal tolerance of photosynthetic tissues: a global systematic review and agenda for future research', New Phytologist, vol. 229, no. 5, pp. 2497-2513.
  • Camac, J, Umbers, K, Morgan, J et al. 2021, 'Predicting species and community responses to global change using structured expert judgement: An Australian mountain ecosystems case study', Global Change Biology, vol. 27, no. 18, pp. 4420-4434.
  • Cook, C, Beever, E, Thurman, L et al. 2021, 'Supporting the adaptive capacity of species through more effective knowledge exchange with conservation practitioners', Evolutionary Applications, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. 1969-1979.
  • Satyanti, A, Liantoro, T, Thomas, M et al. 2021, 'Predicting effects of warming requires a whole-of-life cycle perspective: A case study in the alpine herb Oreomyrrhis eriopoda', Conservation Physiology, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 16pp.
  • Falster, D, Gallagher, R, Wenk, E et al. 2021, 'AusTraits, a curated plant trait database for the Australian flora', Scientific Data, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 20pp.
  • Ahrens, C, Challis, A, Byrne, M et al. 2021, 'Repeated extreme heatwaves result in higher leaf thermal tolerances and greater safety margins', New Phytologist, vol. 232, no. 3, pp. 1212ââ¬â1225.
  • Cooke, S, Bergman, J, Madliger, C et al. 2021, 'One hundred research questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice', Conservation Physiology, vol. 9, no. 1.
  • Hodges, J, Price, J, Nicotra, A et al. 2021, 'Smoke and heat accelerate and increase germination in fire-prone temperate grassy ecosystems', Ecosphere, vol. 12, no. 12, pp. 1-13.
  • Fernandez-Pascual, E, Carta, A, Mondoni, A et al. 2021, 'The seed germination spectrum of alpine plants: a global meta-analysis', New Phytologist, vol. 229, no. 6, pp. 3573-3586.
  • Fernandez-Pascual, E, Carta, A, Mondoni, A et al. 2021, 'The seed germination spectrum of alpine plants: a global meta-analysis', New Phytologist, vol. 229, no. 6, pp. 3573-3586.
  • Hodges, J, Price, J, Nicotra, A et al. 2021, 'Smoke and heat can increase germination of common wildflowers and grasses-implications for conservation and restoration of critically endangered grassy ecosystems', Ecological Management and Restoration, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 94-99.
  • Stevens, A, Nicotra, A, Godfree, R et al. 2020, 'Polyploidy affects the seed, dormancy and seedling characteristics of a perennial grass, conferring an advantage in stressful climates', Plant Biology, vol. 22, pp. 500-513.
  • Cooke, S, Madliger, C, Cramp, R et al. 2020, 'Reframing conservation physiology to be more inclusive, integrative, relevant and forward-looking: reflections and a horizon scan', Conservation Physiology, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1-19.
  • Arnold, P, Kruuk, L & Nicotra, A 2019, 'How to analyse plant phenotypic plasticity in response to a changing climate', New Phytologist, vol. 222, pp. 1235-1241pp.
  • Arnold, P, Nicotra, A & Kruuk, L 2019, 'Sparse evidence for selection on phenotypic plasticity in response to temperature', Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B, vol. 374, no. 1768, pp. 14pp.
  • Saatkamp, A, Cochrane, J, Commander, L et al. 2019, 'A research agenda for seed-trait functional ecology', New Phytologist, vol. 221, no. 4, pp. 1764-1775.
  • Goh, C, Nicotra, A & Mathesius, U 2019, 'Genes controlling legume nodule numbers affect phenotypic plasticity responses to nitrogen in the presence and absence of rhizobia', Plant Cell and Environment, vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 1747-1757.
  • Satyanti, A, Guja, L & Nicotra, A 2019, 'Temperature variability drives within-species variation in germination strategy and establishment characteristics of an alpine herb', Oecologia, vol. 189, no. 2, pp. 407-419.
  • Venn, S, Myersâ€?Smith, I, Camac, J et al. 2019, 'Climate change: Alpine shrubs as ecosystem engineers', Austral Ecology, vol. 44, no. 5, pp. 927-930.
  • Cochrane, A, Nicotra, A & Ooi, M 2019, 'Climate change: alters plant recruitment from seed', Austral Ecology, vol. 44, no. 5, pp. 931-934.
  • Geange, S, Holloway-Phillips, M, Briceno Rodriguez, V et al 2019, 'Aciphylla glacialis mortality, growth and frost resistance: a field warming experiment', Australian Journal of Botany, vol. 67, pp. 599-609.
  • Satyanti, A, Nicotra, A, Merkling, T et al 2018, 'Seed mass and elevation explain variation in seed longevity of Australian alpine species', Seed Science Research, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 319-331.
  • Mocko, K, Nicotra, A & Jones, C 2018, 'Extent of solar tracking differs between two co-occurring congeneric geophytes that differ in leaf shape', International Journal of Plant Sciences, vol. 179, no. 2, pp. 162-173pp.
  • Drake, J, Tjoelker, M, Varhammar, A et al 2018, 'Trees tolerate an extreme heatwave via sustained transpirational cooling and increased leaf thermal tolerance', Global Change Biology, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 2390-2402pp.
  • Harris , R, Beaumont, L, Vance, T et al 2018, 'Biological responses to the press and pulse of climate trends and extreme events', Nature Climate Change, vol. 8, no. 7, pp. 579-587pp.
  • Supple, M, Bragg, J, Broadhurst, L et al. 2018, 'Landscape genomic prediction for restoration of a Eucalyptus foundation species under climate change', eLife, vol. 7, pp. e31835(22pp).
  • Harris , R, Beaumont, L, Vance, T et al 2018, 'Author Correction: Biological responses to the press and pulse of climate trends and extreme events', Nature Climate Change, vol. 8, no. 9, pp. 1pp.
  • Geange, S, Briceno, V, Aitken, N et al. 2017, 'Phenotypic plasticity and water availability: responses of alpine herb species along an elevation gradient', Climate Change Responses, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 1-12.
  • Leigh, A, Sevanto, S, Close, J et al 2017, 'The influence of leaf size and shape on leaf thermal dynamics: Does theory hold up under natural conditions?', Plant Cell and Environment, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 237-248.
  • Wilkins, O, Hafemeister, C, Plessis, A et al 2016, 'EGRINs (Environmental gene regulatory influence networks) in rice that function in the response to water deficit, high temperature, and agricultural environments', The Plant Cell, vol. 28, no. 10, pp. 2365-2384.
  • Nicotra, A, Chong, Y, Bragg, J et al. 2016, 'Population and phylogenomic decomposition via genotyping-by-sequencing in Australian Pelargonium', Molecular Ecology, vol. 25, no. 9, pp. 2000-2014.
  • Cochrane, J, Hoyle, G, Yates, C et al. 2016, 'Variation in plant functional traits across and within four species of Western Australian Banksia (Proteaceae) along a natural climate gradient', Austral Ecology, vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 886-896.
  • Beever, E, O'Leary, J, Mengelt, C et al 2016, 'Improving Conservation Outcomes with a New Paradigm for Understanding Species' Fundamental and Realized Adaptive Capacity', Conservation Letters, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 131-137.
  • Goh, C, Nicotra, A & Mathesius, U 2016, 'The presence of nodules on legume root systems can alter phenotypic plasticity in response to internal nitrogen independent of nitrogen fixation', Plant Cell and Environment, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 883-896.
  • Li, H, Nicotra, A, Xu, D et al 2015, 'Habitat-specific responses of leaf traits to soil water conditions in species from a novel alpine swamp meadow community', Conservation Physiology, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-8.
  • Nicotra, A, Beever, E, Robertson, A et al 2015, 'Assessing the components of adaptive capacity to improve conservation and management efforts under global change', Conservation Biology, vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 1268-1278.
  • Ramirez-Valiente, J, Valladares, F, Delgado, A et al 2015, 'Understanding the importance of intrapopulation functional variability and phenotypic plasticity in Quercus suber', Tree Genetics and Genomes, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 1-11pp.
  • Briceno Rodriguez, V, Hoyle, G & Nicotra, A 2015, 'Seeds at risk: How will a changing alpine climate affect regeneration from seeds in alpine areas?', Alpine Botany, vol. 125, no. 2, pp. 59-68.
  • Holloway-Phillips, M, Huai, H, Cochrane, J et al. 2015, 'Differences in seedling water-stress response of two co-occurring Banksia species', Australian Journal of Botany, vol. 63, no. 8, pp. 647-656.
  • Hoyle, G, Steadman, K, Good, R et al 2015, 'Seed germination strategies: An evolutionary trajectory independent of vegetative functional traits', Frontiers in Plant Science, vol. 6, pp. 1-13.
  • Beckmann, E, Estavillo, G, Mathesius, U et al. 2015, 'The plant detectives: Innovative undergraduate teaching to inspire the next generation of plant biologists', Frontiers in Plant Science, vol. 6, no. 729, pp. 1-7.
  • Cochrane, J, Yates, C, Hoyle, G et al. 2015, 'Will among-population variation in seed traits improve the chance of species persistence under climate change?', Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 12-24.
  • Cochrane, J, Hoyle, G, Yates, C et al. 2015, 'The phenotypic response of co-occurring Banksia species to warming and drying', Plant Ecology, vol. 216, no. 1, pp. 27-39.
  • Cochrane, J, Hoyle, G, Yates, C et al. 2015, 'Climate warming delays and decreases seedling emergence in a Mediterranean ecosystem', Oikos, vol. 124, no. 2, pp. 150-160.
  • Nicotra, A, Segal, D, Hoyle, G et al 2015, 'Adaptive plasticity and epigenetic variation in response to warming in an Alpine plant', Ecology and Evolution, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 634-647.
  • Anderson, A, Beringer, J, Bull, C et al. 2014, 'Foundations for the future: A long-term plan for Australian ecosystem science', Austral Ecology, vol. 39, no. 7, pp. 739-748.
  • Estavillo, G, Mathesius, U, Djordjevic, M et al 2014, The Plant Detective's Manual: a research-led approach for teaching plant science, ANU E Press, Canberra, Australia.
  • Valladares, F, Matesanz, S, Guilhaumon, F et al 2014, 'The effects of phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation on forecasts of species range shifts under climate change', Ecology Letters, vol. 17, no. 11, pp. 1351-1364.
  • Hoyle, G, Cordiner, H, Good, R et al 2014, 'Effects of reduced winter duration on seed dormancy and germination in six populations of the alpine herb Aciphyllya glacialis (Apiaceae)', Conservation Physiology, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1-11.
  • Cochrane, J, Hoyle, G, Yates, C et al. 2014, 'Evidence of population variation in drought tolerance during seed germination in four Banksia (Proteaceae) species from Western Australia', Australian Journal of Botany, vol. 62, no. 6, pp. 481-489.
  • Briceno Rodriguez, V, Harris-Pascal, D, Nicotra, A et al 2014, 'Variation in snow cover drives differences in frost resistance in seedlings of the alpine herb Aciphylla glacialis', Environmental and Experimental Botany, vol. 106, pp. 174-181.
  • Xie, H, Ash, J, Linde, C et al 2014, 'Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau Uplift Drives Divergence of Polyploid Poppies: Meconopsis Viguier (Papaveraceae)', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 9, no. 6, pp. e99177-e99177.
  • Cochrane, J, Hoyle, G, Yates, C et al. 2014, 'Predicting the impact of increasing temperatures on seed germination among populations of Western Australian Banksia (Proteaceae)', Seed Science Research, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 195-205.
  • Xie, H, Ash, J, Linde, C et al 2014, 'Himalayan-Tibetan plateau uplift drives divergence of polyploid poppies: Meconopsis viguier (Papaveraceae)', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 1-10.
  • Alcorn, P, Forrester, D, Thomas, D et al 2013, 'Changes in Whole-Tree Water Use Following Live-Crown Pruning in Young Plantation-Grown Eucalyptus pilularis and Eucalyptus cloeziana', Forests, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 106-121.
  • Gowland, K, Van der Merwe, M, Linde, C et al 2013, 'The host bias of three epiphytic Aeridinae orchid species is reflected, but not explained, by mycorrhizal fungal associations', American Journal of Botany, vol. 100, no. 4, pp. 764-777.
  • Alcorn, P, Forrester, D, Smith, G et al 2013, 'Crown structure and vertical foliage distribution in 4-year-old plantation-grown Eucalyptus pilularis and Eucalyptus cloeziana', Trees (Structure and Function), vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 555-566.
  • Alcorn, P, Forrester, D, Smith, G et al 2013, 'The influence of site quality on timing of pruning in Eucalyptus pilularis and Eucalyptus cloeziana plantations', Australian Forestry, vol. 76, no. 1, pp. 25-36.
  • Goh, C, Veliz Vallejos, D, Nicotra, A et al 2013, 'The Impact of Beneficial Plant-Associated Microbes on Plant Phenotypic Plasticity', Journal of Chemical Ecology, vol. 39, no. 7, pp. 826-839.
  • Jones, C, Martinez-Cabrera, H, Nicotra, A et al 2013, 'PHYLOGENETIC INFLUENCES ON LEAF TRAIT INTEGRATION IN PELARGONIUM (GERANIACEAE) : CONVERGENCE, DIVERGENCE, AND HISTORICAL ADAPTATION TO A RAPIDLY CHANGING CLIMATE', American Journal of Botany, vol. 100, no. 7, pp. 1306-1321.
  • Hoyle, G, Venn, S, Steadman, K et al 2013, 'Soil warming increases plant species richness but decreases germination from the alpine soil seed bank', Global Change Biology, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 1549-1561.
  • Davidson, A & Nicotra, A 2012, 'Beware: alien invasion. Where to next for an understanding of weed ecology?', New Phytologist, vol. 194, no. 3, pp. 602-605.
  • Leigh, A, Sevanto, S, Ball, M et al 2012, 'Do thick leaves avoid thermal damage in critically low wind speeds?', New Phytologist, vol. 194, no. 2, pp. 477-487.
  • Leigh, A, Zwieniecki, M, Rockwell, F et al 2011, 'Structural and hydraulic correlates of heterophylly in Ginkgo biloba', New Phytologist, vol. 189, no. 2, pp. 459-470.
  • Davidson, A, Jennions, M & Nicotra, A 2011, 'Do invasive species show higher phenotypic plasticity than native species and, if so, is it adaptive? A meta-analysis', Ecology Letters, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 419-431.
  • Nicotra, A, Leigh, A, Boyce, C et al 2011, 'The evolution and functional significance of leaf shape in the angiosperms', Functional Plant Biology, vol. 38, no. 7, pp. 535-552.
  • Gowland, K, Wood, J, Clements, M et al 2011, 'Significant phorophyte (Substrate) bias is not explained by fitness benefits in three epiphytic orchid species', American Journal of Botany, vol. 98, no. 2, pp. 197-206.
  • Nicotra, A & McIntosh, E, eds, 2011, PrometheusWiki: online protocols gaining momentum.
  • Nicotra, A, Atkin, O, Bonser, S et al 2010, 'Plant phenotypic plasticity in a changing climate', Trends in Plant Science, vol. 15, no. 12, pp. 684-692.
  • Bourne, M, Nicotra, A, Colloff, M et al. 2008, 'Effect of soil biota on growth and allocation by Eucalyptus microcarpa', Plant and Soil, vol. 305, no. 1-2, pp. 145-156.
  • Thomson, V, Nicotra, A & Cunningham, S 2004, 'Herbivory differentially affects male and female reproductive traits of Cucumis sativus', Plant Biology, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 621-628.
  • Duncan, D, Nicotra, A & Cunningham, S 2004, 'High self-pollen transfer and low fruit set in buzz-pollinated Dianella revoluta (Phormiaceae)', Australian Journal of Botany, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 185-193.
  • Duncan, D, Nicotra, A, Wood, J et al 2004, 'Plant isolation reduces outcross pollen receipt in a partially self-compatible herb', Journal of Ecology, vol. 92, no. 6, pp. 977-985.
  • Thomson, V, Cunningham, S, Ball, M et al. 2003, 'Compensation for herbivory by Cucumis sativus through increased photosynthetic capacity and efficiency', Oecologia, vol. 134, no. 2, pp. 167-175.
  • Thomson, V, Nicotra, A & Steinbauer, M 2001, 'Influence of previous frost damage on tree growth and insect herbivory of Eucalyptus globulus globulus', Austral Ecology, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 489-499.
  • Nicotra, A & Davidson, A 2010, 'Adaptive phenotypic plasticity and plant water use', Functional Plant Biology, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 117-127.
  • Sack, L, Cornwell, W, Santiago, L et al 2010, 'A unique web resource for physiology, ecology and the environmental sciences:PrometheusWiki', Functional Plant Biology, vol. 37, no. 8, pp. 687-693.
  • Jones, C, Bakker, F, Schlichting, C et al 2009, 'Leaf shape evolution in the South African genus Pelargonium L' Hér. (Geraniaceae)', Evolution, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 479-497.
  • Harrison, M, Edwards, E, Farquhar, G et al 2009, 'Nitrogen in cell walls of sclerophyllous leaves accounts for little of the variation in photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency', Plant Cell and Environment, vol. 32, pp. 259-270.
  • Nicotra, A, Cosgrove, M, Cowling, A et al 2008, 'Leaf shape linked to photosynthetic rates and temperature optima in South African Pelargonium species', Oecologia, vol. 154, no. 4, pp. 625-635.
  • Bourne, M, Nicotra, A, Colloff, M et al. 2008, 'Effect of soil biota on growth and allocation by Eucalyptus microcarpa', Plant and Soil, vol. 305, pp. 145-156.
  • Alcorn, P, Bauhus, J, Smith, R et al 2008, 'Growth response following green crown pruning in plantation-grown Eucalyptus pilularis and Eucalyptus cloeziana', Canadian Journal of Forest Research, vol. 38, pp. 770-781.
  • Barrett, L, Thrall, P, Burdon, J et al 2008, 'Population structure and diversity in sexual and asexual populations of the pathogenic fungus Melampsora lini', Molecular Ecology, vol. 17, pp. 3401-3415.
  • Alcorn, P, Bauhus, J, Thomas, D et al 2008, 'Photosynthetic response to green crown pruning in young plantation-grown Eucalyptus pilularis and E. cloeziana', Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 255, pp. 3827-3838.
  • Alcorn, P, Pyttel, P, Bauhus, J et al 2007, 'Effects of initial planting density on branch development in 4-year-old plantation grown Eucalyptus pilularis and Eucalyptus cloeziana trees', Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 252, pp. 41-51.
  • Nicotra, A, Hermes, J, Jones, C et al 2007, 'Geographic variation and plasticity to water and nutrients in Pelargonium australe', New Phytologist, vol. 176, no. 1, pp. 136-149.
  • Dwyer, S, Ghannoum, O, Nicotra, A et al 2007, 'High temperature acclimation of C4 photosynthesis is linked to changes in photosynthetic biochemistry', Plant Cell and Environment, vol. 30, pp. 53-66.
  • Powles, J, Buckley, T, Nicotra, A et al 2006, 'Dynamics of stomatal water relations following leaf excision', Plant Cell and Environment, vol. 29, pp. 981-992.
  • Leigh, A, Cosgrove, M & Nicotra, A 2006, 'Reproductive allocation in a gender dimorphic shrub: anomalous female investment in Gynatrix pulchella?', Journal of Ecology, vol. 94, pp. 1261-1271.
  • Leigh, A, Close, J, Ball, M et al 2006, 'Leaf cooling curves: measuring leaf temperature in sunlight', Functional Plant Biology, vol. 33, pp. 515-519.
  • Pohlman, C, Nicotra, A & Murray, B 2005, 'Geographic range size, seedling ecophysiology and phenotypic plasticity in Australian Acacia species', Journal of Biogeography, vol. 32, pp. 341-351.
  • Duncan, D, Nicotra, A & Cunningham, S 2004, 'High self-pollen transfer and low fruit set in buzz-pollinated Dianella revoluta (Phormiaceae)', Australian Journal of Botany, vol. 52, pp. 185-193.
  • Thomson, V, Nicotra, A & Cunningham, S 2004, 'Herbivory Differentially Affects Male and Female Reproductive Traits of Cucumis sativus', Plant Biology, vol. 6, pp. 621-628.
  • Bauhus, J, van Winden, A & Nicotra, A 2004, 'Aboveground interactions and productivity in mixed-species plantations of Acacia mearnsii and Eucalyptus globulus', Canadian Journal of Forest Research, vol. 34, pp. 686-694.
  • Duncan, D, Nicotra, A, Wood, J et al 2004, 'Plant Isolation Reduces Outcross Pollen Receipt in a Partially Self-Compatible Herb', Journal of Ecology, vol. 92, no. 6, pp. 977-985.
  • Nicotra, A, Chazdon, R & Montgomery, R 2003, 'Sexes show contrasting patterns of leaf and crown carbon gain in a dioecious rainforest shrub', American Journal of Botany, vol. 90, no. 3, pp. 347-355.
  • Leigh, A & Nicotra, A 2003, 'Sexual dimorphism in reproductive allocation and water use efficiency in Maireana pyramidata (Chenopodiaceae), a dioecious, semi-arid shrub', Australian Journal of Botany, vol. 51, pp. 509-514.
  • Nicotra, A, Hofmann, M, Siebke, K et al. 2003, 'Spatial patterning of pigmentation in evergreen leaves in response to freezing stress', Plant Cell and Environment, vol. 26, pp. 1893-1904.
  • Thomson, V, Cunningham, S, Ball, M et al. 2003, 'Compensation for herbivory by Cucumis sativus through increased photosynthetic capacity and efficiency', Oecologia, vol. 134, pp. 167-175.
  • Murray, B, Thrall, P, Gill, M et al. 2002, 'How plant life-history and ecological traits relate to species rarity and commonness at varying spatial scales', Austral Ecology, vol. 27, pp. 291-310.
  • Ball, M, Wolfe, J, Canny, M et al. 2002, 'Space and time dependence of temperature and freezing in evergreen leaves', Functional Plant Biology, vol. 29, pp. 1259-1272.
  • Nicotra, A, Babicka, N & Westoby, M 2002, 'Seedling root anatomy and morphology: an examination of ecological differentiation with rainfall using phylogenetically independent contrasts', Oecologia, vol. 130, pp. 136-145.
  • Davila, Y & Nicotra, A 2001, 'Are there general patterns of differentiation in reproductive and vegetative traits between the sexes of dioecious species?', 2001 Ecological Society of Australia, University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong, p. 41.
  • Thomson, V, Nicotra, A & Steinbauer, M 2001, 'Influence of previous frost damage on tree growth and insect herbivory of Eucalyptus globulus globulus', Austral Ecology, vol. 26, pp. 489-499.
  • Leigh, A, Davila, Y & Nicotra, A 2001, 'Do sex-based differences in reproductive allocation lead to physiological divergence in dioecious plants?', 2001 Ecological Society of Australia, University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong, pp. 63-64.
  • Pohlman, C, Murray, B & Nicotra, A 2001, 'Differences in ecophysiological traits between Australian Acacia species with contrasting geographical range sizes', 2001 Ecological Society of Australia, University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong, p. 78.
  • Thomson, V, Cunningham, S, Ball, M et al. 2001, 'Cunning Cucurbits: How do cucumber plants compensate for herbivory?', 2001 Ecological Society of Australia, University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong, p. 90.
  • Thomson, V, Nicotra, A & Steinbauer, M 2000, 'Post traumatic stress syndrome in Eucalyptus globulus globulus: implications for insect herbivores', Ecological Society of Australia Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of Australia, La Trobe University, Melbourne, p. 1.
  • Nicotra, A 2000, 'Spatial patterning of pigmentation in evergreen leaves in response to freezing stress', Ecological Society of Australia Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of Australia, La Trobe University, Melbourne, p. 1.

I convene, Field Studies in Functional Ecology (Biol2203) and Advanced Field Studies in Functional Ecology (Biol3303), a 2 week intensive course held in the Australian alpine or the tropics of Australia and South East Asia, depending on the year. Check out our course videos here:  Kosciuszko National Park in December 2016 and the Daintree Rainforest in July 2017.

A wide range of projects are underway in the lab and most of these provide options for undergraduate, Honours or PhD projects - see my Lab projects for more detail.