School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences

David Paull

Dr David Paull

Senior Lecturer
Discipline Coordinator - Geography
MA Adel., PhD UNSW

 

Telephone: +61 2 6268 8455
Fax: +61 2 6268 8017
Email: d.paull@adfa.edu.au
Location: PEMS North, Room 331

My UNSW Research Gateway Profile

Research Interests:
Biogeography, Wildlife Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Remote Sensing and GIS.

Environmental Systems Research Group
Geographic Information Science

Biography

David Paull came to the School in 1991 from the University of Adelaide where he began his career as a biogeographer. He has a PhD from The University of New South Wales, and a Masters from the University of Adelaide. His research focuses on the biogeography, ecology and conservation of endangered Australian fauna, with a special interest in the southern brown bandicoot. Other interests include landscape ecology, environmental monitoring, Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing.

Teaching

Current Teaching

ZPEM2202 Ecological Biogeography

UoC6 HPW5

Staff Contact: Dr D Paull

An introduction to biogeography, the study of why organisms live where they do. In this course we will investigate factors that influence plant and animal distributions. Topics covered include: energy flow and nutrient cycling in ecosystems; habitat and niche concepts; how climate and topography affect the distribution of species; short and long distance dispersal of plants and animals; competition and interaction between species; the effects of natural and human-induced disturbance on biological communities; and, Island Biogeography Theory. Contemporary biogeographical and environmental issues may be highlighted.

ZPEM3203 Conservation Biogeography

UoC6 HPW5

Staff Contact: Dr D Paull

The contribution of biogeography in facing the current global extinction crisis. The course begins with a consideration of historical biogeography as the basis for understanding past, present and future patterns of biological diversity on earth. The principles and practice of the sub-discipline Landscape Ecology are then examined with particular emphasis given to wildlife ecology in Australia.  Other ecological systems and their management may also be emphasized.

Previous Teaching

Postgraduate and Honours Students

Research

Infrared digital cameras and olfactory attractants for monitoring wildlife
Dr David Paull & Dr Andrew Claridge

This project aims to develop a humane and cost-effective method for detecting rare and threatened wildlife. In biogeography, one great problem lies in obtaining reliable field data on the distribution of animals that are of conservation concern. In south-eastern Australia this is particularly the case for small mammals such as bandicoots and rat kangaroos. Traditional methods used to detect these species are trapping and hair tubing, which are distressing to the captured individuals, costly in terms of labour, or simply ineffective when populations exist in low density. Therefore, alternative approaches are needed. The aim of our research is to determine whether automated digital surveillance cameras are a viable option for detecting small mammals in south-eastern Australia. The methodology involves deploying digital infrared cameras across large areas of habitat in south-eastern Australia to determine the distribution of species of small mammals such as the southern brown bandicoot. We use small quantities of scent attractant, for example truffle oil, in front of each camera to encourage animals to enter the field of view and ‘pose’ while photographs are automatically taken. This research is greatly improving the tool kit we currently have for detecting elusive animals in the wild.

bandicoot visiting a truffle oill bait southern brown bandicoot
Nationally endangered southern brown bandicoot visiting a truffle oil bait station in East Gippsland.
(Click on the image to view video clip)

 Southern brown bandicoot,
Mt Gambier, April 2001.
infrared surveillance camera infrared surveillance camera for detecting bandicoots and potoroos
Deployment of remote infrared surveillance camera for detecting the southern brown bandicoot, Mt Gambier, South Australia 2007. Deployment of remote infrared surveillance camera for detecting bandicoots and potoroos, Nungatta, southern NSW 2008.
southern brown bandicoot visiting a scent station closeup of infrared surveillance camera
Southern brown bandicoot visiting a scent attractant station, Mt Gambier 2007. Closeup of remote infrared surveillance camera for detecting bandicoots and potoroos, Nungatta, southern NSW 2008.
The southern brown bandicoot in south-eastern Australia: its distribution, habitat use and conservation
Dr David Paull, Dr Andrew Claridge, Dr Michael Rees

The objective of this long-term project is to locate and map all remaining populations of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus in south eastern Australia. Commencing in 1986, extensive field investigations for this rare marsupial have been ongoing in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, with much of the historical distribution already having been surveyed. At sites where the species has been found, detailed habitat descriptions are made of vegetation, soils, climate and topography. This information is compiled as a baseline against which future changes to the species’ distribution and habitat can be measured. The data are also used for predictive spatial modeling using Geographical Information Systems to uncover new areas of potential habitat and estimate the extent of the species’ former distribution circa 1788. The research has been playing a vital role in the development of conservation plans. One outcome of the work to date has been a successful nomination by the principal investigator to have the species listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

1788 1988
Habitat suitability models for the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in (a) 1788 and (b) 1988.
The index (1-10) is based on suitability of climate, geology and vegetation for the species.
Click on maps for more detail.
Monitoring the environmental impacts of large mining projects in the Asia Pacific Region using remote sensing
Dr David Paull, Dr Glenn Banks, Bambang Trisasongko, Prof. Brian Lees, Prof. David Gillieson, Dr Chris Ballard,
Simon Mockler

The mining industry has been an extensive user of remotely-sensed data and GIS for many years, but the focus has primarily been on using the technology to assist with mineral exploration and modelling. More recently, remote sensing and GIS have been incorporated into environmental management regimes of mining operations and the areas they affect. In this project we have compiled over 60 satellite images from a dozen mine sites located in the Asia-Pacific region for the purpose of conducting multitemporal monitoring of landscape change. Current work in the group includes radar polarametric analyses by Bambang Trisasongko. Our focus to date has been the Freeport copper/gold mine in Papua Province of Indonesia and the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea, with results summarized in Banks et al. (2005), Paull et al. (2006) and Trisasongko et al. (2006, 2007). In the future our project will examine the environmental impacts of other prominent mines throughout the region, for example Ok Tedi, Lihir and Marinduque.

Major anthropogenic land cover changes to the Timika region, 1988-2004.

Major anthropogenic land cover changes to the Timika region, 1988-2004.
Landsat 5 false colour composite display: red channel Band 5 (1.55-1.75 μm), green channel Band 4 (0.76-0.90 μm), blue channel Band 1 (0.45-0.52 μm). From Paull, D., Banks, G., Ballard, C. & Gillieson, D., 2006, Monitoring the environmental impact of mining in remote locations through remotely sensed data, Geocarto International, 21, 33-42.

PhD Opportunities and Scholarships

There are many opportunities available for postgraduate research within the Environmental Systems Research group.
Contact Dr David Paull (dpaull@adfa.edu.au) for further information about research within the Environmental Systems and Geographic Information Science research groups.

Publications

BIOGEOGRAPHY AND ECOLOGY

  1. Paull, D.J., Claridge, A.W. & Barry, S.C. (2011). There's no accounting for taste: Bait attractants and infrared digital cameras for detecting small to medium ground-dwelling mammals. Wildlife Research, 38(3), 188-195, doi:10.1071/WR10203.
  2. Claridge, A.W. and Paull, D.J. (2011). Ethical techniques for sampling threatened fauna. First annual progress report to the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Queanbeyan Australia and the University of New South Wales ADFA, Canberra, Australia.
  3. Claridge, A.W., Paull, D.J., Barry, S.C (2010). Detection of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals using infrared digital cameras: An alternative way forward? Australian Mammalogy, 32(2), 165-171, doi:10.1071/AM09039.
  4. Wen, W., Wang, X.H., Paull, D.J. , Kesby, J. (2010). Defence force activities in marine protected areas: Environmental management of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia, Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 28, 667-677.
  5. Robinson, T. and Paull, D.J. (2009) Comparative evaluation of suburban bushland as foraging habitat for the Glossy Black-Cockatoo. Corella, 33, 7-12.
  6. Paull, D.J., (2008). Revisions and introductions to Order Peramelemorphia: Bandicoots and Bilbies; Superfamily Perameloidia; Family Chaeropodidae: Pig-footed Bandicoot; Family Peramelidae: Typical Bandicoots; Subfamily Echymiperinae; Subfamily Peramelinae; Family Thylacomidae: Bilbies, in Mammals of Australia: 3rd Edition, S. van Dyke & R. Strahan (ed.), Reed New Holland publishing, Sydney. Proof pages169; 170-171; 172; 174; 176; 191. ISBN: 9781877069253
  7. Paull, D.J., (2008). Southern Brown Bandicoot, in Mammals of Australia: 3rd Edition, S. van Dyke & R. Strahan (ed.), Reed New Holland publishing, Sydney. Proof pages 180-182. ISBN: 9781877069253.
  8. Packer, J., Carthew, S., Long, K and Paull, D. (2008). Adapting to altered landscapes: the effect of blackberry on population persistence of the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus). Ecological Society of Australia. Sydney 1-5 December 2008.
  9. Dawson, J.P., Claridge, A.W., Triggs, B. and Paull, D.J., (2007). Diet of a native carnivore, the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) before and after an intense wildfire, Wildlife Research, 34(5), 342-351.
  10. Rees, M., Paull, D.J. and Carthew, S., (2007). Factors influencing the distribution of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis australis) in Victoria, Australia, Wildlife Research, 34(3), 228-233.
  11. Paull, D.J. (2006). Fragmentation and the southern brown bandicoot at the continental scale. International Geographical Union IGU 2006 Brisbane Conference and joint meeting of the Institute of Australian Geographers and the New Zealand Geographical Society. Regional Responses to Global Changes: A view from the Antipodes, 3-7 July 2006.
  12. Shan, Y., Paull D.J. and McKay , R.I. (2006). Machine learning of poorly predictable ecological data. Ecological Modelling 195, 129-138.
  13. Claridge, A.W., Paull D., Dawson, J., Mifsud, G., Murray, A.J., Poore, R. and Saxon, M.J. (2005). Home range of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), a marsupial carnivore, in a rainshadow woodland. Wildlife Research 32, 7-14.
  14. Watson, J., Watson, A., Paull, D. and Freudenberger, D. (2003). Woodland fragmentation is causing the decline of species and functional groups of birds in southeastern Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 8, 261-270.
  15. Shan, Y., McKay , R.I. and Paull, D.J. (2002). Building ecological models using genetic programming. Proceedings of the Fourth Asia-Pacific Conference on Simulated Evolution and Learning, IEEE, Singapore, 19 November 2002, pp. 320-325.
  16. Watson, J., Freudenberger, D., and Paull, D.J. (2001). An assessment of the focal species approach for conserving birds in variegated landscapes in southeastern Australia. Conservation Biology 15, 1364-1373.
  17. Freudenberger, D., Watson, J., and Paull, D.J. (2000). Feathers, fur and fins: the habitat values of open urban spaces in Canberra. Australian Pacific Healthy Cities Conference, Canberra, June 26-28, 2000.
  18. Watson, J., Freudenberger, D., and Paull, D.J. (1999). The development of revegetation guidelines for variegated landscapes in the ACT region using a focal species approach. Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Fremantle, Australia, 26 September-1 October, 1999.
  19. Paull, D.J. (2004). Habitat fragmentation and the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus at multiple spatial scales. PhD Thesis, University of New South Wales, 226 pp.
  20. Paull, D.J. (2004). Habitat fragmentation at multiple spatial scales. Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, Glenelg, 13-16 April 2004.
  21. Paull, D.J. (2001). Assessing the Conservation Status of the Southern Brown Bandicoot. Interspecies Workshop 2001 - Speaking of Danger: Discourses and Debates around Endangered Species. Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University, 19 October 2001.
  22. Rees, M. and Paull, D.J. (2000). Distribution and status of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus in the Portland region of southwestern Victoria. Wildlife Research 27, 539-545.
  23. Paull, D.J. (1999). A survey of the distribution and abundance of the southern brown bandicoot in the south east of South Australia. Working Paper 1999/1, School of Geography and Oceanography, University College, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, 22pp. ISBN 0 7334 0561 4, ISSN 0819-3460.
  24. Paull, D.J. (1999). Habitat selection by the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) at multiple spatial scales, Geodiversity: Readings in Australian geography at the close the 20th century , J.A. Kesby, J.M. Stanley, L.J. Olive and R.F. McLean (eds), School of Geography and Oceanography Canberra on behalf of the Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, 29 June-3 July 1998, pp. 55-65.
  25. Paull, D.J. (1998) A survey of the distribution and abundance of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus in the south east of South Australia : Preliminary results and recommendations for action. Report to ForestrySA, 22 pp.
  26. Paull, D.J. (1997). Bandicoots, barriers and biogeography: Habitat mapping using GIS, Proceedings of the Institute of Australian Geographers and New Zealand Geographical Society Second Joint Conference, Hobart, Australia, January 1997, Department of Geography, The University of Waikato, New Zealand Geographical Society Conference Series No. 19, pp. 407-409.
  27. Paull, D.J. (1995). The distribution of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus obesulus in South Australia. Wildlife Research 22 , 585-600.
  28. Paull, D.J. (1993). The distribution, ecology and conservation status of the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) in South Australia. MA Thesis, University of Adelaide, 251 pp.
  29. Paull, D.J. (1992). Implications of habitat spatial configuration for the conservation of the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) in South Australia. Sixth International Theriological Congress, UNSW, Sydney 4 - 10 July 1993, abstract published in Augee M. L. (ed.). Abstracts of spoken papers and poster papers, Sydney, Secretariat School of Biological Science, UNSW,1993, p. 237.
  30. Paull, D.J. (1990). The distribution and conservation status of the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) in South Australia. Report to World Wildlife Fund Australia, 46 pp.
  31. Paull, D.J. (1989). Bandicoot colonies in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Report to the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Reserves Advisory Committee, 68 pp.
  32. Paull, D.J. (1986). The conservation role of captive breeding: A case study of rare and threatened animals indigenous to South Australia. Honours Thesis, University of Adelaide, 93 pp.

MOLECULAR AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

  1. Kawakami, T., Butlin, R.K., Adams, M., Saint, K.M., Paull, D.J. and Cooper, S.J.B. (2009). Re-examination of a proposed case of stasipatric speciation: phylogeography of the Australian morabine grasshoppers (Vandiemenella viatica species group). Molecular Ecology, 18, 3429-3442.
  2. Kawakami, T., Butlin, R.K., Adams, M., Paull, D.J. and Cooper, S.J.B. (2009). Genetic analysis of a chromosomal hybrid zone in the Australian morabine grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica species group), Evolution, 63, 139-152.
  3. Kawakami, T., Butlin, R.K., Adams, M., Saint, K.M., Paull, D.J. and Cooper, S.J.B. (2007). Differential gene flow of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers among chromosomal races of Australian morabine grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica species group), Molecular Ecology, 16, 5044-5066.
  4. Kawakami, T., Butlin, R.K., Paull, D.J. and Cooper, S.J.B. (2007). Polymorphic microsatellite markers for chromosomal races of Australian morabine grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica species group), Molecular Ecology Notes, 7(6), 1181-1184.
  5. Kawakami, T., Cooper, S., Adams, M., Paull, D. and Butlin, R. (2005). Chromosomal rearrangements and speciation of Australian morabine grasshoppers. The Combined Australian Entomological Society, Society of Australian Systematic Biologists and Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation Conference, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, 4-9 December 2005.
  6. Kawakami, T., Cooper, S., Adams, M., Paull, D. and Butlin, R. (2005). Chromosomal rearrangements and speciation of Australian morabine grasshoppers. 10th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland. 15-20 August 2005.
  7. Johnston, P.G., Watson, C.M., Adams , M. and Paull, D.J. (2002). Sex chromosome elimination, X-chromosome inactivation and reactivation in the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae). Cytogenetics and Genome Research 99, 119-124 .
  8. Johnston , P.G., Watson, C.M., Adams , M., and Paull, D.J. (2000). The paternally derived X chromosome is eliminated in female bandicoots. Abstracts of the Australian Mammal Society Conference, Alice Springs, 12-14 April, 2000, p 42. Available online at:http://www.australianmammals.org.au/Conferences/Past%20Conferences %20AMS/2000%20AMS%20conference%20Abstracts.pdf
  9. Johnston , P.G., Watson, C.M., Adams, M., and Paull, D.J. (1999). Sex chromosome elimination and X-chromosome inactivation in bandicoots. International Symposium on X-chromosome Inactivation in Mammals, Novosibirsk, Russia, 6-12 September, 1999.

REMOTE SENSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

  1. Trisasongko, B.H., Paull, D.J., Panuju, D.R., & Lees, B.G. (2012). Natural re-vegetation along Ajkwa Tailings Deposition Areas monitored by fully polarimetric C-Band SAR coupled with polarimetric decomposition techniques. Pages 157-161 in Hardiyanto, E.B., Solberg, S.M, & Osaki, M. (eds). Proceeding of International Conference on New Perspectives of Tropical Forest Rehabilitation for Better Forest Functions and Management, 17th – 19th October 2011, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Faculty of Forestry Universitas Gadjah Mada.
  2. Hobbs,S.W., Paull D. & Clark J.D.A. (2012). What Lake George can tell us about Martian gullies,
    43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 19?23, 2012, The Woodlands, Texas. Available online at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2012/pdf/1101.pdf.
  3. Hobbs, S.W., Paull, D.J. and Bourke, M.C. (2010). Aeolian processes and dune morphology in Gale Crater. Icarus, 210(1), 102-115, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.06.006.
  4. Paull, D.J. (2010). Predicting where to grow truffles in Australia: A GIS and climate modelling approach. New
    Zealand Geographical Society Conference    , Christchurch, 5-8 July, 2010.
  5. Hobbs, S.W., Paull, D.J. and Bourke, M.C. (2010). Aeolian processes and dune morphology in Gale Crater. Print-only presentation at the 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 1-5, 2010, The Woodlands, Texas. Available online at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2010/pdf/1561.pdf.
  6. Paull, D.J. (2010). Bait attractants and infrared digital cameras for detecting rare and cryptic mammals [poster]. Ecological
    Society of Australia Conference    , Canberra, 6-10 December, 2010.
  7. Trisasongko, B., Lees, B., & Paull, D. (2007). Discrimination of scatterer responses on tailings deposition zone using radar polarimetry, Sensing and Imaging: An International Journal, 8(3-4), 111-120.
  8. Paull, D., Banks, G., Ballard, C. and Gillieson, D. (2006). Monitoring the environmental impact of mining in remote locations through remotely sensed data. Geocarto International 21, 33-42.
  9. Trisasongko, B., Lees, B. and Paull, D. (2006). Polarimetric Classification in a Tailings Deposition Area at the Timika Mine Site, Indonesia. Mine Water and the Environment 25, 246-250.
  10. Banks, G., Paull, D. and Mockler, S. (2005). The Social and Environmental Impact of Mining in Asia-Pacific: The Potential Contribution of a Remote-Sensing Approach. Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Working Paper No. 60. Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Program, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University . Canberra, ISSN ? 1444-187X. Available online at: http://rspas.anu.edu.au/papers/rmap/Wpapers/rmap_wp60.pdf
  11. Paull, D.J. and Banks, G. (2005). Monitoring the Social and Environmental Impact of Mining in Asia-Pacific through Remote Sensing. 11th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Östersund Sweden, June 16-19 2005.
  12. Banks, G. and Paull, D.J. (2004). The social and environmental impact of mining in Asia-Pacific: the potential contribution of a remote-sensing approach. 11 November 2004 Resource Management in Asia-Pacific (RMAP) Program, Research School of Pacific & Asian Studies
  13. Wang, X.H. and Paull, D.J. (2003). Can Landsat imagery provide high resolution mapping of sea surface temperature in a small embayment after a convective cooling event? Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 4892 Ocean Remote Sensing and Applications, Robert J. Frouin, Yeli Yuan, Hiroshi Kawamura (eds), pp. 426-433.

Recent Grants

Paull, D. DAMASCAS: Defence Automated Monitoring And Survey using Cameras And Sound. Defence Support Group, 2012: $75,000.

Paull, D. and Claridge, A. Indirect methods in wildlife research. A question of detection: Are infrared cameras better than hair-tunnels for monitoring cryptic mammals? UNSW@ADFA Early Career Researchers Grant, 2009: $31,250.

Paull, D. and Claridge, A. Infrared digital surveillance cameras and olfactory attractants for monitoring endangered species, UNSW@ADFA Special Research Grant, 2008: $3,720.

Lees, B., Paull, D. Modelling inundation impacts of climate change, UNSW@ADFA Research Training Scholarships, 2007.

Paull, D.J., Cooper, S., Butlin, R., & Kawakami, T. Speciation, phylogeography, and systematics of chromosomally diverse Australian morabine grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Eumastacidae: Morabinae: Vandiemenella) UNSW@ADFA Faculty Research Grant, 2006: $20,000.

Paull, D. & Banks, G. Monitoring the environmental impacts of large-scale mining in Asia-Pacific using remote sensing, University of New South Wales, Faculty Research Scheme ECR Award, 2005-2006: $22,000.

Niven, R. & Paull, D. The first radon risk map for Australia, University of New South Wales, Faculty Research Scheme ECR Award, 2005-2006: $20,000.

Paull, D. Systematics, phylogeography, and speciation of the morabine grasshopper (genus Vandiemenella) in south-eastern Australia, UNSW@ADFA Special Research Grant, 2005: $5,000.