LAW, Bradley
Research interests
- Forest wildlife and their response to disturbance
- Forest ecology and sustainability
- Bat biology and ecology
- Flowering phenology, native nectar resources and pollination
Background
Dr Bradley Law is a Principal Research Scientist in the Forest Science Unit, NSW DPI. Brad's team undertakes scientific research to underpin ecologically sustainable forest management practices, which includes studies of the impact of forest disturbances (logging, fire), the effectiveness of forest management prescriptions and the ecology of threatened species plus the biodiversity benefits of native tree plantings on farms.
Brad has a background in zoology and ecology. His personal research program currently has a heavy focus on koalas in forests, especially using acoustics as a tool for survey and monitoring. He also has a long term interest in bat ecology, probably the most species diverse group of forest mammals in NSW. An emphasis has been placed on long-term ecological studies, because of the length of life cycles in forest ecosystems. Recent research also includes studies on Eastern Pygmy Possums and Hastings River Mouse. Other studies have investigated the effect of logging on canopy nectar production in eucalypts. He is also interested in urban ecology and has co-supervised a number of postgraduate students in recent years investigating a range of ecological topics. Brad is co-editor of Australia's oldest zoological journal: Australian Zoologist and has published more than 130 peer-reviewed papers.
Qualifications
- B.Sc. (Hons) – University of Sydney 1986
- PhD Zoology – University of Sydney 1992
- ARC Post-doctoral Fellow – James Cook University 1996
Current projects
- koala ecology in forestry landscapes: habitat modelling, occupancy on state and private land, estimating koala density and GPS tracking to assess current prescriptions
- changes in bat survival in relation to climatic extremes and logging at a long-term logging experiment
- long-term changes in biodiversity in large scale commercial eucalypt plantations established on farms
- developing methods of monitoring for wildlife
- monitoring of hastings river mouse and its response to harvesting
Recent publications
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=wS_S5d8AAAAJ&hl=en
Law, B., Kathuria, A. , Chidel, M. and Brassil, T. (2019), Long‐term effects of repeated fuel‐reduction burning and logging on bats in south‐eastern Australia. Austral Ecology. doi:10.1111/aec.12768
Threlfall, C. G., Law, B. S. and Peacock, R. J. (2019), Benchmarks and predictors of coarse woody debris in native forests of eastern Australia. Austral Ecology 44: 138-50. doi:10.1111/aec.12661
Law BS, Brassil T, Gonsalves L, Roe P, Truskinger A, McConville A (2018) Passive acoustics and sound recognition provide new insights on status and resilience of an iconic endangered marsupial (koala Phascolarctos cinereus) to timber harvesting. PLoS ONE 13(10): e0205075. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205075
Gonsalves L, Law B, Blakey R (2018) Experimental evaluation of the initial effects of large-scale thinning on structure and biodiversity of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) forests. Wildlife Research 45, 397-410.
Law, B., Gonsalves, L., Brassil, T., Hill, D. (2018) Does Thinning Homogenous and Dense Regrowth Benefit Bats? Radio-Tracking, Ultrasonic Detection and Trapping. Diversity (14242818) 10 (2).
Law BS, Chidel M, Law PR (2018) Forest bat population dynamics over 14 years at a climate refuge: Effects of timber harvesting and weather extremes. PLoS ONE 13(2): e0191471. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191471
Rueegger N, Law B, Goldingay R (2018) Interspecific differences and commonalities in maternity roosting by tree cavity-roosting bats over a maternity season in a timber production landscape. PLoS ONE 13(3): e0194429. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194429
Gonsalves, L., Law, B., Brassil, T., Waters, C., Toole, I., Tap, P. (2018) Ecological outcomes for multiple taxa from silvicultural thinning of regrowth forest. For. Ecol. Manag. 425, 177–188.
Law B, Caccamo G, Roe P, et al. (2017) Development and field validation of a regional, management-scale habitat model: A koala Phascolarctos cinereus case study. Ecology and Evolution 7:7475–7489. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3300
Law, B.S., Chidel, M., Brassil, T., Turner, G. and Gonsalves, L. (2017) Winners and losers among mammals and nocturnal birds over 17 years in response to large-scale eucalypt plantation establishment on farmland. Forest Ecology and Management 399, 108-119.
Blakey R.V., Law, B.S., Kingsford R.T., Stoklosa J. (2017) Terrestrial laser scanning reveals below-canopy bat trait relationships with forest structure. Remote Sensing of Environment 198: 40-51.
Law B., Brassil T., Gonsalves L. (2016) Recent decline of an endangered, endemic rodent: does exclusion of disturbance play a role for Hastings River mouse (Pseudomys oralis)?. Wildlife Research 43, 482-491.
Law, B.S., Gonsalves, L., Chidel, M. and Brassil, T. (2016) Subtle use of a mosaic of disturbance histories by Corben’s long-eared bat Nyctophilus corbeni: a member of the extinction-prone, narrow space bat guild. Wildlife Research 43: 153-68.
Slade, C. and Law, B. (2017) The other half of the coastal State Forest estate in New South Wales; the value of informal forest reserves for conservation. Australian Zoologist 39: 359-370.
Professional associations and activities
- Council Member of Royal Zoological Society of NSW
- Member of the Ecological Society of Australia
- Member of Australasian Bat Society
Fields of research
- 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management
Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
Keyword/phrase list of research interests
- Forest ecology and disturbance
- Bat ecology
- Threatened species
- Koala
- Sustainability
Contact details
Email: brad.law@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 9842 8601
Location: Parramatta
