Dr Donald Franklin

Grad Dip Sci, MSc, PhD

• Research Interests
• Current Projects
• Students
• Publications
  • Papers
  • Books
  • Reports
  • Other

Research interests

• Bamboo ecology and management, including the evolutionary ecology and biology of gregarious flowering and die-off
• Plant and bird ecology, life histories and conservation biology, particularly of nectarivores and granivores
• Biogeography and landscape ecology, including field methods for wildlife survey and monitoring at landscape scales
• Fire ecology in the tropical savannas

Current projects

• Response of coastal vine-thickets and savannas to disturbance
• Mosquito ecology
• Growth dynamics of clonal plants illustrated by the long-lived, semelparous bamboo Bambusa arnhemica
• management of bamboo stands
• Bamboo biogeography illustrated by molecular techniques
• Ecology of Mulga (Acacia aneura) communities
• Ecology of deciduous eucalypts

View potential PhD, MSc and Honours projects with Dr Franklin.

Current students

Opportunities currently exist for honours projects with Dr Franklin

Recently completed students

Anstee Nicholas (MSc) supervisors: D. Franklin, D. Bowman, G. Boggs

Characteristics and dynamics of the mulga-spinifex boundaries at Mt Denison Station in Central Australia

Nicholas Hogarth (MSc) supervisors: D. Franklin, D. Bowman, B. Brook
Demography and Management of the Australian native bamboo, Bambusa arnhemica

Publications

Peer-reviewed papers

Best 10 publications

Franklin, D.C. 2005. Vegetative phenology and growth of a facultatively-deciduous bamboo in a monsoonal climate. Biotropica, 37, 343-350. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2005.00045.x

Franklin, D.C., Whitehead, P.J., Pardon, G., Matthews, J., McMahon, P. & McIntyre, D. 2005. Geographic patterns and correlates of the decline of granivorous birds in northern Australia. Wildlife Research, 32, 399-408.

Franklin, D.C. 2004. Synchrony and asynchrony: observations and hypotheses for the flowering wave in a long-lived semelparous bamboo. Journal of Biogeography, 31, 773-786.

Franklin, D.C. & Bowman, D.M.J.S. 2004. A multi-scale biogeographic analysis of Bambusa arnhemica, a bamboo from monsoonal northern Australia. Journal of Biogeography, 31, 1335-1353.

Franklin, D.C. & Bowman, D.M.J.S. 2003. Bamboo, fire and flood: regeneration of Bambusa arnhemica (Bambuseae: Poaceae) after mass-flowering and die-off at contrasting sites in monsoonal northern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany, 51, 529-542.

Franklin, D.C. & Wilson, K.-J. 2003. Are low reproductive rates characteristic of New Zealand’s native terrestrial birds? Evidence from the allometry of nesting parameters in altricial species. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 30, 185-204.

http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/Site/publish/Journals/nzjz/2003/021.aspx

Franklin, D.C. 1999. Evidence of disarray amongst granivorous bird assemblages in the savannas of northern Australia, a region of sparse human settlement. Biological Conservation, 90, 53-68.

Franklin, D.C., Smales, I.J., Quin, B.R., & Menkhorst, P.W. 1999. Annual cycle of the Helmeted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops cassidix, a sedentary inhabitant of a predictable environment. Ibis, 141, 256-268.

Franklin, D.C., Smales, I.J., Miller, M.A., & Menkhorst, P.W. 1995. The reproductive biology of the Helmeted Honeyeater, Lichenostomus melanops cassidix. Wildlife Research, 22, 173-191.

Franklin, D.C., Menkhorst, P.W., & Robinson, J.L. 1989. Ecology of the Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia. Emu, 89, 140-154.

All other peer-reviewed papers

Kaneko, S., Franklin, D.C., Yamasaki, N., Isagi, Y. 2008. Development of microsatellite markers for Bambusa arnhemica (Poaceae: Bambuseae), a bamboo endemic to Northern Australia. Conservation Genetics 9: 1311-1313.

Franklin, D.C., Bisa D. 2008. Field key to the lycaenid butterflies of north-western Australia. Northern Territory Naturalist 20: 1-18.

http://www.geocities.com/ntfieldnaturalists/journal.htm

Keates, A., Collins, T., Franklin, D.C. 2008. Aggressive behaviour by the Beach Stone-curlew. Northern Territory Naturalist 20: 34-37.

Franklin D.C., Hogarth N.J. 2008. Flowering and flooding: factors influencing shoot production in a semelparous bamboo. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 20: 188-192.

http://info.frim.gov.my/cfdocs/infocenter/jtfsonline/jtfs/v20n3/188-192.pdf 

Franklin, D.C., Kaneko, S., Yamasaki, N. and Isagi, Y. 2008. Some wild bamboo clumps contain more than one genet. Australian Journal of Botany 56: 433-436 DOI: 10.1071/BT08026

Franklin, D.C. 2008. Fate of culm shoots in wild stands of a tropical clumping bamboo. Journal of Sustainable Forestry 26: 97-111

Franklin, D.C., Petty, A.M., Williamson, G.J., Brook, B.W. & Bowman, D.M.J.S. 2008. Monitoring contrasting land management in the savanna landscapes of northern Australia. Environmental Management, 41, 501-515 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-007-9006-1

Bellairs, S.M., Franklin, D.C. & Hogarth, N.J. 2008. A tropical, gregariously-semelparous bamboo has no seed dormancy. Biotropica, 40, 28-31. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00336.x

Chambers, L.E., Quin, B.R., Menkhorst, P., Franklin, D.C. & Smales, I. 2008. The effects of climate on breeding in the Helmeted Honeyeater. Emu, 108, 15-22.

Bach, C.S., Franklin, D.C. & Lambrinidis, G. 2007. Characteristics of the vertebrate-dispersed fruits of sixteen Northern Territory monsoon forest tree species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 23, 1-9.

Franklin, D.C., Brocklehurst, P.S., Lynch, D. & Bowman, D.M.J.S. 2007. Niche differentiation and regeneration in the seasonally flooded Melaleuca forests of northern Australia. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 23, 457-467. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467407004130

Bowman, D.M.J.S., Franklin, D.C., Price, O.F. & Brook, B.W. 2007. Land management affects grass biomass in the Eucalyptus tetrodonta savannas of monsoonal Australia. Austral Ecology, 32, 446-452. DOI:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2007.01713.x

Franklin, D.C. 2007. Dry season observations of butterflies in the "Gulf country" of the Northern Territory and far north-west Queensland. Northern Territory Naturalist, 19, 9-14.

Franklin, D.C. 2007. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita feeds on nectar. Northern Territory Naturalist, 19, 46-47.

Franklin, D.C. & Bach, C.S. 2006. Assessing intraspecific phenological synchrony in zoochorous trees from the monsoon forests of northern Australia. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 22, 419-429. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467406003300

Franklin, D.C. , Michael, B. & Mace, M. 2005. New location records for some butterflies of the Top End and Kimberley regions. Northern Territory Naturalist, 18, 1-7.

Franklin, D.C. & Kerrigan, R. 2005. A population count and ecological notes for the little-known terrestrial orchid Didymoplexis pallens. Northern Territory Naturalist, 18, 51-53.

Franklin, D.C. 2005. Avian granivores consume flowers, not just seed, of the Top End Bamboo Bambusa arnhemica. Northern Territory Naturalist, 18, 45-50.

Franklin, D.C. & Baker, B. 2005. The Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt as an urban bird in Darwin , Northern Territory . Australian Field Ornithology 22, 48-50.

Bowman, D.M.J.S. & Franklin, D.C. 2005. Fire ecology. Progress in Physical Geography 29, 1-8.

Franklin, D.C. 2005. Learning about Cane Toads:  Response to Donato & Potts 2004. Australian Field Ornithology, 22, 210-212.

Hasebe, M. & Franklin, D.C. 2004. Food sources of the Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus during the early wet season on the urban fringe of Darwin, northern Australia. Corella 28, 68-74.

Franklin, D.C. 2003. Morphology and taxonomy of the Top End Bamboo Bambusa arnhemica F. Muell., a little-known bamboo from northern Australia. Bamboo Science and Culture, 17, 44-54.

http://www.americanbamboo.org/ABSJournalArchive/ABSJournal-vol17.pdf

Franklin, D.C. 2003. Vertebrate pollinators visit flowers of an Umbrella Tree Schefflera actinophylla almost exclusively in the afternoon. Northern Territory Naturalist, 17, 1-6.

Franklin, D.C. & Mangion, C.P. 2003. Occurrence of the Yellow Plum Ximenia americana L. as a tidal strand-line plant in Darwin Harbour. Northern Territory Naturalist, 17, 50-52.

Dostine, P.L. & Franklin, D.C. 2002. A comparison of the diet of three finch species in the Yinberrie Hills area, Northern Territory. Emu, 102, 159-164.

Dostine, P.L., Johnson, G.C., Franklin, D.C., Zhang, Y., & Hempel, C. 2001. Seasonal use of savanna landscapes by the Gouldian finch, Erythrura gouldiae, in the Yinberrie Hills area, Northern Territory. Wildlife Research, 28, 445-458.

Franklin, D.C. & Dostine, P.L. 2000. A note on the frequency and genetics of head colour morphs in the Gouldian Finch. Emu, 100: 236-9.

Franklin, D.C. & Noske, R.A. 2000. Nectar sources used by birds in monsoonal north-western Australia : a regional survey. Australian Journal of Botany, 48, 461-474.

Franklin, D.C. & Noske, R.A. 2000. The nesting biology of the Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta in the Darwin region of northern Australia, with notes on tidal flooding of nests. Corella, 24, 38-44.

Franklin, D.C. , Smales, I.J., Quin, B.R. & Menkhorst, P.W. 2000. Age and sex characteristics of the Helmeted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops cassidix in the hand. Corella, 24, 30-35.

Franklin, D.C., Woinarski, J.C.Z. & Noske, R.A. 2000. Geographic patterning of species richness among granivorous birds in Australia. Journal of Biogeography, 27, 829-842.

Woinarski, J.C.Z., Connors, G. & Franklin , D.C. 2000. Thinking honeyeater: nectar maps for the Northern Territory, Australia . Pacific Conservation Biology, 6, 61-80.

Franklin, D.C. 1999. Opportunistic nectarivory: an annual dry season phenomenon among birds in monsoonal northern Australia. Emu, 99, 135-141.

Franklin, D.C., Burbidge, A.H. & Dostine, P.L. 1999. The harvest of wild birds for aviculture: an historical perspective on finch trapping in the Kimberley with special emphasis on the Gouldian Finch. Australian Zoologist, 31, 92-109.

Franklin, D.C. & Noske, R.A. 1999. Birds and nectar in a monsoonal woodland: correlations at three spatio-temporal scales. Emu, 99, 15-28.

Noske, R.A. & Franklin, D.C. 1999. Breeding seasons of land birds in the Australian monsoonal tropics: diverse responses to a highly seasonal environment. Australian Biologist, 12, 72-90.

Woinarski, J.C.Z., Franklin, D.C. & Connors, G. 1999. Landscape mapping of nectar resources as a base for conservation management. Australian Biologist, 12, 72-90.

Franklin, D.C. & Barnes, T.A. 1998. The downy young and juvenile of the Chestnut Rail, with notes on development. Corella, 12, 97-105.

Franklin, D.C., Dostine, P.L. & Tidemann, S.C. 1998. Post-juvenile moult strategies of co-existing Gouldian, Long-tailed and Masked Finches. Corella, 22, 64-66.

Franklin, D.C. & Noske, R.A. 1998. Local movements of honeyeaters in a sub-coastal vegetation mosaic in the Northern Territory. Corella, 22, 73-79.

Barnes, T.A. & Franklin, D.C. 1997. Notes on nests of the Chestnut Rail. Northern Territory Naturalist, 22, 97-103.

Franklin, D.C. 1997. The foraging behaviour of avian nectarivores in a monsoonal Australian woodland over a six-month period. Corella, 21, 48-54.

Franklin, D.C., Johnson, G.C. & Dostine, P.L. 1997. A capture record of the Northern Shrike-tit. Northern Territory Naturalist, 15, 41-42.

Franklin, D.C. 1995. Helmeted Honeyeaters build bulkier nests in cold weather. Auk, 112, 247-248.

Franklin, D.C. & Alley, J.C. 1995. Some observations of foraging and social behaviour of the Striped Honeyeater in South-western New South Wales. Australian Bird Watcher, 16, 71-74.

Runciman, D., Franklin, D.C. & Menkhorst, P.W. 1995. Movements of Helmeted Honeyeaters during the non-breeding season. Emu, 95, 111-118.

McCarthy, M.A., Franklin, D.C. & Burgman, M.A. 1994. The importance of demographic uncertainty: an example from the Helmeted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops cassidix. Biological Conservation, 67, 135-142.

Pearce, J.L., Burgman, M.A. & Franklin, D.C. 1994. Habitat selection by Helmeted Honeyeaters. Wildlife Research, 21, 53-63.

McMahon, A.R.G. & Franklin, D.C. 1993. The significance of Mountain Swamp Gum for Helmeted Honeyeater populations in the Yarra Valley. Victorian Naturalist, 110, 230-237.

Smales, I., Miller, M., Middleton, D. & Franklin, D.C. 1992. Establishment of a captive-breeding programme for the Helmeted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops cassidix. International Zoo Year-book, 31, 57-63.

Franklin, D.C. & Robinson, J, 1989. Territorial behaviour of a Regent Honeyeater at feeding sites. Australian Bird Watcher, 13, 129-132.

Franklin, D.C. & Menkhorst, P.W. 1988. The bare facial skin of the Regent Honeyeater. Australian Bird Watcher, 12, 237-238.

Franklin, D.C. & Menkhorst, P.W. 1988. A history of the Regent Honeyeater in South Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, 30, 141-145.

Franklin, D.C., Menkhorst, P.W & Robinson, J. 1987. Field surveys of the Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia in Victoria. Australian Bird Watcher, 12, 91-95.

Books

Franklin D, Lindner J, Robinson J. 1983, reprinted 1991. Eucalypts of the Bendigo District. A guide to identification and distribution. Bendigo: Bendigo Field Naturalists Club Inc.

Book chapters

Franklin, D.C. 2005. Monitoring wildlife at regional and national scales. In "Old ways, new ways; wildlife management in northern Australia" (eds J. Gorman, L. Petheram, T Vigilante), pp. 82-93. CDU Press: Darwin.

Whitehead, P.J., Woinarski, J.C.Z., Franklin, D.C. & Price, O. 2003. Landscape ecology, wildlife management and conservation in northern Australia: linking policy, practice and capability in regional planning. Landscape ecology and resource management. Linking theory with practice (eds. J.A. Bissonette & G.I. Storch), pp 227-259. Island Press: Washington.

Franklin, D. & Webster, R. 1990. Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia (Shaw 1794). Threatened Birds of Australia. An annotated list (eds. J. Brouwer & S. Garnett), pp. 127-129. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union: Moonee Ponds.

Major reports, working papers

Franklin DC. 2008. Report 9: The waterbirds of Australian tropical rivers and wetlands. In A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia’s Northern Tropical Rivers. Sub-project 1 of Australia’s Tropical Rivers – an integrated data assessment and analysis (DET18). A report to Land & Water Australia, ed. GP Lukacs, CM Finlayson. National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research: Townsville.

Franklin, D.C. 1999. Comparing atlases: the use of reporting rates to assess change in the abundance of bird species Consultancy report to Birds Australia.

Franklin, D. 1996. The status of the Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis in New South Wales Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union Report No. 99, Melbourne.

Franklin, D.C. & Dostine, P.L. 1996. Nest counts as a technique for monitoring the impact of the Mt Todd Gold Mine on the Gouldian Finch: a discussion paper Gouldian Finch Recovery Project Report, Darwin.

Other (Selected)

Franklin, D. 2006. North Queensland bamboo renamed in honour of Len Muller. Bamboo Bulletin, 8(1), 11-12.

Franklin, D. 2006. The princess of butterflies. Nature Territory, October 2006, 4-5.

Franklin, D.C. 2004 The birds of Groote Eylandt [book review]. Emu, 104, 301-302.

Franklin, D.C. 2004. Ecology of the Top End Bamboo Bambusa arnhemica Charles Darwin University PhD thesis, Darwin.

Franklin, D. 2004. Spare the Daly. Nature Territory, September 2003, 4-5.

Franklin, D. 2004. Territory ferns [book review]. Nature Territory, April 2004, 5.

Franklin, D. 2004. The mystery of bamboo flowering. Nature Territory, October 2004, 8-9.

Franklin, D. 2004. Plant identification software - the way of the future. Nature Territory, November 2004, 7-8.

Franklin, D. 2003. Epiphytes on Silver Paperbark. Nature Territory, March 2003, 4.

Franklin, D.C. 2003. Bamboo and the northern Australian connection. Flora Malesiana Bulletin, 13, 275-277.

Franklin, D. 2003. Rare orchid at Mary River Park. Nature Territory, June 2003, 3.

Franklin, D. 2002. Bamboo flowering patterns and Bambusa arnhemica. Bamboo Bulletin, 4(3), 18-19.

Franklin, D. 2002. How long does the Top End Bamboo live? Nature Territory, October 2002, 4.

Franklin, D. 2001. Notes on the biology and ecology of the Top End Bamboo Bambusa arnhemica. Kakadu Gun-wok, 17, 12-14.

Franklin, D. 2000. Trouble in the Never Never. Wingspan, 10, 14-21.

Franklin, D.C. 1998. Patterns in the decline of granivorous birds in the northern Australia savannas Northern Territory University M.Sc. thesis, Darwin.

Franklin, D.C. 1998. Some thoughts on taking birds from the wild. Thylacinus, 22, 8-11.

Franklin, D. 1998. An avian smorgasbord. Nature Territory, June 1998, 5.

Franklin, D. 1995. Studying honeyeaters in the monsoonal tropics. Thylacinus, 19, 3-7.

Franklin, D.C. 1994. Profile of an avian nectarivore community and its nectar resources in tropical woodland Northern Territory University Grad. Dip. Sci. thesis, Darwin.

Franklin, D., Menkhorst, P., & Robinson, J. 1987. Fighting, form and function in honeyeaters. RAOU Newsletter, 74, 1-2.

Robinson, J. & Franklin, D. 1985. Feeding ecology of falcons. Australasian Raptor Association News, 6, 10-12.