Dr Neil Collier

BSc (Hons), PhD

• Research Interests
• Current Projects
• Students
• Grants
• Publications
  • Papers

Research interests

Neil has a background in environmental science and invertebrate ecology, with a focus on applied outcomes of research. His PhD research investigated the landscape ecology of butterflies in South Australia, particularly the specialist lycaenid butterfly Theclinesthes albocincta. He is now focussed on using scenario modelling as a tool for decision-making in natural resource management with emphasis on sustainability and climate change. He is involved in several new projects operating in the Northern Territory and Internationally. His greatest focus since joining the Livelihoods and Policy team has been conducting scenario modelling for the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) research hub. This work involves developing systems models for scenario evaluation of tropical river catchment and coast management, and capacity building of indigenous stakeholders for participation in catchment management.

Current projects

• Scenarios for tropical rivers and coasts: integrating the TRaCK research program
• Capacity building tools for effective planning and decision-making in Indigenous contexts
• Integrated scenario planning across shared landscapes: A territory-wide approach
• Scenario planning for climate change in tropical landscapes
• Livelihoods and Landscapes
• Systematics and biogepgraphy of the Australian crow butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Neil has joined the Livelihoods and Policy team to work as the scenario modeller for the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) research hub. This work involves capacity building of indigenous stakeholders for participation in catchment management, and developing systems models for scenario evaluation of tropical river catchment and coast management. This work will be carried out across three catchment systems; the Daly River (Northern Territory), Fitzroy (Western Australia) and Mitchell River (Queensland) catchments.

Scenario planning - Shared landscapes

The concept of shared landscapes is sometimes invoked in natural resource management and planning to address issues of multiple stakeholder uses for a ‘common’ resource or a portion of the natural landscape. This project will use scenario modelling and spatial analyses, using GIS, to formulate integrated strategies for the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources across the Northern Territory.

Scenario planning - Climate Change

Much of the Northern Territory's prosperity, social character, and future development rely on the use of natural resources. Climate change is very likely to impact many aspects of the Northern Territory if careful planning and action is not taken to both mitigate and adapt to change. This project will use scenario planning and modelling to explore the impacts of climate change on the societal and environmental aspects of the Northern Territory. Scenario modelling will be carried out in a participatory manner, with stakeholders from a wide range of sectors including business and economics, natural resource management, Indigenous communities and organisations, government agencies, and the scientific community. The project aims to develop realistic scenario models of future change to the Northern Territory so that planning and management across the NT can be prepared for a range of potential impacts from climate change.

Livelihoods and Landscapes (Collaboration with IUCN)

There are substantial pressures on global forest resources including timber extraction, subsistence slash and burn agriculture, and clearing for large scale crop production such as oil palm. This project is investigating how forests can be managed for the dual purposes of conserving biodiversity and improving the well being of rural people who rely on the forests for their livelihoods. Neil is conducting scenario modelling with researchers from the IUCN (The World Conservation Union) on part of a global project examining how sustainable management and use of forests can improve the livelihoods of rural poor people. He will travel to Papua, Indonesia to conduct fieldwork and modelling during 2008.

Students

Grants

CDU internal grants:

Economic assessment of adaptation to climate change at Dhimurru IPA: Neil Collier with Kerstin Zander, Nanni Concu and Lisa Petheram

Publications

Peer-reviewed papers

Collier, N., Mackay, D.A., Benkendorff, K. 2008. Is relative abundance a good indicator of population size? Evidence from fragmented populations of a specialist butterfly, Theclinesthes albocincta (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Population Ecology. 50: 17-23. DOI: 10.1007/s10144-007-0056-2

Collier, N. 2007. Identifying potential evolutionary relationships within a facultative lycaenid-ant system: ant association, oviposition and butterfly-ant conflict. Insect Science. 14: 401-409. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2007.00167.x

Collier, N., Mackay, D.A., Benkendorff, K., Austin, A.D. and Carthew, S.M. 2006. Butterfly communities in South Australian urban reserves: Estimating abundance and diversity using the Pollard walk. Austral Ecology, 31:2, 282-290. DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01577.x

Collier, N (In press). Identifying potential evolutionary relationships within a facultative lycaenid-ant system: ant association, oviposition and butterfly-ant conflict. Insect Science. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2007.00167.x

Papers in preparation

Collier, N., Gardner, M., Adams, M., Mackay, D.A., Benkendorff, K. Genetic effects of habitat fragmentation on a specialist butterfly, Theclinesthes albocincta (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). In prep.

Collier, N., D.A. Mackay, K. Benkendorff. Volunteer surveys of an urban butterfly fauna: rapid training and education to promote butterfly conservation.

Collier, N. and Gardner, M. Genetic boundaries within the landscape: estimating conservation units for a specialist butterfly (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

Walters, A.C. and Collier, N. Nocturnal abundance and foraging success of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in an urban habitat.

Walters, A.C., Mackay, D.A. and Collier, N. Holding the line: Microgeography of an Argentine ant invasion front.