Robinson, Sharon

Top Publications

Year	Title
2020	The 2019/2020 summer of Antarctic heatwaves Published in Global Change Biology
2018	Antarctica’s ‘moss forests’ are drying and dying Published in The Conversation
2018	Assessment of Antarctic moss health from multi-sensor UAS imagery with Random Forest Modelling Published in International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
2018	Rapid change in East Antarctic terrestrial vegetation in response to regional drying Published in Nature Climate Change
2017	Biodiversity redistribution under climate change: Impacts on ecosystems and human well-being Published in Science
2017	Unmanned aircraft system advances health mapping of fragile polar vegetation Published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution
2014	Antarctic climate change and the environment: an update Published in Polar Record
2014	The spatial structure of Antarctic biodiversity Published in Ecological Monographs
2012	Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate change Published in Global Change Biology
2019	Ozone depletion, ultraviolet radiation, climate change and prospects for a sustainable future Published in Nature Sustainability
2019	Linkages between stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate change and their implications for terrestrial ecosystems Published in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2020	Reframing conservation physiology to be more inclusive, integrative, relevant and forward-looking: reflections and a horizon scan Published in Conservation Physiology

Research Areas

Research Overview

Sharon Robinson researches how Antarctic plants respond to climate change. She uses radiocarbon signatures, left behind in the atmosphere by nuclear testing, to date mosses and track environmental change around the coast of Antarctica. Her group identifies the sunscreens plants make to protect themselves from elevated UV-B radiation due to ozone depletion. She is also applying new technologies, including the use of drones in Antarctica, to monitor plant health and productivity, and developing novel sensors that will help to track crop and forest health in future.

Sharon was educated in the UK. After completing her PhD at UCL in 1990, she held postdoctoral positions in the USA and Australia. She is currently a member of the United Nations Environment Programme Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Science Faculty for the Homeward Bound Women’s leadership Program expedition HB3 and HB5, and a former member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts. She first visited East Antarctica in 1996 and has been on 12 expeditions to continental Antarctic and sub- and maritime Antarctic islands with the Australian and Chilean Antarctic programs. She is a custodian for the only Antarctic State of the Environment Indicator concerned with Antarctic vegetation and is passionate about conserving Antarctic biodiversity.

In 2020, Sharon was named the Deputy Director of the Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, a Special Research Initiative for Excellence in Antarctic Science by the Australian Research Council. This year she has also stepped in to the role of Executive Director of the Global Challenges program and is currently Challenge Leader for the Sustaining Coastal and Marine Zones within the program.

Geographic Focus

Antarctica Geographic Region
Australia County

Available as Research Supervisor

Available for Collaborative Projects

Head Of

Global Challenges Program Executive Director 2020 -

Member Of

Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions (Co-Director, 2015-2018) 2015 -
Society for Experimental Biology 2012 -
Australian Society of Plant Scientists 1992 -
Institute for Conservation Biology and Law Director 2005 - 2008
Australian Society of Plant Scientists Member of Executive Committee 1998 - 2000

Has Collaborator

Ashcroft, Michael Dr
Barthelemy, Johan Dr.
Byrne, Phillip Associate Professor
Chisholm, Laurie Associate Professor
Cressie, Noel Distinguished Prof
French, Kris O. Professor
Kaye, Stuart Distinguished Professor
Keller, Paul Available as Research Supervisor
King, Diana H. Dr
McGregor, Helen Professor
Perez, Pascal Senior Professor
Silla, Aimee Dr. (Pronouns: she/her)
Turnbull, Johanna Dr.
Waterman, Melinda Dr.
Wilson, Stephen Dr.
Zammit Mangion, Andrew A/Prof.

Attended Event

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Year	Title
2022	Among ancient moss forests: Observing twenty-five years of change Published In Griffith Review
2022	Climate change and extreme events are changing the biology of Polar Regions Published In Global Change Biology
2022	Emerging biological archives can reveal ecological and climatic change in Antarctica. Published In Global change biology
2022	Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2021 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2022	Essential outcomes for COP26 Published In Global Change Biology
2022	Global maps of soil temperature Published In Global Change Biology
2022	Inhibition of non-photochemical quenching increases functional absorption cross-section of photosystem II as excitation from closed reaction centres is transferred to open centres, facilitating earlier light saturation of photosynthetic electron transport Published In Functional Plant Biology
2022	Islands in the ice: Potential impacts of habitat transformation on Antarctic biodiversity Published In Global Change Biology
2022	Limitations to photosynthesis in bryophytes: certainties and uncertainties regarding methodology Published In Journal of Experimental Botany
2022	Stable isotope approaches and opportunities for improving plant conservation Published In Conservation Physiology
2021	A validated and accurate method for quantifying and extrapolating mangrove above‐ground biomass using lidar data Published In Remote Sensing
2021	Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic Published In Global Change Biology
2021	Diatom communities differ among Antarctic moss and lichen vegetation types Published In Antarctic Science
2021	Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2021	One hundred research questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice Published In Conservation Physiology
2021	The success of the Montreal Protocol in mitigating interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change on the environment Published In Global Change Biology
2020	Anatomy of a heatwave: how Antarctica recorded a 20.75°C day last month Published In The Conversation
2020	Civil disobedience movements such as School Strike for the Climate are raising public awareness of the climate change emergency Published In Global Change Biology
2020	Civil disobedience movements such as School Strike for the Climate are raising public awareness of the climate change emergency Published In Global Change Biology
2020	Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2019 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2020	It is hot in the sun: Antarctic mosses have high temperature optima for photosynthesis despite cold climate Published In Frontiers in Plant Science
2020	Latitudinal biogeographic structuring in the globally distributed moss Ceratodon purpureus Published In Frontiers in Plant Science
2020	Reframing conservation physiology to be more inclusive, integrative, relevant and forward-looking: reflections and a horizon scan Published In Conservation Physiology
2020	Semi-Automated Analysis of Digital Photographs for Monitoring East Antarctic Vegetation Published In Frontiers in Plant Science
2020	The 2019/2020 summer of Antarctic heatwaves Published In Global Change Biology
2020	UV-B and Drought Stress Influenced Growth and Cellular Compounds of Two Cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae) Published In Photochemistry and Photobiology
2019	Friends with benefits: The effects of vegetative shading on plant survival in a green roof environment Published In PLoS One
2019	High tolerance of repeated heatwaves in Australian native plants Published In Austral Ecology: a journal of ecology in the Southern Hemisphere
2019	How Much Does Weather Matter? Effects of Rain and Wind on PM Accumulation by Four Species of Australian Native Trees Published In Atmosphere
2019	Linkages between stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate change and their implications for terrestrial ecosystems Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2019	Optimizing Spectral and Spatial Resolutions of Unmanned Aerial System Imaging Sensors for Monitoring Antarctic Vegetation Published In IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
2019	Ozone depletion, ultraviolet radiation, climate change and prospects for a sustainable future Published In Nature Sustainability
2019	Probing functional and optical cross-sections of PSII in leaves during state transitions using fast repetition rate light induced fluorescence transients Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2019	Probing functional and optical cross-sections of PSII in leaves during state transitions using fast repetition rate light induced fluorescence transients Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2019	Roadside Moss Turfs in South East Australia Capture More Particulate Matter Along an Urban Gradient than a Common Native Tree Species Published In Atmosphere
2019	The composition and oxidative stability of vegetarian omega-3 algal oil nanoemulsions suitable for functional food enrichment Published In JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
2019	The interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change on aquatic ecosystems Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2018	Antarctica’s ‘moss forests’ are drying and dying Published In The Conversation
2018	Assessment of Antarctic moss health from multi-sensor UAS imagery with Random Forest Modelling Published In International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
2018	Discovery of a First-in-Class Gut-Restricted RET Kinase Inhibitor as a Clinical Candidate for the Treatment of IBS Published In ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
2018	Environmental effects of ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2017 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2018	Extending Fluspect to simulate xanthophyll driven leaf reflectance dynamics Published In Remote Sensing of Environment: an interdisciplinary journal
2018	Photoprotection enhanced by red cell wall pigments in three East Antarctic mosses Published In Biological Research
2018	Rapid change in East Antarctic terrestrial vegetation in response to regional drying Published In Nature Climate Change
2018	Stress in native grasses under ecologically relevant heat waves Published In PLoS One
2017	Antarctic moss biflavonoids show high antioxidant and ultraviolet-screening activity Published In Journal of Natural Products
2017	Biodiversity redistribution under climate change: Impacts on ecosystems and human well-being Published In Science
2017	Discovery and Optimization of 5-Amino-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide Series against Trypanosoma cruzi Published In JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
2017	Do daily and seasonal trends in leaf solar induced fluorescence reflect changes in photosynthesis, growth or light exposure? Published In Remote Sensing
2017	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2016 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2017	Facilitation, competition and parasitic facilitation amongst invasive and native liana seedlings and a native tree seedling Published In NeoBiota
2017	Invasive alien lianas have similar allometry to native lianas in temperate forests Published In Biological Invasions
2017	Moving beyond presence and absence when examining changes in species distributions Published In Global Change Biology
2017	Relative functional and optical absorption cross-sections of PSII and other photosynthetic parameters monitored in situ, at a distance with a time resolution of a few seconds, using a prototype light induced fluorescence transient (LIFT) device Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2017	Relative functional and optical absorption cross-sections of PSII and other photosynthetic parameters monitored in situ, at a distance with a time resolution of a few seconds, using a prototype light induced fluorescence transient (LIFT) device Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2017	Remote monitoring of dynamic canopy photosynthesis with high time resolution light-induced fluorescence transients Published In Tree Physiology: an international botanical journal
2017	Thermotolerance capacities of native and exotic coastal plants will lead to changes in species composition under increased heat waves Published In Conservation Physiology
2017	Unmanned aircraft system advances health mapping of fragile polar vegetation Published In Methods in Ecology and Evolution
2016	Bayesian methods for comparing species physiological and ecological response curves Published In Ecological Informatics
2016	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2015 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2016	Moss δ13C: implications for subantarctic palaeohydrological reconstructions
2015	Antarctic moss stress assessment based on chlorophyll content and leaf density retrieved from imaging spectroscopy data Published In New Phytologist
2015	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: 2014 assessment Executive summary Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2015	Impact of hydrocarbons from a diesel fuel on the germination and early growth of subantarctic plants Published In Environmental Science Processes and Impacts
2015	Moss δ13C: an accurate proxy for past water environments in polar regions Published In Global Change Biology
2015	Native hemiparasite and light effects on photoprotection and photodamage in a native host Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2015	Native hemiparasite and light effects on photoprotection and photodamage in a native host Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2015	Not just about sunburn – the ozone hole's profound effect on climate has significant implications for Southern Hemisphere ecosystems Published In Global Change Biology
2015	Solar ultraviolet radiation and ozone depletion-driven climate change: effects on terrestrial ecosystems Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2015	Toxicity of fuel-contaminated soil to antarctic moss and terrestrial algae Published In Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
2014	Alien grass disrupts reproduction and post-settlement recruitment of co-occurring native vegetation: a mechanism for diversity decline in invaded forest? Published In Plant Ecology
2014	Antarctic climate change and the environment: an update Published In Polar Record
2014	Dominating the Antarctic environment: bryophytes in a time of change Published In Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration
2014	Phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminants in subantarctic soils: an effective management option Published In Journal of Environmental Management
2014	Solar ultraviolet radiation in a changing climate Published In Nature Climate Change
2014	Spatial co-registration of ultra-high resolution visible, multispectral and thermal images acquired with a micro-UAV over Antarctic moss beds Published In Remote Sensing
2014	Sunsafe bryophytes: photoprotection from excess and damaging solar radiation Published In Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration
2014	The ozone hole leaves a lasting impression on southern climate Published In The Conversation
2014	The spatial structure of Antarctic biodiversity Published In Ecological Monographs
2014	Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to capture micro-topography of Antarctic moss beds Published In International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
2013	Genome of the long-living sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) Published In Genome Biology
2013	Integrating transient heterogeneity of non-photochemical quenching in shade-grown heterobaric leaves of avocado (Persea americana L.): responses to CO2 concentration, stomatal occlusion, dehydration and relative humidity Published In Plant and Cell Physiology
2012	Bryophyte species composition over moisture gradients in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica: development of a baseline for monitoring climate change impacts Published In Biodiversity
2012	Canopy conundrums: building on the Biosphere 2 experience to scale measurements of inner and outer canopy photoprotection from the leaf to the landscape Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2012	Canopy conundrums: building on the Biosphere 2 experience to scale measurements of inner and outer canopy photoprotection from the leaf to the landscape Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2012	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2011 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2012	From ecophysiology to phenomics: some implications of photoprotection and shade-sun acclimation in situ for dynamics of thylakoids in vitro Published In Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
2012	Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate change Published In Global Change Biology
2012	Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate change (Erratum) Published In Global Change Biology
2011	Effects of solar ultraviolet radiation on terrestrial ecosystems. Patterns, mechanisms, and interactions with climate change Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2011	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: 2010 assessment Executive Summary Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2011	Grapevine leaf pigment response to root infestation by phylloxera Published In Acta Horticulturae
2011	In the heat of the night – alternative pathway respiration drives thermogenesis in Philodendron bipinnatifidum Published In New Phytologist
2010	Aerial ‘OktoKopter’ to map Antarctic moss Published In Australian Antarctic Magazine
2010	Distribution of thermogenic activity in floral tissues of Nelumbo nucifera Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2009	Accumulation of DNA damage in Antarctic mosses: correlations with ultraviolet-B radiation, temperature and turf water content vary among species Published In Global Change Biology
2009	Antarctic climate change and the environment Published In Antarctic Science
2009	Desiccation protects two Antarctic mosses from ultraviolet-B induced DNA damage Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2009	Desiccation protects two Antarctic mosses from ultraviolet-B induced DNA damage Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2009	Functional transition in the floral receptacle of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): from thermogenesis to photosynthesis Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2009	Functional transition in the floral receptacle of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): from thermogenesis to photosynthesis Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2009	Genetic structure of East Antarctic populations of the moss Ceratodon purpureus Published In Antarctic Science
2009	Introduction: Climate change biology at the ends of the Earth-International Polar year special issue Published In Global Change Biology
2009	Introduction: future fire activity and climate change Published In Global Change Biology
2009	Responses of plants in polar regions to UVB exposure: a meta-analysis Published In Global Change Biology
2009	Two cys or not two Cys? That is the question; alternative oxidase in the thermogenic plant sacred lotus Published In Plant Physiology
2008	Cell wall-bound ultraviolet-screening compounds explain the high ultraviolet tolerance of the Antarctic moss, Ceratodon purpureus Published In New Phytologist
2008	Mechanisms of thermoregulation in plants Published In Plant Signaling and Behavior
2008	Mechanisms of thermoregulation in plants Published In Plant Signaling and Behavior
2008	Mitigating fur seal interactions: relocation from Tasmanian aquaculture farms Published In Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
2008	Movements of fur seals following relocation from fish farms Published In Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

2008	Synchronicity of thermogenic activity, alternative pathway respiratory flux, AOX protein content and carbohydrates in receptacle tissues of sacred lotus during floral development Published In Journal of Experimental Botany
2008	Understanding the tolerance of Antarctic mosses to climate change Published In Australian Antarctic magazine
2007	Preliminary investigations of pigment responses to phylloxera infestation Published In Acta Horticulturae
2006	Phylloxera-infested grapevines have reduced chlorophyll and increased photoprotective pigment content--can leaf pigment composition aid pest detection? Published In Functional plant biology : FPB.
2006	Some like it wet--biological characteristics underpinning tolerance of extreme water stress events in Antarctic bryophytes. Published In Functional plant biology : FPB.
2004	Comparison of solvent regimes for the extraction of photosynthetic pigments from leaves of higher plants. Published In Functional plant biology : FPB.
1998	Role of cadherin internalization in hydrogen peroxide-mediated endothelial permeability Published In FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
1997	Concepts of plant biotic stress. Some insights into the stress physiology of virus-infected plants, from the perspective of photosynthesis Published In Physiologia Plantarum
1997	Concepts of plant biotic stress. Some insights into the stress physiology of virus‐infected plants, from the perspective of photosynthesis Published In Physiologia Plantarum
1997	Internal and external photoprotection in developing leaves of the CAM plant Cotyledon orbiculata Published In Plant, Cell and Environment
1997	Responses of rainforest understorey plants to excess light during sunflecks Published In Australian Journal of Plant Physiology
1997	The regulation of electron partitioning between the cytochrome and alternative pathways in soybean cotyledon and root mitochondria Published In Plant Physiology
1995	Beyond SHAM and cyanide: Opportunities for studying the alternative oxidase in plant respiration using oxygen isotope discrimination Published In Australian Journal of Plant Physiology
1995	Electron partitioning between the cytochrome and alternative pathways in plant mitochondria Published In Plant Physiology
1995	Evidence for deamination by glutamate dehydrogenase in higher plants: Commentary Published In Canadian Journal of Botany
1995	Evidence that glutamate dehydrogenase plays a role in the oxidative deamination of glutamate in seedlings of Zea mays Published In Australian Journal of Plant Physiology
1995	Photosystem II regulation and dynamics of the chloroplast D1 protein in Arabidopsis leaves during photosynthesis and photoinhibition Published In Plant Physiology
1994	Internal gradients of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments in relation to photoprotection in thick leaves of plants with crassulacean acid metabolism Published In Australian Journal of Plant Physiology
1993	Interpretations of gradients in δ¹³C value in thick photosynthetic tissues of plants with Crassulacean acid metabolism Published In Planta
1993	WAX AS A MECHANISM FOR PROTECTION AGAINST PHOTOINHIBITION - A STUDY OF COTYLEDON-ORBICULATA (VOL 106, 307, 1993) Published In BOTANICA ACTA
1993	Wax as a Mechanism for Protection against Photoinhibition — A Study of Cotyledon orbiculata Published In Botanica Acta
1992	Detection of ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium. In Vivo, ¹⁵N NMR versus mass spectrometry Published In Journal of Magnetic Resonance (1969)
1992	Measurements of the engagement of cyanide-resistant respiration in the Crassulacean acid metabolism plant Kalanchoë daigremontiana with the use of on-line oxygen isotope discrimination Published In Plant Physiology
1992	Regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase activity in relation to carbon limitation and protein catabolism in carrot cell suspension cultures Published In Plant Physiology
1991	The role of glutamate dehydrogenase in plant nitrogen metabolism Published In Plant Physiology

Chapter

Year	Title
2011	Experimental Methods Published In Hyperspectral Studies of Seagrasses Publisher Germany
2011	Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Spectral Reflectance of Seagrass Published In Hyperspectral studies in seagrasses Publisher Germany
2011	Spectral and Physiological Response of Eelgrass to Light Stress Published In Hyperspectral studies of seagrasses Publisher Germany
2009	The instrumental period Published In Antarctic climate change and the environment Publisher Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK

Conference Paper

Year	Title
2019	Moss species on the move in East Antarctic terrestrial communities Published In International Association of Bryologists (IAB), International Molecular Moss Science Society (iMOSS), Sociedad Espanola de Briologia (SEB) 2019 Conference
2019	Of turf, trees and air quality: does roadside moss trap more particulate matter than leaves? Published In International Association of Bryologists (IAB), International Molecular Moss Science Society (iMOSS), Sociedad Espanola de Briologia (SEB) 2019 Conference
2017	Remote monitoring of dynamic canopy photosynthesis with high time resolution light-induced fluorescence transients Published In Photosynthetic Plasticity: From the Environment to Synthetic Systems
2017	The utility of light induced fluorescence transients for remote monitoring of canopy photosynthesis at high time resolutions, with special reference to sun-flecks Published In Photosynthetic Plasticity: From the Environment to Synthetic Systems
2016	Functional absorption cross section (s'PSII) and 'apparent' optical cross section (a'PSII) of PSII sensed at a distance with LIFT/FRRF: detection and characterization of PSII reaction centers and antenna size in-situ Published In The 17th International Congress on Photosynthesis Research Photosynthesis in a Changing World
2016	High resolution monitoring of sun-flecks: Sun-fleck intensity drives both increases and decreases in non-photochemical quenching in shade leaves Published In The 17th International Congress on Photosynthesis Research Photosynthesis in a Changing World
2016	Solar induced fluorescence as a method for large scale phenotyping: Investigating relationships with ETR and ΦNPQ Published In 17th ICPR Phenotyping Meeting
2015	COMPARATIVE EMBRYOTOXICITY OF DIVERSE ANTIMALARIAL COMPOUNDS USING RAT WHOLE EMBRYO CULTURE AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SCREEN IN LEAD IDENTIFICATION FOR DISEASES OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD MOLECULES Published In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
2014	Analysis of early genotoxicity screening of pharmaceutical candidates - assay performance and adaptive approaches to screening Published In MUTAGENESIS
2014	Use of mulitple in silico genetic toxicity alerting tools for the prioritisation of compounds in the tres cantos antimalarial set (TCAMS) Published In TOXICOLOGY LETTERS
2013	Investigation of Antarctic moss beds using high spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy Published In Strategic Science in Antarctica: a Joint Australian and New Zealand Conference - Conference Abstracts
2013	Monitoring of Antarctic moss ecosystems using a high spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy Published In EGU General Assembly 2013
2013	Unmanned aerial optical systems for spatial monitoring of Antarctic mosses Published In EGU General Assembly 2013
2013	Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to capture micro-topography of Antarctic moss beds Published In Strategic Science in Antarctica: a Joint Australian and New Zealand Conference - Conference Abstracts
2012	Using a micro-UAV for ultra-high resolution multi-sensor observations of Antarctic moss beds Published In International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XXXIX-B1
2011	Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing for hyperspatial terrain mapping of Antarctic moss beds based on structure from motion (SfM) point clouds Published In 34th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment
2010	Using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for ultra-high resolution Published In 15th Australasian Remote Sensing & Photogrammetry Conference
2009	Photogenotoxicity testing using the rat skin micronucleus assay Published In MUTAGENESIS
2006	Functional Plant Biology: Foreword Published In Functional Plant Biology
2004	Synthesis and characterization of biotinylated forms of insulin-like growth factor-1: Topographical evaluation of the IGF-2/IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 interface Published In BIOCHEMISTRY
1998	Development of the photosynthetic apparatus in Australian rainforest leaves Published In PHOTOSYNTHESIS: MECHANISMS AND EFFECTS, VOLS I-V
1996	Stoichiometric nightmares: Studies of photosynthetic O-2 and CO2 exchanges in CAM plants Published In CRASSULACEAN ACID METABOLISM
1995	PARTITIONING OF ELECTRONS BETWEEN THE ALTERNATIVE AND CYTOCHROME RESPIRATORY PATHWAYS DURING DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC FUNCTION IN SOYBEAN COTYLEDONS Published In PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
1995	Platycerium bifurcatum ssp Veitchii: An Australian lithophytic elkhorn fern of the wet-dry tropics Published In PHOTOSYNTHESIS: FROM LIGHT TO BIOSPHERE, VOL IV

Other Publications

Year	Title
2022	Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: Cross-Chapter Paper 6: Polar Regions
2021	Summary Update 2021 for Policymakers: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel
2018	Environmental Effects Assessment Panel : 2018 Quadrennial Assessment on the Interactions of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, UV Radiation, and Climate Change: Executive Summary
2021	The Global Challenges Program: A model for redesigning research leadership
2022	Record-smashing heatwaves are hitting Antarctica and the Arctic simultaneously. Here¿s what¿s driving them, and how they¿ll impact wildlife

Investigator On

Year	Title
2020 - 2027	Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Special Research Initiatives
2019 - 2023	Old-growth mosses as proxies for past Antarctic climates Funding Scheme: Australian Antarctic Science Program
2020	High resolution health assessment of Antarctic plants as climate changes Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects
2018 - 2020	How isolated is Antarctica? Assessing past and present plant colonisations Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects
2018 - 2019	Sensor calibration facility for spectral and thermal remote sensing Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF)
2014 - 2017	Modelling spatial patterns and identifying environmental drivers for temporal change in Antarctic moss communities Funding Scheme: Australian Antarctic Science Program
2014	AirLIFT - an airborne active chlorophyll florescence sensing system for assessment of photosynthetic activity in plant canopies Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects
2014	Towards a large-scale Antarctic Nearshore and Terrestrial Observiing System (ANTOS): etc Funding Scheme: Australian Antarctic Science Program
2011 - 2014	Mapping Antarctic climate change in space and time using mosses as biological proxies Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects
2012	Stable isotope analysis of environmental and physiological samples Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF)
2011	The weight of the vine: impacts of vine infestations on plant health Awarded by: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Funding Scheme: National Weeds and Productivity Program
2010	Monitoring climate change induced desertification of Antarctica using stable isotopic signatures Funding Scheme: Grant
2009	Characterising heat production in plants: mechanisms and its role in pollination Awarded by: Hermon Slade Foundation Funding Scheme: Grant
2009	Climate change and carbon gain in antarctic mosses Funding Scheme: Grant
2009	Spatial analysis of changing terrestial ecosystems in the Windmill Islands and the sub-Antarctic Funding Scheme: Grant
2008	Understanding the tolerance of Antarctic mosses to climate change Funding Scheme: Grant
2007	Antarctic State of the Environment, Indicator 72: How is the Windmill Islandsâ¬" terrestrial vegetation responding to climate change? Funding Scheme: Grant
2007	Flora and Fauna Research Facility Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF)
2007	Satellite imagery for change detection in the sub-antarctic using Heard Island as a proof of concept Funding Scheme: Grant
	A silver spoon start to life for the critically endangered corroboree frog Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Linkage Projects
	Adaptive responses of Antarctic mosses to climate change Awarded by: Chilean Antarctic Institute (Instituto Antártico Chileno/INACH) Funding Scheme: Grant
	CTM2014-53902-C2-1-P mechanistic basis for this trade-off between photosynthesis and stress tolerance: filling gaps for evolutionary biology and plant biotechnology (TOPSTEP) Awarded by: Spanish Government Ministery of Economy and Competitiveness Funding Scheme: Grant
	Discovering Antarctica Awarded by: Antarctic Science Foundation Funding Scheme: Fundraising Project
	High resolution of moss growth in a rapidly changing Antarctic environment Awarded by: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Funding Scheme: ANSTO Research Portal

Impact Story

Rapidly drying mosses in East Antarctica in response to climate change
Summary
Plants in Antarctica are changing at a faster rate than first anticipated. There is well documented greening in the Arctic and on the Antarctic peninsula as ice retreats exposing more land. These regions are amongst the most rapidly warming on the planet. Warmer temperatures and increasing melt promote plant growth. Meanwhile on the continent, so far, there has been little evidence of warming so plant responses were expected to be slow and difficult to detect, until now. Alarmingly after only 13 years monitoring plant ecosystems we observed significant changes in the moss beds near Australia’s Casey station in East Antarctica. We have recently shown that these lush moss beds of the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica are rapidly drying due to cooler, windier summers caused by ozone depletion and climate change. We have developed advanced ways to analyse preserved climate records captured within these old-growth moss shoots establishing these miniature plants as accurate proxies to detect climate change in coastal East Antarctica. Our research has provided a history of the region's changing climate and these novel techniques can be used to determine sites in Antarctica where mosses are at risk of drying and dying. Our results show for the first time that climate change and ozone depletion are drying East Antarctic moss beds and demonstrate that Antarctic communities are already being affected despite a relatively small change so far. How these plant communities fare in future depends on implementation of and compliance with the Montreal Protocol and Paris Climate Agreement. Continued monitoring of these moss beds is important so that Antarctic Environmental Managers can protect these fascinating plant communities for the future.

Detail View

Detail View Summary View
Detail of Impact
BACKGROUND: The dominant flora in maritime and continental Antarctica are mosses which due to their incredible resilience mechanisms can survive in the limited ice-free areas of these harsh environments. Although mosses can survive in the harshest of continents, they are still threatened by the effects of human induced processes, for example climate change and ozone depletion. Slight differences in temperature, water and other environmental drivers potentially have a large impact on biodiversity, health and distribution of plants. Changes in climate are occurring in Polar regions at an alarming rate and include shifts in temperature, precipitation, wind speed and diminishing stratospheric ozone, subsequently increasing the levels of damaging ultraviolet-B radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Consequently, this has resulted in terrestrial environments changing.Over 13 years (2000–2013) we observed significant changes in species composition within moist moss communities in East Antarctica. Although Antarctic mosses grow extremely slowly (about 1 mm/year) and can take weeks to respond to changing conditions in the field, we have shown that mosses are far more responsive to their immediate climate than anticipated. When we first started monitoring in the early 2000s the moss beds were dominated by the water-loving moss Schistidium antarctici, which is only found in Antarctica. As the area dries, two hardy global and dry-loving species have encroached on Schistidium’s turf, indicating a shift to a drying environment.Additionally, these mosses also preserve a record of water availability in their tissue as they grow. Moss shoots grow incrementally from the base to the tip. Like tree rings, these remarkable tiny plants preserve a record of their environment in their cells and cell walls as they grow. Our research has shown that individual living moss shoots in the Windmill Islands are up to 500 years old and some species accurately preserve a record of their immediate water environments through stable isotopes. This research is especially important in Antarctic regions where meteorological records are sparse and of very limited duration.Analysing cores of long, intact moss shoots and the climate records captured in their tissues revealed that 40% of the 18 dated moss cores indicated a drying trend over the recent decades; providing evidence of a rapidly drying coastal climate in the Windmill Islands region, East Antarctica.OBJECTIVES: Our overall research question in this project is to investigate how Antarctic coastal climate is changing and how this affects terrestrial biodiversity. Understanding how climate change interacts with local conditions and affects Antarctic terrestrial communities requires knowledge of regions that are drying or getting wetter. Antarctic mosses are essential sentinels for the health of their whole community, including other biota (e.g. invertebrates, fungi, lichens and microbes). It is aimed at developing novel techniques that can be applied Antarctic-wide by international Antarctic programs to inform management and policy focusing on preserving the Antarctic environment in a time of change. The techniques could also be applied to understand the impacts of installed infrastructure (stations etc.) on nearby terrestrial communities. RESEARCH OUTPUTS & IMPACT: We have recently published this research in Nature Climate Change [1] and it has been disseminated at key international conferences (Scientific Committee of Antarctic Research [SCAR] Open Science & Biology meetings), a UOW TEDx presentation (Robinson in 2016) and at several internal UOW seminar series (e.g. Summer Scholars, Early Career Research presentations). In addition, this work contributes to the required research on whether other vegetated sites in Antarctica are also at risk from climate change. This helps meet international obligations under the Antarctic treaty to protect terrestrial populations. Our work provides a more informed view of climate change impacts on Antarctic biodiversity. This will enable Australia and other treaty nations to better manage their obligations to protect biodiversity, as well as to inform best environmental management practice across the continent through the SCAR and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP)(see beneficiaries section for more information). Our work in Antarctica continues to be of intense interest to the public, to primary school students and media and our research findings will provide a mechanism for highlighting the vulnerability of these key ecosystems and explaining the impacts of climate change to the community at large. Through media releases, an article in The Conversation, radio interviews, YouTube videos and online blogs, the team has reached national and international public audiences [2-4]. So far, like the tip of an iceberg, we have:<ol><li>built strong international links to deliver cost effective polar research including Australian, New Zealand and Chilean Antarctic programs. </li><li>provided world-class, transdisciplinary research training and international experience for at least 2 students, a postdoc, and research assistant in a suite of key dating, biochemical, phenomic and spatial methodologies suitable for future polar, alpine and desert research.</li><li>developed methods to identify the Antarctic terrestrial communities most at risk from climate change as well as which moss beds are most resilient, providing managers with data and tools to inform management to protect at risk areas. Translation of these results into SCAR Antarctic Near-shore and Terrestrial Observing System (ANTOS) methodologies.</li><li>achieved endorsement of our methods at well renowned international conferences and through management agendas. Results are being considered by Antarctic programs as part of their management practices.</li><li>made data widely available in an accessible form for stake holders. Continued inclusion of data in Australian State of the Environment Reports.</li><li>Provided career development opportunities for early and mid career researchers to advance their Antarctic research careers.</li><li>enhanced public engagement through written articles for the general public and publicising our research.</li><li>enabled findings to be incorporated into Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) and the United Nations Environment Programme Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (UNEP EEAP) reports.</li></ol> REFERENCES:<ol><li>Robinson et al. (2018) Drying of East Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems provokes rapid community change. Nature Climate Change.</li><li>Waterman, Turnbull and Robinson (2018) <a href="https://theconversation.com/antarcticas-moss-forests-are-drying-and-dying-103751" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://theconversation.com/antarcticas-moss-forests-are-drying-and-dying-103751</a></li><li>Australian Academy of Science (2018) <a href="https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/amazing-antarctic-moss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/amazing-antarctic-moss</a></li><li>Robinson, Waterman & Netherwood (2017) <a href="https://youtu.be/LF4p3ng0HRQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://youtu.be/LF4p3ng0HRQ</a></li></ol>
Field of Research
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Beneficiaries

Beneficiary Quantification Description
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Evidence of Impact

Evidence Description
UOW Centres / Programs
UOW Researchers / Collaborators
Monitoring Antarctic Ecosystems, climate change and other human impacts
Summary
Under The Antarctic Treaty, Australia and other nations which operate in Antarctica have a responsibility to conserve and protect Antarctica’s unique environment. Through the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, adopted in 1991, the Contracting Parties “commit themselves to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems”. Research undertaken by the University of Wollongong over more than 20 years has had a significant and wide-reaching impact on Australia's environmental, economic, legal and political responsibilities and leadership role in Antarctica. Monitoring and management: UOW research outcomes have informed Antarctic Environmental Managers on the health of Antarctic terrestrial and near shore ecosystems, highlighting which species may be at risk from climate change or disturbance from Antarctic station activities. I have provided expert advice to AAD Environmental Managers on proposed activities around Antarctic stations and contributed to development of Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) management plans. While our research has had most application to the Australian Antarctic Territories, methodologies developed have increasingly been of interest to environmental managers from other nations, as we are considered to be developing best practice in this area. As a result, in 2016 I was invited to join the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) Antarctic Near-shore and Terrestrial Observing System (ANTOS) Expert Group and to develop an East Antarctic ANTOS node. UOW researchers Robinson and then HDR student Jane Wasley were invited by Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) Environmental Managers to develop a State of the Environment (SOE) Indicator for Antarctic terrestrial vegetation dynamics. Robinson's group had earlier established the first long-term monitoring sites near the Australian Antarctic Casey Station in 2003, from an initial pilot [1-2]. Robinson, Wasley and Dr Catherine King (AAD) went on to develop, and are the current custodians of, SOE Indicator 72 [3] with UOW the responsible organisation. This is currently the only long-term monitoring system in place for Antarctic terrestrial vegetation on the continent, and informs both the Management Plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Area 135 as well as the Antarctic Assessment in Australia’s SOE Reports 2011 and 2016 [4-5]. The project was presented as a case study in the 2011 SOE report and is acknowledged in the 2016 report for contributing valuable data to help fulfill Australia’s national reporting requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act. Furthermore, this project contributes to Australia’s international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty System as it delivers robust data on environmental change on one of Australia’s Antarctic Specially Protected Areas”. As such this work is vital for the continued conservation of terrestrial values. 

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TEDx The extraordinary Antarctic plants with superhero powers
Summary
In 2016 I gave a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4PsZlTGedU" title="YouTube: Antarctic Plants In A Time Of Change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TEDX Antarctic plants in a time of change</a>. In 2017, this was featured in a story on <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/the-extraordinary-antarctic-plants-with-superhero-powers/" title="Featured Story: Extraordinary Antarctic Plants with Superhero Powers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ideas.ted.com.</a>

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Available as Research Supervisor

Teaching Activities

Bachelor of Research Degree Course & Subject Development 2016 - 2018
Masters of Research Degree Development of Course 2016 - 2018

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Degree	Research Title	Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy	Understanding the Contribution of Dust to Ecosystem Fertilisation in the South Pacific and Southern Ocean
Doctor of Philosophy	Microhabitat, microclimate and multi-stress response as drivers of urban biodiversity using moss as a model taxa	Haynes, Alison
Doctor of Philosophy	Remote Sensing of Mangroves and Their Biomass	Braga Salum De Abreu, Maria Rafaela
Doctor of Philosophy	A novel high-resolution model of moss-bed microclimate in maritime Antarctica: importance of understanding microclimate for understanding species distributions	Randall, Krystal
Doctor of Philosophy	Acclimation of Antarctic mosses to UV-B radiation under different light spectral compositions	Yin, Hao
Doctor of Philosophy	Understanding The High Tolerance to Environmental Stress of The Antarctic Moss Ceratodon Purpureus.	Wu, Yifan
Doctor of Philosophy	The Role of Fungal Endophytes In Alleviating Plant Stress Under Climate Change	Jones, Shae

Organizer Of Event

Drones at UOW - Elevating Environmental Research 2017 -
Eco-Antarctica Symposium 2016 -

Professional Service Activities

Antarctic Science Foundation Member of Science Sub-Committee 2018 -
Homeward Bound Science Faculty 2018 -
SCAR Antarctic Near shore and Terrestrial Observing System (ANTOS) Expert Group Member 2017 -
University of Wollongong Global Challenges Program Review Panel Member 2017 -
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel Member 2009 -
Global Change Biology Editor 2005 -
Homeward Bound HB3 Onboard Science Faculty 2019
University of Wollongong Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) Engagement and Impact Cluster Chair 2017 - 2018
University of Wollongong Associate Dean Graduate Research 2016 - 2018
University of Wollongong Co-Director, Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions 2015 - 2018
Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts 2013 - 2017
University of Wollongong Director, Institute for Conservation Biology and Law 2005 - 2008
University of Wollongong (University) Head of Postgraduate Studies, School of Biological Sciences 2000 - 2005

Outreach And Community Service Activities

Education And Training

Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry, University College of London (UCL) , Botany, Nitrogen metabolism in carrot cell suspension cultures 1987 - 1990
Science Education 1985 - 1986
B Science (Hon) in Botany and Genetics, University College of London (UCL) , Botany 1980 - 1983

Awards And Honors

University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence Senior Researcher, 2019
UOW Scholar Impact and Engagement, conferred by University of Wollongong (RAID), 2019
Vice Chancellor’s Outstanding Achievement in Research Partnership and Impact Award, conferred by Vice Chancellor University of Wollongong, 2018
2017 Peer Prize for Women, Earth, Environment and Space., conferred by Thinkable and The Sun Foundation Australia, 2017
Visiting Professor, conferred by Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 2015
Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, conferred by University of Birmingham, 2014
2nd prize Competition 1, conferred by Chlorotube , 2010
1st prize Competition 3, conferred by Chlorotube, 2009
Visiting Fellow, conferred by University of Vienna, 2007
Teaching Presentation Award, conferred by American Society of Plant Biologists, 2003
Visiting Professor, conferred by Universitat de Illes Balears, Mallorca, Spain, 2003
Teaching Award, conferred by Australian Society of Plant Scientists, 2002
Outstanding contribution to Higher Education Award, conferred by Australian College of Education (Illawarra Branch), 2001
Irene Manton Prize, conferred by Linnean Society of London, 1991

Teaching Overview

From 2016-18 I taught postgraduate subjects supporting the new Master of Research degree. In 2016 I developed and taught a new subject Responsible Research. In 2018 I developed 2 new subjects that enable students to develop skills in project planning and entrepreneurial activities.

From 1996-2016 I had responsibility for the bulk of the School of Biological Sciences plant science curriculum from cell biology to ecophysiology. I taught and coordinated subjects with high enrolments across a breadth of disciplines from introductory biology to specialist third year subjects (Biol103, Biol104, Biol105, Biol240, Biol332) and met this challenge successfully, obtaining above-average scores in teaching evaluations. I led the review and reorganisation of our first and second year Plant Science offerings and coordinated the inaugural Biol105 subject in 2010. This resulted in better retention into higher level offerings. I incorporated research into my undergraduate teaching, highlighting my own research and that of others. For example, I introduced topics on both Hot Plants and Climate Change into Biol105 and Biol104 respectively. I responded to student need for flexible delivery by producing high quality recorded lectures using Storyline, and adopting a flipped lecture mode at 3^rd year, with face to face problem solving tutorials replacing on campus lectures.

Keywords

Antarctica | Antarctic mosses |chlorophyll fluorescence | Climate Change Biology | Ecosystem modelling | Ozone depletion | Ozone hole | Photosynthesis | Plant Ecophysiology | Plant Biology | Plant Pigments | UV absorbing pigments | UV radiation

Full Name

Distinguished Professor Sharon A. Robinson

Mailing Address

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences

University of Wollongong

Wollongong

NSW 2522

2522

Australia

Located In Facility

Science, Medicine and Health (SMAH)

Fax

+61 2 4221 4135

Orcid Id

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7130-9617 (confirmed)

Web Of Science Researcher Id

B-2683-2008

Scopus Id

7402674597

Top Publications

Year	Title
2020	The 2019/2020 summer of Antarctic heatwaves Published in Global Change Biology
2018	Antarctica’s ‘moss forests’ are drying and dying Published in The Conversation
2018	Assessment of Antarctic moss health from multi-sensor UAS imagery with Random Forest Modelling Published in International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
2018	Rapid change in East Antarctic terrestrial vegetation in response to regional drying Published in Nature Climate Change
2017	Biodiversity redistribution under climate change: Impacts on ecosystems and human well-being Published in Science
2017	Unmanned aircraft system advances health mapping of fragile polar vegetation Published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution
2014	Antarctic climate change and the environment: an update Published in Polar Record
2014	The spatial structure of Antarctic biodiversity Published in Ecological Monographs
2012	Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate change Published in Global Change Biology
2019	Ozone depletion, ultraviolet radiation, climate change and prospects for a sustainable future Published in Nature Sustainability
2019	Linkages between stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate change and their implications for terrestrial ecosystems Published in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2020	Reframing conservation physiology to be more inclusive, integrative, relevant and forward-looking: reflections and a horizon scan Published in Conservation Physiology

Research Areas

Research Overview

Sharon Robinson researches how Antarctic plants respond to climate change. She uses radiocarbon signatures, left behind in the atmosphere by nuclear testing, to date mosses and track environmental change around the coast of Antarctica. Her group identifies the sunscreens plants make to protect themselves from elevated UV-B radiation due to ozone depletion. She is also applying new technologies, including the use of drones in Antarctica, to monitor plant health and productivity, and developing novel sensors that will help to track crop and forest health in future.

Sharon was educated in the UK. After completing her PhD at UCL in 1990, she held postdoctoral positions in the USA and Australia. She is currently a member of the United Nations Environment Programme Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Science Faculty for the Homeward Bound Women’s leadership Program expedition HB3 and HB5, and a former member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts. She first visited East Antarctica in 1996 and has been on 12 expeditions to continental Antarctic and sub- and maritime Antarctic islands with the Australian and Chilean Antarctic programs. She is a custodian for the only Antarctic State of the Environment Indicator concerned with Antarctic vegetation and is passionate about conserving Antarctic biodiversity.

In 2020, Sharon was named the Deputy Director of the Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, a Special Research Initiative for Excellence in Antarctic Science by the Australian Research Council. This year she has also stepped in to the role of Executive Director of the Global Challenges program and is currently Challenge Leader for the Sustaining Coastal and Marine Zones within the program.

Geographic Focus

Antarctica Geographic Region
Australia County

Head Of

Global Challenges Program Executive Director 2020 -

Member Of

Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions (Co-Director, 2015-2018) 2015 -
Society for Experimental Biology 2012 -
Australian Society of Plant Scientists 1992 -
Institute for Conservation Biology and Law Director 2005 - 2008
Australian Society of Plant Scientists Member of Executive Committee 1998 - 2000

Has Collaborator

Ashcroft, Michael Dr
Barthelemy, Johan Dr.
Byrne, Phillip Associate Professor
Chisholm, Laurie Associate Professor
Cressie, Noel Distinguished Prof
French, Kris O. Professor
Kaye, Stuart Distinguished Professor
Keller, Paul Available as Research Supervisor
King, Diana H. Dr
McGregor, Helen Professor
Perez, Pascal Senior Professor
Silla, Aimee Dr. (Pronouns: she/her)
Turnbull, Johanna Dr.
Waterman, Melinda Dr.
Wilson, Stephen Dr.
Zammit Mangion, Andrew A/Prof.

Attended Event

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Year	Title
2022	Among ancient moss forests: Observing twenty-five years of change Published In Griffith Review
2022	Climate change and extreme events are changing the biology of Polar Regions Published In Global Change Biology
2022	Emerging biological archives can reveal ecological and climatic change in Antarctica. Published In Global change biology
2022	Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2021 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2022	Essential outcomes for COP26 Published In Global Change Biology
2022	Global maps of soil temperature Published In Global Change Biology
2022	Inhibition of non-photochemical quenching increases functional absorption cross-section of photosystem II as excitation from closed reaction centres is transferred to open centres, facilitating earlier light saturation of photosynthetic electron transport Published In Functional Plant Biology
2022	Islands in the ice: Potential impacts of habitat transformation on Antarctic biodiversity Published In Global Change Biology
2022	Limitations to photosynthesis in bryophytes: certainties and uncertainties regarding methodology Published In Journal of Experimental Botany
2022	Stable isotope approaches and opportunities for improving plant conservation Published In Conservation Physiology
2021	A validated and accurate method for quantifying and extrapolating mangrove above‐ground biomass using lidar data Published In Remote Sensing
2021	Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic Published In Global Change Biology
2021	Diatom communities differ among Antarctic moss and lichen vegetation types Published In Antarctic Science
2021	Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2021	One hundred research questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice Published In Conservation Physiology
2021	The success of the Montreal Protocol in mitigating interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change on the environment Published In Global Change Biology
2020	Anatomy of a heatwave: how Antarctica recorded a 20.75°C day last month Published In The Conversation
2020	Civil disobedience movements such as School Strike for the Climate are raising public awareness of the climate change emergency Published In Global Change Biology
2020	Civil disobedience movements such as School Strike for the Climate are raising public awareness of the climate change emergency Published In Global Change Biology
2020	Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2019 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2020	It is hot in the sun: Antarctic mosses have high temperature optima for photosynthesis despite cold climate Published In Frontiers in Plant Science
2020	Latitudinal biogeographic structuring in the globally distributed moss Ceratodon purpureus Published In Frontiers in Plant Science
2020	Reframing conservation physiology to be more inclusive, integrative, relevant and forward-looking: reflections and a horizon scan Published In Conservation Physiology
2020	Semi-Automated Analysis of Digital Photographs for Monitoring East Antarctic Vegetation Published In Frontiers in Plant Science
2020	The 2019/2020 summer of Antarctic heatwaves Published In Global Change Biology
2020	UV-B and Drought Stress Influenced Growth and Cellular Compounds of Two Cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae) Published In Photochemistry and Photobiology
2019	Friends with benefits: The effects of vegetative shading on plant survival in a green roof environment Published In PLoS One
2019	High tolerance of repeated heatwaves in Australian native plants Published In Austral Ecology: a journal of ecology in the Southern Hemisphere
2019	How Much Does Weather Matter? Effects of Rain and Wind on PM Accumulation by Four Species of Australian Native Trees Published In Atmosphere
2019	Linkages between stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate change and their implications for terrestrial ecosystems Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2019	Optimizing Spectral and Spatial Resolutions of Unmanned Aerial System Imaging Sensors for Monitoring Antarctic Vegetation Published In IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
2019	Ozone depletion, ultraviolet radiation, climate change and prospects for a sustainable future Published In Nature Sustainability
2019	Probing functional and optical cross-sections of PSII in leaves during state transitions using fast repetition rate light induced fluorescence transients Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2019	Probing functional and optical cross-sections of PSII in leaves during state transitions using fast repetition rate light induced fluorescence transients Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2019	Roadside Moss Turfs in South East Australia Capture More Particulate Matter Along an Urban Gradient than a Common Native Tree Species Published In Atmosphere
2019	The composition and oxidative stability of vegetarian omega-3 algal oil nanoemulsions suitable for functional food enrichment Published In JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
2019	The interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change on aquatic ecosystems Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2018	Antarctica’s ‘moss forests’ are drying and dying Published In The Conversation
2018	Assessment of Antarctic moss health from multi-sensor UAS imagery with Random Forest Modelling Published In International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
2018	Discovery of a First-in-Class Gut-Restricted RET Kinase Inhibitor as a Clinical Candidate for the Treatment of IBS Published In ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
2018	Environmental effects of ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2017 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2018	Extending Fluspect to simulate xanthophyll driven leaf reflectance dynamics Published In Remote Sensing of Environment: an interdisciplinary journal
2018	Photoprotection enhanced by red cell wall pigments in three East Antarctic mosses Published In Biological Research
2018	Rapid change in East Antarctic terrestrial vegetation in response to regional drying Published In Nature Climate Change
2018	Stress in native grasses under ecologically relevant heat waves Published In PLoS One
2017	Antarctic moss biflavonoids show high antioxidant and ultraviolet-screening activity Published In Journal of Natural Products
2017	Biodiversity redistribution under climate change: Impacts on ecosystems and human well-being Published In Science
2017	Discovery and Optimization of 5-Amino-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide Series against Trypanosoma cruzi Published In JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
2017	Do daily and seasonal trends in leaf solar induced fluorescence reflect changes in photosynthesis, growth or light exposure? Published In Remote Sensing
2017	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2016 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2017	Facilitation, competition and parasitic facilitation amongst invasive and native liana seedlings and a native tree seedling Published In NeoBiota
2017	Invasive alien lianas have similar allometry to native lianas in temperate forests Published In Biological Invasions
2017	Moving beyond presence and absence when examining changes in species distributions Published In Global Change Biology
2017	Relative functional and optical absorption cross-sections of PSII and other photosynthetic parameters monitored in situ, at a distance with a time resolution of a few seconds, using a prototype light induced fluorescence transient (LIFT) device Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2017	Relative functional and optical absorption cross-sections of PSII and other photosynthetic parameters monitored in situ, at a distance with a time resolution of a few seconds, using a prototype light induced fluorescence transient (LIFT) device Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2017	Remote monitoring of dynamic canopy photosynthesis with high time resolution light-induced fluorescence transients Published In Tree Physiology: an international botanical journal
2017	Thermotolerance capacities of native and exotic coastal plants will lead to changes in species composition under increased heat waves Published In Conservation Physiology
2017	Unmanned aircraft system advances health mapping of fragile polar vegetation Published In Methods in Ecology and Evolution
2016	Bayesian methods for comparing species physiological and ecological response curves Published In Ecological Informatics
2016	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2015 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2016	Moss δ13C: implications for subantarctic palaeohydrological reconstructions
2015	Antarctic moss stress assessment based on chlorophyll content and leaf density retrieved from imaging spectroscopy data Published In New Phytologist
2015	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: 2014 assessment Executive summary Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2015	Impact of hydrocarbons from a diesel fuel on the germination and early growth of subantarctic plants Published In Environmental Science Processes and Impacts
2015	Moss δ13C: an accurate proxy for past water environments in polar regions Published In Global Change Biology
2015	Native hemiparasite and light effects on photoprotection and photodamage in a native host Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2015	Native hemiparasite and light effects on photoprotection and photodamage in a native host Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2015	Not just about sunburn – the ozone hole's profound effect on climate has significant implications for Southern Hemisphere ecosystems Published In Global Change Biology
2015	Solar ultraviolet radiation and ozone depletion-driven climate change: effects on terrestrial ecosystems Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2015	Toxicity of fuel-contaminated soil to antarctic moss and terrestrial algae Published In Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
2014	Alien grass disrupts reproduction and post-settlement recruitment of co-occurring native vegetation: a mechanism for diversity decline in invaded forest? Published In Plant Ecology
2014	Antarctic climate change and the environment: an update Published In Polar Record
2014	Dominating the Antarctic environment: bryophytes in a time of change Published In Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration
2014	Phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminants in subantarctic soils: an effective management option Published In Journal of Environmental Management
2014	Solar ultraviolet radiation in a changing climate Published In Nature Climate Change
2014	Spatial co-registration of ultra-high resolution visible, multispectral and thermal images acquired with a micro-UAV over Antarctic moss beds Published In Remote Sensing
2014	Sunsafe bryophytes: photoprotection from excess and damaging solar radiation Published In Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration
2014	The ozone hole leaves a lasting impression on southern climate Published In The Conversation
2014	The spatial structure of Antarctic biodiversity Published In Ecological Monographs
2014	Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to capture micro-topography of Antarctic moss beds Published In International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
2013	Genome of the long-living sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) Published In Genome Biology
2013	Integrating transient heterogeneity of non-photochemical quenching in shade-grown heterobaric leaves of avocado (Persea americana L.): responses to CO2 concentration, stomatal occlusion, dehydration and relative humidity Published In Plant and Cell Physiology
2012	Bryophyte species composition over moisture gradients in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica: development of a baseline for monitoring climate change impacts Published In Biodiversity
2012	Canopy conundrums: building on the Biosphere 2 experience to scale measurements of inner and outer canopy photoprotection from the leaf to the landscape Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2012	Canopy conundrums: building on the Biosphere 2 experience to scale measurements of inner and outer canopy photoprotection from the leaf to the landscape Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2012	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2011 Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2012	From ecophysiology to phenomics: some implications of photoprotection and shade-sun acclimation in situ for dynamics of thylakoids in vitro Published In Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
2012	Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate change Published In Global Change Biology
2012	Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate change (Erratum) Published In Global Change Biology
2011	Effects of solar ultraviolet radiation on terrestrial ecosystems. Patterns, mechanisms, and interactions with climate change Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2011	Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: 2010 assessment Executive Summary Published In Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
2011	Grapevine leaf pigment response to root infestation by phylloxera Published In Acta Horticulturae
2011	In the heat of the night – alternative pathway respiration drives thermogenesis in Philodendron bipinnatifidum Published In New Phytologist
2010	Aerial ‘OktoKopter’ to map Antarctic moss Published In Australian Antarctic Magazine
2010	Distribution of thermogenic activity in floral tissues of Nelumbo nucifera Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2009	Accumulation of DNA damage in Antarctic mosses: correlations with ultraviolet-B radiation, temperature and turf water content vary among species Published In Global Change Biology
2009	Antarctic climate change and the environment Published In Antarctic Science
2009	Desiccation protects two Antarctic mosses from ultraviolet-B induced DNA damage Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2009	Desiccation protects two Antarctic mosses from ultraviolet-B induced DNA damage Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2009	Functional transition in the floral receptacle of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): from thermogenesis to photosynthesis Published In Functional plant biology : FPB
2009	Functional transition in the floral receptacle of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): from thermogenesis to photosynthesis Published In Functional Plant Biology: an international journal of plant function
2009	Genetic structure of East Antarctic populations of the moss Ceratodon purpureus Published In Antarctic Science
2009	Introduction: Climate change biology at the ends of the Earth-International Polar year special issue Published In Global Change Biology
2009	Introduction: future fire activity and climate change Published In Global Change Biology
2009	Responses of plants in polar regions to UVB exposure: a meta-analysis Published In Global Change Biology
2009	Two cys or not two Cys? That is the question; alternative oxidase in the thermogenic plant sacred lotus Published In Plant Physiology
2008	Cell wall-bound ultraviolet-screening compounds explain the high ultraviolet tolerance of the Antarctic moss, Ceratodon purpureus Published In New Phytologist
2008	Mechanisms of thermoregulation in plants Published In Plant Signaling and Behavior
2008	Mechanisms of thermoregulation in plants Published In Plant Signaling and Behavior
2008	Mitigating fur seal interactions: relocation from Tasmanian aquaculture farms Published In Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
2008	Movements of fur seals following relocation from fish farms Published In Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

2008	Synchronicity of thermogenic activity, alternative pathway respiratory flux, AOX protein content and carbohydrates in receptacle tissues of sacred lotus during floral development Published In Journal of Experimental Botany
2008	Understanding the tolerance of Antarctic mosses to climate change Published In Australian Antarctic magazine
2007	Preliminary investigations of pigment responses to phylloxera infestation Published In Acta Horticulturae
2006	Phylloxera-infested grapevines have reduced chlorophyll and increased photoprotective pigment content--can leaf pigment composition aid pest detection? Published In Functional plant biology : FPB.
2006	Some like it wet--biological characteristics underpinning tolerance of extreme water stress events in Antarctic bryophytes. Published In Functional plant biology : FPB.
2004	Comparison of solvent regimes for the extraction of photosynthetic pigments from leaves of higher plants. Published In Functional plant biology : FPB.
1998	Role of cadherin internalization in hydrogen peroxide-mediated endothelial permeability Published In FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
1997	Concepts of plant biotic stress. Some insights into the stress physiology of virus-infected plants, from the perspective of photosynthesis Published In Physiologia Plantarum
1997	Concepts of plant biotic stress. Some insights into the stress physiology of virus‐infected plants, from the perspective of photosynthesis Published In Physiologia Plantarum
1997	Internal and external photoprotection in developing leaves of the CAM plant Cotyledon orbiculata Published In Plant, Cell and Environment
1997	Responses of rainforest understorey plants to excess light during sunflecks Published In Australian Journal of Plant Physiology
1997	The regulation of electron partitioning between the cytochrome and alternative pathways in soybean cotyledon and root mitochondria Published In Plant Physiology
1995	Beyond SHAM and cyanide: Opportunities for studying the alternative oxidase in plant respiration using oxygen isotope discrimination Published In Australian Journal of Plant Physiology
1995	Electron partitioning between the cytochrome and alternative pathways in plant mitochondria Published In Plant Physiology
1995	Evidence for deamination by glutamate dehydrogenase in higher plants: Commentary Published In Canadian Journal of Botany
1995	Evidence that glutamate dehydrogenase plays a role in the oxidative deamination of glutamate in seedlings of Zea mays Published In Australian Journal of Plant Physiology
1995	Photosystem II regulation and dynamics of the chloroplast D1 protein in Arabidopsis leaves during photosynthesis and photoinhibition Published In Plant Physiology
1994	Internal gradients of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments in relation to photoprotection in thick leaves of plants with crassulacean acid metabolism Published In Australian Journal of Plant Physiology
1993	Interpretations of gradients in δ¹³C value in thick photosynthetic tissues of plants with Crassulacean acid metabolism Published In Planta
1993	WAX AS A MECHANISM FOR PROTECTION AGAINST PHOTOINHIBITION - A STUDY OF COTYLEDON-ORBICULATA (VOL 106, 307, 1993) Published In BOTANICA ACTA
1993	Wax as a Mechanism for Protection against Photoinhibition — A Study of Cotyledon orbiculata Published In Botanica Acta
1992	Detection of ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium. In Vivo, ¹⁵N NMR versus mass spectrometry Published In Journal of Magnetic Resonance (1969)
1992	Measurements of the engagement of cyanide-resistant respiration in the Crassulacean acid metabolism plant Kalanchoë daigremontiana with the use of on-line oxygen isotope discrimination Published In Plant Physiology
1992	Regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase activity in relation to carbon limitation and protein catabolism in carrot cell suspension cultures Published In Plant Physiology
1991	The role of glutamate dehydrogenase in plant nitrogen metabolism Published In Plant Physiology

Chapter

Year	Title
2011	Experimental Methods Published In Hyperspectral Studies of Seagrasses Publisher Germany
2011	Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Spectral Reflectance of Seagrass Published In Hyperspectral studies in seagrasses Publisher Germany
2011	Spectral and Physiological Response of Eelgrass to Light Stress Published In Hyperspectral studies of seagrasses Publisher Germany
2009	The instrumental period Published In Antarctic climate change and the environment Publisher Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK

Conference Paper

Year	Title
2019	Moss species on the move in East Antarctic terrestrial communities Published In International Association of Bryologists (IAB), International Molecular Moss Science Society (iMOSS), Sociedad Espanola de Briologia (SEB) 2019 Conference
2019	Of turf, trees and air quality: does roadside moss trap more particulate matter than leaves? Published In International Association of Bryologists (IAB), International Molecular Moss Science Society (iMOSS), Sociedad Espanola de Briologia (SEB) 2019 Conference
2017	Remote monitoring of dynamic canopy photosynthesis with high time resolution light-induced fluorescence transients Published In Photosynthetic Plasticity: From the Environment to Synthetic Systems
2017	The utility of light induced fluorescence transients for remote monitoring of canopy photosynthesis at high time resolutions, with special reference to sun-flecks Published In Photosynthetic Plasticity: From the Environment to Synthetic Systems
2016	Functional absorption cross section (s'PSII) and 'apparent' optical cross section (a'PSII) of PSII sensed at a distance with LIFT/FRRF: detection and characterization of PSII reaction centers and antenna size in-situ Published In The 17th International Congress on Photosynthesis Research Photosynthesis in a Changing World
2016	High resolution monitoring of sun-flecks: Sun-fleck intensity drives both increases and decreases in non-photochemical quenching in shade leaves Published In The 17th International Congress on Photosynthesis Research Photosynthesis in a Changing World
2016	Solar induced fluorescence as a method for large scale phenotyping: Investigating relationships with ETR and ΦNPQ Published In 17th ICPR Phenotyping Meeting
2015	COMPARATIVE EMBRYOTOXICITY OF DIVERSE ANTIMALARIAL COMPOUNDS USING RAT WHOLE EMBRYO CULTURE AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SCREEN IN LEAD IDENTIFICATION FOR DISEASES OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD MOLECULES Published In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
2014	Analysis of early genotoxicity screening of pharmaceutical candidates - assay performance and adaptive approaches to screening Published In MUTAGENESIS
2014	Use of mulitple in silico genetic toxicity alerting tools for the prioritisation of compounds in the tres cantos antimalarial set (TCAMS) Published In TOXICOLOGY LETTERS
2013	Investigation of Antarctic moss beds using high spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy Published In Strategic Science in Antarctica: a Joint Australian and New Zealand Conference - Conference Abstracts
2013	Monitoring of Antarctic moss ecosystems using a high spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy Published In EGU General Assembly 2013
2013	Unmanned aerial optical systems for spatial monitoring of Antarctic mosses Published In EGU General Assembly 2013
2013	Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to capture micro-topography of Antarctic moss beds Published In Strategic Science in Antarctica: a Joint Australian and New Zealand Conference - Conference Abstracts
2012	Using a micro-UAV for ultra-high resolution multi-sensor observations of Antarctic moss beds Published In International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XXXIX-B1
2011	Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing for hyperspatial terrain mapping of Antarctic moss beds based on structure from motion (SfM) point clouds Published In 34th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment
2010	Using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for ultra-high resolution Published In 15th Australasian Remote Sensing & Photogrammetry Conference
2009	Photogenotoxicity testing using the rat skin micronucleus assay Published In MUTAGENESIS
2006	Functional Plant Biology: Foreword Published In Functional Plant Biology
2004	Synthesis and characterization of biotinylated forms of insulin-like growth factor-1: Topographical evaluation of the IGF-2/IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 interface Published In BIOCHEMISTRY
1998	Development of the photosynthetic apparatus in Australian rainforest leaves Published In PHOTOSYNTHESIS: MECHANISMS AND EFFECTS, VOLS I-V
1996	Stoichiometric nightmares: Studies of photosynthetic O-2 and CO2 exchanges in CAM plants Published In CRASSULACEAN ACID METABOLISM
1995	PARTITIONING OF ELECTRONS BETWEEN THE ALTERNATIVE AND CYTOCHROME RESPIRATORY PATHWAYS DURING DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC FUNCTION IN SOYBEAN COTYLEDONS Published In PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
1995	Platycerium bifurcatum ssp Veitchii: An Australian lithophytic elkhorn fern of the wet-dry tropics Published In PHOTOSYNTHESIS: FROM LIGHT TO BIOSPHERE, VOL IV

Other Publications

Year	Title
2022	Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: Cross-Chapter Paper 6: Polar Regions
2021	Summary Update 2021 for Policymakers: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel
2018	Environmental Effects Assessment Panel : 2018 Quadrennial Assessment on the Interactions of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, UV Radiation, and Climate Change: Executive Summary
2021	The Global Challenges Program: A model for redesigning research leadership
2022	Record-smashing heatwaves are hitting Antarctica and the Arctic simultaneously. Here¿s what¿s driving them, and how they¿ll impact wildlife

Investigator On

Year	Title
2020 - 2027	Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Special Research Initiatives
2019 - 2023	Old-growth mosses as proxies for past Antarctic climates Funding Scheme: Australian Antarctic Science Program
2020	High resolution health assessment of Antarctic plants as climate changes Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects
2018 - 2020	How isolated is Antarctica? Assessing past and present plant colonisations Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects
2018 - 2019	Sensor calibration facility for spectral and thermal remote sensing Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF)
2014 - 2017	Modelling spatial patterns and identifying environmental drivers for temporal change in Antarctic moss communities Funding Scheme: Australian Antarctic Science Program
2014	AirLIFT - an airborne active chlorophyll florescence sensing system for assessment of photosynthetic activity in plant canopies Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects
2014	Towards a large-scale Antarctic Nearshore and Terrestrial Observiing System (ANTOS): etc Funding Scheme: Australian Antarctic Science Program
2011 - 2014	Mapping Antarctic climate change in space and time using mosses as biological proxies Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects
2012	Stable isotope analysis of environmental and physiological samples Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF)
2011	The weight of the vine: impacts of vine infestations on plant health Awarded by: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Funding Scheme: National Weeds and Productivity Program
2010	Monitoring climate change induced desertification of Antarctica using stable isotopic signatures Funding Scheme: Grant
2009	Characterising heat production in plants: mechanisms and its role in pollination Awarded by: Hermon Slade Foundation Funding Scheme: Grant
2009	Climate change and carbon gain in antarctic mosses Funding Scheme: Grant
2009	Spatial analysis of changing terrestial ecosystems in the Windmill Islands and the sub-Antarctic Funding Scheme: Grant
2008	Understanding the tolerance of Antarctic mosses to climate change Funding Scheme: Grant
2007	Antarctic State of the Environment, Indicator 72: How is the Windmill Islandsâ¬" terrestrial vegetation responding to climate change? Funding Scheme: Grant
2007	Flora and Fauna Research Facility Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF)
2007	Satellite imagery for change detection in the sub-antarctic using Heard Island as a proof of concept Funding Scheme: Grant
	A silver spoon start to life for the critically endangered corroboree frog Awarded by: Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Scheme: Linkage Projects
	Adaptive responses of Antarctic mosses to climate change Awarded by: Chilean Antarctic Institute (Instituto Antártico Chileno/INACH) Funding Scheme: Grant
	CTM2014-53902-C2-1-P mechanistic basis for this trade-off between photosynthesis and stress tolerance: filling gaps for evolutionary biology and plant biotechnology (TOPSTEP) Awarded by: Spanish Government Ministery of Economy and Competitiveness Funding Scheme: Grant
	Discovering Antarctica Awarded by: Antarctic Science Foundation Funding Scheme: Fundraising Project
	High resolution of moss growth in a rapidly changing Antarctic environment Awarded by: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Funding Scheme: ANSTO Research Portal

Impact Story

Rapidly drying mosses in East Antarctica in response to climate change
Summary
Plants in Antarctica are changing at a faster rate than first anticipated. There is well documented greening in the Arctic and on the Antarctic peninsula as ice retreats exposing more land. These regions are amongst the most rapidly warming on the planet. Warmer temperatures and increasing melt promote plant growth. Meanwhile on the continent, so far, there has been little evidence of warming so plant responses were expected to be slow and difficult to detect, until now. Alarmingly after only 13 years monitoring plant ecosystems we observed significant changes in the moss beds near Australia’s Casey station in East Antarctica. We have recently shown that these lush moss beds of the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica are rapidly drying due to cooler, windier summers caused by ozone depletion and climate change. We have developed advanced ways to analyse preserved climate records captured within these old-growth moss shoots establishing these miniature plants as accurate proxies to detect climate change in coastal East Antarctica. Our research has provided a history of the region's changing climate and these novel techniques can be used to determine sites in Antarctica where mosses are at risk of drying and dying. Our results show for the first time that climate change and ozone depletion are drying East Antarctic moss beds and demonstrate that Antarctic communities are already being affected despite a relatively small change so far. How these plant communities fare in future depends on implementation of and compliance with the Montreal Protocol and Paris Climate Agreement. Continued monitoring of these moss beds is important so that Antarctic Environmental Managers can protect these fascinating plant communities for the future.

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BACKGROUND: The dominant flora in maritime and continental Antarctica are mosses which due to their incredible resilience mechanisms can survive in the limited ice-free areas of these harsh environments. Although mosses can survive in the harshest of continents, they are still threatened by the effects of human induced processes, for example climate change and ozone depletion. Slight differences in temperature, water and other environmental drivers potentially have a large impact on biodiversity, health and distribution of plants. Changes in climate are occurring in Polar regions at an alarming rate and include shifts in temperature, precipitation, wind speed and diminishing stratospheric ozone, subsequently increasing the levels of damaging ultraviolet-B radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Consequently, this has resulted in terrestrial environments changing.Over 13 years (2000–2013) we observed significant changes in species composition within moist moss communities in East Antarctica. Although Antarctic mosses grow extremely slowly (about 1 mm/year) and can take weeks to respond to changing conditions in the field, we have shown that mosses are far more responsive to their immediate climate than anticipated. When we first started monitoring in the early 2000s the moss beds were dominated by the water-loving moss Schistidium antarctici, which is only found in Antarctica. As the area dries, two hardy global and dry-loving species have encroached on Schistidium’s turf, indicating a shift to a drying environment.Additionally, these mosses also preserve a record of water availability in their tissue as they grow. Moss shoots grow incrementally from the base to the tip. Like tree rings, these remarkable tiny plants preserve a record of their environment in their cells and cell walls as they grow. Our research has shown that individual living moss shoots in the Windmill Islands are up to 500 years old and some species accurately preserve a record of their immediate water environments through stable isotopes. This research is especially important in Antarctic regions where meteorological records are sparse and of very limited duration.Analysing cores of long, intact moss shoots and the climate records captured in their tissues revealed that 40% of the 18 dated moss cores indicated a drying trend over the recent decades; providing evidence of a rapidly drying coastal climate in the Windmill Islands region, East Antarctica.OBJECTIVES: Our overall research question in this project is to investigate how Antarctic coastal climate is changing and how this affects terrestrial biodiversity. Understanding how climate change interacts with local conditions and affects Antarctic terrestrial communities requires knowledge of regions that are drying or getting wetter. Antarctic mosses are essential sentinels for the health of their whole community, including other biota (e.g. invertebrates, fungi, lichens and microbes). It is aimed at developing novel techniques that can be applied Antarctic-wide by international Antarctic programs to inform management and policy focusing on preserving the Antarctic environment in a time of change. The techniques could also be applied to understand the impacts of installed infrastructure (stations etc.) on nearby terrestrial communities. RESEARCH OUTPUTS & IMPACT: We have recently published this research in Nature Climate Change [1] and it has been disseminated at key international conferences (Scientific Committee of Antarctic Research [SCAR] Open Science & Biology meetings), a UOW TEDx presentation (Robinson in 2016) and at several internal UOW seminar series (e.g. Summer Scholars, Early Career Research presentations). In addition, this work contributes to the required research on whether other vegetated sites in Antarctica are also at risk from climate change. This helps meet international obligations under the Antarctic treaty to protect terrestrial populations. Our work provides a more informed view of climate change impacts on Antarctic biodiversity. This will enable Australia and other treaty nations to better manage their obligations to protect biodiversity, as well as to inform best environmental management practice across the continent through the SCAR and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP)(see beneficiaries section for more information). Our work in Antarctica continues to be of intense interest to the public, to primary school students and media and our research findings will provide a mechanism for highlighting the vulnerability of these key ecosystems and explaining the impacts of climate change to the community at large. Through media releases, an article in The Conversation, radio interviews, YouTube videos and online blogs, the team has reached national and international public audiences [2-4]. So far, like the tip of an iceberg, we have:<ol><li>built strong international links to deliver cost effective polar research including Australian, New Zealand and Chilean Antarctic programs. </li><li>provided world-class, transdisciplinary research training and international experience for at least 2 students, a postdoc, and research assistant in a suite of key dating, biochemical, phenomic and spatial methodologies suitable for future polar, alpine and desert research.</li><li>developed methods to identify the Antarctic terrestrial communities most at risk from climate change as well as which moss beds are most resilient, providing managers with data and tools to inform management to protect at risk areas. Translation of these results into SCAR Antarctic Near-shore and Terrestrial Observing System (ANTOS) methodologies.</li><li>achieved endorsement of our methods at well renowned international conferences and through management agendas. Results are being considered by Antarctic programs as part of their management practices.</li><li>made data widely available in an accessible form for stake holders. Continued inclusion of data in Australian State of the Environment Reports.</li><li>Provided career development opportunities for early and mid career researchers to advance their Antarctic research careers.</li><li>enhanced public engagement through written articles for the general public and publicising our research.</li><li>enabled findings to be incorporated into Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) and the United Nations Environment Programme Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (UNEP EEAP) reports.</li></ol> REFERENCES:<ol><li>Robinson et al. (2018) Drying of East Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems provokes rapid community change. Nature Climate Change.</li><li>Waterman, Turnbull and Robinson (2018) <a href="https://theconversation.com/antarcticas-moss-forests-are-drying-and-dying-103751" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://theconversation.com/antarcticas-moss-forests-are-drying-and-dying-103751</a></li><li>Australian Academy of Science (2018) <a href="https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/amazing-antarctic-moss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/amazing-antarctic-moss</a></li><li>Robinson, Waterman & Netherwood (2017) <a href="https://youtu.be/LF4p3ng0HRQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://youtu.be/LF4p3ng0HRQ</a></li></ol>
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UOW Centres / Programs
UOW Researchers / Collaborators
Monitoring Antarctic Ecosystems, climate change and other human impacts
Summary
Under The Antarctic Treaty, Australia and other nations which operate in Antarctica have a responsibility to conserve and protect Antarctica’s unique environment. Through the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, adopted in 1991, the Contracting Parties “commit themselves to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems”. Research undertaken by the University of Wollongong over more than 20 years has had a significant and wide-reaching impact on Australia's environmental, economic, legal and political responsibilities and leadership role in Antarctica. Monitoring and management: UOW research outcomes have informed Antarctic Environmental Managers on the health of Antarctic terrestrial and near shore ecosystems, highlighting which species may be at risk from climate change or disturbance from Antarctic station activities. I have provided expert advice to AAD Environmental Managers on proposed activities around Antarctic stations and contributed to development of Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) management plans. While our research has had most application to the Australian Antarctic Territories, methodologies developed have increasingly been of interest to environmental managers from other nations, as we are considered to be developing best practice in this area. As a result, in 2016 I was invited to join the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) Antarctic Near-shore and Terrestrial Observing System (ANTOS) Expert Group and to develop an East Antarctic ANTOS node. UOW researchers Robinson and then HDR student Jane Wasley were invited by Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) Environmental Managers to develop a State of the Environment (SOE) Indicator for Antarctic terrestrial vegetation dynamics. Robinson's group had earlier established the first long-term monitoring sites near the Australian Antarctic Casey Station in 2003, from an initial pilot [1-2]. Robinson, Wasley and Dr Catherine King (AAD) went on to develop, and are the current custodians of, SOE Indicator 72 [3] with UOW the responsible organisation. This is currently the only long-term monitoring system in place for Antarctic terrestrial vegetation on the continent, and informs both the Management Plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Area 135 as well as the Antarctic Assessment in Australia’s SOE Reports 2011 and 2016 [4-5]. The project was presented as a case study in the 2011 SOE report and is acknowledged in the 2016 report for contributing valuable data to help fulfill Australia’s national reporting requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act. Furthermore, this project contributes to Australia’s international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty System as it delivers robust data on environmental change on one of Australia’s Antarctic Specially Protected Areas”. As such this work is vital for the continued conservation of terrestrial values. 

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TEDx The extraordinary Antarctic plants with superhero powers
Summary
In 2016 I gave a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4PsZlTGedU" title="YouTube: Antarctic Plants In A Time Of Change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TEDX Antarctic plants in a time of change</a>. In 2017, this was featured in a story on <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/the-extraordinary-antarctic-plants-with-superhero-powers/" title="Featured Story: Extraordinary Antarctic Plants with Superhero Powers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ideas.ted.com.</a>

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Teaching Activities

Bachelor of Research Degree Course & Subject Development 2016 - 2018
Masters of Research Degree Development of Course 2016 - 2018

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Degree	Research Title	Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy	Understanding the Contribution of Dust to Ecosystem Fertilisation in the South Pacific and Southern Ocean
Doctor of Philosophy	Microhabitat, microclimate and multi-stress response as drivers of urban biodiversity using moss as a model taxa	Haynes, Alison
Doctor of Philosophy	Remote Sensing of Mangroves and Their Biomass	Braga Salum De Abreu, Maria Rafaela
Doctor of Philosophy	A novel high-resolution model of moss-bed microclimate in maritime Antarctica: importance of understanding microclimate for understanding species distributions	Randall, Krystal
Doctor of Philosophy	Acclimation of Antarctic mosses to UV-B radiation under different light spectral compositions	Yin, Hao
Doctor of Philosophy	Understanding The High Tolerance to Environmental Stress of The Antarctic Moss Ceratodon Purpureus.	Wu, Yifan
Doctor of Philosophy	The Role of Fungal Endophytes In Alleviating Plant Stress Under Climate Change	Jones, Shae

Organizer Of Event

Drones at UOW - Elevating Environmental Research 2017 -
Eco-Antarctica Symposium 2016 -

Professional Service Activities

Antarctic Science Foundation Member of Science Sub-Committee 2018 -
Homeward Bound Science Faculty 2018 -
SCAR Antarctic Near shore and Terrestrial Observing System (ANTOS) Expert Group Member 2017 -
University of Wollongong Global Challenges Program Review Panel Member 2017 -
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel Member 2009 -
Global Change Biology Editor 2005 -
Homeward Bound HB3 Onboard Science Faculty 2019
University of Wollongong Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) Engagement and Impact Cluster Chair 2017 - 2018
University of Wollongong Associate Dean Graduate Research 2016 - 2018
University of Wollongong Co-Director, Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions 2015 - 2018
Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts 2013 - 2017
University of Wollongong Director, Institute for Conservation Biology and Law 2005 - 2008
University of Wollongong (University) Head of Postgraduate Studies, School of Biological Sciences 2000 - 2005

Outreach And Community Service Activities

Education And Training

Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry, University College of London (UCL) , Botany, Nitrogen metabolism in carrot cell suspension cultures 1987 - 1990
Science Education 1985 - 1986
B Science (Hon) in Botany and Genetics, University College of London (UCL) , Botany 1980 - 1983

Awards And Honors

University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence Senior Researcher, 2019
UOW Scholar Impact and Engagement, conferred by University of Wollongong (RAID), 2019
Vice Chancellor’s Outstanding Achievement in Research Partnership and Impact Award, conferred by Vice Chancellor University of Wollongong, 2018
2017 Peer Prize for Women, Earth, Environment and Space., conferred by Thinkable and The Sun Foundation Australia, 2017
Visiting Professor, conferred by Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 2015
Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, conferred by University of Birmingham, 2014
2nd prize Competition 1, conferred by Chlorotube , 2010
1st prize Competition 3, conferred by Chlorotube, 2009
Visiting Fellow, conferred by University of Vienna, 2007
Teaching Presentation Award, conferred by American Society of Plant Biologists, 2003
Visiting Professor, conferred by Universitat de Illes Balears, Mallorca, Spain, 2003
Teaching Award, conferred by Australian Society of Plant Scientists, 2002
Outstanding contribution to Higher Education Award, conferred by Australian College of Education (Illawarra Branch), 2001
Irene Manton Prize, conferred by Linnean Society of London, 1991

Teaching Overview

From 2016-18 I taught postgraduate subjects supporting the new Master of Research degree. In 2016 I developed and taught a new subject Responsible Research. In 2018 I developed 2 new subjects that enable students to develop skills in project planning and entrepreneurial activities.

From 1996-2016 I had responsibility for the bulk of the School of Biological Sciences plant science curriculum from cell biology to ecophysiology. I taught and coordinated subjects with high enrolments across a breadth of disciplines from introductory biology to specialist third year subjects (Biol103, Biol104, Biol105, Biol240, Biol332) and met this challenge successfully, obtaining above-average scores in teaching evaluations. I led the review and reorganisation of our first and second year Plant Science offerings and coordinated the inaugural Biol105 subject in 2010. This resulted in better retention into higher level offerings. I incorporated research into my undergraduate teaching, highlighting my own research and that of others. For example, I introduced topics on both Hot Plants and Climate Change into Biol105 and Biol104 respectively. I responded to student need for flexible delivery by producing high quality recorded lectures using Storyline, and adopting a flipped lecture mode at 3^rd year, with face to face problem solving tutorials replacing on campus lectures.

Keywords

Antarctica | Antarctic mosses |chlorophyll fluorescence | Climate Change Biology | Ecosystem modelling | Ozone depletion | Ozone hole | Photosynthesis | Plant Ecophysiology | Plant Biology | Plant Pigments | UV absorbing pigments | UV radiation

Full Name

Distinguished Professor Sharon A. Robinson

Mailing Address

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences

University of Wollongong

Wollongong

NSW 2522

2522

Australia

Located In Facility

Science, Medicine and Health (SMAH)

Fax

+61 2 4221 4135

Orcid Id

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7130-9617 (confirmed)

Web Of Science Researcher Id

B-2683-2008

Scopus Id

7402674597

Overview

Top Publications

Research Areas

Research Overview

Geographic Focus

Available as Research Supervisor

Affiliation

Available for Collaborative Projects

Head Of

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Has Collaborator

Attended Event

Publications

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Chapter

Conference Paper

Other Publications

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Investigator On

Impact

Impact Story

Rapidly drying mosses in East Antarctica in response to climate change

Monitoring Antarctic Ecosystems, climate change and other human impacts

TEDx The extraordinary Antarctic plants with superhero powers

Supervision

Available as Research Supervisor

Teaching Activities

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Service

Organizer Of Event

Professional Service Activities

Outreach And Community Service Activities

Background

Education And Training

Awards And Honors

Teaching Overview

Keywords

Contact

Full Name

Mailing Address

Located In Facility

Fax

Identity

Orcid Id

Web Of Science Researcher Id

Scopus Id

Overview

Top Publications

Research Areas

Research Overview

Geographic Focus

Affiliation

Head Of

Member Of

Has Collaborator

Attended Event

Publications

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Chapter

Conference Paper

Other Publications

Funding

Investigator On

Impact

Impact Story

Rapidly drying mosses in East Antarctica in response to climate change

Monitoring Antarctic Ecosystems, climate change and other human impacts

TEDx The extraordinary Antarctic plants with superhero powers

Supervision

Teaching Activities

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Service

Organizer Of Event

Professional Service Activities

Outreach And Community Service Activities

Background