Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Hello! I am a plant ecologist and conservation biologist working to ensure that plants are protected and recognised for their vital contribution to society. My work focusses on the vulnerability of plants to threats, including climate change and invasive species, using a combination of data science approaches, modelling and experiments. I enjoy working closely with industry partners to create novel solutions to pressing environmental issues, such as restoration, species extinctions and urban expansion.
I am an ARC Discovery Early Research Career Fellow (DECRA) & Senior Lecturer in Plant Ecology in the Department of Biological Science. I lead the vibrant Plant Conservation and Ecology Group, mentoring Masters and PhD students and working closely wth early career scientists in plant science. Visit our website to see more of what we do https://www.plantconservationgroup.com/
I am the Deputy Chair of the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) and my research is used to inform conservation policy and action. This TSSC appointment allows me to advocate directly for the conservation of Australian plants via listing of species and ecological communities under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act. I also currently coordinate the national prioritisation of plant species affected by the catastrophic bushfires during the 2019-2020 summer. This process informs the work of the federal Threatened Species Commissioner in responding to this unprecedented biodiversity crisis.
I am passionate about sharing my science with diverse audiences and building global networks of researchers who are working towards common goals such as the Open Traits Network which I co-lead: https://opentraits.org/
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Green Cities Fund GC15002 - Which plant where, when and why database for growing green space
Leishman, M., Beaumont, L., Ellsworth, D., Gallagher, R., Hughes, L., Nipperess, D., Adams, M., Anderson, I., Dunford, S., Lee, C., Power, S., Rakhesh, N., Rymer, P., Tjoelker, M. & Staas, L.
30/06/16 → …
Project: Research
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Life on the edge: how species interactions shape range boundaries
20/05/17 → 22/03/21
Project: Research
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Collaborative trait research and data: a round table discussion about trait data analysis and its value for climate change adaptation planning
Gallagher, R., Falster, D., Mackey, B., Beaumont, L., Holewa, H. & Belbin, L.
28/04/17 → 12/05/17
Project: Research
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MQ Centre for Green Cities
Leishman, M., Staas, L., Hughes, L., Bishop, M., Beaumont, L., Gallagher, R., Wuthrich, V., Davies, P., Chang, M., Davies, K., Town, G., Hossain, J. & Trueck, S.
1/01/17 → 31/12/19
Project: Research
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Too darn hot? Quantifying thermal tolerance limits for Australia's plants under future climate change
1/01/16 → 31/12/16
Project: Research
Research Outputs
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A‐Islands: a vascular plant dataset for biodiversity research and species monitoring on Australian continental islands
Schrader, J., Coleman, D., Abbott, I., Bryant, S., Buckley, R., Crayn, D. M., Gallagher, R. V., Harris, S., Heatwole, H., Jackes, B., Kreft, H., Mills, K., Kirkpatrick, J., Latz, P. K., Neldner, J., Sattler, C., Visoiu, M., Wenk, E. H., Woinarski, J. C. Z., Worboys, S., & 3 others , Mar 2025, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 36, 2, p. 1-8 8 p., e70019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)4 Downloads (Pure) -
Incorporating citizen science into IUCN Red List assessments
Gallagher, R., Roger, E., Packer, J., Slatyer, C., Rowley, J., Cornwell, W., Ens, E., Legge, S., Simpfendorfer, C., Stephens, R. & Mesaglio, T., Apr 2025, In: Conservation Biology. 39, 2, p. 1-13 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)1 Downloads (Pure) -
Prebiotic biostimulation for enhanced soil microbial activity and growth of diverse native grasses
Alfonzetti, M., Russell, D., Gallagher, R. V. & Tetu, S. G., 19 May 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Restoration Ecology. 12 p., e70094.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Seed banking impacts native Acacia ulicifolia seed microbiome composition and function
Russell, D., Rajabal, V., Alfonzetti, M., van der Merwe, M. M., Gallagher, R. V. & Tetu, S. G., 13 Jan 2025, In: Environmental Microbiome. 20, 1, p. 1-16 16 p., 4.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
Urban heat in global cities and the role of nature-based solutions in mitigating future climate risks
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Gallagher, R. V., Lenoir, J., Barradas, V. L., Beaumont, L. J., Calfapietra, C., Cariñanos, P., Livesley, S. J., Iungma, T., Manoli, G., Marchin, R. M., McPhearson, T., Messier, C., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Power, S. A., Rymer, P. D. & Tjoelker, M. G., 30 Jun 2025, In: Environmental Research: Climate. 4, 2, p. 1-11 11 p., 023001.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)
Datasets
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High fire frequency and the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity
Gallagher, R. (Contributor), Allen, S. (Contributor), MacKenzie, B. (Contributor), Yates, C. (Contributor), Carl, G. (Contributor), Keith, D. (Contributor), Merow, C. (Contributor), White, M. (Contributor), Wenk, E. (Contributor), Maitner, B. (Contributor), He, K. (Contributor), Adams, V. (Contributor), Auld, T. (Contributor), Gallagher, R. V. (Contributor), Mackenzie, B. D. E. (Contributor), Yates, C. J. (Contributor), Gosper, C. R. (Contributor), Keith, D. A. (Contributor), White, M. D. (Contributor), Maitner, B. S. (Contributor), Adams, V. M. (Contributor) & Auld, T. D. (Contributor), Macquarie University, 10 Jun 2022
Dataset
Prizes
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2017 BHERT Award for Outstanding Collaboration for National (non-economic) Benefit
Hughes, Lesley (Recipient), Leishman, Michelle (Recipient), Staas, Leigh (Recipient), Gallagher, Rachael (Recipient), Hancock, Nola (Recipient), Beaumont, Linda (Recipient), Graham, Victoria (Recipient), Ralph, Tim (Recipient), Chang, Michael (Recipient), Tomkins, Kerrie (Recipient), Ens, Emilie (Recipient) & Bishop, Melanie (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Honorary award
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Faculty of Science and Engineering Award for Excellence in Research
Leishman, Michelle (Recipient), Hughes, Lesley (Recipient), Graham, Victoria (Recipient), Beaumont, Linda (Recipient), Bishop, Melanie (Recipient), Gallagher, Rachael (Recipient), Hancock, Nola (Recipient), Tomkins, Kerrie (Recipient), Chang, Michael (Recipient), Ens, Emilie (Recipient), Staas, Leigh (Recipient) & Ralph, Tim (Recipient), 24 Nov 2017
Prize
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Macquarie University Academic Staff Award for Excellence in Research, Highly Commended
Hughes, Lesley (Recipient), Leishman, Michelle (Recipient), Beaumont, Linda (Recipient), Bishop, Melanie (Recipient), Gallagher, Rachael (Recipient), Hancock, Nola (Recipient), Tomkins, Kerrie (Recipient), Chang, Michael (Recipient), Ens, Emilie (Recipient), Ralph, Tim (Recipient) & Graham, Victoria (Recipient), 1 Nov 2017
Prize
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