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Professor Pierre Horwitz

Professor

Current Teaching

• Case Studies in Science
• Catchment Health and Management
• Water and Wetlands Management
• Sustainable Water Resource Management
• Current Issues in Natural Sciences (postgraduate unit)
• Research Methods (Faculty-wide unit)
• Honours and Postgraduate (Research) Coordinator

Background

• 2011: Professor, Edith Cowan University
• 2002-2011: Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University
• 1995-2001: Senior Lecturer, Edith Cowan University
• 1992-1994: Lecturer, Edith Cowan University
• 1987-1991: Lecturer, University of Tasmania

Professional Memberships

• Member of the Australian Society for Limnology (1983-)
• Member Ecological Society of Australia (1995-)
• Member National Tertiary Education Union (1992-)
• Member International Association for Ecology & Health (2003-)
• Member Bush Heritage Australia (1998-)
• Member, Royal Society of Western Australia (1987-)
• Member of the International Association of Astacology (1987-)

Awards and Recognition

Other

• Founding Co-Editor, EcoHealth journal (ISI-listed)
• Has held senior positions in the Australian Society for Limnology (ASL; including as its President for a two year term 1999-2001); in Bush Heritage Australia Inc., a philanthropic organisation; in the International Association for Ecology and Health (elected as the founding Vice-President in 2006 and served for four years); and as a Founding Director of the Blackwood River Foundation.
• Appointed as theme coordinator (Wetlands and Human Health) for the Ramsar International Convention on Wetlands’ Scientific and Technical Review Panel for the 2009-2012 triennium, and has been selected for participation in other international scientific missions.
• Dr Horwitz has also been recognised for excellence in postgraduate supervision, and has examined 16 PhD theses in the last 12 years.

Research Areas and Interests

• Aquatic Ecology and Management
• Health and Ecology; Ecosystem Health
• Water and wetlands management
• The formation, degradation and management of organic rich soils; the effects of fire regimes on soil and water quality
• Taxonomy, biogeography and conservation status of aquatic invertebrates.
• The effects of forestry, fire, agriculture and urbanisation on aquatic faunas and aquatic processes
• Developing general indicators for the relationships between human health, community vitality and biophysical conditions of the environment
• Developing community participation and involvement in aquatic environmental issues, natural resource management issues
• Using narratives for landscape restoration and community capacity building in rural and regional areas

Staff Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania, 1986 .
• Bachelor of Science Honours, The University of Western Australia, 1980 .

Research

Recent Research Grants

• Dampier Salts sites and ponds and their importance for migratory and other shorebirds,  Dampier Salt Limited Perth Division,  Grant-Dampsalt,  2011,  $124,131.
• Quantification of the Biodiversity of the Lake MacLeod Northern Ponds,  Dampier Salt Limited Perth Division,  Grant-Dampsalt,  2011,  $136,459.
• Project 4.1 - Wetland Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality (Gnangara Mound),  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2011,  $31,120.
• Management of Brine Disposal into Inland Ecosystems,  National Centre of Excellence in Desalination,  Grant - NCED,  2011,  $15,027.
• The Social Ecology of Ningaloo Tourism,  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,  Scholarship(**),  2010,  $25,000.
• Dampier Salts sites and ponds and their importance for migratory and other shorebirds,  Dampier Salt Limited Perth Division,  Grant-Dampsalt(**),  2010,  $51,750.
• Useability Index for the Swan Canning Riverpark,  Swan River Trust,  Grant(**),  2010,  $60,000.
• Project 4.1 - Wetland Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality (Gnangara Mound),  Dept of Water WA,  Grant(**),  2010,  $48,323.
• Ecosystem Services and Productive Base in the Murray Darling Basin,  Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre,  Grant(**),  2010,  $10,000.
• Data Audit and Research Framework for the Northern Ponds of Lake MacLeod,  Dampier Salt Limited Perth Division,  Grant-Dampsalt(**),  2010,  $25,000.
• Quantification of the Biodiversity of the Lake MacLeod Northern Ponds,  Dampier Salt Limited Perth Division,  Grant-Dampsalt(**),  2010,  $76,475.
• STCRC - Sustainable Resources Research Fellow,  CRC Centre for Sustainable Tourism,  Fellowship(**),  2010,  $3,000.
• Australian Tourism in a Water Constrained Economy: Scoping Study - Research Agenda,  La Trobe University,  CRC - Grant(**),  2010,  $5,000.
• Project 4.1 - Wetland Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality (Gnangara Mound),  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2009,  $28,750.
• Evaluation of Training Techniques in Systems Thinking,  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,  Grant,  2009,  $3,000.
• The Social Ecology of Ningaloo Tourism,  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,  Scholarship,  2009,  $25,000.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in Ephemeral Tributaries of the Blackwood River in the Region of the Yarragadee Aquifer Discharge Zone ,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2009,  $7,929.
• Drafting Chapter for Gnangara Sustainability Strategy,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2009,  $8,900.
• STCRC - Sustainable Resources Research Fellow,  CRC Centre for Sustainable Tourism,  Fellowship,  2009,  $121,446.
• An investigation of aquatic macro invertebrate occurrence and water quality at Lake Chandala (2009),  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2009,  $6,494.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in in and Near Spearwood Creek, a Tributary of the Lower Blackwood River,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2009,  $9,267.
• Australian Tourism in a Water Constrained Economy: Scoping Study - Research Agenda,  La Trobe University,  CRC - Grant,  2009,  $5,000.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in Tributraties of the Blackwood River Receiving Discharge From the Leederville Aquifer,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2009,  $9,642.
• Fire management implications for the wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain,  Fire & Emergency Services Authority of WA,  Grant,  2008,  $19,175.
• Fire, organic soils and acidification,  Fire & Emergency Services Authority of WA,  Grant,  2008,  $25,000.
• Fish migration patterns in the Blackwood River,  Murdoch University,  Grant,  2008,  $7,216.
• Stygofauna research monitoring,  Natural Resource Services Pty Ltd,  Grant,  2008,  $5,200.
• Wetland Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality (Northeast Gnangara Mound),  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $14,375.
• The Social Ecology of Ningaloo Tourism,  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,  Scholarship,  2008,  $25,000.
• Project 4.1 - Wetland Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality (Gnangara Mound),  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $28,750.
• Assessment of Wetland Invertebrate & Fish Biodiversity for the Gnangara Sustainability Study,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2008,  $23,715.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in Ephemeral Tributaries of the Blackwood River in the Region of the Yarragadee Aquifer Discharge Zone ,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $7,929.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in Tributraties of the Blackwood River Receiving Discharge From the Leederville Aquifer,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $9,642.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in in and Near Spearwood Creek, a Tributary of the Lower Blackwood River,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $9,267.
• Study of migration patterns, habitat and water requirements of fish and invertebrates in the Blackwood River,  Murdoch University,  Grant,  2008,  $53,731.
• Field studies into the reproduction biology and conservation requirements of Hairy Marron in the South West DEC region,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2008,  $3,100.
• Environmental Monitoring and Investigations for Gnangara Mound - Wetland Macroinvertebrate Monitoring,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $21,423.
• Impact of Disturbed Acid Sulphate Soils on Freshwater Ecosystems, Western Australia,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $33,403.
• Field studies into the biology and conservation requirements of Engaewa species in the South West and Warren DEC regions,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2008,  $15,000.
• Environmental water requirements of priority water resources in the South Coastal Region,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $28,928.
• Characterisation of Fish Usage of Yarragadee Discharge Based on Water Chemistry,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2008,  $18,883.
• Fish migration patterns in the Blackwood River,  Murdoch University,  Grant,  2007,  $27,500.
• Gnangara Mound Monitoring - macroinvertebrates,  Water & Rivers Commission WA,  Grant,  2007,  $39,951.
• A Participatory Approach to Understanding and Monitoring Soil Health,  Agriculture WA,  Grant,  2007,  $2,500.
• Environmental water requirements of priority water resources in the South Coastal Region,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2007,  $25,997.
• Study of migration patterns, habitat and water requirements of fish and invertebrates in the Blackwood River,  Murdoch University,  Grant,  2007,  $31,821.
• Fire, organic soils and acidification,  Fire & Emergency Services Authority of WA,  Grant,  2007,  $25,000.
• Environmental Monitoring and Investigations for Gnangara Mound - Wetland Macroinvertebrate Monitoring,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2007,  $21,424.
• Biological assessment of the Milyeannup Heritage Site,  Bush Heritage Australia,  Grant,  2007,  $4,500.
• Impact of Disturbed Acid Sulphate Soils on Freshwater Ecosystems, Western Australia,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2007,  $133,616.
• Field studies into the biology and conservation requirements of Engaewa species in the South West and Warren DEC regions,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2007,  $7,500.
• Stygofauna research monitoring,  Natural Resource Services Pty Ltd,  Grant,  2007,  $5,200.
• Field studies into the reproduction biology and conservation requirements of Hairy Marron in the South West DEC region,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2007,  $10,000.
• Assisting recovery actions for Margaret River Marron,  South West Catchment Council,  Grant,  2006,  $23,400.
• Environmental water requirements of priority water resources in the South Coastal Region,  Dept of Water WA,  Grant,  2006,  $17,396.
• Field studies into the biology and conservation requirements of Engaewa species in the South West and Warren DEC regions,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2006,  $15,000.
• Fire management implications for the wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain,  Fire & Emergency Services Authority of WA,  Grant,  2006,  $39,675.
• Neerabup fire suppression research and monitoring,  Fire & Emergency Services Authority of WA,  Grant,  2006,  $22,920.
• Gnangara Mound Monitoring - macroinvertebrates,  Water & Rivers Commission WA,  Grant,  2006,  $15,335.
• Stygofauna research monitoring,  Natural Resource Services Pty Ltd,  Grant,  2006,  $1,200.
• Fish migration patterns in the Blackwood River,  Murdoch University,  Grant,  2006,  $10,276.
• Fire, organic soils and acidification,  Fire & Emergency Services Authority of WA,  Grant,  2006,  $25,000.
• Stygofauna research monitoring,  Natural Resource Services Pty Ltd,  Grant,  2005,  $5,200.
• Fish migration patterns in the Blackwood River,  Murdoch University,  Grant,  2005,  $15,000.
• Evolutionary, macroecological and phylogenetic patterns in Australasian freshwater crayfish,  University of Tasmania,  Grant - Discovery,  2005,  $80,000.
• Gnangara Mound Monitoring - macroinvertebrates,  Water & Rivers Commission WA,  Grant,  2005,  $40,562.
• Indicators of ecosystem health in Western Australian recovery catchments,  Australian Research Council,  Grant - Linkage (Projects),  2005,  $12,061.
• Establishing best practice protocols in the management of occupational and environmental health in a high risk mining and ore processing environment.,  Edith Cowan University,  Grant - Industry Collaboration,  2004,  $7,000.
• Gnangara Mound Monitoring - macroinvertebrates,  Water & Rivers Commission WA,  Grant,  2004,  $28,401.
• Indicators of ecosystem health in Western Australian recovery catchments,  Australian Research Council,  Grant - Linkage (Projects),  2004,  $24,148.
• Vulnerability of organic soils to fire,  Dept of Conservation & Land Management,  Grant,  2004,  $3,182.
• The Effects of mine discharge water on wetland species, Jangardup and Jangardup South.,  Cable Sands (WA) Pty Ltd,  Grant,  2004,  $440.

Recent Publications (within the last five years)

Books

• Crase, L., O'Keefe, S., Horwitz, P., Carter, M., Duncan, R., Hatton Macdonald, D., Haslam McKenzie, F., Gawne, B., (2010), Australian tourism in a water constrained economy: research agenda., 41, Gold Coast, Australia.

Book Chapters

• Horwitz, P., Carter, M., (2011), Access to Inland Waters for Tourism: Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs. Water Policy, Tourism and Recreation: Lessons from Australia, 52-66, London, UK.
• Horwitz, P., Wardell-Johnson, G., (2009), Cultural Conservation Biology. Environmental Biology, 559-577, Port Melbourne, Australia.
• Wardell-Johnson, G., Horwitz, P., (2009), The Science of Conservation Biology. Environmental Biology, 539-558, Port Melbourne, Australia.

Journal Articles

• Kumar, R., Horwitz, P., Milton, GR., Sellamuttu, S., Buckton, S., Davidson, N., Pattnaik, A., Zavagli, M., Baker, C., (2011), Assessing wetland ecosystem services and poverty interlinkages: a general framework and case study. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 56(8), 1602?1621, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2011.631496.
• Horwitz, P., Spini, L., Campbell, K., Thomas, RJ., Mulongoy, J., (2011), The relationship between water, health and global environmental change, as interpreted through five key Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 3(6), 520-526, DOI: 10.1016/j.cosust.2011.10.001.
• Cromie, R., Davidson, N., Galbraith, C., Hagemeijer, W., Horwitz, P., Lee, R., Mundkur, T., Stroud, D., (2011), Responding to Emerging Challenges: Multilateral Environmental Agreements and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1. Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, 14(3-4), 206?242, DOI: 10.1080/13880292.2011.626711.
• Boschetti, F., Yves-Hardy, P., Grigg, N., Horwitz, P., (2011), Can we learn how systems work?. Emergence: Complexity and Organisation. , 13(4), 47-62.
• Horwitz, P., Finlayson, CM., (2011), Wetlands as settings for human health: Incorporating ecosystem services and health impact assessment into water resource management. BioScience, 61(9), 678-688, USA, DOI: 10.1525/bio.2011.61.9.6.
• McCullough, C., Horwitz, P., (2010), Vulnerability of organic acid tolerant wetland biota to the effects of inorganic acidification. Science of the Total Environment, 408(8), 1868-1877, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.01.034.
• Blake, D., Hinwood, A., Horwitz, P., (2009), Peat fires and air quality: volatile organic compounds and particulates. Chemosphere, 76(3), 419-423, United Kingdom, DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.03.047.
• Schultz, M., Smith, S., Horwitz, P., Richardson, A., Crandall, K., Austin, C., (2009), Evolution underground: A molecular phylogenetic investigation of Australian burrowing freshwater crayfish (Decapoda: Parastacidae) with particular focus on Engaeus Erichson. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 50(3), 580-598, DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2008.11.025.
• Parkes, M., Horwitz, P., (2009), Water, ecology and health: Ecosystems as settings for promoting health and sustainability. Health Promotion International, 24(1), 94-102, DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dan044.
• Sommer, B., Horwitz, P., (2009), Macroinvertebrate Cycles of Decline and Recovery in Swan Coastal Plain (Western Australia) Wetlands Affected by Drought Induced Acidification. Hydrobiologia: the international journal on limnology and marine sciences, 624(1), 191-203, The Netherlands, DOI: 10.1007/s10750-008-9692-6.
• Horwitz, P., Rogan, R., Halse, S., Davis, J., Sommer, B., (2009), Wetland Invertebrate Richness and Endemism on the Swan Coastal Plain,Western Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 60(10), 1006-1020, Australia, DOI: 10.1071/MF08204.
• Horwitz, P., Bradshaw, D., Hopper, S., Davies, P., Froend, R., Bradshaw, F., (2008), Hydrological change escalates risk of ecosystem stress in Australia's threatened biodiversity hotspot. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 91(1), 1-11, Australia.
• Hinwood, A., Horwitz, P., Rogan, R., (2008), Human exposure to metals in groundwater affected by acid sulfate soil disturbance. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 55(3), 538-545.
• Schultz, M., Ierdiaconou, D., Smith, S., Horwitz, P., Richardson, A., Crandall, K., Austin, C., (2008), Sea-Level Changes and Palaeo-Ranges: Reconstruction of ancient Shorelines and River Drainages and the Phylogeography of the Australian Land Crayfish Engaeus Sericatus Clark (Decapoda: Parastacidae). Molecular Ecology, 17 (24), 5291-5314, UK.

Conference Publications

• Horwitz, P., (2010), The conservation status of freshwater crayfish: the basis for concern, listing and recovery processes, and community involvement. Freshwater Crayfish 17: Papers from the Seventeenth International Symposium on Freshwater Crayfish, 17(4-8 August, 2008), 1-12, Kuopio, Finland.
• Chapman, K., Horwitz, P., Scherrer, P., Northcote, J., (2009), Tourism research to tourism practice: The need for adaptive institutions in Western Australia's Ningaloo region. Proceedings of the 18th Annual CAUTHE conference. See change: tourism and hospitality in a dynamic world, 8p., Western Australia.
• Bunn, J., Koenders, A., Austin, C., Horwitz, P., (2008), Identification Of Hairy, Smooth And Hybrid Marron (Decapoda: Parastacidae) In The Margaret River: Morphology And Allozymes. Proceedings of the 16th Symposium of the International Association of Astacology, 16(31 July - 4 August, 2006), 113-121, Auburn University, Alabama .

Research Student Supervision

Principal Supervisor

• Origin And Fate Of Organic Matter In South-west Australian Wetlands.
• Master of Science (Environmental Management),  The Role Of Farm Dams As Refugia For Aquatic Invertebrates In A Salinized Landscape..
• Doctor of Philosophy,  Factors Controlling Wetland Sediment Response To Alternate Wetting And Drying And How This Affects Water Quality..
• Aspects Of The Taxonomy And Ecology Of The Ground Beetle (coleoptera: Carabidae) Assemblage Of The Swan Coastal Plain (with Particular Reference To Habitat Fragmentation And The Quindalup Dune System).
• Doctor of Philosophy,  Terrestrial Isopods (crustacea: Oniscidea) And Biogeographical Patterns In South-western Australia..
• Doctor of Philosophy,  The Nature Of Urban Communities: An Exploration Of Relationships Between Urban Green Space, Environmental Connection And Health..
• Doctor of Philosophy,  Seeing Through Others' Eyes: Towards A Hybrid Ecology Of Marine Turtle And Dugong In Australia.
• Doctor of Philosophy,  Seeing Through Others Eyes: Exploring Western Scientific And Indigenous Environmental Knowledge..
• Master of Science (Environmental Management),  Participatory Approaches For Interpretation Planning In A World Heritage Area..
• Master of Science (Environmental Management),  Investigation Of The Replacement Of The Margaret River Hairy Marron Cherax Tenuimanus (smith 1912) By The Smooth Marron C.cainii (austin 2002)..
• A Framework For River Restoration Planning. Considering Conceptual And Structural Perspectives From Case Studies Of The Liao River In China And Kalgan River In Australia.
• Influence Of Adjacent Seagrass On The Fish Assemblages Off Sandy Beaches.

Co-principal Supervisor

• Doctor of Philosophy,  Identification Of Social Water Requirements For Water Resource Planning..

Associate Supervisor

• Evaluation Of Revegetation Techniques Used On Degraded Agricultural Land In The Central Avon Catchment, Western Australia.
• Doctor of Philosophy,  Justice And Scale In Water Allocation.
• Master of Science (Environmental Management),  Defining Appropriate Options For Post-closure Land Use Of Tamala Park Landfill: A Community Participation Process, Western Australia.