Dr Florian Weller finished his PhD thesis at CSAFE in May 2010. His doctoral research was part of the ARGOS programme (http://www.argos.org.nz) and focused on introduced bird species on New Zealand sheep and beef farms. Besides the development of efficient monitoring methods and establishing population baselines and seasonal dynamics for several species, the main aim of his project was an investigation into whether New Zealand land use practices (e.g. certified Organic or Integrated land management) influence the bird fauna on pastoral farms to a measureable degree.

Florian's research interest include population ecology, terrestrial biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and fire ecology.

 

Florian continues to collaborate with CSAFE on agricultural biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring research.

 

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Publications:

F. Weller. ?A comparison of different approaches to monitoring bird density on New Zealand sheep and beef farms?. New Zealand Journal of Ecology (Special Edition: Advances in bird monitoring techniques) 35(2). In press. Accepted 18th August 2011

F. Weller, G. Blackwell, H. Moller. ?Detection probability for estimating bird density on New Zealand sheep & beef farms?. New Zealand Journal of Ecology (Special Edition: Advances in bird monitoring techniques) 35(2). In press. Accepted 16th August 2011

C. MacLeod, G. Blackwell, F. Weller, H. Moller. ?Designing a bird monitoring scheme for New Zealand's agricultural sectors?. New Zealand Journal of Ecology (Special Edition: Advances in bird monitoring techniques) 35(2). In press. Accepted 7th August 2011

S. Meadows, H. Moller, F. Weller. ?Reduction of bias when estimating bird abundance within small habitat fragments?. New Zealand Journal of Ecology (Special Edition: Advances in bird monitoring techniques) 35(2). In press. Accepted 2nd September 2011

F. Weller (2011): ?Testing the power of an experiment to measure the impact of predator control and habitat complexity on New Zealand farmland bird abundance?. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 35(1):44-51.

H. Moller, C.J. MacLeod, J. Haggerty, C. Rosin, G. Blackwell, C. Perley, S. Meadows, F. Weller, M. Gradwohl (2008): "Intensification of New Zealand agriculture: implications for biodiversity". New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. 51(3): 253-263

C.D. Matthaei, F. Weller, D. Kelly, C.R.Townsend (2006):. ?Impacts of fine sediment additions to tussock, pasture, dairy and deer farming streams in New Zealand?. Freshwater Biology 51, 2154-2172

D. Leippert, E. Frank, P. Gabriel, S. Kutter, K. Scheidemann, N. von Stillfried, F. Weller (2002): ?Prey-related spectral changes in echolocation sounds of the Indian False Vampire Megaderma lyra?. Ethology 108, 139-156