School of Science

Professor Ray Froend

Ray is an Adjunct in the School of Science.

Current Teaching

• SCM2201 - Soil and Land Processes
• SCI2371 - Sustainable Water
• SCI3113 - Freshwater Ecosystems

Background

• 2021 - Present: Honorary Professor, Science
• 2016 - 2021: Professor and Associate Dean (Science and Maths)
• 2014 - 2016: Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University
• 2006 - 2014: Associate Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University
• 1999 - 2006: Senior Lecturer, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University
• 2002 - 2004: Director, Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University
• 1996 - 1999: Lecturer, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University.
• 1995 - 1996: Senior Environmental Officer, Environmental Management Section, Water Resources Directorate, Water Authority of WA.
• 1991 - 1994: Research Officer, Hydrology and Land Use Research Section, Water Authority of WA.
• 1988 - 1991: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Environmental Science, Murdoch University.

Professional Memberships

• Ecological Society of Australia
• International Association for Vegetation Science

Research Areas and Interests

• Hydroecology – Determining the water regimes required to maintain and enhance conservation values of terrestrial, aquatic and riparian ecosystems. In particular, water requirements of terrestrial phreatophytic and wetland/riparian vegetation.
• Management of aquatic and groundwater dependent ecosystems – Allocation planning of water resources to meet environmental requirements. Development of monitoring strategies and programmes for assessing effectiveness of environmental water provisions.
• Groundwater dependent vegetation – Impact of altered groundwater regimes on native plants at the individual, population and community level. Ecophysiology of phreatophytic vegetation and determining variability in water source partitioning. Population dynamics of phreatophytic species and response to long-term changes in groundwater regime and climate
• Ecology and biology of wetland plants - Recruitment biology of wetland tree, shrub and emergent species. Species response to altered water quantity and quality.

Qualifications

• PhD, The University of Western Australia.
• Bachelor of Science Honours, The University of Western Australia, 1987.

Research Outputs

Research Projects

• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds – Gnangara wetlands vegetation monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2020 ‑ 2021, $38,715.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds – Jandakot wetlands vegetation monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2020 ‑ 2021, $26,037.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds – Gnangara wetlands vegetation monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2019 ‑ 2020, $37,043.
• Assessing the implications of revising threshold levels on wetland and bushland values for sites in Statement 819 – Gnangara Groundwater Resources, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2019 ‑ 2020, $44,261.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds – Jandakot wetlands vegetation monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2019 ‑ 2020, $21,833.
• OzFlux - measurement of atmospheric fluxes over a native vegetation at Gingin, Department of Education, National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) Project, 2015 ‑ 2019, $228,870.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds – Gnangara wetlands vegetation monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2018 ‑ 2019, $32,841.
• ECU-Thermo Research Facility Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Grant, 2017 ‑ 2019, $286,353.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds – Jandakot wetlands vegetation monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2018 ‑ 2019, $22,729.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Jandakot Mound - Jandakot Wetland Vegetation Monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2017 ‑ 2018, $27,100.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Gnangara Mound - Gnangara Wetland Vegetation Monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2017 ‑ 2018, $43,406.
• The Development of Operational Rules for Management of Shallow Groundwater in Water Limited Ecosystems Project: Preliminary Works, Water Corporation, Grant, 2013 ‑ 2018, $567,754.
• Pilot malting for Australia's barley accreditation system, Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre, Grant, 2017 ‑ 2018, $18,220.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Gnangara Mound (Gnangara Wetland Vegetation Monitoring), Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2016 ‑ 2017, $46,007.
• Environmental monitoring and investigations for the Jandakot Mound (Jandakot Wetland Vegetation Monitoring), Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2016 ‑ 2017, $25,755.
• Nutrient uptake by deep roots: An ionomic approach, Edith Cowan University, ECU Collaboration Enhancement Scheme - 2016 Round 1, 2016 ‑ 2017, $8,500.
• Toolibin Lake and surrounding reserves water balance investigation – vegetation water use: 1977-2015 (Desktop Assessment), Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Botanic Parks and Gardens - Grant, 2016, $12,992.
• Quantification of the Biodiversity of the Lake MacLeod Northern Ponds, Dampier Salt Limited Perth Division, Grant-Dampsalt, 2010 ‑ 2016, $433,711.
• Ecohydrological Habitat Characterisation and Modelling to Improve Restoration Prioritisation and Outcomes within Former Pine Plantation Areas of the Gnangara Mound, Western Australia, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Botanic Parks and Gardens - Grant, 2011 ‑ 2016, $146,314.
• Research to inform the assessment of ecohydrological responses to coal seam gas extraction and coal mining, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Office of Water Science - Grant, 2015 ‑ 2016, $425,081.
• Environmental Monitoring and Investigations for the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds – Wetland Vegetation Monitoring , Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tender, 2013 ‑ 2016, $200,380.
• Resistance is useful: Characterising plant resistance to water stress in a drying landscape. , Edith Cowan University, ECU Early Career Researcher Grant - 2014, 2014 ‑ 2015, $16,877.
• BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHPBIO) Ecological Water Asset Project - Regional Ecohydrology Monitoring Network, BHP Billiton, Grant, 2013 ‑ 2014, $266,342.
• Provision of Ecohydrological Study of Riparian Vegetation, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Tender, 2013 ‑ 2014, $64,700.
• Management of Brine Disposal into Inland Ecosystems, National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, NCED - Funding Rounds, 2011 ‑ 2014, $243,807.
• Environmental Monitoring and Investigations for the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds - Wetland Vegetation and End of Summer Monitoring, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2008 ‑ 2013, $165,048.
• Ecohydrological Equilibrium Theory and Banksia Woodland Vegetation, Department of Environment and Conservation WA, Grant, 2010 ‑ 2013, $35,000.
• Identifying wetlands of significance within the Gnangara pine plantations - Evaluation of general landscape and land-use attributes (Step 1) and habitat attributes and socio-political values (Step 2), Sandbourne Holdings, Grant, 2012 ‑ 2013, $26,791.
• Adapting to climate change: a risk assessment and decision framework for managing groundwater dependent ecosystems with declining water levels, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), 2012 ‑ 2013, $85,180.
• Applying remotely sensed estimates of evapotranspiration to contrast water-use patterns of vegetation on the Gnangara mound: a heavily utilised groundwater resource., Edith Cowan University, ECU Early Career Researcher - Grant, 2012 ‑ 2013, $20,777.
• Water source use in midwest vegetation, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2012, $13,953.
• Centre of Excellence for Ecohydrology, University of Western Australia, Centre of Excellence, 2009 ‑ 2012, $336,300.
• Management Framework for Groundwater Dependent Vegetation - South West, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2008 ‑ 2012, $240,008.
• Ecophysiology Study of Riparian Vegetation, Department of Environment and Conservation WA, Grant, 2009 ‑ 2012, $60,638.
• Mitigation of impacts on groundwater dependent vegetation through adaptive abstraction regimes, Water Corporation, Grant, 2006 ‑ 2012, $602,765.
• Variation in morphological and physiological traits of a widespread and localised eucalypt species as a reflection of adaptive capacity in a drying climate, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), 2011 ‑ 2012, $7,000.
• Identifying wetlands of significance within the Gnangara pine plantations; a desktop assessment, Sandbourne Holdings, Grant, 2011 ‑ 2012, $44,486.
• Vegetation Monitoring - Swan Coastal Plain, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2007 ‑ 2010, $36,535.
• Lake Bryde EWR Project, Department of Environment and Conservation WA, Grant, 2009 ‑ 2010, $2,739.
• Eco-Hydrological Study - Gnangara Mound, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2008 ‑ 2010, $258,592.
• A High Resolution Isotope Facility for Low Cost Analysis of Water, Plant and Soil/Sediment Samples to Understand Environmental Change, Australian Research Council, Grant - Linkage (Infrastructure), 2010, $352,000.
• Mitigation of impacts on groundwater dependent vegetation through adaptive abstraction regimes, Australian Research Council, Grant - Linkage (APAI), 2006 ‑ 2010, $263,065.
• Vegetation Monitoring of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems on the Southern Blackwood Plateau and Eastern Scott Coastal Plain, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2006 ‑ 2010, $104,169.
• Literature Review of the Ecophysiology of Riparian Plants, Department of Environment and Conservation WA, Grant, 2008 ‑ 2009, $35,742.
• Establish Baseline Wetland Vegetation Monitoring for New Sites: Shallow Groundwater Systems Investigation of the Gnangara and Jandakot Groundwater Mounds, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2008 ‑ 2009, $17,752.
• EWR Framework Development, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2006 ‑ 2008, $30,560.
• Environmental water requirements of priority water resources in the South Coastal Region, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2006 ‑ 2008, $72,321.
• Investigation of Yate Swamp Hydroperiod requirements within the Lake Bryde recovery catchment, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Grant, 2005 ‑ 2008, $44,954.
• The cause(s) and management of the Eucalyptus gomphocephala decline epidemic in Western Australia, Australian Research Council, Grant - Linkage (Projects), 2006 ‑ 2008, $80,400.
• Phreatophytic Vegetation and Groundwater Studies (Phase 2), Water Corporation, Grant, 2002 ‑ 2008, $541,071.
• Fire management implications for the wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain, Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA, Grant, 2006 ‑ 2008, $58,850.
• Wetland Vegetation Monitoring: Environmental Monitoring and Investigations for Gnangara Mound, Water and Rivers Commission WA, Grant, 2002 ‑ 2008, $117,955.
• Selection of groundwater-dependent ecosystem criteria sites in the Bunbury-Busselton-Capel groundwater areas and establishment of vegetation transects, Department of Environment Regulation WA, Grant, 2006 ‑ 2007, $43,138.
• Plant water relations in rehabilitated residue areas and an analogue coastal vegetation community, Alcoa of Australia Ltd, Grant, 2007, $26,542.
• Seasonal and historical groundwater use by pines, Water Corporation, Grant, 2004 ‑ 2006, $97,424.
• Determination of ecological water requirements for groundwater-dependent ecosystems - Southern Blackwood and Eastern Scott Coastal Plain, Department of Environment Regulation WA, Grant, 2005 ‑ 2006, $54,487.
• Ludlow leaf water potential studies, Cable Sands (WA) Pty Ltd, Grant, 2004 ‑ 2005, $9,131.
• Eucalyptus gomphocephela (tuart) decline in Western Australia, Australian Research Council, Grant - Linkage (APAI), 2003 ‑ 2005, $138,813.
• Study of Ecological Water Requirements on the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds under Section 46 of the Environment Protection Act., Water and Rivers Commission WA, Grant, 2003 ‑ 2005, $109,920.
• End of summer assessment of condition of Gnangara & Jandakot GDEs, Department of Environment Regulation WA, Grant, 2005, $14,000.
• Assessment of ecological risk associated with irrigation systems in the Ord - Phase 2 - Ecological risk assessment and the impact of irrigation return on biodiversity in the Lower Ord River., Water and Rivers Commission WA, Grant, 2002 ‑ 2005, $80,244.
• Environmental Water - Field Investigations and Reporting, Water and Rivers Commission WA, Grant, 2002 ‑ 2004, $41,000.
• Toolibin Lake Vegetation Water Requirements, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Grant, 2000 ‑ 2003, $31,473.
• Optimising the design of constructed wetlands for stormwater quality management, Water Corporation, Grant, 2000 ‑ 2002, $10,000.

Research Student Supervision