Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, Australia

Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW

Dr Maurizio Rossetto

Position

Conservation Geneticist / Ecologist

Branch

Science & Public Programs

Section

Conservation and Horticultural Research

Email

maurizio.rossetto@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

Phone

+61-2-9231 8337 
Mobile: 0438 829 557

Fax

+61-2-9251 7231

Research interests

My principal research interest is in the evolutionary, ecological and conservation genetics of native plants. Currently I am particularly interested in Australian rainforest habitats because they provide unique opportunities to study long- and short-term evolutionary processes. I combine genetic and ecological approaches to investigate the factors that affect diversification across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Understanding the relationship between genetic exchange, ecological traits and environmental variables will enable us to develop improved analytical models that predict the possible consequences of environmental change and support current conservation and management strategies.  

My research is based on numerous and diverse taxa, techniques and study systems. I am generally interested in the development and application of new molecular approaches that support innovative evolutionary and conservation research on the Australian flora.

Keywords

Molecular and Evolutionary Ecology, Conservation Genetics, Ecological Traits, Population Dynamics, Habitat Fragmentation 

Current research projects

Main research projects:

  • Biogeography of Elaeocarpaceae and Cunoniaceae: the importance of LDD in explaining the Pacific distribution of these families (in collaboration with Andrew Lowe, the University of Adelaide).
  • Molecular evolution of ‘Tremadraceae’ (Elaeocarpaceae) in eastern Australia (in collaboration with Darren Crayn).
  • Long- and short-term population dynamics of the genus Elaeocarpus.
  • Molecular evolution of the Australian Vitaceae (in collaboration with Betsy Jackes, James Cook University).
  • Multi-species recovery planning for the Border ranges – an ecological, genetic and modeling approach.

Postgraduate students currently under co-supervision:

  • Yvonne Davila, PhD (with Dr G. Wardle, University of Sydney). 'Ecological and evolutionary implications of variation in pollinator assemblages on Trachymene incisa subsp. incisa (Apiaceae)'.
  • Frances Elliot, PhD (with Prof. R. Henry, Southern Cross University). 'Extent of clonality and taxonomic relationships in Davidsonia (Cunoniaceae)'.
  • Hannah McPherson, PhD (with Assoc. Prof. Caroline Gross, University of New England). 'Biogeography of Eastern tetrathecas’.
  • Matthew Renner, PhD (with Dr G. Wardle, University of Sydney). 'Diversity in non-vascular plants'.
  • Karen Somerville, PhD (with Dr A. Pulkownick, University of Technology, Sydney). 'Ecological conditions for biodiversity conservation of salt-marsh at Sydney Olympic Park'.

Some available postgraduate projects:

  • Biogeography and evolution of Australian Elaeocarpaceae / Cunoniaceae
  • Population genetics of Australian Elaeocarpaceae / Cunoniaceae
  • Evolution and hybrid speciation in the Acronychia littoralis complex
  • Conservation genetics in fragmented rainforest refugia

Key publications

Peer-reviewed publications (last five years):

  • Crayn, DM, M Rossetto and DJ Maynard (In Press) Molecular phylogeny and dating reveals an Oligo-Miocene radiation of dry-adapted shrubs (Tremandraceae) from rainforest tree progenitors (Elaeocarpaceae) in Australia. American Journal of Botany
  • Sherwin WB, F Jabot, R Rush, M Rossetto (In Press) Measurement of biological information with applications from genes to landscapes. Molecular Ecology
  • Sommerville, K, M Rossetto, A Pulkownik (In Press) Isolation and characterisation of polymorphic microsatellite loci from Wilsonia backhousei (Convolvulaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes
  • Kooyman, R and M Rossetto (In Press) Factors influencing species selection for littoral rainforest restoration: do environmental parameters matter? Ecological Management & Restoration
  • Porter, C, PD Rymer, M Rossetto (In Press) Isolation and characterisation of microsatellite markers for the Waratah, Telopea speciosissima (Proteaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes
  • Flanagan, N.S., Ebert D., Porter C., Rossetto M., Peakall R. (2006) Microsatellites markers for evolutionary studies in the sexually deceptive orchid genus Chiloglottis. Molecular Ecology Notes 6: 123-126.
  • Rossetto M, Kooyman RM (2005) The tension between dispersal and persistence regulates the current distribution of rare paleo-endemic rainforest flora: a case study. Journal of Ecology 93: 906-917.
  • Rossetto, M (2005) A simple molecular approach for identifying a rare Acronychia (Rutaceae) provides new insights on its multiple hybrid origins. Biological Conservation 121(1): 35-43.
  • Taylor KJ, Lowe AJ, Hunter RJ, Ridgway T, Gresshoff PM, Rossetto M (2005) Genetic diversity and regional identity in the Australian remnant Nothofagus moorei. Australian Journal of Botany 53: 437-444.
  • Rossetto, M, Porter C (2005) Isolation and characterisation of microsatellite loci from Eidothea hardeniana, an early Proteaceae. Molecular Ecology Notes 5: 106-108.
  • Rossetto, M, R Jones, J Hunter (2004) Genetic effects of rainforest fragmentation in an early successional tree (Elaeocarpus grandis). Heredity 93(6): 610-618.
  • Rossetto, M, Gross, CL, Jones, R and Hunter, J (2004) The impact of clonality on an endangered tree (Elaeocarpus williamsianus) in a fragmented rainforest. Biological Conservation 117(1): 33-39.
  • Vallee, L., Hogbin T., Monks L., Makinson B., Matthes M., Rossetto, M. (2004) Guidelines for the translocation of threatened plants in Australia. Second Edition. Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Canberra.
  • Hinten, G. N., F. Harriss, M. Rossetto and P. R. Baverstock. (2003) Genetic variation and island biogeography: microsatellite and mitochondrial variation in island populations of the bush rat, Rattus fuscipes greyii. Conservation Genetics 4(6): 759-778.
  • Wells G, Zawko G, Rossetto M and Dixon KW (2003) A molecular approach to provenance delineation for the restoration of hummock grasslands (Triodia spp.) in arid-tropical Australia. Ecological Management & Restoration 4(S1): S60-S68.
  • Rossetto, M., J. McNally and R. J. Henry (2002) Evaluating the potential of SSR flanking regions for examining relationships in Vitaceae. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 104: 61-66.
  • Arnold, C., Rossetto, M., McNally, J., and Henry, R. J. (2002) The application of SSRs characterised for grape (Vitis vinifera) to conservation studies in Vitaceae. American Journal of Botany 89: 22-28.
  • Rossetto, M., B. Jackes, K. D Scott and R. J. Henry (2002) Is the genus Cissus (Vitaceae) monophyletic: evidence from plastid and nuclear ribosomal DNA. Systematic Botany 27 (3): 522-533.
  • Lee, L. S., Brooks, L., Homer, L. E., Rossetto, M., Henry, R. J. and Baverstock, P. R. (2002) Geographic variation in the essential oils and morphology of natural populations of Melaleuca alternifolia. Biochemical Systematics and Evolution 30 (4): 343-360.
  • Mattner, J., Zawko, G., Rossetto, M., Krauss, S., Dixon, K. and Sivasithamparam, K. (2002) Conservation genetics and implications for restoration after mining of the Western Australian serpentine endemic Hemiginea exilis. Biological Conservation 107 (1): 37-45.
  • Jones, R. C., J. McNally and M. Rossetto (2002) Isolation of microsatellite loci from a rainforest tree, Elaeocarpus grandis (Elaeocarpaceae), and amplification across closely related taxa. Molecular Ecology Notes 2 (2): 179-181.
  • Saenger, P. and M. Rossetto (2002) The use of DNA molecular techniques for mangrove studies. Mangrove Science 2: 1-9.
  • Arnold, C and M. Rossetto (2002) Comparative population studies on two Cissus species (Vitaceae) in fragmented and undisturbed rainforest habitats. Cunnighamia 7(4): 613-623.
  • Rossetto, M., B. Jackes, K. D Scott and R. J. Henry (2001) Intergeneric relationship in the Australian Vitaceae: new evidence from cpDNA analysis. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 48: 307-314.
  • Rossetto, M. (2001) Sourcing SSR markers from related plant species. Chapter 14 pp 211-224 in RJ Henry ed. Plant genotyping: the DNA fingerprinting of plants. CABI. Wallingford, UK.
  • Lee, L. S., Rossetto, M., Homer, L. and Henry R. J. (2001) Molecular analysis of wild plant germplasm: the case of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). Chapter 7 pp 95-107 in RJ Henry ed. Plant genotyping: the DNA fingerprinting of plants. CABI. Wallingford, UK.

 
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