Conversations with Australian Ecologists
By: The Ecological Society of Australia , Grace Heathcote
Hardback | November 2025 | $ 54.99
ISBN: 9781486319732 | 184 pages | 276 x 235 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour photographs
ePDF | November 2025
ISBN: 9781486319749
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
ePUB | November 2025
ISBN: 9781486319756
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
The Ecological Society of Australia (ESA) is the peak body for ecologists in Australia, with over 1000 members from all states and territories. It has a 60-year history of supporting ecologists, whilst promoting ecology and ecological research. Former ESA team member Grace Heathcote coordinated with more than 30 individual authors and CSIRO Publishing to bring this enjoyable book to print. It contains over 150 photographs, many of which were captured by ecologists during their fieldwork and are therefore often unique and intimate.
This sense of intimacy is also apparent in the interviews with each ecologist, who range from postgrad students to leaders in their field. Anyone who has ever wondered, ‘What do ecologists do?’ should read this new book. It not only explains their work but also gives a unique insight into why they do it and the inner workings of our unique Australian landscapes.
Divided into seven parts, from ‘Forgotten Species’ to ‘The path less travelled’ and ‘Hope’, the book allows readers to travel from Antarctica, looking at huge, ancient moss beds, to flooded Kimberley riverbanks in pursuit of fragile, endemic fairy-wrens. There are also interviews on the ecology of Norfolk Island, knowledge sharing between Indigenous custodians and scientists, marine species ranging from crabs to whales, urban biodiversity pockets, threatened species such as the sandalwood, and ecosystem recovery on the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. In all cases, the style is readable, conversational and informative. Interested readers can pursue more information on each topic by searching for papers and other publications by the contributors, whose institutions are listed with their names.
Thoroughly recommended as a book you can dip into over a coffee break, or spend a leisurely holiday afternoon soaking up some of its huge variety of ecosystems – and the people who love to work in them.
Tanya Marwood