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Ashley Field

Ashley Field

Senior Botanist, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sciences

BSc (Hons), James Cook University, QLD

Office:

E2.203G, Sir Robert Norman Building (E2), James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns QLD 4870

Phone:

+61 (0)7 4042 1624

Fax:

+61 (0)7 4042 1842

Email:

ashley.field(at)derm.qld.gov.au

Research

I am interested in many facets of plant systematics and evolutionary biology, particularly in relation to the northern Queensland flora. I am currently investigating the systematics of fern and lycopod groups and the origins of their diversity in Australian to improve the systematic treatment of the Australian representatives. I am also interested in the biology of vascular epiphytes, niche specialisation among epiphytes and causes of rarity. I am the curator of fern and lycopod families at the Australian Tropical Herbarium (ATH) and co-curator at the Queensland Herbarium (BRI).

Current projects:

  • Mixed-model Bayesian inference phylogenetic analysis of genetic and phenotypic datasets to testgeneric concepts within the Lycopodiaceae and in particular the placement of ‘tassel-ferns’.

  • Mixed-model Bayesian inference phylogenetic analysis of genetic and phenotypic datasets to investigate the species diversity of Palaeotropical tassel-ferns and the origins of the Australian species and species boundaries in the H. phlegmaria group.

  • Investigating the type and cause of rarity in the endangered blue-tassel-fern Huperzia dalhousieana

  • Resolving systematic problems in target fern and flowering plant groups present in tropical Queensland

  • Reassessment of the conservation status of lycopods, ferns and orchids for the Nature Conservation Act 1992

  • Development of a LUCID key to the identification of ferns and lycopods in tropical Queensland

Selected Publications

Lim W-H, Goodger J.Q.D., Field A.R., Holtum J.A.M & Woodrow I.E. (2010) Huperzine alkaloids from Australian and southeast Asian Huperzia. Pharmaceutical Biology48(9):1073-1078

Lim W-H, Goodger J.Q.D., Field A.R., Holtum J.A.M. & Woodrow I.E. (2009) Australiasian Huperzia as potential sources of Huperzine A and B. Planta Medica 75:9

Field A.R. & Bostock P.D. (2008) Huperzia tetrastichoides A.R.Field & Bostock (Lycopodiaceae) a newly recognised species of tassel-fern from the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. Austrobaileya 7(4):711-715

Goodger, J.Q.D., Whincup, A.L., Field A.R., HoltumJ.A.M. & Woodrow I.E. (2008) Variation in huperzine A and B in Australasian Huperzia species. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology36:612-618

Crozier Y.C., Jia, X.C., Yao J.Y., Field A.R., CookJ.M., Crozier R.H. (2007) Microsatellite primers for Ficus racemosa and Ficus rubiginosa. Mol. Ecol. Notes7:57-59

Grice, A.C., Field A.R. and McFadyen R.E.C. (2004) Quantifying the effects of weeds on biodiversity: beyond blind Freddy’s test; 4th Australian Weeds Conference Proceedings. Sindel B.M. and Johnson S.B.Eds.