Plant reproduction, ecological and conservation genetics
Hoebee Lab
Group leader
Dr Susan Hoebee is a plant molecular ecologist with conservation and evolutionary foci. Her early research (PhD and post-doc positions) assessed the genetic diversity and structure of rare or threatened species for conservation purposes. Often this also included consideration of diversity at the self-incompatibility locus. She now leads and collaborates in research that continues to include aspects of plant conservation, demography, ecology, reproduction and genetics in a diverse number of species. She has a strong interest in studies involving Proteaceae.
In her teaching capacity, Susan is part of teams delivering material on Plant Diversity and Ecology, Animal-Plant Interactions, Endangered Species Conservation and Ecological Genetics & Evolution.
Susan also supports the student led La Trobe Botany and Plant Ecology Society (https://ltsa.com.au/Clubs/botanysociety)
Current Students
PhD
Mark Clifton – Population Genomics and Reproduction in Threatened East Gippsland Callistemons. Supervisor: Susan Hoebee; co-supervisors Anthony Gendall, Joanne Ashnest (CSU) and Alison Kellow.
Simon Heyes – Early victims or hardy survivors? Assessing climate vulnerability and conservation of plant communities on restricted soils. Supervisor: John Morgan, co-supervisor: Susan Hoebee.
Stan Wawrzyczek – The evolution of mammal pollination in the South-West Australian biodiversity hotspot and its vulnerability to landscape modification. Supervisor: Ryan Phillips; co-supervisor: Susan Hoebee.
Masters
Graham Jury – Pollination Vectors of Tree-form Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata, Proteaceae). Supervisor: Susan Hoebee; co-supervisor: John Morgan. Submitted, awaiting examination.
Honours
Allison Menzies – Using novel eDNA approaches to advance the study of invertebrate pollinator communities in a native grassland. Supervisor: Susan Hoebee; co-supervisor: Nick Murphy
Russell Larke – Employing population genomics to investigate the status of the critically endangered Avon Peppermint, Eucalyptus ornans. Supervisor: Susan Hoebee; co-supervisor: Tara Hopley (RBGV)
Lachlan Nicholson – Using population genomic approaches to inform translocation success of the critically endangered Grevillea wilkinsonii (the Tumut Grevillea); co-supervisor: Dr Linda Broadhurst (CSIRO)
Current Volunteers
Ms Jenn Longo is an imagery guru volunteering with me to develop a pollen reference library. Longer term we hope to link this to La Trobe’s Herbarium (LTU).
Postdoctoral fellows (past)
Dr Denise Fernando – 2012 ARC DECRA awardee
Dr Gareth Holmes – 2016 appointed on an ARC Discovery Project.
Completed students
PhD
Gerry Ho (2020) – No sex, will travel? The association between invasiveness and mating systems in introduced Iridaceae to Australia. Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards. Co-supervisor: Dr Susan Hoebee.
Andre Messina (2013) – Taxonomy and systematics of the Olearia phlogopappa complex.
Now working at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
Masters
Tamandra (Mandi) D’Ombrain (2022) – Chromosomal assessment and population genomics to inform conservation of the endangered Matted Flax-lily (Dianella amoena). Supervisor: Susan Hoebee; co-supervisor: Dr Nick Murphy; advisor: Michael Cincotta.
Simone Currie (2021) – Intraspecific ploidy variation in the Australian endemic shrub Santalum acuminatum (Santalaceae): Evidence for polyploidy and B chromosomes. Supervisor: Susan Hoebee; so-supervisor: Dr Linda Broadhurst (CSIRO)
Simon Heyes (2019) – The Forgotten Savannas of Western Victoria: Population Dynamics of Tree-form Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata) in a Severely Fragmented Landscape. Supervisor: John Morgan; co-supervisors: Susan Hoebee and Stephen Sinclair (ARI).
Honours
Mark Clifton (2022) – Harnessing genomics to investigate hybridisation and restore resilience in threatened flora from East Gippsland. Supervisor: Susan Hoebee; co-supervisor: Alison Kellow.
In partnership with Friends of Mallacoota and Envite Environment
Lachlan Nicholson (2021) – Using population genomic approaches to inform translocation success of the critically endangered Grevillea wilkinsonii (the Tumut Grevillea). Supervisor: Susan Hoebee; co-supervisor: Linda Broadhurst (CSIRO).
Madison Hughes – Understanding drivers of poor reproductive output in small populations of Banksia spinulosa from the Dandenong Ranges. Supervised by Dr Susan Hoebee and Annette Muir (ARI).
Simone Currie – Polyploidy in the landscape of the iconic bushfood Sweet Quandong.
Stanislaw Wawrzyczek – Genetic diversity and structure of the vulnerable Enfield Grevillea, Grevillea bedggoodiana. Supervised by Dr Susan Hoebee and Dr Gareth Holmes (RBGV).
Armon Aristidou – Evaluating pollinator guild efficacy in the reproduction of the vulnerable Enfield Grevillea, Grevillea bedggoodiana. Supervised by Dr Susan Hoebee and Dr Kylie Robert.
Ben Courtice (2018) – Patch density, pollinator behaviour and seed set in the endangered grassland daisy Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides. Supervised by Dr John Morgan, Dr. Steve Sinclair (ARI) and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Jeremy Benwell-Clarke (2018) – Genetic diversity of Sweet Quandong (Santalum acuminatum) populations along an environmental gradient and the implications for sourcing seed. Supervised by Dr Susan Hoebee, Dr Linda Broadhurst (CSIRO) and Mr Jim Begley (GB-CMA).
Reannon Smith (2016) – Understanding diversity: An investigation into pollination and genetic differentiation in Grevillea alpina Lindl. Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Reannon was partially supported during her honours by an Auchmeddan Pty Ltd Honours Scholarship.
Joseph Zilko (2016) – Outcrossing and pollination strategies in bird-pollinated Eucalyptus species. Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Joe was partially supported by a BIOSIS Honours Scholarship.
Andrea Fitzpatrick (2015) – Fraudulence exposed: food models drive fecundity in outbreeding sun orchids (Thelymitra– Orchidaceae). Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Scott Tunbridge (2015) – Floral visitors to a geographically restricted endemic Grevillea in South East Australia and the importance of mammals. Supervised by Dr Susan Hoebee, Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Kylie Robert.
Rufaro George Kanjere (2014) – Reproduction and gene flow in Grevillea obtecta. Supervised by Dr Susan Hoebee and Dr Trevor Edwards.
Katie McClaren (2013) – The influence of population size on reproductive output and ecological interactions varies over time in Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolor (Asteraceae). Supervised by Dr John Morgan and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Juan Hernandez (2012) – Pollination and exploitation: Interactions between Acacia terminalis (Salisb.) MacBride (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae), birds, and hymenoptera. Supervised by Dr Peter Green and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Nicole Webster (2012) – The birds and the bees in Epacris impressa Labill. (Ericaeae). Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Louise Romanin (2012) – Green Box: the reproductive story of a natural Eucalyptus hybrid on the Chowilla Floodplain, South Australia. Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Supported with funds from NCCARF - Terrestrial Biology Network.
Katherine Sventek (2011) – The significance of morphological variation in Epacris impressa Labill. (Ericaceae: Styphelioideae). Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Gary Palmer (2011) – Pollination and the evolution of visual signals in four sexually deceptive Chiloglottis species. Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Freya Thomas (2011) – Batesian mimicry breakdown in Thelymitra (Orchidaceae). Supervised by Dr Trevor Edwards and Dr Susan Hoebee.
Winner of ANOSvic Gerald McCraith Student Native Orchid Research Prize 2011, David Myers Outstanding Student Award (La Trobe University) 2011 and A.B. Wardrop Prize in Botanical Ecology (La Trobe University) 2011.
Julie Atkinson (2010) – Evidence for and against regional structuring within the discontinuous distribution of Grevillea chrysophaea Muell. Ex Meisn. (Proteaceae). Supervised by Dr Susan Hoebee and Elizabeth James.
Gerry Ho (2010) – Conservation genetics of the Fryerstown Grevillea, Grevillea obtecta Molyneux (Proteaceae: Grevilleoideae) with reference to its foliar morphology and ecology. Supervised by Dr Susan Hoebee and Elizabeth James.
Winner of the A.B. Wardrop Prize in Botanical Ecology (La Trobe University) 2010.
Past Volunteers
Many thanks to our past volunteers: Richard Camilleri, Jinous Rafaei, Fariba Mohsen Nezhad, Rachael Douglas and Glen Ockwell.
Also to numerous undergraduate students who volunteer their time to assist Honours, Masters or PhD students with data collection and field surveys.