Assoc Prof David Norton
Research Expertise
Ecology, restoration ecology, threatened plant conservation, landscape ecology, ecological monitoring.
Current Focus
The primary focus of my research is on better integrating biodiversity conservation into sustainable land management in primary production systems, especially extensive sheep and beef pastoral systems. Current research projects include studies on: Habitat use by sheep and impacts on native biodiversity; Long-term monitoring of land-cover and aquatic conditions in high country farms; Hawkweed invasion; Use of photo-monitoring to document change in pastoral systems; Fertiliser effects on native biodiversity; Role of native vegetation in providing shelter for lambing; Evaluating success in restoration plantings; Thresholds to restoration success in highly degraded systems. I am also actively involved in working with the farming community in applying whole property management planning as a tool to enhance biodiversity conservation outcomes within working farms.
Representative Publications
Norton, D.A., Espie, P.R., Murray, W., & Murra,y .J (2006). Influence of pastoral management on plant biodiversity in a depleted short tussock grassland, Mackenzie Basin. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 30: 335-344.
Hobbs, R.J., Arico, S., Aronson, J., Baron, J..S, Bridgewater, P., Cramer, V.A., Epstein, P.R., Ewel, J.J., Klink, K.A., Lugo, A.E., Norton, D.A., Ojima, D., Richardson, D.A., Sanderson, E.W., Valladares, F., Vila, M., Zamora, R., Zobel, M. (2006). Novel ecosystems: theoretical and management aspects of the new ecological world order. Global Ecology and Biogeography 15, 1-7.
Norton, D,A. (2008). Guidelines for Preparing Whole Property Management Plans for High Country Farms. Sustainable Farming Fund Project 04/063 report, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury., Christchurch.
Norton, D.A. (2009). Biodiversity offsets – two New Zealand case studies and an assessment framework. Environmental Management 43: 698-706.
Norton, D.A. (2009). Species invasions and the limits to restoration: learning from the New Zealand experience. Science 325: 569-571.