Overview
Background
Lorna joined SMI-CMLR in 2017. At the beginning of her career at SMI, she focused mostly on the project regarding the restoration of Ranger Uranium Mine. As her career has progressed and the demands of Ranger’s project have decreased, she started to become involved in a wider range of projects mostly dealing with different aspects of environmental monitoring through remote sensing. Funding for projects at SMI has been provided by the government at state and federal levels, as well as research institutes, mining companies, and consortiums between industry and research organisations (e.g. SartSat-CRC, CRC-TiME). She has also continued to build on and expand her PhD research through collaborations and short projects.
During her PhD in ecology (UQ; 2017), Lorna looked into the ecology of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) to assess potential aspects driving the range contraction of this endangered species. These aspects included top-down (predators) and bottom-up (habitat quality and prey availability) pressures, population dynamics of northern quolls –through live-trapping–, and interactions with other dasyurid species. This research was funded by ARC, scholarships awarded (CONACYT and UQ), grants (Holsworth, NESP), and in-kind funding (DPaW). Before graduating, Lorna held a research assistant position with the Quantitative Applied Spatial Ecology Group at QUT, where she worked with drone derived data over the course of three months.
Lorna obtained a B.Sc. in Biology (UDLAP in Puebla, Mexico; 2004), where she conducted a thesis (honours equivalent) looking at the spatial and temporal distribution of avifauna in urban areas. Then, while conducting her M.Sc. in Range and Wildlife Management (SRSU in Texas, USA; 2008), Lorna explored the home range and movement rates of jaguars (Panthera onca) in agricultural and protected areas of northern Paraguay and monitored mesocarnivores in Big Bend National Park (Texas). She also worked on projects monitoring avifauna as indicators of restoration success, monitoring home ranges of grey foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), tutored “GIS and Remote Sensing”, and started a role as research assistant that continued after graduation. The latter was to develop habitat suitability models for mountain lions (Puma concolor) and black bears (Ursus americanus).
Availability
- Dr Lorna Hernandez Santin is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Lorna is an ecologist and spatial scientist who focuses on minimising human impacts on the environment and its species at different scales, mostly through GIS and remote sensing tools (e.g. data obtained from camera-trapping, telemetry, maps, drones, and/or satellites –among others).
Lorna’s research focus includes:
- Restoration ecology and mine-rehabilitation with aim to obtain positive outcomes for biodiversity.
- Measuring mine-rehabilitation success through remote sensing and fieldwork (including understanding the relationship between them) and improving current practices to achieve positive outcomes. For example:
- Broader ecological and conservation aspects, often aiming to minimise anthropogenic impacts on the environment. This work has had a strong fauna focus, with an expertise in carnivores. Through this research, Lorna has explored habitat suitability, species distributions, habitat quality, resource availability, habitat use, population dynamics, movement rates, activity patters, communities, and species interactions of native and introduced species in varied ecosystem types (including urban areas) across the world.
Works
Search Professor Lorna Hernandez Santin’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Mining in the nature-positive era
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna (2024, 09 08). Mining in the nature-positive era Mining Magazine 40-43.
2024
Journal Article
High post-sex survival of the world's largest semelparous mammal
Cowan, Mitchell A., Dunlop, Judy A., Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Heidrich, Astrid, Knuckey, Chris G. and Nimmo, Dale G. (2024). High post-sex survival of the world's largest semelparous mammal. Austral Ecology, 49 (9) e13595. doi: 10.1111/aec.13595
2024
Journal Article
Setting restorative goals with a regional outlook: Mine-rehabilitation outcomes influence landscape connectivity
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Gagen, Emma J. and Erskine, Peter D. (2024). Setting restorative goals with a regional outlook: Mine-rehabilitation outcomes influence landscape connectivity. Journal of Environmental Management, 357 120778, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120778
2024
Other Outputs
An assessment of Rehabilitation Report Card data for Cerrejón, Colombia – Phase I
Hernandez-Santin, L. and Erskine, P. D. (2024). An assessment of Rehabilitation Report Card data for Cerrejón, Colombia – Phase I. Brisbane, QLD Australia: University of Queensland.
Featured
2023
Conference Publication
Complex Orebodies Analysis: A Multidisciplinary Application to the Izok Lake Corridor Project in the Canadian Arctic
Micklethwaite, S., Verster, I., Seligmann, B.J., Antonio, C., Hilden, M., Hernandez-Santin, L., Ghoreishi-Madiseh, S.A., Kuyuk, A., Kalantari, H.B., Sasmito, A.P., Cote, C., Ziemski, M., Car, M., Lamb, A., Erskine, P., Runge, K. and Valenta, R.K. (2023). Complex Orebodies Analysis: A Multidisciplinary Application to the Izok Lake Corridor Project in the Canadian Arctic. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
2023
Conference Publication
Integration will take you forward: causal networks as a new approach to address inherent problems with risk management practice in mining organisations
Seligmann, B.J., Micklethwaite, S., Forbes, G., Lin, Y., Trendle, J., Bowdidge-Calvert, C., Verster, I., Antonio, C., Ziemski, M. and Hernandez-Santin, L. (2023). Integration will take you forward: causal networks as a new approach to address inherent problems with risk management practice in mining organisations. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
2023
Other Outputs
What is the best current sensor/method for each rehabilitation metric at Newlands?
Lorna Hernandez Santin and Peter Erskine (2023). What is the best current sensor/method for each rehabilitation metric at Newlands?. St. Lucia: SMI.
2023
Other Outputs
Design of Activities for the Investigation of Ngadju Salt Lake Systems
Chrystal, Robynne, McIntyre, Neil, Bolz, Pascal, Edraki, Mansour, Worden, Sandy, Holcombe, Sarah, Barnes, Rodger and Hernandez Santin, Lorna (2023). Design of Activities for the Investigation of Ngadju Salt Lake Systems. Brisbane, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
2023
Journal Article
Measuring and monitoring restored ecosystems: can remote sensing be applied to the ecological recovery wheel to inform restoration success?
McKenna, Phillip B., Lechner, Alex M., Hernandez Santin, Lorna, Phinn, Stuart and Erskine, Peter D. (2023). Measuring and monitoring restored ecosystems: can remote sensing be applied to the ecological recovery wheel to inform restoration success?. Restoration Ecology, 31 (1) e13724. doi: 10.1111/rec.13724
2022
Other Outputs
Mapping biodiversity corridors and mine rehabilitation opportunities in the Fitzroy Basin
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Gagen, Emma J. and Erskine, Peter D. (2022). Mapping biodiversity corridors and mine rehabilitation opportunities in the Fitzroy Basin. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2022
Journal Article
Non-preferred habitat increases the activity area of the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in a semi-arid landscape
Cowan, M. A., Moore, H. A., Hradsky, B. A., Jolly, C. J., Dunlop, J. A., Wysong, M. L., Hernandez-Santin, L., Davis, R. A., Fisher, D. O., Michael, D. R., Turner, J. M., Gibson, L. A., Knuckey, C. G., Henderson, M. and Nimmo, D. G. (2022). Non-preferred habitat increases the activity area of the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in a semi-arid landscape. Australian Mammalogy, 45 (2), 138-150. doi: 10.1071/am22006
2022
Journal Article
Northern quolls in the Pilbara persist in high‐quality habitat, despite a decline trajectory consistent with range eclipse by feral cats
Hernandez‐Santin, Lorna, Goldizen, Anne W. and Fisher, Diana O. (2022). Northern quolls in the Pilbara persist in high‐quality habitat, despite a decline trajectory consistent with range eclipse by feral cats. Conservation Science and Practice, 4 (8) e12733, 1-13. doi: 10.1111/csp2.12733
2022
Other Outputs
A roadmap for adapting to technological change in remote sensing and monitoring capabilities
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Erskine, Peter D. and Bartolo, Renee E. (2022). A roadmap for adapting to technological change in remote sensing and monitoring capabilities. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: CRC TiME.
2022
Other Outputs
Data relating to the Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project (Izok-Dataroom-UQ)
Micklethwaite, Steven, Verster, Lizette, Antonio, Christian, Ziemski, Marcin, Hilden, Marco, Ghoreishi-Madiseh, Ali, Kuyuk, Ali, Kalantari, Hossein, Sasmito, Agus, Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Erskine, Peter, Cote, Claire, Lebre, Eleanor and Seligman, Benjamin (2022). Data relating to the Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project (Izok-Dataroom-UQ). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/9a95ed5
2022
Journal Article
Community structure of dasyurid marsupials in the arid Pilbara is consistent with a top-down system, their distribution and abundance depend on that of larger members of the guild
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Fisher, Diana O. (2022). Community structure of dasyurid marsupials in the arid Pilbara is consistent with a top-down system, their distribution and abundance depend on that of larger members of the guild. Journal of Arid Environments, 198 104680, 104680. doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104680
2021
Other Outputs
Detection of weed species using high-resolution drone imagery: phase II draft report for Ensham Mine
Erskine, Peter, McKenna, Phillip, Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Ufer, Natasha (2021). Detection of weed species using high-resolution drone imagery: phase II draft report for Ensham Mine. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queesnland.
2021
Other Outputs
Review of Terrestrial Baseline Report: Sub-report on wildlife impacts
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Erskine, Peter D. (2021). Review of Terrestrial Baseline Report: Sub-report on wildlife impacts. Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Other Outputs
Sustainability indicators: summaries of peer-reviewed papers read
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna (2021). Sustainability indicators: summaries of peer-reviewed papers read. Sustainability indicators Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Other Outputs
Plot size does matter in vegetation assessments of savanna ecosystems
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Erskine, Peter D. (2021). Plot size does matter in vegetation assessments of savanna ecosystems. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Journal Article
Reference site selection protocols for mine site ecosystem restoration
Hernandez‐Santin, Lorna, Rudge, Mitchel L., Bartolo, Renee E., Whiteside, Timothy G. and Erskine, Peter D. (2021). Reference site selection protocols for mine site ecosystem restoration. Restoration Ecology, 29 (1) rec.13278. doi: 10.1111/rec.13278
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Lorna Hernandez Santin is:
- Available for supervision
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