Research Fellow
Overview
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).
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.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Publications
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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.
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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.
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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.
Grants
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Rehabilitation Options for Ponded Areas Due to Longwall Coal Mining
(2023–2026) Australian Coal Association Research Program
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High-resolution monitoring of Newlands and Collinsville mine rehabilitation
(2022–2025) NC Coal Company Pty Ltd
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A Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project (304MMGIZOK)
(2021) MMG Australia Limited
Publications
Book Chapter
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Does habitat heterogeneity affect bird community structure in urban parks?
Antonio Gonzalez-Oreja, Jose, Laura Barillas-Gomez, Ana, Bonache-Regidor, Carolina, Buzo-Franco, Daniela, Garcia-Guzman, Jeronimo and Hernandez-Santin, Lorna (2012). Does habitat heterogeneity affect bird community structure in urban parks?. Urban bird ecology and conservation. (pp. 1-14) edited by Christopher A. Lepczyk and Paige S. Warren. Berkeley, CA, United States: University of California Press.
Journal Article
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Spatial ecology of an endangered carnivore, the Pilbara northern quoll
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Henderson, Melinda, Molloy, Shaun W., Dunlop, Judy A. and Davis, Robert A. (2020). Spatial ecology of an endangered carnivore, the Pilbara northern quoll. Australian Mammalogy, 43 (2), 235-242. doi: 10.1071/am19052
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Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Erskine, Peter D. and Bartolo, Renee E. (2020). A review of revegetation at mine sites in the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory, and the development of a state and transition model for ecological restoration at Ranger uranium mine. Journal of Cleaner Production, 246 119079, 119079. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119079
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Demography of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the most arid part of its range
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Dunlop, Judy A., Goldizen, Anne W. and Fisher, Diana O. (2019). Demography of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the most arid part of its range. Journal of Mammalogy, 100 (4) gyz092, 1191-1198. doi: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz092
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Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Rudge, Mitchel, Bartolo, Renee and Erskine, Peter (2019). Identifying Species and Monitoring Understorey from UAS-Derived Data: A Literature Review and Future Directions. Drones, 3 (1) 9, 9-18. doi: 10.3390/drones3010009
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Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Goldizen, Anne W. and Fisher, Diana O. (2016). Introduced predators and habitat structure influence range contraction of an endangered native predator, the northern quoll. Biological Conservation, 203, 160-167. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.09.023
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Plant diversity along a disturbance gradient in a semi-arid ecosystem in Central Mexico
Ramirez-Bravo, Osvaldo Eric and Hernandez-Santin, Lorna (2016). Plant diversity along a disturbance gradient in a semi-arid ecosystem in Central Mexico. Acta Botanica Mexicana, 117 (117), 11-25. doi: 10.21829/abm117.2016.1164
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Ramirez-Bravo, Osvaldo Eric and Hernandez-Santin, Lorna (2016). Carnivores (Mammalia) from areas of Nearctic–Neotropical transition in Puebla, central Mexico: presence, distribution, and conservation. Check List, 12 (1) 1833, 1-17. doi: 10.15560/12.1.1833
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Petracca, Lisanne S., Eric Ramirez-Bravo, O. and Hernandez-Santin, Lorna (2014). Occupancy estimation of jaguar Panthera onca to assess the value of east-central Mexico as a jaguar corridor. Oryx, 48 (1), 133-140. doi: 10.1017/s0030605313000069
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Ramírez-Bravo, O. Eric, Moreno Barrera, Paola Lizbeth and Hernández-Santín, Lorna (2013). Public participation as an aid to conserve little known species: The case of the neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818) in central Mexico. IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin, 30 (1), 39-43.
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New records of tepezcuincle (Cuniculus paca) in Puebla, Central Mexico
Ramírez-Bravo, Osvaldo Eric and Hernández-Santín, Lorna (2012). New records of tepezcuincle (Cuniculus paca) in Puebla, Central Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, 83 (3), 872-874. doi: 10.22201/ib.20078706e.2012.83.3271
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New records of tepezcuincle (Cuniculus paca) in Puebla, Central Mexico
Eric Ramirez-Bravo, Osvaldo and Hernandez-Santin, Lorna (2012). New records of tepezcuincle (Cuniculus paca) in Puebla, Central Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, 83 (3), 872-874. doi: 10.7550/rmb.28296
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Suitable habitats for cougars (Puma concolor) in Texas and Northern Mexico
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Harveson, Patricia M. and Harveson, Louis A. (2012). Suitable habitats for cougars (Puma concolor) in Texas and Northern Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist, 57 (3), 314-318. doi: 10.1894/0038-4909-57.3.314
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Ramírez Bravo, O. Eric and Hernández-Satin, Lorna (2012). Nuevos registros del temazate rojo (mammalia: Artiodactyla: cervidae: Mazama temama) en el estado de Puebla, México. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie), 28 (2), 487-490. doi: 10.21829/azm.2012.282852
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Characteristics of two mountain lionPuma concolorpopulations in Texas, USA
Harveson, Patricia Moody, Harveson, Louis A., Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Tewes, Michael E., Silvy, Nova J. and Pittman, Michael T. (2012). Characteristics of two mountain lionPuma concolorpopulations in Texas, USA. Wildlife Biology, 18 (1), 58-66. doi: 10.2981/10-024
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Can human disturbance promote nestedness? Songbirds and noise in urban parks as a case study
González-Oreja, José Antonio, De La Fuente-Díaz-Ordaz, Arturo Andrés, Hernández-Santín, Lorna, Bonache-Regidor, Carolina and Buzo-Franco, Daniela (2012). Can human disturbance promote nestedness? Songbirds and noise in urban parks as a case study. Landscape and Urban Planning, 104 (1), 9-18. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.09.001
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González-Oreja, J. A., de la Fuente-Díaz-Ordaz, A. A., Hernández-Santín, L., Buzo-Franco, D. and Bonache-Regidor, C. (2010). Assessing non-parametric estimators of species richness. A case study with birds in green areas of the city of Puebla, Mexico Evaluación de estimadores no paramétricos de la riqueza de especies. un ejemplo con aves en áreas verdes de la ciudad de puebla, méxico. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 33 (1), 31-45.
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Ecological characterization of the avifauna of the urban parks of the City of Puebla (México)
González Oreja, José Antonio, Bonache Regidor, Carolina, Buzo Franco, Daniela, De La Fuente Díaz Ordaz, Arturo Andrés and Hernández Satín, Lorna (2007). Ecological characterization of the avifauna of the urban parks of the City of Puebla (México). Ardeola, 54 (1), 53-67.
Conference Publication
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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.
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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.
Other Outputs
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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1. Review of Terrestrial Baseline Report
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Erskine, Peter D. (2021). 1. Review of Terrestrial Baseline Report. Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
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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: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
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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: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
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Detection of weed species using high-resolution drone imagery and object based image analysis
Erskine, Peter, Mckenna, Phillip and Hernandez-Santin, Lorna (2020). Detection of weed species using high-resolution drone imagery and object based image analysis. Brisbane: The University of Queensland.
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Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Erskine, Peter D. (2020). Physical soil characteristics. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
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Erskine, Peter D., Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Ufer, Natasha (2019). Review of Energy Resources of Australia’s (ERA) internal reports: state of knowledge for Ranger’s rehabilitation. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
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Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Erskine, Peter (2019). Assessing the effect of spatial scale on species composition and community structure for revegetation planning. Scale effect Brisbane, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
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Wildlife Dispersal Modelling for Mitigation of Road Impacts: Report 2 – Fieldwork plan
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Erskine, D. Peter (2018). Wildlife Dispersal Modelling for Mitigation of Road Impacts: Report 2 – Fieldwork plan . Planning: mitigation of road impacts in Kenya Brisbane, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
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Report 1: Wildlife dispersal modelling for mitigation of road impacts initial fieldtrip
Hernandez-Santin, Lorna and Erskine, Peter (2018). Report 1: Wildlife dispersal modelling for mitigation of road impacts initial fieldtrip. Planning: mitigation of road impacts in Kenya Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
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Ecology and predator associations of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara
Hernandez Santin, Lorna (2017). Ecology and predator associations of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara. PhD Thesis, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.661
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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Rehabilitation Options for Ponded Areas Due to Longwall Coal Mining
(2023–2026) Australian Coal Association Research Program
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High-resolution monitoring of Newlands and Collinsville mine rehabilitation
(2022–2025) NC Coal Company Pty Ltd
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A Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project (304MMGIZOK)
(2021) MMG Australia Limited
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(2021) SmartSat CRC
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(2020–2021) CRC TIME Limited
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Provision of services and advice for ecosystem establishment and landform studies
(2019–2023) Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy
