Metadata
Title
Simon Hart
Category
general
UUID
895b1cb2b27944149abeb06401bcc023
Source URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/25887
Parent URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1246
Crawl Time
2026-03-11T07:37:04+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Simon Hart

**Source**: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/25887
**Parent**: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1246

Dr

# Simon Hart

Email:
:   [s.hart@uq.edu.au](mailto:s.hart@uq.edu.au)

Phone:
:   [+61 7 344 31074](tel:+61 7 344 31074)

## Positions

Affiliate of ARC COE for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture
:   ARC COE for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture
:   Faculty of Science

Affiliate of Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science
:   Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science
:   Faculty of Science

Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Biology
:   School of the Environment
:   Faculty of Science

## Overview

### Background

I am an ecologist and the goal of my research is to understand the processes driving the rise and fall of populations of animals and plants over time.

We focus on the biology of flowing freshwater ecosystems — streams, rivers, and associated wetlands. These systems provide wonderfully challenging opportunities for combining theory, observations, and experiments to discover how nature works.

More importantly, freshwater ecosystems are, per unit area, the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, and yet they remain underexplored, underappreciated, and under threat.

We hope our work can help to redress these issues.

You can find out more about our group here: <http://hartlab-ecology.com>

Read more
Read less

### Availability

Dr Simon Hart is:
:   Available for supervision
:   Media expert

### Qualifications

- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

## Works

[Search Professor Simon Hart’s works on UQ eSpace](http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/list/author_id/6124)

[All
(56)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/25887/all)
[Journal Article
(29)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/25887/4748)
[Other Outputs
(25)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/25887/4749)
[Book Chapter
(2)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/25887/4752)

Featured

2023

Journal Article

##### How does facilitation influence the outcome of species interactions?

Hart, Simon P. (2023). How does facilitation influence the outcome of species interactions?. Journal of Ecology, 111 (10), 2094-2104. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.14189

[How does facilitation influence the outcome of species interactions?](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:7a54599)

Featured

2022

Journal Article

##### Phenotypic plasticity promotes species coexistence

Hess, Cyrill, Levine, Jonathan M., Turcotte, Martin M. and Hart, Simon P. (2022). Phenotypic plasticity promotes species coexistence. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 6 (9), 1256-1261. doi: 10.1038/s41559-022-01826-8

[Phenotypic plasticity promotes species coexistence](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:92c6c36)

Featured

2022

Journal Article

##### Does deterministic coexistence theory matter in a finite world?

Schreiber, Sebastian J., Levine, Jonathan M., Godoy, Oscar, Kraft, Nathan J. B. and Hart, Simon P. (2022). Does deterministic coexistence theory matter in a finite world?. Ecology, 104 (1) e3838, 1-17. doi: 10.1002/ecy.3838

[Does deterministic coexistence theory matter in a finite world?](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9168564)

Featured

2019

Journal Article

##### Effects of rapid evolution on species coexistence

Hart, Simon P., Turcotte, Martin M. and Levine, Jonathan M. (2019). Effects of rapid evolution on species coexistence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116 (6), 2112-2117. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1816298116

[Effects of rapid evolution on species coexistence](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:21ad5aa)

Featured

2018

Journal Article

##### Climate-smart sustainable agriculture in low-to-intermediate shade agroforests

Blaser, W. J., Oppong, J., Hart, S. P., Landolt, J., Yeboah, E. and Six, J. (2018). Climate-smart sustainable agriculture in low-to-intermediate shade agroforests. Nature Sustainability, 1 (5), 234-239. doi: 10.1038/s41893-018-0062-8

[Climate-smart sustainable agriculture in low-to-intermediate shade agroforests](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:339b2b5)

Featured

2017

Journal Article

##### The spatial scales of species coexistence

Hart, Simon P., Usinowicz, Jacob and Levine, Jonathan M. (2017). The spatial scales of species coexistence. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 1 (8), 1066-1073. doi: 10.1038/s41559-017-0230-7

[The spatial scales of species coexistence](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:3c68e1a)

Featured

2016

Journal Article

##### How variation between individuals affects species coexistence

Hart, Simon P., Schreiber, Sebastian J. and Levine, Jonathan M. (2016). How variation between individuals affects species coexistence. Ecology Letters, 19 (8), 825-838. doi: 10.1111/ele.12618

[How variation between individuals affects species coexistence](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:e20f940)

Featured

2025

Journal Article

##### The unrealized potential of agroforestry for an emissions-intensive agricultural commodity

Becker, Alexander, Wegner, Jan D., Dawoe, Evans, Schindler, Konrad, Thompson, William J., Bunn, Christian, Garrett, Rachael D., Castro-Llanos, Fabio, Hart, Simon P. and Blaser-Hart, Wilma J. (2025). The unrealized potential of agroforestry for an emissions-intensive agricultural commodity. Nature Sustainability, 8 (9), 994-1003. doi: 10.1038/s41893-025-01608-7

[The unrealized potential of agroforestry for an emissions-intensive agricultural commodity](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:4e4d309)

2025

Journal Article

##### Diversity and Distribution of Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes on Australian Islands

Ho, Samuel C. L., Hart, Simon P., Hammer, Michael P., Baxter, Peter W. J., Unmack, Peter J. and Kark, Salit (2025). Diversity and Distribution of Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes on Australian Islands. Diversity and Distributions, 31 (7) e70062, 7. doi: 10.1111/ddi.70062

[Diversity and Distribution of Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes on Australian Islands](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:55fac0a)

2025

Journal Article

##### Ecosystem changes caused by hydrological change are associated with population decline in a formerly-common grazing herbivore

Blaser-Hart, W. J., Shanungu, G. K., Edwards, P. J., Harms, J., Hart, S. P. H., Ellenbroek, G. A., van Gils, H. A. M. J., Simukonda, C. and Olde Venterink, H. (2025). Ecosystem changes caused by hydrological change are associated with population decline in a formerly-common grazing herbivore. Ecosystems, 28 (1) 14, 1. doi: 10.1007/s10021-024-00951-8

[Ecosystem changes caused by hydrological change are associated with population decline in a formerly-common grazing herbivore](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:671a3f7)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part D)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part D). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/2f89edd

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part D)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:2f89edd)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part D)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part D). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8e8eaa1

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part D)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:8e8eaa1)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images & polygons CIV Guiglo)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images & polygons CIV Guiglo). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/d45b49f

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images & polygons CIV Guiglo)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:d45b49f)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2021 point clouds)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2021 point clouds). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/53e3189

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2021 point clouds)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:53e3189)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part E)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part E). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/abfae39

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part E)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:abfae39)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part A)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part A). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/ee5999e

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part A)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:ee5999e)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part F)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part F). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/0e1fdd6

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part F)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:0e1fdd6)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 point clouds)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 point clouds). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/6a832c4

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 point clouds)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:6a832c4)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 High Shade all exports)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 High Shade all exports). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/befec92

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 High Shade all exports)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:befec92)

2025

Other Outputs

##### The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps CIV 2021 all exports)

Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps CIV 2021 all exports). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/3442358

[The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps CIV 2021 all exports)](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:3442358)

## Funding

### Current funding

- 2024 - 2027

  Improving biodiversity outcomes in West African cocoa

  Lindt Cocoa Foundation

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/65466)

### Past funding

- 2022 - 2025

  Rapid evolution, and the dynamics and stability of ecological communities

  ARC Discovery Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/52201)
- 2021 - 2023

  Spatially explicit recommendations for optimal levels of shade-tree cover for sustainable cocoa production

  European Cocoa Association AISBL

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/48931)
- 2020 - 2024

  Methods and a tool for remotely estimating shade-tree cover & carbon stocks, and for developing spatially explicit recommendations for cocoa agroforests

  ETH Zurich

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/43526)

## Supervision

### Availability

Dr Simon Hart is:
:   Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on [how to choose a supervisor](https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/how-to-choose-a-supervisor).

### Available projects

- #### [How does rapid evolution affect ecological dynamics era global environmental change](https://graduate-school.uq.edu.au/project/how-does-rapid-evolution-affect-ecological-dynamics-era-global-environmental-change)

  Our international team of ecologists and evolutionary biologists based at prestigious universities in Australia, the USA, and Canada has a fully-funded (including both salary and research funds) PhD project exploring how rapid evolution influences population dynamics in an era of global environmental change.

  Understanding why population sizes of plants and animals rise and fall is a fundamental problem in ecology, and underpins our ability to predict environmental impacts, and to manage threatened, harvested and pest species. Dominant explanations for the rise and fall of species have focused on environmental impacts and species interactions but have typically excluded the ability of species to rapidly evolve to changing conditions. This project will combine theory, lab and field experiments, and molecular tools to understand when and how rapid evolution affects the dynamics of plants and animals in an era of global environmental change.

  The project will focus on species in subtropical freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Queensland, Australia. These systems provide wonderfully challenging opportunities for combining theory, observations, and experiments to discover how nature works. And importantly, freshwater ecosystems are, per unit area, the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, yet they remain under explored, underappreciated, and under threat.

  Students on this project will receive world class training at the cutting edge of eco-evolutionary biology, will have the opportunity to develop strong professional networks nationally and internationally, and will be ideally placed to pursue a career in the university, government, or private sectors.

  The successful candidate will join a young but experienced team of ecologists and evolutionary biologists to work on a funded Australian Research Council Discovery Project “How does rapid evolution affect the dynamics and stability of ecological communities?” The student will be based in the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and will be supervised by Dr Simon Hart and Dr Masato Yamamichi. Students will be co-advised by scientists at MIT (Assoc. Prof Serguei Saavedra), the University of British Columbia (Assist. Prof Rachel Germain), and the University of Arkansas (Prof. Adam Siepielski), and will have opportunities for international travel.

  Read more
  Read less

### Supervision history

#### Current supervision

- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### The effects of rapid evolution on ecological dynamics and stability in variable environments

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Richard Fuller](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1992)
- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Socio-ecological drivers of natural forest regeneration in cocoa-growing landscapes.

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Dr John Dwyer](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1246), [Professor Richard Fuller](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1992), [Dr Wilma J. Blaser Hart](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/27450)
- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### The effects of rapid evolution and phenotypic plasticity on ecological dynamics in fluctuating environments

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Associate Professor Jan Engelstaedter](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/2795), [Dr Andrew Letten](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/25690)
- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Improving biodiversity outcomes in West African cocoa

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Richard Fuller](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1992), [Associate Professor Matthew Luskin](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/26286), [Dr Wilma J. Blaser Hart](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/27450)
- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Rapid evolution and the dynamics and stability of ecological communities.

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Associate Professor Jan Engelstaedter](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/2795), [Dr Andrew Letten](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/25690)
- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Modelling population dynamics and trophic interactions in freshwater ecosystems, with platypus as a model species

  Principal Advisor
- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Drivers of declining apex predator trends in Asian counties

  Associate Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Associate Professor Matthew Luskin](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/26286)

View all 7 current supervisions
View less

## Media

### Enquiries

Contact Dr Simon Hart directly for media enquiries about:

- biodiversity
- climate change
- conservation
- ecology
- evolution
- freshwater

#### Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

[communications@uq.edu.au](mailto:communications@uq.edu.au)

## External profiles

- [ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7957-8689)
- [ResearcherID](https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/B-6492-2013)
- [Scopus](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=36055602500)
- [Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=YMlNbm8AAAAJ)

## Personal links

- [Our Group's Website](https://www.hartlab-ecology.com/)

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