Melissa is a research scientist for Nature Conservation where her chief responsibilities are to conduct research that contributes to the circumscription, conservation and management of Western Australia’s endangered flora. Melissa’s research focuses on utilising molecular genetic techniques to examine levels of genetic diversity, patterns of genetic structure within and among populations and the effect of habitat degradation and reduced population size on reproductive systems, gene flow and the maintenance of genetic diversity in native taxa. Her work contributes to understanding the effects of current anthropogenic disturbances as well as long term evolutionary influences on the persistence and phylogeographic structure of native taxa. Melissa has also worked in the culture of specialised plant tissues utilised in advanced breeding programs of forestry and agricultural species.

• Molecular genetic techniques
• Population and evolutionary genetics
• Specialised tissue culture techniques

Qualifications

2008

PhD, Dept. Food, Ag and Wine, Adelaide University (AU). Project title: Acacia saligna as an agroforestry crop for southern Australia: a genetic assessment.

1998

Bachelor of Science. Honours. Dept. Biological Sciences, Murdoch University. Project title: The mating system of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn Ex. Sm).

Positions held

2008–present

Post-doctoral Research Scientist, Department of Environment and Conservation.

2004–2008

Post-graduate Researcher, Adelaide University, the Co-operative Research Centre for Plant Based Management of Dryland Salinity and Department of Environment and Conservation.

2001–2004

Graduate Research Assistant, Faculty of Plant Sciences, the University of Western Australia.

1999–2001

Technical Officer, Department of Conservation and Land Management.

Membership of Professional Associations

• Society for the Study of Evolution
• International Association of Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology

• Assessment of population structure and phylogenetic relationships of Acacia woodmaniourm – externally funded, Gindalbie Metals.
• Molecular genetic identification of invasive variants of Acacia saligna – collaboration with Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

(16 items)

2009

Coates DJ, Millar M, Byrne M (2009). Assessment of the genetic structure and levels of clonality in the critically endangered Banksia ionthocarpa subsp. chrysophoenix and its sister taxon Banksia ionthocarpa subsp. ionthocarpa. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 15 p.

2008

Byrne M, Millar M (2008). Genetic works to delineate threatened flora species for recovery priority setting : Pultenaea pauciflora. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 4 p.

Byrne M, Millar M (2008). Genetic works to delineate threatened flora species for recovery priority setting: Dryandra mimica (Banksia mimica). Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 5 p.

Byrne M, Millar MA, Sampson J (2008). Potential for genetic contamination of remnant native populations from planted stands of woody perennials in fragmented agricultural landscapes. In 2nd International Salinity Forum, Adelaide, 2008: Salinity, Water and Society, Global Issues, Local Action Conference Organising Committee, Adelaide. pp. 1–4

Millar M, Byrne M, Coates D (2008). Seed collection zones for state forest management: a report to the Sustainable Forest Management Division. Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA. 21 p.

Millar M, Byrne M, Nuberg I, Sedgley M (2008). High outcrossing and random pollen dispersal in a planted stand of Acacia saligna subsp. saligna revealed by paternity analysis using microsatellites. Tree Genetics and Genomes 4, pp. 367–377

Millar MA, Byrne M (2008). Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers in Banksia nivea, formerly Dryandra nivea. Molecular Ecology Resources 8, pp. 1393–1394

Millar MA, Byrne M, Coates DJ (2008). Seed collection for revegetation: guidelines for Western Australian flora. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 91, pp. 293–299

Millar MA, Byrne M, Nuberg I, Sedgley M (2008). A rapid PCR-based diagnostic test for the identification of subspecies of Acacia saligna. Tree Genetics and Genomes 4, pp. 625–635

2007

Byrne M, Sampson J, Millar M (2007). Pollen dispersal between planted populations and remnant native populations in a fragmented agricultural landscape (ABSTRACT). In Abstracts: Genetics Society of Australasia 2007: 54th annual Conference, June 26th-29th, the University of Sydney, Australia: Comparative Genomics Workshop, June 26th-27th Genetics Society of Australasia, Sydney. p. 36

Millar MA, Byrne M (2007). Pollen contamination in Acacia saligna: assessing the risks for sustainable agroforestry. In Ecosystems and Sustainable Development. VI (eds E Tiezzi, JC Marques, CA Brebbia et al.). WIT Press, Southampton. pp. 101–110

Millar MA, Byrne M (2007). High levels of gene flow but low levels of hybrid progeny in genetically divergent taxa in the Acacia saligna species complex of southwestern Australia (ABSTRACT). In Evolution 2007, Christchurch, New Zealand.16-20 June, 2007 Conference Organising Committee, Christchurch. p. 1

Millar MA, Byrne M (2007). Characterisation of polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers for Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L.Wendl. (Mimosaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes 7, pp. 1372–1374

Sampson J, Millar M, Byrne M (2007). Pollen dispersal between planted populations and remnant native populations in a fragmented agricultural landscape (ABSTRACT). In MedEcos XI: conference program, information & summary abstracts: the International Mediterranean Ecosystems Conference, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, Sunday 2-Wednesday 5 September 2007 Conference Organising Committee, Perth. pp. 108–109

Sampson J, Millar MA, Byrne M (2007). Pollen dispersal between planted populations and remnant native populations in a fragmented agricultural landscape. In MedEcos XI: conference proceedings: the International Mediterranean Ecosystems Conference, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, Sunday 2-Wednesday 5 September 2007 (eds D Rokich, G Wardell-Johnson, C Yates et al.). Kings Park & Botanic Garden, West Perth. pp. 221–222

2005

Millar M (2005). Risk assessment for Acacia saligna agroforestry (POSTER ABSTRACT). In Advances in Plant Conservation Biology: Implications for Flora Management and Restoration: Symposium Program and Abstracts 25-27 October 2005 (comps D Coates, A Crawford, K Dixon et al.). Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kensington, WA. p. 31