Gluepot Reserve is open. Please do not rely on Google maps, Apple maps or SatNav to get here. The only access to Gluepot is from Lunn Road off the Goyder H'way.

  • Research and Monitoring

The current members of the Gluepot Reserve Research and Monitoring Committee include Rebecca Boulton (chair), Chris Hedger, Joan Gibbs, Chris Grant, Greg Johnston, John Gitsham and Marilyn Wilkins. Membership is voluntary and is comprised of people interested in using good science to guide the management of Gluepot Reserve. The committee’s role is diverse, but is centred around prioritising, promoting and advising on the scientific monitoring and research to be conducted on the reserve. Currently, the committee are compiling a list of their top 10 projects they believe will help drive important management decisions while revising the ecological objectives in the Management Plan 2009-2018.
Gluepot is being developed as a Quality Centre for Scientific Research, and is ideally suited to a diverse range of biological research projects. All areas of the Reserve are open to use by researchers, and the Birdseye Block, an area of 17 000ha of both recently burnt (2006) and old growth mallee, has been specifically designated as a core reference area (research and conservation access only) – public access to the block is restricted.

Information for Prospective Researchers and Students

Gluepot offers a unique opportunity for prospective researchers, particularly students looking to undertake projects relating to; the impact of artificial watering points on both bird populations and vegetation; biodiversity recovery from fire; long term feral animal control and land management practices that are both ecologically and culturally sustainable; and research on threatened or declining species, as well as common mallee birds. Presently, a large number of both Australian and overseas universities and research institutions have conducted research projects on the reserve including PhD, MSc and Honours projects. See Research Projects.

Excellent facilities are available to researchers at Gluepot, including the newly built five bedroom accommodation block and the Gluepot Library and Research Centre. Gluepot has extensive infrastructure for biological surveys made available to researches including 52 pitfall lines, 75 permanent bird atlas sites, one (soon to be four) herbivore exclosure fence and numerous permanent photo points. The reserve’s Assistant Volunteer Rangers are always eager to help researchers collect data in the field. Previously collected data from the reserve can be made available to students to help support their thesis conclusions. Members of the Research and Monitoring Committee can assist students and other researchers in the formulation of project proposals.

Research projects at Gluepot should abide by the Research Policy and an Application to Undertake Research and Surveys protocol forms should be submitted in writing to Ian Falkenberg, Chair, Gluepot Reserve Management Committee.