Dr David Ashton OAM, past member of the School of Botany, was one of Australia’s most highly regarded plant ecologists. He demonstrated an exceptional breadth of knowledge, and published on plant community dynamics, long-term vegetation change, nutrient cycling, soil microbial ecology, and the influence of drought and disease on plants. His outstanding contribution was recognised by the Ecological Society of Australia, who awarded him their highest honour, the ESA Medal.
David was best known as the leading authority on the ecology of Australia’s mountain ash forests. When he was a young postgraduate student no one knew how this forest regenerates and how its continuation depends on fire at certain intervals and intensity. The late Professor John Turner directed him to solve the problem and find out the secrets of Mountain Ash regeneration. Over a life-time David did just that. He documented how forests change over time in the absence of fire, how catastrophic fire can be, but how the mountain ash trees have amazing regrowth following events such as the devastating 1939 bushfires.
David Ashton was an outstanding teacher and made a major contribution to the training of later generations of ecologists and leaders. Many he trained have held positions within government or private agencies, national parks, CSIRO, forestry, universities and secondary schools.
A bequest from David and donations from colleagues and friends led to the establishment of two student awards -- the David Ashton Travel Award and the David H Ashton Scholarship.
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