Dr Larissa Schneider

Contacts

DECRA Fellow

Dr Schneider is an environmental scientist interested in understanding the role of past climate changes and human activities on tropical and temperate ecosystems. Her research focuses on the geochemistry of freshwater lake sediments to reveal long-term interactions between humans, climate and metal contamination using the information stored in the bottom of lakes. This information sheds light on past climate changes, the role of human colonisation in the landscape, the magnitude of impacts from industry and other processes.

 

Research interests

  • Geochemistry
  • Biogeochemical cycle of Hg
  • Environmental contamination by ancient Empires and populations
  • Palaeoclimatology
  • Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction

Dr Schneider is the founder and convenor of Mercury Australia (www.mercury-australia.com.au), a research network that unites researchers investigating the historical and contemporary uses and impacts of mercury and their implications for regulation and governance in the Southern Hemisphere, with special emphasis in the Asia and the Pacific.

Her research interest focuses on advancement of our knowledge of the historical uses and contemporary sources of mercury in the Southern Hemisphere, with particular attention given to Australia to ratifying the international Minamata Convention and complying with this treaty. 

 

  • Long, K, Schneider, L, Williams, I et al. 2020, 'A first look at oxygen isotope records from modern and Holocene-aged gastropod (Stenomelania) shells from Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea', Journal of Quaternary Science, vol. Online.

  • Schneider, L, Rose, N, Lintern, A et al. 2020, 'Assessing environmental contamination from metal emission and relevant regulations in major areas of coal mining and electricity generation in Australia', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 728, pp. -.

  • Schneider, L, Cooke, C, Stansell, N et al. 2020, 'Effects of climate variability on mercury deposition during the Older Dryas and Younger Dryas in the Venezuelan Andes', Journal of Paleolimnology, vol. 63, pp. 211-224.

  • Beck, K, Mariani, M, Fletcher, M et al. 2020, 'The impacts of intensive mining on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems: A case of sediment pollution and calcium decline in cool temperate Tasmania, Australia', Environmental Pollution, vol. 265.

  • Sinclair, D & Schneider, L 2019, 'Mercury Emissions, Regulation and Governance of Coal-fired Power Stations in Victoria, Australia', Environmental and Planning Law Journal, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 630-641.

  • Schneider, L, Haberle, S, Mariani, M et al 2019, 'How significant is atmospheric metal contamination from mining activity adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area? A spatial analysis of metal concentrations using air trajectories models', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 656, pp. 250-260.

  • Schneider, L, Maher, W, Potts, J et al 2018, 'Trophic transfer of metals in a seagrass food web: Bioaccumulation of essential and non-essential metals', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 131, no. 1, pp. 468-480.

  • Connor, S, Schneider, L, Trezise, J et al 2018, 'Forgotten impacts of European land-use on riparian and savanna vegetation in northwest Australia', Journal of Vegetation Science, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 427-437pp.

  • Farley, G, Schneider, L, Clark, G et al 2018, 'A Late Holocene palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of Ulong Island, Palau, from starch grain, charcoal, and geochemistry analyses', Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, vol. 22, pp. 248-256.

  • Schneider, L, Haberle, S, Hope, G et al 2018, 'Evaluating the radiocarbon reservoir effect in Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea', Radiocarbon, vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 287-308.

  • Schneider, L, Alloway, B, Blong, R et al 2017, 'Stratigraphy, age and correlation of two widespread Late Holocene tephras preserved within Lake Kutubu, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea', Journal of Quaternary Science, vol. 32, no. 6, pp. 782-794pp.

  • Schneider, L, Ferrara, C, Vogt, R et al. 2016, 'Subsistence-Level Chelonian Exploitation on the Rio Negro and One Viable Alternative', Chelonian Conservation and Biology, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 36-42.

  • Schneider, L, Maher, W, Floyd, J et al 2016, 'Transport and fate of metal contamination in estuaries: Using a model network to predict the contributions of physical and chemical factors', Chemosphere, vol. 153, pp. 227-236.

  • Schneider, L, Haberle, S, Maher, W et al 2016, 'History of human impact on Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea: The geochemical signatures of oil and gas mining activities in sediments', Chemosphere, vol. 148, pp. 369-379.

  • Schneider, L, Haberle, S, Maher, W et al 2016, 'History of human impact on Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea: The geochemical signatures of oil and gas mining activities in sediments', Chemosphere, vol. 148, pp. 369-379.

  • Ellwood, M. J., L. Schneider, J. Potts, G. E. Batley, J. Floyd, and W. A. Maher. 2016, 'Volatile selenium fluxes from selenium-contaminated sediments in an Australian coastal lake', Environmental Chemistry, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 68-75.

  • Eggins, S, Schneider, L, Krikowa, F et al 2015, 'MERCURY CONCENTRATIONS IN DIFFERENT TISSUES OF TURTLE AND CAIMAN SPECIES FROM THE RIO PURUS, AMAZONAS, BRAZIL', Environmental Toxicology, vol. 34, no. 12, pp. 2771-2781.

  • Schneider, L, Maher, W, Potts, J et al 2015, 'Use of a multi-proxy method to support the restoration of estuaries receiving inputs from industry', Ecological Engineering, vol. 85, pp. 247-256.

  • Schneider, L, Maher, W, Potts, J et al 2015, 'History of Metal Contamination in Lake Illawarra, NSW, Australia', Chemosphere, vol. 119, pp. 377-386.

  • Schneider, L, Maher, W, Potts, J et al 2015, 'MODELING FOOD WEB STRUCTURE AND SELENIUM BIOMAGNIFICATION IN LAKE MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, USING STABLE CARBON AND NITROGEN ISOTOPES', Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 608-617.

  • Schneider, L, Kinsley, L, Eggins, S et al 2015, 'An evaluation of the use of reptile dermal scutes as a non-invasive method to monitor mercury concentrations in the environment', Chemosphere, vol. 119, pp. 163-170.

  • Bernardes, V, Ferrara, C, Vogt, R et al. 2014, 'Abundance and Population Structure of Podocnemis erythrocephala (Testudines, Podocnemididae) in the Unini River, Amazonas', Chelonian Conservation and Biology, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 89-95.

  • Schneider, L, Maher, W, Potts, J et al 2014, 'Recent history of sediment metal contamination in Lake Macquarie, Australia, and an assessment of ash handling procedure effectiveness in mitigating metal contamination from coal-fired power stations', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 490, pp. 659-670.

  • Schneider, L, Maher, W, Green, A et al 2013, 'Mercury Contamination in Reptiles: An Emerging Problem with Consequences for Wild Life and Human Health', in Ki-Hyun Kim and Richard J.C. Brown (ed.), Mercury: Sources, Applications and Health Impacts, Nova Science Publishers Inc, New York United States of America, pp. 173-232.

  • Schneider, L, Peleja, R, Kluczkovski Jr, A et al 2012, 'Mercury Concentration in the Spectacled Caiman and Black Caiman (Alligatoridae) of the Amazon: Implications for Human Health', Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 270-279.

  • Schneider, L, Ferrara, C, Vogt, R et al 2011, 'Nesting Ecology and Nest Predation of Phrynops geoffroanus (Testudines, Chelidae) in the Guapore River of the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon', Chelonian Conservation and Biology, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 206-212.

  • Schneider, L, Belger, L, Burger, J et al 2011, 'Assessment of non-invasive techniques for monitoring mercury concentrations in species of Amazon turtles', Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, vol. 93, no. 2, pp. 238-250.

  • Schneider, L, Ferrara, C, Vogt, R et al 2011, 'History of Turtle Exploitation and Management Techniques to Conserve Turtles in the Rio Negro Basin of the Brazilian Amazon', Chelonian Conservation and Biology, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 149-157.

  • Schneider, L, Belger, L, Burger, J et al 2010, 'Mercury levels in muscle of six species of turtles eaten by people along the Rio Negro of the Amazon Basin', Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 444-450.

  • Burger, J, Jeitner, C, Schneider, L et al 2010, 'Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium levels in blood of four species of turtles from the Amazon in Brazil', Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health- Part A- Current Issues, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 33-40.

  • Schneider, L, Ferrara, C & Vogt, R 2010, 'Description of behavioral patterns of Podocnemis erythrocephala (Spix, 1824) (Testudines: Podocnemididae)(Red-headed river turtle) in captivity, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil', Acta Amazonica, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 763-770.

  • Schneider, L, Belger, L, Burger, J et al 2009, 'Mercury bioacumulation in four tissues of Podocnemis erythrocephala (Podocnemididae: Testudines) as a function of water parameters', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 407, pp. 1048-1054.

  • Schneider, L, Ferrara, C, Vogt, R et al 2009, 'The role of receptivity in the courtship behavior of Podocnemis erythrocephala in captivity', Acta Ethologica, vol. 12, pp. 121-125.