Optimal environmental monitoring under severe uncertainty. Environmental monitoring is a type of quality control that informs managers about the health of the environment and about how well their management systems are performing. Because it is a critical, but expensive, component of sustainable management, it is important to ensure value for resources spent on monitoring and that environmental impacts will be detected if they are occurring. We argue that current approaches to environmental mana ....Optimal environmental monitoring under severe uncertainty. Environmental monitoring is a type of quality control that informs managers about the health of the environment and about how well their management systems are performing. Because it is a critical, but expensive, component of sustainable management, it is important to ensure value for resources spent on monitoring and that environmental impacts will be detected if they are occurring. We argue that current approaches to environmental management ensure neither efficiency nor environmental security. The aim of the project is to develop theories and techniques to make monitoring both cost effective and reliable, thereby providing monetary savings and better environmental outcomes.Read moreRead less
Synthesising prior information for ecological research and management. While using existing information to design studies and compare results, ecologists rarely use existing information in their analyses. We will combine the results of previous ecological studies to summarise the existing information. We will test how well the traits of plants and animals can be predicted from previous research, and the benefit of this existing information for environmental management. By taking advantage of the ....Synthesising prior information for ecological research and management. While using existing information to design studies and compare results, ecologists rarely use existing information in their analyses. We will combine the results of previous ecological studies to summarise the existing information. We will test how well the traits of plants and animals can be predicted from previous research, and the benefit of this existing information for environmental management. By taking advantage of the wealth of previous ecological research, our project can save time and money for ecological research by scientists and environmental management by federal and state agencies. This will fundamentally change the way that ecology is conducted.Read moreRead less
General theory for eradicating multiple invasive species from threatened island ecosystems. Invasive species threaten many of Australia's unique flora and fauna. Our island ecosystems have evolved in the absence of mammalian predators, and are therefore particularly vulnerable. When both cats and rats invade an island, they can quickly decimate the populations of native species, particularly seabirds, and threaten them with extinction. Unfortunately, poorly planned eradication of these invasive ....General theory for eradicating multiple invasive species from threatened island ecosystems. Invasive species threaten many of Australia's unique flora and fauna. Our island ecosystems have evolved in the absence of mammalian predators, and are therefore particularly vulnerable. When both cats and rats invade an island, they can quickly decimate the populations of native species, particularly seabirds, and threaten them with extinction. Unfortunately, poorly planned eradication of these invasive species can destabilise the complex island ecosystems, further endangering the native species. The results of this project will help conservation managers to plan eradication strategies that cost-effectively eradicate populations of two introduced species, without threatening native wildlife.Read moreRead less
Modelling species distributions for a changing world. Understanding the impacts of climate change and invasive species on the distribution and persistence of species is an issue of global and national significance and concern. This project will provide tools essential for the effective management of Australia's ecosystems by delivering clear guidelines and practical methods that will substantially improve the modelling of future species distributions.
Re-uniting marsupials and eutherians by embryonic micromanipulation. The unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation normally depends on the gametes. This project will use new reproductive technologies to investigate the properties of the oocyte in reprogramming somatic cell nuclei, and will use the nuclei of both marsupial and eutherian somatic cells to test this. We will also use both marsupial and eutherian genes to insert into the oocyte to create the first tra ....Re-uniting marsupials and eutherians by embryonic micromanipulation. The unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation normally depends on the gametes. This project will use new reproductive technologies to investigate the properties of the oocyte in reprogramming somatic cell nuclei, and will use the nuclei of both marsupial and eutherian somatic cells to test this. We will also use both marsupial and eutherian genes to insert into the oocyte to create the first transgenic marsupials. We will also investigate the ability of spermatozoa from species of increasing genetic distance to ferttilise marsupial eggs using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Read moreRead less
The impact of noise and vibration from road traffic on the community composition and acoustic communication of birds and frogs. Roads cover a significant and increasing proportion of the Australian landscape, but their ecological impact is poorly understood. Traffic noise from busy roads can disturb animals over long distances, and may interfere with acoustic communication. In addition, ground vibration caused by passing traffic may disturb sensitive terrestrial animals. This project aims to ass ....The impact of noise and vibration from road traffic on the community composition and acoustic communication of birds and frogs. Roads cover a significant and increasing proportion of the Australian landscape, but their ecological impact is poorly understood. Traffic noise from busy roads can disturb animals over long distances, and may interfere with acoustic communication. In addition, ground vibration caused by passing traffic may disturb sensitive terrestrial animals. This project aims to assess the impact of traffic noise and vibration on communities of birds and frogs. Results of this research will provide vital information on the effects of roads on vulnerable wildlife, and the potential benefits to conservation of noise mitigation measures such as construction of tunnels and sound barriers.Read moreRead less