Network structure, connectivity and wildlife disease. Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife pose threats to human health (75% of human emerging diseases are zoonotic). They also threaten biodiversity and livestock. Changes in connectivity between wildlife individuals and populations are occurring because of human activities, including globalisation, climate change and habitat destruction. Understanding how these changes in connectivity affect wildlife disease dynamics is crucial for the deve ....Network structure, connectivity and wildlife disease. Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife pose threats to human health (75% of human emerging diseases are zoonotic). They also threaten biodiversity and livestock. Changes in connectivity between wildlife individuals and populations are occurring because of human activities, including globalisation, climate change and habitat destruction. Understanding how these changes in connectivity affect wildlife disease dynamics is crucial for the development of better strategies to manage their impacts. The project will also build Australia's wider capacity to manage outbreaks of infectious diseases.Read moreRead less
Optimal management of complex ecological systems. Natural systems are inherently complex and difficult to predict. This complexity means that efficient management strategies are often uncertain, and resource managers have few theories or rules on which to base their decisions. We will integrate the existing theories and principles of conservation biology with decision-making tools and theory used in statistics, economics, control theory, engineering and mathematics. We will use novel methods to ....Optimal management of complex ecological systems. Natural systems are inherently complex and difficult to predict. This complexity means that efficient management strategies are often uncertain, and resource managers have few theories or rules on which to base their decisions. We will integrate the existing theories and principles of conservation biology with decision-making tools and theory used in statistics, economics, control theory, engineering and mathematics. We will use novel methods to investigate the reliability of different management decisions that are made in the face of uncertainty and involve learning. Our aim is to discover a general theory for a new branch of conservation biology: applied theoretical conservation ecology.Read moreRead less