Toad vs Toad: Innovative approaches to understand and control an invasive species. Understanding the ecology of an invasive pest species can be a powerful tool for developing control methods. Cane toads pose a major threat to Australian native species, and are spreading increasingly rapidly through the Australian tropics. Unfortunately, we still know very little about the biology of invasion-front populations of toads. This project will provide that understanding, and will explore new ideas a ....Toad vs Toad: Innovative approaches to understand and control an invasive species. Understanding the ecology of an invasive pest species can be a powerful tool for developing control methods. Cane toads pose a major threat to Australian native species, and are spreading increasingly rapidly through the Australian tropics. Unfortunately, we still know very little about the biology of invasion-front populations of toads. This project will provide that understanding, and will explore new ideas about ways to control toad populations. For example, if we can reduce the survival of feral animals by increasing the intensity of competition within their own popualtions rather than relying on effects of other species, we may be able to use the toads to control their own populations.Read moreRead less
Phylogeography, Conservation Genetics and Stocking Management of Perches and Basses. This project will use DNA data to address fundamental questions about the origin and maintenance of biodiversity in a popular and widely distributed fish group. From a conservation perspective, the project will produce a benchmark about management of fish resources. We will investigate questions related to important conservation issues (including the recovery plan of a nationally threatened species) and the mana ....Phylogeography, Conservation Genetics and Stocking Management of Perches and Basses. This project will use DNA data to address fundamental questions about the origin and maintenance of biodiversity in a popular and widely distributed fish group. From a conservation perspective, the project will produce a benchmark about management of fish resources. We will investigate questions related to important conservation issues (including the recovery plan of a nationally threatened species) and the management of stocking activities in recreational fisheries of coastal and inland waters. The latter is particularly relevant to rural communities since they provide both social and economic benefits to rural people.Read moreRead less
How does flow regulation affect food web linkages between juvenile and larval fish and aquatic invertebrates in a coastal river? River regulation to supply water for human demands has altered flow regimes in many Australian rivers. These changes in flow impact on native invertebrate and fish community composition. Environmental flow allocations seek to alleviate these impacts but managers are hampered by lack of data on the effects of flow on food web linkages, particularly for juvenile and lar ....How does flow regulation affect food web linkages between juvenile and larval fish and aquatic invertebrates in a coastal river? River regulation to supply water for human demands has altered flow regimes in many Australian rivers. These changes in flow impact on native invertebrate and fish community composition. Environmental flow allocations seek to alleviate these impacts but managers are hampered by lack of data on the effects of flow on food web linkages, particularly for juvenile and larval fish (JLF). We aim to compare food webs of invertebrates and JLF in six tributaries of the Hunter River, three of which are regulated, to determine how flow regulation changes trophic linkages. A flow release in one tributary will let us test the hypothesis that river regulation restricts food availability to JLF, reducing their viability, growth rates, and abundance.Read moreRead less
Predicting the ecological impact of cane toads on native fauna of northwestern Australia. At current rates of spread, cane toads will invade the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia within a few years. We urgently need to be able to predict which native species will be at risk from toads, and which will be relatively unaffected either because they are not killed by toads, or because they can rapidly learn, or evolve, in ways that reduce this impact and thus allow population recovery. We ....Predicting the ecological impact of cane toads on native fauna of northwestern Australia. At current rates of spread, cane toads will invade the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia within a few years. We urgently need to be able to predict which native species will be at risk from toads, and which will be relatively unaffected either because they are not killed by toads, or because they can rapidly learn, or evolve, in ways that reduce this impact and thus allow population recovery. We will obtain these data by exposing native animals to toads and recording the results; and thus, can identify the most important priorities for conservation efforts.Read moreRead less
Testing the biodiversity-function paradigm for the provision of clean water in aquifers. The ability of groundwater microbes to purify groundwater is an incredibly valuable service. All Australians benefit from this natural service either directly by having clean drinking water, or indirectly through the economic benefits of groundwater-reliant agriculture or industries. Clearly, managing aquifers to maintain this process is vital. This project will identify whether the biodiversity of the groun ....Testing the biodiversity-function paradigm for the provision of clean water in aquifers. The ability of groundwater microbes to purify groundwater is an incredibly valuable service. All Australians benefit from this natural service either directly by having clean drinking water, or indirectly through the economic benefits of groundwater-reliant agriculture or industries. Clearly, managing aquifers to maintain this process is vital. This project will identify whether the biodiversity of the groundwater ecosystem is important for this process to occur and, consequently, whether management should focus on biodiversity conservation (with its accompanying benefits) or forego biodiversity as a priority and manage the environment to maximise the beneficial ecosystem goods and services it provides.Read moreRead less
Forestry effects on headwater ecosystem health: a multi-catchment experiment. Most catchments in southern Australia have been logged historically. Increasingly, native forest harvesting occurs in regrowth or drier areas. Although foresters have empirical data on ecological effects of harvesting in pristine or wetter catchments, little exists for drier regrowth areas, hampering effective management to minimize impacts on stream ecosystem health. This project will supply ecological data on stre ....Forestry effects on headwater ecosystem health: a multi-catchment experiment. Most catchments in southern Australia have been logged historically. Increasingly, native forest harvesting occurs in regrowth or drier areas. Although foresters have empirical data on ecological effects of harvesting in pristine or wetter catchments, little exists for drier regrowth areas, hampering effective management to minimize impacts on stream ecosystem health. This project will supply ecological data on stream ecosystems to supplement 4 years of hydrological data collected by Forests NSW from 5 experimental catchments. Results will provide a firmer scientific basis for ecologically sustainable harvesting in this forest type, with flow-on benefits to our national economy, biodiversity, and environment.Read moreRead less
The importance of dispersal in maintaining biodiversity of aquatic plants in landscapes. Aquatic plants improve water quality and provide habitat for aquatic animals, which underpin industries such as tourism and commercial fisheries critical to economies in regional areas and across Australia. Preserving plant biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems is vital to preserve these benefits. Dispersal plays a critical role in maintaining plant biodiversity and requires understanding at landscape scales. T ....The importance of dispersal in maintaining biodiversity of aquatic plants in landscapes. Aquatic plants improve water quality and provide habitat for aquatic animals, which underpin industries such as tourism and commercial fisheries critical to economies in regional areas and across Australia. Preserving plant biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems is vital to preserve these benefits. Dispersal plays a critical role in maintaining plant biodiversity and requires understanding at landscape scales. This project will identify appropriate approaches for the conservation of plant biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems through an improved understanding of the contribution of wind, water and waterbirds in the dispersal of aquatic plants. This project will also identify water flow regimes that promote a diverse and sustainable aquatic flora.Read moreRead less
Predicting the Impact of Damming on the Endangered Mary River Turtle. Little is known about the effects of inland river alteration on the ecology of freshwater turtles, where river damming results in dramatic changes in river physical, chemical and biological characteristics. In Australia there are 446 large dams, necessary for hydro-electric power, navigation, flood control, irrigation and drinking water. Many of these rivers are inhabited by freshwater turtles, endemic to Australia, and this ....Predicting the Impact of Damming on the Endangered Mary River Turtle. Little is known about the effects of inland river alteration on the ecology of freshwater turtles, where river damming results in dramatic changes in river physical, chemical and biological characteristics. In Australia there are 446 large dams, necessary for hydro-electric power, navigation, flood control, irrigation and drinking water. Many of these rivers are inhabited by freshwater turtles, endemic to Australia, and this project will assess the impact of changes in habitat quality on the endangered Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus). The study comes at a timely opportunity, as proposed river damming will substantially alter the turtles' habitat, and its survival potential remains unknown.Read moreRead less
Aquatic biodiversity: consequences of massive modification of agricultural landscapes. Agricultural landscapes have undergone great change. Significant shifts in land-use may sustain agricultural productivity, but nationally we risk the loss of our natural wealth - native plants and animals. This project develops a new vision for assessing conservation values of rural landscapes that will help land managers to plan for present and future land-use of both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. It wil ....Aquatic biodiversity: consequences of massive modification of agricultural landscapes. Agricultural landscapes have undergone great change. Significant shifts in land-use may sustain agricultural productivity, but nationally we risk the loss of our natural wealth - native plants and animals. This project develops a new vision for assessing conservation values of rural landscapes that will help land managers to plan for present and future land-use of both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. It will help managers to understand the biodiversity value of different landscapes, the types of species that may persist or be at risk of loss, and the landscape components that influence these outcomes. This knowledge will enhance our national capacity to jointly integrate nature conservation and agricultural productivityRead moreRead less
Preserving freshwater biodiversity: predictions to manage the effects of suspended sediment and salinity. Natural resource managers wish to minimise deleterious effects of suspended sediment and salinity on biodiversity but do not have adequate knowledge to do so. Increases in salinity and sediment are recognised as the major threats to freshwater biodiversity in Australian rivers. This research will lead to greatly enhanced information on the relative impacts of rising salinity and sediment on ....Preserving freshwater biodiversity: predictions to manage the effects of suspended sediment and salinity. Natural resource managers wish to minimise deleterious effects of suspended sediment and salinity on biodiversity but do not have adequate knowledge to do so. Increases in salinity and sediment are recognised as the major threats to freshwater biodiversity in Australian rivers. This research will lead to greatly enhanced information on the relative impacts of rising salinity and sediment on freshwater biodiversity and aid predictive modelling and scenario testing; enabling managers to make informed choices between various management actions. The project addresses several national research priority goals and it will result in significant national and community benefits by protecting freshwater biodiversity from salinity and sediment.Read moreRead less