Fire, bees and other disturbances: the basis for variation in genetic diversity in long-lived plants. An understanding of processes generating temporal and spatial patterns of genetic diversity in perennial plants must underpin successful conservation. Our long-term study will exploit systems in the family Proteaceae in which we have completed foundation studies. We will develop and extend molecular techniques to measure (i) genetic changes from seed to adult, (ii) gene flow by different pollina ....Fire, bees and other disturbances: the basis for variation in genetic diversity in long-lived plants. An understanding of processes generating temporal and spatial patterns of genetic diversity in perennial plants must underpin successful conservation. Our long-term study will exploit systems in the family Proteaceae in which we have completed foundation studies. We will develop and extend molecular techniques to measure (i) genetic changes from seed to adult, (ii) gene flow by different pollinator classes, and (iii) genetic contamination by foreign gene pools, in systems affected by introduced pollinators and natural and cultivar hybridization. Most importantly, we will use fire as an accelerant of generational change and test fitness consequences of changes in genotypic diversity.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
The success and rapid evolution of invasive species: resolving a genetic paradox. Invasive species have an enormous economic impact on trade, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and eco-tourism in Australia. In order to negate such detrimental impacts, integrated strategies need to be formulated to effectively control and eradicate introduced species. Our limited knowledge of the factors underlying the success of invasive species has hampered such efforts. A detailed understanding of the invasio ....The success and rapid evolution of invasive species: resolving a genetic paradox. Invasive species have an enormous economic impact on trade, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and eco-tourism in Australia. In order to negate such detrimental impacts, integrated strategies need to be formulated to effectively control and eradicate introduced species. Our limited knowledge of the factors underlying the success of invasive species has hampered such efforts. A detailed understanding of the invasion dynamics of introduced species is essential for identifying potential weaknesses that can be exploited in management strategies. My research will examine the invasion dynamics of a successful invasive species, the delicate skink, providing information directly relevant to the management of introduced species in Australia.Read moreRead less
Establishment of the Australian Cane Toad Genome Program. The Cane Toad is one of Australia's greatest environmental menaces, and is in the top 100 of the "World's Worst invader species". Over a billion toads infest Northern Australia, and they will soon invade WA and move further into NSW. Their poisons and voracious appetite could make many native mammals, birds and reptiles extinct. The only possibility to eradicate the Toad is by biological control, but there is no known control agent. We wi ....Establishment of the Australian Cane Toad Genome Program. The Cane Toad is one of Australia's greatest environmental menaces, and is in the top 100 of the "World's Worst invader species". Over a billion toads infest Northern Australia, and they will soon invade WA and move further into NSW. Their poisons and voracious appetite could make many native mammals, birds and reptiles extinct. The only possibility to eradicate the Toad is by biological control, but there is no known control agent. We will identify the 'Toad's Achilles' heel' against which control agents can be developed. We can do this by identifying every Toad gene. This project forms the first step to this goal by establishing the Australian Cane Toad Genome Program. Toad control will help preserve Australia's unique natural heritage.Read moreRead less
Conservation genetics of humpback whales off Western Australia: Implications for the management of the Antarctic Group IV population. We will define the geographic structuring and gene flow of humpback whales comprising Antarctic Area Group IV, and which migrate off the coast of Western Australian. With this information we will develop guidelines for commonwealth, state, industry, and non-government organisations, for conserving and managing discrete (genetic) populations of humpback whales off ....Conservation genetics of humpback whales off Western Australia: Implications for the management of the Antarctic Group IV population. We will define the geographic structuring and gene flow of humpback whales comprising Antarctic Area Group IV, and which migrate off the coast of Western Australian. With this information we will develop guidelines for commonwealth, state, industry, and non-government organisations, for conserving and managing discrete (genetic) populations of humpback whales off Western Australia. We can then manage these cetaceans at the appropriate geographic scale, and assign conservation priority in relation to population genetic structure gained from this study.Read moreRead less
Mobility of log-dependent invertebrates in fragmented forest. Clearing of Australian native forests continues apace. This leads to declines in total forest area and creates isolated remnants with depleted woody debris. Critical forest processes driven by invertebrates occur in this debris. Despite its major economic and conservation significance, there is little information on the impacts of habitat loss and alteration on organisms in decomposing logs. We will utilize recent advances in popu ....Mobility of log-dependent invertebrates in fragmented forest. Clearing of Australian native forests continues apace. This leads to declines in total forest area and creates isolated remnants with depleted woody debris. Critical forest processes driven by invertebrates occur in this debris. Despite its major economic and conservation significance, there is little information on the impacts of habitat loss and alteration on organisms in decomposing logs. We will utilize recent advances in population genetics to compare impacts on a suite of log-dependent invertebrates in an islands-of-bush-in-a-sea-of-pines model. This will facilitate improvements in conservation and sustainable management outcomes in forests.Read moreRead less
Evolution, disease and extinction - using ancient and modern Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to investigate molecular evolution in the Tasmanian devil. The Tasmanian devil is Australia's largest living marsupial carnivore and one of Tasmania's key tourism icons. Extinction in the wild will have long-term impacts on Tasmanian native ecosystems and economy. This study will provide critical genetic data and tools to monitor and prioritise conservation strategies, including insurance populations and dis ....Evolution, disease and extinction - using ancient and modern Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to investigate molecular evolution in the Tasmanian devil. The Tasmanian devil is Australia's largest living marsupial carnivore and one of Tasmania's key tourism icons. Extinction in the wild will have long-term impacts on Tasmanian native ecosystems and economy. This study will provide critical genetic data and tools to monitor and prioritise conservation strategies, including insurance populations and disease suppression, aimed at preventing extinction. It will strengthen ongoing conservation programs carried out by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program and will help publicise the plight of the devil both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Testing indicators of genetic exchange and adaptation of populations, essential for biodiversity assessment and management. There will be diverse benefits from our testing and improvement of genetic indicators for exchange between populations and adaptive differentiation of populations. Managers and population biologists will have confidence in choice and use of these vital tools in sustainable use of our terrestrial and aquatic bioresources, as recommended by the federal State of Environment s ....Testing indicators of genetic exchange and adaptation of populations, essential for biodiversity assessment and management. There will be diverse benefits from our testing and improvement of genetic indicators for exchange between populations and adaptive differentiation of populations. Managers and population biologists will have confidence in choice and use of these vital tools in sustainable use of our terrestrial and aquatic bioresources, as recommended by the federal State of Environment system. Also, the use of these tools to identify differential genetic adaptations is the first step in bioprospecting, as well as revealing the raw material for natural and artificial populations to adapt to changes: soil loss, salinity, acidity, climate change. Forensic genetics will benefit from the improved tools for defining subpopulations.Read moreRead less
Metapopulation and habitat quality: towards an integrated approach to the conservation of an endangered grassland lizard. Our research will provide the basis upon which the grassland earless dragon can be removed from its endangered status and provide a template for the future science based management of other endangered species. Australia will gain through this project by reducing its risk of losing yet another species through inappropriate management.
Why conserve genetic variation? Is this misdirected effort or a crucial concern? In attempting to conserve populations of threatened plants, ecosystem managers must prioritise allocation of resources to both immediate and long-term threats, including loss of genetic variation. This study will determine the importance of maintaining existing genetic variation within populations of several species in a major Australian plant group. As well as advancing theory in the area of plant ecological genet ....Why conserve genetic variation? Is this misdirected effort or a crucial concern? In attempting to conserve populations of threatened plants, ecosystem managers must prioritise allocation of resources to both immediate and long-term threats, including loss of genetic variation. This study will determine the importance of maintaining existing genetic variation within populations of several species in a major Australian plant group. As well as advancing theory in the area of plant ecological genetics and evolutionary biology, our results will provide a stronger scientific basis for the development of conservation policy and management decisions for conserving threatened plant species. Read moreRead less