Genetic architecture of species divergence and hybridisation in eucalypts. Eucalypts are an icon of Australia and are of great economic and ecological significance to the nation. They are the most widely planted hardwood trees in the world, but Australia is the centre of origin of most species and the custodian of this important native bioresource. Understanding the evolutionary processes that shape diversity in this internationally significant genus is important for its long-term management a ....Genetic architecture of species divergence and hybridisation in eucalypts. Eucalypts are an icon of Australia and are of great economic and ecological significance to the nation. They are the most widely planted hardwood trees in the world, but Australia is the centre of origin of most species and the custodian of this important native bioresource. Understanding the evolutionary processes that shape diversity in this internationally significant genus is important for its long-term management and conservation. This project links to large international initiatives currently underway for high-density mapping and sequencing of the eucalypt genome, to enhance the flow of information gained back to Australia for scientific, economic and environmental benefit.Read moreRead less
The role of recombination in eucalypt evolution. Meiotic recombination is a key source of the genetic variation upon which evolution thrives. This project aims to exploit new genomic resources to provide the first detailed study of recombination in Australia’s iconic Eucalypts and clarify its evolutionary role. This project will study: variation in the rate of recombination along the 11 Eucalypt chromosomes, and determine genome features which are associated with ‘hotspots’ and ‘coldspots’ of re ....The role of recombination in eucalypt evolution. Meiotic recombination is a key source of the genetic variation upon which evolution thrives. This project aims to exploit new genomic resources to provide the first detailed study of recombination in Australia’s iconic Eucalypts and clarify its evolutionary role. This project will study: variation in the rate of recombination along the 11 Eucalypt chromosomes, and determine genome features which are associated with ‘hotspots’ and ‘coldspots’ of recombination; the patterns of variation in recombination rate between species, genotypes, sexes and chromosomes; and, whether the environment and population history affect recombination and thus evolvability of natural populations.Read moreRead less
Predictive ichthyotoxicity, diagnostics and risk assessment of harmful algal blooms impacting on the Tasmanian salmonid aquaculture industry. We aim to define through a combination of laboratory culture exposure and live cage bioassay experiments the minimum cell concentrations of harmful microalgae (Karenia, Heterosigma, Noctiluca, Chaetoceros) that can cause salmonid mortalities or are a factor in compromising fish health or reducing fish farm productivity. The diagnostic pathology and fish be ....Predictive ichthyotoxicity, diagnostics and risk assessment of harmful algal blooms impacting on the Tasmanian salmonid aquaculture industry. We aim to define through a combination of laboratory culture exposure and live cage bioassay experiments the minimum cell concentrations of harmful microalgae (Karenia, Heterosigma, Noctiluca, Chaetoceros) that can cause salmonid mortalities or are a factor in compromising fish health or reducing fish farm productivity. The diagnostic pathology and fish behaviour caused by different harmful algal taxa will be carefully documented to assist fish health inspectors in the routine diagnosis of algal toxicosis ot compromised fish health. Ultimately, this information will be integrated into a risk assessment strategy for the Tasmanian salmonid industry to manage fish stocks during times of harmful algal bloom events.Read moreRead less
Creating new stochastic models to understand the evolution of gene families. This project aims to extend stochastic modelling techniques in order to develop mathematically rigorous and biologically relevant models for the evolution of gene families. The project expects to model evolutionary processes such as gene retention, duplication and loss, and the generation of new gene functions. The duplication and subsequent re-purposing of genes is thought to be a key mechanism for generating evolution ....Creating new stochastic models to understand the evolution of gene families. This project aims to extend stochastic modelling techniques in order to develop mathematically rigorous and biologically relevant models for the evolution of gene families. The project expects to model evolutionary processes such as gene retention, duplication and loss, and the generation of new gene functions. The duplication and subsequent re-purposing of genes is thought to be a key mechanism for generating evolutionary novelty. By applying these models to genome data, the project expects to be able to quantify the importance of these different evolutionary mechanisms. The project will strengthen collaborative links between researchers in stochastic modelling and molecular evolutionary biology.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary, macroecological and phylogenetic patterns in Australasian freshwater crayfish. This project connects Australian systematists to a worldwide project that involves all of the world's living experts on freshwater crayfish evolution in a coordinated effort to answer some very important evolutionary questions. It involves a group of invertebrate animals that are not only readily recognisable, but which in Australia includes the world's largest and the world's most terrestrial crayfish s ....Evolutionary, macroecological and phylogenetic patterns in Australasian freshwater crayfish. This project connects Australian systematists to a worldwide project that involves all of the world's living experts on freshwater crayfish evolution in a coordinated effort to answer some very important evolutionary questions. It involves a group of invertebrate animals that are not only readily recognisable, but which in Australia includes the world's largest and the world's most terrestrial crayfish species. Information gained from the project will contribute to the management of crayfish biodiversity, identification of threatened species and tools to identify these prominent and important members of Australian freshwater ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Function and evolution of insect odorant receptors. This project aims to shed light on how insect odorant receptors function by using comparative genomic studies between the genetic model insect Drosophila melanogaster and a pest species, the Australian sheep blowfly. This project expects to generate knowledge of how specific chemicals activate specific receptors in order to excite sensory neurons and drive behaviour, which is not well understood. Expected outcomes include increased understandin ....Function and evolution of insect odorant receptors. This project aims to shed light on how insect odorant receptors function by using comparative genomic studies between the genetic model insect Drosophila melanogaster and a pest species, the Australian sheep blowfly. This project expects to generate knowledge of how specific chemicals activate specific receptors in order to excite sensory neurons and drive behaviour, which is not well understood. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of olfaction in insects, increased national and international collaboration, and outstanding graduate student training. This research will be of significant future benefit in deriving methods to modify the behaviour of insects of agricultural or medical importance, for example the sheep blowfly. Read moreRead less
Algebraically informed models of biological sequence evolution. To make sense of the patterns they see in the natural world, biologists across fields as diverse as genetics, epidemiology and biogeography need an accurate picture of evolutionary history. DNA sequences provide an exciting means to establish this picture of the past, but to decode it successfully requires mathematical models of how DNA evolves. Mathematical inconsistencies have been identified with current approaches. In particular ....Algebraically informed models of biological sequence evolution. To make sense of the patterns they see in the natural world, biologists across fields as diverse as genetics, epidemiology and biogeography need an accurate picture of evolutionary history. DNA sequences provide an exciting means to establish this picture of the past, but to decode it successfully requires mathematical models of how DNA evolves. Mathematical inconsistencies have been identified with current approaches. In particular, understanding the effect of natural selection in different parts of the tree of life requires models that behave robustly in the face of shifting evolutionary processes. This project aims to use insights from algebraic methods to construct mathematically consistent models of wide biological utility.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100423
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,061.00
Summary
Group theory and phylogenetics: exploiting symmetry to uncover evolutionary history. Using advanced algebra, structural symmetries inherent in phylogenetic methods will be studied and improved approaches will be derived. DNA sequences contain a wealth of information about evolutionary events that occurred millions of years ago, but extracting this information requires the application of robust methods.
Interpreting biological sequence information: untangling hybridisation. Hybridisation is believed to be important during adaptive radiations where species rapidly colonise new niches and respond to new environments, e.g. in times of climate change. This project will create the statistical tools and software required for evolutionary biologists to understand how hybridisation has helped shape the Australian flora.
Contribution of hybridisation to genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The eucalypt gene pool is an outstandingly important bioresource for Australia. Its effective future management will be based on understanding the extent, causes and significance of genetic variation in eucalypt species. This project investigates a currently overlooked, but potentially important, source of genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The knowledge gained will contribute substantially to our un ....Contribution of hybridisation to genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The eucalypt gene pool is an outstandingly important bioresource for Australia. Its effective future management will be based on understanding the extent, causes and significance of genetic variation in eucalypt species. This project investigates a currently overlooked, but potentially important, source of genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The knowledge gained will contribute substantially to our understanding of eucalypt biology, and will inform decision-making for conservation, revegetation, and sustainable use of seed resources. Through addressing fundamental questions, the project will also provide a uniquely Australian contribution to world research in forest molecular genetics.Read moreRead less