Past and future effects of climate change on the carbon-water balance of plants. Over the coming century, climate change will profoundly impact Australian vegetation via the direct effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) on plants and the indirect effects of CO2-forced changes in rainfall and temperature, with major implications for agricultural production and water resources. This project will address these threats by providing new tools for measuring and predicting vegetation-clim ....Past and future effects of climate change on the carbon-water balance of plants. Over the coming century, climate change will profoundly impact Australian vegetation via the direct effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) on plants and the indirect effects of CO2-forced changes in rainfall and temperature, with major implications for agricultural production and water resources. This project will address these threats by providing new tools for measuring and predicting vegetation-climate feedbacks. It will determine the combined effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and drought on the productivity of natural and agricultural landscapes, and provide the biophysical framework for developing the next generation of high-yielding, drought tolerant crop varieties for the rapidly approaching greenhouse world.Read moreRead less
An inventory of past biodiversity in Western Australia using ancient DNA. Fossil bones and museum skins are genetic time capsules that facilitate the exploration of Australia's past biodiversity. Travelling back in 'genetic time' provides important insights into how ecosystems functioned prior to the arrival of Europeans and the feral species that accompanied them. This funding will facilitate research into the genetic heritage of endangered WA species such as Woylies and Cockatoos. Native speci ....An inventory of past biodiversity in Western Australia using ancient DNA. Fossil bones and museum skins are genetic time capsules that facilitate the exploration of Australia's past biodiversity. Travelling back in 'genetic time' provides important insights into how ecosystems functioned prior to the arrival of Europeans and the feral species that accompanied them. This funding will facilitate research into the genetic heritage of endangered WA species such as Woylies and Cockatoos. Native species face increasing pressures from climate change and invasive species. Compiling a genetic inventory of WA's past biodiversity will assist in developing scientifically sound conservation management responses. Such approaches are critically important if this biodiversity hotspot is to be preserved for future generations.Read moreRead less