Evaluating the adaptive potential of organisms to respond to environmental change. The program utilizes technological advances to develop a gene inventory for climatic change adaptation, using, as model system, the vinegar fly from divergent climates along eastern Australia. The inventory will result in new methods for monitoring climatic change impact on populations, and for testing adaptive potential of organisms from threatened habitats. A key hypothesis is that these organisms have restricte ....Evaluating the adaptive potential of organisms to respond to environmental change. The program utilizes technological advances to develop a gene inventory for climatic change adaptation, using, as model system, the vinegar fly from divergent climates along eastern Australia. The inventory will result in new methods for monitoring climatic change impact on populations, and for testing adaptive potential of organisms from threatened habitats. A key hypothesis is that these organisms have restricted genetic options to counter environmental change, increasing extinction risk. The program investigates genetic adaptation to pollutants in midges, a key group for monitoring water health. By assessing evolutionary potential and DNA species markers, biological signatures of aquatic pollutants should result.Read moreRead less
The transcriptome, genome and metagenome of Acropora millepora: a model system for studying coral health and disease. Corals have an iconic significance for Australia, which has the best-preserved reef system in the world. The Great Barrier Reef is worth more than $6 billion per year to the Australian economy, and provides employment for 68000 people. The research will provide insights into the molecular bases of stress and disease in corals and the internal mechanisms by which corals attempt to ....The transcriptome, genome and metagenome of Acropora millepora: a model system for studying coral health and disease. Corals have an iconic significance for Australia, which has the best-preserved reef system in the world. The Great Barrier Reef is worth more than $6 billion per year to the Australian economy, and provides employment for 68000 people. The research will provide insights into the molecular bases of stress and disease in corals and the internal mechanisms by which corals attempt to combat them. The results will allow the design of strategies for better reef management, resulting in economic, environmental and social benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on Victorian Alpine Ecosystems: Detecting and Managing Ecological Change. Climate change threatens biodiversity in alpine areas of Australia. This project seeks to predict how plants, soils and small animals will respond to warming and the associated increased risk of bushfire. Our project uses chambers placed out in the field to simulate warming conditions, and measures plant growth and development, and small animal community structure w ....An Integrated Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on Victorian Alpine Ecosystems: Detecting and Managing Ecological Change. Climate change threatens biodiversity in alpine areas of Australia. This project seeks to predict how plants, soils and small animals will respond to warming and the associated increased risk of bushfire. Our project uses chambers placed out in the field to simulate warming conditions, and measures plant growth and development, and small animal community structure within the chambers. We also assess the effects of climate change on soil processes. The information is used to evaluate the ability of alpine plants and animals to deal with climate change and to identify ways managers can help maintain biodiversity in this fragile ecosystem. Read moreRead less