The origins of electroreception and nocturnality in the earliest known jawed vertebrates and their bearing on vertebrate diversification. This project aims to discover primary new data to pinpoint the timing, anatomical origins and phylogenetic significance when two key sensory systems first appeared in modern vertebrates: electroreception and specialised nocturnal vision. Such abilities today allow high diversity of vertebrates to co-exist within the same geographical range, for example on trop ....The origins of electroreception and nocturnality in the earliest known jawed vertebrates and their bearing on vertebrate diversification. This project aims to discover primary new data to pinpoint the timing, anatomical origins and phylogenetic significance when two key sensory systems first appeared in modern vertebrates: electroreception and specialised nocturnal vision. Such abilities today allow high diversity of vertebrates to co-exist within the same geographical range, for example on tropical reefs or rainforest communities, through careful temporal niche partitioning where reliance on other sensory systems takes over from vision and olfaction as the principal method of prey detection. This project aims to elucidate how the modern fish diversity was shaped by such significant early evolutionary events.Read moreRead less
Resolving evolutionary problems at the fish-tetrapod transition. The project aims to investigate very early Australian tetrapod trackways and conduct fieldwork to resolve the place of origin and timing of the evolution of the first tetrapods. The evolution of fishes to tetrapods was one of the key events in evolution. Studies on Northern Hemisphere fossils place an origin for the group around 380 million years ago. Australian fossils suggest a much older origin. New micro computed tomography dat ....Resolving evolutionary problems at the fish-tetrapod transition. The project aims to investigate very early Australian tetrapod trackways and conduct fieldwork to resolve the place of origin and timing of the evolution of the first tetrapods. The evolution of fishes to tetrapods was one of the key events in evolution. Studies on Northern Hemisphere fossils place an origin for the group around 380 million years ago. Australian fossils suggest a much older origin. New micro computed tomography data from Australian 3-D fossil fishes, combined with study of rare tetrapod gill arch bones, would enable us to determine the origins of tetrapod air-breathing and its ecological setting. The project may facilitate a rewriting of vertebrate evolution's most significant first step.Read moreRead less
Structural And Functional Analysis Of A Cancer-linked Co-regulator Complex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,571.00
Summary
We seek to understand the mechanisms by which genes are switched on and off throughout our lifetime. A number of multi-component protein machines are involved in this process but their make-up and mechanism of action is not understood. We will investigate the structure and function of one of these machines that has been strongly linked to cancer.
ESD Reporting And Assessment Subprogram: Strategic Planning, Project Management And Adoption
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$170,703.00
Summary
A significant amount of work will be required over the next 3-5 years to incorporate ESD into ongoing fisheries management across Australia to complete this process. A number of studies are already in progress addressing some of the issues. These include the SCFA-FRDC study to develop the guidelines for reporting on ESD (FRDC 2000/145), the Seafood Services project (FRDC 2000/146) which is assisting fishers to develop EMS processes to improve their environmental standards. Moreover, a number ....A significant amount of work will be required over the next 3-5 years to incorporate ESD into ongoing fisheries management across Australia to complete this process. A number of studies are already in progress addressing some of the issues. These include the SCFA-FRDC study to develop the guidelines for reporting on ESD (FRDC 2000/145), the Seafood Services project (FRDC 2000/146) which is assisting fishers to develop EMS processes to improve their environmental standards. Moreover, a number of issues, such as those identified at the recent ESD case study workshop or in previous reviews, will require alterations to current studies but more generally the development of a suite of new projects. The issues to be addressed include:
developing relevant expertise to collect and interpret data for the social and economic components, effective communication of the issues to all major stakeholder groups, development of methods to ensure active participation of indigenous groups in the process, developing the framework and the guidelines to enable the process to become a method of assessment, as well as a reporting system. development of ecological indicators testing of the robustness of currently used and proposed indicators
The effective coordination of all current and future ESD related projects will be essential if the ultimate aim of having a nationally agreed system is to be successful. Given that the majority of these projects are likely to be at least partly funded by FRDC provides the opportunity to supply the necessary coordination through the formation of an ESD “Sub-Program”.
Using the Sub-Program structure would result in all relevant projects being administered through a common system. Thus, their objectives and the appropriate elements of their methodology would be coordinated to ensure maximum effectiveness, efficiency and thereby minimising duplication. Having such a group would also provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences in a timely fashion which should greatly enhance the synergy and consequently the ultimate outputs from each project.
Such a sub-program would ideally utilise the SCFA Working Group in combination with the ESD ‘Reference Group’ as its steering committee. The Reference Group includes representatives from other relevant areas of government, commercial industry, indigenous interests, recreational fishing, aquaculture, FRDC and environmental groups. Objectives: 1. Provide comments and feedback on the progress of current ESD Reporting and Assessment subpgrogram projects. 2. Assist in the identification of future directions for projects within the ESD Reporting and Assessment subprogram. 3. Provide comments on application submitted for funding through the ESD Reporting and Assessment subprogram. 4. Assist the flow of communication into and from the ESD Reporting and Assessment subprogram and their agency/industry group. Read moreRead less
REGULATION OF RYANODINE RECEPTOR CALCIUM CHANNELS BY THE CALCIUM BINDING PROTEIN CALSEQUESTRIN. The project is to examine the functional interaction between two proteins in skeletal muscle that are essential for Ca2+ regulation and hence contraction, respiration and movement in all vertebrate species. One protein, the ryanodine receptor, releases calcium from stores inside the muscle cell. The other protein, calsequestrin, binds and sequesters calcium ions. We have recently discovered that th ....REGULATION OF RYANODINE RECEPTOR CALCIUM CHANNELS BY THE CALCIUM BINDING PROTEIN CALSEQUESTRIN. The project is to examine the functional interaction between two proteins in skeletal muscle that are essential for Ca2+ regulation and hence contraction, respiration and movement in all vertebrate species. One protein, the ryanodine receptor, releases calcium from stores inside the muscle cell. The other protein, calsequestrin, binds and sequesters calcium ions. We have recently discovered that the proteins also bind to each other and that calsequestrin regulates Ca2+ release from the stores through the ryanodine receptor ion channel. This regulation is likely to be important in conserving store calcium during stress or fatigue.Read moreRead less
Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: A Risk Assessment Of Factors Influencing The Health Of Farmed Southern Bluefin
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$87,038.00
Summary
While the economically valuable tuna aquaculture industry has not been affected by major disease outbreaks to date, further development and possible intensification of not only tuna aquaculture, but aquaculture in general in the tuna farming regions, will increase the risk of fish health problems in the future. Significant disease related mortality are best prevented by recognising and managing risks before they become a major issue.
At present there is a wide range of information from ....While the economically valuable tuna aquaculture industry has not been affected by major disease outbreaks to date, further development and possible intensification of not only tuna aquaculture, but aquaculture in general in the tuna farming regions, will increase the risk of fish health problems in the future. Significant disease related mortality are best prevented by recognising and managing risks before they become a major issue.
At present there is a wide range of information from TBOASA SBT heath surveys and the provision of a diagnostic service to industry, however, this information has not previously been used to identify and reduce risks. Published scientific literature also contains reports on SBT fish health issues, as well as other finfish health risks relevant to SBT aquaculture and there is a clear need to review all the information available.
The economic value of this project is difficult to quantify, but the extensive tuna mortalities in April-May 1996 due to the effects of a storm, highlight the potential impact and cost of a serious disease outbreak. In 1996, 70% of the tuna held by the industry died within a few weeks, this equating to a 1999/2000 market value of $141 million. Such a loss would result in serious economic and job loss to a major regional area of South Australia, with flow on effects elsewhere. Objectives: 1. To provide a qualitative fish health risk assessment for the tuna aquaculture industry in Australia. 2. To review tuna health information from the industry (including their database), research organisations and scientific literature. 3. To identify areas of highest risk and propose management control measures for the industry, as well as research priorities. 4. To disseminate the results of this SBT health risk assessment project. Read moreRead less
Selective Breeding Of Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea Gigas) - Does Mantle Colour Have A Simple Genetic Basis?
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Determine whether the mantle colour has a simple genetic basis. 2. Determine whether industry can produce oysters of preferred colour by selection of brood stock in the hatchery. 3. Gather comprehensive baseline data on shell shape, volume & meat content
SCRC: PhD : Using The Mucosal Antibody Response To Recombinant Neoparamoeba Perurans Attachment Proteins To Design An Experimental Vaccine For Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD)
Nutritional ecology of free ranging herbivores. Australian grasslands underpin most of our livestock industries and provide important habitats for many native plants and animals. In order to manage these areas sustainably, farmers and other land managers need to know how much food animals consume and how the nutritional quality of that food varies. However there is no simple way of doing this and this prevents timely manipulation of stock numbers and limits our ability to predict fluctuations i ....Nutritional ecology of free ranging herbivores. Australian grasslands underpin most of our livestock industries and provide important habitats for many native plants and animals. In order to manage these areas sustainably, farmers and other land managers need to know how much food animals consume and how the nutritional quality of that food varies. However there is no simple way of doing this and this prevents timely manipulation of stock numbers and limits our ability to predict fluctuations in numbers of native herbivores such as kangaroos. The project will provide a cheap and quick means for ecologists and land managers to incorporate nutritional analyses into their work
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Objectives: 1. Establish the causes of the annual fungus disease epizootics through a study of environmental conditions (including pollutants), pathogen densities and tolerances, and host stress