Impact of reforestation on the mitigation of climate extremes in eastern Australia resulting from global warming. This project will provide new information for climate change policy development and the goal of an Environmentally Sustainable Australia. It has a strong policy-management imperative, investigating the need for the maintenance and restoration of healthy native vegetation cover as part of Australia’s climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Our previous research has shown ....Impact of reforestation on the mitigation of climate extremes in eastern Australia resulting from global warming. This project will provide new information for climate change policy development and the goal of an Environmentally Sustainable Australia. It has a strong policy-management imperative, investigating the need for the maintenance and restoration of healthy native vegetation cover as part of Australia’s climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Our previous research has shown that land clearing has contributed to climate change, including more severe and persisting droughts, in eastern Australia. Successful implementation of the research findings will lead to an increased ability of regional landscapes to buffer against a more extreme future climate driven by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.Read moreRead less
Reducing uncertainties in greenhouse gas emissions from sub-tropical land use systems. The principle outcome of the research is the identification of sustainable land use management strategies that will ensure the continued productivity and profitability of food and fibre in the Australian sub-tropics and tropics in response to climate change whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Regional communities will benefit through a greater awareness of emission sources and sinks and exposure to viabl ....Reducing uncertainties in greenhouse gas emissions from sub-tropical land use systems. The principle outcome of the research is the identification of sustainable land use management strategies that will ensure the continued productivity and profitability of food and fibre in the Australian sub-tropics and tropics in response to climate change whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Regional communities will benefit through a greater awareness of emission sources and sinks and exposure to viable and practical strategies that promote productivity through regional diversity in land use. Improved data on greenhouse gas accounts will also ensure the Australia community is provided with full and accurate representation in international climate change fora and policy development.Read moreRead less
Integrating climate and ecosystem models to predict climate change impacts on Australian marine systems. This project will underpin Australia's commitment to maintain environmental sustainability and biodiversity in the face of climate change. We will describe the consequences of climate change on harvested marine resources, biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function, and sensitive species and habitats. We will provide practical management solutions to maintain ecosystem integrity and enhanc ....Integrating climate and ecosystem models to predict climate change impacts on Australian marine systems. This project will underpin Australia's commitment to maintain environmental sustainability and biodiversity in the face of climate change. We will describe the consequences of climate change on harvested marine resources, biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function, and sensitive species and habitats. We will provide practical management solutions to maintain ecosystem integrity and enhance resilience under a changing climate. This information is of immediate use by a range of Australian stakeholders including national, state and local government agencies and authorities. The project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research focused on adapting to marine climate impacts.Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0882986
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
The impact of climate change on the resilience of Australian marine systems: linking climate and ecosystem models. This project will underpin Australia's long-term commitment to maintain environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of climate change. We will describe the consequences of climate change on marine processes, harvested resources and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. We will provide management advice on balancing ecosystem integrity, e ....The impact of climate change on the resilience of Australian marine systems: linking climate and ecosystem models. This project will underpin Australia's long-term commitment to maintain environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of climate change. We will describe the consequences of climate change on marine processes, harvested resources and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. We will provide management advice on balancing ecosystem integrity, economic efficiency, and ecosystem resilience under climate change. This information is of immediate use by a range of Australian stakeholders including national, state and local government agencies. The project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research focused on the adaptation of marine ecosystems to climate impacts.Read moreRead less
Quantifying the El Niño-Indian Ocean Dipole system using high-resolution coral palaeoclimate archives. The ocean surrounding Indonesia is the warmest on Earth and a major source of energy for global atmospheric circulation. Understanding the role of the Warm Pool in future climate change is of key importance, but highly controversial because the potential extent of its variability is largely unknown. To address this issue, this project will provide the first major geochemical investigation of ....Quantifying the El Niño-Indian Ocean Dipole system using high-resolution coral palaeoclimate archives. The ocean surrounding Indonesia is the warmest on Earth and a major source of energy for global atmospheric circulation. Understanding the role of the Warm Pool in future climate change is of key importance, but highly controversial because the potential extent of its variability is largely unknown. To address this issue, this project will provide the first major geochemical investigation of recently discovered ancient corals in Indonesia using state-of-the-art microanalytical techniques. Outcomes from these palaeoclimate records will advance our understanding of global climate change, rainfall variability related to the El Nino - Indian Ocean Dipole system, and Australian drought.Read moreRead less
Nitrogen characteristics of plant communities along the North Australian Tropical Transect (NATT). It has become evident that biosphere processes need to be addressed at a global scale to understand global changes. Continental transects analyse ecosystem processes in a global context. The North Australian Tropical Transect (Darwin to Tennant Creek) represents 25% of Australia's vegetation. Biogeological research is underway on NATT ecosystems. Nitrogen availability strongly affects ecosystem pro ....Nitrogen characteristics of plant communities along the North Australian Tropical Transect (NATT). It has become evident that biosphere processes need to be addressed at a global scale to understand global changes. Continental transects analyse ecosystem processes in a global context. The North Australian Tropical Transect (Darwin to Tennant Creek) represents 25% of Australia's vegetation. Biogeological research is underway on NATT ecosystems. Nitrogen availability strongly affects ecosystem productivity, and is of major interest as nitrogen pollution threatens the biosphere. In Australia, nitrogen levels are generally low, but overall knowledge is limited. An integrated ecophysiological approach will relate soil and plant nitrogen characteristics, and provide an analysis of nitrogen relations along NATT. Results will be linked to existing NATT and international transect research.Read moreRead less
Greenhouse gas emission from sugarcane and mangrove communities in coastal Queensland. Greenhouse gases threaten the global climate. Many estimates of vegetation as sinks and sources for greenhouse gases have a high degree of uncertainty. This project will generate important information about greenhouse gas emissions from Queensland coastal vegetation. Characterised by moist and nutrient rich conditions, sugarcane fields and mangrove ecosystems represent significant sources/sinks of potent green ....Greenhouse gas emission from sugarcane and mangrove communities in coastal Queensland. Greenhouse gases threaten the global climate. Many estimates of vegetation as sinks and sources for greenhouse gases have a high degree of uncertainty. This project will generate important information about greenhouse gas emissions from Queensland coastal vegetation. Characterised by moist and nutrient rich conditions, sugarcane fields and mangrove ecosystems represent significant sources/sinks of potent greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane. Sugarcane and mangroves exposed to different nutrient inputs will allow to (i) identify mechanisms of N2O and CH4 emission, (ii) model N2O and CH4 emissions under different nutrient and climate conditions, and (iii) control/reduce emissions by improving coastal ecosystem management.Read moreRead less
ARC Australia-New Zealand Research Network for Vegetation Function. Plant species vary widely in quantitative functional traits, and in their relations to climate, soils and geography. Global generalizations are emerging. Vegetation Function network will reach from plant function into genomics and crop breeding, into palaeoecology and vegetation history, into landscape management for carbon, water and salinity outcomes, into forecasting future ecosystems under global change, and into phylogeny, ....ARC Australia-New Zealand Research Network for Vegetation Function. Plant species vary widely in quantitative functional traits, and in their relations to climate, soils and geography. Global generalizations are emerging. Vegetation Function network will reach from plant function into genomics and crop breeding, into palaeoecology and vegetation history, into landscape management for carbon, water and salinity outcomes, into forecasting future ecosystems under global change, and into phylogeny, ecoinformatics and evolutionary theory. Across this span, working groups will target nine identified opportunities for breakthrough research. Each research target needs input from two or more disciplines. Together, the nine targets link across disciplines, as a network that spans from genomic to planetary scales.Read moreRead less
The Indian Ocean Dipole, Australasian drought, and the great-earthquake cycle: Long-term perspectives for improved prediction. The protracted drought across Australia and Boxing Day 2004 earthquake in Sumatra defied prediction, and are causing incalculable environmental, economic, and social harm. Knowledge of past climate extremes will enhance our ability to predict climate change, and alleviate adverse affects for Australasian nations who miss-out in the future redistribution of life-giving mo ....The Indian Ocean Dipole, Australasian drought, and the great-earthquake cycle: Long-term perspectives for improved prediction. The protracted drought across Australia and Boxing Day 2004 earthquake in Sumatra defied prediction, and are causing incalculable environmental, economic, and social harm. Knowledge of past climate extremes will enhance our ability to predict climate change, and alleviate adverse affects for Australasian nations who miss-out in the future redistribution of life-giving moisture. Insights into the great-earthquake cycle will help fulfil Australia's responsibility to predict tsunamis, for the benefit of nations fringing Australasian seismotectonic zones. Development of improved techniques in palaeoclimatology, palaeoclimate modelling, and palaeoseismology will provide new collaborations and opportunities for research, training, and education.Read moreRead less
Reconciling competing objectives for the design of marine reserve networks: biodiversity, food security, and local equity in benefits. This project uses a decision-theoretic framework to balance the often conflicting marine conservation objectives of preserving biodiversity and building food security for local communities in the socially and ecologically complex region of the Coral Triangle. A new reserve design will boost biodiversity conservation and better support livelihoods.