Restoring amphibian populations in chytrid-impacted landscapes. This project aims to address an outstanding problem in wildlife disease ecology: how can we enable susceptible amphibians to persist in the face of the chytrid pathogen, which has devastated amphibian biodiversity? This project expects to generate new knowledge by experimentally trialling two highly promising interventions: immunising animals and creating disease refugia through simple habitat manipulations. Outcomes of this project ....Restoring amphibian populations in chytrid-impacted landscapes. This project aims to address an outstanding problem in wildlife disease ecology: how can we enable susceptible amphibians to persist in the face of the chytrid pathogen, which has devastated amphibian biodiversity? This project expects to generate new knowledge by experimentally trialling two highly promising interventions: immunising animals and creating disease refugia through simple habitat manipulations. Outcomes of this project include a framework for predicting how interventions might enable host-pathogen coexistence. This project should provide significant benefits including enhanced understanding of wildlife disease dynamics that will pave the way for interventions to restore amphibian biodiversity in chytrid-impacted landscapes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100573
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,877.00
Summary
Genomics of extinction and isolation on Australian island arks. This project aims to measure the genetic health of key populations of threatened Australian mammals. With the highest rate of extinction in the world and over 30% of surviving species under immediate threat, Australian mammals require urgent focus to secure their future. This project focuses on island populations, which are increasingly used as sources to rewild mainland Australia. Using cutting-edge genomic tools, this project plan ....Genomics of extinction and isolation on Australian island arks. This project aims to measure the genetic health of key populations of threatened Australian mammals. With the highest rate of extinction in the world and over 30% of surviving species under immediate threat, Australian mammals require urgent focus to secure their future. This project focuses on island populations, which are increasingly used as sources to rewild mainland Australia. Using cutting-edge genomic tools, this project plans to determine the extent and nature of genetic variation, including harmful mutations, on islands and in declining mainland populations. The anticipated outcome is to understand how genetic factors contribute to extinction, to improve conservation strategies for threatened species.Read moreRead less
Upscaling genetic management of wildlife populations. Earth’s biodiversity is in crisis: many species are threatened with extinction and need our help. Genetic management helps to stop extinctions and promotes the health and continued existence of our wildlife. This project aims to understand how to use genome science to support preservation of four endangered species in changing climates and apply these learnings to help other species to survive and thrive. Anticipated outcomes include innovati ....Upscaling genetic management of wildlife populations. Earth’s biodiversity is in crisis: many species are threatened with extinction and need our help. Genetic management helps to stop extinctions and promotes the health and continued existence of our wildlife. This project aims to understand how to use genome science to support preservation of four endangered species in changing climates and apply these learnings to help other species to survive and thrive. Anticipated outcomes include innovative approaches to aid conservation decision-making, automated analyses of genome data, and improved conservation training. The expected benefits include larger, healthier populations of four species, new ways of saving other species, and the provision of important resources for conservation managers.Read moreRead less
Koala Guardians: Empowering community to protect an Australian icon. There is an urgent need for innovative approaches to combat widespread decline of koalas. This project aims to develop technology, integrating behavioural change theory and community co-design, to enable the public to participate in koala conservation. This interdisciplinary initiative will harness the power of citizen science to facilitate mutually-beneficial educational interactions. Expected outcomes include the production o ....Koala Guardians: Empowering community to protect an Australian icon. There is an urgent need for innovative approaches to combat widespread decline of koalas. This project aims to develop technology, integrating behavioural change theory and community co-design, to enable the public to participate in koala conservation. This interdisciplinary initiative will harness the power of citizen science to facilitate mutually-beneficial educational interactions. Expected outcomes include the production of innovative solar-powered Bluetooth ear tags and co-designing a smartphone application that educates and incentivises users in recognising signs of koala disease and submitting sightings, by leveraging gamification, outdoor recreation and tourism. This blueprint can be adapted to assist other threatened species.Read moreRead less
Pathways to semelparity versus early maturity in animals and plants. The project aims to resolve an important but unresolved question in life history evolution and ecology- which mechanisms and constraints lead to semelparity (breeding once, which is rare), and which lead to fast life history (breeding early, which is common) in animals and plants. Theory predicts that both may be adaptations to schedules of adult death. Understanding why males and females have either semelparous or fast life hi ....Pathways to semelparity versus early maturity in animals and plants. The project aims to resolve an important but unresolved question in life history evolution and ecology- which mechanisms and constraints lead to semelparity (breeding once, which is rare), and which lead to fast life history (breeding early, which is common) in animals and plants. Theory predicts that both may be adaptations to schedules of adult death. Understanding why males and females have either semelparous or fast life history strategies is crucial to predicting survival of harvested and threatened species under pressure from climate change, drought, predators, and diseases that kill adults. Expected project outcomes include improved ability to address agents of decline of threatened animals and plants including semelparous species.Read moreRead less
Using pollinators to optimise plant conservation translocation. This project aims to address the low success rate of conservation translocations of threatened orchids. While pollinators are critical for plant reproduction, they are very rarely considered when establishing new populations of endangered species. Our innovative approach to conservation translocation involves using pollinators in site selection, developing strategies to mitigate risks of hybridisation, and optimising plant reproduct ....Using pollinators to optimise plant conservation translocation. This project aims to address the low success rate of conservation translocations of threatened orchids. While pollinators are critical for plant reproduction, they are very rarely considered when establishing new populations of endangered species. Our innovative approach to conservation translocation involves using pollinators in site selection, developing strategies to mitigate risks of hybridisation, and optimising plant reproduction through planting design. The key outcome will be best-practice protocols to fast-track the establishment of self-sustaining populations. Due to their novelty, the approaches we develop will benefit plant translocations worldwide, and lead to enhanced conservation outcomes at reduced financial cost. Read moreRead less
Genetic rescue of Australian wildlife. Genetic rescue of Australian wildlife. This project aims to test genetic rescue as an efficient recovery technique for threatened plants and animals. Genetic rescue is under-utilised, even though it is overwhelmingly beneficial. This project will convert management actions on five Endangered/Critically Endangered species into rigorous experiments that measure the fitness benefits of genetic rescue, and demonstrate genome-wide consequences. Anticipated outco ....Genetic rescue of Australian wildlife. Genetic rescue of Australian wildlife. This project aims to test genetic rescue as an efficient recovery technique for threatened plants and animals. Genetic rescue is under-utilised, even though it is overwhelmingly beneficial. This project will convert management actions on five Endangered/Critically Endangered species into rigorous experiments that measure the fitness benefits of genetic rescue, and demonstrate genome-wide consequences. Anticipated outcomes include innovative genetic rescue protocols, a framework for genetic rescue, and leading-edge conservation training. Expected benefits are increased persistence of species that are otherwise unresponsive to management, and a new path to saving endangered species.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100812
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,748.00
Summary
Using evolutionary theory to advance reproductive technologies. This project aims to address the global biodiversity crisis by incorporating evolutionary theory into the study of reproductive technologies. With 41% of amphibian species now threatened with extinction, this project expects to revolutionise the field, enhancing the propagation and genetic management of threatened amphibians. Specifically, incorporating evolutionary theory into the study of amphibian reproductive technologies will i ....Using evolutionary theory to advance reproductive technologies. This project aims to address the global biodiversity crisis by incorporating evolutionary theory into the study of reproductive technologies. With 41% of amphibian species now threatened with extinction, this project expects to revolutionise the field, enhancing the propagation and genetic management of threatened amphibians. Specifically, incorporating evolutionary theory into the study of amphibian reproductive technologies will increase our capacity to predict spermiation responses and identify parental-genetic incompatibilities that may compromise offspring viability. Ultimately, this novel approach will provide significant benefits by fast-tracking the development of reproductive technologies for threatened species recovery.Read moreRead less
Onsets not offsets for real biodiversity gains. This project addresses the profound challenge of reconciling development and biodiversity conservation by developing an alternative to the pervasive, yet unsuccessful, biodiversity offsetting approach. It will generate new knowledge in the areas of novel ecosystem function, land use optimisation and conservation attitudes. Key project outcomes will be a new framework for biodiversity onsetting, tested against environmental and social feasibility me ....Onsets not offsets for real biodiversity gains. This project addresses the profound challenge of reconciling development and biodiversity conservation by developing an alternative to the pervasive, yet unsuccessful, biodiversity offsetting approach. It will generate new knowledge in the areas of novel ecosystem function, land use optimisation and conservation attitudes. Key project outcomes will be a new framework for biodiversity onsetting, tested against environmental and social feasibility metrics, and new biodiversity evaluation methods for novel habitats. The project will provide environmental and economic benefits by reversing the ongoing decline in biodiversity from habitat loss and driving innovation in environmentally destructive industries that are vulnerable to climate change.Read moreRead less
Transforming museum industry to cryopreserve Australia’s diverse wildlife. This project aspires to develop methods for collecting, culturing and cryopreserving cells from wildlife in line with museum industry practice. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the collection of live cells from animals under field conditions and their long-term maintenance in museum collections. Expected outcomes of the project include enhanced capacity of museums to build live cell collections and to s ....Transforming museum industry to cryopreserve Australia’s diverse wildlife. This project aspires to develop methods for collecting, culturing and cryopreserving cells from wildlife in line with museum industry practice. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the collection of live cells from animals under field conditions and their long-term maintenance in museum collections. Expected outcomes of the project include enhanced capacity of museums to build live cell collections and to support and collaborate with cellular biologists. Growth of live cell collections in Australian museums will fuel innovation in cellular technologies, advance fundamental biological knowledge, and shift museums from the role of documenting losses of genetic variation to preserving that genetic variation in living form.
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