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
Is a grass-fire cycle reducing biodiversity in the stone country of Kakadu National Park? There is concern that bushfires in northern Australia are causing biodiversity loss. The project will compare fire regimes and populations of a fire-sensitive tree, Callitris intratropica, in Kakadu to similar areas in central Arnhem Land, to see how fire management can be optimised to prevent further biodiversity loss on the Arnhem Plateau.
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
Investigating Sources Of Broodstock And Grow Out Sites For The Farming Of Sponges In Regional Northern Territory
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$13,500.00
Summary
Whilst at least three potential species of sponge have been identified, together with communities eager to participate, there is no information on the abundance of these sponges to act as broodstock, not detailed information on site suitability.
This project will build on the work of the pilot study (FRDC 2001/225) which indicated sponge farming appeared to be technologically, economically and culturally suited to remote indigenous areas.
Commonwealth and State governments incr ....Whilst at least three potential species of sponge have been identified, together with communities eager to participate, there is no information on the abundance of these sponges to act as broodstock, not detailed information on site suitability.
This project will build on the work of the pilot study (FRDC 2001/225) which indicated sponge farming appeared to be technologically, economically and culturally suited to remote indigenous areas.
Commonwealth and State governments increasingly recognise the need to foster economic activity which increases the participation of indigenous people in the fishing industry. This is particularly relevant in the NT where 28% of the population is aboriginal and some 85% of the coastline is aboriginal owned. Objectives: 1. Survey the area surrounding participating communities to determine broodstock abundance. 2. Select possible sites on which to establish farms. Read moreRead less
Modelling Multi Species Targeting Of Fishing Effort In The Queensland Coral Reef Finfish Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$369,128.00
Summary
The Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (CRFF) is a multi-species line fishery. Until recently there have been substantial gaps in our knowledge of the biology of even the major target species of the line fishery and considerable uncertainty about the impacts of current levels of fishing on the harvested stocks.
The CRC Reef Effects of Line Fishing (ELF) Project has provided an improved understanding of: i) the biology of the major target (coral trout and the red throat emperor) and by-product ....The Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (CRFF) is a multi-species line fishery. Until recently there have been substantial gaps in our knowledge of the biology of even the major target species of the line fishery and considerable uncertainty about the impacts of current levels of fishing on the harvested stocks.
The CRC Reef Effects of Line Fishing (ELF) Project has provided an improved understanding of: i) the biology of the major target (coral trout and the red throat emperor) and by-product species (stripey bass, moari wrasse, barramundi cod, lesser serranid spp, etc) and, ii) the characteristics and fishing practices of the different sectors of the fishery. One of the main tools for delivery of the outcomes of the ELF Project is ELFSIM, a set of simulation models that will be used to evaluate alternative management strategies against specific objectives for common coral trout.
Given the multi-species nature of the CRFFF, there is a need to address the implications for the effectiveness of alternative management strategies of fishers harvesting different species, with divergent distributions and biology, either by targeting or as a significant by-product when targeting other species. This is especially relevant on GBR where many species have different spatial distributions and area closures are a prominent management strategy that directly affects the distribution of fishing effort. An example of a potential management strategy that includes criteria for which coral trout and red throat emperor differ substantially is the proposed spawning closures currently being considered by REEFMAC. The proposed closures target the peak spawning period for common coral trout (October-November). This period does not, however, include the majority of the spawning season for red throat emperor (July-September). The potential effects of the closures, if implemented, on the harvest of either species, the spatial distribution of effort and impact on the fish stocks are unknown. The models proposed in this task will provide a formal context in which to examine the range of potential responses.
Previously our capacity to address the multi-species nature of the fishery was limited by a paucity of information (for target species and fishing practices) and lack of a formal framework (management strategy evaluation (MSE)) to do so. This project is a strategic requirement to explicitly incorporate the multi-species nature of the CRFF in the evaluation of alternative management strategies for line fishing on the GBR. While this project focusses on the CRFF, the tools developed will provide the basis for extension to include other species of the line fishery or application to other fisheries. This project directly addresses QFIRAC objectives 1.8, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5 & 5.4 and ReefMAC’s and GBRMPA's concern for management of the diversity of impacts of the line fishery on species other than coral trout. Objectives: 1. Document the decision-making processes that influence effort distribtuion of GBR line fishers in response to varying amounts of catch of target and non-target species and characterise the factors that result in changes in targeting behaviour by GBR line fishers. 2. Develop computer simulation models that predict the spatial distribution of effort by commercial line fishers in response to changing levels of catch of target and non-target species in the Queensland Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery. 3. Formally evaluate alternative harvest and conservation management strategies for coral trout and red throat emperor for the Queensland Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery, given models of changes in fishing strategy related to the harvest of multiple species, either through target switching or retention of significant by-product. Read moreRead less
Stock Structure And Species Identification Of School And Gummy Sharks In Australasian Waters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$156,446.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine how many species of gummy shark exist in Australasian waters and to determine their distribution 2. To determine whether there is more than one species of school shark world wide 3. To determine the genetic stock structures of school and gummy sharks in Australasian waters
Surrogates 1 - Predictors, Impacts, Management And Conservation Of The Benthic Biodiversity Of The Northern Prawn Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$314,554.00
Summary
NORMAC 45 agreed that as a high priority a pro-active approach to assessing the potential areas for designation as MPAs, and the impact of their potential designation on the fishery, would benefit the NPF. NORMAC also suggested that the NPF be offered as a trial fishery to test and refine the Environment Australia criteria, to demonstrate that a fishery is ecologically sustainable. The Commonwealth government is committed to setting up a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas t ....NORMAC 45 agreed that as a high priority a pro-active approach to assessing the potential areas for designation as MPAs, and the impact of their potential designation on the fishery, would benefit the NPF. NORMAC also suggested that the NPF be offered as a trial fishery to test and refine the Environment Australia criteria, to demonstrate that a fishery is ecologically sustainable. The Commonwealth government is committed to setting up a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas throughout Australia's entire marine environment that will protect areas representative of all major ecological regions and the communities of plants and animals found there. It is in the interest of the NPF that this system is used as an opportunity to achieve sustained, and possibly increased returns from tiger prawn fishing and also to conserve biodiversity.
The outcomes of this project will assist NORMAC in meeting their responsibility to demonstrate that the NPF is an ecologically sustainable commercial fishery, under the Commonwealth Fisheries Management Act (1991), the new Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act (effective July 2000) and the Wildlife Protection (regulation of Exports and Imports) Acts 1982. Fisheries will be assessed to ensure that they are conducted in accordance with the EPBC Act and if they are not, their ability to export product could be threatened. It is, therefore, critical for NORMAC to evaluate its management strategies to ensure that they meet the requirements of the legislation. This proposal also addresses key research priorities of the benthic communities/physical impacts research area of the FRDC Effects of Trawling Sub-Program.
The results from the proposal contribute to the strategic directions of Environment Australia. In the short term, EA are looking at developing a proposal for a Marine Protected Area in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. However, in the longer term, the results from this project on identifying different ecosystems, and modelling different management scenarios, will provide information for the selection process of MPA's in the Northern Prawn Fishery and on potential management strategies for conserving biodiversity values. This project will also provide information on methods for assessing the effectiveness of MPAs for conserving biodiversity. Objectives: 1. Assess the potential of physical, research and fishery data to classify benthic species assemblages within the NPF 2. Develop maps of benthic species assemblages, fine–scale patterns of trawling intensity and the untrawlable grounds for key areas in the NPF 3. Assess the sampling strategies required to extend the coverage of data on benthic species assemblages and untrawlable grounds in the NPF 4. Apply the existing CSIRO/GBRMPA East Coast Trawl Fishery management scenario evaluation model to evaluate the impacts of trawling on benthic species assemblages under a number of likely scenarios for several regions of the NPF 5. Develop a planning tool that will assist in identifying different reserve configurations to achieve specified biodiversity and other environmental targets, while maximising the value of the commercial fishery Read moreRead less