Unravelling the history of nitrogen cycling within the central Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to use coral skeleton geochemical analysis to establish if, when, and how nitrogen cycling changed along the central inshore region of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Increasing anthropogenic nitrogen discharge to coastal waters could drive ecosystem decline in the GBR, one of Australia’s most sensitive and economically valuable natural environments. However, the full effect of anthropogenic ....Unravelling the history of nitrogen cycling within the central Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to use coral skeleton geochemical analysis to establish if, when, and how nitrogen cycling changed along the central inshore region of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Increasing anthropogenic nitrogen discharge to coastal waters could drive ecosystem decline in the GBR, one of Australia’s most sensitive and economically valuable natural environments. However, the full effect of anthropogenic nitrogen is unclear due to a lack of long, continuous records. This project will unravel the history of nitrogen cycling in the GBR since the mid-1800s, knowledge crucial for managing this reef system.Read moreRead less
Predicting and understanding coccolithophorid calcification in a changing ocean. This project will investigate the entire natural coastal and oceanic coccolithophore assemblages. The least and most sensitive species to ocean change will be examined in innovative laboratory experiments and will enhance the understanding of how species-specific responses translate to the ecosystem level, necessary for predictions of future carbon cycling.
Aggregate structure of humic organic matter. Soil aquatic organic matter is important in plant growth, nutrient supply and water quality and in affecting pollutants and metal ions in the environment. Indeed the survival of life on the planet depends on the way geo-organic matter functions. We have recently developed a new host guest theory on the way this material binds important substances such as metal ions and pollutants. This project aims to use this theory to investigate the structure of th ....Aggregate structure of humic organic matter. Soil aquatic organic matter is important in plant growth, nutrient supply and water quality and in affecting pollutants and metal ions in the environment. Indeed the survival of life on the planet depends on the way geo-organic matter functions. We have recently developed a new host guest theory on the way this material binds important substances such as metal ions and pollutants. This project aims to use this theory to investigate the structure of these materials and how they work in Nature by understanding molecular composition at a level hitherto thought impossible.Read moreRead less
Host-guest structure of humic organic matter - the key to understanding soil organic properties. Soil and aquatic organic matter is important in plant growth, nutrient supply and water quality and in affecting pollutants and metal ions in the environment. Indeed, the survival of life on the planet depends on the way geo-organic matter functions. We have recently developed a new host?guest theory on the way this material binds important substances such as metal ions and pollutants. This proje ....Host-guest structure of humic organic matter - the key to understanding soil organic properties. Soil and aquatic organic matter is important in plant growth, nutrient supply and water quality and in affecting pollutants and metal ions in the environment. Indeed, the survival of life on the planet depends on the way geo-organic matter functions. We have recently developed a new host?guest theory on the way this material binds important substances such as metal ions and pollutants. This project aims to use this theory to investigate the structure of these materials and how they work in Nature by understanding molecular composition at a level hitherto thought impossible.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100153
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$240,000.00
Summary
A liquid chromatography/gas bench: isotope ratio mass spectrometer for new and novel carbon and nitrogen research in coastal systems. This project will build a cutting-edge facility that will allow measurement of new and novel carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. The facility will allow ground-breaking research to be undertaken in a variety of environmental fields such as coastal eutrophication, climate change, ocean acidification, coastal hydrology, and coral reefs.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101733
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
The mangrove carbon pump: Resolving the contribution of underground respiration to mangrove greenhouse gas and carbon budgets. Mangroves are considered an important global carbon sink. However, there is an imbalance of about 50 per cent in mangrove carbon budgets. This project will resolve whether advective pore water exchange and associated underground respiration represents the missing component of mangrove carbon and greenhouse gas budgets. This innovative project will examine the previously ....The mangrove carbon pump: Resolving the contribution of underground respiration to mangrove greenhouse gas and carbon budgets. Mangroves are considered an important global carbon sink. However, there is an imbalance of about 50 per cent in mangrove carbon budgets. This project will resolve whether advective pore water exchange and associated underground respiration represents the missing component of mangrove carbon and greenhouse gas budgets. This innovative project will examine the previously overlooked concept that crab burrow flushing is a major driver of biogeochemical reactions in mangroves. It will use a combination of new experimental and modelling approaches and will contribute to closing a significant gap in our understanding of the coastal carbon cycle.Read moreRead less
Beyond burial: redefining the blue carbon paradigm. This project aims to constrain the magnitude and drivers of alkalinity and greenhouse gas fluxes in mangroves. Mangroves cover less than 0.03 per cent of the Earth’s surface yet account for approximately 14 per cent of oceanic carbon burial. Mangroves also export alkalinity to the coastal ocean, and act as sources of methane and nitrous oxide. The effect of these fluxes on climate may exceed carbon burial by several-fold, but are unaccounted fo ....Beyond burial: redefining the blue carbon paradigm. This project aims to constrain the magnitude and drivers of alkalinity and greenhouse gas fluxes in mangroves. Mangroves cover less than 0.03 per cent of the Earth’s surface yet account for approximately 14 per cent of oceanic carbon burial. Mangroves also export alkalinity to the coastal ocean, and act as sources of methane and nitrous oxide. The effect of these fluxes on climate may exceed carbon burial by several-fold, but are unaccounted for in blue carbon budgets. This project will couple high-resolution radionuclide geochronology of soil carbon cycling with autonomous measurements of aquatic exports and greenhouse gas fluxes. This study will provide the detailed data required to refine the blue carbon paradigm.Read moreRead less
New perspectives on iron oxide transformations in oxic and anoxic aqueous environments: implications for iron bioavailability and contaminant mobility. Transformations in the form and reactivity of iron oxides in oxic and anoxic aqueous environments are considerably more dynamic than previously thought. This project will examine the nature and extent of these transformations and elucidate their impact on supply of iron to organisms and mobility of uranium and arsenic in groundwaters.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100500
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,000.00
Summary
Electron transfer at the microbe-mineral interface via cytochromes/exudates. This project aims to develop the kinetic (both in vivo and in vitro) and thermodynamic models of the extracellular electron transfer processes at the microbe-mineral interface via outer membrane cytochromes and exudates of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, and elucidating the potential electron transfer process from iron-reducing bacteria to semiconducting iron minerals. The observed models will provide a more compr ....Electron transfer at the microbe-mineral interface via cytochromes/exudates. This project aims to develop the kinetic (both in vivo and in vitro) and thermodynamic models of the extracellular electron transfer processes at the microbe-mineral interface via outer membrane cytochromes and exudates of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, and elucidating the potential electron transfer process from iron-reducing bacteria to semiconducting iron minerals. The observed models will provide a more comprehensive understanding of electron transfer reactions at the microbe-mineral interface, which will be helpful in the prediction of natural redox processes of iron transformation and in the development of bioremediation strategies for contaminated sites.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
An Equilibrium Inlet-Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometer. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) play a key role in earth system processes but little is known about the amount of BVOCs emitted, and the mechanisms underlying their production in marine habitats, despite these being potential hotspots for BVOC emissions. The aim of this proposal is to custom build a portable equilibrator inlet proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer for measurements of BVOC’s in coastal waters. This w ....An Equilibrium Inlet-Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometer. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) play a key role in earth system processes but little is known about the amount of BVOCs emitted, and the mechanisms underlying their production in marine habitats, despite these being potential hotspots for BVOC emissions. The aim of this proposal is to custom build a portable equilibrator inlet proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer for measurements of BVOC’s in coastal waters. This will be the first such instrument in the southern hemisphere and it will enable us to make in situ, high-precision measurements which will lead to ground-breaking advances that will revolutionise our understanding of BVOC cycling in coastal environments and their influence on the global climate system.
Read moreRead less