Functional-trait approach to restoration of species-rich shrublands. The project aims to deliver management tools that will help mining companies to meet restoration targets and to improve the field of trait-based predictive restoration ecology. Species-rich kwongan shrublands of south-west Australia are a biodiversity treasure. Despite their global and national conservation value, little is known about which plant traits are most important for community assembly and diversity maintenance. This ....Functional-trait approach to restoration of species-rich shrublands. The project aims to deliver management tools that will help mining companies to meet restoration targets and to improve the field of trait-based predictive restoration ecology. Species-rich kwongan shrublands of south-west Australia are a biodiversity treasure. Despite their global and national conservation value, little is known about which plant traits are most important for community assembly and diversity maintenance. This project plans to use plant functional traits related to nutrient and water acquisition to predict plant community assembly under different soil resource availabilities and thus assist in successful rehabilitation of this native vegetation after closure of sand-mining operations.Read moreRead less
Temperate trophic cascades: impacts of seal foraging on benthic community dynamics. Effective Marine Protected Area management across Australia requires guidance from rigorous strategic research. The project will investigate opposing activities that provoke ecosystem collapse (overharvesting, grazing) or recovery (marine park protection) and provide advice to improve effectiveness of marine conservation strategies in New South Wales and South Australia.
Overcoming multiple constraints to wetland forest restoration. This project aims to determine the efficacy of different approaches for restoring wetland forests at the landscape scale. The death and decline of Victoria’s wetland forests, crucial habitat for the endangered helmeted honeyeater and Leadbeater's possum, most likely result from modified flooding patterns, low native tree and shrub recruitment and increased competition from understorey plants. The project intends to reinstate a more n ....Overcoming multiple constraints to wetland forest restoration. This project aims to determine the efficacy of different approaches for restoring wetland forests at the landscape scale. The death and decline of Victoria’s wetland forests, crucial habitat for the endangered helmeted honeyeater and Leadbeater's possum, most likely result from modified flooding patterns, low native tree and shrub recruitment and increased competition from understorey plants. The project intends to reinstate a more natural flood regime, planting native species and reducing competition from dense understorey vegetation. In this way, the project aims to test and advance ecological theory, guide wetland restoration and inform management plans for saving Victoria’s iconic fauna.Read moreRead less
Backyard Bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. Backyard bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. This project aims to develop a model for urban ecosystem function and restoration, by identifying resources used by urban bandicoots (quenda). Digging mammal species turn over substantial volumes of soil as they forage for invertebrates, subterranean fungi, and plant material. These ecosystem engineers contribute to water infiltration, nutrient cycling, ....Backyard Bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. Backyard bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. This project aims to develop a model for urban ecosystem function and restoration, by identifying resources used by urban bandicoots (quenda). Digging mammal species turn over substantial volumes of soil as they forage for invertebrates, subterranean fungi, and plant material. These ecosystem engineers contribute to water infiltration, nutrient cycling, increased soil microorganism function, and seedling recruitment. They spread hypogeous mycorrhizal fungi that contribute to plant nutrition, crucial in Australia's nutrient-poor soils. This research is expected to improve targeted plantings in bushland reserves, and identify and mitigate threats to bandicoots in cities.Read moreRead less