Movement patterns and behavioural strategies of Estuarine Crocodiles: A long-term remote monitoring study using an underwater acoustic array. The on-going recovery of the estuarine crocodile population is creating a paradox for Australians. Although a salient species, an iconic animal, and a firm tourist attraction, estuarine crocodiles pose a significant risk to the public. Knowledge of where crocodiles go, what they do when they get there, and why they select particular habitats at certain tim ....Movement patterns and behavioural strategies of Estuarine Crocodiles: A long-term remote monitoring study using an underwater acoustic array. The on-going recovery of the estuarine crocodile population is creating a paradox for Australians. Although a salient species, an iconic animal, and a firm tourist attraction, estuarine crocodiles pose a significant risk to the public. Knowledge of where crocodiles go, what they do when they get there, and why they select particular habitats at certain times is critical for sustaining the Australian crocodile population, whilst ensuring public safety. This long term study will utilise the latest advancement in underwater acoustic technology to monitor the behavioural and physiological strategies used by estuarine crocodiles in occupying critical habitats, providing vital information for resource managers and policy makers. Read moreRead less
Early warning of cyanobacteria blooms in drinking water reservoirs by means of evolutionary algorithms. Estimated economic cost of cyanobacteria blooms to Australia are at $150 million p.a. Early warning for cyanobacteria blooms will inform water managers to conduct preventive and operational control in reservoirs and water works, and significantly lower risks for public health and costs for monitoring and treatment. Resulting early warning systems will be novel prototypes for cyanobacteria bloo ....Early warning of cyanobacteria blooms in drinking water reservoirs by means of evolutionary algorithms. Estimated economic cost of cyanobacteria blooms to Australia are at $150 million p.a. Early warning for cyanobacteria blooms will inform water managers to conduct preventive and operational control in reservoirs and water works, and significantly lower risks for public health and costs for monitoring and treatment. Resulting early warning systems will be novel prototypes for cyanobacteria blooms in drinking water reservoirs based on forecasting models adaptable to environmental and climate change. Model-based scenario analysis will also assist in informed decisions on effects of drought, injection of recycled water and global warming to cyanobacteria growth.Read moreRead less
Forensic entomology and time of death estimation in Victoria. Assessing time of death is a notoriously difficult, yet critical component of homicide investigations. Forensic entomology can provide reliable death time estimates using detailed knowledge of the ecology and life-history characteristics of local carrion insect species. However, these data are largely unavailable for Victoria and elsewhere on the eastern Australian seaboard. This project will measure growth rates of carrion insect ....Forensic entomology and time of death estimation in Victoria. Assessing time of death is a notoriously difficult, yet critical component of homicide investigations. Forensic entomology can provide reliable death time estimates using detailed knowledge of the ecology and life-history characteristics of local carrion insect species. However, these data are largely unavailable for Victoria and elsewhere on the eastern Australian seaboard. This project will measure growth rates of carrion insect larvae, investigate carrion insect ecology in different habitats, and describe the larval morphology of key species. We will also investigate the efficacy of a new method for estimating time of death using corpse chemistry.Read moreRead less
Ecology and conservation of a unique, threatened guanophilic invertebrate community. This project aims to study the biology and ecology of a unique assemblage of insects and other invertebrates that live specifically in bat guano at Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Area. The caves are a major ecotourism and research location because of their world famous Pliestocene fossils, and because one cave is a critical breeding site for the large bentwing bat, Miniopterus s. bassianii. The guano cave, whic ....Ecology and conservation of a unique, threatened guanophilic invertebrate community. This project aims to study the biology and ecology of a unique assemblage of insects and other invertebrates that live specifically in bat guano at Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Area. The caves are a major ecotourism and research location because of their world famous Pliestocene fossils, and because one cave is a critical breeding site for the large bentwing bat, Miniopterus s. bassianii. The guano cave, which contains numerous endemic invertebrates, is potentially threatened by both direct and indirect human impacts. The results of this research will form the basis of a long-term management strategy to conserve this diverse community.Read moreRead less
Tracking crocodiles in 3-dimensions: A remote monitoring study of movement patterns and diving behaviour. The result from this study will promote a better understanding and appreciation of crocodiles and will help to assist conservation managers in determining population dynamics and movements of crocodiles in Queensland. This study will showcase, on an international stage, Australia as being a leader in crocodilian research and conservation, with the results from this study being actively pres ....Tracking crocodiles in 3-dimensions: A remote monitoring study of movement patterns and diving behaviour. The result from this study will promote a better understanding and appreciation of crocodiles and will help to assist conservation managers in determining population dynamics and movements of crocodiles in Queensland. This study will showcase, on an international stage, Australia as being a leader in crocodilian research and conservation, with the results from this study being actively presented and profiled in both the scientific and general media. Finally this project will encourage and promote a long term research association between the University of Queensland, Australia Zoo and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service that will stimulate scientific discovery, and promote effective conservation through education and research. Read moreRead less
Effects of river plumes on nearshore ecosystems: organic matter flows and food web consequences. River plumes may subsidize nearshore food webs by exporting land-derived material and by stimulating marine phytoplankton production via nutrient delivery. Whereas previous documentation of the biological responses to plumes has been mostly limited to large rivers and to primary production, this project targets small systems that discharge directly onto open coasts, and focuses on the fate of plume ....Effects of river plumes on nearshore ecosystems: organic matter flows and food web consequences. River plumes may subsidize nearshore food webs by exporting land-derived material and by stimulating marine phytoplankton production via nutrient delivery. Whereas previous documentation of the biological responses to plumes has been mostly limited to large rivers and to primary production, this project targets small systems that discharge directly onto open coasts, and focuses on the fate of plume material. Work on carbon pathways will centre on pelagic and benthic food chains associated with plumes, and will also test whether nearshore waters and sandy beaches are coupled via onshore advection of plume material.Read moreRead less
Small vertebrates from the Albian-Cenomanian of Queensland - testing hypotheses of provincialism among Australia's mid-Cretaceous dinosaur faunas. This project will add to our knowledge of Australian dinosaurs and the world they inhabited. Dinosaurs are often the means through which many people, especially children, are introduced to science. This project has the potential to greatly enhance this attraction to science, using the results of research on Australian dinosaurs. It has direct links wi ....Small vertebrates from the Albian-Cenomanian of Queensland - testing hypotheses of provincialism among Australia's mid-Cretaceous dinosaur faunas. This project will add to our knowledge of Australian dinosaurs and the world they inhabited. Dinosaurs are often the means through which many people, especially children, are introduced to science. This project has the potential to greatly enhance this attraction to science, using the results of research on Australian dinosaurs. It has direct links with a number of national and international museum exhibitions, and in western Queensland the results will be incorporated into a newly developed regional interpretive centre in Isisford. The enormous social and economic benefits linked to this initiative will open up numerous opportunities for local businesses, and increase the appreciation for science and exploration in outback areas.Read moreRead less
Targeted isolation of specific marine bacterial species associated with higher organsims for the purpose of discovering new antimicrobial compounds. Specific bacterial species that are commonly found in association with marine plants and animals often produce active secondary metabolites. The aim of this project is to apply our understanding of these bacterial-host associations to the targeted isolation of novel antimicrobials from the marine environment. While these new compounds will undoubted ....Targeted isolation of specific marine bacterial species associated with higher organsims for the purpose of discovering new antimicrobial compounds. Specific bacterial species that are commonly found in association with marine plants and animals often produce active secondary metabolites. The aim of this project is to apply our understanding of these bacterial-host associations to the targeted isolation of novel antimicrobials from the marine environment. While these new compounds will undoubtedly have a number of commercial applications this project focuses on the development of products for dental hygiene in animals. Generally, the urgent need for new antimicrobial compounds to combat the growing number of microbes that are resistant to current antibiotics highlights the importance of this project.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms and management of inducible tolerance to synthetic insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-formulations in Australian populations of diamondback moth. Insects have a cunning ability to respond to damaging environments by evolving genetic resistance or mobilising metabolic tolerance mechanisms. Recent observations of inducible tolerance to synthetic and biopesticides, which can be transmitted to offspring by a maternal effect has the potential to cause ecological and economic prob ....Mechanisms and management of inducible tolerance to synthetic insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-formulations in Australian populations of diamondback moth. Insects have a cunning ability to respond to damaging environments by evolving genetic resistance or mobilising metabolic tolerance mechanisms. Recent observations of inducible tolerance to synthetic and biopesticides, which can be transmitted to offspring by a maternal effect has the potential to cause ecological and economic problems in agricultural production. We will use field-collected Diamondback moth (DBM), a major insect pest in canola and brassica vegetable crops, to investigate the genetic implications of inducible tolerance for the integrated management of DBM and for the design of new resistance management strategies.Read moreRead less
Environmental metagenomics, metaproteomics and novel bioactives from microbial communities in Antarctic lakes. This program will derive an integrated understanding of microbial ecology which is essential for determining ways of preserving the health of the World's ecosystems. Through this, Australia will remain a world leader in Antarctic biology, strengthening Australia's reputation in technologically innovative scientific programs of global significance, training local scientists in cutting ed ....Environmental metagenomics, metaproteomics and novel bioactives from microbial communities in Antarctic lakes. This program will derive an integrated understanding of microbial ecology which is essential for determining ways of preserving the health of the World's ecosystems. Through this, Australia will remain a world leader in Antarctic biology, strengthening Australia's reputation in technologically innovative scientific programs of global significance, training local scientists in cutting edge genomic biology and fostering the interests of the international community in sciences ranging from microbial ecology to bioprospecting. Novel biodegradable enzymes will be developed to replace harsh chemicals providing environmentally friendly, cheaper and more effective agents for use in medical, biotechnological, industrial and biodefense applications.Read moreRead less