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The evolution of female resistance to male reproductive traits in animals. Australia has an outstanding international reputation in the fields of Ecology and Evolution. This study will reinforce Australia's excellence in these fields. Sexual conflict is a topic of great scientific interest because it has important implications for evolutionary theory and our understanding of the diverse strategies that animals use to attract or repel potential mates. Consequently, articles on this topic feature ....The evolution of female resistance to male reproductive traits in animals. Australia has an outstanding international reputation in the fields of Ecology and Evolution. This study will reinforce Australia's excellence in these fields. Sexual conflict is a topic of great scientific interest because it has important implications for evolutionary theory and our understanding of the diverse strategies that animals use to attract or repel potential mates. Consequently, articles on this topic feature regularly in top international scientific journals. In addition, research on the unique social behaviours of Australian animals holds general public interest and plays an important role in attracting young people to careers in science. Read moreRead less
Plant species economics and strategy-dimensions of plant ecology. Ecological strategies of plant species are differentiated mainly along economic dimensions. Four key dimensions are the leaf lifespan - leaf mass per area tradeoff, the seed mass - seed output tradeoff, the leaf size - twig size spectrum, and canopy height at maturity. Each dimension reflects a spectrum of allocation patterns. Costs, benefits, tradeoffs and correlations underpinning these strategy-dimensions will be investigated w ....Plant species economics and strategy-dimensions of plant ecology. Ecological strategies of plant species are differentiated mainly along economic dimensions. Four key dimensions are the leaf lifespan - leaf mass per area tradeoff, the seed mass - seed output tradeoff, the leaf size - twig size spectrum, and canopy height at maturity. Each dimension reflects a spectrum of allocation patterns. Costs, benefits, tradeoffs and correlations underpinning these strategy-dimensions will be investigated within Australia, and in collaboration with partner investigators overseas.Read moreRead less
Plant ecological strategies across species and an evolutionary-ecology vegetation model. This proposal is aimed at fundamental science about plant traits and water use and flammability. These vegetation processes underpin management of bushfires, water, salinity and carbon storage, which are national priorities for An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. The proposal pursues cost-benefit understanding of stem-leaf relations and of flammability, and aims also to develop an evolutionary-ecology ....Plant ecological strategies across species and an evolutionary-ecology vegetation model. This proposal is aimed at fundamental science about plant traits and water use and flammability. These vegetation processes underpin management of bushfires, water, salinity and carbon storage, which are national priorities for An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. The proposal pursues cost-benefit understanding of stem-leaf relations and of flammability, and aims also to develop an evolutionary-ecology vegetation model (EEVM). An EEVM will encapsulate the next generation of fundamental ecological science, with direct application for global change scenarios and for ecosystem management. This proposal forms a network among outstanding laboratories internationally for the purpose, and gives Australia a lead role.Read moreRead less
Leaf economics, and the acquisition and use of water and nitrogen for photosynthesis. Successful and sustainable management of both natural and human-modified ecosystems flows from advances in our understanding of the fundamentals of plant ecology. Improved understanding of acquisition and use of water and nutrients by plants should lead not only to better management in the present day, but better-founded management decisions under possible future scenarios such as global warming, higher atmosph ....Leaf economics, and the acquisition and use of water and nitrogen for photosynthesis. Successful and sustainable management of both natural and human-modified ecosystems flows from advances in our understanding of the fundamentals of plant ecology. Improved understanding of acquisition and use of water and nutrients by plants should lead not only to better management in the present day, but better-founded management decisions under possible future scenarios such as global warming, higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations or altered rainfall regimes. High-impact publications resulting from this project will sustain Australian leadership in environmental plant biology.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary biomedicine: genetic pathologies as selection agents in three model systems. Our environment is changing at a rate never seen before, rendering organisms 'maladapted' if they cannot evolve quickly enough - that is, there will be a mismatch between their genes and the environment in which they evolved. Humans are the most extreme example; maladaptation in modern society elevates risk of cancer, heart disease and psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety probably evolved to help escape p ....Evolutionary biomedicine: genetic pathologies as selection agents in three model systems. Our environment is changing at a rate never seen before, rendering organisms 'maladapted' if they cannot evolve quickly enough - that is, there will be a mismatch between their genes and the environment in which they evolved. Humans are the most extreme example; maladaptation in modern society elevates risk of cancer, heart disease and psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety probably evolved to help escape predators). I bring together two research areas that aim to explain what causes maladaptation - reproductive medicine and evolutionary biology. Results from this research will help us better understand genetic disease, future health hazards, and predict risk factors of extinction.Read moreRead less
A framework linking tree species coexistence, zonation and patterns of species richness in forests. Our curiosity-driven proposal capitalizes on a superb opportunity afforded by the occurrence of forest vegetation across a wide range of climates and soils in eastern Australia, an ideal setting for testing ideas about how environment shapes plant evolution as well as forest structure and dynamics. This research will contribute to international interchange of ideas by promoting interaction with co ....A framework linking tree species coexistence, zonation and patterns of species richness in forests. Our curiosity-driven proposal capitalizes on a superb opportunity afforded by the occurrence of forest vegetation across a wide range of climates and soils in eastern Australia, an ideal setting for testing ideas about how environment shapes plant evolution as well as forest structure and dynamics. This research will contribute to international interchange of ideas by promoting interaction with collaborators in New Zealand, and will generate a series of publications in high-impact international journals. We will help Australians better understand the forces that shape patterns of woody vegetation across local landscapes, and our carbon-balance framework may shed light on the causes of rarity of some tree species with conservation problems.Read moreRead less
The physiological ecology of forest succession: explaining shade tolerance variation in evergreen and deciduous trees. This work will strengthen both the theoretical framework and the local knowledge base for sustainable timber production from natural forests, and for habitat restoration programs (National Research Priority 1.5: Sustainable Use of Australia's Biodiversity). These same advances of global and local relevance will also enable better quality input into models predicting vegetation d ....The physiological ecology of forest succession: explaining shade tolerance variation in evergreen and deciduous trees. This work will strengthen both the theoretical framework and the local knowledge base for sustainable timber production from natural forests, and for habitat restoration programs (National Research Priority 1.5: Sustainable Use of Australia's Biodiversity). These same advances of global and local relevance will also enable better quality input into models predicting vegetation dynamics under climate change scenarios (Research Priority 1.7: Responding to climate change & variability). Furthermore, by clarifying relationships of shade tolerance with other stress-tolerance strategies, this work will help us understand the evolutionary potential of local floras to respond to global change.Read moreRead less
Evolution of viviparity in reptiles: the fundamental role of junctional complexes. This project utilises unique Australian reptile fauna to understand global questions in fundamental biology. We will discover basic biological information on native species, which will be important in future conservation of Australian ecosystems and animals and ultimately in helping to maintain Australia's biodiversity. The project also provides training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in ....Evolution of viviparity in reptiles: the fundamental role of junctional complexes. This project utilises unique Australian reptile fauna to understand global questions in fundamental biology. We will discover basic biological information on native species, which will be important in future conservation of Australian ecosystems and animals and ultimately in helping to maintain Australia's biodiversity. The project also provides training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in several different research methods that are widely applicable in the more general Australian workforce. Because the research work is genuinely cross-disciplinary research, its findings are applicable to both biological and medically oriented technologies.Read moreRead less
Uterodomes and the evolution of viviparity. We will test the hypothesis that uterodomes, which are cell structures unique to the early pregnant uterus in mammals, and the cellular changes accompanying their development, are essential to the evolution of viviparity in amniotes. The proposal stems from our recent discovery that uterodomes develop in the uteri of viviparous lizards as well as in mammals, suggesting key commonalities at the cellular level in the evolution of live birth across amnio ....Uterodomes and the evolution of viviparity. We will test the hypothesis that uterodomes, which are cell structures unique to the early pregnant uterus in mammals, and the cellular changes accompanying their development, are essential to the evolution of viviparity in amniotes. The proposal stems from our recent discovery that uterodomes develop in the uteri of viviparous lizards as well as in mammals, suggesting key commonalities at the cellular level in the evolution of live birth across amniote vertebrates. We will take advantage of the unique combination of placental types among Australian lizards, including a species with both oviparous and viviparous populations.Read moreRead less
Why are warning colours in animals so rare? Toxic insects display warning colours as protection from predators who learn to associate them with an unpleasant taste. Theoretically, there is no limit to the number of species that could show warning colours but only about 5% are estimated to have them. This presents a fundamental and unresolved biological problem - what limits warning colours? This project aims to address this significant biological question by testing three hypotheses predicting w ....Why are warning colours in animals so rare? Toxic insects display warning colours as protection from predators who learn to associate them with an unpleasant taste. Theoretically, there is no limit to the number of species that could show warning colours but only about 5% are estimated to have them. This presents a fundamental and unresolved biological problem - what limits warning colours? This project aims to address this significant biological question by testing three hypotheses predicting warning signal limitations. Projected outcomes are an improved understanding of the ecological niche of these colourful insects, which may inform conservation and biodiversity management and raise awareness of these flamboyant creatures.Read moreRead less