Quantitative metrics for determining aquifer ecosystem state. Clean groundwater comes from dirty surface water by way of biological purification. This project will develop quantitative ways to assess groundwater ecosystems to ensure the sustainable extraction of water and maintenance of these crucial ecosystems.
Risks to human health and the ecosystem from feral pigs in Perth metropolitan water catchments. This project aims to investigate the potential risk feral pigs pose to public health through the dissemination of water borne pathogens within water catchment areas, and to investigate their role in the maintenance and spread of diseases of public and animal health concern in the south west of Western Australia. As well as providing a frontline approach to protecting our water supplies, this project ....Risks to human health and the ecosystem from feral pigs in Perth metropolitan water catchments. This project aims to investigate the potential risk feral pigs pose to public health through the dissemination of water borne pathogens within water catchment areas, and to investigate their role in the maintenance and spread of diseases of public and animal health concern in the south west of Western Australia. As well as providing a frontline approach to protecting our water supplies, this project will also provide valuable data on the nature and extent of the risk feral pigs pose to biodiversity conservation and the environment generally. The outcomes of this research will provide a scientific basis for the development of prioritised strategies for the control of feral pigs in Western Australia.Read moreRead less
Environmental risk assessment of acid sulfate soil formation and pollutant generation in Swan Coastal Plain. The urgency and importance of securing water sources for human use in a sustainable manner is dictated by drying climate and rapid population expansion in Australia. Dropping groundwater levels (less recharge, increased abstraction, enhanced drainage) result in formation of acid sulfate soils in oxidised layers that contain acid-bearing minerals. This project will produce an environmental ....Environmental risk assessment of acid sulfate soil formation and pollutant generation in Swan Coastal Plain. The urgency and importance of securing water sources for human use in a sustainable manner is dictated by drying climate and rapid population expansion in Australia. Dropping groundwater levels (less recharge, increased abstraction, enhanced drainage) result in formation of acid sulfate soils in oxidised layers that contain acid-bearing minerals. This project will produce an environmental risk assessment framework as a basis for (i) educated decisions regarding land development and soil disturbance vs conservation as well as (ii) identifying areas suitable for water abstraction from groundwater resources. This will ensure sustainable use of precious groundwater resources in this drying continent of ours.Read moreRead less
Mining, irrigation, and groundwater: Towards a reliable protocol for assessing the impacts of extraction on groundwater fauna and ecology. Groundwater fluctuations associated with mining and increased irrigation demands, potentially threaten many of Australia's unique groundwater invertebrates (stygofauna) with extinction. Stygofauna represent a hidden store of biodiversity and are thought to have a critical, but poorly understood, role in enhancing groundwater quality. Environmentally sustainab ....Mining, irrigation, and groundwater: Towards a reliable protocol for assessing the impacts of extraction on groundwater fauna and ecology. Groundwater fluctuations associated with mining and increased irrigation demands, potentially threaten many of Australia's unique groundwater invertebrates (stygofauna) with extinction. Stygofauna represent a hidden store of biodiversity and are thought to have a critical, but poorly understood, role in enhancing groundwater quality. Environmentally sustainable development of groundwater resources is hampered by a dearth of information on the ecological needs of stygofauna and how they respond to human-induced change. Using field and laboratory experiments, we aim to determine how water table fluctuations threaten stygofauna. From our results we will develop sampling and management protocols to monitor and protect stygofauna communities.Read moreRead less
The cause(s) and management of the Eucalyptus gomphocephala decline epidemic in Western Australia. Tree declines are prevalent throughout rural and metropolitan Australia. Apart from loss of habitat, biodiversity, shade and aesthetics, tree death is a financial burden to land managers. This project will increase our understanding of factors that drive tree declines by: (a) understanding changes in hydrological processes that occur through declining rainfall or ground water use; (b) exploring t ....The cause(s) and management of the Eucalyptus gomphocephala decline epidemic in Western Australia. Tree declines are prevalent throughout rural and metropolitan Australia. Apart from loss of habitat, biodiversity, shade and aesthetics, tree death is a financial burden to land managers. This project will increase our understanding of factors that drive tree declines by: (a) understanding changes in hydrological processes that occur through declining rainfall or ground water use; (b) exploring tree nutrient requirements in relation to soil fertility and land management; (c) identifying revegetation strategies for disturbed lands; and (c) through linking environmental correlates with tuart decline. It will provide the community with tools to mitigate decline such as though improved revegetation strategiesRead moreRead less
Linking River Health with Urban Drains: the Swan-Canning River Case Study. The continuous deterioration of the Swan-Canning estuary in WA has triggered the need to identify the effects of chronic contamination on biota. Contaminant entry points into the river have been identified as being urban drains and the Helena river. The aim of this research is to relate effects observed in 'drain fish' to effects observed in 'river fish'. Biomarkers of fish health such as EROD and ECOD activities, DNA dam ....Linking River Health with Urban Drains: the Swan-Canning River Case Study. The continuous deterioration of the Swan-Canning estuary in WA has triggered the need to identify the effects of chronic contamination on biota. Contaminant entry points into the river have been identified as being urban drains and the Helena river. The aim of this research is to relate effects observed in 'drain fish' to effects observed in 'river fish'. Biomarkers of fish health such as EROD and ECOD activities, DNA damage, stress proteins, biliary metabolites, etc. will be compared between drain and river fishes. Chemical analysis of contaminants will complement biomarker determinations. The outcomes will be applicable Australia wide, and provide information to better manage urban drain systems to reduce their impacts on native biota.Read moreRead less
Environmental DNA: Integration of new methods to enhance marine management. Environmental DNA: Integration of new methods to enhance marine management. This project aims to develop new environmental DNA (eDNA)-based methods of managing humanity’s impact on valuable marine resources. eDNA preserved in seawater provides a lens to study and monitor marine biota and ecosystems. This project will work with fisheries managers and the environmental consulting sector, and focus on sites in the Kimberley ....Environmental DNA: Integration of new methods to enhance marine management. Environmental DNA: Integration of new methods to enhance marine management. This project aims to develop new environmental DNA (eDNA)-based methods of managing humanity’s impact on valuable marine resources. eDNA preserved in seawater provides a lens to study and monitor marine biota and ecosystems. This project will work with fisheries managers and the environmental consulting sector, and focus on sites in the Kimberley, Cocos-Keeling Islands, Fremantle and Deep-sea oil/gas sites to demonstrate the value of eDNA methods in best-practice monitoring. A multi-proxy toolkit (including eDNA) that can audit and baseline marine biota could make balancing conservation and sustainable exploitation achievable. Anticipated outcomes are improved management and monitoring of fisheries, ports and offshore oil/gas sites.Read moreRead less
Effects of physical disturbance on kelp-dominated reef communities across a broad temperate-tropical transition zone. The outcomes of this project will improve the understanding of the interactions between physical disturbances, nutrient enrichment and climate change. This addresses the national research priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia (priority goals sustainable use of biodiversity and responding to climate changes) and will contribute directly to Australia's commitments on ....Effects of physical disturbance on kelp-dominated reef communities across a broad temperate-tropical transition zone. The outcomes of this project will improve the understanding of the interactions between physical disturbances, nutrient enrichment and climate change. This addresses the national research priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia (priority goals sustainable use of biodiversity and responding to climate changes) and will contribute directly to Australia's commitments on marine ecosystem management and conservation.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of woody vegetation and water in the central Pilbara - understanding and managing for environmental change. The development and application of technologies and knowledge for enhancing sustainable management of semi-arid environments are of high priority and significant economic, social and environmental benefit. The value of iron ore exports from the Pilbara is expected to grow by nearly 30% in the next year, while the projected production of iron ore over the next 4 years is expected t ....Dynamics of woody vegetation and water in the central Pilbara - understanding and managing for environmental change. The development and application of technologies and knowledge for enhancing sustainable management of semi-arid environments are of high priority and significant economic, social and environmental benefit. The value of iron ore exports from the Pilbara is expected to grow by nearly 30% in the next year, while the projected production of iron ore over the next 4 years is expected to be valued in excess of 60 billion dollars. However, continued and rapid expansion in the development of these resources is contingent on environmental oversight and adoption of an adaptive management approach. This research will thus make a major contribution to understanding the Pilbara ecosystems that provide tremendous economic wealth for all Australians.Read moreRead less
Diagnosing river health using invertebrate traits and DNA barcodes. Diagnosing river health using invertebrate traits and DNA barcodes. This project aims to develop indices that link change in invertebrate communities to specific environmental stressors, and combine these indices with innovative, low cost molecular approaches to species identification to rapidly identify the causes of decline. River health assessment methods, usually based on aquatic invertebrates, identify if rivers are impaire ....Diagnosing river health using invertebrate traits and DNA barcodes. Diagnosing river health using invertebrate traits and DNA barcodes. This project aims to develop indices that link change in invertebrate communities to specific environmental stressors, and combine these indices with innovative, low cost molecular approaches to species identification to rapidly identify the causes of decline. River health assessment methods, usually based on aquatic invertebrates, identify if rivers are impaired but must be developed to identify the causes of decline. The intended outcomes are improved sustainable water resource management within and among states, and improved natural resource policy development.Read moreRead less