Predicting the impacts of groundwater drawdown on groundwater ecosystems. This project aims to tackle a critical challenge of groundwater management – to understand and predict the impacts of declining groundwater levels. Over pumping and declining groundwater tables are a global problem, yet the effects on the ecosystems that exist within aquifers are poorly known. This project will create a world first evidence-based model of how lowering water tables affects the microbes, invertebrates (stygo ....Predicting the impacts of groundwater drawdown on groundwater ecosystems. This project aims to tackle a critical challenge of groundwater management – to understand and predict the impacts of declining groundwater levels. Over pumping and declining groundwater tables are a global problem, yet the effects on the ecosystems that exist within aquifers are poorly known. This project will create a world first evidence-based model of how lowering water tables affects the microbes, invertebrates (stygofauna) and ecological processes in groundwater ecosystems, and will demonstrate the consequences of such changes to groundwater quality and availability. This model will allow impacts to be reliably forecast and avoided or mitigated, vastly improving how major developments affecting groundwater are planned and implemented.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101286
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
What happens to toxic metals during frog metamorphosis? This project aims to investigate metal accumulation in frogs during larval development and explore tissue degeneration and remodelling as a factor influencing metal toxicity during metamorphosis. The project expects to produce information about the fate of metal burdens during metamorphosis and reveal important relationships between uptake and toxicity response pathways in animals undergoing complex life history strategies. This will provid ....What happens to toxic metals during frog metamorphosis? This project aims to investigate metal accumulation in frogs during larval development and explore tissue degeneration and remodelling as a factor influencing metal toxicity during metamorphosis. The project expects to produce information about the fate of metal burdens during metamorphosis and reveal important relationships between uptake and toxicity response pathways in animals undergoing complex life history strategies. This will provide significant environmental benefit by contributing towards improved regulatory and monitoring guidelines relevant for important metal pollutants, with particular relevance for the protection of vulnerable amphibians.Read moreRead less
Taking eDNA underground: transforming assessment of subterranean ecosystems. This project aims to improve Environmental Impact Assessment and monitoring of subterranean ecosystems by developing a rigorous, credible and practicable environmental DNA assessment framework. Resource companies in Western Australia are mandated to assess groundwater biodiversity under Environmental Protection legislation. Current surveys are time-consuming (expensive) and biased toward common taxa. For regulators, sta ....Taking eDNA underground: transforming assessment of subterranean ecosystems. This project aims to improve Environmental Impact Assessment and monitoring of subterranean ecosystems by developing a rigorous, credible and practicable environmental DNA assessment framework. Resource companies in Western Australia are mandated to assess groundwater biodiversity under Environmental Protection legislation. Current surveys are time-consuming (expensive) and biased toward common taxa. For regulators, stakeholders and industry involved in this project we will provide real-world information and cost savings through innovation in understanding patterns in species boundaries and detection of subterranean fauna. The outcomes will be directly applicable to monitoring subterranean ecosystems across Australia and internationally.Read moreRead less