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Grazing-fire interactions and vegetation dynamics. Grazing and fire are the two major cost-effective tools that can be used to manipulate the vegetation of reserves and rangelands. This project will result in information and models that will enable a more effective use of grazing than at present in natural vegetation management for both nature conservation and production. An understanding of the ways in which vertebrate grazing animals influence the incidence and intensity of fire is also highly ....Grazing-fire interactions and vegetation dynamics. Grazing and fire are the two major cost-effective tools that can be used to manipulate the vegetation of reserves and rangelands. This project will result in information and models that will enable a more effective use of grazing than at present in natural vegetation management for both nature conservation and production. An understanding of the ways in which vertebrate grazing animals influence the incidence and intensity of fire is also highly important in planning to prevent the occasional vegetation fire that causes substantial losses of life, property and conservation values, especially in the context of predicted climatic change.Read moreRead less
The effects of prescribed fire on biota in a diverse range of carefully managed vegetation communities. This project will be a large-scale retrospective and prospective longitudinal study of the effects of fire on the vertebrate biota (mammals, birds and reptiles) inhabiting a range of vegetation types. The key aim of this study will be to quantify changes in vertebrate biota (reptiles, birds, arboreal marsupials and terrestrial mammals) within vegetation types subject to alternate burning strat ....The effects of prescribed fire on biota in a diverse range of carefully managed vegetation communities. This project will be a large-scale retrospective and prospective longitudinal study of the effects of fire on the vertebrate biota (mammals, birds and reptiles) inhabiting a range of vegetation types. The key aim of this study will be to quantify changes in vertebrate biota (reptiles, birds, arboreal marsupials and terrestrial mammals) within vegetation types subject to alternate burning strategies. The investigation will provide critical new knowledge for use in fire management, vegetation management and biodiversity conservation within national parks, state forests and similar types of land.Read moreRead less
Building capacity for adaptive management in protected areas through improved systems for monitoring and evaluation. The project demonstrates how evaluation can lead to improved management of protected areas. Effectively managed protected areas are essential for biodiversity conservation. Improved management, and hence improved conservation outcomes will flow from enhanced use of monitoring and evaluation data in decision-making. Identifying strengths and weaknesses in management will allow mana ....Building capacity for adaptive management in protected areas through improved systems for monitoring and evaluation. The project demonstrates how evaluation can lead to improved management of protected areas. Effectively managed protected areas are essential for biodiversity conservation. Improved management, and hence improved conservation outcomes will flow from enhanced use of monitoring and evaluation data in decision-making. Identifying strengths and weaknesses in management will allow managers to better allocate resource for more effective conservation outcomes. The project establishes connections with all protected area management agencies in Australia, and will contribute to the development of national policy and practice in protected area evaluation and reporting, thus helping to meet national and international reporting obligations. Read moreRead less
Refining Restoration Ecology: Is Range of Historical Variability an appropriate concept to guide ecosystem management and restoration? Ecosystem restoration is an urgent task in many Australian landscapes. Range of Historical Variability (RHV) theory provides an influential but largely untested framework to guide restoration activities. We will test the RHV proposition that biodiversity conservation is enhanced if the structure of altered ecosystems is restored within the pre-settlement range. P ....Refining Restoration Ecology: Is Range of Historical Variability an appropriate concept to guide ecosystem management and restoration? Ecosystem restoration is an urgent task in many Australian landscapes. Range of Historical Variability (RHV) theory provides an influential but largely untested framework to guide restoration activities. We will test the RHV proposition that biodiversity conservation is enhanced if the structure of altered ecosystems is restored within the pre-settlement range. Plants, vertebrates and invertebrates will be compared between ?unrestored? Callitris woodlands dominated by post-settlement regrowth, and ?restored? stands where regrowth has been reduced within the RHV. This will be the first test of RHV theory to encompass a range of taxonomic and functional groups at both local and landscape scales.Read moreRead less
Managing evolutionary-ecological process in restoring Banksia woodland resilient to global environmental changes. By manipulating genetic diversity, local selection and gene flow in restored plant communities, this project will establish suitable regimes to manage evolutionary processes in large-scale restoration, thereby improving success and resilience to future changes. It will significantly advance our understanding of evolutionary processes operating in restoration efforts, and lead to impr ....Managing evolutionary-ecological process in restoring Banksia woodland resilient to global environmental changes. By manipulating genetic diversity, local selection and gene flow in restored plant communities, this project will establish suitable regimes to manage evolutionary processes in large-scale restoration, thereby improving success and resilience to future changes. It will significantly advance our understanding of evolutionary processes operating in restoration efforts, and lead to improved restoration success, better long-term ecological functioning in restored ecosystems, better investment of resources, and maintenance of Australia’s biodiversity in the face of rapid environmental change. These findings should be of relevance to broader restoration initiatives managed by the government, community, and industry nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Ecophysiology of stem succulent halophytes subject to changes in salinity and water availability: distinguishing natural dynamics from potential mine-related impacts. This project contributes to the National Research Priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia. The project will underpin management strategies of vegetation in saline lakes/marshes; wetlands of national importance to biodiversity. Understanding the vegetation at the Fortescue Marshes will provide vital base-information for ....Ecophysiology of stem succulent halophytes subject to changes in salinity and water availability: distinguishing natural dynamics from potential mine-related impacts. This project contributes to the National Research Priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia. The project will underpin management strategies of vegetation in saline lakes/marshes; wetlands of national importance to biodiversity. Understanding the vegetation at the Fortescue Marshes will provide vital base-information for the future, and have flow-on benefits for improved strategies for revegetation of saline lands. Improvement of the publicly available Herbarium database on samphire species will also enable improved species identifications for conservation and/or rehabilitation efforts. The project will train a PhD student in an industry-relevant research area that is currently in high demand.Read moreRead less
Enhancing biodiversity conservation in Australia: new insights and general principles from powerful new ecological syntheses. The innovative ecological syntheses in the exciting project aim to build Australia's national research capacity to greatly increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation strategies. The new insights, knowledge and practical solutions gained from this important research initiative will be critical for future visions and management of Australian landscapes. Without ....Enhancing biodiversity conservation in Australia: new insights and general principles from powerful new ecological syntheses. The innovative ecological syntheses in the exciting project aim to build Australia's national research capacity to greatly increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation strategies. The new insights, knowledge and practical solutions gained from this important research initiative will be critical for future visions and management of Australian landscapes. Without them we risk depleting the nation's biodiversity - which is a key issue given Australia's megadiversity status. Hence, this project addresses National Research Priority #1 - An Ecologically Sustainable Australia given its fundamental importance for key goals such as managing the nation's biodiversity and understanding natural systems. Read moreRead less
Innovative enhancement and management of threatened temperate woodlands for improved biodiversity conservation. We will test the broad question: Does woodland management affect woodland biota, and if so, which groups and in what ways? To answer this, we will quantify the effects of major woodland treatments (prescribed fire, timber addition, grazing control) on animals. We will implement a long-term, large-scale 'natural experiment' to provide critical data & analyses on the simultaneous effects ....Innovative enhancement and management of threatened temperate woodlands for improved biodiversity conservation. We will test the broad question: Does woodland management affect woodland biota, and if so, which groups and in what ways? To answer this, we will quantify the effects of major woodland treatments (prescribed fire, timber addition, grazing control) on animals. We will implement a long-term, large-scale 'natural experiment' to provide critical data & analyses on the simultaneous effects of management regimes on woodland biota. A key outcome will be an improved understanding of woodland biota response to management critical for use on grazing properties, reserves, travelling stock routes in rural south-eastern Australia. This will be a major step forward given that temperate woodlands are among Australia's most threatened vegetation types.Read moreRead less
Identifying limitations to the establishment of microbial communities and sustainable nutrient cycling in bauxite residue sand under rehabilitation. Australia is the world's largest producer of bauxite. The process of refining bauxite to aluminium generates 2 t of residue for every 3 t of bauxite, creating a major residue management issue. Rehabilitation of residue disposal areas is critical for reducing impacts on the environment and surrounding community and ultimately aims to create a sustain ....Identifying limitations to the establishment of microbial communities and sustainable nutrient cycling in bauxite residue sand under rehabilitation. Australia is the world's largest producer of bauxite. The process of refining bauxite to aluminium generates 2 t of residue for every 3 t of bauxite, creating a major residue management issue. Rehabilitation of residue disposal areas is critical for reducing impacts on the environment and surrounding community and ultimately aims to create a sustainable ecosystem following closure of the facility. This research will provide a detailed understanding of the establishment of microbial communities and the factors controlling the survival and functioning of microorganisms in bauxite residue sand. The outcomes will aid the development of improved protocols and strategies for bauxite residue rehabilitation in Australia and internationally.Read moreRead less
Fire severity, habitat heterogeneity and life histories. Resolving the persistence ability of plants in frequently fired landscapes. The wise management of Australia's biodiversity has major economic and social benefits for the nation through the provision of ecosystem services, bio-products and tourism. Fire is a pivotal environmental factor that will continue to influence plant biodiversity in fire-prone ecosystems. Inappropriate fire regimes, however, threaten biodiversity through disruption ....Fire severity, habitat heterogeneity and life histories. Resolving the persistence ability of plants in frequently fired landscapes. The wise management of Australia's biodiversity has major economic and social benefits for the nation through the provision of ecosystem services, bio-products and tourism. Fire is a pivotal environmental factor that will continue to influence plant biodiversity in fire-prone ecosystems. Inappropriate fire regimes, however, threaten biodiversity through disruption of life cycles. If too many or too few fires occur in an area this can lead to decline and extinction of plant and animal species. This research will provide a risk-assessment tool for the management of biodiversity to reverse population declines and prevent extinctions.
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