Resilience in biogeochemical pathways along a catchment-to-coast continuum. Aquatic systems have degraded more in the past 50 years than any other time in history. Global pressures are further threatening their sustainability, but their complexity makes it difficult to understand how they are responding. This project will combine numerous state-of-the-art approaches to unravel pathways that shape their response.
Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidenc ....Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidence of these keystones’ cellular level biogeochemical and metabolic capacity. Ultimately, this knowledge is expected to predict the resilience of ocean ecosystems and their response to change. The capacity to predict their dynamics will help provide investment clarity and increase healthy outcomes from activities involving human-ocean interactions such as recreation, food production and tourism.Read moreRead less
MICROSCALE PLANKTON AND PARTICLE DYNAMICS: COMPARING AND CONTRASTING AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL SEAS. Microscopic phytoplankton are the basis of ocean ecosystems, but most predictions and measurements focus on processes that occur over kilometres. Our recent work shows that definite and regular submetre seascape topography exists. This grant will test the extent to which this seascape topography is the fundamental organisational unit of marine ecosystems and the extent to which it characteris ....MICROSCALE PLANKTON AND PARTICLE DYNAMICS: COMPARING AND CONTRASTING AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL SEAS. Microscopic phytoplankton are the basis of ocean ecosystems, but most predictions and measurements focus on processes that occur over kilometres. Our recent work shows that definite and regular submetre seascape topography exists. This grant will test the extent to which this seascape topography is the fundamental organisational unit of marine ecosystems and the extent to which it characterises Australian coastal waters and open ocean water masses. This research takes a leadership role in defining and advancing our understanding of how marine ecosystems function. The project will bring over $200 million of Japanese infrastructure to Australia for 3 years.Read moreRead less
Regime change: when and how do ecological subordinates turn dominant? This project aims to bridge the gap between physiology and ecology in kelp forest species by developing mechanistic models to predict change and, in an unprecedented step, test them in long-term experiments at naturally acidified sites to understand the consequences of ocean acidification (OA) and warming for kelp forests. Ecosystem change is a frequent outcome of decadal modifications of the physical and chemical environment. ....Regime change: when and how do ecological subordinates turn dominant? This project aims to bridge the gap between physiology and ecology in kelp forest species by developing mechanistic models to predict change and, in an unprecedented step, test them in long-term experiments at naturally acidified sites to understand the consequences of ocean acidification (OA) and warming for kelp forests. Ecosystem change is a frequent outcome of decadal modifications of the physical and chemical environment. Whilst these changes often involve degradation from productive states, we have a poor understanding of the mechanisms which drive change. Key stressors in marine systems, OA and warming are predicted to drive loss of kelp forests but we still don't understand the reality of these predictions.Read moreRead less
The Role of the Single-Cell Environment in Microbial Invasion. This project aims to use a single-cell approach to develop a quantitative analysis of single-cell interactions to advance our understanding of complex bacterial behaviour fundamental to ecology, industry, technology and disease. Bacteria are ubiquitous on Earth and play key roles in nutrient cycles, biogeochemistry, pathogenesis, symbiosis and bioremediation among other processes. They exhibit complex behaviour and continuously invad ....The Role of the Single-Cell Environment in Microbial Invasion. This project aims to use a single-cell approach to develop a quantitative analysis of single-cell interactions to advance our understanding of complex bacterial behaviour fundamental to ecology, industry, technology and disease. Bacteria are ubiquitous on Earth and play key roles in nutrient cycles, biogeochemistry, pathogenesis, symbiosis and bioremediation among other processes. They exhibit complex behaviour and continuously invade animals, plants and new habitats. These behaviours are poorly understood in natural communities.Read moreRead less
Role of rhizosphere microorganisms in growth of plants in soils with low P availability. The concentration of available phosphorus in many Australian soils is low compared to the requirement of plants and soil organisms. Plant genotypes differ in their capacity to grow at low P availability but the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant P uptake from such soils is largely unknown. We will determine the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in P solubilisation and mobilisation in different crop ....Role of rhizosphere microorganisms in growth of plants in soils with low P availability. The concentration of available phosphorus in many Australian soils is low compared to the requirement of plants and soil organisms. Plant genotypes differ in their capacity to grow at low P availability but the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant P uptake from such soils is largely unknown. We will determine the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in P solubilisation and mobilisation in different crop genotypes and native plant species in different Australian soils with low P availability. The results will give a comprehensive picture of the role of rhizosphere microbial ecology in phosphorus acquisition by crop and native plants.Read moreRead less
The origins of electroreception and nocturnality in the earliest known jawed vertebrates and their bearing on vertebrate diversification. This project aims to discover primary new data to pinpoint the timing, anatomical origins and phylogenetic significance when two key sensory systems first appeared in modern vertebrates: electroreception and specialised nocturnal vision. Such abilities today allow high diversity of vertebrates to co-exist within the same geographical range, for example on trop ....The origins of electroreception and nocturnality in the earliest known jawed vertebrates and their bearing on vertebrate diversification. This project aims to discover primary new data to pinpoint the timing, anatomical origins and phylogenetic significance when two key sensory systems first appeared in modern vertebrates: electroreception and specialised nocturnal vision. Such abilities today allow high diversity of vertebrates to co-exist within the same geographical range, for example on tropical reefs or rainforest communities, through careful temporal niche partitioning where reliance on other sensory systems takes over from vision and olfaction as the principal method of prey detection. This project aims to elucidate how the modern fish diversity was shaped by such significant early evolutionary events.Read moreRead less
Range dynamics and demographics of spatially structured populations under global change. Why are particular species present in some locations, but not others? This is a simple, fundamental ecological question, yet surprisingly, our answers on this point remain far from complete. Using an integrated, systems-based approach, we will determine the interplay between: (i) birth, death and movement rates, (ii) species interactions, and (iii) the constraints of the physical environment (temperature, ra ....Range dynamics and demographics of spatially structured populations under global change. Why are particular species present in some locations, but not others? This is a simple, fundamental ecological question, yet surprisingly, our answers on this point remain far from complete. Using an integrated, systems-based approach, we will determine the interplay between: (i) birth, death and movement rates, (ii) species interactions, and (iii) the constraints of the physical environment (temperature, rainfall, soil type), which determine the limits of species' ranges. Our models will provide Australian conservation managers with a novel, validated toolbox to explore the trade-offs, and synergies, inherent in trying to adapt to climate change and other stressors on biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Improved management of coastal plankton systems by ancient DNA technology. This project aims to assemble comprehensive long term Australian plankton records spanning 50 to 1000 years, by applying ancient DNA technology to dated sediment depth cores. Long-term data for Australian coastal and estuarine waters are sparse, so cannot be used for management of fisheries, tourism or urban development. Long-term records are essential to understand how disruptive algal and jellyfish blooms, introduced sp ....Improved management of coastal plankton systems by ancient DNA technology. This project aims to assemble comprehensive long term Australian plankton records spanning 50 to 1000 years, by applying ancient DNA technology to dated sediment depth cores. Long-term data for Australian coastal and estuarine waters are sparse, so cannot be used for management of fisheries, tourism or urban development. Long-term records are essential to understand how disruptive algal and jellyfish blooms, introduced species and increased human use of coastal resources affect dynamic plankton ecosystems. This project’s findings are expected to explore cyclical patterns, define range expansions and understand and manage how dynamic coastal ecosystems respond to multistressor anthropogenic change. Findings will improve understanding of how dynamic marine environments retain their biodiversity values and critical ecological functions.Read moreRead less
Understanding plant residue decomposition by linking organic matter chemistry and soil microbiology. Soils are an important source or sink for CO2. Currently we lack a fundamental understanding of plant residue decomposition and their transformation into various soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Since these different pools of soil C are recycled back to atmosphere at different rates, a better understanding of the process is crucial for our ability to manage soil C and to predict the impact of man ....Understanding plant residue decomposition by linking organic matter chemistry and soil microbiology. Soils are an important source or sink for CO2. Currently we lack a fundamental understanding of plant residue decomposition and their transformation into various soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Since these different pools of soil C are recycled back to atmosphere at different rates, a better understanding of the process is crucial for our ability to manage soil C and to predict the impact of management on SOC. For the first time we will combine detailed chemical analyses of soil organic matter fractions with determination of decomposition rates and microbial community structure; thereby also increasing the knowledge of how Australia's biodiversity is modulated. Read moreRead less