Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100330
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,299.00
Summary
Creating shellfish reefs for hazard risk reduction and habitat restoration. Living shorelines are a potentially powerful solution to two pervasive problems: an increased need for coastal protection; and the restoration of lost habitats. This project aims to investigate the effective application of living shorelines using shellfish reefs. It expects to generate new knowledge to ensure living shorelines achieve both hazard risk reduction and habitat restoration goals. Expected outcomes of this pro ....Creating shellfish reefs for hazard risk reduction and habitat restoration. Living shorelines are a potentially powerful solution to two pervasive problems: an increased need for coastal protection; and the restoration of lost habitats. This project aims to investigate the effective application of living shorelines using shellfish reefs. It expects to generate new knowledge to ensure living shorelines achieve both hazard risk reduction and habitat restoration goals. Expected outcomes of this project include an enhanced capacity within Australia for the application of nature-based coastal defence, and a better understanding of effective living shoreline design. This should provide significant socio-economic and environmental benefits through the development of a sustainable and adaptive method of coastal defence.Read moreRead less
Predictive capability for particle capture in aquatic ecosystems. This project investigates the fundamental fluid mechanics of particle capture, whereby suspended particles contact and adhere to a solid structure. This process is examined in productive and biodiverse ecosystems (such as coral reefs and seagrass meadows) whose health, productivity and propagation are directly controlled by particle capture. Existing formulations for particle capture are valid only under highly idealised condition ....Predictive capability for particle capture in aquatic ecosystems. This project investigates the fundamental fluid mechanics of particle capture, whereby suspended particles contact and adhere to a solid structure. This process is examined in productive and biodiverse ecosystems (such as coral reefs and seagrass meadows) whose health, productivity and propagation are directly controlled by particle capture. Existing formulations for particle capture are valid only under highly idealised conditions that are grossly unrepresentative of the complexity of ecosystem flows. The goal of this project is to use a coupled computational-experimental campaign to develop predictive capability for particle capture in ecosystems, where the flow can be turbulent and/or wave-dominated and the biological structures complex.Read moreRead less
Measuring estuarine turbulence: opening blocked estuaries correctly to avoid ecological catastrophes. The unique estuaries of southern Australia have limited tidal effects and minimal summer river flows, allowing a sandbar to dam their mouths during this period. The high water levels that can result affect landowners so catchment managers artificially break these sandbars. Such practices have had catastrophic effects on the vulnerable estuarine ecosystems. Our project will provide critical eleme ....Measuring estuarine turbulence: opening blocked estuaries correctly to avoid ecological catastrophes. The unique estuaries of southern Australia have limited tidal effects and minimal summer river flows, allowing a sandbar to dam their mouths during this period. The high water levels that can result affect landowners so catchment managers artificially break these sandbars. Such practices have had catastrophic effects on the vulnerable estuarine ecosystems. Our project will provide critical elements of models of the dynamics of the artificial opening, allowing managers to predict the vulnerable periods. It combines new applications of state-of-the-art turbulence sensors and water-current profilers with other standard instrumentation in this situation.Read moreRead less
A new framework for flow and mixing at the sediment-water interface. Ensuring the sustainability of Australia's freshwater resources is vital to the nation. This project addresses a fundamental, and as yet unanswered, question in our efforts to maintain the quality of our freshwater systems: "How important are the sediments?"
The role of turbulence in transporting waterborne material within streambed sediments and across the sediment-water interface. The sediments of rivers, lakes and coastal ocean filter waterborne contaminants. This project uses novel experimental techniques to investigate the role of turbulence in transporting contaminants between water and boundary sediments. This project will inform better management of waterborne contaminants with benefits for human and ecosystem health.