A framework linking tree species coexistence, zonation and patterns of species richness in forests. Our curiosity-driven proposal capitalizes on a superb opportunity afforded by the occurrence of forest vegetation across a wide range of climates and soils in eastern Australia, an ideal setting for testing ideas about how environment shapes plant evolution as well as forest structure and dynamics. This research will contribute to international interchange of ideas by promoting interaction with co ....A framework linking tree species coexistence, zonation and patterns of species richness in forests. Our curiosity-driven proposal capitalizes on a superb opportunity afforded by the occurrence of forest vegetation across a wide range of climates and soils in eastern Australia, an ideal setting for testing ideas about how environment shapes plant evolution as well as forest structure and dynamics. This research will contribute to international interchange of ideas by promoting interaction with collaborators in New Zealand, and will generate a series of publications in high-impact international journals. We will help Australians better understand the forces that shape patterns of woody vegetation across local landscapes, and our carbon-balance framework may shed light on the causes of rarity of some tree species with conservation problems.Read moreRead less
Competition between regulatory processes in Amphibians: Testing the effects of physical and physiological factors on thermoregulation and hydroregulation. Regulation of body temperature is important for many animals, and it influences processes such as growth and reproduction. However, it is not clear to what extent wet-skinned animals can control body temperature because of evaporation. Understanding this about frogs is crucial to understanding their habitat requirements and the effects of clim ....Competition between regulatory processes in Amphibians: Testing the effects of physical and physiological factors on thermoregulation and hydroregulation. Regulation of body temperature is important for many animals, and it influences processes such as growth and reproduction. However, it is not clear to what extent wet-skinned animals can control body temperature because of evaporation. Understanding this about frogs is crucial to understanding their habitat requirements and the effects of climate change, habitat modification, and the invasion of cane toads on their populations. Amphibians are in decline worldwide, and research into the basic ways that these animals interact with the physical environment is needed before effective management plans can be produced. The unique physiological characteristics of Australian frogs make this is the best place in the world to do this research.Read moreRead less
Ecological dynamics of parasite infections in reptiles. Australian ecosystems are threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. With better knowledge of how diseases of wildlife spread, we can develop more effective control of those diseases t ....Ecological dynamics of parasite infections in reptiles. Australian ecosystems are threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. With better knowledge of how diseases of wildlife spread, we can develop more effective control of those diseases thereby protecting wildlife species, animal populations and, ultimately, Australian ecology. This project will help to protect our fauna from invasive diseases and contribute to sustaining the biodiversity of the country. Read moreRead less
Latitudinal gradients in biotic processes affecting plant growth and establishment. The idea that plant-animal interactions are more intense in the tropics underpins much thinking about tropical ecology, global patterns in plant traits, and latitudinal gradients in biodiversity. In this project, we will provide the first direct and global test of this idea by quantifying the intensity of herbivory, seed predation and density-dependent seedling mortality at approximately 100 study sites around th ....Latitudinal gradients in biotic processes affecting plant growth and establishment. The idea that plant-animal interactions are more intense in the tropics underpins much thinking about tropical ecology, global patterns in plant traits, and latitudinal gradients in biodiversity. In this project, we will provide the first direct and global test of this idea by quantifying the intensity of herbivory, seed predation and density-dependent seedling mortality at approximately 100 study sites around the world. We will also investigate the causes of these latitudinal gradients by determining which environmental variables are most closely associated with the strength of biotic interactions.Read moreRead less
Do frogs hydroregulate? Regulation versus tolerance of thermal and hydric states. Amphibians are in decline in Australia and worldwide. Frogs are a middle link in terrestrial and aquatic food chains (as predators and prey) so are important for the sustainability of Australia's biodiversity and as indicators of environmental problems. Basic research about the ways Australian frogs interact with the physical environment to balance body water and temperature is crucial to predicting the effects of ....Do frogs hydroregulate? Regulation versus tolerance of thermal and hydric states. Amphibians are in decline in Australia and worldwide. Frogs are a middle link in terrestrial and aquatic food chains (as predators and prey) so are important for the sustainability of Australia's biodiversity and as indicators of environmental problems. Basic research about the ways Australian frogs interact with the physical environment to balance body water and temperature is crucial to predicting the effects of climate change or habitat modification on frogs. This basic information is needed to produce effective conservation plans for native frogs and management plans for invasive cane toads. We will train students in techniques and concepts in ecology, conservation biology, and animal physiology.Read moreRead less
Plant species economics and strategy-dimensions of plant ecology. Ecological strategies of plant species are differentiated mainly along economic dimensions. Four key dimensions are the leaf lifespan - leaf mass per area tradeoff, the seed mass - seed output tradeoff, the leaf size - twig size spectrum, and canopy height at maturity. Each dimension reflects a spectrum of allocation patterns. Costs, benefits, tradeoffs and correlations underpinning these strategy-dimensions will be investigated w ....Plant species economics and strategy-dimensions of plant ecology. Ecological strategies of plant species are differentiated mainly along economic dimensions. Four key dimensions are the leaf lifespan - leaf mass per area tradeoff, the seed mass - seed output tradeoff, the leaf size - twig size spectrum, and canopy height at maturity. Each dimension reflects a spectrum of allocation patterns. Costs, benefits, tradeoffs and correlations underpinning these strategy-dimensions will be investigated within Australia, and in collaboration with partner investigators overseas.Read moreRead less
Plant ecological strategies across species and an evolutionary-ecology vegetation model. This proposal is aimed at fundamental science about plant traits and water use and flammability. These vegetation processes underpin management of bushfires, water, salinity and carbon storage, which are national priorities for An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. The proposal pursues cost-benefit understanding of stem-leaf relations and of flammability, and aims also to develop an evolutionary-ecology ....Plant ecological strategies across species and an evolutionary-ecology vegetation model. This proposal is aimed at fundamental science about plant traits and water use and flammability. These vegetation processes underpin management of bushfires, water, salinity and carbon storage, which are national priorities for An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. The proposal pursues cost-benefit understanding of stem-leaf relations and of flammability, and aims also to develop an evolutionary-ecology vegetation model (EEVM). An EEVM will encapsulate the next generation of fundamental ecological science, with direct application for global change scenarios and for ecosystem management. This proposal forms a network among outstanding laboratories internationally for the purpose, and gives Australia a lead role.Read moreRead less
Forest ecosystem water use: Does species diversity matter? Forest water use and susceptibility to drought are major concerns for forest plantation establishment in Australia. This research will provide fundamental information about how plantation water use and drought tolerance are modified by species diversity. This work has the potential to transform tree plantation establishment practices toward inclusion of greater species diversity or toward species with particular complementary traits. It ....Forest ecosystem water use: Does species diversity matter? Forest water use and susceptibility to drought are major concerns for forest plantation establishment in Australia. This research will provide fundamental information about how plantation water use and drought tolerance are modified by species diversity. This work has the potential to transform tree plantation establishment practices toward inclusion of greater species diversity or toward species with particular complementary traits. It has significant potential to enhance benefits from reforestation projects, including better drought survival, reduced water use, soil bioremediation and enhanced biodiversity. Read moreRead less
Leaf economics, and the acquisition and use of water and nitrogen for photosynthesis. Successful and sustainable management of both natural and human-modified ecosystems flows from advances in our understanding of the fundamentals of plant ecology. Improved understanding of acquisition and use of water and nutrients by plants should lead not only to better management in the present day, but better-founded management decisions under possible future scenarios such as global warming, higher atmosph ....Leaf economics, and the acquisition and use of water and nitrogen for photosynthesis. Successful and sustainable management of both natural and human-modified ecosystems flows from advances in our understanding of the fundamentals of plant ecology. Improved understanding of acquisition and use of water and nutrients by plants should lead not only to better management in the present day, but better-founded management decisions under possible future scenarios such as global warming, higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations or altered rainfall regimes. High-impact publications resulting from this project will sustain Australian leadership in environmental plant biology.Read moreRead less
Origins of a biodiversity hotspot flora: diversification of the Australian Proteaceae. Why does Australia's only biodiversity hotspot, with nearly 3000 endemic plant species, occur in an area with poor soils and low rainfall? This project will analyse DNA sequences from over 1000 plant species of the Australian Proteaceae, many found only in this hotspot, to help us understand the evolutionary and ecological origins of this iconic flora.