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
Assessment of the potential consequences of large-scale eradication of rice grass from the Tamar Estuary, Tasmania. Introduced Rice grass has trapped large volumes of intertidal sediment, yet reduced amenity values of the Tamar Estuary, transforming beaches into muddy rice grass meadows, threatening aquaculture industries, and silting up coastal developments. This project will investigate the consequences of rice grass eradication, by determination of sediment volume trapped, contaminants contai ....Assessment of the potential consequences of large-scale eradication of rice grass from the Tamar Estuary, Tasmania. Introduced Rice grass has trapped large volumes of intertidal sediment, yet reduced amenity values of the Tamar Estuary, transforming beaches into muddy rice grass meadows, threatening aquaculture industries, and silting up coastal developments. This project will investigate the consequences of rice grass eradication, by determination of sediment volume trapped, contaminants contained, and monitoring of processes active after removal. The outcomes of this research will enable informed decisions on management of the Tamar rice grass infestation, and provide an understanding the impacts of large scale eradication to management authorities of similar infestations in Victoria, New Zealand, Europe, China and the USA.Read moreRead less
Impacts of climate change on sustainability of temperate native pasture: an experiment. The sustainable use of temperate native pastures is important economically because of grazing and for biodiversity since they are home to many threatened plants. Native pasture sustainability depends on maintaining species diversity and vegetation productivity. Climate change is likely to have major impacts on both factors. The aims of this project are to elucidate the impacts of climate change on the species ....Impacts of climate change on sustainability of temperate native pasture: an experiment. The sustainable use of temperate native pastures is important economically because of grazing and for biodiversity since they are home to many threatened plants. Native pasture sustainability depends on maintaining species diversity and vegetation productivity. Climate change is likely to have major impacts on both factors. The aims of this project are to elucidate the impacts of climate change on the species composition, productivity and nutritional quality of a grazed native pasture. This is important, as it will allow us to predict likely problems caused by global climate change and increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying these changes.Read moreRead less
Advanced micro analysis systems for environmental monitoring. Understanding of the behaviour of the nutrients controlling nuisance algae in water bodies is currently limited by the cost and logistics of collecting and analysing the large numbers of samples required.
This proposal describes the development and evaluation of portable multiparameter micro analysis systems that will be capable of high frequency measurements from a sampling vessel. This will enable environmental agencies to perfo ....Advanced micro analysis systems for environmental monitoring. Understanding of the behaviour of the nutrients controlling nuisance algae in water bodies is currently limited by the cost and logistics of collecting and analysing the large numbers of samples required.
This proposal describes the development and evaluation of portable multiparameter micro analysis systems that will be capable of high frequency measurements from a sampling vessel. This will enable environmental agencies to perform rapid on-site mapping of nutrients and other water quality parameters in large water bodies, intensive scale mapping of effluent mixing and dispersal zones, quick assessment of the impact of dredging and aquaculture, and compliance monitoring in effluent streams.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100204
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,000.00
Summary
A laser optical plankton counter for laboratory and in-situ size distributions of zooplankton, to assess the basis and outcomes of changing ecosystems. The researchers will integrate studies of zooplankton biodiversity from the tropics to the Southern Ocean with an optical plankton counter to quickly measure zooplankton size and approximate shape. This new technology, together with a resurgence in collaborative marine science through the Integrated Marine Observing System and the Sydney Institut ....A laser optical plankton counter for laboratory and in-situ size distributions of zooplankton, to assess the basis and outcomes of changing ecosystems. The researchers will integrate studies of zooplankton biodiversity from the tropics to the Southern Ocean with an optical plankton counter to quickly measure zooplankton size and approximate shape. This new technology, together with a resurgence in collaborative marine science through the Integrated Marine Observing System and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, will enable Australian researchers to understand changes in the plankton in freshwater or in estuaries, as well as in the East Australian Current. This current has already strengthened and is predicted to be the area of greatest warming in the Southern Hemisphere. The response of plankton communities to these changes will have profound effects on Australian fisheries and livelihoods.Read moreRead less
Devising ecologically sustainable restoration programs for degraded rural landscapes by integrating landscape ecology, genetics and ecophysiology. Concern about tree decline in rural landscape is widespread, and disturbingly climate change is predicted to exacerbate this problem. Past ill-considered tree plantings have proven to be economically wasteful, achieved limited ecological resilience and negligible improvement of biodiversity values. Using Tasmania as a 'model system', we will advance t ....Devising ecologically sustainable restoration programs for degraded rural landscapes by integrating landscape ecology, genetics and ecophysiology. Concern about tree decline in rural landscape is widespread, and disturbingly climate change is predicted to exacerbate this problem. Past ill-considered tree plantings have proven to be economically wasteful, achieved limited ecological resilience and negligible improvement of biodiversity values. Using Tasmania as a 'model system', we will advance this problem by undertaking research to determine how seedling establishment, tree growth, carbon storage and water use are influenced by landscape setting, management history, climate change, species type and local varieties. This research will provide a much needed evidence to devise ecologically sustainable tree-plantings in southern Australia.Read moreRead less
An autonomous microfluidic analyser for the determination of total phosphorus and nitrogen in aquatic systems. Development of automated monitoring systems capable of extended and remote operation will enable assessment of the effectiveness of water treatment and the impact of nutrient releases on the aquatic environment. Both are important in preserving the quality of existing water resources, and assessing the quality of recycled water, in line with the National Research Priority Environmentall ....An autonomous microfluidic analyser for the determination of total phosphorus and nitrogen in aquatic systems. Development of automated monitoring systems capable of extended and remote operation will enable assessment of the effectiveness of water treatment and the impact of nutrient releases on the aquatic environment. Both are important in preserving the quality of existing water resources, and assessing the quality of recycled water, in line with the National Research Priority Environmentally sustainable Australia, and the Priority Goal, Water - a critical resource. Commercialization of the microfluidic flow analysis system for total N and P will enhance the international competitiveness of Ecotech Pty Ltd and Australia as an exporter of scientific instruments.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100041
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
A high-resolution isotope facility for low cost analysis of water, plant, and soil/sediment samples to understand environmental change. The most significant environmental challenges facing Australia include ensuring sustainable management of our water resources and conservation of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, particularly in the face of our changing climate and land-use. The new instruments will accelerate progress across a number of projects aimed at understanding the developme ....A high-resolution isotope facility for low cost analysis of water, plant, and soil/sediment samples to understand environmental change. The most significant environmental challenges facing Australia include ensuring sustainable management of our water resources and conservation of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, particularly in the face of our changing climate and land-use. The new instruments will accelerate progress across a number of projects aimed at understanding the development of groundwater resources, the relative dependency of ecosystems on groundwater versus soil and surface water, and an assessment of the likely impacts of altered hydrology, especially dewatering and salinisation, on ecosystems. In addition, they will also be used to extend our knowledge of climate variability in the recent past and increase understanding of critical marine resources.Read moreRead less
Towards a Legal and Institutional Framework for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of High Seas Biodiversity. The legal and institutional challenges required to manage high seas biodiversity have been identified by the United Nations as one of the greatest challenges in oceans management in the 21st century. This Project will research the legal and institutional factors at the national, regional and international levels that militate against conservation of marine biodiversity beyond nation ....Towards a Legal and Institutional Framework for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of High Seas Biodiversity. The legal and institutional challenges required to manage high seas biodiversity have been identified by the United Nations as one of the greatest challenges in oceans management in the 21st century. This Project will research the legal and institutional factors at the national, regional and international levels that militate against conservation of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions and develop practical actions to address the problems identified. The outcome of the Project will be the development of a policy oriented methodology to guide the legal and policy developments on high seas biodiversity conservation at the international and national levels.Read moreRead less
Does fire control vegetation in the Tasmanian World Heritage Area? Aims: This project aims to discriminate between competing explanations for vegetation patterns in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area: (a) fire (the legacy of Aboriginal burning), or (b) soil. We will do this through a novel, transdisciplinary research program.
Significance: The project expects to create new knowledge essential for achieving evidence-based fire management, as well as to advance a globally important ecol ....Does fire control vegetation in the Tasmanian World Heritage Area? Aims: This project aims to discriminate between competing explanations for vegetation patterns in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area: (a) fire (the legacy of Aboriginal burning), or (b) soil. We will do this through a novel, transdisciplinary research program.
Significance: The project expects to create new knowledge essential for achieving evidence-based fire management, as well as to advance a globally important ecological theory.
Outcomes: Expected outcomes include significantly strengthened fire science and fire management capacity in Tasmania.
Benefit: Benefits should include the protection of globally significant cultural, biological and landscape values that sustain the vibrant Tasmanian tourist economy.Read moreRead less