Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Recent evidence suggests that tree-mediated fluxes may be a significant, but overlooked source of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to quantify the magnitude and drivers of tree-mediated methane fluxes from Australia’s dominant forest types. Innovatively, we will be using a novel combination of empirical field based measurements, gas tracer experiments, microbial ana ....Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Recent evidence suggests that tree-mediated fluxes may be a significant, but overlooked source of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to quantify the magnitude and drivers of tree-mediated methane fluxes from Australia’s dominant forest types. Innovatively, we will be using a novel combination of empirical field based measurements, gas tracer experiments, microbial analysis and modelling methods. Expected outcomes are a mechanistic understanding of tree-mediated methane fluxes, helping to constrain regional, national and global methane budgets. The results of this study will help inform publicly funded greenhouse gas abatement strategies, ensuring a maximal return on investment.Read moreRead less
Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. This project intends to develop a conservation management tool for use in fire-prone fragmented landscapes to reverse biodiversity loss. It will address two critical knowledge gaps: the combined effects of fire and fragmentation on animal movement, and the implications of current and future fire regimes for native animal populations. Land-use change has severely fragmented 40% ....Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. This project intends to develop a conservation management tool for use in fire-prone fragmented landscapes to reverse biodiversity loss. It will address two critical knowledge gaps: the combined effects of fire and fragmentation on animal movement, and the implications of current and future fire regimes for native animal populations. Land-use change has severely fragmented 40% of Australia’s natural landscapes, resulting in loss of habitat for native biodiversity. Remaining habitat fragments are at risk from increases in the frequency and intensity of fire, which also threatens biodiversity. The anticipated outcome is a conservation management tool that is readily transferable to any fire-prone system.Read moreRead less
Is climate change altering the carrying capacity of the world’s forests? Planting trees at a global scale has been proposed as a key strategy to reduce global atmospheric CO2 levels. However, changing climatic conditions threaten the ability of forests to be net CO2 absorbers. In a warmer and drier future, forests may not be able to support as many trees. This project aims to identify how climate will alter
forest carrying capacity across millions of hectares of the world’s forests. By combining ....Is climate change altering the carrying capacity of the world’s forests? Planting trees at a global scale has been proposed as a key strategy to reduce global atmospheric CO2 levels. However, changing climatic conditions threaten the ability of forests to be net CO2 absorbers. In a warmer and drier future, forests may not be able to support as many trees. This project aims to identify how climate will alter
forest carrying capacity across millions of hectares of the world’s forests. By combining recent advances in forest modelling with large-scale and long-term forest inventory data, the project will develop a novel framework to forecast forest dynamics under climate change. It will provide specific guidelines to inform global reforestation strategies and foster climate-smart forest management.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,943,949.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites. There is unprecedented growth in demand for bioderived and biodegradable materials. This Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites will capitalise on Australia’s abundance of the requisite natural bioresources to drive advances in technology for the development of bioplastic and biocomposite products for the new bioeconomy. The aim is to deliver leading edge research with a holistic focus on technical, social, policy and end of life so ....ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites. There is unprecedented growth in demand for bioderived and biodegradable materials. This Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites will capitalise on Australia’s abundance of the requisite natural bioresources to drive advances in technology for the development of bioplastic and biocomposite products for the new bioeconomy. The aim is to deliver leading edge research with a holistic focus on technical, social, policy and end of life solutions, training a cohort of industry ready research specialists to underpin Australia’s transition to a globally significant bioplastics and biocomposites industry, while at the same time laying the foundations for accelerated growth in this space.Read moreRead less
Has it always burned so hot? Fuel and fire in southeast Australian forests. Indigenous cultural burning has been raised as a way of mitigating against climate-driven catastrophic bushfires in southeast Australian forests. It is argued that returning an Indigenous style fire regime will keep landscape fuel loads low, thus reducing the frequency and intensity of bushfires and mitigating against large catastrophic bushfires. While based on enormous reservoirs of traditional fire knowledge in Indige ....Has it always burned so hot? Fuel and fire in southeast Australian forests. Indigenous cultural burning has been raised as a way of mitigating against climate-driven catastrophic bushfires in southeast Australian forests. It is argued that returning an Indigenous style fire regime will keep landscape fuel loads low, thus reducing the frequency and intensity of bushfires and mitigating against large catastrophic bushfires. While based on enormous reservoirs of traditional fire knowledge in Indigenous communities, this assertion needs empirical testing within these highly flammable forests. This project aims to empirically test how fuel loads, fuel type, fire frequency and fire intensity have changed over the past 500 years in southeast Australian forests, spanning the period of indigenous to British management.Read moreRead less