Assessing the ecosystem-wide risks of threatened species translocation. Assessing the ecosystem-wide risks of threatened species translocation. This project aims to develop the first quantitative risk assessment framework to improve decisions about moving threatened species to new places. Moving threatened plants and animals to new environments, or reintroducing them where they previously persisted, is a growing focus of conservation. Moving species can have unanticipated effects on other specie ....Assessing the ecosystem-wide risks of threatened species translocation. Assessing the ecosystem-wide risks of threatened species translocation. This project aims to develop the first quantitative risk assessment framework to improve decisions about moving threatened species to new places. Moving threatened plants and animals to new environments, or reintroducing them where they previously persisted, is a growing focus of conservation. Moving species can have unanticipated effects on other species in the ecosystem. Although the International Union for Conservation of Nature deems ecosystem-wide risk assessments essential for conservation translocations, no framework exists to assess these risks and inform these decisions. New tools for assessing the risks of conservation translocations are expected to improve global and local conservation outcomes.Read moreRead less
Fauna, fuel and fire: effects of animals on bushfire risk. This project aims to determine the extent that animals influence fire regimes through effects on fuel load and characteristics. Minimising the risk of large, severe bushfires, while conserving native species is one of the greatest challenges facing managers of fire-prone ecosystems globally. Using a powerful combination of landscape-scale field observations, experimental manipulations of animal densities, and modelling, the project expec ....Fauna, fuel and fire: effects of animals on bushfire risk. This project aims to determine the extent that animals influence fire regimes through effects on fuel load and characteristics. Minimising the risk of large, severe bushfires, while conserving native species is one of the greatest challenges facing managers of fire-prone ecosystems globally. Using a powerful combination of landscape-scale field observations, experimental manipulations of animal densities, and modelling, the project expects to quantify interactions between animals, bushfire fuel and fire regimes in south eastern Australian forests, woodlands and scrublands. This evidence should benefit the design of integrated, efficient, and complementary strategies for fire and fauna management in Australia’s extensive fire-prone ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Backyard Bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. Backyard bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. This project aims to develop a model for urban ecosystem function and restoration, by identifying resources used by urban bandicoots (quenda). Digging mammal species turn over substantial volumes of soil as they forage for invertebrates, subterranean fungi, and plant material. These ecosystem engineers contribute to water infiltration, nutrient cycling, ....Backyard Bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. Backyard bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. This project aims to develop a model for urban ecosystem function and restoration, by identifying resources used by urban bandicoots (quenda). Digging mammal species turn over substantial volumes of soil as they forage for invertebrates, subterranean fungi, and plant material. These ecosystem engineers contribute to water infiltration, nutrient cycling, increased soil microorganism function, and seedling recruitment. They spread hypogeous mycorrhizal fungi that contribute to plant nutrition, crucial in Australia's nutrient-poor soils. This research is expected to improve targeted plantings in bushland reserves, and identify and mitigate threats to bandicoots in cities.Read moreRead less
Red listing ecosystems - testing the new global standard for conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Lists are critical for setting conservation priorities. These include a well-tested species Red List protocol, and a new global standard for Red-listing ecosystems. This project will test the new global standard across a range of marine, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, developing powerful new tools and guidelines for application.