Unravelling the history of nitrogen cycling within the central Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to use coral skeleton geochemical analysis to establish if, when, and how nitrogen cycling changed along the central inshore region of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Increasing anthropogenic nitrogen discharge to coastal waters could drive ecosystem decline in the GBR, one of Australia’s most sensitive and economically valuable natural environments. However, the full effect of anthropogenic ....Unravelling the history of nitrogen cycling within the central Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to use coral skeleton geochemical analysis to establish if, when, and how nitrogen cycling changed along the central inshore region of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Increasing anthropogenic nitrogen discharge to coastal waters could drive ecosystem decline in the GBR, one of Australia’s most sensitive and economically valuable natural environments. However, the full effect of anthropogenic nitrogen is unclear due to a lack of long, continuous records. This project will unravel the history of nitrogen cycling in the GBR since the mid-1800s, knowledge crucial for managing this reef system.Read moreRead less
Predicting and understanding coccolithophorid calcification in a changing ocean. This project will investigate the entire natural coastal and oceanic coccolithophore assemblages. The least and most sensitive species to ocean change will be examined in innovative laboratory experiments and will enhance the understanding of how species-specific responses translate to the ecosystem level, necessary for predictions of future carbon cycling.
A new approach to the U-series dating of fossil molluscs - a major advance for the earth and archaeological sciences. The development of a reliable method for accurately determining the age of fossil shells represents a breakthrough in the ability to date marine shoreline, lake, and other shell-bearing deposits (e.g. middens). This will present new opportunities for research of significant national benefit, particularly into the effects of climate change, including linked sea-level change and me ....A new approach to the U-series dating of fossil molluscs - a major advance for the earth and archaeological sciences. The development of a reliable method for accurately determining the age of fossil shells represents a breakthrough in the ability to date marine shoreline, lake, and other shell-bearing deposits (e.g. middens). This will present new opportunities for research of significant national benefit, particularly into the effects of climate change, including linked sea-level change and melting of ice sheets, the impact of sea-level change on coastal zones, and shifts in the amount and variability of rainfall in different regions. The method may also be used to estimate the frequency and size of large storm and tsunami events, earthquake risk, and the timing of prehistoric human migration and associated environmental impacts. Read moreRead less
New perspectives on iron oxide transformations in oxic and anoxic aqueous environments: implications for iron bioavailability and contaminant mobility. Transformations in the form and reactivity of iron oxides in oxic and anoxic aqueous environments are considerably more dynamic than previously thought. This project will examine the nature and extent of these transformations and elucidate their impact on supply of iron to organisms and mobility of uranium and arsenic in groundwaters.
The Southern Ocean's role in determining atmospheric CO2 levels: new insights from novel biogenic silica records of seawater pH. About half the emissions from the burning of fossil fuel since the Industrial Revolution have been absorbed by the oceans. However, considerable uncertainty surrounds the consequences of and the extent to which the oceans will continue to sequester CO2 into the future. This research will improve existing limited knowledge of the key biological and related ocean process ....The Southern Ocean's role in determining atmospheric CO2 levels: new insights from novel biogenic silica records of seawater pH. About half the emissions from the burning of fossil fuel since the Industrial Revolution have been absorbed by the oceans. However, considerable uncertainty surrounds the consequences of and the extent to which the oceans will continue to sequester CO2 into the future. This research will improve existing limited knowledge of the key biological and related ocean processes that transfer CO2 between the surface and depth, and the poorly understood effects on marine ecosystems of increasing ocean acidity due to CO2 absorption. This knowledge will contribute to predicting the course of future climate change and gauging the impacts on marine life and production systems.Read moreRead less
Reconstruction of anoxic and toxic conditions in Australian lakes and ancient oceans. Sustainable water quality is a critically important issue for Australia's economic and social development. To be able to predict and plan the future of Australia's lakes and estuaries, it is crucial to understand their ecological past and to determine their state prior to and post-European settlement. This project develops and applies novel methodologies to reconstruct the history of cyanobacterial blooms, eutr ....Reconstruction of anoxic and toxic conditions in Australian lakes and ancient oceans. Sustainable water quality is a critically important issue for Australia's economic and social development. To be able to predict and plan the future of Australia's lakes and estuaries, it is crucial to understand their ecological past and to determine their state prior to and post-European settlement. This project develops and applies novel methodologies to reconstruct the history of cyanobacterial blooms, eutrophication and anoxia in Australian waterways. It will help to identify human impact on water quality. The new methodologies, applied to ancient sedimentary rocks, will also yield information about the effect of environmental changes on early life on Earth, enforcing Australia's position in the study of global geochemical cycles.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100500
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,000.00
Summary
Electron transfer at the microbe-mineral interface via cytochromes/exudates. This project aims to develop the kinetic (both in vivo and in vitro) and thermodynamic models of the extracellular electron transfer processes at the microbe-mineral interface via outer membrane cytochromes and exudates of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, and elucidating the potential electron transfer process from iron-reducing bacteria to semiconducting iron minerals. The observed models will provide a more compr ....Electron transfer at the microbe-mineral interface via cytochromes/exudates. This project aims to develop the kinetic (both in vivo and in vitro) and thermodynamic models of the extracellular electron transfer processes at the microbe-mineral interface via outer membrane cytochromes and exudates of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, and elucidating the potential electron transfer process from iron-reducing bacteria to semiconducting iron minerals. The observed models will provide a more comprehensive understanding of electron transfer reactions at the microbe-mineral interface, which will be helpful in the prediction of natural redox processes of iron transformation and in the development of bioremediation strategies for contaminated sites.Read moreRead less
Characteristics of organic matter formed in toxic, sulfide-rich modern and ancient environments. This project will help scientists understand past climate changes and understand the mechanisms of global warming. This in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change, and help Australia manage current threats to its biodiversity. Furthermore, this research involving Australia's major petroleum rocks will increase the ability to identify crude oil sources, to the benefit of petrol ....Characteristics of organic matter formed in toxic, sulfide-rich modern and ancient environments. This project will help scientists understand past climate changes and understand the mechanisms of global warming. This in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change, and help Australia manage current threats to its biodiversity. Furthermore, this research involving Australia's major petroleum rocks will increase the ability to identify crude oil sources, to the benefit of petroleum exploration in Australia and world-wide. Importantly, this project will enable students and young professionals to be trained in state-of-the-art technologies, leading to quality scientists ready for employment in geoscience industries, and raising the profile of science careers in Australia.
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Reactive oxygen species production on oxygenation of subsurface sediments. This project aims to examine the nature, extent and effect of redox processes in subsurface environments. Reactive oxygen species, including hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, transform and affect redox-active substances in the environment such as arsenic, uranium and natural organic matter (which may be oxidised to carbon dioxide). Production of significant quantities of reactive oxygen species on oxyge ....Reactive oxygen species production on oxygenation of subsurface sediments. This project aims to examine the nature, extent and effect of redox processes in subsurface environments. Reactive oxygen species, including hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, transform and affect redox-active substances in the environment such as arsenic, uranium and natural organic matter (which may be oxidised to carbon dioxide). Production of significant quantities of reactive oxygen species on oxygenation of subsurface sediments through actions such as aquifer recharge and high flow events may alter the form and mobility of trace elements and influence the cycling of carbon and eventual efflux of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This project will examine the nature, extent and effect of these redox processes in selected subsurface environments. This research could have implications for contaminant transformation and fate and carbon cycling.Read moreRead less
MILLENIAL-SCALE INSTABILITY OF SEA LEVEL AND THE CLIMATE SYSTEM: NEW ANALYSIS OF CORAL TERRACES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Northern hemisphere climates switched repeatedly and abruptly between cold and warm states during the ice ages. This unexplained finding poses uncertainties about future climate. The exact chronology of past sea level and climatic changes is a key to the problem: this project aims to establish precise chronology through re-analysis of coral terraces at Huon Peninsula, PNG. New U-s ....MILLENIAL-SCALE INSTABILITY OF SEA LEVEL AND THE CLIMATE SYSTEM: NEW ANALYSIS OF CORAL TERRACES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Northern hemisphere climates switched repeatedly and abruptly between cold and warm states during the ice ages. This unexplained finding poses uncertainties about future climate. The exact chronology of past sea level and climatic changes is a key to the problem: this project aims to establish precise chronology through re-analysis of coral terraces at Huon Peninsula, PNG. New U-series dating methods will give an accurately-timed record of sea level changes, which will be tightly locked to marine-sediment records of climatic change, by using sharp changes in atmospheric radiocarbon as universal marker horizons.Read moreRead less