Australia's ocean microbiome: how the diversity and functionality of microbes influence key oceanographic provinces. Every millilitre of seawater contains millions of microbes that maintain the health of our planet, but their identity and function in Australian waters is undefined. This project will identify the microbes inhabiting Australian marine systems, elucidate the services they provide, and predict how they will be affected by future environmental changes
Towards a predictive model for coastal marine microbial assemblages. Coastal regions are overwhelmingly the most intense point of interaction between human activity and oceanic provinces. At this interface, the marine biological ecosystem provides critical services that are required to maintain industrial, economic and social well-being. Our work will identify how these marine systems respond to anthropogenic and climatic variability, National Research Priority 1, and in turn, how this response ....Towards a predictive model for coastal marine microbial assemblages. Coastal regions are overwhelmingly the most intense point of interaction between human activity and oceanic provinces. At this interface, the marine biological ecosystem provides critical services that are required to maintain industrial, economic and social well-being. Our work will identify how these marine systems respond to anthropogenic and climatic variability, National Research Priority 1, and in turn, how this response affects ocean services. This knowledge will inform management efforts in resource and biodiversity conservation, and identify novel areas for future resource exploration.Read moreRead less
Microbial Oceanography: Community Heterogeneity Fuelled by Environmental Variability. The ocean is a crucial resource to Australia. This work will open a new area of research within Australian habitats, which will improve our understanding of how the base of the ocean food web functions, and build a new perspective from which to look at the microscopic plankton that influence fisheries yield and species invasions. Appreciating how microbial communities respond to environmental perturbations will ....Microbial Oceanography: Community Heterogeneity Fuelled by Environmental Variability. The ocean is a crucial resource to Australia. This work will open a new area of research within Australian habitats, which will improve our understanding of how the base of the ocean food web functions, and build a new perspective from which to look at the microscopic plankton that influence fisheries yield and species invasions. Appreciating how microbial communities respond to environmental perturbations will provide an improved vantage-point to predict future changes to the Australian marine environment. Leading international scientists will provide conceptual and technical expertise in an Australian based project, applying novel analytical tools not currently employed within oceanographic surveys within Australian waters.Read moreRead less
Incorporating new knowledge of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation into an ocean-climate model to improve forecasts of ocean function. Phytoplankton drives ocean biogeochemical cycles and regulate Earth’s climate yet are poorly represented in ocean-climate models. This project will use advanced cell sorting and analysis techniques and innovative selection experiments to gain a deeper understanding of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation under projected climate change. Th ....Incorporating new knowledge of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation into an ocean-climate model to improve forecasts of ocean function. Phytoplankton drives ocean biogeochemical cycles and regulate Earth’s climate yet are poorly represented in ocean-climate models. This project will use advanced cell sorting and analysis techniques and innovative selection experiments to gain a deeper understanding of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation under projected climate change. This new knowledge will be used to improve the biological structure of an existing coupled ocean-climate model and reduce key uncertainties in forecasts of ocean function. This research will provide managers and industry with more accurate insight into the effects of ongoing climate change on the delivery of ecosystem services in eastern Australian waters.Read moreRead less
Uncovering the microbial ecology of Australia's coasts: Friends next-door or enemies at the gate? The health and function of coastal habitats is mediated by an abundant community of marine microbes, which perform essential ecosystem services. However, some microbes can periodically disrupt the biogeochemical balance of coastal habitats, while others are dangerous pathogens that cause human illness. Anthropogenic impacts may underpin episodic shifts in the balance of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ coastal micr ....Uncovering the microbial ecology of Australia's coasts: Friends next-door or enemies at the gate? The health and function of coastal habitats is mediated by an abundant community of marine microbes, which perform essential ecosystem services. However, some microbes can periodically disrupt the biogeochemical balance of coastal habitats, while others are dangerous pathogens that cause human illness. Anthropogenic impacts may underpin episodic shifts in the balance of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ coastal microbes, but the mechanisms and dynamics of these shifts are undefined. This project will unite cutting-edge analytical tools, including microfluidics and ecogenomics, to redefine our understanding of the microbiology of the Australian coast, providing transformative new insights for preserving our aquatic backyard and protecting our health.Read moreRead less
Social networking in a changing ocean: Microbial-scale ecological interactions control ocean-scale chemistry. The function of the ocean is governed by microscopic organisms, including bacteria and phytoplankton. Oceanographers typically consider the ecology of these microbes across large ocean-scales, but their activities and interactions are defined at the scale of individual cells. This research will redefine our knowledge of important marine microbial processes by coupling novel physiologica ....Social networking in a changing ocean: Microbial-scale ecological interactions control ocean-scale chemistry. The function of the ocean is governed by microscopic organisms, including bacteria and phytoplankton. Oceanographers typically consider the ecology of these microbes across large ocean-scales, but their activities and interactions are defined at the scale of individual cells. This research will redefine our knowledge of important marine microbial processes by coupling novel physiological and molecular tools to resolve the microscale ecological links between bacteria and phytoplankton, and will identify how the chemical interactions between these groups change under shifting environmental conditions. This has significance for transforming our understanding of the factors that control the health and function of our important ocean ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100007
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,000.00
Summary
A fisheries and oceanographic observing system for the continental shelf. This project aims to create a floating, mobile fisheries and oceanographic observing system for Eastern Australia. Australian oceanographic and fisheries research has been hampered by the lack of appropriately sized and equipped research vessels required to investigate continental shelf waters and beyond. The automated floating facility will provide data to support ongoing ARC-funded research programs in marine biogeochemi ....A fisheries and oceanographic observing system for the continental shelf. This project aims to create a floating, mobile fisheries and oceanographic observing system for Eastern Australia. Australian oceanographic and fisheries research has been hampered by the lack of appropriately sized and equipped research vessels required to investigate continental shelf waters and beyond. The automated floating facility will provide data to support ongoing ARC-funded research programs in marine biogeochemistry, climate change, ocean acidification, coastal hydrology, biological oceanography, active acoustics, and fisheries resources and technology in the continental shelf and beyond. The expected outcome will bridge a major gap in fisheries and oceanographic research capacity to make observations in a critical region of the Australian marine estate and provide a stronger scientific basis for early detection of changes in seawater chemistry, biology and fisheries in priority waters experiencing rapid change.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100019
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,000.00
Summary
A transportable containerised laboratory for rapid cell sorting and high-resolution bioimaging of living aquatic microbes in field locations. This project will deliver a transportable, unique laboratory for the rapid isolation and high-resolution analysis of living microbes immediately after sampling from the sea or waterways. It will be the first of its kind in Australia and deliver new knowledge of the role of these organisms in their natural habitats.
Enhancing Seagrass Restoration : Improving Hessian Durability in Marine Environments. The establishment of an environmentally benign method for restoration of seagrass beds (which provide habitat for a wide range of commercially, recreationally and ecologically important marine species) will enhance Australia's capability of maintaining its coastal marine environment in support of its fishing and ecotourism industries. Furthermore, it will ultimately improve our capacity to manage the environmen ....Enhancing Seagrass Restoration : Improving Hessian Durability in Marine Environments. The establishment of an environmentally benign method for restoration of seagrass beds (which provide habitat for a wide range of commercially, recreationally and ecologically important marine species) will enhance Australia's capability of maintaining its coastal marine environment in support of its fishing and ecotourism industries. Furthermore, it will ultimately improve our capacity to manage the environmental impact of human development on our natural resources. If successful, the knowledge gained of the dynamics of marine biofilms on differentially coated natural fibers could facilitate broader application of methods used in environmental restoration and marine based industries, and foreshadow new applications.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668039
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science (SHIMS) aquarium facility. With the global proportion of people living in cities now exceeding 50%, the Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science will champion the area of urban marine science. The proposed aquarium facility will support multidisciplinary research to find solutions for the environmental problems of marine habitats in urban areas. Research at SHIMS will examine how coastal environments are affected by human impacts, recreational fisheri ....Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science (SHIMS) aquarium facility. With the global proportion of people living in cities now exceeding 50%, the Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science will champion the area of urban marine science. The proposed aquarium facility will support multidisciplinary research to find solutions for the environmental problems of marine habitats in urban areas. Research at SHIMS will examine how coastal environments are affected by human impacts, recreational fisheries, invasive pests; develop novel technologies for detection of environmental and climate change; and provide management options to protect ports and harbours from threatening processes. The location in such a commercially and recreationally busy harbour provides excellent opportunities for research and education.Read moreRead less