Pyroherbivory and the nexus between Aboriginal fire mosaics and kangaroos. This project aims to examine the effects of traditional Aboriginal and contemporary fire management on kangaroo abundance. There is concern that the cessation of Aboriginal patch burning is causing savanna kangaroo populations to decline across northern Australia. In this project, surveys will be planned to determine whether fire regime (frequency, extent, season) affects kangaroo distribution and abundance and the degree ....Pyroherbivory and the nexus between Aboriginal fire mosaics and kangaroos. This project aims to examine the effects of traditional Aboriginal and contemporary fire management on kangaroo abundance. There is concern that the cessation of Aboriginal patch burning is causing savanna kangaroo populations to decline across northern Australia. In this project, surveys will be planned to determine whether fire regime (frequency, extent, season) affects kangaroo distribution and abundance and the degree to which non-native large herbivores compete with kangaroos for forage. Experiments will also be planned to discover how the season of burning influences forage quality and quantity. This project is designed to determine if patch burning can be used for ecological restoration in areas where this type of fire management has ceased and for improvement of tropical savanna fire management.Read moreRead less
Protecting the safe havens: will granite outcrop environments serve as refuges for flora threatened by anthropogenic climate change? Anthropogenic climate change threatens the Earth's biota and human society. By identifying areas that can act as refuges under projected climate conditions, adaptation and conservation activities can be focused where they will provide greatest benefit. This transdisciplinary project in the Australian global biodiversity hotspot examines the role of granite outcrops ....Protecting the safe havens: will granite outcrop environments serve as refuges for flora threatened by anthropogenic climate change? Anthropogenic climate change threatens the Earth's biota and human society. By identifying areas that can act as refuges under projected climate conditions, adaptation and conservation activities can be focused where they will provide greatest benefit. This transdisciplinary project in the Australian global biodiversity hotspot examines the role of granite outcrops as safe havens for species in the face of climate change. Knowing areas where species will retreat and maintain biodiversity under climate change will support decision making for protection of key refuges. Large financial, social and biodiversity returns follow from implementation of effective climate change adaptation management programs in Australian landscapes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100635
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Demographic distribution models for ecology, conservation & public health. This project aims to advance distribution modelling by developing a new demographic species distribution modelling (DSDM) framework that unites correlative and process-based approaches. This project will develop ecologically realistic models of the distributions of species and diseases, leading to better decision-making in conservation and public health. This will provide significant benefits, such as a better understandi ....Demographic distribution models for ecology, conservation & public health. This project aims to advance distribution modelling by developing a new demographic species distribution modelling (DSDM) framework that unites correlative and process-based approaches. This project will develop ecologically realistic models of the distributions of species and diseases, leading to better decision-making in conservation and public health. This will provide significant benefits, such as a better understanding of where and how to control mosquitoes to reduce malaria transmission in Africa, how best to conserve the vulnerable greater glider in Eastern Australia, and to forecast where and when outbreaks of Ross River virus are likely occur in Victoria.Read moreRead less
Assessing long term change in rangeland health and building models for change, using historical photos and monitoring data. Long-term photo sites and vegetation data will be used to make an assessment of change over the last few decades in the arid pastoral rangelands of Western Australia.
The aims are to: make a judgement about whether the changes have been positive or negative (for particular value systems); make a case for causality; explore links between vegetation data and soil surface, ....Assessing long term change in rangeland health and building models for change, using historical photos and monitoring data. Long-term photo sites and vegetation data will be used to make an assessment of change over the last few decades in the arid pastoral rangelands of Western Australia.
The aims are to: make a judgement about whether the changes have been positive or negative (for particular value systems); make a case for causality; explore links between vegetation data and soil surface, biodiversity and remotely-sensed data; and contribute to the building of models of expected change.
Outcomes will include the meeting of national and international conventions and strategies, and an increased ability of the pastoral industry to access international markets.
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Management of rehabilitated bauxite mines to accelerate the return of vertebrate fauna. This project will examine the effect of thinning and burning mine-site rehabilitation on the abundance of terrestrial mammals and reptiles. This nationally significant project will provide Resource Managers in Western Australia with measures of impacts of forestry thinning and burning (for timber production and drinking water catchment) on vertebrates, and will provide management tools to conserve biodiversit ....Management of rehabilitated bauxite mines to accelerate the return of vertebrate fauna. This project will examine the effect of thinning and burning mine-site rehabilitation on the abundance of terrestrial mammals and reptiles. This nationally significant project will provide Resource Managers in Western Australia with measures of impacts of forestry thinning and burning (for timber production and drinking water catchment) on vertebrates, and will provide management tools to conserve biodiversity within productive forest environments. Expected outcomes are procedures to accelerate returns of vertebrate fauna to mine-sites, measurements of thinning and burning practices on tree-health, and trial procedures for forest thinning (the 12000 Ha Wungong catchment) that minimise impacts on terrestrial vertebrates.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC150100041
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,961,622.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Mine Site Restoration. ARC Training Centre for Mining Restoration. This training centre aims to deliver integrated research projects and industry-ready professionals focused on the needs of the mining restoration industry. It aims to improve the capacity of the industry to deliver improved financial, social and environmental outcomes. Restoration sits at the heart of Australia’s ability to sustainably and responsibly exploit its vast mineral wealth, and regulatory approva ....ARC Training Centre for Mine Site Restoration. ARC Training Centre for Mining Restoration. This training centre aims to deliver integrated research projects and industry-ready professionals focused on the needs of the mining restoration industry. It aims to improve the capacity of the industry to deliver improved financial, social and environmental outcomes. Restoration sits at the heart of Australia’s ability to sustainably and responsibly exploit its vast mineral wealth, and regulatory approval for mining is dependent on effective restoration. However, the lack of cost-effective restoration solutions at the scale required is currently a major impediment for regulatory and social compliance. The centre aims to overcome this impediment by establishing industry-integrated research training positions that specifically address industry requirements for restoration.Read moreRead less