Liquefaction failures of intermediate soils. The aims of the project are to provide new data on the conditions under which liquefaction failures can occur in soil materials that are intermediate between sand and clay, and to develop models to describe this behaviour. This project addresses two significant problems: liquefaction failures which occur in silty sediments on continental slopes and produce tsunamis, and liquefaction in unsaturated ship cargos with intermediate gradings which lead to s ....Liquefaction failures of intermediate soils. The aims of the project are to provide new data on the conditions under which liquefaction failures can occur in soil materials that are intermediate between sand and clay, and to develop models to describe this behaviour. This project addresses two significant problems: liquefaction failures which occur in silty sediments on continental slopes and produce tsunamis, and liquefaction in unsaturated ship cargos with intermediate gradings which lead to ship losses. The outcomes of the project are expected to be greater understanding of the factors controlling liquefaction in silty materials, a better understanding of the risk of submarine landslides, and models which can be used to predict the conditions under which liquefaction can occur in ship cargos.Read moreRead less
Does developmental noise have an epigenetic basis? One's ultimate phenotype is the result of a combination of genotype and environment, and includes a poorly understood component termed ?developmental noise?. The molecular basis of developmental noise remains unknown, but it appears to be established in early development and to be retained for the life of the organism. We propose that the molecular basis of developmental noise is the epigenetic state of the genome. The stochastic nature of th ....Does developmental noise have an epigenetic basis? One's ultimate phenotype is the result of a combination of genotype and environment, and includes a poorly understood component termed ?developmental noise?. The molecular basis of developmental noise remains unknown, but it appears to be established in early development and to be retained for the life of the organism. We propose that the molecular basis of developmental noise is the epigenetic state of the genome. The stochastic nature of the establishment of epigenetic state, combined with its heritability during mitosis, provides all the essential components for developmental noise. If our hypothesis proves correct, our work will have a major impact on the understanding of one of the most basic concepts in genetics.Read moreRead less
Trade-offs underlying the evolution of female mating strategies. Multiple mating by females (polyandry) is a fundamental problem in behavioural ecology. The project will utilise an Australian species of stingless bee to quantify both the costs and the most probable benefits of polyandry. This will provide insight into the trade-offs underlying the evolution of mating strategies in this species and in general. Stingless bees are important members of many Australian ecosystems and have consider ....Trade-offs underlying the evolution of female mating strategies. Multiple mating by females (polyandry) is a fundamental problem in behavioural ecology. The project will utilise an Australian species of stingless bee to quantify both the costs and the most probable benefits of polyandry. This will provide insight into the trade-offs underlying the evolution of mating strategies in this species and in general. Stingless bees are important members of many Australian ecosystems and have considerable economic potential as well. The knowledge gained during the project will also substantially aid the development and management of the commercial use of stingless bees, which will have both ecological and economic benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less