Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101705
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Ecology of novel coral reef ecosystems. Coral reef ecosystems are changing. Some of these changes are predictable, based on how species respond to climate change. This project will utilise information on species vulnerability to predict what reef ecosystems, including corals, fishes and invertebrates, will look like in the future and how this will affect the benefits we gain from reefs.
Ecological competition between corals and algae in a high carbon dioxide world: understanding the mechanisms and implications for reef ecosystems. This project will explore the impacts of ocean acidification on ecological interactions between two key groups on reefs: corals and seaweeds. Such knowledge is fundamental to managing the consequences of increased global carbon emissions on the ecology and persistence of Australian marine ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL190100062
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,130,000.00
Summary
A new functional approach to coral reefs. This project aims to identify the key ecosystem functions that are needed to sustain coral reefs and determine their susceptibility to disturbance. Around the world coral reefs are changing fast, challenging traditional scientific, management, and governance approaches. This project plans to address this challenge by implementing a new, functional, approach exploiting a unique combination of evolutionary and ecological methodologies. Expected outcomes in ....A new functional approach to coral reefs. This project aims to identify the key ecosystem functions that are needed to sustain coral reefs and determine their susceptibility to disturbance. Around the world coral reefs are changing fast, challenging traditional scientific, management, and governance approaches. This project plans to address this challenge by implementing a new, functional, approach exploiting a unique combination of evolutionary and ecological methodologies. Expected outcomes include a global overview of ecosystem function and an in-depth understanding of how ecosystems change over time. This is likely to result in specific, and practical, management objectives by identifying crucial ecosystem functions that support reefs and the people who rely on them. Read moreRead less
Intervention ecology on coral reefs: a new role for fishes. In a world where few intact reefs remain, the goal of this project is to find ways to restore degraded reefs. Recent research has identified the species responsible for removing harmful algae from coral reefs, while advances in mariculture provide us with the capacity to rear these critically important reef fish species. Combining captive rearing, experimental manipulations, and a global analysis of the functional capacity of herbivorou ....Intervention ecology on coral reefs: a new role for fishes. In a world where few intact reefs remain, the goal of this project is to find ways to restore degraded reefs. Recent research has identified the species responsible for removing harmful algae from coral reefs, while advances in mariculture provide us with the capacity to rear these critically important reef fish species. Combining captive rearing, experimental manipulations, and a global analysis of the functional capacity of herbivorous fishes, in intact, degraded and human-modified systems, the research will explore the potential for restoring, or boosting, the capacity of reefs to withstand disturbance. The goal is to provide the scientific knowledge required to directly modify the key processes operating on coral reefs. Read moreRead less
Linking phytoplankton to fisheries using zooplankton size spectra. This project aims to develop innovative numerical methods to understand the dynamics, carbon export, and trophic structure of zooplankton. The trophic links between phytoplankton, zooplankton and fisheries are unknown. The size- frequency distribution of zooplankton (size spectrum) is an innovative method for estimating their growth, predation and production as food for fish. Analysis of a global synthesis of zooplankton size dis ....Linking phytoplankton to fisheries using zooplankton size spectra. This project aims to develop innovative numerical methods to understand the dynamics, carbon export, and trophic structure of zooplankton. The trophic links between phytoplankton, zooplankton and fisheries are unknown. The size- frequency distribution of zooplankton (size spectrum) is an innovative method for estimating their growth, predation and production as food for fish. Analysis of a global synthesis of zooplankton size distributions from tropical to polar environments are expected to reveal these vital rates of pelagic ecosystems. The zooplankton rates will reveal, for the first time, the link between phytoplankton and fisheries, and will significantly improve ecosystem models and global assessments of environmental change.Read moreRead less
Ecosystem resilience of Shark Bay under changing ocean climate. This project aims to investigate the resilience of the Shark Bay World Heritage Site to projected climate change. This project will generate new knowledge for marine conservation through analyses of habitat loss on nutrient budgets and productivity in seagrass and microbialite ecosystems. Expected outcomes are an improved understanding of climate-driven shifts on ecosystem processes in Shark Bay, incorporating science-based evidence ....Ecosystem resilience of Shark Bay under changing ocean climate. This project aims to investigate the resilience of the Shark Bay World Heritage Site to projected climate change. This project will generate new knowledge for marine conservation through analyses of habitat loss on nutrient budgets and productivity in seagrass and microbialite ecosystems. Expected outcomes are an improved understanding of climate-driven shifts on ecosystem processes in Shark Bay, incorporating science-based evidence for better conservation and management. This will provide significant benefits by contributing to the future-proofing of Shark Bay’s World Heritage values to climate change, and more broadly by demonstrating the consequences of the continued tropicalisation of Australia’s coastline.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102459
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The effects of sea-level rise on the feeding ecology of coral-reef fishes in shallow water, and the implications for reef-flat food webs. Coral reefs are threatened by climate change, but the effects of sea-level rise on wide, shallow reef flats are rarely investigated. This project will examine how the ecology of fish on reef flats varies with tidal state, how these changes alter food webs over tidal cycles, and the implications of sea-level rise leading to a 'permanent high tide'.
Changing ocean temperatures and movements of marine predators: the performance of marine protected areas in a warming ocean. Large predatory fish are essential to a balanced ecosystem and require protection from overfishing. Understanding what conditions cause them to migrate outside their normal home ranges will enable marine park managers to better design protection zones, both now and under future climate scenarios.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100746
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Trait plasticity and the maintenance of functional diversity. This project aims to determine if trait plasticity mediates functional degradation of coral reefs. It will use natural environmental gradients to identify mechanisms that enable corals to persist in marginal habitats. The project will use three-dimensional imaging to measure how variability in traits influences functional redundancy. This will facilitate better predictions of the effects of environmental change on reef systems. Expect ....Trait plasticity and the maintenance of functional diversity. This project aims to determine if trait plasticity mediates functional degradation of coral reefs. It will use natural environmental gradients to identify mechanisms that enable corals to persist in marginal habitats. The project will use three-dimensional imaging to measure how variability in traits influences functional redundancy. This will facilitate better predictions of the effects of environmental change on reef systems. Expected outcomes include improved understanding of the response of coral reef ecosystems to environmental change and a framework for predicting reefs at risk of degradation. Benefits will be to both global biodiversity conservation and the provision of ecosystem services in reef dependent communities.Read moreRead less
Resilience of Coral Reef Ecosystems to Climate Change. Science-based management of coral reefs provides enormous environmental, social and economic benefit to Australia and other tropical maritime nations. The proposed research will provide scientific knowledge and research training that underpins the management and long-term sustainability of Australian reef resources. Climate change research is vital for supporting the sustainable use of the ecosystem goods and services provided by reef ecosy ....Resilience of Coral Reef Ecosystems to Climate Change. Science-based management of coral reefs provides enormous environmental, social and economic benefit to Australia and other tropical maritime nations. The proposed research will provide scientific knowledge and research training that underpins the management and long-term sustainability of Australian reef resources. Climate change research is vital for supporting the sustainable use of the ecosystem goods and services provided by reef ecosystems (e.g. to tourism and fishing industries, recreational users and indigenous Australians). This research will place Australia in the forefront of understanding and responding to the regional-scale impacts of climate change on tropical societies and economies.Read moreRead less