Modern statistical methods for clustering community ecology data. This project will develop statistical methods and software for clustering community ecology data, and use them to analyse systematic survey and citizen science program data collected along the Great Barrier Reef. By doing so, the project will address the dearth of statistical classification techniques for high-dimensional, multi-response data with complex relationships. When the resultant clustering methods are used to construct b ....Modern statistical methods for clustering community ecology data. This project will develop statistical methods and software for clustering community ecology data, and use them to analyse systematic survey and citizen science program data collected along the Great Barrier Reef. By doing so, the project will address the dearth of statistical classification techniques for high-dimensional, multi-response data with complex relationships. When the resultant clustering methods are used to construct bioregions and characterise species’ environmental responses, they should significantly enhance evaluations of the impact of human activity and environmental change on coral diversity. Ultimately, these evaluations can underpin future decisions in the conservation and management of the Great Barrier Reef.Read moreRead less
Assessment Of The Sensitivity Of Australia’s Aquatic Animal Disease Surveillance System Using Scenario Tree Modelling
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$224,000.00
Summary
The sensitivity of an overall passive surveillance system is difficult to determine due to variability in factors such as disease characteristics, passive surveillance stakeholders and the likelihood that disease events will be reported and investigated. The WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code also stipulates the primary evidence for historical freedom is passive surveillant information generated by a country’s early detection system that needs to be sufficiently sensitive.
Scenario tree m ....The sensitivity of an overall passive surveillance system is difficult to determine due to variability in factors such as disease characteristics, passive surveillance stakeholders and the likelihood that disease events will be reported and investigated. The WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code also stipulates the primary evidence for historical freedom is passive surveillant information generated by a country’s early detection system that needs to be sufficiently sensitive.
Scenario tree modelling (STM) can be used to overcome those challenges. STM uses quantitative statistical methods to estimate the sensitivity of various components of the surveillance system (e.g. presentation of disease signs, disease recognition and reporting). These estimates can then be used to identify critical points in the system to which interventions can be targeted to improve the system. STM can be applied to any aquatic disease/industry of interest and there are some successful examples for terrestrial diseases/industries, both in Australia and overseas.
Two aquatic animal disease agents of trade and biosecurity significance, WSSV and megalocytiviruses, will be evaluated as case studies. These diseases are subject to import biosecurity measures and have significant production impacts, as they severely affect farmed and wild aquatic animal species that are valued by many stakeholders (e.g. aquaculture, capture fisheries, recreational fisheries and conservation groups). A sound STM assessment of each case study will support our early detection system through a quantitative evaluation of the speed of the detection, and improve our emergency disease response strategy by determining areas in our passive surveillance that, once strengthened, will provide a greater return on future investment.
As mentioned above, increasing the sensitivity of Australia’s passive surveillance is a national priority. This project is identified in AQUAPLAN 2022-2017 as Activity 3.3. The outcomes of this project are also used for other AQUAPLAN activities, National surveillance strategy (Activity 3.1) and Sector-specific surveillance plans (Activity 3.2). The data produced from this project will provide recommendations for various interventions to improve the overall performance of the passive surveillance system for the participating industries.
More broadly, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation R&D Plan 2020-2025 identified building capability and capacity for biosecurity as a priority. In alignment with the R&D plan, successful outcomes of this project will improve understanding of disease transmission pathways which will enhance biosecurity practices. It will improve allocation of biosecurity resources (by identifying the most effective and cost-efficient way of investing resources in surveillance to get the best return), minimise biosecurity threats (by enhancing passive surveillance to accelerate an early detection) and improve market access for associated industry producers (by providing quantitative information on their passive surveillance sensitivity as a market access negotiation tool).
Objectives: 1. Quantitatively evaluate the sensitivity of Australia’s passive surveillance system for white spot disease 2. Quantitatively evaluate the sensitivity of Australia’s passive surveillance system for megalocytiviruses Read moreRead less
Developing A Cost-efficient Stock Assessment Program For Southern Calamari Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$496,827.00
Summary
Southern Calamari are important to multiple commercial and community fishery sectors in SA. Southern Calamari are now managed using a TACC for the commercial MSF and have specified resource allocations for recreational, Aboriginal/Traditional, Charter Boat, GSV prawn and SG prawn fisheries. However, the current assessment program does not capture the importance of this species and cannot support the level of management required. The primary outcome of this project will be to develop an assessmen ....Southern Calamari are important to multiple commercial and community fishery sectors in SA. Southern Calamari are now managed using a TACC for the commercial MSF and have specified resource allocations for recreational, Aboriginal/Traditional, Charter Boat, GSV prawn and SG prawn fisheries. However, the current assessment program does not capture the importance of this species and cannot support the level of management required. The primary outcome of this project will be to develop an assessment program for Southern Calamari in SA that can be used to assign stock status and provide TACC setting advice to fisheries management.
Like many cephalopod assessments, the current SA Southern Calamari assessment is basic as scientific advances have not occurred at the same rate as advances for finfish or crustacean assessment methods. Therefore, the successful development of an assessment program for Southern Calamari in SA would provide a valuable scientific contribution to several other Australian squid fisheries as they often encounter similar assessment difficulties
Overcoming key knowledge gaps and incorporating information on environmental drivers will be a key focus of this project, in order to develop an assessment that accounts for the full complexity of cephalopod population dynamics. However, there are limited resources to undertake an assessment in SA as the commercial MSF has a low gross value product (GVP) but has high assessment needs across several species. Therefore, a cost-effective assessment program must be developed to allow for its regular application, which is necessary for short lived species such as Southern Calamari.
The proposed project will address two FRDC strategic plan outcomes (Growth for enduring prosperity, and best practices and production systems) by developing a best practice assessment program that can be applied for Southern Calamari in SA and be extended for use in other fishery jurisdictions. An assessment program that provides confident management advice, such as TACC setting, will maximise resource use across all sectors by establishing a robust stock assessment that increases certainty in stock abundance and allows sustainable fishing strategies to be developed.
Objectives: 1. Review global cephalopod assessments to identify potential assessment methods for Southern Calamari and how environmental variables could be incorporated. 2. Evaluate the suitability of available fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data from the SG and GSV prawn fisheries to develop recruitment indices. 3. Develop Southern Calamari growth models for SG and GSV and evaluate the influence of environment on seasonal growth rates. 4. Outline the most suitable and cost-effective assessment program option for Southern Calamari in SG and GSV Read moreRead less
Free parafermions: a challenge for non-Hermitian physics. This project aims to calculate and understand the physical properties of free parafermions. Parafermions have attracted interest in topological schemes for quantum computation because they are computationally more powerful than Majorana fermions. The core of this project is a fundamental model of free parafermions, which has been shown to exhibit unexplained puzzling properties. The project outcomes include an in-depth understanding of th ....Free parafermions: a challenge for non-Hermitian physics. This project aims to calculate and understand the physical properties of free parafermions. Parafermions have attracted interest in topological schemes for quantum computation because they are computationally more powerful than Majorana fermions. The core of this project is a fundamental model of free parafermions, which has been shown to exhibit unexplained puzzling properties. The project outcomes include an in-depth understanding of this model by taking the non-Hermitian features into account, establishing a connection with open quantum systems. Non-Hermitian systems are also of increasing relevance in physics, especially in quantum optics. The project also aims to contribute to training researchers in the mathematical sciences.
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New approaches and applications of integrable quantum field theory. This project aims to develop new mathematical approaches to the theory of integrable systems to obtain exact solutions of various non-linear models of two-dimensional quantum field theory. The project is based on an unexpected correspondence between classical and quantum systems which provides a powerful method for describing physically interesting models of integrable quantum field theory. Expected outcomes include exact soluti ....New approaches and applications of integrable quantum field theory. This project aims to develop new mathematical approaches to the theory of integrable systems to obtain exact solutions of various non-linear models of two-dimensional quantum field theory. The project is based on an unexpected correspondence between classical and quantum systems which provides a powerful method for describing physically interesting models of integrable quantum field theory. Expected outcomes include exact solutions to non-linear sigma-models which have important applications in many areas, including condensed matter physics, string and field theories and Riemannian geometry. The project expects to provide significant benefit to the advancement of knowledge in physics and mathematics.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Economics And Markets Of The Western Rock Lobster Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$749,000.00
Summary
The Program is required to enable the economics research required over the next 3-4 years by retaining the WRL Economist and engaging a WRL Data Analyst to :
1. undertake research and demonstrate the effects of COVID-19 and international trade disruptions on the industry’s financial wellbeing and economic contribution, as a narrative incorporating the pre-, current and post-disruption era;
2. investigate and implement enhancements to the WRL MEY model based on verified stakehol ....The Program is required to enable the economics research required over the next 3-4 years by retaining the WRL Economist and engaging a WRL Data Analyst to :
1. undertake research and demonstrate the effects of COVID-19 and international trade disruptions on the industry’s financial wellbeing and economic contribution, as a narrative incorporating the pre-, current and post-disruption era;
2. investigate and implement enhancements to the WRL MEY model based on verified stakeholder feedback; • MEY modelling is based on (among other factors) expected longer-term beach prices for lobster achieved by fishers. Beach prices are themselves underpinned by prices achieved in domestic and export markets for live, frozen and other processed forms of western rock lobster, and supply chain costs — all of which have changed markedly over the past couple of years and have influenced the longer-term outlook considerably. o Domestic markets have absorbed higher volumes of Australian product over the past two years than in the previous ten, encouraging a pivot by processors to include more cooked, frozen and other processed product in the product portfolio. o Frozen and chilled product has also been demonstrated to have general acceptance in overseas markets, albeit at lower prices than achieved by similar live product. o Air and sea freight costs and reliability have been adversely compromised in the face of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, with the medium-term outlook for freight costs expected to be a multiple of pre-COVID rates – affecting the relative attractiveness of domestic versus export markets. o Processors and marketers have explored alternative export markets and paths to market in the wake of political uncertainty and trade disruptions. There is a need to understand the implications of this market shift on the net beach prices achievable by fishers, which will be achieved through a better understanding of the changes in market access and supply chain costs (transport, live holding, handling, additional processing, freight forwarding by air and by sea). o Taken together, this suite of change constitutes a significant, and potentially longer-term, challenge to the western rock lobster industry that has high potential to bring about changes in industry structure.
3. research and implement mechanisms by which individual fishers / business owners can benchmark their businesses against relevant industry economic standards.
• Benchmarking aims to improve the internal performance of fishers' private business operations by providing each business with an opportunity to compare itself to the industry's performance • Benchmarking is not limited to economic metrics, including physical metrics such as fuel use that enable a more granular understanding of the carbon footprint of the fishing fleet. • The aim is to generate an understanding of the range of cost structures in the fishing fleet, to better inform the cost elements of MEY modelling for economic sustainability of the fishery.
4. investigate and implement enhancements to the WRL Global Trade Report.
• The pandemic and its ongoing turmoil, combined with trade disruptions to Australia’s live exports, has brought about a change in global lobster trade flows into the highest volume, highest value market – at Australia’s expense. o The resultant situation includes a loss of market share and value to alternative suppliers of live spiny lobster, other lobster species, and other high value crustaceans. o Consumer preferences have shown signs of changing in response to COVID and associated health policies, regulations and restrictions. During the course of the pandemic, consumption of rock lobster pivoted to at-home consumption, with some preference-shifting to frozen product, particularly in countries with aggressive health policies that enacted operating restrictions on restaurants and larger gatherings.
5. research and implement mechanisms by which WRL's Global Trade Report, MEY Model and Markets Dashboard would work together with DPIRD's Harvest Strategy to underpin TACC setting into the future, adding considerable benefit to government as the resource manager by supplying timely, independent, industry-oriented information to the consideration set
Objectives: 1. Enable the Global Trade Report the MEY Model and the Markets Dashboard to work together with the Harvest Strategy to underpin TACC setting and ensure the continued sustainability of the stock. 2. Demonstrate the effects of the SARSCoV2 pandemic and trade disruptions on the industry’s resilience, economic contribution and adaptation to changing market forces. 3. Develop benchmarks for use by fishers’ businesses against industry economic standards to enhance industry reslience and adaptation to trade disruptions. 4. Ensure usability of economics data by driving further integration of data sets, models and tools, and building into the digitization program. Read moreRead less
Topological insulators and free fermions: from Hermitian to non-Hermitian. This project aims to develop and fully understand a class of mathematical models describing fundamental interacting systems of particles of central importance in the physics of topological insulators. This will include the extension of exact solutions to more complicated models and the development and application of topological data analysis for detecting topological phase transitions in these and more general materials. ....Topological insulators and free fermions: from Hermitian to non-Hermitian. This project aims to develop and fully understand a class of mathematical models describing fundamental interacting systems of particles of central importance in the physics of topological insulators. This will include the extension of exact solutions to more complicated models and the development and application of topological data analysis for detecting topological phase transitions in these and more general materials. The project will also apply diagrammatic methods to address a long-standing challenge in solving a particular model. The project aims to contribute to training researchers in an area of the mathematical sciences of benefit to the future development of new concepts for next-generation electronic devices and smart materials.Read moreRead less
Marine spatial planning (MSP) has emerged in recent years as a tool for sea use management. However, MSP requires adequate and accurate information on the biophysical state and usage of the marine environment. Such data often exists, but generally not in a format which allows several data layers to be overlaid in order to identify potential conflicts/trade-offs.
Marine information management and data science are developing areas of research addressing how to easily access, collate and u ....Marine spatial planning (MSP) has emerged in recent years as a tool for sea use management. However, MSP requires adequate and accurate information on the biophysical state and usage of the marine environment. Such data often exists, but generally not in a format which allows several data layers to be overlaid in order to identify potential conflicts/trade-offs.
Marine information management and data science are developing areas of research addressing how to easily access, collate and use multiple disparate sources of data to support marine ecosystem and resource management. Significant efforts are made to standardize the collection, reporting and open access to marine data in existing databases and platforms, but these platforms commonly use specific (and differing) sources and types of data. Challenges arise from disparities in spatiotemporal resolution, uncertainty in geographic positioning, diversity of data sources and types, lack of access, and often limited metadata standards within and across scientific disciplines. To address this problem, this project will identify, compile and standardize spatially-resolved datasets required for marine social-ecological system management for Tasmanian State waters. No new field-based data will be collected, although secondary analysis may create new datasets. Rather than duplicating effort, this project builds on accessible databases and platforms to provide recommendations on the availability and best practices of using marine data to support data-driven decision-making processes in Tasmanian waters.
Perhaps more importantly, this project will also compare various off-the-shelf tools to identify trade-offs at various scales and resolutions of interest. Currently, many off-the-shelf spatial multi-criteria decision-analysis tools and methods exist (e.g. Marxan, CommunityViz, SSANTO…). More have been developed for more specific uses (e.g. the Aquaspace tool - developed to plan trade-offs with aquaculture in Europe). Research is required to identify the most appropriate tools for use in identifying conflicts/trade-offs in Tasmanian waters, given the needs of decision-makers and the available data.
Finally, this project will provide planning for database longevity. Objectives: 1. Identify, collate and create database of available spatially-resolved environmental, resource use, and cultural heritage data for Tasmania’s state waters 2. Develop an interactive web-based mapping service to display and download Tasmania’s Marine Atlas data 3. Analyse and compare existing trade-off tool(s), to be used in conjunction with Tasmania’s Marine Atlas, for use in decision-making 4. Establish protocols for ongoing updates (automatic and manual) to, and management of, Tasmania’s Marine Atlas database Read moreRead less
Methods To Account For Climate Impacts In Fishery Models And Management: Case Study Example Of Environmental Contributors That Affect Tiger Prawn Population Dynamics
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$481,669.00
Summary
Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC. Objectives: Commercial in confidence
Reaching new frontiers of quantum fields and gravity through deformations. This project aims to reach new frontiers in quantum field and gravity theories. These underpin systems ranging from semi-conductors to particle collisions and the quantum behavior of black holes. An obstacle is that these theories are notoriously hard to solve. This project proposes to tackle this longstanding problem by using new deformations, symmetries and dualities that have attracted widespread attention. Expected ou ....Reaching new frontiers of quantum fields and gravity through deformations. This project aims to reach new frontiers in quantum field and gravity theories. These underpin systems ranging from semi-conductors to particle collisions and the quantum behavior of black holes. An obstacle is that these theories are notoriously hard to solve. This project proposes to tackle this longstanding problem by using new deformations, symmetries and dualities that have attracted widespread attention. Expected outcomes will include innovative techniques that will greatly enhance and interconnect our knowledge of field theories and quantum gravity, together with new discoveries in quantum-corrected geometries. A new network of domestic and international experts will largely benefit the fields of theoretical and mathematical physics.Read moreRead less