Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. This project aims to develop integrated and low-cost eco-engineering technology to purposefully accelerate in-situ formation of soil from tailings for sustainable native plant community rehabilitation at metal mines. Soil shortages at mines cost the Australian mining industry billions of dollars in sustainable rehabilitation of tailings, and threaten t ....Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. This project aims to develop integrated and low-cost eco-engineering technology to purposefully accelerate in-situ formation of soil from tailings for sustainable native plant community rehabilitation at metal mines. Soil shortages at mines cost the Australian mining industry billions of dollars in sustainable rehabilitation of tailings, and threaten the industry’s ecological and commercial sustainability. Building on recent findings of critical processes in soil formation from copper/lead–zinc tailings, this research will use key biogeochemical and rhizosphere processes in the tailing-soil to create a functional 'technosol'. This technology is intended to be used in Australian metal mines to offset the soil needed to rehabilitate tailings landforms with native plant communities.Read moreRead less
In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. By enhancing and guiding abiotic and biotic processes of soil development, this project aims to accelerate the in situ remediation of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings). Over 7 gigatonnes of tailings are produced globally every year, comprising complex mineral assemblages at extremes of pH and salinity with minimal biological activity. This project will build detailed knowledge on the chemi ....In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. By enhancing and guiding abiotic and biotic processes of soil development, this project aims to accelerate the in situ remediation of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings). Over 7 gigatonnes of tailings are produced globally every year, comprising complex mineral assemblages at extremes of pH and salinity with minimal biological activity. This project will build detailed knowledge on the chemical, physical, and biological properties of bauxite residue and apply this to develop field-scale in situ remediation strategies. This research will also advance understanding of soil development and primary succession of microbial communities in extreme, anthropogenic environments such as those presented by tailings.Read moreRead less
Accelerated tailings remediation with plant and microbial biotechnologies. The Australian alumina industry produces 32 million tonnes of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings) each year, most of which is stored in perpetuity in landfill-type tailings storage facilities. The high pH, high salinity, lack of plant nutrients, and poor physical properties of bauxite residue are major barriers to safe storage and successful closure of tailings storage facilities. Existing remediation approaches a ....Accelerated tailings remediation with plant and microbial biotechnologies. The Australian alumina industry produces 32 million tonnes of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings) each year, most of which is stored in perpetuity in landfill-type tailings storage facilities. The high pH, high salinity, lack of plant nutrients, and poor physical properties of bauxite residue are major barriers to safe storage and successful closure of tailings storage facilities. Existing remediation approaches are expensive, slow, and often ineffective. We will deliver new microbial- and plant-driven biotechnologies for rapid, cost-effective remediation of bauxite residue. This will enable safe, sustainable closure of storage facilities, and safeguard the strong contribution of this $15 billion industry to Australia's economy. 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.
Microbiology of a tropical creek impacted by sewage effluent: novel assessment using N-cycle functional markers and changes in community composition. Although most of Darwin Harbour has good water quality, there is much concern about local 'hot spots' where sewage has degraded ecosystem processes and values. As no bio-indicators of tropical marine water and sediment quality are known, the project will identify functional markers and microbial indicators of stress for integrated environmental mo ....Microbiology of a tropical creek impacted by sewage effluent: novel assessment using N-cycle functional markers and changes in community composition. Although most of Darwin Harbour has good water quality, there is much concern about local 'hot spots' where sewage has degraded ecosystem processes and values. As no bio-indicators of tropical marine water and sediment quality are known, the project will identify functional markers and microbial indicators of stress for integrated environmental monitoring.Read moreRead less
Quantifying the re-establishment of soil processes and the impact of fire management on rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia. A major objective in the rehabilitation of bauxite mines in the jarrah forest of Western Australia is to return a self-sustaining ecosystem. Nutrient cycling and microbial diversity are key components of the functioning of the rehabilitated system; but little is know about the resilience of these processes in jarrah forests. We aim to quantify the dynamic rela ....Quantifying the re-establishment of soil processes and the impact of fire management on rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia. A major objective in the rehabilitation of bauxite mines in the jarrah forest of Western Australia is to return a self-sustaining ecosystem. Nutrient cycling and microbial diversity are key components of the functioning of the rehabilitated system; but little is know about the resilience of these processes in jarrah forests. We aim to quantify the dynamic relationships between soil organic matter cycling, microbial diversity and function in relation to seasonality, rehabilitation age and fire. This is of specific relevance to restoring biodiversity within rehabilitated Jarrah forests and establishing a time frame for their return to state government management.Read moreRead less
Novel strategy for optimising fertilizer input coupled with organic residue management for sustainable reconstruction of jarrah forest ecosystem. This project is aimed at judicious management of the rehabilitation process following surface mining by reducing initial fertilizer input along with using organic residue accumulated following pre-mine clearing of vegetation. This approach has the potential for 'speeding-up' the ecosystem development process by initiating early microbial development in ....Novel strategy for optimising fertilizer input coupled with organic residue management for sustainable reconstruction of jarrah forest ecosystem. This project is aimed at judicious management of the rehabilitation process following surface mining by reducing initial fertilizer input along with using organic residue accumulated following pre-mine clearing of vegetation. This approach has the potential for 'speeding-up' the ecosystem development process by initiating early microbial development in rehabilitation practice and reducing the deleterious effect of heavy fertilization. Apart from these ecological advantages, reducing fertilizer application lowers minesite rehabilitation cost incurred by mining companies. This project will be the first attempt to use organic residue and streamlining the use of mineral fertilizers in mine rehabilitation practice.Read moreRead less
The adaptive evolution of key methane-utilising microorganisms. This project aims to characterise the evolutionary adaptations of a group of microorganisms with a key role in mitigating the release of methane into the atmosphere. Innovative molecular and visualisation-based approaches will be applied to uncover their metabolic diversity and evolutionary history. An important outcome of this study will be the comprehensive understanding of the contribution and impact these microorganisms have on ....The adaptive evolution of key methane-utilising microorganisms. This project aims to characterise the evolutionary adaptations of a group of microorganisms with a key role in mitigating the release of methane into the atmosphere. Innovative molecular and visualisation-based approaches will be applied to uncover their metabolic diversity and evolutionary history. An important outcome of this study will be the comprehensive understanding of the contribution and impact these microorganisms have on the global carbon cycle, which will importantly inform accurate climate change models. This has clear benefits for society, given the precision of such models is essential in our ability to minimise the impact and associated cost of global warming.Read moreRead less
Saprophytic Ability and Long-term Survival of Phytophthora cinnamomi in Rehabilitated Bauxite Mines and Adjacent Eucalyptus marginata (Jarrah) Forest. The plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi is listed by the Commonwealth as a ?Key threatening process? to Australia's biodiversity. This study will examine the physical, chemical and biological factors that influence long-term survival of P. cinnamomi in a range of jarrah forest and mine site soils, by examining saprophytic ability and endogenous ....Saprophytic Ability and Long-term Survival of Phytophthora cinnamomi in Rehabilitated Bauxite Mines and Adjacent Eucalyptus marginata (Jarrah) Forest. The plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi is listed by the Commonwealth as a ?Key threatening process? to Australia's biodiversity. This study will examine the physical, chemical and biological factors that influence long-term survival of P. cinnamomi in a range of jarrah forest and mine site soils, by examining saprophytic ability and endogenous dormancy. Managers will be provided with better tools for determining the presence and predicting the persistence of P. cinnamomi by obtaining information on the environmental factors that influence survival time in different soils and how to manipulate these to decrease the pathogen's survival.Read moreRead less
Understanding wastewater treatment technologies for alternative water use: transformation of inorganic and organic nitrogen. This project will identify sustainable treatment processes for nitrogen and pathogen removal in rural wastewater treatment systems. The outcomes will provide water utilities and regulators with practical recommendations for minimising chemical and microbial risks of alternative uses of treated wastewater, and improve rural long-term water security.