Development of biosensors and bioindicators for gold exploration and processing in Australia. In times of increasing demand for gold and shrinking rates of discovery in Australia, biosensor and bioindicator techniques deliver significant advantages to the Australian mining industry and allow it to retain its international competiveness. The new understanding of the biogeochemical behaviour of gold in soils and other weathered materials developed in a previous ARC Linkage Project enables the deve ....Development of biosensors and bioindicators for gold exploration and processing in Australia. In times of increasing demand for gold and shrinking rates of discovery in Australia, biosensor and bioindicator techniques deliver significant advantages to the Australian mining industry and allow it to retain its international competiveness. The new understanding of the biogeochemical behaviour of gold in soils and other weathered materials developed in a previous ARC Linkage Project enables the development of biosensor and bioindicator technology that will allow mineral explorers to differentiate mineralised from non-mineralised zones using specific (meta) genomic community responses. The new technology will provide cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable techniques for improving exploration success and optimising ore processing.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102166
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Identification and characterisation of anti-viral immune response genes in mosquitoes. Emerging viral diseases, transmitted by mosquito bite, present an increasing public health risk globally. Most research to date has neglected the infection dynamic in the insect vector. This project aims to characterise the defensive response of mosquitoes to viral infection, a potentially crucial factor in the epidemiology of vector-borne disease.
From genotype to phenotype: Molecular photofitting for criminal investigations. DNA found at crime scenes has the potential to provide a physical description of the donor in the same way as an eyewitness statement can be used to make a facial reconstruction. This project will investigate those physical traits which can be derived from the analysis of DNA present in samples collected in relation to criminal activities.
Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) To Reduce The Incidental Catch Of Cuttlefish In The Spencer Gulf Prawn Trawl Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$71,000.00
Summary
The Giant Cuttlefish population in Spencer Gulf is the largest in the world and is highly valued by local residents, the tourism industry and the recreational diving sector. But surveys over the last 13 years has indicated that the northern population has, and continues to, decline markedly - leading to major public consternation.
The Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery is known as one of the best managed trawl fisheries in the world and is permitted to only land three species, the western kin ....The Giant Cuttlefish population in Spencer Gulf is the largest in the world and is highly valued by local residents, the tourism industry and the recreational diving sector. But surveys over the last 13 years has indicated that the northern population has, and continues to, decline markedly - leading to major public consternation.
The Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery is known as one of the best managed trawl fisheries in the world and is permitted to only land three species, the western king prawn, bugs and southern calamari
A recent SARDI study correlated the observed decline in Cuttlefish abundances with a range of potential factors including: water temperature, weather, pollution (including those from increased shipping activities), predators, prey, habitats, diseases, fishing pressure and tourism. Of these, rainfall was the only factor found to correlate inversely with peak cuttlefish abundance. The study noted the incidental capture of Giant Cuttlefish in the Prawn Fishery but found no clear association between the decline in cuttlefish and fishing intensity. The study noted a positive correlation between trawl effort and the size of the cuttlefish population but this relationship is counter-intuitive and is likely to be coincidental. The evidence therefore does not support an assertion that the recent decline in the abundance of Giant Cuttlefish in northern Spencer Gulf has been caused by prawn trawling or any other forms of fishing.
Nevertheless, due to the low population numbers, all sources of potential mortality of cuttlefish, including that from prawn trawl bycatch, need to be minimized urgently and carefully managed. This project is focused on an attempt to reduce the bycatch of cuttlefish in this fishery using modifications to the trawls used (termed ‘bycatch reduction devices’ or ‘BRDs’). If successful, such BRDs should be suitable for use in locations and at times where cuttlefish bycatches are significant.
Objectives: 1. To test four grid-based designs to determine the best way forward in developing a BRD for this fishery that excludes cuttlefish and crabs, yet does not reduce prawn catch by any more than approx 6% and has a negligible variation in the grade composition of prawns. Read moreRead less
Improved Harvesting Efficiency Of Pearl Oysters Through Modifications To Dive Profiles
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$188,897.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To evaluate and recommend modifications to dive profiles used in the WA pearling industry so that the profiles are in accord with safe levels of the Doppler bubble classification system that is widely accepted as a standard for evaluating dive profiles 2. To provide an analysis of the field data collected in relation to diver safety
Identification And Development Of Tunas, Billfishes And Roughies
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$122,625.90
Summary
Objectives: 1. Improved sighs to identify tuna, billfish & roughy larvae, juveniles & adults, using combination of electron microscopy & protein molecular biology.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Content And Nutritional Quality Of Aquaculture Feedstocks
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$236,043.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Measure concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids 20:5(n-3) and 22:6)n-3) in microalgae & other feedstocks used in Australian hatchies. 2. Survey the lipid and fatty acid content of microalage to determine characteristic distributions for the major algal classes and to identify new species of use to the Australian mariculture industry, particularly in tropical hatcheries. 3. Identify the effects of different environmental conditions on fatty acid and lipid c ....Objectives: 1. Measure concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids 20:5(n-3) and 22:6)n-3) in microalgae & other feedstocks used in Australian hatchies. 2. Survey the lipid and fatty acid content of microalage to determine characteristic distributions for the major algal classes and to identify new species of use to the Australian mariculture industry, particularly in tropical hatcheries. 3. Identify the effects of different environmental conditions on fatty acid and lipid composition of microalgae by comparing cultures grown under a variety of defined conditions, and hence determine how to optimise fatty acid content . 4. Assess the effects of algal foods with different fatty acid contents on animal production in support of animal growth trial with bivalve molluscs, particularly the oyster Crassostrea gigas, carried out as part of FIRDC grant 90/063. 5. Identify the effects of various diets (rotifers and copepods) which have different fatty acid compositions on the growth and survival of fish larvae in support of experiments carried out by the staff from the Tasmanian Division of Sea Fisheries 6. Assist the fishing and mariculture industries with advice on the nutrition of marine organisms, and provide a service for the analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids and other lipids in marine samples. Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. Acquire and install a complete instrument package (a) to make simultaneous measurements of trawl door spread, wing spread & headline height of bottom & pelagic trawls used during survey work 2. to make similar measurements on commercial trawl gear