Novel Molecular Markers for the Historical Source Tracing of Faecal Contamination in Urban Water Catchments. Protection of the microbiological quality of raw water systems is imperative to maintaining the safety of drinking water. Monitoring of water samples for the presence of microbes that indicate the presence of faecal pollution can be used to assess the possible threats to human health. The objective of this research is to apply molecular genetic methods to determine their effectiveness as ....Novel Molecular Markers for the Historical Source Tracing of Faecal Contamination in Urban Water Catchments. Protection of the microbiological quality of raw water systems is imperative to maintaining the safety of drinking water. Monitoring of water samples for the presence of microbes that indicate the presence of faecal pollution can be used to assess the possible threats to human health. The objective of this research is to apply molecular genetic methods to determine their effectiveness as tools for the tracking and tracing of faecal bacteria within drinking water catchments. We have chosen the spore-former Clostridium perfringens as an indicator of both long and short-term sewage contamination. It will enable us to predict the origin of contamination and thus identify potential sources of faecal pollution that require remediation.Read moreRead less
E. coli as an indicator of faecal contamination in the Australian context. The goal of this research is to improve our ability to use Escherichia coli as an indicator of water quality by determining the extent to which non-faecal sources of E. coli contribute to coliform counts and to develop a method to differentiate non-faecal E. coli from those that are faecal derived.
Is mass commercialisation of silver-based nanotechnology undermining its biomedical antibacterial potential? Silver nanoparticles have demonstrated broad spectrum antibacterial potential and are increasingly used in biomedical applications to limit infection. They are also found in a growing range of everyday products such as shampoos and socks. This situation is analogous to the previous use of antibiotics for nonmedical purposes and the subsequent spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This ....Is mass commercialisation of silver-based nanotechnology undermining its biomedical antibacterial potential? Silver nanoparticles have demonstrated broad spectrum antibacterial potential and are increasingly used in biomedical applications to limit infection. They are also found in a growing range of everyday products such as shampoos and socks. This situation is analogous to the previous use of antibiotics for nonmedical purposes and the subsequent spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This project will measure silver resistance selection pressure in key microbial communities. Novel monitoring devices, a multi-technique chemistry approach, and correlative synchrotron spectroscopy and molecular biology techniques will be used to decipher the environmental silver resistome and its likely significance.Read moreRead less
A molecular ecophysiological assessment of the importance of using local provenance seed in plant biodiversity restoration. The rehabilitation of Australia's unique plant diversity, following disturbance, is an increasingly important activity nationally, involving industry, government and community. The use of local seeds is recognised as best practise, but how local is local? We will use molecular tools to identify the extent of local seed transfer zones, conduct trials to assess the relative ....A molecular ecophysiological assessment of the importance of using local provenance seed in plant biodiversity restoration. The rehabilitation of Australia's unique plant diversity, following disturbance, is an increasingly important activity nationally, involving industry, government and community. The use of local seeds is recognised as best practise, but how local is local? We will use molecular tools to identify the extent of local seed transfer zones, conduct trials to assess the relative performance of local and non-local seeds (is there a home-site advantage?), and assess the consequences of mixing provenances for future generations. We will work closely with industry and community restoration practitioners to improve the effectiveness of restoration, with benefits flowing nationally through general provenance guidelines.Read moreRead less
Conservation Management of the Endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard. The Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard probably occurred over 150km of the Adelaide Plains before European settlement, but is now known from only a few privately owned properties in the mid-north of South Australia. Before adopting specific conservation strategies, such as release to new sites, more needs to be known about the genetic and social structure of viable populations, and the natural parasite fauna that may detrimentally affect an ....Conservation Management of the Endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard. The Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard probably occurred over 150km of the Adelaide Plains before European settlement, but is now known from only a few privately owned properties in the mid-north of South Australia. Before adopting specific conservation strategies, such as release to new sites, more needs to be known about the genetic and social structure of viable populations, and the natural parasite fauna that may detrimentally affect any transplants. This project explores those aspects of the lizard biology, enhancing both our general understanding of lizard population structure and our specific understanding of conservation issues for this species.Read moreRead less
Managing the evolutionary potential of fragmented native plant populations. Many previously widespread plant species now exist in small fragmented populations threatened with extinction due to genetic decline. We will apply a novel and powerful new genetic approach for the assessment of the evolutionary potential of these populations. Through the most detailed characterisation of realized mating yet possible, we will determine if recently fragmented populations are in genetic decline, and how ....Managing the evolutionary potential of fragmented native plant populations. Many previously widespread plant species now exist in small fragmented populations threatened with extinction due to genetic decline. We will apply a novel and powerful new genetic approach for the assessment of the evolutionary potential of these populations. Through the most detailed characterisation of realized mating yet possible, we will determine if recently fragmented populations are in genetic decline, and how anciently fragmented species avoid extinction. Our aim is to generate general principles for the early measurement and/or prediction of genetic decline in species most at risk, that will enable us to determine how and when remediation measures are required.Read moreRead less
Optimal management of threatened amphibian metapopulations in urbanising landscapes. This project will enable the identification of optimal management strategies for many species threatened by the loss and fragmentation of their habitat, both in Australia and internationally. Our research will contribute to the recovery of the endangered Growling Grass Frog, and drive the conservation of wetland biodiversity on the fringe of Australia's fastest growing city. Both the methods and specific recomme ....Optimal management of threatened amphibian metapopulations in urbanising landscapes. This project will enable the identification of optimal management strategies for many species threatened by the loss and fragmentation of their habitat, both in Australia and internationally. Our research will contribute to the recovery of the endangered Growling Grass Frog, and drive the conservation of wetland biodiversity on the fringe of Australia's fastest growing city. Both the methods and specific recommendations for management that we develop will contribute to the goal of an environmentally-sustainable Australia. This project will expand Australia's capacity to solve conservation problems, and will promote biological diversity in urban environments, to the benefit of their human inhabitants.Read moreRead less
Human-induced changes in the genetic structure of amphibian populations. This study will produce one of the first predictive models of the impact of humans on the genetic structure of animal populations. It will contribute to land-use planning in the greater Melbourne area, and support the regional action plan called Melbourne2030. It will promote active collaboration between universities and Museum Victoria, enriching our local intellectual community. The project will address current debates wi ....Human-induced changes in the genetic structure of amphibian populations. This study will produce one of the first predictive models of the impact of humans on the genetic structure of animal populations. It will contribute to land-use planning in the greater Melbourne area, and support the regional action plan called Melbourne2030. It will promote active collaboration between universities and Museum Victoria, enriching our local intellectual community. The project will address current debates within landscape genetics, and strengthen Australia's international standing in landscape ecology. Several Australian undergraduate and PhD students will participate in cutting-edge science, which helps Australia maintain its prominent international reputation in these fields.Read moreRead less
Conservation Biology of Butterflies in South Australia. This project will investigate the apparent significant recent decline in the diversity and abundance of butterflies in South Australia. The project will develop a protocol for deriving quantitative estimates of the diversity and abundance of butterflies in South Australia, so that the effects of current and future environmental changes on the biodiversity of butterflies can be rigorously assessed. The project will also incorporate a detaile ....Conservation Biology of Butterflies in South Australia. This project will investigate the apparent significant recent decline in the diversity and abundance of butterflies in South Australia. The project will develop a protocol for deriving quantitative estimates of the diversity and abundance of butterflies in South Australia, so that the effects of current and future environmental changes on the biodiversity of butterflies can be rigorously assessed. The project will also incorporate a detailed case study of the conservation biology of a vulnerable species of butterfly.Read moreRead less
A multidisciplinary research program to assess limiting factors and predict impacts of climate change for endangered Australian orchids. Climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity. Australian sexually deceptive orchids are dependent on obligate and specialised interactions with pollinators and fungi. Consequently, they may face a high risk of extinction if climate change uncouples these interactions. Thus orchids provide an important bio-indicator of change. The tools and expertis ....A multidisciplinary research program to assess limiting factors and predict impacts of climate change for endangered Australian orchids. Climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity. Australian sexually deceptive orchids are dependent on obligate and specialised interactions with pollinators and fungi. Consequently, they may face a high risk of extinction if climate change uncouples these interactions. Thus orchids provide an important bio-indicator of change. The tools and expertise developed will contribute directly to the conservation of endangered Australian orchids, and will take into account the risks of climate change. The project will contribute to the priority research goals of sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity as well as responding to climate change and variability. The project will also provide high quality, cross-disciplinary training.Read moreRead less