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Feeding and digestion in tropical rock lobster phyllosoma larvae and its applications for culture. Provision of larval culture diets that provide optimal nutrition in a suitable presentation format is the major challenge for developing a rock lobster aquaculture industry. Tropical rock lobsters are likely contenders due to their faster growth rates and shorter larval phase than temperate species. This project will assess the ingestive and digestive capabilities of larvae during development, thro ....Feeding and digestion in tropical rock lobster phyllosoma larvae and its applications for culture. Provision of larval culture diets that provide optimal nutrition in a suitable presentation format is the major challenge for developing a rock lobster aquaculture industry. Tropical rock lobsters are likely contenders due to their faster growth rates and shorter larval phase than temperate species. This project will assess the ingestive and digestive capabilities of larvae during development, through an examination of mouthpart and gut structure and their types and concentration of digestive enzymes. Information will be used to formulate and test improved diets of appropriate size, texture and nutritional composition and will be the first comprehensive analysis of preferred larval diets on the basis of their biological and physiological characteristics.Read moreRead less
Bio-engineering Insect-Specific Flaviviruses for control of arboviruses. This project aims to study a family of commensal viruses of mosquitoes called insect-specific flaviviruses that are naturally found in mosquitoes and do not infect or cause disease in vertebrate hosts. Using an innovative approach, this project employs cutting-edge molecular virology approaches to modify these insect-specific flaviviruses to enhance their ability to block the replication of other pathogenic viruses in the m ....Bio-engineering Insect-Specific Flaviviruses for control of arboviruses. This project aims to study a family of commensal viruses of mosquitoes called insect-specific flaviviruses that are naturally found in mosquitoes and do not infect or cause disease in vertebrate hosts. Using an innovative approach, this project employs cutting-edge molecular virology approaches to modify these insect-specific flaviviruses to enhance their ability to block the replication of other pathogenic viruses in the mosquito vector. Expected outcome of this project is a bio-control strategy that is complementary to the Wolbachia approach. The anticipated benefits include the advancement of knowledge of insect-specific flaviviruses, and promotion of interdisciplinary research across the fields of Entomology and Virology.Read moreRead less
Do crayfish use the information carried by low-level electrical signals in the environment? Many vertebrates detect electric fields. Fish communicate electrically. No invertebrate has been shown to do so. We have evidence that crayfish change their behaviour following exposure to low-level, waterborne electrical signals. Crayfish behaviour is currently the preferred model for studying the neurobiology of social hierarchies in animals. Evidence that information is passing from either predators or ....Do crayfish use the information carried by low-level electrical signals in the environment? Many vertebrates detect electric fields. Fish communicate electrically. No invertebrate has been shown to do so. We have evidence that crayfish change their behaviour following exposure to low-level, waterborne electrical signals. Crayfish behaviour is currently the preferred model for studying the neurobiology of social hierarchies in animals. Evidence that information is passing from either predators or conspecifics through an undescribed electrosensory channel would fundamentally change the direction of that research. Behaviour modification using electrical signals could also prove to be a valuable tool in crustacean aquaculture. This is a proposal to discover the nature and behavioural implications of crayfish electroreception.Read moreRead less
Sociality and a sense of smell: receptor organ evolution in ants. This research provides novel insights into social recognition in insects by capitalising on a new technique to investigate the role of chemosensory detection of contact pheromones. The primary impact will be to ensure that Australia maintains its high research profile in this field, and by contributing to research training through supervising and mentoring research students. Finally, our research will contribute to our understand ....Sociality and a sense of smell: receptor organ evolution in ants. This research provides novel insights into social recognition in insects by capitalising on a new technique to investigate the role of chemosensory detection of contact pheromones. The primary impact will be to ensure that Australia maintains its high research profile in this field, and by contributing to research training through supervising and mentoring research students. Finally, our research will contribute to our understanding of the 'success' of major trans-global ant pest species, information that could prove useful in management strategies.Read moreRead less
Symbiotic partnership between algae and animals that powers coral reefs. This project aims to unlock the molecular basis of a partnership between a microscopic plant and an animal that powers coral growth. Most corals depend on microscopic algae living inside their bodies to nourish them. Most corals have to recruit new algae each time they reproduce, but only a particular strain of algae is accepted. This project aims to establish how anemones and corals identify and take in the right alga, how ....Symbiotic partnership between algae and animals that powers coral reefs. This project aims to unlock the molecular basis of a partnership between a microscopic plant and an animal that powers coral growth. Most corals depend on microscopic algae living inside their bodies to nourish them. Most corals have to recruit new algae each time they reproduce, but only a particular strain of algae is accepted. This project aims to establish how anemones and corals identify and take in the right alga, how the alga gives them food, and how the animal hosts regulate growth of their algae to optimise food production but avoid being overrun by algae. Understanding the partnership that drives reef growth and survival may better equip us to protect this threatened resource.Read moreRead less
Biosynthesis, folding and modification of conotoxins. Disulfide-rich peptides represent a diverse family of bioactive molecules which have been developed as drugs for the treatment of severe pain. This project seeks to understand their biosynthesis and how their functional diversity is generated. Such information will assist the translation of more of these novel peptides into new drugs.
What is the biological significance of electrosensitivity in crayfish? The finding that an Australian crayfish responds to low-level electrical signals in the surrounding water is the first report of electrosensitivity in an aquatic invertebrate. This project will investigate its unknown biological significance. The results will impact on behavioural studies in all aquatic invertebrates because they will now have to consider this factor. Some other decapod crustaceans will almost certainly be fo ....What is the biological significance of electrosensitivity in crayfish? The finding that an Australian crayfish responds to low-level electrical signals in the surrounding water is the first report of electrosensitivity in an aquatic invertebrate. This project will investigate its unknown biological significance. The results will impact on behavioural studies in all aquatic invertebrates because they will now have to consider this factor. Some other decapod crustaceans will almost certainly be found to be electrosensitive. Not only are these important subjects for behavioural analysis, many form the basis of important commercial aquaculture industries. The outcomes will enhance Australia's scientific standing and provide opportunities for students to become leaders in a new field. Read moreRead less
Molecular biosignatures for isolating pollution problems in aquatic ecosystems using macroinvertebrate bioindicators. Aquatic ecosystems are under increasing threat by human activities. This has been further exacerbated by drought and climate change. In the future, understanding the major factors impairing aquatic ecosystems will be a vital part of sustaining water resources. This project develops new molecular tools to better monitor and assess aquatic pollution. We will develop a new high-tech ....Molecular biosignatures for isolating pollution problems in aquatic ecosystems using macroinvertebrate bioindicators. Aquatic ecosystems are under increasing threat by human activities. This has been further exacerbated by drought and climate change. In the future, understanding the major factors impairing aquatic ecosystems will be a vital part of sustaining water resources. This project develops new molecular tools to better monitor and assess aquatic pollution. We will develop a new high-tech deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) approach to identify insect indicator species and combine this with a field-based microcosm method that uses local aquatic insects to isolate pollution effects from other impacts. This proposal will facilitate fast identification of pollution problems and provide the water industry with an innovative means to assess pollution and monitor remedial actions.Read moreRead less
The genomics of adaptation in Wolbachia pipientis, an emerging biocontrol agent. Australians are increasingly exposed to insect-transmitted diseases such as dengue fever. Novel biocontrol methods using the bacterium Wolbachia aim to control insect populations to reduce disease transmission. Our research will be the first to investigate genomic variation and the process of adaptation to new insect hosts in Wolbachia. The novel data and understanding of evolutionary processes we generate will be c ....The genomics of adaptation in Wolbachia pipientis, an emerging biocontrol agent. Australians are increasingly exposed to insect-transmitted diseases such as dengue fever. Novel biocontrol methods using the bacterium Wolbachia aim to control insect populations to reduce disease transmission. Our research will be the first to investigate genomic variation and the process of adaptation to new insect hosts in Wolbachia. The novel data and understanding of evolutionary processes we generate will be critical for screening bacterial biocontrol candidates and designing biocontrol release strategies. It will also strengthen the position of Australian research as a world-leader in the fusion of post-genomics and applied microbiology. Read moreRead less
Predicting co-extinction risk of invertebrates on endangered plants. Co-extinction occurs when a dependent species goes extinct with the loss of its host species. A recent overseas modelling study suggested losses to global biodiversity through this mechanism may be high, but only when a large number of hosts are extinguished. However, estimates were constrained because there are no datasets with insects sampled from endangered plants. Thus, the accuracy of the estimates remains unknown, particu ....Predicting co-extinction risk of invertebrates on endangered plants. Co-extinction occurs when a dependent species goes extinct with the loss of its host species. A recent overseas modelling study suggested losses to global biodiversity through this mechanism may be high, but only when a large number of hosts are extinguished. However, estimates were constrained because there are no datasets with insects sampled from endangered plants. Thus, the accuracy of the estimates remains unknown, particularly for Australian insects. This project will provide the most accurate estimate to date by sampling endangered plants and identify management strategies for sustaining viable populations of endangered insects, thereby conserving Australia's biodiversity.Read moreRead less