A stitch in time: evidence-based strategy to keep platypus from extinction. This project aims to assess the status of the iconic platypus, identified as ‘near-threatened’ in 2014. The project’s multidisciplinary approach plans to compare regulated and unregulated rivers to investigate metapopulation structure (via physical and genetic tagging), current condition and future adaptability of the species, as well as other threats and habitat quality. The project also links vulnerability of platypus ....A stitch in time: evidence-based strategy to keep platypus from extinction. This project aims to assess the status of the iconic platypus, identified as ‘near-threatened’ in 2014. The project’s multidisciplinary approach plans to compare regulated and unregulated rivers to investigate metapopulation structure (via physical and genetic tagging), current condition and future adaptability of the species, as well as other threats and habitat quality. The project also links vulnerability of platypus populations to conservation actions that reduce extinction risk, through rigorous decision analyses. It is anticipated that the project will deliver implementable conservation actions at relevant scales.Read moreRead less
Genomics for persistence of Australian freshwater fish. Biodiversity faces an unpredictable cocktail of impacts and global environmental change, against which the best insurance is genetic diversity. We will develop genomic measures of ecological-genetic functions and evolutionary potential for managing Australian freshwater fish.
Minimising adaptation to captivity for conservation of threatened species. This project aims to determine how evolutionary processes affect the successful release of captive animals. Five years ago the Tasmanian devil was destined for extinction, but scientists now believe they can prevent this. However, they have put all their eggs in one basket – a large captive insurance population which acts as a source for the wild. Adaptation to captivity can have negative consequences for released animals ....Minimising adaptation to captivity for conservation of threatened species. This project aims to determine how evolutionary processes affect the successful release of captive animals. Five years ago the Tasmanian devil was destined for extinction, but scientists now believe they can prevent this. However, they have put all their eggs in one basket – a large captive insurance population which acts as a source for the wild. Adaptation to captivity can have negative consequences for released animals and could threaten the devil programme. Using massive molecular datasets and computational models, this project intends to evaluate different captive breeding scenarios and identify optimal management practices. This will provide environmental policymakers with a new framework for protecting threatened species in Australia and around the world.Read moreRead less
Above and below-ground specialisation in Australian orchids and its implications for diversification and vulnerability. Many of Australia's unique terrestrial orchids may face heightened extinction risk because of their obligate dependence on pollinators and fungi. This project will investigate the consequences of these interactions for orchid speciation and vulnerability. The outcomes will inform both evolutionary theory and future conservation programs.
Assimilating development objectives in conservation planning. This project will extend the theory and practice of decision science to explore the question of how the apparently divergent objectives of biodiversity conservation and economic development can be balanced. The human modification of natural landscapes is causing species loss to accelerate. Yet land use and infrastructure developments are often necessary to support economic growth. The project plans to develop new methods to map past a ....Assimilating development objectives in conservation planning. This project will extend the theory and practice of decision science to explore the question of how the apparently divergent objectives of biodiversity conservation and economic development can be balanced. The human modification of natural landscapes is causing species loss to accelerate. Yet land use and infrastructure developments are often necessary to support economic growth. The project plans to develop new methods to map past and project future development scenarios for the lower Mekong region in south-east Asia, a globally significant region undergoing rapid economic development. Novel problem formulations would be used to balance biodiversity conservation with development objectives.Read moreRead less
Restoration genetics of five endangered fish species from the Murray-Darling Basin. Extended drought and environmental degradation have caused unprecedented loss of aquatic biodiversity in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Australia's most important agricultural region. This project will reduce the risk of extinction of two endangered and three critically endangered freshwater fish species from the lower MDB. It will provide major benefits to the broader Australian community by addressing governme ....Restoration genetics of five endangered fish species from the Murray-Darling Basin. Extended drought and environmental degradation have caused unprecedented loss of aquatic biodiversity in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Australia's most important agricultural region. This project will reduce the risk of extinction of two endangered and three critically endangered freshwater fish species from the lower MDB. It will provide major benefits to the broader Australian community by addressing government policies regarding sustainable water management in rural areas, biodiversity protection and recovery of threatened species. The study will also increase the research profile of Australia in the international scientific community by improving our understanding about genetic diversity in captive breeding and restoration programs.Read moreRead less
Population fluctuations: models, mechanisms and management. Changes in plant populations lead to extinctions and invasions in Australia and globally. The project will determine the drivers of plant population change and provide new tools to enable better population management.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100542
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,000.00
Summary
Understanding adaptation of plants along environmental clines. This project aims to address a key debate on the relative roles of dispersal and selection on adaptation, testing how life history traits determine the magnitude of adaptation. Since dispersal should override selection, this project endeavours to show that plants that strongly disperse will display weaker signals of adaptation but a higher capacity to adapt. The project aims to test these predictions with ecological genomics and func ....Understanding adaptation of plants along environmental clines. This project aims to address a key debate on the relative roles of dispersal and selection on adaptation, testing how life history traits determine the magnitude of adaptation. Since dispersal should override selection, this project endeavours to show that plants that strongly disperse will display weaker signals of adaptation but a higher capacity to adapt. The project aims to test these predictions with ecological genomics and functional genetics at a multi-species scale across climate gradients in South Australia, using a novel design that separates dispersal (isolation-by-distance) from selection (isolation-by-ecology). This understanding will provide improved conservation planning that seeks to restore resilience to biological communities that are under increasing environmental pressures.Read moreRead less
Addressing koala conservation management needs: applying novel genomic methods and assessing ecological exchangeability across the species range. One of Australia's most iconic species, the koala, is under threat. This project will use cutting edge whole-genome technology to assess levels of genetic diversity and population differentiation across the species range, to inform the setting of conservation management units.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100443
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Landscape genomics to make an endangered community resilient. This project aims to use landscape genomic techniques to assess how key species of the critically endangered Box-Gum Grassy Woodland community migrate and adapt under changing environmental conditions. Changing climate and land use threaten ecological communities, and alter environments at alarming rates. When species are pushed beyond their environmental tolerances, they will migrate, adapt or face local extinction. This alteration o ....Landscape genomics to make an endangered community resilient. This project aims to use landscape genomic techniques to assess how key species of the critically endangered Box-Gum Grassy Woodland community migrate and adapt under changing environmental conditions. Changing climate and land use threaten ecological communities, and alter environments at alarming rates. When species are pushed beyond their environmental tolerances, they will migrate, adapt or face local extinction. This alteration of the community structure affects the stability and function of the ecosystem. Expected outcomes include efficient use of limited conservation resources, ensuring the long term persistence of the endangered community.Read moreRead less