Development of cryopreservation for high value provenance collections of recalcitrant plant species used in post-mining restoration. This project will develop new and innovative ways to store highly valued native plant germplasm at ultra cold temperatures (-196 °C, in liquid nitrogen) as a means to ensure that elite genotypes used in minesite restoration and critically endangered species are not lost forever to extinction. This project will be the first of its type in Australia utilising a multi ....Development of cryopreservation for high value provenance collections of recalcitrant plant species used in post-mining restoration. This project will develop new and innovative ways to store highly valued native plant germplasm at ultra cold temperatures (-196 °C, in liquid nitrogen) as a means to ensure that elite genotypes used in minesite restoration and critically endangered species are not lost forever to extinction. This project will be the first of its type in Australia utilising a multidisciplinary approach to answer key storage questions and will provide significant national benefits to conservation programs and landcare groups, providing these with additional resources to ensure the long-term survival of native plant germplasm collections. Read moreRead less
The biogeochemical cycles of Ni and Co, a functional approach to ecological restoration of lateritic soils. Nickel is an essential metal for many technologies, and a key component of Australia's resource industry. Nickel exports contribute in excess of Aus$2 billion per annum to the economy. To date, most of Australia's Ni production has come from sulphide ores but the current development of large lateritic Ni operations in Western Australia will result in most production coming from lateritic N ....The biogeochemical cycles of Ni and Co, a functional approach to ecological restoration of lateritic soils. Nickel is an essential metal for many technologies, and a key component of Australia's resource industry. Nickel exports contribute in excess of Aus$2 billion per annum to the economy. To date, most of Australia's Ni production has come from sulphide ores but the current development of large lateritic Ni operations in Western Australia will result in most production coming from lateritic Ni ore. Hence increasing the research effort on ecological restoration of these large opencast mines is essential to ensure an environmentally sustainable Australia. This project will set up strategies to maintain biodiversity using geochemical and biological technologies to minimise environmental risk.Read moreRead less
Devising ecologically sustainable restoration programs for degraded rural landscapes by integrating landscape ecology, genetics and ecophysiology. Concern about tree decline in rural landscape is widespread, and disturbingly climate change is predicted to exacerbate this problem. Past ill-considered tree plantings have proven to be economically wasteful, achieved limited ecological resilience and negligible improvement of biodiversity values. Using Tasmania as a 'model system', we will advance t ....Devising ecologically sustainable restoration programs for degraded rural landscapes by integrating landscape ecology, genetics and ecophysiology. Concern about tree decline in rural landscape is widespread, and disturbingly climate change is predicted to exacerbate this problem. Past ill-considered tree plantings have proven to be economically wasteful, achieved limited ecological resilience and negligible improvement of biodiversity values. Using Tasmania as a 'model system', we will advance this problem by undertaking research to determine how seedling establishment, tree growth, carbon storage and water use are influenced by landscape setting, management history, climate change, species type and local varieties. This research will provide a much needed evidence to devise ecologically sustainable tree-plantings in southern Australia.Read moreRead less
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL DISSECTION OF COBALT ACCUMULATION BY PLANTS. Co is a valuable metal for the Australian economy. The project will advance phytomining of non-economic Co ores and also the phytoremediation of (60)Co-contaminated soils. It will assist development of phytotechnologies for Co, eg improvement of Co content of fodder crops for ruminants in Co-deficient areas. All these applications will benefit ARC's National Research Priorities Goal 1: an environmentally friendly Australi ....PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL DISSECTION OF COBALT ACCUMULATION BY PLANTS. Co is a valuable metal for the Australian economy. The project will advance phytomining of non-economic Co ores and also the phytoremediation of (60)Co-contaminated soils. It will assist development of phytotechnologies for Co, eg improvement of Co content of fodder crops for ruminants in Co-deficient areas. All these applications will benefit ARC's National Research Priorities Goal 1: an environmentally friendly Australia. Understanding Co uptake by accumulator species will also promote awareness, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Australia. Outcomes will impact on Goal 3: frontier technologies, as the potential spin-off applications of Co-based phytotechnologies will fuel future environmental technologies in Australia.Read moreRead less
Resilient and adaptable urban landscapes: low input woody meadows. Cities around the world are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in urban green spaces. This project aims to improve the quality of low input public landscapes and make our cities more liveable. Typical low maintenance plantings have low diversity, visual appeal and function. This project expects to develop a novel low-cost and resilient approach to urban greening by utilising Australian shrublands as templates for woody mea ....Resilient and adaptable urban landscapes: low input woody meadows. Cities around the world are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in urban green spaces. This project aims to improve the quality of low input public landscapes and make our cities more liveable. Typical low maintenance plantings have low diversity, visual appeal and function. This project expects to develop a novel low-cost and resilient approach to urban greening by utilising Australian shrublands as templates for woody meadows. Through interdisciplinary research and collaborations with eight Partner Organisations, the expected outcomes include knowledge and skill sharing for widespread adoption of resilient, management-friendly woody meadows to enhance and expand urban green spaces in Australia and around the world. Read moreRead less
Advanced cryobanking for propagation-recalcitrant and critically endangered plant species. This project aims to advance methods for the conservation of recalcitrant/threatened plant species to achieve best practice ecological restoration in areas of high biodiversity. In particular, the nature of freezing and dehydration damage to cell membranes at various stages of tissue culture and cryopreservation will be investigated to try to minimise deleterious effects. In addition, metabolic changes tha ....Advanced cryobanking for propagation-recalcitrant and critically endangered plant species. This project aims to advance methods for the conservation of recalcitrant/threatened plant species to achieve best practice ecological restoration in areas of high biodiversity. In particular, the nature of freezing and dehydration damage to cell membranes at various stages of tissue culture and cryopreservation will be investigated to try to minimise deleterious effects. In addition, metabolic changes that affect cryogenic survival will be assessed to provide further insight into the role of oxidative stress and the toxicity of cryopreservation processes. Ultimately, improved cryogenic protocols will be developed to maintain the integrity of long-term cryobanks of key species for ecological restoration, such as in post-mined areas.Read moreRead less
Defining biologically significant units in spinifex (Triodia spp.) for improved ecological restoration in arid Australia. This project will investigate composition and functioning of the iconic spinifex grasslands of arid Australia. The findings will increase the capacity to restore these landscapes after mining. Project outcomes directly address the national priority for sustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity, particularly of vulnerable ecosystems.