The fox and the turtle: is predator control in riparian systems effective for threatened species. We address the conservation impact of an introduced predator (the fox) on threatened species. Few studies have addressed the influence of feral predators on riparian species. We will experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of feral species control by examining demography of turtles. Turtles are an ideal species for such studies as they are long-lived, so population models can be applied. Result ....The fox and the turtle: is predator control in riparian systems effective for threatened species. We address the conservation impact of an introduced predator (the fox) on threatened species. Few studies have addressed the influence of feral predators on riparian species. We will experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of feral species control by examining demography of turtles. Turtles are an ideal species for such studies as they are long-lived, so population models can be applied. Results of this work will be significant in (a) empirical testing of rigorous, experimentally-based methodology to quantify demographic effects of predator-prey interactions, and (b) providing a robust basis for management that may serve as a template for feral predator control elsewhere.Read moreRead less
Assessing absolute sustainability of global cities. The project aims to create a quantitative modelling framework for assessing the absolute sustainability of cities by combining global multi-region input-output analysis with the 'safe and just space' concept for human development. The model will allow assessment of the full supply chain environmental and social impacts of urban economic activities against biophysical planetary limits as well as social foundation thresholds defined in the litera ....Assessing absolute sustainability of global cities. The project aims to create a quantitative modelling framework for assessing the absolute sustainability of cities by combining global multi-region input-output analysis with the 'safe and just space' concept for human development. The model will allow assessment of the full supply chain environmental and social impacts of urban economic activities against biophysical planetary limits as well as social foundation thresholds defined in the literature. The project will advance sustainability science methodology and will greatly benefit worldwide initiatives for urban sustainability. Case studies on Australian cities will assess where interventions can be most practically, realistically and effectively implemented.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100066
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,000.00
Summary
Enhanced modelling capacity for the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory. Enhanced modelling capacity for the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory:
This project aims to enable Australian research leaders working on the integrated sustainability assessment of policies, products and projects to collaborate in the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab). It seeks to develop and implement an enhanced modelling capability and suite of online analytical tools to support sustainability scienti ....Enhanced modelling capacity for the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory. Enhanced modelling capacity for the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory:
This project aims to enable Australian research leaders working on the integrated sustainability assessment of policies, products and projects to collaborate in the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab). It seeks to develop and implement an enhanced modelling capability and suite of online analytical tools to support sustainability scientists and analysts from Australia and abroad conducting research projects of national and international significance. In particular, the project would provide policy-makers, investors and communities with detailed and tailored information to help make better decisions about a sustainable future. By upgrading IELab hardware and analytical and modelling software, the project would be versatile and flexible and remain up to date.Read moreRead less
Pathways to agri-food supply chains that co-benefit people and nature. This project aims to improve biodiversity outcomes of agricultural food production and consumption, and expects to generate new knowledge about impacts of interventions and shocks on the environment, human health and livelihoods in agri-food systems. This will be achieved using an interdisciplinary approach that accounts for uncertainties in links between farmers, suppliers, consumers and supply-chain outcomes. The expected o ....Pathways to agri-food supply chains that co-benefit people and nature. This project aims to improve biodiversity outcomes of agricultural food production and consumption, and expects to generate new knowledge about impacts of interventions and shocks on the environment, human health and livelihoods in agri-food systems. This will be achieved using an interdisciplinary approach that accounts for uncertainties in links between farmers, suppliers, consumers and supply-chain outcomes. The expected outcome is a value of information framework for identifying nature-friendly policies and actions with co-benefits for human well-being. Benefits include sustainability pathways with win-win outcomes for people and nature, and improved ways of meeting international commitments such as Sustainable Development Goals.Read moreRead less
Realistic assessment of biomarker transformation in the wastewater system. Wastewater-based epidemiology is an internationally recognised cost-effective tool to monitor population exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases including Covid-19. However, in-sewer degradation of critical biomarkers can limit their wastewater-based epidemiology suitability. This project aims to systematically evaluate the stability of a new suite of potential biomarkers and conduct the first Australia-wide assessm ....Realistic assessment of biomarker transformation in the wastewater system. Wastewater-based epidemiology is an internationally recognised cost-effective tool to monitor population exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases including Covid-19. However, in-sewer degradation of critical biomarkers can limit their wastewater-based epidemiology suitability. This project aims to systematically evaluate the stability of a new suite of potential biomarkers and conduct the first Australia-wide assessment on the impact of biomarker stability on wastewater-based epidemiology estimates using wastewater samples from ~65% of the Australian population. The project expects to generate knowledge to expand the application of wastewater-based epidemiology to reliably quantify exposure and status of well-being even in remote areasRead moreRead less
Effective biodiversity behaviour change across supply chains. Consumption of resources is the major driver of biodiversity loss yet understanding of how to change behavioural drivers is lacking. This project aims to understand barriers to biodiversity behaviours across a supply chain, how to overcome them and increase positive biodiversity impact via spillover effects. We will use coffee as a case study to test specific interventions, design effective message frames for reducing the psychologica ....Effective biodiversity behaviour change across supply chains. Consumption of resources is the major driver of biodiversity loss yet understanding of how to change behavioural drivers is lacking. This project aims to understand barriers to biodiversity behaviours across a supply chain, how to overcome them and increase positive biodiversity impact via spillover effects. We will use coffee as a case study to test specific interventions, design effective message frames for reducing the psychological distance of consumption behaviours and develop a framework for generalising to other behaviours impacting biodiversity. The project is expected to generate new knowledge and approaches critical for policy makers and other actors seeking to reduce consumptive impacts on biodiversity.Read moreRead less
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
Sustainable development in urban environments: maximising biodiversity conservation where people live. This project directly addresses the National Research Priority of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. This is achieved by a pioneering approach that links socio-economic variables with settlement design and biodiversity status. Human settlements have substantial capacity to support a rich biodiversity. Developing ecologically sensitive management strategies here will not only ensure the c ....Sustainable development in urban environments: maximising biodiversity conservation where people live. This project directly addresses the National Research Priority of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. This is achieved by a pioneering approach that links socio-economic variables with settlement design and biodiversity status. Human settlements have substantial capacity to support a rich biodiversity. Developing ecologically sensitive management strategies here will not only ensure the conservation of many native species, but also provide considerable opportunities for interaction between people and nature. This can have significant social benefits including improved health, increased community well-being and greater understanding of the environment. It also ensures ready access to a broad range of ecosystem goods and services.Read moreRead less
Exposure mapping - combining wastewater analysis with human biomonitoring. This project aims to develop a spatial and temporal understanding of chemical exposure in the Australian population. The project will use wastewater samples collected from over 100 catchments (65% of Australian population) during the 2016 Census to spatially resolve human exposure to chemicals. These data will then form the basis for focused human biomonitoring using pooled surplus pathology samples. The integration of ....Exposure mapping - combining wastewater analysis with human biomonitoring. This project aims to develop a spatial and temporal understanding of chemical exposure in the Australian population. The project will use wastewater samples collected from over 100 catchments (65% of Australian population) during the 2016 Census to spatially resolve human exposure to chemicals. These data will then form the basis for focused human biomonitoring using pooled surplus pathology samples. The integration of wastewater and biomonitoring data will allow the creation of a national hazard specific exposure map that can be compared with geospatial data on disease risk and socioeconomic indicators (via ABS information). The benefits include the capability to identify and manage exposure risks to public health.Read moreRead less
Balancing Societies’ Priorities in addressing Emerging National and Global Environmental Challenges. Growing global demands for water, food and energy will continue to intensify land-use conflicts, contribute to carbon emissions, and exacerbate threats to biodiversity. Consumption needs to be balanced with environmental protection. This project aims to frame the issues of food security, rural development, carbon emissions and biodiversity loss from the perspective of ecological and economic theo ....Balancing Societies’ Priorities in addressing Emerging National and Global Environmental Challenges. Growing global demands for water, food and energy will continue to intensify land-use conflicts, contribute to carbon emissions, and exacerbate threats to biodiversity. Consumption needs to be balanced with environmental protection. This project aims to frame the issues of food security, rural development, carbon emissions and biodiversity loss from the perspective of ecological and economic theory. It will use cutting-edge analyses to assess the implications and trade-offs of alternative land-use and development scenarios that reflect key socioeconomic and environmental priorities in Indonesia. Based on these analyses, decision-support tools will be developed to help Indonesian policymakers reconcile these objectives to achieve more sustainable development.Read moreRead less