Understanding and reversing the habitat shifts that have endangered the broad-headed snake. Extinction rates for vertebrate species are higher in southern Australia than almost anywhere else in the world, and saving endangered taxa is critical to biodiversity conservation. To do this effectively, researchers need to understand the processes that threaten wild populations, and to develop novel solutions to those problems in close collaboration with wildlife management authorities and other stake ....Understanding and reversing the habitat shifts that have endangered the broad-headed snake. Extinction rates for vertebrate species are higher in southern Australia than almost anywhere else in the world, and saving endangered taxa is critical to biodiversity conservation. To do this effectively, researchers need to understand the processes that threaten wild populations, and to develop novel solutions to those problems in close collaboration with wildlife management authorities and other stakeholders. This project will build such an understanding and collaboration, focusing on an endangered snake species. We propose ambitious landscape-scale field experiments that will simultaneously test hypotheses on threatening processes, and restore habitat quality to reverse population declines.Read moreRead less
Capture stress and post-capture survival of sharks and other chondrichthyans in fisheries bycatch. Australia is adopting ecosystem approaches to fisheries management. However, to embrace such an approach there is an urgent need for better information on the biology, ecology and population dynamics of sharks, rays and chimaeras (class Chondrichthyes). Chondrichthyan species are among the most sensitive in their response to the effects of fishing. Results from the present proposal will contribute ....Capture stress and post-capture survival of sharks and other chondrichthyans in fisheries bycatch. Australia is adopting ecosystem approaches to fisheries management. However, to embrace such an approach there is an urgent need for better information on the biology, ecology and population dynamics of sharks, rays and chimaeras (class Chondrichthyes). Chondrichthyan species are among the most sensitive in their response to the effects of fishing. Results from the present proposal will contribute to determining mortality of chondrichthyan bycatch species in response to the effects of capture in fishing gear, handling by fishers and discarding at sea. The work will contribute to biodiversity conservation and maintenance of ecosystem structure and function for present and future generations.Read moreRead less
Hazard identification, risk assessment and decision analysis for conservation and management of Australian marine parks. Victoria is the first jurisdiction in the world to proclaim an entire system of marine protected areas at once. The new management responsibilities have created imperatives for robust, scientifically defendable approaches to identifying threats, setting management priorities and developing monitoring systems. This project will develop, for the first time, a risk assessment pro ....Hazard identification, risk assessment and decision analysis for conservation and management of Australian marine parks. Victoria is the first jurisdiction in the world to proclaim an entire system of marine protected areas at once. The new management responsibilities have created imperatives for robust, scientifically defendable approaches to identifying threats, setting management priorities and developing monitoring systems. This project will develop, for the first time, a risk assessment protocol that has due regard for the perception of risks by individuals, and ensures that stakeholder values are an intrinsic part of decision-making. The protocol will create a system that stays faithful to the priorities of those who bear the risks, while using technical methods to ensure that models are consistent and that monitoring provides pertinent information.Read moreRead less