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Ecosystem restoration of bauxite-processing residue sand disposal areas in Western Australia: Important biogeochemical processes and effective fertilisation strategies. Alumina production is one of Australia's most important mining activities. Residue from bauxite-processing must be managed appropriately to minimise detrimental impacts on the surrounding environment. The location of Alcoa's WA Refineries in environmentally- and community- sensitive areas necessitates a detailed understanding of ....Ecosystem restoration of bauxite-processing residue sand disposal areas in Western Australia: Important biogeochemical processes and effective fertilisation strategies. Alumina production is one of Australia's most important mining activities. Residue from bauxite-processing must be managed appropriately to minimise detrimental impacts on the surrounding environment. The location of Alcoa's WA Refineries in environmentally- and community- sensitive areas necessitates a detailed understanding of residue disposal area (RDA) management. Currently little is known about the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in the residue sand despite its importance for sustainable rehabilitation practice. Findings from this project are critical for developing improved fertilisation strategies and protocols for ecosystem restoration of RDAs, which will be applicable both in Australia and overseas. Read moreRead less
Improved quality and interpretation of terrestrial fauna surveys for environmental impact assessments in the mining industry. This study will improve the quality and interpretation of the terrestrial fauna surveys used as a basis for Environmental Impact Assessment in the mining industry. As a consequence, the Environment Protection Authority will better understand the potential impacts of mining on biodiversity and ecosystems, and can place more appropriate conditions on mining companies and th ....Improved quality and interpretation of terrestrial fauna surveys for environmental impact assessments in the mining industry. This study will improve the quality and interpretation of the terrestrial fauna surveys used as a basis for Environmental Impact Assessment in the mining industry. As a consequence, the Environment Protection Authority will better understand the potential impacts of mining on biodiversity and ecosystems, and can place more appropriate conditions on mining companies and their rehabilitation programs. In addition, the study will report on strategies for detecting rare and endangered species, and the development of appropriate databases to enable terrestrial fauna data to be interpreted in the context of soils and vegetation at habitat, landscape and regional scales.Read moreRead less
A molecular ecophysiological assessment of the importance of using local provenance seed in plant biodiversity restoration. The rehabilitation of Australia's unique plant diversity, following disturbance, is an increasingly important activity nationally, involving industry, government and community. The use of local seeds is recognised as best practise, but how local is local? We will use molecular tools to identify the extent of local seed transfer zones, conduct trials to assess the relative ....A molecular ecophysiological assessment of the importance of using local provenance seed in plant biodiversity restoration. The rehabilitation of Australia's unique plant diversity, following disturbance, is an increasingly important activity nationally, involving industry, government and community. The use of local seeds is recognised as best practise, but how local is local? We will use molecular tools to identify the extent of local seed transfer zones, conduct trials to assess the relative performance of local and non-local seeds (is there a home-site advantage?), and assess the consequences of mixing provenances for future generations. We will work closely with industry and community restoration practitioners to improve the effectiveness of restoration, with benefits flowing nationally through general provenance guidelines.Read moreRead less
Novel strategy for optimising fertilizer input coupled with organic residue management for sustainable reconstruction of jarrah forest ecosystem. This project is aimed at judicious management of the rehabilitation process following surface mining by reducing initial fertilizer input along with using organic residue accumulated following pre-mine clearing of vegetation. This approach has the potential for 'speeding-up' the ecosystem development process by initiating early microbial development in ....Novel strategy for optimising fertilizer input coupled with organic residue management for sustainable reconstruction of jarrah forest ecosystem. This project is aimed at judicious management of the rehabilitation process following surface mining by reducing initial fertilizer input along with using organic residue accumulated following pre-mine clearing of vegetation. This approach has the potential for 'speeding-up' the ecosystem development process by initiating early microbial development in rehabilitation practice and reducing the deleterious effect of heavy fertilization. Apart from these ecological advantages, reducing fertilizer application lowers minesite rehabilitation cost incurred by mining companies. This project will be the first attempt to use organic residue and streamlining the use of mineral fertilizers in mine rehabilitation practice.Read moreRead less
Investigation of the metabolism, molecular targets and environmental fate of the seed germination stimulant, butenolide. The potent germination stimulant, known as butenolide, is expected to provide substantial benefits for improving seed germination and seedling vigour of many plant species used in agriculture, land restoration and rehabilitation. Currently, little is known about the stability, persistence and distribution of the butenolide in natural environments and the mechanism of seed dorm ....Investigation of the metabolism, molecular targets and environmental fate of the seed germination stimulant, butenolide. The potent germination stimulant, known as butenolide, is expected to provide substantial benefits for improving seed germination and seedling vigour of many plant species used in agriculture, land restoration and rehabilitation. Currently, little is known about the stability, persistence and distribution of the butenolide in natural environments and the mechanism of seed dormancy breaking. This study now provides a unique opportunity for Australian research to establish a world-leading position in understanding the processes that regulate seed dormancy, particularly in relation to post-mining land rehabilitation. The research findings will also have wider application in plant conservation, weed control and crop production.Read moreRead less
Rebuilding Sustainable and Functional Biodiversity following Coal Mining. Open-cut mines are a significant land-use in Australia and generate considerable GDP. Poor management prior to mining has caused much topsoil to be lost and microbes vital to sustainable nutrient cycling reduced to <10% that of a sustainable forest. To address this problem we are developing a rehabilitation model using Mount Owen open-cut coal mine which passes through a Upper Hunter forest. This project will discover ways ....Rebuilding Sustainable and Functional Biodiversity following Coal Mining. Open-cut mines are a significant land-use in Australia and generate considerable GDP. Poor management prior to mining has caused much topsoil to be lost and microbes vital to sustainable nutrient cycling reduced to <10% that of a sustainable forest. To address this problem we are developing a rehabilitation model using Mount Owen open-cut coal mine which passes through a Upper Hunter forest. This project will discover ways of utilizing microbe-derived nitrogen vital to a sustainable supply for native forests. Our aim is to reestablish these microbes in mine soils and determine their impact on forest community development.Read moreRead less
Exploiting natural processes to effectively remediate acidified coastal environments. Working with local government, industry and communities, this project aims to identify how natural processes can best be manipulated to limit acid sulfate soil discharge in many Australian estuaries. The expected outcomes are systematic remediation of these areas and improvement in estuarine water quality.
Rapid delineation of genetic provenance for rehabilitation and revegetation of native plant communities. The rehabilitation and/or revegetation of degraded, remnant or post-mining bushland is an increasingly important activity. Data and general principles for the delineation of genetic provenance are urgently required for effective rehabilitation, as well as for the conservation of genetic diversity. We will apply a new and powerful genetic technique for the rapid delineation of provenance in ....Rapid delineation of genetic provenance for rehabilitation and revegetation of native plant communities. The rehabilitation and/or revegetation of degraded, remnant or post-mining bushland is an increasingly important activity. Data and general principles for the delineation of genetic provenance are urgently required for effective rehabilitation, as well as for the conservation of genetic diversity. We will apply a new and powerful genetic technique for the rapid delineation of provenance in over 30 native plant species in south west Australia. Our aim is to generate provenance guidelines and principles, as well as provenance data for the most important species for bushland rehabilitation, which will be produced for rehabilitation practitioners through a "provenance atlas" book.Read moreRead less
Optimising seed sourcing for effective ecological restoration. This project aims to address the sourcing of native seed for ecological restoration under global change. The great demand for native seed to deliver ecological restoration provides a clear need and responsibility to use this seed as efficiently as possible. This project expects to develop detailed new knowledge that links plant and environmental genomics, plant physiology, seed and soil biology in embedded experiments at post-mining ....Optimising seed sourcing for effective ecological restoration. This project aims to address the sourcing of native seed for ecological restoration under global change. The great demand for native seed to deliver ecological restoration provides a clear need and responsibility to use this seed as efficiently as possible. This project expects to develop detailed new knowledge that links plant and environmental genomics, plant physiology, seed and soil biology in embedded experiments at post-mining rehabilitation sites. Expected outcomes include clear industry guidelines that refine seed sourcing strategies for ecological restoration for current and future climates. This should provide significant benefits for improved ecological restoration outcomes when using native seed today and into the future.Read moreRead less
Sediment and seed bank dynamics in river systems of southeastern Australia: Implications for vegetation-based river rehabilitation. Every year in Australia millions of dollars are spent revegetating degraded riparian corridors as part of best practice river rehabilitation. The planting and maintenance of riparian tubestock is an expensive but essential component of current on-the-ground river management across the country. What if the success rate of riparian rehabilitation could be enhanced by ....Sediment and seed bank dynamics in river systems of southeastern Australia: Implications for vegetation-based river rehabilitation. Every year in Australia millions of dollars are spent revegetating degraded riparian corridors as part of best practice river rehabilitation. The planting and maintenance of riparian tubestock is an expensive but essential component of current on-the-ground river management across the country. What if the success rate of riparian rehabilitation could be enhanced by combining geomorphic and ecological knowledge to maximise the germination of native seeds stored in riparian seed banks? As the conservation of biodiversity becomes integral to environmental management, understanding riparian seed bank dynamics and seedling establishment within a geomorphic framework is an essential tool in river rehabilitation practice.Read moreRead less