Behavioural syndromes and social networks in sleepy lizards. Fauna in Australian ecosystems are threatened by habitat fragmentation, changing environments and the spread of exotic pathogens. To manage these threats we need to understand the behavioural flexibility of wildlife populations. This project focuses on how individual behavioural differences can influence social networks and consequently pathogen transmission. It will help to protect our fauna from invasive diseases and contribute to su ....Behavioural syndromes and social networks in sleepy lizards. Fauna in Australian ecosystems are threatened by habitat fragmentation, changing environments and the spread of exotic pathogens. To manage these threats we need to understand the behavioural flexibility of wildlife populations. This project focuses on how individual behavioural differences can influence social networks and consequently pathogen transmission. It will help to protect our fauna from invasive diseases and contribute to sustaining biodiversity. With better knowledge of how diseases spread we can develop more effective controls of those diseases, thereby protecting wildlife species, animal populations and Australian ecosystems. Read moreRead less
Lizard social networks and the spread of parasites. Australian ecosystems are continually threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. This project will help to protect our fauna from invasive diseases. It contributes to sustaining the biodiv ....Lizard social networks and the spread of parasites. Australian ecosystems are continually threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. This project will help to protect our fauna from invasive diseases. It contributes to sustaining the biodiversity of the country. With better knowledge of how diseases of wildlife spread, we can develop more effective control of those diseases thereby protecting wildlife species, animal populations and, ultimately, Australian ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Developing new methods to retrieve and analyse preserved genetic information. This project will position Australia at the leading edge of research into preserved DNA, and will use innovative molecular biology approaches to develop a range of new forensic, archaeological and medical applications. It will build Australian knowledge and scientific capacity by developing core expertise and training personnel in areas important for biosecurity, customs and quarantine, forensics/counter-terrorism, and ....Developing new methods to retrieve and analyse preserved genetic information. This project will position Australia at the leading edge of research into preserved DNA, and will use innovative molecular biology approaches to develop a range of new forensic, archaeological and medical applications. It will build Australian knowledge and scientific capacity by developing core expertise and training personnel in areas important for biosecurity, customs and quarantine, forensics/counter-terrorism, and studies of climate change. It will also create and foster research innovation in molecular biology with spin-offs for evolution, archaeology, medical and conservation biology research, and will also encourage involvement with the rapidly expanding field of genomics and bioinformatics.Read moreRead less
Phylogeography, evolution and taxonomy of humanity's greatest pest, Rattus rattus: Epidemiological, archaeological and conservation implications. This project will characterise a major threat to Australian biosecurity and health, and identify the range of likely disease risks associated with introductions of different 'strains' of black rat. It will provide critical data for management efforts around the world, especially for strategic partners in neighbouring Southeast Asian nations, as well as ....Phylogeography, evolution and taxonomy of humanity's greatest pest, Rattus rattus: Epidemiological, archaeological and conservation implications. This project will characterise a major threat to Australian biosecurity and health, and identify the range of likely disease risks associated with introductions of different 'strains' of black rat. It will provide critical data for management efforts around the world, especially for strategic partners in neighbouring Southeast Asian nations, as well as for conservation efforts within Australia. The data will also provide novel means to track the timing and routes of human prehistoric movements throughout the area. It will establish strategic research collaborations between researchers in zoological, medical, epidemiological, genetics, and conservation fields in a unique multi-disciplinary study.Read moreRead less
Identifying the diversity and evolution of loci associated with adaptation to aridity/heat and salinity in ancient cereal crops. This project will use ancient grains of wheat, barley and rye to find 'lost' genetic diversity at key genes associated with resistance to aridity, salt and disease. This project will make the proteins of key genes, and study their interaction with the environment over time by measuring ions in the grains to reveal the ancient environmental conditions.
Modelling and control of mosquito-borne diseases in Darwin using long-term monitoring. Management of mosquito populations is a high public health priority because these insects can spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and Kunjin/West Nile virus. Our research into the effectiveness of mosquito control programs in Darwin is of immediate national relevance and priority given the need to Safeguard Australia ....Modelling and control of mosquito-borne diseases in Darwin using long-term monitoring. Management of mosquito populations is a high public health priority because these insects can spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and Kunjin/West Nile virus. Our research into the effectiveness of mosquito control programs in Darwin is of immediate national relevance and priority given the need to Safeguard Australia from invasive diseases. There is an urgency to undertake our research because global environmental change and increasing movements of people (particularly military personnel) from overseas regions where these diseases are endemic is increasing the vulnerability of northern Australia to the (re)establishment of mosquito borne diseases.Read moreRead less
New methods for integrating population structure and stochasticity into models of disease dynamics. Epidemics, such as the 2007 equine 'flu outbreak and 2009 swine 'flu pandemic, highlight the need to make informed decisive responses. This project will develop new methods that incorporate two important aspects of disease dynamics---host structure and chance---into mathematical models, and determine their impact in terms of controlling infections.
Developing Zn-dense, high-yielding wheat by molecular marker technology. The objective of this project is to identify pathways leading to the accumulation of zinc — an important element for human nutrition — in wheat. The project aims to provide biochemical and molecular markers for breeding programs that will facilitate the selection of superior breeding lines for improved human nutrition and seed health. This project builds on studies using a wheat diversity panel with 90 000 gene-based single ....Developing Zn-dense, high-yielding wheat by molecular marker technology. The objective of this project is to identify pathways leading to the accumulation of zinc — an important element for human nutrition — in wheat. The project aims to provide biochemical and molecular markers for breeding programs that will facilitate the selection of superior breeding lines for improved human nutrition and seed health. This project builds on studies using a wheat diversity panel with 90 000 gene-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, where zinc–SNP associations were identified. The project also builds on recent studies that show particular metabolites and macronutrients around anthesis are linked to improved grain zinc concentration at maturity.Read moreRead less
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of intellectual disability. Intellectual disability is frequent in the population, with one in every fifty people in the world directly affected. This project will improve our understanding of the correct development and function of the brain required for cognition by investigating specific roles and regulation of key molecules involved.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100883
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Palaeo-population genomics: studying adaptation using ancient human DNA. This project aims to apply state-of-the-art population and quantitative genetic techniques to a powerful new database of ancient human genomes - spanning from hunter gatherers and early farmers through to the Middle Ages. This will be used to build the first detailed portrait of human genetic adaptation through time. This record will capture the major socio-cultural transitions in human history, and reveal the genetic and e ....Palaeo-population genomics: studying adaptation using ancient human DNA. This project aims to apply state-of-the-art population and quantitative genetic techniques to a powerful new database of ancient human genomes - spanning from hunter gatherers and early farmers through to the Middle Ages. This will be used to build the first detailed portrait of human genetic adaptation through time. This record will capture the major socio-cultural transitions in human history, and reveal the genetic and environmental drivers that have shaped modern human genetic diversity and pathology.Read moreRead less