Reconstructing landscapes for biodiversity: From predictive modelling to future scenarios. Many landscapes around the world have been effectively denuded of natural vegetation, causing precipitous declines in native biodiversity. Mitigation of such effects in the near/medium-term future requires substantial ecological advice. We will employ our skills developed in modelling distributions of species across landscapes based on terrain, soils and climate to assess alternative landscape-reconstructi ....Reconstructing landscapes for biodiversity: From predictive modelling to future scenarios. Many landscapes around the world have been effectively denuded of natural vegetation, causing precipitous declines in native biodiversity. Mitigation of such effects in the near/medium-term future requires substantial ecological advice. We will employ our skills developed in modelling distributions of species across landscapes based on terrain, soils and climate to assess alternative landscape-reconstruction scenarios. This links use of existing data sets for initial modelling, a validation phase for testing model reliability and for refining models, and a subsequent GIS-based modelling phase in which alternative options for reconstructing landscapes are evaluated for their effectiveness in sustaining landscape-scale native biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Differential expression and functional analysis of genes controlling metamorphosis and early neurogenesis of a model lower animal, the coral Acropora. This study will analyse, at a molecular level, the response of coral larvae to stimuli inducing settlement from the plankton and the process of establishment of a sessile, calcified colony. The knowledge gained will facilitate induction of settlement on demand in the most effective way. We will characterise known candidate genes which may be invo ....Differential expression and functional analysis of genes controlling metamorphosis and early neurogenesis of a model lower animal, the coral Acropora. This study will analyse, at a molecular level, the response of coral larvae to stimuli inducing settlement from the plankton and the process of establishment of a sessile, calcified colony. The knowledge gained will facilitate induction of settlement on demand in the most effective way. We will characterise known candidate genes which may be involved in settlement, and reveal a more complete picture using subtractive hybridisation. Studies of the nervous system and the changes that it undergoes at metamorphosis will promote understanding of the control of metamorphosis, and insights into how more complex nervous systems may have evolved.Read moreRead less
Evolution of halophytes: a phyloinformatic approach to understanding and exploiting the traits underlying salt-tolerance in plants. Salinity is an increasing burden on the Australian economy & environment, with >2 million ha of salt-affected land, at an annual cost to agriculture over $187 million. One solution is to exploit naturally salt-tolerant plants to increase productive agricultural land and restore salt-affected environments. To do this, we must increase basic knowledge of the diversity ....Evolution of halophytes: a phyloinformatic approach to understanding and exploiting the traits underlying salt-tolerance in plants. Salinity is an increasing burden on the Australian economy & environment, with >2 million ha of salt-affected land, at an annual cost to agriculture over $187 million. One solution is to exploit naturally salt-tolerant plants to increase productive agricultural land and restore salt-affected environments. To do this, we must increase basic knowledge of the diversity & distribution of salt-tolerance. This project is the first to use DNA sequences from thousands of species to understand the evolution of salt-tolerance in order to provide the foundation for the development of new crop varieties, selection of species that can be developed for bioremediation, and identification of traits that will be profitable targets for breeding programs. Read moreRead less