Vulnerability of Australian savannas to climate change and variability. Australian savannas are productive and are culturally and biologically significant landscapes, but they are vulnerable to climate change. This project will determine savanna function (carbon and water balance) for the present and assess how sensitive they have been to past climate variability. The project will then address how they may respond to future climate change.
About time; a new biology for the mineralocorticoid receptor . Temporal control of cell function aligns biological pathways with environmental cues and is critical for optimal heath in mammals. This project will shed light on how a hormone receptor, the MR, modulates time keeping of biological clock time in cells. We will bring together cutting edge genetic modals and bioinformatic approaches with a unique set of research models to define the interaction between the MR and the circadian clock a ....About time; a new biology for the mineralocorticoid receptor . Temporal control of cell function aligns biological pathways with environmental cues and is critical for optimal heath in mammals. This project will shed light on how a hormone receptor, the MR, modulates time keeping of biological clock time in cells. We will bring together cutting edge genetic modals and bioinformatic approaches with a unique set of research models to define the interaction between the MR and the circadian clock and its role in the normal biology of the heart. New data will significantly enhance our understanding of the biology of MR and cortisol for the circadian time keeping function in peripheral tissues, and gain a clearer understand how our heart cells adapt to environmental circadian disruptors such as shift work. Read moreRead less
Linking terrestrial–aquatic fluxes to rectify the Australian carbon balance. This project aims to rectify the Australian carbon balance by determining the amount of terrestrial carbon that is lost to streams and rivers across the country. Through a novel integration of high-resolution hydrochemical and gas measurements, remote sensing and machine learning algorithms, the project intends to generate new knowledge about the links between terrestrial carbon sequestration and aquatic carbon export. ....Linking terrestrial–aquatic fluxes to rectify the Australian carbon balance. This project aims to rectify the Australian carbon balance by determining the amount of terrestrial carbon that is lost to streams and rivers across the country. Through a novel integration of high-resolution hydrochemical and gas measurements, remote sensing and machine learning algorithms, the project intends to generate new knowledge about the links between terrestrial carbon sequestration and aquatic carbon export. Expected outcomes include a refined estimate of the net carbon sequestration potential across Australian biomes and seasons. This should provide significant benefits such as avoiding misalignment of greenhouse gas abatement policies and advancing carbon cycling models and predictions.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100117
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,275,000.00
Summary
A platform consortium for integrated 'systems-omics' research. The proposal aims to establish a multi-institutional integrated ‘systems-omics’ platform across two of Victoria’s leading research universities, and associated research institutes. The platform will consist of two cutting edge ultra-high resolution mass spectrometers (i) a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion LUMOS for rapid and comprehensive metabolomic profiling and detailed structural characterization, located at La Trobe University ....A platform consortium for integrated 'systems-omics' research. The proposal aims to establish a multi-institutional integrated ‘systems-omics’ platform across two of Victoria’s leading research universities, and associated research institutes. The platform will consist of two cutting edge ultra-high resolution mass spectrometers (i) a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion LUMOS for rapid and comprehensive metabolomic profiling and detailed structural characterization, located at La Trobe University, and (ii) a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Q Exactive HFX for high-throughput, deep and reproducible quantitative proteome analysis, located at the University of Melbourne.This platform will address applications across the agri-biosciences, medicinal agriculture and fundamental biomedical sciences sectors.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100015
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
An Ultra High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Facility for Lipidomics Research. An ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry facility for lipidomics research:
This proposal aims to establish an ultra-high-resolution, accurate mass spectrometry facility in Australia for comprehensive lipidomics research. The platform would consist of a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometer interfaced with ultra-high-pressure high-performance liquid chromatography. This proposal will address a major need ....An Ultra High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Facility for Lipidomics Research. An ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry facility for lipidomics research:
This proposal aims to establish an ultra-high-resolution, accurate mass spectrometry facility in Australia for comprehensive lipidomics research. The platform would consist of a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometer interfaced with ultra-high-pressure high-performance liquid chromatography. This proposal will address a major need for advanced mass spectrometry-based lipid analysis capabilities across mammalian, plant, parasite, and microalgae research disciplines, as well as enabling fundamental studies of lipid separation, chemistry and reactivity. The instrumentation would be applicable to a diverse range of projects including studies of the role of lipid metabolism in mammalian biochemistry and cell biology, plant biology and parasitology, and micro algae biofuel production.Read moreRead less
Integrating fire and predator management to conserve threatened species. This project aims to empower land managers to better conserve Australia’s threatened native animals by developing decision-support approaches that facilitate integrated management of threatening processes. The project will use a combination of novel predictive models, field experiments and data syntheses to assist land managers to better conserve Australia’s threatened native fauna. This project will benefit biodiversity co ....Integrating fire and predator management to conserve threatened species. This project aims to empower land managers to better conserve Australia’s threatened native animals by developing decision-support approaches that facilitate integrated management of threatening processes. The project will use a combination of novel predictive models, field experiments and data syntheses to assist land managers to better conserve Australia’s threatened native fauna. This project will benefit biodiversity conservation by enabling more effective allocation of limited conservation resources.Read moreRead less
Arresting declines of arboreal mammals in the tropical savannas. This project aims to evaluate the hypothesis that arboreal species are limited by the abundance of tree hollows, and that historical increases in the frequency of intense fires may be reducing hollow abundance. Northern Australia’s mammals are in severe decline, and arboreal species are among those that have fared worst. There is abundant anecdotal evidence that a decline in hollow abundance is the cause. Working with the Western A ....Arresting declines of arboreal mammals in the tropical savannas. This project aims to evaluate the hypothesis that arboreal species are limited by the abundance of tree hollows, and that historical increases in the frequency of intense fires may be reducing hollow abundance. Northern Australia’s mammals are in severe decline, and arboreal species are among those that have fared worst. There is abundant anecdotal evidence that a decline in hollow abundance is the cause. Working with the Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife in the Kimberley, the last region on the Australian mainland with an intact mammal fauna, the project aims to explore management options for increasing the availability of hollow denning sites for arboreal mammals (e.g. fire management, artificial nest boxes), and evaluate the likely impact of such actions on mammal populations across northern Australia.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures. ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures aims to transform and improve the life chances of Indigenous Australians by utilising Indigenous knowledges in unique trans-disciplinary cross-sector designed research to enhance our understanding about the complex nature of Indigenous intergenerational inequity. The Centre expects to generate new knowledge to enable evidence-based policy formulati ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures. ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures aims to transform and improve the life chances of Indigenous Australians by utilising Indigenous knowledges in unique trans-disciplinary cross-sector designed research to enhance our understanding about the complex nature of Indigenous intergenerational inequity. The Centre expects to generate new knowledge to enable evidence-based policy formulation and implementation including best practice models. The Centre will be entirely led by Indigenous researchers working with communities, government agencies and practitioners to strengthen the delivery of outcomes and linkages intentionally focused on all four of the National Agreement Close The Gap -2020’s Priority Reform areas.Read moreRead less
Creating fauna-friendly cities and towns - The ecology and conservation of insectivorous bats in Melbourne. Urbanisation is a principal threat to the conservation of biodiversity worldwide. Information on the response of plants and animals to an increasingly urbanized world is essential to prevent the loss of natural assets, ensure environmental sustainability and promote human health and well-being. This research will combine extensive field surveys with state-of-the art modeling to identify th ....Creating fauna-friendly cities and towns - The ecology and conservation of insectivorous bats in Melbourne. Urbanisation is a principal threat to the conservation of biodiversity worldwide. Information on the response of plants and animals to an increasingly urbanized world is essential to prevent the loss of natural assets, ensure environmental sustainability and promote human health and well-being. This research will combine extensive field surveys with state-of-the art modeling to identify their ecological requirements. Importantly, the research will engage with local councils, park managers and community organizations to educate the wider community and ensure research outcomes are adopted. The study design will ensure that the findings are applicable to other urban areas across Australia and around the world. Read moreRead less
Movement ecology of granivores: informing fire management of savannas. This project aims to examine the decline in granivorous finches across north Australia and test the hypothesis that an increasingly nomadic lifestyle, associated with tracking grass seed availability over larger spatial scales, is the cause. The project also aims to evaluate how fire affects rangeland functioning, particularly grass diversity, to improve fire management of tropical savannas in northern Australia. This project ....Movement ecology of granivores: informing fire management of savannas. This project aims to examine the decline in granivorous finches across north Australia and test the hypothesis that an increasingly nomadic lifestyle, associated with tracking grass seed availability over larger spatial scales, is the cause. The project also aims to evaluate how fire affects rangeland functioning, particularly grass diversity, to improve fire management of tropical savannas in northern Australia. This project will provide new tools and technologies that will monitor mobile small vertebrates. Expected outcomes will improve the understanding of tropical savanna functioning and fire management. The research aligns with ‘savanna burning’ methodologies and carbon sequestration goals in north Australia.
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