Examining the vulnerability of ocean carbon biogeochemistry in a high CO2 world. Rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere from human activity is changing the biogeochemistry of the ocean, with large potential consequences on future atmospheric CO2. This work will explore these changes and will result in a more complete understanding of how the ocean will either accelerate or delay the increase in atmospheric CO2.
Incorporating new knowledge of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation into an ocean-climate model to improve forecasts of ocean function. Phytoplankton drives ocean biogeochemical cycles and regulate Earth’s climate yet are poorly represented in ocean-climate models. This project will use advanced cell sorting and analysis techniques and innovative selection experiments to gain a deeper understanding of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation under projected climate change. Th ....Incorporating new knowledge of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation into an ocean-climate model to improve forecasts of ocean function. Phytoplankton drives ocean biogeochemical cycles and regulate Earth’s climate yet are poorly represented in ocean-climate models. This project will use advanced cell sorting and analysis techniques and innovative selection experiments to gain a deeper understanding of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation under projected climate change. This new knowledge will be used to improve the biological structure of an existing coupled ocean-climate model and reduce key uncertainties in forecasts of ocean function. This research will provide managers and industry with more accurate insight into the effects of ongoing climate change on the delivery of ecosystem services in eastern Australian waters.Read moreRead less
Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidenc ....Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidence of these keystones’ cellular level biogeochemical and metabolic capacity. Ultimately, this knowledge is expected to predict the resilience of ocean ecosystems and their response to change. The capacity to predict their dynamics will help provide investment clarity and increase healthy outcomes from activities involving human-ocean interactions such as recreation, food production and tourism.Read moreRead less
Probing the response of Southern Ocean phytoplankton to changes in iron biogeochemistry, light and pH associated with climate change. Determining factors that influence the health and vitality of coastal and open-ocean regions is crucial to maintaining marine biodiversity and the Earth’s climatic balance. This research project will determine the role climate change and ocean acidification will have on the ability of Southern Ocean phytoplankton to flourish.
Mapping and Modelling the Ocean's Unseen Biodiversity. From the reef to the rainforest, Australia is famous for its unique biodiversity. Less well known is that Australia's coastline is predicted to be a global hotspot for biodiversity in marine microbes, the unseen life forces that maintain ocean health and productivity. This project aims to overcome historical technological and logistical hurdles by using cutting-edge sampling, genetic and modelling tools to provide the first models of microbi ....Mapping and Modelling the Ocean's Unseen Biodiversity. From the reef to the rainforest, Australia is famous for its unique biodiversity. Less well known is that Australia's coastline is predicted to be a global hotspot for biodiversity in marine microbes, the unseen life forces that maintain ocean health and productivity. This project aims to overcome historical technological and logistical hurdles by using cutting-edge sampling, genetic and modelling tools to provide the first models of microbial diversity patterns and organismal range in Australian marine systems. This is expected to be a crucial step for understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes that shape contemporary biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Where currents collide: tracking the biological impacts of climate change. This project will track the effects of climate change on Australia's unique marine biodiversity. Understanding the impacts of changing ocean currents on our coastal communities underpins the conservation and management of our valuable coastal resources.
Robotic investigation of water optical properties in the Southern Ocean. The project aims to improve our understanding of light–matter interactions in the waters of the Southern Ocean (SO), in particular the role of phytoplankton and associated material of biological origin. Phytoplankton are the energy source for the food web and a critical component of carbon cycling in the SO. However, their dynamics in the SO cannot be quantified using satellite observations because bio-optical data processi ....Robotic investigation of water optical properties in the Southern Ocean. The project aims to improve our understanding of light–matter interactions in the waters of the Southern Ocean (SO), in particular the role of phytoplankton and associated material of biological origin. Phytoplankton are the energy source for the food web and a critical component of carbon cycling in the SO. However, their dynamics in the SO cannot be quantified using satellite observations because bio-optical data processing algorithms perform poorly due to a lack of field data. This project seeks to remedy this by improving understanding of SO bio-optics, and by providing novel algorithms of known uncertainty, based on in situ data.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100668
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,000.00
Summary
Are corals able to control their calcification in a changing ocean? The project aims to develop a new understanding of fundamental mechanisms responsible for coral calcification and its ability to acclimate to global warming and ocean acidification. Mineral skeleton formation by coral is the key process controlling the creation of reef structures upon which entire ecosystems depend. Despite the importance of coral to the function of reef ecosystems, how calcification works mechanistically within ....Are corals able to control their calcification in a changing ocean? The project aims to develop a new understanding of fundamental mechanisms responsible for coral calcification and its ability to acclimate to global warming and ocean acidification. Mineral skeleton formation by coral is the key process controlling the creation of reef structures upon which entire ecosystems depend. Despite the importance of coral to the function of reef ecosystems, how calcification works mechanistically within coral itself, and why small modifications of their physical and chemical habitat can have large effects on growth is presently poorly understood. This project seeks to provide this basic knowledge to improve our ability to assess the future of corals and help policy-makers take adequate measures to preserve coral reefs.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100636
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,300.00
Summary
The role of marine microbes in the global carbon cycle. This project aims to unravel microbiological processes in the ocean to help quantify the ecosystem services carried out by microbes that support our economy and environment. By recycling vital nutrients, microbes form the basis of the marine food web. In Australia, their contributions support fisheries worth $4.2 billion. Their role in carbon cycling also controls our climate. Yet, their direct productivity remains unquantified. Technical l ....The role of marine microbes in the global carbon cycle. This project aims to unravel microbiological processes in the ocean to help quantify the ecosystem services carried out by microbes that support our economy and environment. By recycling vital nutrients, microbes form the basis of the marine food web. In Australia, their contributions support fisheries worth $4.2 billion. Their role in carbon cycling also controls our climate. Yet, their direct productivity remains unquantified. Technical limitations have restricted our ability to identify the key microbes most responsible for ocean carbon cycling, and to measure their impact. This project plans to combine new approaches in microfluidics, chemistry and oceanography to quantify carbon uptake by individual microbes and provide new understanding of microbe-mediated chemical cycling processes.Read moreRead less
Coupled physical and biogeochemical dynamics on the Australian North West Shelf. Information regarding the natural function of the Australian North West Shelf is urgently required to sustainably manage the often conflicting uses of the region. This project will study the role of ocean processes in driving ocean productivity on the North West Shelf and determine the impact of projected climate variability.