Tracking squids from embryos to adults - novel approaches and new directions. Cutting edge acoustic tracking technology, combined with traditional tagging techniques and novel applications of trace element analysis, will allow for the life cycle of squid to be tracked through space and time - from embryonic stages through to spawning adults. Southern calamary earbones will be examined for evidence of elemental 'fingerprints' that reveal where they came from as hatchlings. This combined with trac ....Tracking squids from embryos to adults - novel approaches and new directions. Cutting edge acoustic tracking technology, combined with traditional tagging techniques and novel applications of trace element analysis, will allow for the life cycle of squid to be tracked through space and time - from embryonic stages through to spawning adults. Southern calamary earbones will be examined for evidence of elemental 'fingerprints' that reveal where they came from as hatchlings. This combined with tracking squid in Australia's biggest marine acoustic listening grid, will allow unprecedented resolution of squid life cycles. Commercial, recreational and managerial sectors are collaborating with this research to ensure sustainable management of this commercially important and ecologically crucial species.
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Effects of maternal foraging success and oceanographic variation on offspring behaviour and survival in the southern elephant seal. Juvenile survival is the key determinant of mammalian population performance, but the proximate determinants of this have rarely been established in large, long-lived predators. Southern elephant seals, with their concentrated lactation effort and marked separation of energy acquisition (at-sea foraging) and expenditure (on-land lactation) provide an ideal model for ....Effects of maternal foraging success and oceanographic variation on offspring behaviour and survival in the southern elephant seal. Juvenile survival is the key determinant of mammalian population performance, but the proximate determinants of this have rarely been established in large, long-lived predators. Southern elephant seals, with their concentrated lactation effort and marked separation of energy acquisition (at-sea foraging) and expenditure (on-land lactation) provide an ideal model for investigating these factors. In this study, we investigate the partitioning of pre-partum performance (fat acquired in mothers) relative to spatial-temporal variation in ocean productivity and the effect of this expenditure on offspring condition and survival. Here, the final missing link of energy transfer and its effects on offspring will be a major outcome of this project.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100041
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
A high-resolution isotope facility for low cost analysis of water, plant, and soil/sediment samples to understand environmental change. The most significant environmental challenges facing Australia include ensuring sustainable management of our water resources and conservation of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, particularly in the face of our changing climate and land-use. The new instruments will accelerate progress across a number of projects aimed at understanding the developme ....A high-resolution isotope facility for low cost analysis of water, plant, and soil/sediment samples to understand environmental change. The most significant environmental challenges facing Australia include ensuring sustainable management of our water resources and conservation of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, particularly in the face of our changing climate and land-use. The new instruments will accelerate progress across a number of projects aimed at understanding the development of groundwater resources, the relative dependency of ecosystems on groundwater versus soil and surface water, and an assessment of the likely impacts of altered hydrology, especially dewatering and salinisation, on ecosystems. In addition, they will also be used to extend our knowledge of climate variability in the recent past and increase understanding of critical marine resources.Read moreRead less