Diet influences the selective advantage of mitochondrial DNA mutations. This project aims to examine critical mechanisms that affect mitochondrial DNA variation within species. It aims to test the hypothesis that mitochondrial DNA haplotypes have the potential to be under nutritionally induced balancing selection as a consequence of cellular signalling and/or Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by mitochondria. Diet can vary both seasonally and geographically and is a key environmental param ....Diet influences the selective advantage of mitochondrial DNA mutations. This project aims to examine critical mechanisms that affect mitochondrial DNA variation within species. It aims to test the hypothesis that mitochondrial DNA haplotypes have the potential to be under nutritionally induced balancing selection as a consequence of cellular signalling and/or Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by mitochondria. Diet can vary both seasonally and geographically and is a key environmental parameter that influences the ability of a species to colonise new habitats. The project plans to characterise the functional links between specific mitochondrial DNA haplotypes, mitochondrial functions and organismal traits. The expected outcome is a more precise grasp of the processes influencing genetic variation within and among species, which would inform current issues in ecology and genetics.Read moreRead less
Defining unconscious and artificial selection. In 1868 Charles Darwin proposed that the process of domestication can be divided into two independent selective processes we now call unconscious and artificial selection. In this project, we include the Australian dingo as a functional intermediate between the wild wolf and domestic dogs and test Darwin's hypothesis using modern molecular and statistical techniques. It is now widely accepted that the dingo was not domesticated by indigenous Austral ....Defining unconscious and artificial selection. In 1868 Charles Darwin proposed that the process of domestication can be divided into two independent selective processes we now call unconscious and artificial selection. In this project, we include the Australian dingo as a functional intermediate between the wild wolf and domestic dogs and test Darwin's hypothesis using modern molecular and statistical techniques. It is now widely accepted that the dingo was not domesticated by indigenous Australians and is therefore the ideal extant population for the project. The project is significant because it will be a critical test of Darwin's hypothesis. The outcome could be an improved understanding of the genomic basis for selection that can inform the process of domestication.Read moreRead less
The evolution of cooperative communication. This interdisciplinary project will provide a broad understanding of communication in a model ecological system involving ants, lycaenid butterflies, and host-plants. The project will reveal the nature of the chemical signals used to communicate, and their role in the origin, maintenance, and loss of mutualistic and parasitic associations.
Realistic assessment of biomarker transformation in the wastewater system. Wastewater-based epidemiology is an internationally recognised cost-effective tool to monitor population exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases including Covid-19. However, in-sewer degradation of critical biomarkers can limit their wastewater-based epidemiology suitability. This project aims to systematically evaluate the stability of a new suite of potential biomarkers and conduct the first Australia-wide assessm ....Realistic assessment of biomarker transformation in the wastewater system. Wastewater-based epidemiology is an internationally recognised cost-effective tool to monitor population exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases including Covid-19. However, in-sewer degradation of critical biomarkers can limit their wastewater-based epidemiology suitability. This project aims to systematically evaluate the stability of a new suite of potential biomarkers and conduct the first Australia-wide assessment on the impact of biomarker stability on wastewater-based epidemiology estimates using wastewater samples from ~65% of the Australian population. The project expects to generate knowledge to expand the application of wastewater-based epidemiology to reliably quantify exposure and status of well-being even in remote areasRead moreRead less
E. coli as an indicator of faecal contamination in the Australian context. The goal of this research is to improve our ability to use Escherichia coli as an indicator of water quality by determining the extent to which non-faecal sources of E. coli contribute to coliform counts and to develop a method to differentiate non-faecal E. coli from those that are faecal derived.
Exposure mapping - combining wastewater analysis with human biomonitoring. This project aims to develop a spatial and temporal understanding of chemical exposure in the Australian population. The project will use wastewater samples collected from over 100 catchments (65% of Australian population) during the 2016 Census to spatially resolve human exposure to chemicals. These data will then form the basis for focused human biomonitoring using pooled surplus pathology samples. The integration of ....Exposure mapping - combining wastewater analysis with human biomonitoring. This project aims to develop a spatial and temporal understanding of chemical exposure in the Australian population. The project will use wastewater samples collected from over 100 catchments (65% of Australian population) during the 2016 Census to spatially resolve human exposure to chemicals. These data will then form the basis for focused human biomonitoring using pooled surplus pathology samples. The integration of wastewater and biomonitoring data will allow the creation of a national hazard specific exposure map that can be compared with geospatial data on disease risk and socioeconomic indicators (via ABS information). The benefits include the capability to identify and manage exposure risks to public health.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100065
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Next generation enhancement of the South Australian regional facility for molecular ecology and evolution. The new equipment will enhance opportunities for innovative research in basic biology, archaeological, agricultural, biomedical, forensic and environmental sciences. This research is critical for monitoring the nature and extent of environmental change and developing strategies to promote adaptation by species to future climate change.
Experimental evolution of trait interactions under changed environments. This project aims to use altered light in laboratory and wild guppy populations to test directly the following questions: which traits evolve quickly or slowly and how does this depend upon their functional interactions, and how often do different solutions to the same environmental challenges evolve? The evolutionary effects of environmental change on gene regulation and functional interactions among traits are virtually u ....Experimental evolution of trait interactions under changed environments. This project aims to use altered light in laboratory and wild guppy populations to test directly the following questions: which traits evolve quickly or slowly and how does this depend upon their functional interactions, and how often do different solutions to the same environmental challenges evolve? The evolutionary effects of environmental change on gene regulation and functional interactions among traits are virtually unknown. Using evolution experiments, this project aims to explore traits with known functional links: opsin gene regulation patterns (for colour vision), colouration, and colour-based choice. It is expected that vegetation changes cause immediate environment changes, directly affecting animals’ abilities to choose mates, forage, and avoid predation.Read moreRead less
The role of pollutants and emerging diseases in endangering a global migratory flyway. This project aims to investigate the role of chemical pollution on disease susceptibility and survival in shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). Among all long-distance migratory birds, the more than eight million shorebirds along the EAAF have notably been hit hard by global change, with population declines up to 80%. This project will use data from birds on their Asian migratory stopover ....The role of pollutants and emerging diseases in endangering a global migratory flyway. This project aims to investigate the role of chemical pollution on disease susceptibility and survival in shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). Among all long-distance migratory birds, the more than eight million shorebirds along the EAAF have notably been hit hard by global change, with population declines up to 80%. This project will use data from birds on their Asian migratory stopover sites, data from seven years of blood and virus samples, and 38 years of banding data collected while staying on the Australian non-breeding grounds. The project will provide essential data for developing mitigation strategies to help curb the populations’ demise, while informing on the effects of pollution on the role of migrants in disease spread.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100129
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$249,000.00
Summary
Microflow ultra high pressure liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry for chemical exposure monitoring. Microflow ultra high pressure liquid chromatography – high resolution mass spectrometry for chemical exposure monitoring: Identifying new chemicals of interest in environmental or biological samples is the first critical step toward understanding their impact to human and environment. A state-of-the-art microflow ultra high performance liquid chromatography high resolution ma ....Microflow ultra high pressure liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry for chemical exposure monitoring. Microflow ultra high pressure liquid chromatography – high resolution mass spectrometry for chemical exposure monitoring: Identifying new chemicals of interest in environmental or biological samples is the first critical step toward understanding their impact to human and environment. A state-of-the-art microflow ultra high performance liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometer is fundamental to extend our research capabilities to new environmental contaminants and environmental exposure biomarkers, as well as consumption biomarkers of new illicit drugs and their metabolites. This instrument will fill an important gap in our capacity to link health/ecological risk to unknown chemicals and will allow interdisciplinary researchers to advance work in environmental toxicology, chemistry and forensics.Read moreRead less