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Assessing linkages across arid zone estuarine landscapes. We aim to understand the degree of connectivity between the terrestrial environment and estuaries in the arid tropics of Australia. We will investigate the impact of terrestrial-estuarine linkages on near shore food webs, which include a diverse fauna, some of which are commercially important. Human activities in the land-ocean interface have to have the capacity to alter greatly the timing, magnitude, and composition of inputs from water ....Assessing linkages across arid zone estuarine landscapes. We aim to understand the degree of connectivity between the terrestrial environment and estuaries in the arid tropics of Australia. We will investigate the impact of terrestrial-estuarine linkages on near shore food webs, which include a diverse fauna, some of which are commercially important. Human activities in the land-ocean interface have to have the capacity to alter greatly the timing, magnitude, and composition of inputs from watersheds to estuaries, thereby greatly altering the function of estuaries. The results of this project will fill a gap in our knowledge of how arid zone estuaries function, and will contribute to developing management strategies needed to maintain estuary productivity.Read moreRead less
Conservation genetics of the threatened Malleefowl. This project will provide national benefit at four levels. First, our comprehensive genetic analysis will provide our industry partners with vital information for sustainable management of the Malleefowl. The research findings will also enrich educational and ecotourism activities in rural Australia. The publication and popular dissemination of our findings will enhance Australia's international profile as a leader in conservation genetics r ....Conservation genetics of the threatened Malleefowl. This project will provide national benefit at four levels. First, our comprehensive genetic analysis will provide our industry partners with vital information for sustainable management of the Malleefowl. The research findings will also enrich educational and ecotourism activities in rural Australia. The publication and popular dissemination of our findings will enhance Australia's international profile as a leader in conservation genetics research. Finally, our research will promote undergraduate and postgraduate education by providing cutting-edge training and research opportunities for young scientists.Read moreRead less
A new approach to understanding community variation in marine soft-sediments. Sustainable management of Australia's rich coastal biodiversity requires an mechanistic understanding of soft-sediment systems, as these dominate the benthic environment of our Exclusive Economic Zone. This project will substantially enhance our fundamental knowledge of soft-sediment systems by determining major processes responsible for variation in benthic community structure. This research will improve sustainable ....A new approach to understanding community variation in marine soft-sediments. Sustainable management of Australia's rich coastal biodiversity requires an mechanistic understanding of soft-sediment systems, as these dominate the benthic environment of our Exclusive Economic Zone. This project will substantially enhance our fundamental knowledge of soft-sediment systems by determining major processes responsible for variation in benthic community structure. This research will improve sustainable management of estuaries by (i) increasing the cost-effectiveness of detecting environmental change, (ii) determining any negative effects of changing detrital resources, and (iii) documenting soft-sediment species currently present in Botany Bay, which will aid in the early detection of invasive pests.Read moreRead less
Integrating seagrass recruitment and growth at the shoot scale with temporal and spatial dynamics of seagrass meadows in marine landscapes. In Australia, seagrass loss associated with human activity is one of the most serious issues affecting the marine environment. Despite this, processes contributing to maintenance of seagrass meadows are poorly understood. This project addresses meadow maintenance through measuring seedling recruitment, clonal growth and patch dynamics for 3 species of seagra ....Integrating seagrass recruitment and growth at the shoot scale with temporal and spatial dynamics of seagrass meadows in marine landscapes. In Australia, seagrass loss associated with human activity is one of the most serious issues affecting the marine environment. Despite this, processes contributing to maintenance of seagrass meadows are poorly understood. This project addresses meadow maintenance through measuring seedling recruitment, clonal growth and patch dynamics for 3 species of seagrasses, and modeling emergent patterns of meadow expansion. The outcomes will be integration of shoot-scale and meadow-scale dynamics in shallow subtidal landscapes, resulting in a clearer understanding of and ability to manage large-scale changes in seagrass meadows caused by natural and anthropogenic influences.
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Effect of Global Change on the Primary Production of Antarctic coastal Ecosystems. As the climate warms, sea ice in Antarctic coastal areas will reduce. Most primary production currently occurs within the sea ice. We propose that a reduction in ice extent will lead to a reduction in ice production but greater benthic production; phytoplankton production will stay relatively constant. These changes will significantly effect the size of pelagic (ie fish) and benthic (starfish, sea urchins etc) st ....Effect of Global Change on the Primary Production of Antarctic coastal Ecosystems. As the climate warms, sea ice in Antarctic coastal areas will reduce. Most primary production currently occurs within the sea ice. We propose that a reduction in ice extent will lead to a reduction in ice production but greater benthic production; phytoplankton production will stay relatively constant. These changes will significantly effect the size of pelagic (ie fish) and benthic (starfish, sea urchins etc) stocks, which in turn will impact on the size of seal and penguin populations. Our project will allow predictions of these changes that have been induced by a reduction in sa ice extentRead moreRead less
Understanding plant residue decomposition by linking organic matter chemistry and soil microbiology. Soils are an important source or sink for CO2. Currently we lack a fundamental understanding of plant residue decomposition and their transformation into various soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Since these different pools of soil C are recycled back to atmosphere at different rates, a better understanding of the process is crucial for our ability to manage soil C and to predict the impact of man ....Understanding plant residue decomposition by linking organic matter chemistry and soil microbiology. Soils are an important source or sink for CO2. Currently we lack a fundamental understanding of plant residue decomposition and their transformation into various soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Since these different pools of soil C are recycled back to atmosphere at different rates, a better understanding of the process is crucial for our ability to manage soil C and to predict the impact of management on SOC. For the first time we will combine detailed chemical analyses of soil organic matter fractions with determination of decomposition rates and microbial community structure; thereby also increasing the knowledge of how Australia's biodiversity is modulated. Read moreRead less
Towards a predictive model for coastal marine microbial assemblages. Coastal regions are overwhelmingly the most intense point of interaction between human activity and oceanic provinces. At this interface, the marine biological ecosystem provides critical services that are required to maintain industrial, economic and social well-being. Our work will identify how these marine systems respond to anthropogenic and climatic variability, National Research Priority 1, and in turn, how this response ....Towards a predictive model for coastal marine microbial assemblages. Coastal regions are overwhelmingly the most intense point of interaction between human activity and oceanic provinces. At this interface, the marine biological ecosystem provides critical services that are required to maintain industrial, economic and social well-being. Our work will identify how these marine systems respond to anthropogenic and climatic variability, National Research Priority 1, and in turn, how this response affects ocean services. This knowledge will inform management efforts in resource and biodiversity conservation, and identify novel areas for future resource exploration.Read moreRead less
The connectivity of pore theory - does it influence microbial community composition and function? Climate change scenarios indicate that Australia will be directly affected by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Soil microbial activity is responsible for a large proportion of such emissions; therefore it is important that we understand how such changing climate patterns are likely to influence key microbial populations in soil, particularly those involved in the production of greenhouse ga ....The connectivity of pore theory - does it influence microbial community composition and function? Climate change scenarios indicate that Australia will be directly affected by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Soil microbial activity is responsible for a large proportion of such emissions; therefore it is important that we understand how such changing climate patterns are likely to influence key microbial populations in soil, particularly those involved in the production of greenhouse gases. This research interfaces two disciplines, earth and biological sciences, and will establish a new international collaboration that will ensure Australia is at the forefront of a rapidly developing research field.Read moreRead less
Coastal monitoring using metal resistant microbes. We will develop an early warning, rapid biological assessment (RBA) for sediment toxicity that can be used alongside chemical tests to detect sub-chronic changes in the environment. The assessment will be validated by extensive testing of impacted sediment. We will show how the RBA fits into existing decision trees defined by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 2000 Guidelines. The biological tests result ....Coastal monitoring using metal resistant microbes. We will develop an early warning, rapid biological assessment (RBA) for sediment toxicity that can be used alongside chemical tests to detect sub-chronic changes in the environment. The assessment will be validated by extensive testing of impacted sediment. We will show how the RBA fits into existing decision trees defined by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 2000 Guidelines. The biological tests resulting from this project will be as rapid and straightforward as existing chemical tests, which will facilitate industry acceptance. The project has strong industry involvement from mining companies, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and traditional owners. These partners will guide this project and facilitate communication to the wider industry to aid acceptance and uptake.Read moreRead less
Preserving freshwater biodiversity: predictions to manage the effects of suspended sediment and salinity. Natural resource managers wish to minimise deleterious effects of suspended sediment and salinity on biodiversity but do not have adequate knowledge to do so. Increases in salinity and sediment are recognised as the major threats to freshwater biodiversity in Australian rivers. This research will lead to greatly enhanced information on the relative impacts of rising salinity and sediment on ....Preserving freshwater biodiversity: predictions to manage the effects of suspended sediment and salinity. Natural resource managers wish to minimise deleterious effects of suspended sediment and salinity on biodiversity but do not have adequate knowledge to do so. Increases in salinity and sediment are recognised as the major threats to freshwater biodiversity in Australian rivers. This research will lead to greatly enhanced information on the relative impacts of rising salinity and sediment on freshwater biodiversity and aid predictive modelling and scenario testing; enabling managers to make informed choices between various management actions. The project addresses several national research priority goals and it will result in significant national and community benefits by protecting freshwater biodiversity from salinity and sediment.Read moreRead less