Evolvability and the Evolution of Complexity. Anyone engaging in a moment's reflection on the striking richness, diversity, and complexity of the biological world is faced with the question: how did it get here? Though natural selection is central to answering this question, important new work has identified various conditions that make some lineages of organisms "evolvable": capable of changing in ways that radically expand the range of further possible changes. This project will clarify and in ....Evolvability and the Evolution of Complexity. Anyone engaging in a moment's reflection on the striking richness, diversity, and complexity of the biological world is faced with the question: how did it get here? Though natural selection is central to answering this question, important new work has identified various conditions that make some lineages of organisms "evolvable": capable of changing in ways that radically expand the range of further possible changes. This project will clarify and integrate these various conditions using empirical examples and simple models. The resulting work from this project will provide a clearer general understanding of what biological complexity is, and how science has compelling candidates for understanding how it evolves.Read moreRead less
The cost of a meal: life-history consequences of foraging mode in fur seals and sea lions. Australia's two fur seal species are currently experiencing population increases throughout their range as they recover from the over-exploitation of the commercial sealing era (18-19th centuries) whereas the Australian sea lion population is decreasing (or stable but low) throughout its range and is considered vulnerable. Understanding the mechanisms which determine foraging efficiency in fur seals and s ....The cost of a meal: life-history consequences of foraging mode in fur seals and sea lions. Australia's two fur seal species are currently experiencing population increases throughout their range as they recover from the over-exploitation of the commercial sealing era (18-19th centuries) whereas the Australian sea lion population is decreasing (or stable but low) throughout its range and is considered vulnerable. Understanding the mechanisms which determine foraging efficiency in fur seals and sea lions will have implications for the management of these species, which are likely to experience increasing interactions with fisheries activities. The results of this research will assist in the development of policies to ensure the environmentally sustainable use of marine resources. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100010
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,000.00
Summary
A 5-D Correlative Imaging Platform: Combining the strengths of light and electron microscopy. This will be Australia's first dedicated five-dimensional multiphoton-microscopy platform, allowing observation of dynamic structures across different length and time scales under controlled temperatures, followed by high-resolution electron microscopy studies on the same samples. This platform will provide a unique characterisation tool to Australia's top-flight investigators, and so contribute to the ....A 5-D Correlative Imaging Platform: Combining the strengths of light and electron microscopy. This will be Australia's first dedicated five-dimensional multiphoton-microscopy platform, allowing observation of dynamic structures across different length and time scales under controlled temperatures, followed by high-resolution electron microscopy studies on the same samples. This platform will provide a unique characterisation tool to Australia's top-flight investigators, and so contribute to the nation's research priorities. It will enable: fundamental studies of cancer, neural diseases and immune disorders; the development of frontier technologies, such as smart nanomaterials, biosensors and targeted drug delivery; and applied research to help plants and soils adapt to climate variability, and to increase sustainable use of water.Read moreRead less