Prioritising habitat restoration for biodiversity and ecosystem service outcomes. An emerging carbon market will provide funds for habitat restoration over the coming decades, but this will only be realised through careful prioritisation and planning. This research will prioritise investments in habitat restoration in order to cost-effectively achieve biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service protection goals.
Testing the adaptive capacity of reef corals to rising sea surface temperatures. Australia's reefs are highly profitable resources. Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef contributes over $6 billion annually to the nation's economy and employs over 65,000 people. This proposal will produce world class research to quantify the extent to which corals can respond to climate change; a question central to managing these important resources. The research will also consolidate Australia's position as the le ....Testing the adaptive capacity of reef corals to rising sea surface temperatures. Australia's reefs are highly profitable resources. Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef contributes over $6 billion annually to the nation's economy and employs over 65,000 people. This proposal will produce world class research to quantify the extent to which corals can respond to climate change; a question central to managing these important resources. The research will also consolidate Australia's position as the leading nation in coral reef studies. Priority Goals addressed include Responding to Climate Change and Sustainable use of Australia Biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Changing Seas at Cellular to Cross-Ocean Scales. Australia relies greatly upon its rich natural environmental resources for goods, services and for economic growth (tourism, fisheries, and recreational industries). Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the natural marine environment. As the climate warms and oceans become more acidic, corals, the framework builders of reefs, experience unfavourable conditions. This project aims to better understand the processes by which ocean acidifi ....Changing Seas at Cellular to Cross-Ocean Scales. Australia relies greatly upon its rich natural environmental resources for goods, services and for economic growth (tourism, fisheries, and recreational industries). Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the natural marine environment. As the climate warms and oceans become more acidic, corals, the framework builders of reefs, experience unfavourable conditions. This project aims to better understand the processes by which ocean acidification and climate change affect corals, and to develop management tools for the mitigation of, and acclimation to, climate change. By so doing, this project will enable managers of Australia's Great Barrier Reef to better respond to the threatening challenges that climate change poses. Read moreRead less
The resilience of marine ecosystems and fisheries to climate change: exploring adaptation strategies. This project will underpin Australia's commitment to maintaining environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of climate change. The Fellowship investigates the consequences of climate change on marine plants and animals, harvested resources and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. It will provide management advice on balancing biodiversity and econo ....The resilience of marine ecosystems and fisheries to climate change: exploring adaptation strategies. This project will underpin Australia's commitment to maintaining environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of climate change. The Fellowship investigates the consequences of climate change on marine plants and animals, harvested resources and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. It will provide management advice on balancing biodiversity and economic output under climate change. This information is of immediate use to a range of stakeholders including national, state and local government agencies. With its focus on ecological, economic and social impacts, this project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research on the adaptation of marine ecosystems to climate change.Read moreRead less
Understanding the importance of lianas for forest health and management. This project aims to assess the impact of lianas (woody vines) and their removal on forest health and value. New field infrastructure, removal experiments and global datasets will be used to compare forest health under varying liana dominance, determine whether lianas are preventing recovery, and to predict regional and global impacts. The project expects to generate new knowledge regarding ecosystem function and global cha ....Understanding the importance of lianas for forest health and management. This project aims to assess the impact of lianas (woody vines) and their removal on forest health and value. New field infrastructure, removal experiments and global datasets will be used to compare forest health under varying liana dominance, determine whether lianas are preventing recovery, and to predict regional and global impacts. The project expects to generate new knowledge regarding ecosystem function and global change biology, building collaboration between ecologists, economists and forest managers. The project expects to have significant implications for forest health and the global economy. The expected benefit will be implementation of restoration methods in priority areas and subsequently improved forest health.Read moreRead less