Testing metabolic theories in ecology. There are striking similarities in the way plants and animals take up and use energy (metabolism), despite enormous variation in size and life-style. This project will make the first experimental comparison of the predictions of the two major theories for these broad patterns. The results will significantly progress this controversial and exciting field.
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.
How positive interactions improve predictions of plant community diversity. Though common in nature, the importance of plant-plant facilitation to coexistence and the maintenance of plant diversity at community scales is poorly understood. This project aims to advance understanding of how positive interactions (facilitation) impact on coexistence among plant species as well as local patterns of diversity. To achieve these aims the project will use a combination of field experiments and a compara ....How positive interactions improve predictions of plant community diversity. Though common in nature, the importance of plant-plant facilitation to coexistence and the maintenance of plant diversity at community scales is poorly understood. This project aims to advance understanding of how positive interactions (facilitation) impact on coexistence among plant species as well as local patterns of diversity. To achieve these aims the project will use a combination of field experiments and a comparative analysis of competition and facilitation in Australian, Californian and Spanish annual plant communities with a novel modelling approach for predicting coexistence across variable environments. Outcomes are expected to include an innovative predictive framework of use for plant conservation in Australia and beyond.Read moreRead less
Understanding the ecological effects of genetic diversity: causes, consequences and relative importance. This project will examine the effect of genetic diversity on key demographic parameters (for example, population growth rates) for organisms from three groups, including a commercially important oyster. This project provides valuable information that can be used by managers of wild and cultivated populations to minimise impacts of human activities and maximise yields.
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
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
Maximising the benefit of emerging technologies for ecological survey. This project aims to provide a framework for designing effective and efficient ecological surveys. Scientists, governments and conservation agencies rely on ecological surveys to inform their species management decision-making. Advances in survey methods may improve efficiency but they are risky until they are tested. This project aims to build a framework that optimally allocates resources among different survey methods over ....Maximising the benefit of emerging technologies for ecological survey. This project aims to provide a framework for designing effective and efficient ecological surveys. Scientists, governments and conservation agencies rely on ecological surveys to inform their species management decision-making. Advances in survey methods may improve efficiency but they are risky until they are tested. This project aims to build a framework that optimally allocates resources among different survey methods over time. The framework would advance the theory of ecological survey design by addressing uncertainty in detection, and improve understanding of emerging methods such as eDNA sampling, drones and sniffer dogs. The project plans to use the framework to develop the best schedule for introducing new methods to four environmental management problems in Australia and the United States.Read moreRead less