The pharmacokinetics of plant secondary metabolites and their effects on feeding in the brushtail possum. Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are considered to protect against herbivory, although the mechanisms are not well understood. This project will determine how marsupial folivores avoid toxicity when browsing on Eucalyptus leaf. Blood levels of terpenes, phenols and their metabolites will be measured in the brushtail possum while it feeds on a diet of varying PSM content. We expect to be ab ....The pharmacokinetics of plant secondary metabolites and their effects on feeding in the brushtail possum. Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are considered to protect against herbivory, although the mechanisms are not well understood. This project will determine how marsupial folivores avoid toxicity when browsing on Eucalyptus leaf. Blood levels of terpenes, phenols and their metabolites will be measured in the brushtail possum while it feeds on a diet of varying PSM content. We expect to be able to show relationships between the ingestion and blood levels of PSMs and feeding behaviour. This will give a greater understanding of the effect of plant toxins on browsing behaviour, enabling improved foraging models and more effective habitat management.Read moreRead less
Systematic prioritisation of action for confronting invasive vertebrates in Australia. This project will use novel scientific approaches to effectively prioritise action for mitigating the threats invasive vertebrate pests pose to humans and to biodiversity in Australia. Results will inform policy and management, substantially advancing our understanding of the key factors shaping spatial invasion sources, hotspots, drivers and impact.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100833
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,708.00
Summary
Resilience of forest ecosystems to multiple stressors in a changing climate. This project will examine the influence of multiple stressors including disease, drought and fire, on the resilience of forest ecosystems within Australia. This project expects to generate new knowledge for land managers and the international community, in management of forest health by determining how soil health and soil fungi influence forest recovery after disturbance events. Anticipated outcomes include improved ri ....Resilience of forest ecosystems to multiple stressors in a changing climate. This project will examine the influence of multiple stressors including disease, drought and fire, on the resilience of forest ecosystems within Australia. This project expects to generate new knowledge for land managers and the international community, in management of forest health by determining how soil health and soil fungi influence forest recovery after disturbance events. Anticipated outcomes include improved risk assessment of disturbed forests to future disturbances and significant benefits will include informing climate smart management goals in the recovery of important forest ecosystems, not only for the forest tree species but the animal, plant, insect and microbe communities that depend on these systems.Read moreRead less
The roles of stress and immunocompetence in biological invasions. Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity worldwide; and within Australia, cane toads are widely viewed as one of the biggest such problems. Building on recent studies that reveal weakened immune systems in invasion-front toads, this project will provide a comprehensive understanding of immune responses in cane toads and native frogs, with the aim of exploiting the toads' immunocompromised state to develop new and more ....The roles of stress and immunocompetence in biological invasions. Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity worldwide; and within Australia, cane toads are widely viewed as one of the biggest such problems. Building on recent studies that reveal weakened immune systems in invasion-front toads, this project will provide a comprehensive understanding of immune responses in cane toads and native frogs, with the aim of exploiting the toads' immunocompromised state to develop new and more effective control measures. The project will develop a new paradigm about the roles of stress and immunity in biological invasion, applicable to the control of other invasive species and to understanding processes at work when environmental changes force species to shift their ranges.Read moreRead less
Spatially explicit solutions for managing fire and biodiversity. This project aims to develop a framework for predicting the impact of future fire regimes on the distribution and abundance of plant and animal species. Inappropriate fire regimes are one of the most significant threats to biodiversity in Australia. There is an urgent need to better understand how species respond to fire and to develop effective fire management strategies that achieve conservation goals. This project intends to int ....Spatially explicit solutions for managing fire and biodiversity. This project aims to develop a framework for predicting the impact of future fire regimes on the distribution and abundance of plant and animal species. Inappropriate fire regimes are one of the most significant threats to biodiversity in Australia. There is an urgent need to better understand how species respond to fire and to develop effective fire management strategies that achieve conservation goals. This project intends to integrate ecological models, fire behaviour simulation and formal decision-making approaches to evaluate alternative fire scenarios in real landscapes. The major output is anticipated to be linked ecological models and decision tools that help managers to better protect biodiversity in flammable landscapes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668008
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
Advanced stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer for investigations on carbon and nutrient cycling processes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The effective use of innovative stable isotope techniques, particularly in combination with other advanced technologies (eg bio-molecular and nuclear magnetic resonance), has resulted in exciting advances in the understanding and management of critically important carbon and nutrient cycling processes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This applic ....Advanced stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer for investigations on carbon and nutrient cycling processes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The effective use of innovative stable isotope techniques, particularly in combination with other advanced technologies (eg bio-molecular and nuclear magnetic resonance), has resulted in exciting advances in the understanding and management of critically important carbon and nutrient cycling processes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This application seeks to purchase an advanced isotope ratio mass spectrometer for supporting and undertaking current and potential new leading research projects with the collaborating institutions, particularly in the above- and below-ground processes in terrestrial ecosystems, and nutrient transformations and impacts in aquatic ecosystems in response to global change and management options.Read moreRead less
Forest ecosystem water use: Does species diversity matter? Forest water use and susceptibility to drought are major concerns for forest plantation establishment in Australia. This research will provide fundamental information about how plantation water use and drought tolerance are modified by species diversity. This work has the potential to transform tree plantation establishment practices toward inclusion of greater species diversity or toward species with particular complementary traits. It ....Forest ecosystem water use: Does species diversity matter? Forest water use and susceptibility to drought are major concerns for forest plantation establishment in Australia. This research will provide fundamental information about how plantation water use and drought tolerance are modified by species diversity. This work has the potential to transform tree plantation establishment practices toward inclusion of greater species diversity or toward species with particular complementary traits. It has significant potential to enhance benefits from reforestation projects, including better drought survival, reduced water use, soil bioremediation and enhanced biodiversity. Read moreRead less
Setting and achieving realistic restoration goals in human-dominated ecosystems. Federal and state programs and community and NGO activities increasingly focus on ecosystem restoration as a tool in conservation and natural resource management. Clearer understanding of ecosystem dynamics and better articulation of realistic restoration goals can lead to much improved restoration success and better investment of government and private funds. This project will provide a better understanding of ecos ....Setting and achieving realistic restoration goals in human-dominated ecosystems. Federal and state programs and community and NGO activities increasingly focus on ecosystem restoration as a tool in conservation and natural resource management. Clearer understanding of ecosystem dynamics and better articulation of realistic restoration goals can lead to much improved restoration success and better investment of government and private funds. This project will provide a better understanding of ecosystem dynamics both under current conditions and also as influenced by future environmental changes. The contribution to the theoretical and conceptual development of the field of restoration ecology will increase the profile of Australian science and enhance our reputation as leaders in this field. Read moreRead less
Mammal declines in northern Australia: science for conservation and recovery. Australia’s unique mammal fauna is a rich biological heritage for the nation. It provides a wealth of ecosystem services, and many mammal species have special cultural or aesthetic value. However, our mammals are sadly depleted, and we already have the worst record of recent mammal extinction of any nation. Preventing further mammal extinctions, and managing environments to allow declined mammals to recover, will be of ....Mammal declines in northern Australia: science for conservation and recovery. Australia’s unique mammal fauna is a rich biological heritage for the nation. It provides a wealth of ecosystem services, and many mammal species have special cultural or aesthetic value. However, our mammals are sadly depleted, and we already have the worst record of recent mammal extinction of any nation. Preventing further mammal extinctions, and managing environments to allow declined mammals to recover, will be of great benefit to Australian biodiversity and to the ecosystem processes and human values that depend on it.Read moreRead less
Synthesising prior information for ecological research and management. While using existing information to design studies and compare results, ecologists rarely use existing information in their analyses. We will combine the results of previous ecological studies to summarise the existing information. We will test how well the traits of plants and animals can be predicted from previous research, and the benefit of this existing information for environmental management. By taking advantage of the ....Synthesising prior information for ecological research and management. While using existing information to design studies and compare results, ecologists rarely use existing information in their analyses. We will combine the results of previous ecological studies to summarise the existing information. We will test how well the traits of plants and animals can be predicted from previous research, and the benefit of this existing information for environmental management. By taking advantage of the wealth of previous ecological research, our project can save time and money for ecological research by scientists and environmental management by federal and state agencies. This will fundamentally change the way that ecology is conducted.Read moreRead less