Genomics and evolution of symbiont transmission in coral reefs. This project aims to understand more deeply the symbiosis between coral and the alga Symbiodinium that underpins the primary productivity, biodiversity and economic impacts of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. Reef-building corals are sustained by symbiosis between the coral and the alga Symbiodinium, and breakdown of symbiosis under environmental stress leads to coral bleaching and death. This project aims to understand how ge ....Genomics and evolution of symbiont transmission in coral reefs. This project aims to understand more deeply the symbiosis between coral and the alga Symbiodinium that underpins the primary productivity, biodiversity and economic impacts of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. Reef-building corals are sustained by symbiosis between the coral and the alga Symbiodinium, and breakdown of symbiosis under environmental stress leads to coral bleaching and death. This project aims to understand how genomes of differently acquired Symbiodinium have evolved to support symbiosis with corals, through sequencing of algal genomes of Symbiodinium. This knowledge will improve the precision in predicting change to inform decision-making strategies in the conservation and restoration of coral reefs.Read moreRead less
Symbiodinium: the evolutionary transition to coral reef symbiont. Coral reefs are sustained by symbiosis between the coral host and dinoflagellates of genus Symbiodinium. Breakdown of this symbiosis under environmental stress results in coral bleaching and eventual death. This project aims to understand how dinoflagellate genomes have evolved to support a symbiotic lifestyle. The project aims to sequence genomes of Symbiodinium from reef corals and other hosts, and two free-living relatives. Thi ....Symbiodinium: the evolutionary transition to coral reef symbiont. Coral reefs are sustained by symbiosis between the coral host and dinoflagellates of genus Symbiodinium. Breakdown of this symbiosis under environmental stress results in coral bleaching and eventual death. This project aims to understand how dinoflagellate genomes have evolved to support a symbiotic lifestyle. The project aims to sequence genomes of Symbiodinium from reef corals and other hosts, and two free-living relatives. This should enable the identification of genes that have been gained or lost, or are under adaptive selection. This genome-scale perspective on the molecular systems implicated in the evolution of this symbiotic lifestyle has potential to inform strategies for preserving Australia's Great Barrier Reef in the face of climate variations.Read moreRead less
Evolution of defensive and predatory venom in cone snails. This project aims to determine the molecular and cellular origins and mechanisms regulating venom production and release to establish how defensive venoms evolved in cone snails. Cone snails possess a remarkable ability to rapidly and reversibly switch between separate venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimuli, implying that these are separately evolved and regulated mechanisms. The investigators hypothesise that defensive ven ....Evolution of defensive and predatory venom in cone snails. This project aims to determine the molecular and cellular origins and mechanisms regulating venom production and release to establish how defensive venoms evolved in cone snails. Cone snails possess a remarkable ability to rapidly and reversibly switch between separate venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimuli, implying that these are separately evolved and regulated mechanisms. The investigators hypothesise that defensive venoms, originally evolved in the proximal venom duct to protect against threats such as cephalopod and fish predation, have been repurposed in the proximal duct to allow predators to become prey, facilitating the switch from worm to mollusc and fish hunting. The project aims to show the broad implications for the evolution of venoms in animals and discover the regulatory mechanisms driving venom peptide expression.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100083
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,000.00
Summary
A high throughput phenomics facility for pace of life traits in animals. A high throughput phenomics facility for pace of life traits in animals: This project seeks to create the first high-throughput phenomic facility for animals in Australia. The molecular revolution has brought unprecedented capacity to understand genetic variation. Genetic variation is now better understood and more easily and cheaply characterised than the physical traits that organisms exhibit. Linking phenotypic variation ....A high throughput phenomics facility for pace of life traits in animals. A high throughput phenomics facility for pace of life traits in animals: This project seeks to create the first high-throughput phenomic facility for animals in Australia. The molecular revolution has brought unprecedented capacity to understand genetic variation. Genetic variation is now better understood and more easily and cheaply characterised than the physical traits that organisms exhibit. Linking phenotypic variation to genetic variation represents the major challenge in harnessing the power of the biomolecular age. This facility will accommodate animals from marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems across a diverse array of phyla. It will allow Australian researchers to leverage advances in high throughput genomic technologies to address a major bottleneck in biology.Read moreRead less
Understanding evolution in natural systems using robotic models. This project aims to build biologically-inspired robotic and computational systems, and then modify these in ways which are either not possible, or have not yet occurred in natural systems. A comparison of these two systems will then allow a quantitative understanding of how well optimised biological structures are and where the limitations to optimisation lie. Expected outcomes include advancing the understanding of evolutionary p ....Understanding evolution in natural systems using robotic models. This project aims to build biologically-inspired robotic and computational systems, and then modify these in ways which are either not possible, or have not yet occurred in natural systems. A comparison of these two systems will then allow a quantitative understanding of how well optimised biological structures are and where the limitations to optimisation lie. Expected outcomes include advancing the understanding of evolutionary processes, and will provide significant benefits, such as aiding the manufacture of efficient autonomous robots.Read moreRead less
The functions of reef fish colour patterns: how did the coral trout get its spots? How did the coral trout get its spots? Why are some reef fish striped yellow and blue while others dress in pink and orange blotches? This project goes beyond just interpreting animal colours and uses a new approach to reveal the meanings of whole body patterns. Uniquely, it does so through the eyes of the fish themselves.
Evolutionary models and biodiscovery tools from neurotoxic snake venoms. This project aims to identify the selection pressures that shape snake venom neurotoxins and how they interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and to elucidate their biodiscovery potential. This project aims to test these important toxins on model systems that represent natural prey items in order to determine the molecular and functional evolution of neurotoxic peptides. Expected outcomes include substantial contri ....Evolutionary models and biodiscovery tools from neurotoxic snake venoms. This project aims to identify the selection pressures that shape snake venom neurotoxins and how they interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and to elucidate their biodiscovery potential. This project aims to test these important toxins on model systems that represent natural prey items in order to determine the molecular and functional evolution of neurotoxic peptides. Expected outcomes include substantial contributions to the body of evolutionary biology knowledge, while also having the applied benefit of discovering novel compounds with potential for use in drug design and discovery. These outcomes will benefit Australian science and society by elucidating fundamental processes while revealing biodisovery resources.Read moreRead less
Integrating evolution and plasticity into predictions of population persistence in a changing climate: adaptation or extinction? To effectively manage biodiversity at a time of rapid environmental change, Australia needs accurate predictions of how human alterations to climate and habitat will affect species. This project integrates evolution and spatial ecology to develop new tools for predicting and understanding how species will respond to environmental change.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101266
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,536.00
Summary
Evolutionary and environmental basis of CO2 tolerance in coral reef fishes. This project aims to examine the effects of ocean acidification on coral reef fishes due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Physiological performance of fish vary under elevated CO2, but behaviour is consistently, negatively impacted. This project aims to investigate evolutionary trade-offs between behaviour and performance, physiological mechanisms key to compromising, maintaining, or enhancing metabolic pe ....Evolutionary and environmental basis of CO2 tolerance in coral reef fishes. This project aims to examine the effects of ocean acidification on coral reef fishes due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Physiological performance of fish vary under elevated CO2, but behaviour is consistently, negatively impacted. This project aims to investigate evolutionary trade-offs between behaviour and performance, physiological mechanisms key to compromising, maintaining, or enhancing metabolic performance under elevated CO2, and the importance of habitat in how fish respond to elevated CO2. As fish play critical roles in marine ecosystems by structuring food webs and driving ecological processes, this information will be critical for predicting the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102630
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The neurological correlates of periodic breathing in insects. While at rest many animals switch from breathing continuously to displaying long breath-hold periods between periods of ventilation. The neurological mechanisms responsible for generating this respiratory pattern will be investigated using insects that display a discontinuous pattern of breathing.