Adaptive evolution of coleoid (cuttlefish, octopus, squid) venoms. This project represents an opportunity for biodiscovery from the venoms of cuttlefish, octopuses and squids. The independent adaptation for venom active at the subzero Arctic and Antarctic polar waters is of particular evolutionary interest. However, their divergent, bioactive compounds are also a rich drug design resource.
Dating West Antarctic ice sheet collapse using molecular sequence data. This project aims to investigate the past stability and configuration of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet by examining genomic signatures in present day bottom-dwelling Antarctic marine animals. By employing this novel biological approach this project will provide an independent test of the hypothesis that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapsed during the most recent interglacial period and formed a trans-Antarctic seaway. Expec ....Dating West Antarctic ice sheet collapse using molecular sequence data. This project aims to investigate the past stability and configuration of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet by examining genomic signatures in present day bottom-dwelling Antarctic marine animals. By employing this novel biological approach this project will provide an independent test of the hypothesis that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapsed during the most recent interglacial period and formed a trans-Antarctic seaway. Expected project outcomes include increased resolution of the most recent collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. This project should provide benefits in predicting future ice sheet collapse and its impact on sea level rise, which is a key uncertainty resulting from climate change.Read moreRead less
Probing the response of Southern Ocean phytoplankton to changes in iron biogeochemistry, light and pH associated with climate change. Determining factors that influence the health and vitality of coastal and open-ocean regions is crucial to maintaining marine biodiversity and the Earth’s climatic balance. This research project will determine the role climate change and ocean acidification will have on the ability of Southern Ocean phytoplankton to flourish.
Diatom lipids to reveal sea-ice history in remote Antarctic regions. This project aims to understand seasonal Antarctic sea-ice extent using molecular, geochemical, elemental and genomic characteristics of specific marine phytoplankton (diatoms). Little is known of the seasonal sea-ice variation and the position of the summer sea-ice extent a million years before satellite records, but this information is critical to determining air-sea gas exchange and ecosystem food web regulation. This projec ....Diatom lipids to reveal sea-ice history in remote Antarctic regions. This project aims to understand seasonal Antarctic sea-ice extent using molecular, geochemical, elemental and genomic characteristics of specific marine phytoplankton (diatoms). Little is known of the seasonal sea-ice variation and the position of the summer sea-ice extent a million years before satellite records, but this information is critical to determining air-sea gas exchange and ecosystem food web regulation. This project will unite geochemical and biological approaches to provide the data to improve past Antarctic ecosystem and climate models where sea-ice data is missing. Studying diatom biomarkers in deep sea cores from Australia’s Southern Ocean will redefine knowledge of Antarctic climate and provide data necessary to improve global ecosystem and climate models.Read moreRead less
How isolated is Antarctica? Assessing past and present plant colonisations. The project aims to assess how biologically isolated Antarctica is by discovering how, when and where natural colonisations of the continent have occurred. The research will focus on mosses, the dominant plant group in the Antarctic. genomic tools will be combined with environmental, spatial, and ecological data to assess mechanisms and directions of dispersal to and around Antarctica, and to predict areas most likely to ....How isolated is Antarctica? Assessing past and present plant colonisations. The project aims to assess how biologically isolated Antarctica is by discovering how, when and where natural colonisations of the continent have occurred. The research will focus on mosses, the dominant plant group in the Antarctic. genomic tools will be combined with environmental, spatial, and ecological data to assess mechanisms and directions of dispersal to and around Antarctica, and to predict areas most likely to be colonised in the future. This will help understand the processes underpinning the evolution and diversity of Antarctic species, and the vulnerability and adaptability of Antarctic ecosystems. Read moreRead less
High resolution health assessment of Antarctic plants as climate changes. Declines in terrestrial ecosystem health as a result of a drying climate have been observed in some areas of East Antarctica. This project aims to determine if such changes are widespread. Since mosses, the dominant plants of Antarctica, preserve a record of past climate down their shoots they can be used as surrogates to study how both ecosystems and climate are changing at remote polar sites. Outcomes will include improv ....High resolution health assessment of Antarctic plants as climate changes. Declines in terrestrial ecosystem health as a result of a drying climate have been observed in some areas of East Antarctica. This project aims to determine if such changes are widespread. Since mosses, the dominant plants of Antarctica, preserve a record of past climate down their shoots they can be used as surrogates to study how both ecosystems and climate are changing at remote polar sites. Outcomes will include improved climate data for Antarctica, enabling more robust analysis of regional climate change, and development of ultrahigh-resolution techniques capable of non-destructively monitoring Antarctic ecosystem health. This research will advance ecosystem science and inform best practice in management of Antarctic biodiversity.Read moreRead less
The rare biosphere; discovering how soil bacteria live on air. In Antarctic deserts where photosynthetic potential is low, we discovered that soil microbiomes sustain their energy and carbon budgets through a novel process reliant on trace gases we coined 'atmospheric chemosynthesis'. But how do soil bacteria literally live on air? This project aims to reveal functional chemoautotrophic pathways in cultured soil bacteria that use trace gases as a source of energy and carbon acquisition. We will ....The rare biosphere; discovering how soil bacteria live on air. In Antarctic deserts where photosynthetic potential is low, we discovered that soil microbiomes sustain their energy and carbon budgets through a novel process reliant on trace gases we coined 'atmospheric chemosynthesis'. But how do soil bacteria literally live on air? This project aims to reveal functional chemoautotrophic pathways in cultured soil bacteria that use trace gases as a source of energy and carbon acquisition. We will perform biogeochamistry, transcriptomics and proteomics on the first model bacterial strains genetically capable of this overlooked process. Outcomes will advance knowledge on microbial metabolism, extending the repertoire of hydrogen-oxidising bacteria to soil ecosystem services, primarily primary production.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100929
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,948.00
Summary
Using ancient DNA to uncover climate change impacts on Antarctica. This project aims to utilise ancient DNA preserved in the seafloor to investigate how past Antarctic marine ecosystems have responded to past climatic changes, with a focus on the Holocene (last ~11,700 years). The study will generate the first-ever picture of marine community changes across the entire marine food web and unravel adaptation mechanisms of key marine organisms to climate shifts. Expected project outcomes will inclu ....Using ancient DNA to uncover climate change impacts on Antarctica. This project aims to utilise ancient DNA preserved in the seafloor to investigate how past Antarctic marine ecosystems have responded to past climatic changes, with a focus on the Holocene (last ~11,700 years). The study will generate the first-ever picture of marine community changes across the entire marine food web and unravel adaptation mechanisms of key marine organisms to climate shifts. Expected project outcomes will include significant knowledge advances into the evolution and resilience of Antarctic ecosystems over geological timescales. This will position Australia at the forefront of marine sedimentary ancient DNA research, and also provide valuable guidance for the conservation of Antarctica during ongoing climate change.Read moreRead less
What fungal features are key to developing environmental resilience? The aim of this project is to identify key mechanisms contributing to environmental resilience within the east Antarctic soil mycobiome. We will use cutting-edge approaches to perform comparative phenotypic and genomic analyses on cold-adapted fungi against temperate species counterparts. Intended outcomes include an enhanced capacity to contribute substantially to the fungal tree of life while gaining new knowledge on fungal a ....What fungal features are key to developing environmental resilience? The aim of this project is to identify key mechanisms contributing to environmental resilience within the east Antarctic soil mycobiome. We will use cutting-edge approaches to perform comparative phenotypic and genomic analyses on cold-adapted fungi against temperate species counterparts. Intended outcomes include an enhanced capacity to contribute substantially to the fungal tree of life while gaining new knowledge on fungal adaptations in a model ecosystem at the limits of life. Significant benefits to the Royal Botanical Gardens and Domain Trust is delivery on their mission to quantify and qualify fungal biodiversity, and building of a restore and renew program that will inform future management and restoration of Australian ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Utilising innovative fishing technology to address key questions on the biology of Antarctic krill. Antarctic krill are an important species in the Southern Ocean supporting most of the Antarctic birds and mammals. A sustainable krill fishery is developing with krill products used in aquaculture and increasingly for human consumption. A new omega 3 krill oil industry has emerged and is rapidly expanding. The aim of the project is to predict the factors governing oil levels and the biochemical co ....Utilising innovative fishing technology to address key questions on the biology of Antarctic krill. Antarctic krill are an important species in the Southern Ocean supporting most of the Antarctic birds and mammals. A sustainable krill fishery is developing with krill products used in aquaculture and increasingly for human consumption. A new omega 3 krill oil industry has emerged and is rapidly expanding. The aim of the project is to predict the factors governing oil levels and the biochemical composition in krill which will help us understand growth, reproduction and recruitment. The research aims to also assess the possible effects of climate change on krill. Outcomes of this research aim to be used to manage the expanding krill fishery.Read moreRead less