Formation, degradation and migration of a yet unidentified POP source. Australia has recently ratified the Stockholm Convention, targeting persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for global reduction and elimination. A significant gap exists, however, in understanding sources and pathways of POPs in Australia, and subtropical/tropical environments. Previous research has shown an extensive POP contamination in coastal Australia, and exposure of biota to elevated levels. The present study will evalua ....Formation, degradation and migration of a yet unidentified POP source. Australia has recently ratified the Stockholm Convention, targeting persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for global reduction and elimination. A significant gap exists, however, in understanding sources and pathways of POPs in Australia, and subtropical/tropical environments. Previous research has shown an extensive POP contamination in coastal Australia, and exposure of biota to elevated levels. The present study will evaluate the formation, degradation and migration of POPs, and their significance to Australia's past, present and future emissions. The outcomes will allow identification of sources, their prioritization for elimination and exposure prevention, and ultimately serve to protect the environment and human health in Australia.Read moreRead less
Atmospheric fate and processes of semi-volatile organic compounds in tropical climates. The outcomes from this study will contribute fundamental and quantitative information for evaluation of the fate of semi-volatile organic compounds (SOCs) in tropical systems, including Australia's World Heritage ecosystems such as rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. The study addresses key international knowledge gaps with respect to the influence of climate on SOC atmospheric fate. Australia's geographic ....Atmospheric fate and processes of semi-volatile organic compounds in tropical climates. The outcomes from this study will contribute fundamental and quantitative information for evaluation of the fate of semi-volatile organic compounds (SOCs) in tropical systems, including Australia's World Heritage ecosystems such as rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. The study addresses key international knowledge gaps with respect to the influence of climate on SOC atmospheric fate. Australia's geographical location within the tropical belt provides an ideal opportunity for leading this field of research and contributes relevant data for its commitment under the Stockholm Convention.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882787
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
An Integrated Raman Microscope and in Situ STM-TEM Analysis System. The imaging and analytical capabilities of SEM and chemical and structural characterisation afforded by Raman spectroscopy will be unique, allowing both rapid morphological observation and elemental analysis at the macro and nanoscale. The in-situ TEM holder will further assist through in-situ characterization of advanced materials at the nano-scale level. In combination, these instruments will underpin groundbreaking research i ....An Integrated Raman Microscope and in Situ STM-TEM Analysis System. The imaging and analytical capabilities of SEM and chemical and structural characterisation afforded by Raman spectroscopy will be unique, allowing both rapid morphological observation and elemental analysis at the macro and nanoscale. The in-situ TEM holder will further assist through in-situ characterization of advanced materials at the nano-scale level. In combination, these instruments will underpin groundbreaking research in diverse research fields developing new advanced nanomaterials and bio-nanomaterials with significant impact on many industries with great economical and environmental benefits. Read moreRead less
The role of bush fires in the formation and fate of dioxin like chemicals in Australia. A global (POPs) treaty signed by more than 100 nations targets the reduction and elimination of dioxins, which are persistent, bioaccumlative and highly toxic to humans. Bushfires have been suggested as the major source of dioxins in Australia. Experimental data indicate bushfires may not represent the actual sources of dioxin. Our aim is to experimentally establish the levels of dioxins formed and re-emi ....The role of bush fires in the formation and fate of dioxin like chemicals in Australia. A global (POPs) treaty signed by more than 100 nations targets the reduction and elimination of dioxins, which are persistent, bioaccumlative and highly toxic to humans. Bushfires have been suggested as the major source of dioxins in Australia. Experimental data indicate bushfires may not represent the actual sources of dioxin. Our aim is to experimentally establish the levels of dioxins formed and re-emitted from bushfires in Australia. The results will assist to make informed decisions that lead to effective action for reducing dioxin contamination in Australia, fulfilling the treaty requirements and protecting the population and environment.
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The role of early life history on the survival of coral reef fishes - opening the Black Box. A fundamental unanswered question in marine ecology and fisheries management is - what influences the number of individuals that survive the larval phase to join a reef population? Theoretical studies show that small changes in the quality of offspring can lead to large changes in the numbers surviving the larval phase. What aspects of offspring quality determine who survives is largely unknown. We use ....The role of early life history on the survival of coral reef fishes - opening the Black Box. A fundamental unanswered question in marine ecology and fisheries management is - what influences the number of individuals that survive the larval phase to join a reef population? Theoretical studies show that small changes in the quality of offspring can lead to large changes in the numbers surviving the larval phase. What aspects of offspring quality determine who survives is largely unknown. We use a multidisciplinary approach to explore what influences the quality of offspring spawned by adults, and whether offspring traits prior to or at hatching determine the identity of individuals that survive to join the reproductive population.Read moreRead less
IMPACTS OF RIVER NUTRIENTS ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF LAGOON. While salinity was one of the first properties of the ocean to be studied, it is one of the last to be measured by remote sensing. A prototype air borne salinity mapper will be used in this project along with an airborne multi-spectral sampler to develop a new approach to the study of river plumes. The salinity and nutrient densities will be traced to determine the destination of river runoff. Outcomes will assist the management of ....IMPACTS OF RIVER NUTRIENTS ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF LAGOON. While salinity was one of the first properties of the ocean to be studied, it is one of the last to be measured by remote sensing. A prototype air borne salinity mapper will be used in this project along with an airborne multi-spectral sampler to develop a new approach to the study of river plumes. The salinity and nutrient densities will be traced to determine the destination of river runoff. Outcomes will assist the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and land management near the coast, and will improve our understanding of the carbon sink in coastal waters.Read moreRead less
Conserving native wildlife during urbanisation: the effectiveness of biodiversity-friendly urban design and construction practices. Urbanisation has many negative effects upon native wildlife and their habitats, but biodiversity-friendly urban design and construction practices may greatly reduce these impacts. This study will examine the effectiveness of such measures at sustaining wildlife at sites of urban development, and will therefore produce significant benefits for local residents and the ....Conserving native wildlife during urbanisation: the effectiveness of biodiversity-friendly urban design and construction practices. Urbanisation has many negative effects upon native wildlife and their habitats, but biodiversity-friendly urban design and construction practices may greatly reduce these impacts. This study will examine the effectiveness of such measures at sustaining wildlife at sites of urban development, and will therefore produce significant benefits for local residents and the broader Australian community. Healthy natural ecosystems in urban areas provide many services to the public, reduce the need for costly management, and improve the livelihood of residents living in greener environments. This study will enhance all these community benefits through a detailed examination of the effectiveness of biodiversity-friendly urban development measures.Read moreRead less
Tracing the origins of stress in the symbionts of reef-building corals. Symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals are critical to the world's major tropical reef ecosystems. Recent work in our laboratories and others has revealed that these algae are sensitive to a wide array of stresses (including climate change) and hence may be the ?Achilles Heel? of reef ecosystems. This project will identify the key genes and processes in these algae using expressed sequence tags and microarray technology. On th ....Tracing the origins of stress in the symbionts of reef-building corals. Symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals are critical to the world's major tropical reef ecosystems. Recent work in our laboratories and others has revealed that these algae are sensitive to a wide array of stresses (including climate change) and hence may be the ?Achilles Heel? of reef ecosystems. This project will identify the key genes and processes in these algae using expressed sequence tags and microarray technology. On this basis, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these stress responses and their genetic diversity will be studied in order to better understand the differential susceptibility of reef-building corals to bleaching.Read moreRead less
The Cultural Impact of Irregular Marriage in the Age of British Colonialism, 1660-c.1860. Marriage has always been central to our understanding of relations between literature, society and culture. This project significantly revises that understanding by focussing on the irregular marriage practices which thrived in Britain and its colonies from 1660 to c.1860. It demonstrates, for instance, how the novel genre became respectable partly by marginalising irregular marriages; how Gretna Green we ....The Cultural Impact of Irregular Marriage in the Age of British Colonialism, 1660-c.1860. Marriage has always been central to our understanding of relations between literature, society and culture. This project significantly revises that understanding by focussing on the irregular marriage practices which thrived in Britain and its colonies from 1660 to c.1860. It demonstrates, for instance, how the novel genre became respectable partly by marginalising irregular marriages; how Gretna Green weddings came to typify modern romance in drama and fiction; and how marriage regulations underpinned literary portrayals of civil society in the Australian penal colony. It will deliver a groundbreaking monograph which accounts for marriage's role in modern literary culture in new terms.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989759
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Australian Access to and Operation of Advanced Synchrotron Radiation Facilities at the Photon Factory. The primary national benefit of this application will be continued access by peer review for Australian scientists to the advanced synchrotron-radiation capabilities of the Australian National Beamline Facility and other complementary beamlines at the Photon Factory, Japan. This proposal is consistent with the National Research Priorities of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, Promoting a ....Australian Access to and Operation of Advanced Synchrotron Radiation Facilities at the Photon Factory. The primary national benefit of this application will be continued access by peer review for Australian scientists to the advanced synchrotron-radiation capabilities of the Australian National Beamline Facility and other complementary beamlines at the Photon Factory, Japan. This proposal is consistent with the National Research Priorities of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and will generate science to support and stimulate domestic industry, enhance the domestic knowledge base and international research profile, train students and future synchrotron scientists and foster domestic and international collaborations.Read moreRead less