Mathematical models and bioinformatic analyses of bacterial genome evolution. Bacteria are vital agents in earth's biosphere, breaking down and synthesising a wide variety of compounds. Some bacteria cause disease; others are exploited for a range of biotechnological applications. Bacteria have a remarkable ability to survive and thrive in changing conditions. For example, pathogenic bacteria confronted by antibiotics easily evolve resistance to them. With the reality of climate change, we expec ....Mathematical models and bioinformatic analyses of bacterial genome evolution. Bacteria are vital agents in earth's biosphere, breaking down and synthesising a wide variety of compounds. Some bacteria cause disease; others are exploited for a range of biotechnological applications. Bacteria have a remarkable ability to survive and thrive in changing conditions. For example, pathogenic bacteria confronted by antibiotics easily evolve resistance to them. With the reality of climate change, we expect more rapid shifts in the structure of bacterial communities, possibly leading to the emergence of new pathogens. The benefits of this project are to discover how the genetic structure of bacteria confer this flexibility, and to help keep Australia at the forefront of research in bioinformatics and mathematical biology.
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Density regulation as a major determinant of population persistence: advancing empirical and theoretical approaches to conserve biodiversity. Without efficient application of limited conservation resources, more species will go extinct and invasive species will continue to proliferate. With a better understanding of extinction processes, a higher benefit:cost ratio will ensure better outcomes for biodiversity. We will directly address (1) the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity by provid ....Density regulation as a major determinant of population persistence: advancing empirical and theoretical approaches to conserve biodiversity. Without efficient application of limited conservation resources, more species will go extinct and invasive species will continue to proliferate. With a better understanding of extinction processes, a higher benefit:cost ratio will ensure better outcomes for biodiversity. We will directly address (1) the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity by providing evidence-based support for minimum viable population size targets to avoid extinction; (2) responding to climate change by determining the species- and environmentally specific contexts leading to elevated risks of extinction; and (3) protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests by determining density targets that maximise eradication success.Read moreRead less
Future climate change: consequences for decomposition and pathways of carbon flow through rhizosphere fungal communities. The proposed collaboration will provide novel insights into likely consequences of global climate change on decomposition and pathways of carbon flow through forest soils. This will refine predictive models of future climate change and its impacts on the sustainability of Australia's forests. It will also enhance the protection of our valued habitats and their important soil ....Future climate change: consequences for decomposition and pathways of carbon flow through rhizosphere fungal communities. The proposed collaboration will provide novel insights into likely consequences of global climate change on decomposition and pathways of carbon flow through forest soils. This will refine predictive models of future climate change and its impacts on the sustainability of Australia's forests. It will also enhance the protection of our valued habitats and their important soil biodiversity. The knowledge gained will help land managers to adapt current practices to meet the demands of future climate change. This will maximize the opportunities for sequestering carbon in Australia's forests and so contribute to meeting Australia's global responsibility for mitigation of climate change.Read moreRead less
Ecosystem level impacts of climate change on a temperate grassland. The sustainable use of temperate native pastures is important economically because of grazing and for biodiversity since they are home to many threatened plants. Native pasture sustainability depends on maintaining species diversity and vegetation productivity, both of which have been shown to change in response to climate change. The aims of this project are to elucidate what impact these changes have on the ecosystem propertie ....Ecosystem level impacts of climate change on a temperate grassland. The sustainable use of temperate native pastures is important economically because of grazing and for biodiversity since they are home to many threatened plants. Native pasture sustainability depends on maintaining species diversity and vegetation productivity, both of which have been shown to change in response to climate change. The aims of this project are to elucidate what impact these changes have on the ecosystem properties of a native pasture. This is important, as it will allow likely problems caused by global climate change to be predicted by increasing the understanding of the underlying mechanisms as well as improving the management of grasslands in an environmentally sustainable way. Read moreRead less
Sustaining Australia's sheep industry under climate change: modelling Australia's sheep flock response to climatic and economic constraints. This project aims to provide a quantitative assessment of the impact of climate change and economic conditions on the Australian sheep industry. This will be achieved by constructing a robust dynamic model of the Australian sheep flock capable of integrating biophysical and economic constraints across regional and national scales. Using historical and proje ....Sustaining Australia's sheep industry under climate change: modelling Australia's sheep flock response to climatic and economic constraints. This project aims to provide a quantitative assessment of the impact of climate change and economic conditions on the Australian sheep industry. This will be achieved by constructing a robust dynamic model of the Australian sheep flock capable of integrating biophysical and economic constraints across regional and national scales. Using historical and projected biophysical and economic inputs it will enhance the capacity of the Australian sheep industry for strategic planning in the face of projected climate change. This capacity is being actively sought by the peak sheep industry bodies in conjunction with our industry partner the Bureau of Rural Sciences.Read moreRead less
Impacts of climate change on sustainability of temperate native pasture: an experiment. The sustainable use of temperate native pastures is important economically because of grazing and for biodiversity since they are home to many threatened plants. Native pasture sustainability depends on maintaining species diversity and vegetation productivity. Climate change is likely to have major impacts on both factors. The aims of this project are to elucidate the impacts of climate change on the species ....Impacts of climate change on sustainability of temperate native pasture: an experiment. The sustainable use of temperate native pastures is important economically because of grazing and for biodiversity since they are home to many threatened plants. Native pasture sustainability depends on maintaining species diversity and vegetation productivity. Climate change is likely to have major impacts on both factors. The aims of this project are to elucidate the impacts of climate change on the species composition, productivity and nutritional quality of a grazed native pasture. This is important, as it will allow us to predict likely problems caused by global climate change and increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying these changes.Read moreRead less
Coral Reefs Sensing Our Changing Climate. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is a valuable national and community resource, supporting commercial and recreation fishing and extensive national and international tourism along the length of Queenslands coastline. However it is an environment that is under threat from changing climate. The impact of a degraded reef environment is broad reaching, with effects on the Australian and Queensland economy and way of life. A better understanding of how this va ....Coral Reefs Sensing Our Changing Climate. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is a valuable national and community resource, supporting commercial and recreation fishing and extensive national and international tourism along the length of Queenslands coastline. However it is an environment that is under threat from changing climate. The impact of a degraded reef environment is broad reaching, with effects on the Australian and Queensland economy and way of life. A better understanding of how this valuable environment will respond to its changing environment is imperative and will provide us with a more informed basis on which to predict its future sustainability. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882936
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,000.00
Summary
MEGA - Mobile Ecosystem Gas-exchange Analyser for Australian landscapes. This Mobile Ecosystem Gas-exchange Analyser will be able to continuously monitor water, energy, carbon and nitrogen exchange in a multitude of uniquely Australian ecosystems: from low-canopy forests (up to 20m) and afforested plantations to wetlands and agricultural grazing, cropping, horticulture and viticulture systems. This research capacity provides benefits and opportunities such as 1) community resource 2) monitoring ....MEGA - Mobile Ecosystem Gas-exchange Analyser for Australian landscapes. This Mobile Ecosystem Gas-exchange Analyser will be able to continuously monitor water, energy, carbon and nitrogen exchange in a multitude of uniquely Australian ecosystems: from low-canopy forests (up to 20m) and afforested plantations to wetlands and agricultural grazing, cropping, horticulture and viticulture systems. This research capacity provides benefits and opportunities such as 1) community resource 2) monitoring tool for carbon and water budgets 3) mobile process laboratory 4) data for model validation. The susceptibility and vulnerability of ecosystems to changing temperature and extended drought will be determined.Read moreRead less
Predicting soil loss from wind erosion, using an integrated, high resolution, land surface data assimilation-modelling system. Australia is an ancient, dry, continent. Soil losses from wind erosion are practically irreversible. Prevention of wind erosion, especially in agricultural areas, is a major challenge to agricultural communities and land management organisations. For continental and regional scale assessment of wind erosion potential, the high-resolution integrated wind erosion modelling ....Predicting soil loss from wind erosion, using an integrated, high resolution, land surface data assimilation-modelling system. Australia is an ancient, dry, continent. Soil losses from wind erosion are practically irreversible. Prevention of wind erosion, especially in agricultural areas, is a major challenge to agricultural communities and land management organisations. For continental and regional scale assessment of wind erosion potential, the high-resolution integrated wind erosion modelling system developed here is a powerful tool. The system will identify areas prone to soil erosion and provide a solid scientific basis for strategic and practical measures for wind erosion prevention. The proposal allows the CIs to continue to play a leading international role in this National Research Priority area.Read moreRead less
Understanding responses to climate change: a mechanistic approach integrating functional genetics, physiology and biophysical models for the Common brown butterfly. We will dissect the interaction between an Australian butterfly and changing climate. This will make significant contributions to the national research priorities Responding to climate change and variability and Sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity. We will address the known deficits in standard approaches to predicting futu ....Understanding responses to climate change: a mechanistic approach integrating functional genetics, physiology and biophysical models for the Common brown butterfly. We will dissect the interaction between an Australian butterfly and changing climate. This will make significant contributions to the national research priorities Responding to climate change and variability and Sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity. We will address the known deficits in standard approaches to predicting futures for biota. We will provide an Australian species in which the mechanisms of response to climate change are understood in detail. Our outputs will be directly applicable to other butterflies: 19 threatened taxa in Australia. The novelty of our approach will be of marked international interest, and will train Australian researchers in a new way of predicting biological impacts of climate change.Read moreRead less