What is the spatial and environmental distribution of phylogenetic diversity in the Australian biota? Almost nothing is known about the geographic distribution of phylogenetic relationships across Australia at fine resolutions of the order of tens of kilometres. The aim of this research is to map the spatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity in the Australian biota and identify possible environmental controls over them. We will analyse five disparate groups at a spatial resolution that is ord ....What is the spatial and environmental distribution of phylogenetic diversity in the Australian biota? Almost nothing is known about the geographic distribution of phylogenetic relationships across Australia at fine resolutions of the order of tens of kilometres. The aim of this research is to map the spatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity in the Australian biota and identify possible environmental controls over them. We will analyse five disparate groups at a spatial resolution that is orders of magnitude finer than previous research, analysing their relationship with possible environmental controls using advanced spatial analysis methods. The knowledge we will generate about the spatial distribution of these relationships is essential to understand and conserve Australia's unique biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Integrated, interactive and systematic Marine Protected Area design for sustainability of South Australian marine environments: A GIS-based, spatial optimisation approach. This project aims to enhance MPA design in SA by integrating systematic conservation plannning (SCP), spatial optimisation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). New, integrated Integer Programming (IP) models will be built based on established SCP principles and nationally agreed marine conservation criteria. The IP models ....Integrated, interactive and systematic Marine Protected Area design for sustainability of South Australian marine environments: A GIS-based, spatial optimisation approach. This project aims to enhance MPA design in SA by integrating systematic conservation plannning (SCP), spatial optimisation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). New, integrated Integer Programming (IP) models will be built based on established SCP principles and nationally agreed marine conservation criteria. The IP models will be tightly coupled with the GIS to create an interactive Spatial Decision Support Tool (SDSS) for systematic MPA design - the first of its kind. The SDSS will enable real-time, systematic MPA design and will provide flexible design options for a comprehensive, adequate, representative and efficient MPA system for SA.Read moreRead less
Developing a global environmental, social and economic information system. The outcome of this project will be a unique environmental information system that will open up new global analytical perspectives for international institutions, corporations and academia. It will enable decision makers to identify hidden impacts of global supply chains that could so far not be enumerated. This research will enhance Australia's international reputation in spearheading advances in Environmental Accounting ....Developing a global environmental, social and economic information system. The outcome of this project will be a unique environmental information system that will open up new global analytical perspectives for international institutions, corporations and academia. It will enable decision makers to identify hidden impacts of global supply chains that could so far not be enumerated. This research will enhance Australia's international reputation in spearheading advances in Environmental Accounting. It will fulfill ubiquitous needs of analysts worldwide, and become a sought-after export. It will demonstrate how Australians affect the global environment, and how we can improve it by changing the way we live and consume. This research is truly inter-disciplinary, and will benefit a multitude of other research areas.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100565
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Planning for rare aquatic species: conservation and restoration priorities at local and continental scales. This project will develop a new method to include rare species in conservation plans by identifying habitat characteristics that are responsible for their distribution. After establishing these relations, cost-effective conservation and restoration actions will target rare fish, waterbird and insect species in Australian and overseas rivers.
Animals on the move - an integrated approach to selecting conservation reserves under climate change. Conserving biodiversity when faced with rapid changes in climate and land use is a major challenge facing conservation managers. Translocation - the process of moving species from one location to another - may be the best means of preventing species extinction, but the long-term climatic suitability of translocation sites is rarely considered. This project will develop and apply new methods for ....Animals on the move - an integrated approach to selecting conservation reserves under climate change. Conserving biodiversity when faced with rapid changes in climate and land use is a major challenge facing conservation managers. Translocation - the process of moving species from one location to another - may be the best means of preventing species extinction, but the long-term climatic suitability of translocation sites is rarely considered. This project will develop and apply new methods for identifying climatically suitable habitats for a critically endangered tortoise, with the aim of selecting sites where the species can persist long-term with minimum management. The approach will have utility not only for management of endangered species, but also in selecting future climatic regions for raising commercially valuable species. Read moreRead less
Setting Geographic Priorities for Integrated Landscape Restoration in a Fragmented Agricultural Region. This research project aims to develop the theory and application of integrated landscape restoration in a fragmented agricultural region - the Mt. Lofty Ranges of South Australia. Spatially explicit priorities will be set for the type and location of habitat to be restored for the benefit of the natural biodiversity within a physical environmental, economic and social context. Heuristic and op ....Setting Geographic Priorities for Integrated Landscape Restoration in a Fragmented Agricultural Region. This research project aims to develop the theory and application of integrated landscape restoration in a fragmented agricultural region - the Mt. Lofty Ranges of South Australia. Spatially explicit priorities will be set for the type and location of habitat to be restored for the benefit of the natural biodiversity within a physical environmental, economic and social context. Heuristic and optimisation models will be created within a Geographic Information System (GIS) and assessed for their ability to set such priorities in integrated landscape restoration. The techniques will help sustain ecological, physical and human systems in many other over-cleared regions.Read moreRead less
Unifying global approaches to environmental footprinting. This project will create a globally harmonised approach to calculating environmental footprints for nations, regions, cities and organisations. This research will establish the environmental burden caused by international trade, enabling global governance bodies to implement principles for a fairer global sharing of environmental burdens.
Integrating satellite observations into environmental accounts. Accounting for biomass, water and ecosystem helps to manage and protect Australia's natural capital. Existing data provide only limited information, but this project will build on recent advances in satellite observation and model-data fusion technology to produce national accounts with unprecedented detail, for each year since 1990.
Vision and remote sensing: using nature's technology to examine the health of The Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay. We aim to use what is known and what we will discover about animals visual systems to examine environmental health on The Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay. Technology and knowledge from 8 university departments, 4 industry partners, and 7 international collaborators will be combined to both learn and provide information. The innovative aspect of our approach is to examine the w ....Vision and remote sensing: using nature's technology to examine the health of The Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay. We aim to use what is known and what we will discover about animals visual systems to examine environmental health on The Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay. Technology and knowledge from 8 university departments, 4 industry partners, and 7 international collaborators will be combined to both learn and provide information. The innovative aspect of our approach is to examine the world with the eyes of birds, fish and invertebrates. Tricks animals employ to solve visual tasks will be implemented at scales of instrumentation from hand-held to remote sensing and used to address problems such as coral reef bleaching.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101286
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
What happens to toxic metals during frog metamorphosis? This project aims to investigate metal accumulation in frogs during larval development and explore tissue degeneration and remodelling as a factor influencing metal toxicity during metamorphosis. The project expects to produce information about the fate of metal burdens during metamorphosis and reveal important relationships between uptake and toxicity response pathways in animals undergoing complex life history strategies. This will provid ....What happens to toxic metals during frog metamorphosis? This project aims to investigate metal accumulation in frogs during larval development and explore tissue degeneration and remodelling as a factor influencing metal toxicity during metamorphosis. The project expects to produce information about the fate of metal burdens during metamorphosis and reveal important relationships between uptake and toxicity response pathways in animals undergoing complex life history strategies. This will provide significant environmental benefit by contributing towards improved regulatory and monitoring guidelines relevant for important metal pollutants, with particular relevance for the protection of vulnerable amphibians.Read moreRead less