Managing for persistence of the saproxylic biota in production forest landscapes. The pattern of 'fragmentation' and 'matrix alteration' being examined in this study mirrors not just other areas of Tasmania but also much of south-eastern Australia. The research addresses a conservation biology issue in a new and novel way and has been developed with, and is supported by an industry partner working in multiple-use forest management, so the research provides both immediate applied and strategic o ....Managing for persistence of the saproxylic biota in production forest landscapes. The pattern of 'fragmentation' and 'matrix alteration' being examined in this study mirrors not just other areas of Tasmania but also much of south-eastern Australia. The research addresses a conservation biology issue in a new and novel way and has been developed with, and is supported by an industry partner working in multiple-use forest management, so the research provides both immediate applied and strategic outcomes. These outcomes directly relate to forest sustainability especially the management of the biodiverse dead wood habitat including the harvesting of fuelwood.Read moreRead less
Experimental translocations to understand and combat eastern quoll declines. The project aims to understand the causes of observed declines of the eastern quoll in Tasmania, and develop tools to safeguard this species in their last wild stronghold. The project will test the innovative approach of undertaking a series of experimental translocations at an early stage of a population decline. This approach will provide reliable information on the causes of observed declines, while simultaneously te ....Experimental translocations to understand and combat eastern quoll declines. The project aims to understand the causes of observed declines of the eastern quoll in Tasmania, and develop tools to safeguard this species in their last wild stronghold. The project will test the innovative approach of undertaking a series of experimental translocations at an early stage of a population decline. This approach will provide reliable information on the causes of observed declines, while simultaneously testing the effectiveness of translocations of captive-bred animals as a management tool for the species. It will also develop evidence-based protocols for undertaking captive-bred translocations, to improve the outcomes of eastern quoll recovery efforts as well as promoting early intervention for other declining species. Read moreRead less
An immunological and immunogenetic approach to understand and to protect Tasmanian devils against Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The Tasmanian devil is the world's largest living carnivorous marsupial. From an environmental perspective, devils play a fundamental role through scavenging. Dead and dying animals were removed nightly from Tasmania's landscape and therefore decaying carcases did not require removal. Loss of this top order scavenger will alter the balance of biodiversity and non-native ....An immunological and immunogenetic approach to understand and to protect Tasmanian devils against Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The Tasmanian devil is the world's largest living carnivorous marsupial. From an environmental perspective, devils play a fundamental role through scavenging. Dead and dying animals were removed nightly from Tasmania's landscape and therefore decaying carcases did not require removal. Loss of this top order scavenger will alter the balance of biodiversity and non-native animals (such as foxes, feral cats, crows, and even European wasps) will then compete for this scavenger role. As these animals are non-selective they will also prey on living animals and many of Tasmania's native animals (such as Eastern barred bandicoot, potoroos, quolls etc.) will be seriously threatened and our biodiverse landscape could be irreversibly altered.Read moreRead less
Everyday Heritage. This project aims to uncover everyday but overlooked forms of Australian heritage. Working collaboratively to bridge academic and industry practice, it seeks to develop innovative methods with outcomes expected to include enhanced collaboration between heritage, digital humanities, and historical research, and new resources for communities and the heritage sector. This should provide significant social and cultural benefits such as more inclusive forms of heritage, and broader ....Everyday Heritage. This project aims to uncover everyday but overlooked forms of Australian heritage. Working collaboratively to bridge academic and industry practice, it seeks to develop innovative methods with outcomes expected to include enhanced collaboration between heritage, digital humanities, and historical research, and new resources for communities and the heritage sector. This should provide significant social and cultural benefits such as more inclusive forms of heritage, and broader intellectual and practical understandings of shared history and citizenship. The project will promote public debate on the role of the past in modern Australia through a range of new forms of history and heritage, digital resources and heritage management tools.
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Evolution, disease and extinction - using ancient and modern Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to investigate molecular evolution in the Tasmanian devil. The Tasmanian devil is Australia's largest living marsupial carnivore and one of Tasmania's key tourism icons. Extinction in the wild will have long-term impacts on Tasmanian native ecosystems and economy. This study will provide critical genetic data and tools to monitor and prioritise conservation strategies, including insurance populations and dis ....Evolution, disease and extinction - using ancient and modern Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to investigate molecular evolution in the Tasmanian devil. The Tasmanian devil is Australia's largest living marsupial carnivore and one of Tasmania's key tourism icons. Extinction in the wild will have long-term impacts on Tasmanian native ecosystems and economy. This study will provide critical genetic data and tools to monitor and prioritise conservation strategies, including insurance populations and disease suppression, aimed at preventing extinction. It will strengthen ongoing conservation programs carried out by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program and will help publicise the plight of the devil both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Assessing the risk of genetic pollution from Eucalyptus globulus and Corymbia plantations. We will provide the biological information necessary to assess the risk of genetic pollution of native eucalypt forest from plantations of Eucalyptus globulus and Corymbia torelliana. Key biological factors that can act as barriers to hybridisation including flowering time, pollen and seed dispersal distances, crossability, hybrid fitness and the potential for backcrossing will be identified and used to de ....Assessing the risk of genetic pollution from Eucalyptus globulus and Corymbia plantations. We will provide the biological information necessary to assess the risk of genetic pollution of native eucalypt forest from plantations of Eucalyptus globulus and Corymbia torelliana. Key biological factors that can act as barriers to hybridisation including flowering time, pollen and seed dispersal distances, crossability, hybrid fitness and the potential for backcrossing will be identified and used to develop strategies to reduce the risk of genetic pollution. The molecular differentiation between populations of the E. globulus complex, including plantations, will be studied to provide a genetic framework for the management of the genepool of this most important hardwood plantation species.Read moreRead less
Mammal declines in northern Australia: science for conservation and recovery. Australia’s unique mammal fauna is a rich biological heritage for the nation. It provides a wealth of ecosystem services, and many mammal species have special cultural or aesthetic value. However, our mammals are sadly depleted, and we already have the worst record of recent mammal extinction of any nation. Preventing further mammal extinctions, and managing environments to allow declined mammals to recover, will be of ....Mammal declines in northern Australia: science for conservation and recovery. Australia’s unique mammal fauna is a rich biological heritage for the nation. It provides a wealth of ecosystem services, and many mammal species have special cultural or aesthetic value. However, our mammals are sadly depleted, and we already have the worst record of recent mammal extinction of any nation. Preventing further mammal extinctions, and managing environments to allow declined mammals to recover, will be of great benefit to Australian biodiversity and to the ecosystem processes and human values that depend on it.Read moreRead less
The Silent Buildings of Willow Court: testing a new and innovative model for cultural heritage assessment. This pilot project is fuelled by an urgent need to assess the resources of the historic Willow Court Precinct, Australia's longest serving mental health facility (1827-2000). The 18-hectare Precinct, with its now abandoned buildings, is located in one of Australia's most economically deprived regions, Tasmania's Derwent River Valley. In June 2002 the Precinct was acquired by the local Counc ....The Silent Buildings of Willow Court: testing a new and innovative model for cultural heritage assessment. This pilot project is fuelled by an urgent need to assess the resources of the historic Willow Court Precinct, Australia's longest serving mental health facility (1827-2000). The 18-hectare Precinct, with its now abandoned buildings, is located in one of Australia's most economically deprived regions, Tasmania's Derwent River Valley. In June 2002 the Precinct was acquired by the local Council. At the same time, a theoretical model for measuring the condition and pressures on historic sites was being developed by the state government's Cultural Heritage Advisory Group. This project will use the Willow Court Precinct to test the model.Read moreRead less
Environmental Education and Marine Ecosystem Degradation: The Role of Site-specific Art as Communicative Strategy within Community Awareness-raising Programs. This project investigates a potential application of art as a medium of environmental education. In the context of a World Fish Center sustainable community fisheries project in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, we will deploy works of fine art specifically to communicate ideas and values concerning marine ecosystem degradation. An experienced ecolo ....Environmental Education and Marine Ecosystem Degradation: The Role of Site-specific Art as Communicative Strategy within Community Awareness-raising Programs. This project investigates a potential application of art as a medium of environmental education. In the context of a World Fish Center sustainable community fisheries project in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, we will deploy works of fine art specifically to communicate ideas and values concerning marine ecosystem degradation. An experienced ecological artist will project the issue into the public domain via large-scale video and trans-media installations. Visitor interviews will assess the impact of various modes of visual communication. We believe that visual communication can assist the development of environmental responsibility by shifting perceptions and is, then, of considerable policy value.Read moreRead less
Managing Tasmanian devil populations affected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. This project aims to put the science behind management options for wild Tasmanian devil populations affected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a new emerging wildlife disease that is decimating devil populations across large parts of Tasmania. DFTD behaves atypically compared with well-studied wildlife disease models; this project may result in important breakthroughs in our understanding of wildlife disea ....Managing Tasmanian devil populations affected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. This project aims to put the science behind management options for wild Tasmanian devil populations affected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a new emerging wildlife disease that is decimating devil populations across large parts of Tasmania. DFTD behaves atypically compared with well-studied wildlife disease models; this project may result in important breakthroughs in our understanding of wildlife diseases. Conservation outcomes of the project may slow the spread of the disease and in aiding population recovery. Devils are an iconic species with economic benefits for ecotourism and livestock farms, industries which are based in economically depressed rural regions.Read moreRead less