Marine urban development: how can ecology inform the design of multifunctional artificial structures? This project aims to experimentally manipulate the design of artificial structures to achieve multipurpose ecological objectives. Artificial structures such as buildings and roads have featured in terrestrial urban landscapes for many years, but have only more recently begun encroaching on aquatic environments. Most marine artificial structures lack the innovative design solutions required to mi ....Marine urban development: how can ecology inform the design of multifunctional artificial structures? This project aims to experimentally manipulate the design of artificial structures to achieve multipurpose ecological objectives. Artificial structures such as buildings and roads have featured in terrestrial urban landscapes for many years, but have only more recently begun encroaching on aquatic environments. Most marine artificial structures lack the innovative design solutions required to mitigate their ecological impacts and provide essential ecosystem services such as pollution abatement. This project will investigate the efficacy of these designs with both classical measures of diversity and structure and novel measures of ecosystem function. The project aims to provide essential information to inform the design of future marine urban developments.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100219
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
A multi-institutional environmental radioactivity research centre. This project aims to establish an environmental radioactivity research centre, equipped with ultra-low background and high-resolution alpha and gamma spectrometry systems, radon detectors and radium delayed coincidence counters. The centre will address a critical demand in Australia for precise analysis of a large suite of natural and artificial radionuclides, which will be used as tracers and chronological tools to investigate k ....A multi-institutional environmental radioactivity research centre. This project aims to establish an environmental radioactivity research centre, equipped with ultra-low background and high-resolution alpha and gamma spectrometry systems, radon detectors and radium delayed coincidence counters. The centre will address a critical demand in Australia for precise analysis of a large suite of natural and artificial radionuclides, which will be used as tracers and chronological tools to investigate key questions in oceanography and the mining and energy, archaeological, agricultural, and forestry sectors. The facility is expected to substantially increase expertise and training in radionuclides in Australia, and promote high-level research collaborations and outputs of both national and international significance. Major outcomes of the proposed facility include better understanding of how oceans regulate climate and improved capacity to assess effects of radiation on natural ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Photosynthetic traits as “key performance indicators” of coral health. The objective of this project is to advance knowledge on the healthy functioning of the coral–algal symbiosis, which defines the response of coral reef ecosystems to worldwide environmental change. Current approaches to address this problem have linked coral health to algal symbiont diversity but have been unable to resolve the fundamental symbiont functional traits that govern this link – the “key performance indicators (KPI ....Photosynthetic traits as “key performance indicators” of coral health. The objective of this project is to advance knowledge on the healthy functioning of the coral–algal symbiosis, which defines the response of coral reef ecosystems to worldwide environmental change. Current approaches to address this problem have linked coral health to algal symbiont diversity but have been unable to resolve the fundamental symbiont functional traits that govern this link – the “key performance indicators (KPIs)”. This project plans to couple advanced physiological and functional genomics techniques to transform our understanding of how algal symbiont metabolic KPIs regulate coral growth and stress susceptibility. This may provide new diagnostic capability for the assessment of coral health and may enable us to improve coral reef ecosystem management.Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI100100130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,834.00
Summary
Developing predictive tools for rapid assessment of multiple impacts, including climate change, on the marine ecosystem of Torres Strait (Australia). This project will underpin Australia's long-term commitment to maintain environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of synergistic effects from multiple threats. We will describe the consequences of threats and stressors on marine processes, harvested resources, and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. ....Developing predictive tools for rapid assessment of multiple impacts, including climate change, on the marine ecosystem of Torres Strait (Australia). This project will underpin Australia's long-term commitment to maintain environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of synergistic effects from multiple threats. We will describe the consequences of threats and stressors on marine processes, harvested resources, and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. We will provide management advice on balancing cultural and ecosystem integrity, economic efficiency, and ecosystem resilience under scenarios of climate and environmental change. This information is of immediate use by Australian government agencies. The project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research focused on the adaptation of marine ecosystems to synergistic effects.Read moreRead less
Seagrass Strategic Review And Development Of An R&D Plan
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$178,918.00
Summary
FRDC has identified a critical need to obtain a stategic review of seagrasses and to develop an R&D plan to address seagrass-fisheries related issues. It has requested that CSIRO develop a proposal to address its needs. These include the need to: · determine the status of Australian seagrass research and knowledge · review of seagrass monitoring and assessment · review of knowledge of links between seagrass and fisheries sustainability · review knowledge on seagrass and fisheri ....FRDC has identified a critical need to obtain a stategic review of seagrasses and to develop an R&D plan to address seagrass-fisheries related issues. It has requested that CSIRO develop a proposal to address its needs. These include the need to: · determine the status of Australian seagrass research and knowledge · review of seagrass monitoring and assessment · review of knowledge of links between seagrass and fisheries sustainability · review knowledge on seagrass and fisheries management · review information on seagrass remediation and restoration projects . develop and R&D plan that includes key strategic areas, goals, priority research, a framework of how agencies will link and to define the various leadership roles. Objectives: 1. To review the status of Australian seagrasses with respect to the status of Australian seagrass research and knowledge. 2. To review the status of Australian seagrasses with respect to the status of seagrass monitoring and assessment. 3. To review the status of Australian seagrasses with respect to the status of knowledge of links between seagrass and fisheries sustainability. 4. To review the status of Australian seagrasses with respect to the status of knowledge of seagrass and fisheries management. 5. To review the status of Australian seagrasses with respect to the status of knowledge of remediation and restoration projects. 6. To develop an R&D plan that includes:. key strategic areas. goals . priority research. framework, how agencies will link e.g. EA, FRDC, State, etc. definition of leadership roles Read moreRead less
Implementation Of Fishery Independent Surveys For The Southern And Eastern Scalefish And Shark Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$3,349,385.50
Summary
Catch and effort data obtained from commercial logbooks is the primary source of information used as an index of abundance for most SESSF species. The assumption underlying this is that commercial catch rates change in a linear fashion with abundance. This assumption, however, has little independent support for many SEF species and is frequently criticised by industry and scientists alike. One of the most significant problems with commercial CPUE data in the SEF is that fishers modify their fish ....Catch and effort data obtained from commercial logbooks is the primary source of information used as an index of abundance for most SESSF species. The assumption underlying this is that commercial catch rates change in a linear fashion with abundance. This assumption, however, has little independent support for many SEF species and is frequently criticised by industry and scientists alike. One of the most significant problems with commercial CPUE data in the SEF is that fishers modify their fishing practices to suit quota availability and market demands. Also, many fishermen only put the retained catch in logbook data, not the total catch. Furthermore, the influence of environmental conditions on fish availability also reduces the effectiveness of CPUE as an index of abundance. Low or bycatch TACs also prevent catch rate data being used as an index of abundance.
Implementation of a fishery independent survey is the most cost-effective and feasible means to get an independent index of abundance for the suite of SESSF species.
Recognising this, the SESS Fishery Assessment Group (SESSFAG) has placed highest priority on the need to implement fishery-independent methods for surveying relative abundance of SESSF fish stocks. Objectives: 1. Review the current fishery independent surveys that are operating in the SESSF and determine their efficacy and potential for use in a multi-species survey. Determine which survey methods are most suitable for the main species in the SESSF. 2. Design a suite of cost-efficient fishery independent surveys that will meet the needs of the fishery in providing indices of abundance for most major species in the SESSF. Determine the most practical way of undertaking the surveys and gain broad stakeholder acceptance of the survey design. 3. Determine the cost structure for the surveys and how funding and research quota will be allocated. 4. Undertake a full one-year trial of the survey design. Review the results of the survey with respect to cost-efficiency, practicality and provision of high quality (precise) indices of abundance and modify the design accordingly. 5. Implement a long-term (5-10 year) survey program that can be progressively funded by industry under standard CRIS Policy Read moreRead less