Dynamic networks in a patchy landscape: will species interactions adjust to increased climatic extremes? This project addresses pressing questions on how increased climatic extremes will affect species diversity in arid Australia, building on the longest ecological dataset available for the continent's vast but fragile inland landscapes. Our tests of key ideas about strong interactions among species, their role in building resilient communities and conserving biodiversity, will generate consider ....Dynamic networks in a patchy landscape: will species interactions adjust to increased climatic extremes? This project addresses pressing questions on how increased climatic extremes will affect species diversity in arid Australia, building on the longest ecological dataset available for the continent's vast but fragile inland landscapes. Our tests of key ideas about strong interactions among species, their role in building resilient communities and conserving biodiversity, will generate considerable international interest, while our focus on interactions of species at water sources will address knowledge gaps to inform best practice in managing converted pastoral lands. The results will contribute to retaining healthy functioning ecosystems, and the vital production systems they support, as the global climate changes.Read moreRead less
Desert island biogeography: vertebrate dynamics after fire-induced fragmentation of habitat in central Australia. Recent wildfires in the Simpson Desert have burnt over three million hectares of hummock grassland, creating an archipelago of unburnt spinifex islands amid extensive areas of bare sand. Small mammals and reptiles are now confined to these refugia. This project seeks to characterise the patchy distributional pattern of terrestrial vertebrates among spinifex islands, and to experiment ....Desert island biogeography: vertebrate dynamics after fire-induced fragmentation of habitat in central Australia. Recent wildfires in the Simpson Desert have burnt over three million hectares of hummock grassland, creating an archipelago of unburnt spinifex islands amid extensive areas of bare sand. Small mammals and reptiles are now confined to these refugia. This project seeks to characterise the patchy distributional pattern of terrestrial vertebrates among spinifex islands, and to experimentally evaluate factors (grazing, predators, food) influencing community recovery. Using an extensive prefire database, the project provides an unique and novel opportunity to chart and model responses of terrestrial vertebrates to wildfire, and to provide guidance for sustainable use of biodiversity in central Australia.Read moreRead less
Saving Wildlife: Saving People On Our Roads. Wildlife roadkill accrues high economic and social costs to all Australians. Motor vehicle damage, human fatalities and passenger distress, high insurance premiums and loss of biodiversity all result from wildlife-vehicle collisions. We have formed a coalition between government agencies, animal welfare organisations and our research institution to strategically research roadkill. We will gather, collate and analyse statistics on collisions to identif ....Saving Wildlife: Saving People On Our Roads. Wildlife roadkill accrues high economic and social costs to all Australians. Motor vehicle damage, human fatalities and passenger distress, high insurance premiums and loss of biodiversity all result from wildlife-vehicle collisions. We have formed a coalition between government agencies, animal welfare organisations and our research institution to strategically research roadkill. We will gather, collate and analyse statistics on collisions to identify causal factors and develop predictive models of roadkill to target blackspots for mitigation. We will develop and apply effective abatement technologies to significantly reduce the incidence of roadkill. The result will be safer roads for us and our wildlife.Read moreRead less
The fox and the turtle: is predator control in riparian systems effective for threatened species. We address the conservation impact of an introduced predator (the fox) on threatened species. Few studies have addressed the influence of feral predators on riparian species. We will experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of feral species control by examining demography of turtles. Turtles are an ideal species for such studies as they are long-lived, so population models can be applied. Result ....The fox and the turtle: is predator control in riparian systems effective for threatened species. We address the conservation impact of an introduced predator (the fox) on threatened species. Few studies have addressed the influence of feral predators on riparian species. We will experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of feral species control by examining demography of turtles. Turtles are an ideal species for such studies as they are long-lived, so population models can be applied. Results of this work will be significant in (a) empirical testing of rigorous, experimentally-based methodology to quantify demographic effects of predator-prey interactions, and (b) providing a robust basis for management that may serve as a template for feral predator control elsewhere.Read moreRead less
Restoration of temperate eucalypt woodland: getting it right. Eucalypt woodlands of southern Australia have been heavily cleared for agriculture: much effort and expense is going towards revegetation of these woodlands to conserve biodiversity, and restore ecosystem services they provide. Current restoration methods are purely empirical, with little understanding of why they work. This project will experimentally investigate revegetation practices to uncover ecological processes they utilise, an ....Restoration of temperate eucalypt woodland: getting it right. Eucalypt woodlands of southern Australia have been heavily cleared for agriculture: much effort and expense is going towards revegetation of these woodlands to conserve biodiversity, and restore ecosystem services they provide. Current restoration methods are purely empirical, with little understanding of why they work. This project will experimentally investigate revegetation practices to uncover ecological processes they utilise, and other ecological processes that potentially can be utilised but are currently not. The cost-effectiveness of different practices will be compared. The outcome of the project will be revegetation practices for eucalypt woodlands that are evidence-based and cost-effective, rather than rule of thumb.Read moreRead less
Testing the biodiversity-function paradigm for the provision of clean water in aquifers. The ability of groundwater microbes to purify groundwater is an incredibly valuable service. All Australians benefit from this natural service either directly by having clean drinking water, or indirectly through the economic benefits of groundwater-reliant agriculture or industries. Clearly, managing aquifers to maintain this process is vital. This project will identify whether the biodiversity of the groun ....Testing the biodiversity-function paradigm for the provision of clean water in aquifers. The ability of groundwater microbes to purify groundwater is an incredibly valuable service. All Australians benefit from this natural service either directly by having clean drinking water, or indirectly through the economic benefits of groundwater-reliant agriculture or industries. Clearly, managing aquifers to maintain this process is vital. This project will identify whether the biodiversity of the groundwater ecosystem is important for this process to occur and, consequently, whether management should focus on biodiversity conservation (with its accompanying benefits) or forego biodiversity as a priority and manage the environment to maximise the beneficial ecosystem goods and services it provides.Read moreRead less
Integrating the rice industry with biodiversity conservation: the spatial ecology of waterfowl in agricultural and natural landscapes. Waterfowl damage to rice crops is a significant problem for the rice industry worldwide. The management and conservation of waterfowl requires an explicit understanding of the effect of rice bays on habitat structure for waterfowl and how these interact with population processes operating at broad scales. This project will analyse the spatial ecology of waterfowl ....Integrating the rice industry with biodiversity conservation: the spatial ecology of waterfowl in agricultural and natural landscapes. Waterfowl damage to rice crops is a significant problem for the rice industry worldwide. The management and conservation of waterfowl requires an explicit understanding of the effect of rice bays on habitat structure for waterfowl and how these interact with population processes operating at broad scales. This project will analyse the spatial ecology of waterfowl in agricultural and natural landscapes in the Murray-Darling Basin. Specifically we will (1) track waterfowl, (2) analyse wetland distribution at fine and broad scales, (3) develop spatial models to describe the relationships between waterfowl movements and wetland distribution, including rice bays, and (4) develop models of agronomic risk based on landscape structure and the known responses of waterfowl.Read moreRead less
Is reintroduction of soil foraging animals critical for the restoration of degraded semi-arid woodlands? Locally-extinct animals are important, not only for their intrinsic value, but because they are thought to be essential for maintaining and restoring healthy ecosystems. This project will give us valuable insights into how ecosystems may have functioned prior to the loss of native animals, and how ecosystems can be restored when the animals are reintroduced. Our research will provide Australi ....Is reintroduction of soil foraging animals critical for the restoration of degraded semi-arid woodlands? Locally-extinct animals are important, not only for their intrinsic value, but because they are thought to be essential for maintaining and restoring healthy ecosystems. This project will give us valuable insights into how ecosystems may have functioned prior to the loss of native animals, and how ecosystems can be restored when the animals are reintroduced. Our research will provide Australian Wildlife Conservancy with the knowledge they need to continue their reintroductions, and information that encourages land managers to adopt strategies to ensure the survival of reintroduced animals outside of formal reserves. Read moreRead less
Forest ecosystem water use: Does species diversity matter? Forest water use and susceptibility to drought are major concerns for forest plantation establishment in Australia. This research will provide fundamental information about how plantation water use and drought tolerance are modified by species diversity. This work has the potential to transform tree plantation establishment practices toward inclusion of greater species diversity or toward species with particular complementary traits. It ....Forest ecosystem water use: Does species diversity matter? Forest water use and susceptibility to drought are major concerns for forest plantation establishment in Australia. This research will provide fundamental information about how plantation water use and drought tolerance are modified by species diversity. This work has the potential to transform tree plantation establishment practices toward inclusion of greater species diversity or toward species with particular complementary traits. It has significant potential to enhance benefits from reforestation projects, including better drought survival, reduced water use, soil bioremediation and enhanced biodiversity. Read moreRead less
Managing Ecosystem Change in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Protected areas are the primary mechanism for conserving Australia's unique biodiversity. Of added significance are areas of biodiversity recognised as World Heritage Areas, such as the GBMWA. Climate, pest species and altered fire regimes potentially diminish their ecological values but some of these anthropogenic threats can be managed. Effective management depends on spatially-explicit understanding that allows prior ....Managing Ecosystem Change in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Protected areas are the primary mechanism for conserving Australia's unique biodiversity. Of added significance are areas of biodiversity recognised as World Heritage Areas, such as the GBMWA. Climate, pest species and altered fire regimes potentially diminish their ecological values but some of these anthropogenic threats can be managed. Effective management depends on spatially-explicit understanding that allows priorities to be set and management objectives identified and tested. This research will develop a model for determining management priorities for large protected areas, meeting State, National and International obligations. Significant conservation benefits will accrue along with social, economic and human well-being benefits.Read moreRead less