Tracing the origins of stress in the symbionts of reef-building corals. Symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals are critical to the world's major tropical reef ecosystems. Recent work in our laboratories and others has revealed that these algae are sensitive to a wide array of stresses (including climate change) and hence may be the ?Achilles Heel? of reef ecosystems. This project will identify the key genes and processes in these algae using expressed sequence tags and microarray technology. On th ....Tracing the origins of stress in the symbionts of reef-building corals. Symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals are critical to the world's major tropical reef ecosystems. Recent work in our laboratories and others has revealed that these algae are sensitive to a wide array of stresses (including climate change) and hence may be the ?Achilles Heel? of reef ecosystems. This project will identify the key genes and processes in these algae using expressed sequence tags and microarray technology. On this basis, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these stress responses and their genetic diversity will be studied in order to better understand the differential susceptibility of reef-building corals to bleaching.Read moreRead less
Contribution of hybridisation to genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The eucalypt gene pool is an outstandingly important bioresource for Australia. Its effective future management will be based on understanding the extent, causes and significance of genetic variation in eucalypt species. This project investigates a currently overlooked, but potentially important, source of genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The knowledge gained will contribute substantially to our un ....Contribution of hybridisation to genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The eucalypt gene pool is an outstandingly important bioresource for Australia. Its effective future management will be based on understanding the extent, causes and significance of genetic variation in eucalypt species. This project investigates a currently overlooked, but potentially important, source of genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The knowledge gained will contribute substantially to our understanding of eucalypt biology, and will inform decision-making for conservation, revegetation, and sustainable use of seed resources. Through addressing fundamental questions, the project will also provide a uniquely Australian contribution to world research in forest molecular genetics.Read moreRead less
Next generation metagenomics. Applying the latest scientific advances supports society directly through promoting a knowledge based economy, as well as indirectly through securing agricultural productivity, improved biomedical applications and a greater understanding of our changing environment. Establishing these methods places Australia at the forefront of genomics technology with direct applications for Australian biomedical and biotechnology industries. Applying next generation sequencing fo ....Next generation metagenomics. Applying the latest scientific advances supports society directly through promoting a knowledge based economy, as well as indirectly through securing agricultural productivity, improved biomedical applications and a greater understanding of our changing environment. Establishing these methods places Australia at the forefront of genomics technology with direct applications for Australian biomedical and biotechnology industries. Applying next generation sequencing for metagenomics will provide a detailed understanding of microbial population structures and lead to advances in biomedicine, agriculture and environmental science. Read moreRead less
Simultaneous analysis of root-derived plant defences and the associated microbiome. Australia is dependent on sustainable agricultural yields, which need to be maintained or improved. This production capacity is currently under threat by new and existing diseases which are predicted to worsen with climate change. This project will provide a global picture of how disease resistance and soil microbial communities are causally linked, and provide new strategies for disease control. In doing so, it ....Simultaneous analysis of root-derived plant defences and the associated microbiome. Australia is dependent on sustainable agricultural yields, which need to be maintained or improved. This production capacity is currently under threat by new and existing diseases which are predicted to worsen with climate change. This project will provide a global picture of how disease resistance and soil microbial communities are causally linked, and provide new strategies for disease control. In doing so, it will develop intellectual property (IP) and infrastructure that can be used in soil health management. This will provide many benefits to Australia, including sustainable agriculture in the context of climate variability and an increased demand for food, biomaterials and biofuels.Read moreRead less
Genetic analysis of two distinct reproductive strategies in sexual and thelytokous field populations of an endoparastic wasp. Asexual (thelytokous) females of an insect parasitoid, Venturia canescens, which develop inside another insect, exhibit evolutionarily stable mixtures of life-history strategies, allowing two genetically distinct wasp lines to coexist sympatrically on the same host resources. The two thelytokous lines differ in a virus-like particle protein-coding gene (VLP1), which raise ....Genetic analysis of two distinct reproductive strategies in sexual and thelytokous field populations of an endoparastic wasp. Asexual (thelytokous) females of an insect parasitoid, Venturia canescens, which develop inside another insect, exhibit evolutionarily stable mixtures of life-history strategies, allowing two genetically distinct wasp lines to coexist sympatrically on the same host resources. The two thelytokous lines differ in a virus-like particle protein-coding gene (VLP1), which raises the question whether the VLP1 gene locus is genetically associated with the phenotype. We will investigate the genetic basis for the observed phenotypic differences, by comparing the two thelytokous lines with the corresponding homozygous VLP1-genotypes in sexual strains. The outcome will provide a molecular and genetic framework to test parthenogenetic reproduction strategies in some insect species.Read moreRead less
Evaluating the adaptive potential of organisms to respond to environmental change. The program utilizes technological advances to develop a gene inventory for climatic change adaptation, using, as model system, the vinegar fly from divergent climates along eastern Australia. The inventory will result in new methods for monitoring climatic change impact on populations, and for testing adaptive potential of organisms from threatened habitats. A key hypothesis is that these organisms have restricte ....Evaluating the adaptive potential of organisms to respond to environmental change. The program utilizes technological advances to develop a gene inventory for climatic change adaptation, using, as model system, the vinegar fly from divergent climates along eastern Australia. The inventory will result in new methods for monitoring climatic change impact on populations, and for testing adaptive potential of organisms from threatened habitats. A key hypothesis is that these organisms have restricted genetic options to counter environmental change, increasing extinction risk. The program investigates genetic adaptation to pollutants in midges, a key group for monitoring water health. By assessing evolutionary potential and DNA species markers, biological signatures of aquatic pollutants should result.Read moreRead less
Microbial genomics of the southern ocean: monitoring environmental health. This program will derive an integrated understanding of microbial ecology which is essential for determining ways of preserving the health of the World's ecosystems. Through the development of a unique microbial genomics program, Australia will remain a world leader in Antarctic biology, strengthening Australia's reputation in technologically innovative scientific programs of global significance, training local scientists ....Microbial genomics of the southern ocean: monitoring environmental health. This program will derive an integrated understanding of microbial ecology which is essential for determining ways of preserving the health of the World's ecosystems. Through the development of a unique microbial genomics program, Australia will remain a world leader in Antarctic biology, strengthening Australia's reputation in technologically innovative scientific programs of global significance, training local scientists in cutting edge genomic biology and fostering the interests of the international community in sciences ranging from microbial ecology to climate change.Read moreRead less
Population growth, genetic variation and adaptation in two Caulerpa species in southeastern Australia. This project will examine factors that influence the population growth, reproduction, genetic variation and adaptation in two seaweeds; the invasive Caulerpa taxifolia and the possibly invasive C. filiformis. A combination of surveys, modelling, molecular genetics and field experiments will be undertaken to achieve this. The current ambiguity surrounding the status of C. filiformis as an inva ....Population growth, genetic variation and adaptation in two Caulerpa species in southeastern Australia. This project will examine factors that influence the population growth, reproduction, genetic variation and adaptation in two seaweeds; the invasive Caulerpa taxifolia and the possibly invasive C. filiformis. A combination of surveys, modelling, molecular genetics and field experiments will be undertaken to achieve this. The current ambiguity surrounding the status of C. filiformis as an invasive species in Australia will be addressed by comparing DNA sequences of Australian and African plants. This project will provide critical data for managing invasive species, but more broadly, increase the current understanding of their biology and the factors important in their population growth and adaptation.Read moreRead less
Developing DNA tracking methods to identify illegally logged timber products from Africa. Illegal logging causes societal and environmental forest degradation, and is a high priority for international control. This project will produce a range of DNA methods that allow the tracing of the geographic source of origin for timber products from African tropical forests that will allow producers and consumers to better market and choose their products.
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