Hazard Perception and Cognitive Ageing in Older Drivers: Investigation and Development. Older road users have high fatal crash rates that cost the Australian economy $500 million each year. However, driving cessation is associated with depression and reduced social participation among older adults. The present study will benefit older road users and the wider community by identifying which traffic hazards pose the greatest difficulty for older drivers and providing information that may lead to a ....Hazard Perception and Cognitive Ageing in Older Drivers: Investigation and Development. Older road users have high fatal crash rates that cost the Australian economy $500 million each year. However, driving cessation is associated with depression and reduced social participation among older adults. The present study will benefit older road users and the wider community by identifying which traffic hazards pose the greatest difficulty for older drivers and providing information that may lead to adaptation of roads, and vehicles to reduce crash risk among older Australians. This will reduce injury and healthcare costs and allow older Australians to maintain higher levels of social participation.Read moreRead less
Planning for the impacts of land-uses on coral reef fisheries. This projects aims to develop models that can determine the ecological and economic impacts of land-use changes (e.g. agriculture) on fisheries and assess alternative land-use plans that seek to maximise economic opportunity while protecting fisheries. Fisheries support the livelihoods of 12 per cent of the world’s population. Land-based activities are among the most significant threats to coral reef fisheries because sediments and n ....Planning for the impacts of land-uses on coral reef fisheries. This projects aims to develop models that can determine the ecological and economic impacts of land-use changes (e.g. agriculture) on fisheries and assess alternative land-use plans that seek to maximise economic opportunity while protecting fisheries. Fisheries support the livelihoods of 12 per cent of the world’s population. Land-based activities are among the most significant threats to coral reef fisheries because sediments and nutrients degrade reefs, yet they are often ignored in fisheries management. By improving the sustainability of coastal development, biodiversity conservation, and health of fisheries, the models developed by the project could deliver socio-economic and environmental benefits for millions of people reliant upon fisheries for their livelihoods.Read moreRead less
Diagnosing river health using invertebrate traits and DNA barcodes. Diagnosing river health using invertebrate traits and DNA barcodes. This project aims to develop indices that link change in invertebrate communities to specific environmental stressors, and combine these indices with innovative, low cost molecular approaches to species identification to rapidly identify the causes of decline. River health assessment methods, usually based on aquatic invertebrates, identify if rivers are impaire ....Diagnosing river health using invertebrate traits and DNA barcodes. Diagnosing river health using invertebrate traits and DNA barcodes. This project aims to develop indices that link change in invertebrate communities to specific environmental stressors, and combine these indices with innovative, low cost molecular approaches to species identification to rapidly identify the causes of decline. River health assessment methods, usually based on aquatic invertebrates, identify if rivers are impaired but must be developed to identify the causes of decline. The intended outcomes are improved sustainable water resource management within and among states, and improved natural resource policy development.Read moreRead less
Tipping points and early warning signals in complex ecosystems. This project aims to create a theory of early warning that uses spatial data available on system state, connectivity and environmental stress, and to create tools to infer the risk of ecosystem collapse. Many ecosystems have irreversible tipping points. Since their locations are often unknown, metrics may provide an early warning of collapse but are difficult to apply because they need long time series which are usually lacking. Thi ....Tipping points and early warning signals in complex ecosystems. This project aims to create a theory of early warning that uses spatial data available on system state, connectivity and environmental stress, and to create tools to infer the risk of ecosystem collapse. Many ecosystems have irreversible tipping points. Since their locations are often unknown, metrics may provide an early warning of collapse but are difficult to apply because they need long time series which are usually lacking. This project will use the Great Barrier Reef as a testbed because it has both long time series (standard approach) and rich spatial data (new approach), and exhibits early warning signs. We will use these tools to gauge whether symptoms on the Great Barrier Reef predict local collapse and to develop intervention plans.Read moreRead less
The resilience of marine ecosystems and fisheries to climate change: exploring adaptation strategies. This project will underpin Australia's commitment to maintaining environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of climate change. The Fellowship investigates the consequences of climate change on marine plants and animals, harvested resources and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. It will provide management advice on balancing biodiversity and econo ....The resilience of marine ecosystems and fisheries to climate change: exploring adaptation strategies. This project will underpin Australia's commitment to maintaining environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of climate change. The Fellowship investigates the consequences of climate change on marine plants and animals, harvested resources and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. It will provide management advice on balancing biodiversity and economic output under climate change. This information is of immediate use to a range of stakeholders including national, state and local government agencies. With its focus on ecological, economic and social impacts, this project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research on the adaptation of marine ecosystems to climate change.Read moreRead less
Impact of increased sediment and nutrient discharges on the long-term sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's greatest natural assets, is under increasing threat from extreme climatic events caused by global warming and from land-based pollution. This research will identify the main sources of sediment and nutrient pollution caused by river runoff and by how much this has increased above 'natural levels'. We will discover how the very sensitive offsho ....Impact of increased sediment and nutrient discharges on the long-term sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's greatest natural assets, is under increasing threat from extreme climatic events caused by global warming and from land-based pollution. This research will identify the main sources of sediment and nutrient pollution caused by river runoff and by how much this has increased above 'natural levels'. We will discover how the very sensitive offshore coral reefs have responded to increased pollution and whether this is the cause of the very devastating crown-of-thorn-starfish infestations. Understanding the long-term effects of land-based pollution on the ecology of coral reefs in the GBR will thus provide a scientific basis to help ensure that it has a sustainable future.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100203
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$385,000.00
Summary
Autonomous benthic observing system. This project seeks to improve our ability to monitor marine habitats and characterise their variability by enhancing the Integrated Marine Observing system (IMOS) Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Facility. The new AUV infrastructure will reduce operating costs, increase robustness of the sampling effort and insure continued operation for the next decade.
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
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
Using biodiesel cleanup agents to reduce impacts on mangroves and tidal wetland ecosystems from oil spills. This Linkage project will demonstrate Australia's commitment towards minimisation of the ecological impacts of key pollutants like oil in the marine environment. It will also advance Australia's leadership position in the management of oil spill remediation and will, through the robust partnership developed with Australian Maritime Safety Authority build a skilled team better able to respo ....Using biodiesel cleanup agents to reduce impacts on mangroves and tidal wetland ecosystems from oil spills. This Linkage project will demonstrate Australia's commitment towards minimisation of the ecological impacts of key pollutants like oil in the marine environment. It will also advance Australia's leadership position in the management of oil spill remediation and will, through the robust partnership developed with Australian Maritime Safety Authority build a skilled team better able to respond effectively when such disasters occur. The challenge is to maintain this research focus and create some stability and continuity of the knowledge and experiences gained at the University of Queensland. Significantly the project will provide career-oriented research training opportunities in a field that clearly underpins National Research Priorities. Read moreRead less