Conservation Management of the Endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard. The Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard probably occurred over 150km of the Adelaide Plains before European settlement, but is now known from only a few privately owned properties in the mid-north of South Australia. Before adopting specific conservation strategies, such as release to new sites, more needs to be known about the genetic and social structure of viable populations, and the natural parasite fauna that may detrimentally affect an ....Conservation Management of the Endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard. The Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard probably occurred over 150km of the Adelaide Plains before European settlement, but is now known from only a few privately owned properties in the mid-north of South Australia. Before adopting specific conservation strategies, such as release to new sites, more needs to be known about the genetic and social structure of viable populations, and the natural parasite fauna that may detrimentally affect any transplants. This project explores those aspects of the lizard biology, enhancing both our general understanding of lizard population structure and our specific understanding of conservation issues for this species.Read moreRead less
Conservation Biology of Butterflies in South Australia. This project will investigate the apparent significant recent decline in the diversity and abundance of butterflies in South Australia. The project will develop a protocol for deriving quantitative estimates of the diversity and abundance of butterflies in South Australia, so that the effects of current and future environmental changes on the biodiversity of butterflies can be rigorously assessed. The project will also incorporate a detaile ....Conservation Biology of Butterflies in South Australia. This project will investigate the apparent significant recent decline in the diversity and abundance of butterflies in South Australia. The project will develop a protocol for deriving quantitative estimates of the diversity and abundance of butterflies in South Australia, so that the effects of current and future environmental changes on the biodiversity of butterflies can be rigorously assessed. The project will also incorporate a detailed case study of the conservation biology of a vulnerable species of butterfly.Read moreRead less
Climate change and phenotypic divergence at a landscape scale. Birds provide key ecosystem functions like pollination, insect control, and seed dispersal in Australia. Climate change is well documented and has a pronounced effect on birds, commonly leading to range shifts. This study will quantify patterns of gene flow at a landscape scale in declining and common birds in Australia and abroad. The project builds on strong international links to the Galapagos Islands as well as a regional focus f ....Climate change and phenotypic divergence at a landscape scale. Birds provide key ecosystem functions like pollination, insect control, and seed dispersal in Australia. Climate change is well documented and has a pronounced effect on birds, commonly leading to range shifts. This study will quantify patterns of gene flow at a landscape scale in declining and common birds in Australia and abroad. The project builds on strong international links to the Galapagos Islands as well as a regional focus for South Australia. The linkage organisations are committed to implementing management outcomes for native flora and fauna, which need to be underpinned with quality baseline data. The outcomes will also inform climate modelling for the State and Australia. Read moreRead less
Rediscovering Aboriginal dispersal pathways. This project aims to use cutting-edge and transdisciplinary tools in partnership with Aboriginal people to rediscover deliberate prehistoric plant dispersal pathways along the Australian east coast. By working on three unrelated species with similar disjunct distributions, expected outcomes include detecting significant ‘cultural’ vegetation patterns that will challenge current assumptions about 'natural' plant distributions. New associations between ....Rediscovering Aboriginal dispersal pathways. This project aims to use cutting-edge and transdisciplinary tools in partnership with Aboriginal people to rediscover deliberate prehistoric plant dispersal pathways along the Australian east coast. By working on three unrelated species with similar disjunct distributions, expected outcomes include detecting significant ‘cultural’ vegetation patterns that will challenge current assumptions about 'natural' plant distributions. New associations between plant biogeography and deliberate Aboriginal manipulation of Australian environments will benefit cultural heritage, land management and restoration initiatives.Read moreRead less
Population genetics and dynamics of orchids and their pollinators in fragmented landscapes of South Australia. Many species of orchids in fragmented landscapes need active management to secure their persistence. The effects of fragmentation can be direct (e.g. reduction in population sizes, environmental quality, increased inbreeding, reduced dispersal ability), or indirect through negative effects on pollinators. Little information exists on the complex interactions between effects of fragmenta ....Population genetics and dynamics of orchids and their pollinators in fragmented landscapes of South Australia. Many species of orchids in fragmented landscapes need active management to secure their persistence. The effects of fragmentation can be direct (e.g. reduction in population sizes, environmental quality, increased inbreeding, reduced dispersal ability), or indirect through negative effects on pollinators. Little information exists on the complex interactions between effects of fragmentation on plants and their pollinators. This project aims to understand how fragmentation affects the genetic diversity and demography of selected populations of orchids and their pollinators in the Mt.Lofty/Flerieu Peninsula area. This information will help to develop and implement more effective conservation plans.Read moreRead less
Conservation genetics and socio-ecology of marsupials in fragmented populations of south-eastern South Australia: towards a regional biodiversity management plan. Habitat destruction and fragmentation is causing the decline of many species in native forests of eastern and southern Australia. Our project will investigate the interplay between the human activities of agriculture and forestry and their effects on native forest ecosystems. It will provide new data on the consequences of fragmentati ....Conservation genetics and socio-ecology of marsupials in fragmented populations of south-eastern South Australia: towards a regional biodiversity management plan. Habitat destruction and fragmentation is causing the decline of many species in native forests of eastern and southern Australia. Our project will investigate the interplay between the human activities of agriculture and forestry and their effects on native forest ecosystems. It will provide new data on the consequences of fragmentation to native mammal species in the rural and regional communities of south-east South Australia and western Victoria. It will establish a strong collaborative partnership between two forestry companies, conservation agencies and university conservation biologists to develop strategies to sustainably manage biodiversity in native forests and conserve populations of rare and threatened native mammals species. Read moreRead less
Density regulation as a major determinant of population persistence: advancing empirical and theoretical approaches to conserve biodiversity. Without efficient application of limited conservation resources, more species will go extinct and invasive species will continue to proliferate. With a better understanding of extinction processes, a higher benefit:cost ratio will ensure better outcomes for biodiversity. We will directly address (1) the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity by provid ....Density regulation as a major determinant of population persistence: advancing empirical and theoretical approaches to conserve biodiversity. Without efficient application of limited conservation resources, more species will go extinct and invasive species will continue to proliferate. With a better understanding of extinction processes, a higher benefit:cost ratio will ensure better outcomes for biodiversity. We will directly address (1) the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity by providing evidence-based support for minimum viable population size targets to avoid extinction; (2) responding to climate change by determining the species- and environmentally specific contexts leading to elevated risks of extinction; and (3) protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests by determining density targets that maximise eradication success.Read moreRead less
Genomes on islands: Improving management of Australia's threatened mammals. This project aims to improve the management of endangered mammals by combining data on genomic and morphological variation with results from conservation translocations. Using new genomics methods, the project will measure the effects of small population size on genetic diversity and mutation load, in extinct as well as remnant and translocated populations. The project will monitor seven intensively managed marsupial spe ....Genomes on islands: Improving management of Australia's threatened mammals. This project aims to improve the management of endangered mammals by combining data on genomic and morphological variation with results from conservation translocations. Using new genomics methods, the project will measure the effects of small population size on genetic diversity and mutation load, in extinct as well as remnant and translocated populations. The project will monitor seven intensively managed marsupial species to better understand how to mix populations for fauna restoration projects. This project should improve methods to promote species recovery in Australia and globally.Read moreRead less
Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. This project intends to develop a conservation management tool for use in fire-prone fragmented landscapes to reverse biodiversity loss. It will address two critical knowledge gaps: the combined effects of fire and fragmentation on animal movement, and the implications of current and future fire regimes for native animal populations. Land-use change has severely fragmented 40% ....Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. This project intends to develop a conservation management tool for use in fire-prone fragmented landscapes to reverse biodiversity loss. It will address two critical knowledge gaps: the combined effects of fire and fragmentation on animal movement, and the implications of current and future fire regimes for native animal populations. Land-use change has severely fragmented 40% of Australia’s natural landscapes, resulting in loss of habitat for native biodiversity. Remaining habitat fragments are at risk from increases in the frequency and intensity of fire, which also threatens biodiversity. The anticipated outcome is a conservation management tool that is readily transferable to any fire-prone system.Read moreRead less
Avian Recruitment: The Key to Maintaining Biodiversity. With increased global trade, the threat to native species from the spread of disease and parasites requires exploration. This is particularly relevant as we link fragmented habitats through vegetation corridors at a national level, thereby creating potential pathways for disease transmission and predator access. This study will contribute to Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia from invasive diseases and pests. It will do this by gen ....Avian Recruitment: The Key to Maintaining Biodiversity. With increased global trade, the threat to native species from the spread of disease and parasites requires exploration. This is particularly relevant as we link fragmented habitats through vegetation corridors at a national level, thereby creating potential pathways for disease transmission and predator access. This study will contribute to Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia from invasive diseases and pests. It will do this by generating a detailed understanding of the link between nesting success, parasite transmission, and immune response in endemic Australian birds in geographically separate populations. The results will be used to inform the establishment of vegetation corridors in the proposed study sites in the next decade.Read moreRead less