Ecosystem Assembly in Old Fields in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. This project aims to examine the process of ecosystem re-assembly on land which is taken out of agricultural production and left without further management. Land abandonment is common in many parts of the world and could increase dramatically in Australia due to land degradation, salinity and structural change. We will investigate the factors which influence whether native plant species can recolonise abandoned farmland, usin ....Ecosystem Assembly in Old Fields in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. This project aims to examine the process of ecosystem re-assembly on land which is taken out of agricultural production and left without further management. Land abandonment is common in many parts of the world and could increase dramatically in Australia due to land degradation, salinity and structural change. We will investigate the factors which influence whether native plant species can recolonise abandoned farmland, using field and greenhouse studies. We will do this within the context of ecosystem assembly, thereby answering a practical question and also providing input to a conceptual area which is currently of great interest inRead moreRead less
Setting and achieving realistic restoration goals in human-dominated ecosystems. Federal and state programs and community and NGO activities increasingly focus on ecosystem restoration as a tool in conservation and natural resource management. Clearer understanding of ecosystem dynamics and better articulation of realistic restoration goals can lead to much improved restoration success and better investment of government and private funds. This project will provide a better understanding of ecos ....Setting and achieving realistic restoration goals in human-dominated ecosystems. Federal and state programs and community and NGO activities increasingly focus on ecosystem restoration as a tool in conservation and natural resource management. Clearer understanding of ecosystem dynamics and better articulation of realistic restoration goals can lead to much improved restoration success and better investment of government and private funds. This project will provide a better understanding of ecosystem dynamics both under current conditions and also as influenced by future environmental changes. The contribution to the theoretical and conceptual development of the field of restoration ecology will increase the profile of Australian science and enhance our reputation as leaders in this field. Read moreRead less
How are microorganisms and nutrient cycling in saline soils affected by soil matric potential? Dryland agriculture is threatened by salinity and drought, and it is well-known that individually, both can decrease not only crop growth but also microbial activity and nutrient cycling which are critical for sustainability. As our climate becomes drier, it is necessary to understand how microbial activity and nutrient cycling in saline soils will be affected by drought and sporadic summer rainfall ev ....How are microorganisms and nutrient cycling in saline soils affected by soil matric potential? Dryland agriculture is threatened by salinity and drought, and it is well-known that individually, both can decrease not only crop growth but also microbial activity and nutrient cycling which are critical for sustainability. As our climate becomes drier, it is necessary to understand how microbial activity and nutrient cycling in saline soils will be affected by drought and sporadic summer rainfall events. As an international team of soil biologists, we will investigate the interactions between salinity and soil moisture on microbial activity and nutrient cycling. The results will provide insights into nutrient cycling in saline soils now and in the future and the benefit of amelioration strategies.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the independence of the severely disabled: Improving the detection rates of an EEG based brain computer interface (BCI). Severe disability costs the Australian economy and society billions of dollars each year and the population of severely disabled is steadily increasing. Also, disability results in impairments that can traumatically alter a person's life. The outcomes of this project will result in substantial national benefits by (i) optimising technology that will greatly improve t ....Enhancing the independence of the severely disabled: Improving the detection rates of an EEG based brain computer interface (BCI). Severe disability costs the Australian economy and society billions of dollars each year and the population of severely disabled is steadily increasing. Also, disability results in impairments that can traumatically alter a person's life. The outcomes of this project will result in substantial national benefits by (i) optimising technology that will greatly improve the life of the disabled by enhancing their ability to control their environment, (ii) situating Australia in the forefront of disability technology research and development, and (iii) enhancing the development of knowledge in research training students in the biomedical area. Read moreRead less
Identifying novel, health-related predictors of recidivism: Informing evidence-based throughcare. Throughcare is a policy priority for correctional authorities in Australia, however the evidence base to inform policy is limited. Using innovative modelling techniques and unique data from a large, representative cohort of ex-prisoners in Queensland, this study will: identify novel, health-related predictors of recidivism in the first two years after release from adult custody; examine the extent t ....Identifying novel, health-related predictors of recidivism: Informing evidence-based throughcare. Throughcare is a policy priority for correctional authorities in Australia, however the evidence base to inform policy is limited. Using innovative modelling techniques and unique data from a large, representative cohort of ex-prisoners in Queensland, this study will: identify novel, health-related predictors of recidivism in the first two years after release from adult custody; examine the extent to which risk and protective factors for recidivism vary over time and according to individual characteristics; and, provide evidence-based recommendations to improve throughcare interventions and reduce recidivism.Read moreRead less
The evolution and maintenance of specificity, mutualism and diversity in plant-soil microbe interactions. This research will significantly advance knowledge regarding the evolution of mutualisms between plant and soil microbes. Results will provide valuable data on the importance of below-ground microbial community structure to growth and productivity of an ecologically important component of the Australian flora (Acacia spp.), and contribute to the development of best ecosystem restoration prac ....The evolution and maintenance of specificity, mutualism and diversity in plant-soil microbe interactions. This research will significantly advance knowledge regarding the evolution of mutualisms between plant and soil microbes. Results will provide valuable data on the importance of below-ground microbial community structure to growth and productivity of an ecologically important component of the Australian flora (Acacia spp.), and contribute to the development of best ecosystem restoration practices. Furthermore, it will see the continued development of the Acacia-rhizobia system as a world-class model for exploring interactions between perennial legumes and microbial symbionts. The research also investigates the adaptability and potential for rapid evolution of critical elements of the soil microflora to environmental change.Read moreRead less
Parole in crisis? Public opinion on the use of parole. Serious crimes committed by parolees in Australia have brought parole into the public eye. Without concrete evidence, governments often act on the assumption that the public holds punitive attitudes. This project is expected to develop an evidence base to inform policy on parole at a crucial time when governments are under pressure to restrict its use. Three mixed-method studies aim to assess: what public views on parole are; why the public ....Parole in crisis? Public opinion on the use of parole. Serious crimes committed by parolees in Australia have brought parole into the public eye. Without concrete evidence, governments often act on the assumption that the public holds punitive attitudes. This project is expected to develop an evidence base to inform policy on parole at a crucial time when governments are under pressure to restrict its use. Three mixed-method studies aim to assess: what public views on parole are; why the public holds these views; and what influence these views have on policy and practice. The project is expected to make contributions to: creating information strategies that properly inform the public; supporting prisoner reintegration strategies; and shaping criminal justice policies based on informed community feedback.Read moreRead less
Foregrounding the suburban backyard: using hybrid spaces to develop new environmental theory for more effective management of human landscapes. Although human influences now pervade all Earth processes, environmental ideals of pristine past landscapes without people continue to dominate. The project addresses the challenge of managing environments for hybridity, change and human presence, rather than timeless purity. I will undertake the first in-depth ethnographic study of the suburban backya ....Foregrounding the suburban backyard: using hybrid spaces to develop new environmental theory for more effective management of human landscapes. Although human influences now pervade all Earth processes, environmental ideals of pristine past landscapes without people continue to dominate. The project addresses the challenge of managing environments for hybridity, change and human presence, rather than timeless purity. I will undertake the first in-depth ethnographic study of the suburban backyard, Australia's most hybrid ecosystem. I analyse how categories of environmental belonging - indigenous/introduced, wild/tame, hybrid/pure - are differentially applied to people, other species and landscapes, in policy and popular culture. This contributes to new theories of long term human-environment interactions and effective management of human landscapes. Outcomes will include books and museum exhibitions.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and evaluation of labelled germination stimulants for determining the role of butenolide in promoting seed germination. The discovery of the germination promotive agent in smoke (a butenolide) represents a major and internationally significant scientific discovery for Australia and provides exciting opportunities for benefits in agriculture, natural lands management and restoration sciences. The activity demonstrated with a broad range of species shows that the butenolide has general a ....Synthesis and evaluation of labelled germination stimulants for determining the role of butenolide in promoting seed germination. The discovery of the germination promotive agent in smoke (a butenolide) represents a major and internationally significant scientific discovery for Australia and provides exciting opportunities for benefits in agriculture, natural lands management and restoration sciences. The activity demonstrated with a broad range of species shows that the butenolide has general applicability worldwide. This study now provides a unique opportunity for Australian research to establish a world-leading position in understanding the butenolide mode of action within plant seeds which will result in a significant advance in our understanding of the processes that regulate seed dormancy in many plant species. Read moreRead less
Biodiversity conservation, vegetation restoration and landscape design. There has been considerable recent activity through major Government-funded programs to restore native vegetation. Despite extensive expenditure, the biodiversity conservation values of restoration remain very poorly known. This innovative project will address this major knowledge gap. It will generate quality data and new principles to guide restoration that maximizes biodiversity conservation. The principal aim is to estim ....Biodiversity conservation, vegetation restoration and landscape design. There has been considerable recent activity through major Government-funded programs to restore native vegetation. Despite extensive expenditure, the biodiversity conservation values of restoration remain very poorly known. This innovative project will address this major knowledge gap. It will generate quality data and new principles to guide restoration that maximizes biodiversity conservation. The principal aim is to estimate tree planting effects on vertebrates and assess whether the effects are consistent across different landscapes, farm units and regions. New insights from the project will aid the design of cost-effective and ecologically-effective restoration programs for future landscapes in rural Australian production environments.Read moreRead less