Understanding and reversing the habitat shifts that have endangered the broad-headed snake. Extinction rates for vertebrate species are higher in southern Australia than almost anywhere else in the world, and saving endangered taxa is critical to biodiversity conservation. To do this effectively, researchers need to understand the processes that threaten wild populations, and to develop novel solutions to those problems in close collaboration with wildlife management authorities and other stake ....Understanding and reversing the habitat shifts that have endangered the broad-headed snake. Extinction rates for vertebrate species are higher in southern Australia than almost anywhere else in the world, and saving endangered taxa is critical to biodiversity conservation. To do this effectively, researchers need to understand the processes that threaten wild populations, and to develop novel solutions to those problems in close collaboration with wildlife management authorities and other stakeholders. This project will build such an understanding and collaboration, focusing on an endangered snake species. We propose ambitious landscape-scale field experiments that will simultaneously test hypotheses on threatening processes, and restore habitat quality to reverse population declines.Read moreRead less
Is recruitment of marine invertebrates affected by variation in larval quality? Managing marine populations and habitats requires detailed understanding of how populations are replenished, and why some places receive more new recruits than others. Attempts to reach this understanding have been hindered by the difficulty in studying tiny larvae that live in the plankton, and for most species, recruitment is a highly variable, unexplained phenomenon. We have identified a new explanation for this ....Is recruitment of marine invertebrates affected by variation in larval quality? Managing marine populations and habitats requires detailed understanding of how populations are replenished, and why some places receive more new recruits than others. Attempts to reach this understanding have been hindered by the difficulty in studying tiny larvae that live in the plankton, and for most species, recruitment is a highly variable, unexplained phenomenon. We have identified a new explanation for this variation, and will test this explanation using a marine invertebrate that is one of Australia's marine pests. A positive result offers promise of explaining recruitment variation in other species, and will provide insight into what makes this particular pest species successful.Read moreRead less
Epidemiology of pathogens in wildlife populations: significance for conservation, human health and livestock. Recent research shows that pathogens may play a central role in wildlife population dynamics. Emergent disease problems in humans and livestock may result from reservoir infections in wildlife. However, methods to determine the impact of pathogens on populations, as distinct from individuals within populations, are poorly developed, as are models necessary to evaluate alternative control ....Epidemiology of pathogens in wildlife populations: significance for conservation, human health and livestock. Recent research shows that pathogens may play a central role in wildlife population dynamics. Emergent disease problems in humans and livestock may result from reservoir infections in wildlife. However, methods to determine the impact of pathogens on populations, as distinct from individuals within populations, are poorly developed, as are models necessary to evaluate alternative control strategies for pathogens, particularly where reservoir hosts are involved. This project will develop these methods using four case studies: chyridiomycosis in frogs, Hendra virus in bats, Newcastle disease in wild birds and arboviruses in kangaroos and other macropods.Read moreRead less
Ecological significance of coral disease on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral disease has contributed significantly to the accelerating deterioration of coral reefs globally, but its impact on the Great Barrier Reef is unknown. This project will determine the prevalence of coral disease on the GBR and evaluate the potential threat it poses to reef health. It will build Australian capacity in the ecology and pathology of coral disease, an emergent global research priority, and provide an important ....Ecological significance of coral disease on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral disease has contributed significantly to the accelerating deterioration of coral reefs globally, but its impact on the Great Barrier Reef is unknown. This project will determine the prevalence of coral disease on the GBR and evaluate the potential threat it poses to reef health. It will build Australian capacity in the ecology and pathology of coral disease, an emergent global research priority, and provide an important benchmark for determining whether disease incidence is increasing. It will provide insights into potential links between environmental / anthropogenic stressors and disease incidence, and identify potential threats to coral reef health.Read moreRead less
Dispersal and gene flow in habitat-forming algae. The temperate coast of Australia has a unique and diverse algal flora. Many of these algae play a central role in subtidal ecology by providing habitat to an astonishing diversity of taxa. Despite this, we have no understanding of levels of gene flow within and among populations of habitat forming algae or how such populations persist in nature. By addressing this lack of knowledge, my research will contribute information that is critical for the ....Dispersal and gene flow in habitat-forming algae. The temperate coast of Australia has a unique and diverse algal flora. Many of these algae play a central role in subtidal ecology by providing habitat to an astonishing diversity of taxa. Despite this, we have no understanding of levels of gene flow within and among populations of habitat forming algae or how such populations persist in nature. By addressing this lack of knowledge, my research will contribute information that is critical for the conservation and management of algal habitats. This is particularly pertinent because anthropogentic stressors are beginning to precipitate significant changes in algal forests along Australia's coastline. Read moreRead less
Drought and Salinity Tolerance in Metal Hyperaccumulating Plants: A Functional Role for the Metals? A few plant species can ?hyperaccumulate? metal ions to 100-1000 times the concentrations seen in ?normal? plants. Just why these plants have evolved such an extreme response to metalliferous soils remains an enigma. Many of the hyperaccumulators so far described are endemic to xeric environments, or saline soils prone to rapid drying. We hypothesize that the metals might act as osmotica, enha ....Drought and Salinity Tolerance in Metal Hyperaccumulating Plants: A Functional Role for the Metals? A few plant species can ?hyperaccumulate? metal ions to 100-1000 times the concentrations seen in ?normal? plants. Just why these plants have evolved such an extreme response to metalliferous soils remains an enigma. Many of the hyperaccumulators so far described are endemic to xeric environments, or saline soils prone to rapid drying. We hypothesize that the metals might act as osmotica, enhancing plant survival during water stress. This will be tested for Australian native and non-native hyperaccumulator plants. The study will clarify our understanding of the evolutionary significance of hyperaccumulation, and has important applications for extracting metals from contaminated soils.Read moreRead less
Does mate choice play a role in the fertilization ecology of free-spawners? Botanists have long recognised the consequences of differential compatibility between mates for breeding programs and agriculture. In important aquaculture species such as abalone and sea-urchins, similar variation in mate compatibility has been observed but current theory struggles to explain this variation and its consequences. I have identified a new explanation for this variation and will test this explanation using ....Does mate choice play a role in the fertilization ecology of free-spawners? Botanists have long recognised the consequences of differential compatibility between mates for breeding programs and agriculture. In important aquaculture species such as abalone and sea-urchins, similar variation in mate compatibility has been observed but current theory struggles to explain this variation and its consequences. I have identified a new explanation for this variation and will test this explanation using a marine invertebrate that is a model system for study around the world. A positive result offers promise of explaining how females 'select' mates in free-spawning species and explaining the consequence of this mate selection.Read moreRead less
Diatom frustules: nanostructures at the base of ocean food webs. Molecules interacting with surfaces are fundamental to biological, chemical and physical processes, including desalinization membrane design, lab-on-a-chip systems, industrial catalysis, bioremediation, neurophysiology and uptake of nutrients for incorporation into food webs. Here, we use diatoms as models for molecule-surface interactions to find basic principles that underlay all of these interactions. This research will train st ....Diatom frustules: nanostructures at the base of ocean food webs. Molecules interacting with surfaces are fundamental to biological, chemical and physical processes, including desalinization membrane design, lab-on-a-chip systems, industrial catalysis, bioremediation, neurophysiology and uptake of nutrients for incorporation into food webs. Here, we use diatoms as models for molecule-surface interactions to find basic principles that underlay all of these interactions. This research will train students and scientists and establish collaborations with leading international scientists in the field.Read moreRead less
How does soil fertility affect jarrah forest rehabilitation after mining? This project will examine the effect of fertiliser additions on the species composition and functional diversity of jarrah forest that develops after bauxite-mining. It is directly relevant to the achievement of the sustainable use of natural resources in Australia. Expected outcomes are best-practice management guidelines regarding the amount of fertiliser that results in the most effective achievement of completion cri ....How does soil fertility affect jarrah forest rehabilitation after mining? This project will examine the effect of fertiliser additions on the species composition and functional diversity of jarrah forest that develops after bauxite-mining. It is directly relevant to the achievement of the sustainable use of natural resources in Australia. Expected outcomes are best-practice management guidelines regarding the amount of fertiliser that results in the most effective achievement of completion criteria, and also an improved understanding of the consequences of fertiliser application on the biodiversity (plants and soil biota) and ecosystem function of rehabilitated forest ecosystems. Read moreRead less
Do costs of dispersal reduce connectivity in marine invertebrate populations? Current approaches to marine management - designing marine reserves, understanding pest incursions, and managing fisheries, acknowledge that marine animals exist in isolated local populations, connected by dispersal. Dispersal is crucial for local populations to persist or be managed sustainably, but our understanding remains poor and often limits our management. Most current approaches to estimating connectivity are ....Do costs of dispersal reduce connectivity in marine invertebrate populations? Current approaches to marine management - designing marine reserves, understanding pest incursions, and managing fisheries, acknowledge that marine animals exist in isolated local populations, connected by dispersal. Dispersal is crucial for local populations to persist or be managed sustainably, but our understanding remains poor and often limits our management. Most current approaches to estimating connectivity are adequate only if all dispersers are equally successful at establishing. Dispersal, however, is risky or costly, and we propose that these costs reduce the success of colonists from more distant populations. If this is correct, persistence of local populations may rely disproportionately on other nearby local populations.Read moreRead less