Incorporating new knowledge of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation into an ocean-climate model to improve forecasts of ocean function. Phytoplankton drives ocean biogeochemical cycles and regulate Earth’s climate yet are poorly represented in ocean-climate models. This project will use advanced cell sorting and analysis techniques and innovative selection experiments to gain a deeper understanding of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation under projected climate change. Th ....Incorporating new knowledge of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation into an ocean-climate model to improve forecasts of ocean function. Phytoplankton drives ocean biogeochemical cycles and regulate Earth’s climate yet are poorly represented in ocean-climate models. This project will use advanced cell sorting and analysis techniques and innovative selection experiments to gain a deeper understanding of phytoplankton diversity and nutrient utilisation under projected climate change. This new knowledge will be used to improve the biological structure of an existing coupled ocean-climate model and reduce key uncertainties in forecasts of ocean function. This research will provide managers and industry with more accurate insight into the effects of ongoing climate change on the delivery of ecosystem services in eastern Australian waters.Read moreRead less
Dark survival in the polar winter. There is strong public interest in both the Arctic and Antarctica and global climate change. By better understanding how these polar ecosystems function in winter and the likely effects of increasing temperatures we will be able to keep the public informed on likely impacts. There are large fishing industries in the Arctic and growing finfish and krill fisheries in the Southern Ocean. This project will contribute to a better understanding of how these stocks wi ....Dark survival in the polar winter. There is strong public interest in both the Arctic and Antarctica and global climate change. By better understanding how these polar ecosystems function in winter and the likely effects of increasing temperatures we will be able to keep the public informed on likely impacts. There are large fishing industries in the Arctic and growing finfish and krill fisheries in the Southern Ocean. This project will contribute to a better understanding of how these stocks will be affected (together with seals, penguins and whales) and how they should be managed to ensure sustainable fisheries and maximum biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidenc ....Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidence of these keystones’ cellular level biogeochemical and metabolic capacity. Ultimately, this knowledge is expected to predict the resilience of ocean ecosystems and their response to change. The capacity to predict their dynamics will help provide investment clarity and increase healthy outcomes from activities involving human-ocean interactions such as recreation, food production and tourism.Read moreRead less
Why ocean deserts matter: Phytoplankton productivity in oligotrophic waters. This project aims to revisit the role of ocean deserts in the global ocean primary production. Because of their extent, these areas are paradoxically responsible for about half the global ocean carbon fixation. The project will use a unique combination of optical and biogeochemical data from a research voyage in the Indian Ocean, biogeochemical models and satellite observations, expecting to generate new knowledge on th ....Why ocean deserts matter: Phytoplankton productivity in oligotrophic waters. This project aims to revisit the role of ocean deserts in the global ocean primary production. Because of their extent, these areas are paradoxically responsible for about half the global ocean carbon fixation. The project will use a unique combination of optical and biogeochemical data from a research voyage in the Indian Ocean, biogeochemical models and satellite observations, expecting to generate new knowledge on the link between biogeochemical and optical quantities accessible to satellite remote sensing. Expected outcomes are improved estimates of phytoplankton carbon biomass and productivity, in particular in the Indian Ocean. A key benefit will be an improved end-user relevance of satellite monitoring of Australia’s oceans.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
Probing the response of Southern Ocean phytoplankton to changes in iron biogeochemistry, light and pH associated with climate change. Determining factors that influence the health and vitality of coastal and open-ocean regions is crucial to maintaining marine biodiversity and the Earth’s climatic balance. This research project will determine the role climate change and ocean acidification will have on the ability of Southern Ocean phytoplankton to flourish.
Do marine heat waves cause pathogen outbreaks in Australian coastal waters? This project aims to identify links between increasingly frequent Marine Heat Wave (MHW) events and outbreaks of microbes that cause disease in marine animals, reduced aquaculture yields and human health hazards. Pathogenic bacteria from the Vibrio genus exhibit a preference for elevated seawater temperature and this project will test the hypothesis that episodic MHWs will trigger blooms of dangerous species. Using innov ....Do marine heat waves cause pathogen outbreaks in Australian coastal waters? This project aims to identify links between increasingly frequent Marine Heat Wave (MHW) events and outbreaks of microbes that cause disease in marine animals, reduced aquaculture yields and human health hazards. Pathogenic bacteria from the Vibrio genus exhibit a preference for elevated seawater temperature and this project will test the hypothesis that episodic MHWs will trigger blooms of dangerous species. Using innovative ecogenomic tools, this project will track the impact of MHWs on the dynamics of pathogenic Vibrio within coastal habitats, oyster farming facilities and coral reefs. The benefit of this project will be essential new knowledge on an emerging threat to Australia’s valuable marine estate, food security and public health.Read moreRead less
Mapping and Modelling the Ocean's Unseen Biodiversity. From the reef to the rainforest, Australia is famous for its unique biodiversity. Less well known is that Australia's coastline is predicted to be a global hotspot for biodiversity in marine microbes, the unseen life forces that maintain ocean health and productivity. This project aims to overcome historical technological and logistical hurdles by using cutting-edge sampling, genetic and modelling tools to provide the first models of microbi ....Mapping and Modelling the Ocean's Unseen Biodiversity. From the reef to the rainforest, Australia is famous for its unique biodiversity. Less well known is that Australia's coastline is predicted to be a global hotspot for biodiversity in marine microbes, the unseen life forces that maintain ocean health and productivity. This project aims to overcome historical technological and logistical hurdles by using cutting-edge sampling, genetic and modelling tools to provide the first models of microbial diversity patterns and organismal range in Australian marine systems. This is expected to be a crucial step for understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes that shape contemporary biodiversity.Read moreRead less
The role of Eastern Antarctic polynyas in global ocean circulation. This project aims to study Antarctic polynyas, an important, but poorly observed marine habitat, which profoundly influence the global climate. The major water masses of the world's oceans are formed there, making a large contribution to the ocean heat and carbon dioxide uptake. This study will collect data on ocean properties to 2000m from polynyas in eastern Antarctica throughout the Antarctic winter. The outcomes will be the ....The role of Eastern Antarctic polynyas in global ocean circulation. This project aims to study Antarctic polynyas, an important, but poorly observed marine habitat, which profoundly influence the global climate. The major water masses of the world's oceans are formed there, making a large contribution to the ocean heat and carbon dioxide uptake. This study will collect data on ocean properties to 2000m from polynyas in eastern Antarctica throughout the Antarctic winter. The outcomes will be the provision of data of critical importance to oceanographic and climate studies.Read moreRead less
Where currents collide: tracking the biological impacts of climate change. This project will track the effects of climate change on Australia's unique marine biodiversity. Understanding the impacts of changing ocean currents on our coastal communities underpins the conservation and management of our valuable coastal resources.