The Australian Research Council (ARC) has released the funding outcomes for Linkage Projects 2012 (Round 2). The University of Adelaide secured 11 new grants, 5 of these involving Environment Institute members.
Congratulations to all of our successful members on their grant success.
The successful projects involving Environment Institute members were (with EI participants highlighted):
Evolution and biogeography of Australian idiopid trapdoor spiders: implications for conservation biology and environmental assessment
Participants: Prof Andrew Austin, Dr Michael Rix, Prof Mark Harvey and A/Prof Steven Cooper
Project Summary: This project will use DNA techniques to study the evolution of trapdoor spiders and provide genetic criteria for their identification, environmental assessment and determining conservation priorities.
Partner Organisations: Western Australian Museum, South Australian Museum, BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd, Pilbara Iron Company (Services) Pty Ltd, Biota Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd
Identifying cost-effective reforestation approaches for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in southern Australia
Participants: Prof Corey Bradshaw and Dr Margaret Mayfield
Project Summary: The project will determine the reforestation approach that maximises the native biodiversity found in bushland/shrubland regrowth in South Australia, while maximising the carbon sequestered for the lowest cost.
Partner Organisations: SA Department of Environment And Natural Resources, Zoos SA, Australian Flora Foundation
Bad tastes, odours and toxins in our drinking water reservoirs: are benthic cyanobacteria the culprits?
Participants: A/Prof Justin Brookes, A/Prof Andrew Humpage, A/Prof Michael Burch, A/Prof Paul Monis and Prof Tsair-fuh Lin
Project Summary: This project will investigate species of Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) that grow on the sediments of reservoirs and produce toxins and bad tastes that contaminate drinking water sources. Thus providing more comprehensive management solutions to the water industry.
Partner Organisations: SA Water Corporation, Water Quality Research Australia Ltd, Sydney Catchment Authority, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Root distribution and salinity and soil water dynamics in a chenopod shrubland: implications for restoration ecology
Participants: A/Prof Jose Facelli, A/Prof Jennifer Watling and Prof David Chittleborough
Project Summary: This project investigates the dynamics of water and roots in soils in arid lands to inform revegetation practitioners on the best approaches to reconstruct soils and vegetation after mineral extraction. The project will also provide basic information on the function of chenopod shrublands in arid southern Australia that may be affected by climate change.
Partner Organisations: Iluka Resources Ltd
An integrated tool for informing pest management: modelling range shifts for an invasive vertebrate in response to climate change
Participants: Dr Damien Fordham, A/Prof Phillip Cassey, Prof Barry Brook and Mr Gregory Mutze
Project Summary: This research project focuses on providing user-orientated tools that enable a strategic approach to European rabbit management and vertebrate pest control in Australia in response to anticipated climate and land-use change.
Partner Organisations: Biosecurity SA, WA Department of Agriculture and Food, NSW Department of Primary Industries
Congratulations to all of the successful candidates from the University of Adelaide. See a full list of the successful applications from the University of Adelaide.
