Research grants recently awarded
The following research grants were awarded to the Australian Musuem or in collaboration with the Museum between January and June 2010.
ARC Linkage Grants- Australian Museum is the industry partner
Innovative approaches to identifying regional responses of biodiversity to climate change
Source of funding: ARC Linkage Project ; $320,000 over 3-years
Investigators: Dr John R Gollan and Dr Michael B Ashcroft with Dr Daniel Ramp, Dr David I Warton and Dr Kim M Jenkins.
To be administered by the University of NSW. This project involves collaboration with the Central West Catchment Management Authority and the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.
Project Summary
Australia is facing a biodiversity extinction crisis that is likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Existing models of climate at regional scales require significant advancement, not only to better understand impacts on biodiversity, but also to assist with decision making and adaptation strategies. The project will produce innovative and robust climate maps that are at a scale that is relevant for regional management, enabling predictions of how management actions interact with climate change to affect climate and biodiversity. The project will innovatively identify climate refugia and quantify the effectiveness of existing processes of conservation decision making, whilst engaging the community in climate science and providing considerable scientific training.
Do marine reserve networks work? Larval connectivity, sustainable harvesting and ecological resilience
Source of funding: ARC Linkage Project ; $340,000 over 3-years
Investigators: Prof Geoffrey P Jones, Dr David H Williamson, Dr Jeffrey M Leis, Prof Garry R Russ, Dr Lynne van Herwerden, Dr Glenn R Almany, Dr David R Wachenfeld and Dr Laurence J McCook
To be administered by James Cook University and involves collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
Project Summary
The Great Barrier Reef is a globally iconic marine ecosystem and benefits from the world's largest network of no take reserves. While we know reserves contain more and bigger fish, several key questions about how reserves contribute to sustainable harvesting, protecting biodiversity and resisting climate change remain unanswered. Answers depend on a new understanding of the degree to which fish population on different reefs are connected, and whether or not reserve networks help sustain these linkages. This project will use new technologies to measure the transport of fish larvae between reefs, to assess strengths and weaknesses of the reserve network, and examine ways to improve species protection and sustainable harvesting in a changing climate.
Australian Biological Resources Study
Project Title: Unravelling an unrecognised land snail radiation in the Northern Territory: systematics, evolution and conservation status
Grantee: Dr Frank Koehler
Institution: Australian Museum
Amount: $10 000 (ex. GST)
Term: three years
Approval date: 28 April 2010
Project Title: Taxonomy of the Australian flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticini)
Grantee: Dr Chris Reid
Institution: Australian Museum
Amount: $45 000 (ex. GST)
Term: three years
Approval date: 28 April 2010
Project Title: Hidden gastropod diversity in tropical Australian estuaries: a systematic revision of Australian Stenothyridae, Iravadiidae and Calopiidae
Grantee: Dr Rosemary Golding
Institution: Australian Museum
Amount: $75 000 (ex. GST)
Term: three years
Approval date: 28 April 2010
Project Title: Completing our understanding of the seven dominant Australian shallow-water amphipod families (Crustacea: Peracarida)
Grantee: Dr Lauren Hughes
Institution: Australian Museum
Amount: $75 000 (ex. GST)
Term: three years
Approval date: 28 April 2010
Project Title: Revision of the cicada genus Pauropsalta
Grantee: Max Moulds
Amount: $5 000 (ex. GST)
Term: One year
Approval date: 27 January 2010
