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Recent Research Grants
An overview of recently funded research projects sorted by month and funding source
The month is derived from the date of account opening information is sent to Research Finance.
This page
is updated every other night.
August
Australian Geographic Society - Sponsorship
The control of coral disease by coral-feeding fish
Indicative funding: $500
Coral disease is a major threat to the worlds coral reefs. Presently there is no method to treat infected coral
colonies, however coral feeding fish have been observed to selectively feed on damaged and diseased coral. This selective
predation is expected to reduce the chance of infection as diseased and dying tissue is removed before the infection can spread
and kill the entire colony. This project aims to test whether coral feeding fish can reduce the incidence and severity of coral
disease outbreaks by selectively feeding and removing infected tissue from coral colonies.
Chief Investigator
Australian Research Council - Discovery - Federation fellowship
Environmental change, carbon cycling and human impact in tropical Australia
Indicative funding: $2,137,508 over 6 years.
This fellowship will execute research programmes of international significance with the overarching aim of
developing an integrated, process-based understanding of contemporary biological and geochemical processes in tropical forest
and savanna environments, the response of these ecosystems to environmental change on a range of temporal scales, and the
role of humans as agents of change from prehistoric to modern times.
Chief Investigator
Other Participant
Bird, Michael
(James Cook University )
Australian Research Council - Linkage - Infrastructure (L-IEF) - Joint Appl (JCU not lead Institution)
Australian Membership of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program
Indicative funding: $0 over 5 years.
Membership of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) will provide high-leverage access to the
largest, and most effective international geoscience program. Results from drilling within australia's marine jurisdiction will give
understanding of the oceans' state under past climates through high resolution records of the range of oceanographic and
biological responses to climate change, the role of the deep biosphere in shaping oil and gas deposits, hydrothermal and igneous
processes involved in ore genesis, and enhanced understanding of some of the world's larget earthquake- and tsunami-
generating processes
Chief Investigator
Other Participants
Arculus, Richard
(Australian National University)
- De Deckker, Patrick
- Exon, Neville
- Vasconcelas, Paulo
(University of Queensland)
- Muller, Dietmar
(The University of Sydney)
- O'Reilly, Sue
(Macquarie University )
- Chivas, Allan
(University of Wollongong )
- Cartwright, Ian
(Monash University )
- Stilwell, Jeffrey
- Hall, Mike
- Hergt, Janet
(The University of Melbourne)
- Howard, Will
(University of Tasmania )
- McCuaig, Campbell
(The University of Western Australia)
- Yeats, Chris
(Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation)
- Cooper, Alan
(University of Adelaide)
- Poiner, Ian
(Australian Institute of Marine Science)
National Health & Medical Research Council - Joint Project Grant (JCU not lead institution)
The efficacy of novel, non-robotic devices to train reaching post stroke
Indicative funding: $5,000
Up to 50% of stroke survivors are left with upper limb disability that limits their daily activities and their
paralysis is so severe that it excludes them from training with the most effective methods. This study is a clinical trial of innovative
new techniques to assist people with severe upper limb paralysis to reach following stroke. Positive results are likely to reduce
disabilityin a large number of stroke survivors and has the potential to be used by other patients with paralysis.
Chief Investigator
Other Participants
Brauer, Sandra
(University of Queensland)
- Carson, Richard
(The Queen's University of Belfast)
- Wilson, Stephen
(University of Queensland)
- Cresswell, Andrew
Oregon Zoo - Future for Wildlife Grants
Native timber plantations in Papua New Guinea - a sustainable forestry option?
Indicative funding: $2,093
Landscape mosaics comprising patches of forest for anthropogenic use among primary rainforest, have
been considered a viable compromise in the conflict between human needs and the need to preserve natural environments. As a
method of reducing encroachment upon primary forests, timber plantations are also considered a potentially sustainable practice.
The fact that Open Bay combines both of these potentially sustainable forestry methods in a country where logging often occurs
in disregard of national forestry laws, makes it a prime case study. The successof this operation depends upon the way in which
the landscape is managed and whether the plantations can actually provide suitable habitat for a large proportion of wildlife.
Chief Investigators
Project AWARE Foundation - Grant Program
The effects of chronic predation by fish on reef-building coral
Indicative funding: $2,500
Coral disease is a major threat to the worlds coral reefs. Presently there is no method to treat infected coral
colonies, however coral feeding fish have been observed to selectively feed on damaged and diseased coral colonies. This
selective predation is expected to reduce the chance of infection as diseased and dying tissue is removed before the infection
can spread and kill the entire colony. This project aims to test whether coral feeding fish reduce the incidence and severity of
coral disease outbreaks by selectively feeding on and removing infected tissue from coral colonies.
Chief Investigator
Skyrail Rainforest Foundation - Research Funding
Conservation of the northern bettong (Bettongia tropica) - limits to current distribution and a mechanistic model for
predicting the effects of climate change
Indicative funding: $4,500 over 2 years.
Using statistical modelling to understand present dat distribution and potential impact of climate change on
the endangered northern bettong. This is needed to assess the current distribution and suitable habitat of the northern bettong
and its key food resources. By evaluating such suitable habitat in relation to environmental and climactic variables, will allow for
the prediction of how the distribution of suitable habitat for the species and its resources will alter in response to climate change.
Chief Investigators
Other Participant
Microhabitat utilization and the spatial and temporal distribution of rainforest canopy insects
Indicative funding: $5,000
The main objective of my project is to quantify the within-tree distribution of canopy arthropods, with a
special focus on canopy beetles. Until now, virtually all canopy insect studies have concentrated on the fauna associated with
specific microhabitats within trees, such as leaves or flowers, or have treated entire tree crowns as single sampling entities.
Consequently, the importance of different microhabitats to maintaining biodiversity remains unknown. By collecting insects directly
from different microhabitats i.e., mature leaves, new leaves, flowers, fruit and suspended dead wood) within tree canopies using
the Australian Canopy Crane this project aims to quantify the density, diversity and host specificity of canopy insects utilizing
different canopy resources.
Chief Investigator
Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia - Student Grant
Insect pollinators in Agricultural systems
Indicative funding: $1,000
This project will compare diversity of insects (particularly potential pollinators) in 4 different land uses and
determine the factors influencing their distribution, abundance and movements. Methods to maximise the pollination services of
native insects can then be devised to enable improved seed/fruit set and reduce the cost of and reliance on, the introduced
honeybee.
Chief Investigators
Other Participants
Westcott, David
(Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation)
- Howlett, Brad
(Crop and Food Research New Zealand)
- Cunningham, Saul
(Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation)
July
Australian Association for Social Work & Welfare Education - Wendy Weeks Research Grants
Writing as a practice skill in helping relationships.
Indicative funding: $2,363
Recognising the cathartic and healing benefits of story writing is nothing new. Yet the exploration and
identification of writing as a core practice skill within social welfare work with clients, familites and communities is uncommon in
helping skills texts. The purpose of this proposed small research project is to explore the ways in which service providers (and
service users) use writing within the helping relationship. The findings of this rpactice-based research study will directly inform
social work education.
Chief Investigator
Charles Darwin University - (School for Social & Policy Research)
Drive tourism in the Northern Territory
Indicative funding: $13,300
This project involves co research with A/Prof Dean Carson, School for Social and Policy Research, CDU, into
aspects of drive tourism in the Northern Territory. The outcome of the research will be an improved understanding of the role of
innovation in developing tourism products that are of particular appeal to drive tourists. Drive tourists driving both on road and
off road vehicles, are a major source of visitors to the NT and if destinations within the Territory are to maximize their appeal to
this segment they must continually innovate their products. The funds will be used to support field work by PhD student D
Schmallegger.
Chief Investigator
Other Participant
Occupational Therapists Board of Queensland - Research Grant
Occupational Therapy Intervention: Perspectives of service providers and indigenous service users
Indicative funding: $5,582
Indigenous culture is not homogenous and differs from western based cultures. The values and models of
practice underpinning occupational therapy may be challenged by these differences, particularly in respect to working with older
adults (Iwama 2004, Nelson et al 2006). This study has two aims. Firstly, to explore how occupational therapists practicing in
North Queeensland view their effectiveness when working with older adults who identify as Abotiginal or Torres Strait Islander,
and secondly to explore how older Indigenous clients view occupational therapy treatment. This scoping study will provide
valuable information for OT policy development and help to develop a proposal for a larger Queensland study.
Chief Investigators
Ocean Park Conservation Foundation - Research Grant
Towards sustainable dolphin-watching tourism in Bali, Indonesia
Indicative funding: $8,339
Dolphin watchin is a growing industry in Bali, the sustainability of which is uncertain. The economic crisis in
Indonesia has prompted Bali dolphin operators (mostly in the north) to 'satisfy' their guests for extra tips by minimising approach
distances to the dolphins, a tendency that creates potential adverse impacts on both the dolphins and tourism in Bali. The lack of
understanding about the social constructions of dolphin-watching stakeholders in Bali also inhibits the development of dolphin-
watching protocols. This project will continue the research begun in 2007 to provide the science base and develop indicators for
the sustainable management of dolphin tourism in Bali as well to develop a newtwork of sustanable cetacean watching operators
in the region.
Chief Investigator
Other Participant
Bahtiar, Yusuf
(Udayana University)
Skyrail Rainforest Foundation - Research Funding
Does the landscape matrix of native Eucalyptus deglupta plantations, logged-over and primary rainforest on the Gazelle
Peninsula, Papua New Quinea, provide sustainable habitat for local wildlife?
Indicative funding: $4,500
Landscape mosaics comprising patches of forest for anthropogenic use among primary rainforest, have
been considered a viable compromise in the conflict between human needs and the need to preserve natural environments. As a
method of reducing encroachment upon primary forests, timber plantations are also considered a potentially sustainable
practice. The fact that Open Bay combines both of these potentially sustainable forestry methods in a country where logging
often occurs in disregard of national forestry laws, makes it a prime case study. The success of this operation depends upon the
way in which the landscape is managed and whether the plantations can actually provide suitable habitat for a large proportion of
wildlife. To test whether both of these priorities are met, the project aims to assess the occurrence of forest-interior and
secondary-specialist birds in the variety of habitats present: E. deglupta plantations, primary hill and lowland rainforest, and
logged-over hill and lowland rainforest.
Chief Investigator
Mechanisms of resistance to chytridiomycosis in recovered and recolonised amphibian populations: is the dry forest a
refuge from disease related amphibian declines?
Indicative funding: $4,000
The lmain aim of the project is to understand how some amphibian populations are able to coecist with the
potentially fatal amphibian disease, chytridiomycosis. Outbreaks of this disease have been linked to frog population declines and
extinctions around the world. All frog species were not affected equally; most declinies occurred in rainforest areas above 400m
asl, and while some species disappeared completely, others declinsed but have since recovered. Frog populations in adjacent
high elevation dry forests seem to be unaffected from the disease. Is the dry forest a refuge from decline? If so, this has important
amphibian conservation implications.
Chief Investigators
Sugar R&D Corporation - Travel and Learning Opportunity
Participation at the International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa - SRDC PhD scholarship results delivered
to international audience
Indicative funding: $4,058
SRDC has invested significantly in Kylie Anderson's PhD Scholarship roject STU052. A major component of
that project is the development of an ecological model using data on migration routes and history of habitat expansion of
Eumetopina flavipes, the vector of Ramu Stunt disease, in order to provide a tool for the management of exotic incursions. The
International Congress of Entomology (ICE) occurs once every four years, providing an overview of advances in a diverse range
of entomological disciplines all over the globe. Symposia include pest management, ecology, evolutionary biology, insect
pathology and invasive species. All these topics relate to project STU052. The ICE provides an excellent opportunity for Ms
Anderson to familiarise herself with cutting-edge research in the above mentioned disciplines, and ensure her PhD thesis is as
comprehensive as possible. During her candidature, Ms Anderson has attended two SRDC funded workshops aimed at
developing and enhancing presentation skills. Attendance at ICE will permit Ms Anderson to disseminate results from project
STU052, via an oral and poster presentation, putting into practice the presentation skills learned through the workshops.
Chief Investigator
Anderson, Kylie
(Zoology & Tropical Ecology)
Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia - Student Grant
The control of coral disease by coral-feeding fish
Indicative funding: $1,000
Coral disease is a major threat to the worlds coral reefs. Presently there is no method to treat infected coral
colonies, however coral feeding fish have been observed to selectively feed on damaged and diseased coral. This selective
predation is expected to reduce the chance of infection as diseased and dying tissue is removed before the infection can spread
and kill the entire colony. This project aims to test whether coral feeding fish can reduce the incidence and severity of coral
disease outbreaks by selectively feeding and removing infected tissue from coral colonies.
Chief Investigator
Ecological specialisation versus susceptibility to disturbance among coral-dependent butterflyfishes
Indicative funding: $1,000
This research investigates effects of coral loss, such as that caused by climate-induced coral bleaching, on
coral reef fishes. Among those fishes with the greatest dependence on live corals are butterflyfishes, which often depend on coral
for both food and settlement. Consequently, depletion of essential coral species may lead to starvation among adults as well as
reduce settlement rates of juvenile butterflyfishes. This study will document the range of coral species used by different
butterflyfishes and investigate connectivity levels among geographically separated populations to assess species-specific
vulnerability to coral loss caused by sustained and ongoing climate change.
Chief Investigator
June
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Science for Management Award
The acoustic and surface behaviour of coastal dolphins in QLD: Implications for Management
Indicative funding: $1,818
The project will provide information essential to the conservation lmanagement of queensland's two species
of inshore dolphins, using innovative technologies to investigate the acoustic and surface behaviours of the Indo-Pacific
humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) and the Australian snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) and by: 1. Developing a
comprehensive description of the acoustic behaviour of snubfin dolphins; 2. Relating acoustic behaviours of humpback, snobfin
and bottlenose dolphins to their surface bheaviour; 3. Quantifying responses of dolphins to acoustic stimuli including acoustic
alarms; and 4. Assessing the efficacy of mitigation measures to reduce bycatch, using a spatial risk assessment.
Chief Investigator
The effects of no-take zoning, region and year on reproductive output of the common coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus
Indicative funding: $1,818
Understanding the reproductive biology of exploited fish species is essential for effective management. In
particular, information on the reproductive output is critical for assessing replenishment of populations. The coral troup
(Plectropomus leopardus) is the most important species in the reef line fishery on the Great Barrier Reef. This project will assess
whether the reproductive output of coral trout varies in different regions and years on the GBR. Importantly, this project will
compare the reproductive output between areas open and closed to fishing, which will be critical for assessing the efficacy of the
2003 GBRMPA zoning plan.
Chief Investigator
Climate change and the future for coral reef fishes: impacts and adaptation
Indicative funding: $3,636
This project will use environmentally-controlled rearing facilities to experimentally test the independent and
interacting effects that predicted changes in the ocean environment will have on coral reef fishes. Specifically the project will
investigate the effects of temperature and food supply on the reproductive performance of adult reef fish, the embryonic duration
and condition of their offspring at hatching, and the growth and survival of the larvae and juveniles. Subsequently, the project will
investigate the potential ability of the fish to acclimate or adapt to changes in the ocean temperature by rearing the 1st and 2nd
generation offspring through to maturity.
Chief Investigator
Risk assessment of climate change impacts on marine turtle populations
Indicative funding: $2,900
The broad aim of this study is to assess the risk of climate change to the Northern GBR green turtle
population. This study is important because it will deliver significant findings to the Queensland Government for the future
management and conservation of marine turtle populations in Northern Australia in relation to climate change. Specifically, it will
(1) assess the risk of climate change to green turtles in Northern Qld; (2) forecast potential impacts and responses to climate
change by green turtles and (3) provide management prescriptions to reduce the susceptibility, and increase the resilience of
green turtles to climate change.
Chief Investigators
Other Participant
Limpus, Colin
(Environmental Protection Agency)
Algal-herbivore interactions: the role of herbivory in structuring cross-shelf variation in benthic algal communities
Indicative funding: $909
The relationship between benthic algae and herbivorous fishes is becoming increasingly important as coral
reefs around the world are under threat from natural and human disturbances. In several locations the overharvesting of
'herbivorous' fishes coupled with the increased incidence of disturbances has resulted in system-wide declines to macroalgal-
dominated states. This project aims to identify those species of herbivorous reef fish that prevent such phase-shifts, and how this
relationship varies across the continental shelf.
Chief Investigator
Hermon Slade Foundation - Research Grant
Reviving ecological functioning with dingo restoration
Indicative funding: $88,680 over 3 years.
Invasive mammals have been implicated as the main drivers of land degradation and etinction since
European settlement. Intensive poison baiting and other pest control methods have been widely implemented in an attempt to
control invasives and enhance biodiversity, but have generally failed. We present the hypothesis that species extinction, invasive
species increase and land degradation are all a direct result of the persecution of Australia's only top order predator, the dingo.
Chief Investigators
Johnson, Chris
(Zoology & Tropical Ecology)
- Wallach, Arian
(University of Adelaide)
Other Participant
O'Neill, Adam
(C&A Environmental Services)
Using livestock guardian dogs for dingo management and biodiversity conservation in Australia
Indicative funding: $82,880 over 3 years.
Livestock guardian dogs are increasingly used to protect livestock from peredators in Australia. We will
investigate the behaviour of livestock guardian dogs free-ranging at large scales, and investigate their effects on dingoes and
other wildlife on large sheep and cattle stations. This project will investigate the mechanisms by which guardian dogs deter
predators of livestock, and test whether they have the potential to sustain biodiversity (by excluding foxes and cats) as well.
Chief Investigators
Other Participant
Jenkins, David
(Charles Sturt University )
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