Northern Australia Plant Biosecurity Facility

Australian Research Council (ARC)
Role

Chief Investigator

Description

This proposal aims to establish the only Australian plant quarantine facility north of the 27th parallel (Brisbane), and therefore the only one in the Australian tropics. The facility will enable effective research on tropical invasive plants, which currently can only be developed via proxy facilities far from the relevant habitats. This poses severe limitations to biosecurity research in the Australian Tropics. JCU is a leading institution in tropical environmental research, and as a broad and diverse base of biosecurity researchers that will be expand their capacity to develop world class research on plant biosecurity under safe and adequate conditions. Research ranges from the impact of reintroduction of new genotypes on weed fitness, genetic variability and sensitivity, impact of climate change on weed expansion, the role of plant-animal interactions on plant control, and others.

Date

01 Jan 2024 - 30 Jun 2025

Project Type

GRANT

Keywords

biosecurity;invasive plants;climate change;evolution;biogeography;weed management

Funding Body

Australian Research Council (ARC)

Amount

350000

Project Team

Susan Laurance;Lori Lach;Lucas Cernusak;Paul Nelson;Daniel Montesinos Torres