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Improving coral condition through better-informed resilience-based management (Old ID 26962)
Resilience-based management and integrated monitoring and reporting through the Reef Integrated Monitoring and Reporting (RIMRep) program are key initiatives for managing the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) ecosystem. A wide range of NESP TWQ Hub projects have focused on resilience-based management and decision making for maintaining and improving coral reef condition in the GBR. These projects directly contribute to the goals outlined in the Great Barrier Reef Blueprint for Resilience (2017) and support the development of RIMRep. Many of these research investments are in direct response to the 2016-17 mass thermal bleaching events. This synthesis will bring together the learnings of many research projects and initiatives driven by the same goals into a succinct coherent story.
Improving performance of bioreactors for treating effluent from land- based aquaculture. (Old ID 26969)
Effluent from land-based aquaculture is problematic because of its nutrient content. This project aims to enhance the performance of ‘denitrification bioreactors’ designed to remove nitrogen from effluent. It will be carried out on a barramundi farm near Innisfail. Availability of carbon appears to limit bioreactor performance, so the effect of adding molasses will be tested, under different conditions of salinity and retention time. The ability of the bioreactors to eliminate algae and parasites will also be tested. The results will be applicable to aquaculture farms throughout the tropics, facilitating more effective treatment of water leaving farms or being recirculated.
Testing of insecticidal and repellency (Old ID 27123)
Testing the mosquito repellency of a topical lotion product manufactured by Australian Blue Cypress P/L (ABCPL) using colony Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in order to provide data for accreditation by the Australian pesticides and veterinary medicines authority (APVMA).
Progressing a Flora of Australia treatment of Ericaceae subfamily Epacridoideae (Old ID 27243)
Generic boundaries in the predominantly Australian Ericaceae subfamily Epacridoideae (c. 580 Australian taxa) have recently been resolved following many years of phylogenetic research, paving the way for the description of undescribed species and a Flora of Australia treatment. We have completed the first part of such a treatment: species profiles and a LucID key of all 152 species of the capsular fruited taxa (tribes Archerieae, Cosmelieae, Epacrideae, Prionoteae, and Richeeae). The proposed project will complete the second part by describing 10 new species and completing species profiles and keys for 180 species of the remaining two tribes: Oligarrheneae and Styphelieae. This research will aid conservation efforts, particularly in south-western Australia, where there is a high level of diversity, with many species subject to multiple threats.
Towards sustainable economic aquafeed for spiny lobsters (Old ID 27894)
Aquaculture of the tropical lobster Panulirus ornatus is a recently commercialised industry in Australia. Recent review of nutritional knowledge of this species has revealed significant limitations to commercialisation of feeds, including data on key nutrient requirements, raw materials and feed processing. This project will begin to address these limitations, placing this industry on the path towards improved sustainable development.
Enhancing Australian biodiscovery molecule generation, storage and access. (Old ID 28931)
The project aims to establish the Australian Biodiscovery Network with the following integrated infrastructure: sample processing robotics and storage to enhance national biomolecule curation and access at Compounds Australia and automated LC/MS to increase natural product extraction at NatureBank at Griffith Uni; a robotic colony picker to expand the Uni Queensland Microbes Australia library; a protein purification system to facilitate pathogen biologic discovery at James Cook Uni; live cell imaging to enable biodiscovery for aquaculture at Uni Sunshine Coast. This infrastructure will enhance biodiscovery capacity of QLD universities and benefit hundreds of researchers nationally across health, aquaculture, agriculture and food security.
Evaluating Australian grains potential for Aquafeed in SE Asia (Old ID 31119)
Australia produces a range of grains and legumes that are routinely used for aquafeed in Australia, however their uptake in SE Asian markets appears to be limited. This project investigates opportunities and constraints of Australian grains and legumes in aquafeed production in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. It consists of a desktop study and report on opportunities and directions in this export market, followed by engagement with aquafeed specialists in these areas and scoping opportunities for research to test our assumptions around the most likely products in local feed production in-country.
Bush Blitz of vascular plants within Olkola Reserve (Old ID 22219)
This project will undertake targeted surveys of plants within the Olkola and Alwal National Parks, Cape York Peninsula, as part of the national BushBlitz program. The surveys aim to discover new species, and better characterise the biodiversity of this newly gazetted reserve.
Statistical Data Mining Algorithms for Optimising Analysis of Spectroscopic Data from On-line NIR Mill Systems: Improving System Calibrations for Quality Measures (Old ID 22492)
NIR spectroscopy is a rapid, non-invasive method for determining cane quality attributes (e.g. CCS, brix, fibre and biomass). NIR methods for sugarcane are advanced and work well for 90% of cases. When NIR methods fail, industry must resort to expensive laboratory analysis. This project will involve using novel statistical data mining techniques applied to large NIR databases to investigate improved calibrations for cane quality measures. Specifically this project is interested cases that were previously difficult to calibrate. Improved calibrations will benefit industry through reduced costs associated with extensive laboratory analysis for samples unsuited for standard industry calibrations.
Photochemical Optimization Study (Old ID 22803)
This project deals with the optimization of a known photochemical reaction of industrial interest. It will investigate the exploratory, validation and scale-up of the reaction.