| | Welcome
As we wind down for the end of year break, we have been looking back at our achievements in 2016. Increasing ARI’s capability to undertake high quality science was further enhanced this year with targeted investment of a range of development activities for staff. These included training: in GIS, complex statistical analysis, and structured decision making (undertaken in the USA); and support for publishing ARI research in peer-reviewed journals on Macquarie Perch and Australian Grayling movements, wetland function and management, threatened orchids, and fire exclusion and soil interactions within grasslands. In another example, Annette Muir hosted a workshop at the recent Ecological Society of Australia national conference, to discuss the interaction of fire frequency and climate change on woody shrubs (e.g. Banksia spinulosa var. cunninghamii, pictured at left). Leading scientists from universities and government agencies across Australia shared knowledge and ideas about managing fire and maintaining plants sensitive to short fire intervals. This is a world-wide challenge, especially with the hotter and drier conditions expected under climate change. Our feature projects for this issue all relate to reducing threats, whether it be the control of weeds invading threatened grasslands, improving the effectiveness of a feral rabbit virus, or helping fish move past man-made structures that are blocking their access to important habitats. We wish you and your families a happy holiday period and look forward to more successful partnerships in the New Year.
Regards
Dr Kim Lowe
Research Director
Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research
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| | Weed control in threatened grasslands - is it working?
Weed invasion remains a key threat to the persistence of native grasslands. ARI is monitoring the effectiveness of weed control on threatened native grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plains. Weed control on linear grassland reserves has been able to reduce the extent of weeds without negatively impacting on native plants.
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| | Improving bological control of feral rabbits with analysis
There is evidence that Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is becoming less effective at reducing rabbit numbers. ARI scientists are involved in a collaborative project which will use molecular data to help understand the effects of introducing new strains of RHDV.
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| | Fishways - keeping fish habitat connected
Dams, weirs and culverts have reduced river connectivity, impacting on the movements fish need to make between habitats used for spawning, breeding and dispersal. ARI has a long history of creating ways for fish to move past such barriers, including the design of fishways. These complex structures vary in design and materials.
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PhD Research - Lucy Rose (University of Melbourne) ARI supervisor: Kay Morris
Prioritisation tools for wetland management and biodiversity conservation
Lucy’s study is being supervised by ARI’s Kay Morris, along with Brendan Wintle, Yung En Chee and Mark Burgman (Uni of Melb). Lucy (pictured left) is interested in exploring quantitative tools and modeling approaches, such as species distribution modeling and spatial conservation prioritisation, to understand the possible impacts of conservation and management decisions on biodiversity. The study is applying these tools to wetlands to help identify and prioritise key areas and actions for investment, while considering multiple species, species-specific connectivity, cost-effectiveness and uncertainty. This systematic approach to conservation planning is not often applied to wetlands despite their high biodiversity value, the important ecosystem services they provide and the multiple threats they face. This research aims to contribute to improved management by using this approach. Lucy is undertaking several case studies within the Melbourne Water region (Port Phillip & Westernport catchments). An earlier component of Lucy’s PhD has been published:
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Recent journal articles and reports (link to PDF) include:
Bennett, L.T., Bruce, M.J., MacHunter, J., Kohout, M., Tanase, M.A., Aponte, C. (2016) Mortality and recruitment of fire-tolerant eucalypts as influenced by wildfire severity and recent prescribed fire. Forest Ecology and Management 380:107-117 Koster, W.M., Dawson, D.R., Liu, C., Moloney, P.D., Crook, D.A. and Thomson, J.R. (2016) Influence of streamflow on spawning-related movements of golden perch Macquaria ambigua in south-eastern Australia. Journal of Fish Biology (online early) Ramsey, D.S.L., O'Brien, D.J., Smith, R.W., Cosgrove, M.K., Schmitt, S.M. and Rudolph, B.A. (2016) Management of on-farm risk to livestock from bovine tuberculosis in Michigan, USA, white-tailed deer: predictions from a spatially-explicit stochastic model. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 134: 26-38 Robley, A., Moloney, P., Moxham, C., Neave, G., Friend, G. and Fraser, I. (2016) The effects of interaction between planned burning and foxes on the presence of native mammals. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 273. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria. Yen, J.D.L., Thomson, J.R., Keith, J.M., Paganin, D.M., Fleishman, E., Dobkin, D.S., Bennett, J.M. and Mac Nally, R. (2016) Balancing generality and specificity in ecological gradient analysis with species abundance distributions and individual size distributions. Global Ecology and Biogeography (online early)
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ARI Seminar Series
Our 2016 Seminar Series is now complete – we had 29 presenters, speaking on topics such as using photos of Southern Right Whales to track their movements, fish ecotoxicology and pollution research, mammal refuges and wildfire, woody habitat in streams, orchids surviving drought, and bat conservation. Speakers included ARI scientists, and researchers from government agencies and international and local universities. Seminars will continue in 2017 from early in the year; we are currently developing our program. To receive ARI seminar series email alerts, including webinar (live online viewing) details and follow-up summaries, email us at research.ari@delwp.vic.gov.au
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| © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning 2016
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