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Congratulations to Environment Institute researchers who have had success in todays 2016 ARC Linkage Grant announcement! The details of the three successful projects for the EI are below, with all the successful applicants Australia wide listed on the .

Wombats as a model for evidence based management of native fauna

[caption id="attachment_10266" align="alignnone" width="300"] Credit: Tayla Bowden[/caption]

Associate Professor Bertram Ostendorf; Professor Megan Lewis; Associate Professor Lian Pin Koh;ÌýEminent Professor Roderick Wells; Dr Gregory Kerr; Dr Peter Clements; Dr David Schultz; Dr ElisaÌýSparrow

This project aims to use the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat as a model species to evaluate ecologicalÌýmodels for evidence-based continental and site-specific management of native fauna. Predators andÌýclimate change threaten Australia's arid-zone wildlife. Wildlife management, especially in areas ofÌýhuman–wildlife conflict, relies on empirical evidence for abundance and distribution of species and toÌýunderstand what controls species abundance in space and time. Modern spatial technologies canÌýmake such information easier to find. This project’s species distribution model is expected to improveÌýwildlife management.

Partners:ÌýDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES; THE SCHULTZÌýFOUNDATION LTD; EYRE PENINSULA NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT BOARD; THE NATURALÌýHISTORY SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED; CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERSÌýAUSTRALIA ENTERPRISES; SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MURRAY-DARLING BASIN NATURAL RESOURCESÌýMANAGEMENT BOARD

Amount: $270,000

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to locate and study endangered wildlife



Dr Damith Ranasinghe; Associate Professor Lian Pin Koh; Associate Professor Katrina Falkner;ÌýAssociate Professor Bertram Ostendorf; Mr Gavin Puddy

This project aims to develop an automated and distributed spatial tracking approach using low costÌýUnmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to locate and study endangered wildlife. Understanding animalÌýbehaviour and habits with granular spatial data is essential to develop effective monitoring andÌýconservation strategies. Spatial tracking of radio collared wildlife using radio telemetry is a critical butÌýcostly tool for acquiring this data. This project anticipates that airborne spatial tracking usingÌýintelligent spatial tracking algorithms on board low cost UAV teams will allow more preciseÌýunderstanding of wildlife for evidence-based conservation and management in a changing globalÌýclimate.

Partners: DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION; THE SCHULTZ FOUNDATION LTD;ÌýDEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE

Amount: $181,194

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Studying tiger snakes to enhance snakebite treatment capacity.



Dr Vicki Thomson; Dr Marc Jones; Dr Joanna Sumner; Professor Michael Lee; Dr Mark Hutchinson; DrÌýKate Sanders

This project aims to examine the geographic variation amongst tiger snakes in anatomy, ecology, andÌýlife history traits, and the relationship of these factors to venom toxins and production; and toÌýevaluate the true pharmacological potential of tiger snake venom. This project will investigate the roleÌýof venom adaptation in long-term animal evolution, by identifying rare venom transcripts involved inÌýproviding evolutionary potential for adaptation to environmental change. This is essential asÌýcontinuing climatic and human-induced alteration of our environment affects southern AustraliaÌýwhere many people live, work and interact with native wildlife. Anticipated outcomes are maximizingÌývenom harvests and enhanced snakebite treatment capacity.

Partners: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM; MUSEUM VICTORIA

Amount: $164,000