Centre for Conservation Science

and Technology

Centre for Conservation Science and Technology

The Centre for Conservation Science and Technology (CCoST) is a provider of innovative science and technology methods and analysis to deliver practical and affordable solutions to the most pressing conservation and natural resources management challenges globally. CCoST is unique in having inter-disciplinary research strengths in biodiversity and biosecurity monitoring, conservation and restoration, and identifying illegal trade in biological products. The research expertise of core CCoST personnel is complemented with strategic domestic and international partnerships with academic, government, non-governmental and industry organisations.

ObjectivesThe objective of CCoST is to develop practical solutions that mitigate and manage the risks to natural systems posed by human activities using cutting edge science and technologies.

The aims of this Centre are:

> Create new opportunities for interdisciplinary research and translation in areas where the University of Adelaide already has internationally recognised research strengths in the underlying discipline areas;

> Engage with stakeholders in a more streamlined, efficient and effective manner;

> Collectively improve research impact and uptake of research outcomes;

> Greater synthesis of research capability from leading research groups;

> Develop critical mass and new opportunities for cross pollination of ideas;

> Link with post graduate and undergraduate teaching (Bachelor of Science - Wildlife Conservation Biology)

The Centre currently manages $23M in research activity deploying science and technology to conserve individual species, ecological communities and ecosystem functions. Some examples of the outcomes that the members of this Centre have been involved in include:

1. The world’s first start-up company to apply genetic tools to successfully identify illegally logged timber, which has been used to prosecute criminal activity.

2. The world’s first self-supporting, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to sharing knowledge of building and using low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles for conservation-related applications.

3. Development of a global prediction tool for invasion outbreaks and introduction (trade) routes.

4. Developing world leading advisor guidelines on ecosystem services, including pollination services and carbon sequestration.

5. First published use of satellite remote sensing to calibrate hydrological models, predict artesian spring flows and determine historic inundation regimes of aquatic systems and wetlands for conservation planning.

6. Development of new tools to understand the risks of climate extremes arising from compound events.

Centre for Conservation Science and Technology

7. Empirical proof of the role of propagule pressure in explaining species invasions.

8. Determining the effect of climate change on habitat and species distribution.

9. Development of decision support tools for water management.

10. Globally applicable models for predicting blue-green algal outbreaks in water reservoirs and lakes.

11. Earth observation using advanced remote sensing tools for more effective environmental assessment, monitoring and management.

12. A partnership with the government of South Australia in restoring oyster beds in coastal environments to increase fish stocks and reduce nutrient pollution.

The Centre has four key outcomes that it is seeking to achieve:

> Improved Biosecurity: application of surveillance, sensor networks, forensics, risk analysis, transport pathways analysis and invasion biology to understand the risks and develop mitigation strategies to reduce the risks of pest, weed and disease invasion across jurisdictional borders from trade and human movement.

> Habitat Restoration: application of surveillance monitoring, genetic screening, artificial intelligence, modelling and data analysis to improve the success of and reduce the risks from habitat restoration in terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments, particularly in relation to key ecosystem services. We have flagship programs in pollination habitat design and oyster reef restoration.

> Reducing Wildlife Crime: using drones, DNA tracking, trade modelling and analysis for species identification and source origin verification to identify criminal activity related to the trafficking of illegal timber, plant and animal products globally.

> Conservation Success: measure the scale and impact of landscape scale interventions to understand the impact on the conservation of threatened species, genetic diversity and develop simple, easily understood guidelines for managers and communities on biodiversity conservation options for their region.

The founding academics of the Centre are internationally credible scientists with outstanding research track records who have demonstrably improved conservation outcomes locally and globally. They are all strongly connected to government, NGOs and industry in Australia and internationally. A common drive of the members of the Centre is to be actively engaged in providing tools to improve conservation outcomes. They have an impressive track record in innovation that leads to results and being able to integrate their science into landscape scale contexts.

The key researchers in the Centre:

> Andrew Lowe - Director > David Taggart > Phill Cassey - Deputy Director > Steve Delean > Lian Pin Koh - Deputy Director > Sarah Wheeler (economics) > Megan Lewis AFFILIATE ACADEMICS: > Bertram Ostendorf > Justin Brookes (WRC) > Jose Facelli > Jeremy Austin (ACAD) > David Paton > Bronwyn Gillanders (Marine) > Phil Weinstein > Sean Connell (Marine) > Patrick O’Connor (economics) > Kate Sanders (ACEBB) > Joshua Ross (maths) > Michelle Waycott > Seth Westra (DEWNR, ACEBB)

Collaborating organisations INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL> Conservation International > Bush Heritage> The Nature Conservancy > Zoological & Aquarium> ITTO Association> Thunen Institute, Germany > Australian Museum> Double Helix Tracking > Centre for Invasive Species Technologies Solutions> University College London > Arthur Rylah Institute> WWF > Department of Economic> TRAFFIC Development, Jobs,> Wildlife Alliance Transport & Resources> World Resources Institute > Greening Australia> Bioversity STATE > Global Timber Tracking Network > DEWNR> Landcare New Zealand > PIRSA > SARDI > Trees for Life > Nature Foundation SA

For further enquiriesProfessor Andrew Lowe Director, Conservation Science and Technology The Environment Institute The University of Adelaide SA 5005 Australia

Telephone: +61 8 8313 0543 Email: andrew.lowe@adelaide.edu.au Email: environment@adelaide.edu.au Web: adelaide.edu.au/environment/ccost/

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this publication is current as at the date of printing and is subject to change. You can find updated information on our website at adelaide.edu.au With the aim of continual improvement the University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the degrees, diplomas, certificates and courses on offer. As a result the specific programs and courses available will change from time to time. Please refer to adelaide.edu.au for the most up to date information or contact us on 1800 061 459. The University of Adelaide assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information provided by third parties.

CRICOS 00123M © The University of Adelaide. Published February 2016 2390-4

Critical CapabilitiesCourses in Wildlife Conservation Biology give our students the core scientific knowledge and practical skills required for challenging careers in wildlife conservation and biodiversity management. This education program focuses on the practical application of science to solving the many urgent and confronting issues in wildlife conservation. Students emerge with a solid biological foundation on which they superimpose training in the ecology and management of wildlife in natural as well as human-altered environments.

Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network - TERN (http://www.tern.org.au) is a national research infrastructure program established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme (total investment to date >$100M). The program connects ecosystem scientists and enables them to collect, contribute, store, share and integrate data across disciplines. Collectively this initiative increases the capacity of the Australian ecosystem science community to advance science and contribute to effective management and sustainable use of our ecosystems.

The Adelaide node of TERN hosts facilities that are developing ecosystem monitoring technologies and ecoinformatics capabilities combining ground based ecological, sensor, genomic and digital systems (AusPlots, http://www.tern.org.au/AusPlots-pg26979.html), supporting research into the ecosystem adaptation to current future climate change (the Australian Transect Network, http://www.tern.org.au/Australian-Transect-Network-pg22748.html, including the SA TREND transect www.trendsa.org.au), a data warehouse for information from over 100,000 ecological plots across Australia (the Australian Ecological Knowledge and Observation System – AEKOS, http://www.aekos.org.au), satellite remote sensing (AusCover, http://www.tern.org.au/AusCover-pg17728.html), flux towers (OzFlux, http://www.ozflux.org.au) and ecosystem flow (SuperSites, http://www.tern-supersites.net.au) capabilities.

Unmanned Research Aircraft Facility - The URAF (http://uraf.org) is the first and only coordinating facility for South Australian agencies conducting environmental research and applications involving unmanned aircrafts and remote sensing. URAF is fully compliant with all requirements from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) at both the organisational and individual pilot level. Current members include Arid Recovery, DEWNR, SA Water, and SA Health.

Advanced DNA Identification and Forensics Facility (ADIFF) - The illegal wildlife and timber trade is estimated to be worth around $100 billion a year globally. Much of the global trade is sourced from, and destined for, South-East Asia. In many regions, the value of the illegal trade in timber and wildlife products is equal to that of other criminal trafficking activities, and Australia has been implicated in highly organised large scale wildlife smuggling operations. Using state-of-the-art, purpose built laboratories, and in partnerships with the Australian Museum, DoubleHelix - a bioknowledge company in Singapore, and human forensic scientists from Flinders University and the Australian New Zealand Police Advisory Agency, ADIFF is developing and implementing DNA tests that identify the species, region and individual origin for a range of biodiversity products including timber, plant, animal, insect and environmental samples (soil and water).

Field Sites for Conservation and Restoration - Implementation of new conservation and restoration strategies ideally involves experimental designs and monitoring in the field. We manage and have access to a range of ongoing field experiments including: sites examining the density and succession of species in restoration plantings (Cygnet park, Kangaroo Island); sites examining the importance of genetic diversity and provenance source on restoration success (Yorke Peninsula, Mt Lofty Ranges and Monarto Zoo); studies of the recovery of grazed arid lands (Koonamore and Middleback stations); recovery of native fauna following removal of feral predators (Arid Recovery).

Computing and modelling facilities – Analysis, modelling and interpretation of the broad range of monitoring and experimental information generated from the above facilities is undertaken using high-powered computing capabilities housed at the University and through partnership with eResearch SA, the Australian National Data Service (ANDS) and the National eResearch Collaboration Tools and Resources (NeCTAR).