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Restoration ecology in the semi-arid woodlands of north-west Victoria

- Murdoch, Fiona

Authors: Murdoch, Fiona
Date: 2005
Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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Description: Arid areas are often overgrazed and dysfunctional with poor recruitment of desirable species, diminished control over resources and altered soil properties. Restoration ecology re-establishes these valued processes. State-and-transition models summarise knowledge of vegetation dynamics and tools for restoration, and encourage the incorporation of new information. The model developed here for semi-arid woodlands of north-west Victoria highlighted the unknown cause of observed, natural recruitment and the need for a technique, other than direct seeding and handplanting, for enhancing the recruitment of desirable species. I pursued these knowledge gaps for two dominant, woodland trees: Allocasuarina luehmannii and Casuarina pauper. Natural recruitment of juvenile C. pauper was found to be limited and primarily from root suckers. Extensive recruitment of A. luehmannii was shown to be mostly seedlings established following substantial reductions in grazing pressure since 1996. Seedlings were associated with areas devoid of ground flora near a female tree. The importance of competition between seedlings and ground flora, spatial variation in soil moisture and individual variation in the quantity of seed produced deserves further investigation to enhance future restoration success. Root suckers of both C. pauper and A. luehmannii can be artificially initiated, albeit in low numbers and this was found to be a feasible, new tool for restoration. Suckers are preceded by the growth of callus tissue on exposed or damaged, living, shallow roots. Both male and female trees can produce suckers and spring treatments may be more successful. Genetic fingerprinting of mature A. luehmannii and C. pauper trees in six populations did not identify any clonal individuals indicating that recruitment in the past has been from seedlings. Despite this, the high level of gene flow suggests that the impact of introducing small numbers of root suckers into existing populations is unlikely to impact negatively on the population genetics of these species.
Description: Doctor of Philosophy

Association between the family and environment and television viewing in Australian children

- Van Zutphen, Moniek, Bell, Andrew, Kremer, Peter, Swinburn, Boyd

Authors: Van Zutphen, Moniek , Bell, Andrew , Kremer, Peter , Swinburn, Boyd
Date: 2007
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health Vol. 43, no. (2007), p. 458-463
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Description: Aim: To describe the time children spend watching television (TV) and to assess associations between TV viewing time, the family environment and weight status. Methods: Parents reported the amount of time children watched TV/video both for 'the previous school day' and 'usually' and described aspects of the family environment influencing TV access as part of a large cross-sectional study in the Barwon South-western region of Victoria, Australia. Child weight status was based on measured height and weight. All data were collected in 2003/2004. Results: A total of 1926 children aged 4–12 years participated. Parent-reported mean ± SE TV time for the previous school day was 83 ± 1.5 min. Children who lived in a family with tight rules governing TV viewing time (22%), or who never watched TV during dinner (33%), or had only one TV in the household (23%) or had no TV in their bedroom (81%) had significantly less TV time than their counterparts. Overweight or obese children had more TV time than healthy weight children 88 ± 2.9 versus 82 ± 1.7 min per day (P = 0.04). They were also more likely to live in a household where children had a TV in their bedroom than healthy weight children (25% vs. 17%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Strategies to reduce TV time should be included as part of broader strategies to prevent childhood obesity. They should include messages to parents about not having a TV in children's bedrooms, encouraging family rules restricting TV viewing, and not having the TV on during dinner.
Description: C1
Description: 2003005677

Environment, innovation and sustainable development: Introduction to an interdisciplinary approach

- Courvisanos, Jerry

Authors: Courvisanos, Jerry
Date: 2011
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Innovation Economics Vol. 2, no. 8 (2011), p. 3-10
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Description: The disappointing outcome from the United Nations Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change in December 2009 affected many social researchers who had hoped that the world leaders would shine a guiding light towards a sustainable development paradigm shift in society. A guiding light that would provide a clear pathway for all the world’s citizens to an environmentally safe and equitable “Spaceship Earth” (Boulding, 1966). Much discussion arose after this failed summit about the need for ‘bottom-up’ adaptation and resilience as the alternative. Valuable as such an approach is to address the environmental concerns, its incremental change and modest institutional reforms limit the extent of sustainable development. Paradigm shift requires creative destruction of the type Joseph Schumpeter advocated when in times of crisis. Innovation lies at the heart of such a radical approach. Based on the need to raise the profile of this innovation approach to sustainable development, the Research Network on Innovation – the sponsor of this journal – decided to organise the next biennial Spirit of Innovation conference around the theme ‘Environment, Innovation and Sustainable Development’. Thus was that on the 7th and 8th October 2010, the “Spirit of Innovation IV” Forum was held at the Euromed Management School in Marseille.
Description: 2003009224

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The ontology of innovation : Human agency in the pursuit of novelty

- Courvisanos, Jerry

Authors: Courvisanos, Jerry
Date: 2007
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: History of Economics Review Vol. 45, no. Winter (2007), p. 41-59
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Description: This paper develops an analysis of innovation based on Allen Oakley's (2002) primary themes of ontological priority, agency-structure and critical realism. I develop a history of thought and contemporaneous endogenous view of innovation in an environment of uncertainty, potential novelty and policy priority. Drawing on the literature of Austrian, institutional, Schumpeterian, Penrosean and other schools, I explore a continuum of agency-structure relationships that enhance innovation. These relationships cover environments that are based on agency and contingency, through to those that balance contingency with containment (structure), and situations that are heavily contained. The literature on innovation is investigated vis-à-vis the degree to which different environments encourage creative, original marketable opportunities for the common good. Innovation policy-making is then investigated through the traverse process of irreversibility, and within a retroductionist planning process. Overall, I seek to advance the cause of realism through innovations generated in different environments.
Description: C1
Description: 2003005189

Response of soil dehydrogenase activity to salinity and cadmium species

- Filipović, Lana, Romić, Marija, Sikora, Sanja, Huić Babić, Katarina, Filipović, Vilim, Gerke, Horst, Romić, Davor

Authors: Filipović, Lana , Romić, Marija , Sikora, Sanja , Huić Babić, Katarina , Filipović, Vilim , Gerke, Horst , Romić, Davor
Date: 2020
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition Vol. 20, no. 2 (2020), p. 530-536
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Description: Greater understanding of the microbial activity role in metal mobilization processes in soil is of major importance. The objective was to study the effect of major Cd species in solution of a saline soil on dehydrogenase activity (DHA). Hypothesis is that (i) under increased soil salinity, more mobile Cd species with diverse effect on DHA may be generated (i.e., CdCl n 2-n ) and that (ii) DHA may correlate to organically complexed Cd species. In a greenhouse pot experiment, NaCl salinity (50 and 100 mM) was applied to control soil and soil spiked with Cd (5 and 10 mg kg -1 ). Soil total and available (CaCl 2 extractable) Cd concentrations were measured, and DHA determined using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) method. Speciation was calculated from results of soil solution ion analysis using geochemical equilibrium model Visual MINTEQ. DHA was reduced with increased soil salinity and Cd contamination, but only compared with control soil. Although weak, negative correlation between DHA and CdCl n 2-n complexes in soil solution suggested their higher inhibitory effect on DHA than other Cd species. Positive correlation between DHA and organically complexed Cd indicated that raised microbial activity may increase the proportion of organically complexed Cd in the soil solution. Cd toxicity to soil microorganisms can be accentuated in a saline environment, which may be an issue of great importance for agricultural production in coastal areas. Microbial activity may via releasing organic substances in soil solution significantly change cadmium complexation and mobility in soil, an aspect which has often been overlooked. Graphical Abstract

On some open problems in optimal control

- Dontchev, Asen

Authors: Dontchev, Asen
Date: 2018
Type: Text , Book chapter
Relation: Control Systems and Mathematical Methods in Economics : Essays in Honor of Vladimir M. Veliov (part of the Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems book series) p. 3-13
Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP160100854
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Description: Several open problems are presented concerning regularity properties of solutions of optimal control problems with constraints.

Global environmental changes impact soil hydraulic functions through biophysical feedbacks

- Robinson, David, Hopmans, Jan, Filipovic, Vilim, van der Ploeg, Martine, Lebron, Inma, Jones, Scott, Reinsch, Sabine, Jarvis, Nick, Tuller, Markus

Authors: Robinson, David , Hopmans, Jan , Filipovic, Vilim , van der Ploeg, Martine , Lebron, Inma , Jones, Scott , Reinsch, Sabine , Jarvis, Nick , Tuller, Markus
Date: 2019
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Global Change Biology Vol. 25, no. 6 (2019), p. 1895-1904
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Description: Although only representing 0.05% of global freshwater, or 0.001% of all global water, soil water supports all terrestrial biological life. Soil moisture behaviour in most models is constrained by hydraulic parameters that do not change. Here we argue that biological feedbacks from plants, macro-fauna and the microbiome influence soil structure, and thus the soil hydraulic parameters and the soil water content signals we observe. Incorporating biological feedbacks into soil hydrological models is therefore important for understanding environmental change and its impacts on ecosystems. We anticipate that environmental change will accelerate and modify soil hydraulic function. Increasingly, we understand the vital role that soil moisture exerts on the carbon cycle and other environmental threats such as heatwaves, droughts and floods, wildfires, regional precipitation patterns, disease regulation and infrastructure stability, in addition to agricultural production. Biological feedbacks may result in changes to soil hydraulic function that could be irreversible, resulting in alternative stable states (ASS) of soil moisture. To explore this, we need models that consider all the major feedbacks between soil properties and soil-plant-faunal-microbial-atmospheric processes, which is something we currently do not have. Therefore, a new direction is required to incorporate a dynamic description of soil structure and hydraulic property evolution into soil-plant-atmosphere, or land surface, models that consider feedbacks from land use and climate drivers of change, so as to better model ecosystem dynamics.

The unquantified risk of post-fire metal concentration in soil : A Review

- Abraham, Joji, Dowling, Kim, Florentine, Singarayer

Authors: Abraham, Joji , Dowling, Kim , Florentine, Singarayer
Date: 2017
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Vol. 228, no. 5 (2017), p. 1-33
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Description: Forest fire is a natural disturbance that occurs in many terrestrial ecosystems specifically in the semi-arid environments and is considered to be an important cause of environmental change. Though many causes of fire are identified, including lightning, volcanic eruption, power line sparks, etc., human involvement is the most significant factor. Fire events are able to alter the physical, chemical and biogeochemical properties of the soil and surface materials and are able to release major and trace metals into the environment. This may be more significant in mining-affected and industrial landscapes, where elevated concentrations of metals present in the soil. After the fire event, metals become more mobile due to the increase in soil surface exposure and the mobility associated with ash dispersal. This mobility may increase the bioavailability of the metals, which may generate water quality issues and may contribute to human and environmental health concerns. Even though, the influences of fire on many soil properties are well established, the behaviour of metals with respect to fire is not well investigated. However, a few studies report that major and trace metals include Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and As are mobilized after fire with increased concentrations in soil and water resources and this might pose a risk to human health and ecosystems. Climate change may increase the intensity, frequency and areal extend of fire events and hence increase the metal concentrations and their potential health impacts. This paper reviews post-fire (wild fire) mobility of metals in soil common in contaminated forest ecosystems. The human and ecological health risks of these metals are also considered. © 2017, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.

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Can optimum solar radiation exposure or supplemented vitamin D intake reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms?

- Abraham, Joji, Dowling, Kim, Florentine, Singarayer

Authors: Abraham, Joji , Dowling, Kim , Florentine, Singarayer
Date: 2021
Type: Text , Journal article , Review
Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 2 (2021), p. 1-21
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Description: The foremost mortality-causing symptom associated with COVID-19 is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A significant correlation has been identified between the deficiency in vitamin D and the risk of developing ARDS. It has been suggested that if we can reduce or modify ARDS in COVID-19 patients, we may significantly reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and associated mortality rates. The increased mortality of dark-skinned people, who have a reduced UV absorption capacity, may be consistent with diminished vitamin D status. The factors associated with COVID-19 mortality, such as old age, ethnicity, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, are all found to be linked with vitamin D deficiency. Based on this review and as a precautionary measure, it is suggested that the adoption of appropriate and safe solar exposure and vitamin D enriched foods and supplements should be considered to reduce the possible severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Safe sun exposure is deemed beneficial globally, specifically in low and middle- income countries, as there is no cost involved. It is also noted that improved solar exposure and vitamin D levels can reduce the impact of other diseases as well, thus assisting in maintaining general human well-being. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

The impact of environment on spiritual wellbeing in school

- Fisher, John

Authors: Fisher, John
Date: 2009
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Religious Education Vol. 57, no. 1 (2009), p. 25-37
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Description: Spiritual well-being can be revealed by the quality of relationships that people have in up to four domains of spiritual health, namely with self, with others, with the environment and/or with God. Many papers have been presented on the quality of relationships people have with self, others and God. This study concentrates on the views expressed by nearly 100 educators in a range of Victorian secondary schools about the impact of the environment on aspects of spiritual well-being in schools. It provides insights into Environmentalists, those people who see connection with the environment as the key component of spiritual well-being. Case studies and reports on variations between educators and school types are provided as well as suggestions about ways of developing spiritual well-being in schools.

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Workplace design for the Australian residential aged care workforce

- Naccarella, Lucio, Newton, Clare, Pert, Alan, Seemann, Kurt, Williams, Ruth

Authors: Naccarella, Lucio , Newton, Clare , Pert, Alan , Seemann, Kurt , Williams, Ruth
Date: 2018
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Australasian Journal on Ageing Vol. 37, no. 3 (2018), p. 194-201
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Description: Objectives: This research explored residential aged care (RAC) workplace design features that influence how RAC staff feel valued, productive, safe, like they belong and connected. A secondary aim was to validate emerging themes about RAC design features with stakeholders. Methods: A multistage qualitative study was conducted in one RAC facility with 100 residents in outer metropolitan Melbourne: (i) photo-elicitation – photographs were used to prompt discussions with RAC staff; (ii) individual interviews with RAC directors; and (iii) validity testing with the advisory committee occurred. Results: Key workplace design features that influenced how RAC staff feel valued, productive, safe, like they belong and connected included the following: (i) home-like environment; (ii) access to outdoor spaces; (iii) quality indoor environment; and (iv) access to safe, open and comfortable workplaces. Conclusions: Key workplace design features that matter to RAC staff in a ‘shared workspace’ exist. Increasing demands upon RAC requires evidence-based workplace design policy and evaluation approaches that support RAC staff to work in RAC shared workspaces. © 2018 AJA Inc. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Kurt Seemann” is provided in this record**

New management practices and enterprise training in Australia

- Smith, Andy, Oczkowski, Edward, Noble, Charles, Macklin, Robert

Authors: Smith, Andy , Oczkowski, Edward , Noble, Charles , Macklin, Robert
Date: 2003
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: International Journal of Manpower Vol. 24, no. 1 (2003), p. 31-47
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Description: The widespread implementation of new management practices (NMPs) in industrialised countries has had a significant impact on employee training. Examines five NMPs: the learning organisation; total quality management; lean production/high performance work organisations; teamworking; and business process re-engineering. Focuses on the relationship between organisational change and training at the enterprise level. The research identified important findings in six key areas: small business; the use of the vocational education and training system; the importance of the individual; the nature of training; the importance of behavioural skills; and organisational change. The study confirmed that workplace change is a major driver of improved training provision in enterprises. It showed unambiguously that most NMPs are associated with higher levels of training. The integration of training with business strategy was found to be the most important factor in driving training across a wide range of training activities and appears to lead to an across the board boost to enterprise training in all its forms.
Description: C1
Description: 2003007186

A study of the impact of environmental surroundings on personal well-being in urban China using a multi-item well-being indicator

- Smyth, Russell, Nielsen, Ingrid, Zhai, Qing-guo, Liu, Tie-min, Liu, Yin, Tang, Chunyong, Wang, Zhihong, Wang, Zuxiang, Zhang, Juyong

Authors: Smyth, Russell , Nielsen, Ingrid , Zhai, Qing-guo , Liu, Tie-min , Liu, Yin , Tang, Chunyong , Wang, Zhihong , Wang, Zuxiang , Zhang, Juyong
Date: 2012
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Population and Environment Vol. 32, no. 4 (2012), p. 353-375
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Description: We examine the relationship between atmospheric and water pollution, traffic congestion, access to parkland and personal well-being using a survey administered across six Chinese cities in 2007. In contrast to existing studies of well-being determinants by economists which typically employ single-item indicators, we use the Personal Well-being Index (PWI). We also employ the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) to measure job satisfaction, which is one of the variables for which we control when examining the relationship between environmental surroundings and personal well-being. Previous research by psychologists has shown the PWI and JSS to have good psychometric properties in western and Chinese samples. A robust finding is that in cities with higher levels of atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion, respondents report lower levels of personal well-being ceteris paribus. Specifically, we find that a one standard deviation increase in suspended particles or sulphur dioxide emissions is roughly equivalent to a 12–13% reduction in average monthly income in the six cities.
Description: 2003008932

The challenges of utilising bottom ash from waste to energy plant

- Venkatraman, Kartik, Wilcox, Steve, Verheyen, Vincent, Panther, Barbara

Authors: Venkatraman, Kartik , Wilcox, Steve , Verheyen, Vincent , Panther, Barbara
Date: 2021
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: International Journal of Energy, Environment and Economics Vol. 28, no. 4 (2021), p. 305-333
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Description: Bottom ash generated from Waste to Energy (WtE) processes is complex to manage and dispose of with minimal environmental impacts. Most European (EU) nations and many Asian countries have tested and developed alternative end-uses for bottom ash. This has ensured relatively safe containment of contaminants which otherwise would be released into the environment posing major risk to human, flora and fauna health. Although bottom ash has been physically and chemically incorporated into aggregates, cement and road construction, for example, the lifecycle and impact on the environment of these products are not yet quantified. The lifecycle of these materials and products that use bottom ash as one of their constituents needs to be completely understood, through these currently unanswered questions: What will be the fate of the contaminants? Is there a limit on the number of years before the contained contaminants will be released into the environment? Are we giving rise to a new problem with long term implications? This paper will focus on the thermal treatment of municipal solid waste and the resulting utilisation of bottom ash. © Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

The fall and fall in the legal status of mustelids in New Zealand

- Wells, Philippa

Authors: Wells, Philippa
Date: 2009
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Environment and History Vol. 15, no. 3 (2009), p. 343-368
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Description: Three species of the family Mustelidae (stoats, weasels and ferrets) were initially introduced into New Zealand (and granted statutory protection) in an attempt to control a burgeoning rabbit population. From that point, scientific, political and social debate centred on both the advisability and efficacy of the introduction. Although their legal protection and support was partially removed in 1903, they were not declared statutory 'vermin' for another 50 years. The long road taken by these predators to political perdition signals shifts in political and economic power and reveals dissension and changes in policy direction. Â© 2009 The White Horse Press.
Description: 2003007356

“I’m very visible but seldom seen” : consumer choice and use of mobility aids on public transport

- Unsworth, Carolyn, Rawat, Vijay, Sullivan, John, Tay, Richard, Naweed, Anjum, Gudimetla, Prasad

Authors: Unsworth, Carolyn , Rawat, Vijay , Sullivan, John , Tay, Richard , Naweed, Anjum , Gudimetla, Prasad
Date: 2019
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Vol. 14, no. 2 (2019), p. 122-132
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Description: Purpose: The number of mobility aid users continues to rise as the population ages. While mobility aid users rely on public transport due to its affordability, evidence suggests access can be difficult. This study aims to describe people who use mobility aids to access public transport and the role of public transport access in influencing mobility aid choice. Methods: Sixty-seven mobility aid users participated in telephone surveys which predominantly used a structured quantitative format. Data were analysed descriptively and any additional comments were simply categorized. Results: Thirty-six participants were female (54%), with a total sample mean age of 58.15 years (SD = 14.46). Seventy-two percent lived in metropolitan areas, 48% lived alone, and the sample experienced a variety of conditions including spinal cord injury (37%) and arthritis (18%). Sixty-four percent of all respondents used two or more mobility aids including powered wheelchairs, scooters and walking frames. The most important features when choosing a mobility aid were reliability, turning ability and size. Fifty-two percent of all respondents strongly agreed that public transport is generally accessible. Conclusions: While work continues to ensure that public transport vehicles and stations are fully accessible, mobility aid users must manage current infrastructure and access a system which has been shown through this research to have many limitations. Mobility aid users, vendors and health professionals need to work together to identify mobility aids that fulfil needs, and are reliable and safe, so that mobility aid users are both “visible and seen” when accessing the public transport network.Implications for rehabilitation Some mobility aid users experience difficulties accessing and using public transport and further research is required to ensure the whole public transport network is fully accessible to people using mobility aids. Many people have more than one seated mobility aid, suggesting people can choose different aids for different purposes and environments. Health professionals may need to increase their involvement in assisting individuals to select and use mobility aids. © 2017, © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

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Plant recruitment and survival as indicators of ecological success in abandoned pasture land in Nurcoung

- Florentine, Singarayer, Gardner, Jessica, Graz, Patrick, Moloney, Sean

Authors: Florentine, Singarayer , Gardner, Jessica , Graz, Patrick , Moloney, Sean
Date: 2013
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Ecological Processes Vol. 2, no. 1-3 (2013), p.
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Description: One of the major impediments to developing better restoration strategies is the inadequate documentation of past restoration efforts. In 2008, Greening Australia commenced ecological restoration on the Nurcoung property in Victoria to enhance local biodiversity, and in this paper we report on the habitat restoration outcomes in the three Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC) found on this property.

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