List of Titles

Digital Soil Mapping

- Dahlhaus, Peter, MacLeod, Andrew, Robinson, Nathan

Authors: Dahlhaus, Peter , MacLeod, Andrew , Robinson, Nathan
Type: Text , Dataset
Full Text: false
Description: DSM is a collaborative workspace for researchers working on digital soil mapping in Australia. This workspace is the initiative of the Advisory Group on Digital Soil Assessment, a working group of theÂ National Committee on Soil & Terrain. The website is part of an interoperable web-GIS maintained by the Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) at Federation University Australia (FedUni). The International Union of Soil Sciences Digital Soil Mapping Working Group defines DSM as "creation and the population of a geographically referenced soil database, generated at a given resolution by using field and laboratory observation methods coupled with environmental data through quantitative relationships." Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) utilises numerical methods and information technologies to produce predictive maps of soil types and their properties. DSM relies on traditional field mapping, observations and laboratory analyses for soil data but also utilises spatial models of landscape terrain and remotely-sensed properties. Typically numerical methods such as interpolation algorithms and data mining are used to create the maps. OzDSM in collaboration with CeRDI is developing a digital soil mapping tool, and a demonstrator version is displayed on the site. A range of data is included, such as nutrient budgets and soil pH, and with extra data available for the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority region including landslides, erosion and salinity.

Trophic cascades in 3D: network analysis reveals how apex predators structure ecosystems

- Wallach, Arian, Dekker, Anthony, Lurgi, Miguel, Montoya, Jose, Fordham, Damien, Ritchie, Euan, Fisher, Diana

Authors: Wallach, Arian , Dekker, Anthony , Lurgi, Miguel , Montoya, Jose , Fordham, Damien , Ritchie, Euan , Fisher, Diana
Date: 2017
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Methods in ecology and evolution Vol. 8, no. 1 (2017), p. 135-142
Full Text: false
Reviewed:
Description: Summary Trophic cascade theory predicts that apex predators structure ecosystems by regulating mesopredator and herbivore abundance and behaviour. Studies on trophic cascades have typically focused on short linear chains of species interactions. A framework that integrates more realistic and complex interactions is needed to make broader predictions on ecosystem structuring. Network analysis is used to study food webs and other types of species interaction networks. These often comprise large numbers of species but rarely account for multiple interaction types and strengths. Here, we develop an intermediate complexity theoretical framework that allows specification of multiple interaction types and strengths for the study of trophic cascades. This ecological network is designed to suit data typically derived from field‐based studies. The trophic cascade network contains fewer nodes than food webs, but provides semi‐weighted directional links that enable different types of interactions to be included in a single model. We use this trophic cascade network model to explore how an apex predator shapes ecosystem structure in an Australian arid ecosystem. We compared two networks that contrasted in the dominance of an apex predator, the dingo (Canis dingo), using published results ranking the direction and strength of key interactions. Nodes and links interacted dynamically to shape these networks. We examined how changes to an apex predator population affect ecosystem structure through their direct and indirect influences on different components of this ecological community. Under strong apex predator influence, the network structure was denser and more complex, even and top‐down driven and dingo predation and soil commensalism formed denser interactive modules. Under weak apex predator influence (e.g. reflecting predator control), the resulting network structure was frayed, with mesopredator predation and grazing forming modules. Our study demonstrates that networks of intermediate complexity can provide a powerful tool for elucidating potential ecosystem‐wide effects of apex predators and predicting the consequences of management interventions such as predator control. Integrating trophic cascades, with their array of complex interactions, with the three‐dimensional structure of ecological networks, has the potential to reveal ‘ecological architecture’ that neither captures on its own.

Corangamite Soil Health Knowledge Base

- Thompson, Helen, Dahlhaus, Peter, MacLeod, Andrew, McKenna, Kirsten

Authors: Thompson, Helen , Dahlhaus, Peter , MacLeod, Andrew , McKenna, Kirsten
Type: Text , Dataset
Full Text: false
Description: The Corangamite Corangamite soil health knowledge base is part of an interoperable web-GIS maintained by Federation University Australia. The Corangamite soil health knowledge base is a collaborative research project between the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and the Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) at Federation University Australia (FedUni). The aim of the research is to develop a comprehensive, informative, intuitive-to-use knowledge base of soil health information that will assist the broader community to respect the values of the soils of the Corangamite region. The project was initiated in June 2013. The research is overseen by the Corangamite CMA Land Health Program Steering Committee. The role of the committee in the project is to advise on the function, use and relevance of the data and information sources in the knowledge base, which is an online repository of soil health information and knowledge: including reports, research papers, maps and descriptions related to current and past soil series mapping, land capability and suitability assessments, agricultural trials, and soil research and investigations. Soil health studies in the Corangamite region date from 1936. The most recent document to revisit soil health issues in the Corangamite region is Soils Vision: A 20-year plan to improve broad-acre agricultural soils in south west Victoria, known as the 'south west agricultural soils plan' (SWASP). This community-led initiative brought together a collaboration of farming groups, agricultural industries, government agencies and research institutions to identify the activities required to improve the condition of soils used for agriculture in South West Victoria. The goal of this project is to provide the essential background knowledge required to implement the appropriate SWASP soil health actions customised for each of the 15 Local Catchment Plans in the Corangamite region. Project aim and research questions The overall aim this project is to develop a comprehensive, informative, intuitive-to-use knowledge base of soil health information that will assist the broader community implement the SWASP within the LCPs of the Corangamite region. To achieve this, the following key questions emerge: What information exists and how relevant is it to the current soil health issues? How reliable is the information and to which landscapes does it apply? How can the relevant soil health information be best maintained and disseminated?

Fire and Emergency Management Planning

- Thompson, Helen, MacLeod, Andrew, McKenzie, Gregory, Gillett, Heath

Authors: Thompson, Helen , MacLeod, Andrew , McKenzie, Gregory , Gillett, Heath
Type: Text , Dataset
Full Text: false
Description: Fire and Emergency Management Planning is part of an interoperable web-GIS maintained by Federation University Australia. The site provides comprehensive information on the fire and emergency management planning activities being undertaken at the state, regional and municipal levels. The range of data displayed includes location of forestry plantations and public land; planning, political and agency boundaries; fire incident data; and meteorological data. Federation University Australia's Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation is leading the project on behalf of Emergency Management Victoria. In addition, the Barwon South West Interoperable Spatial Knowledge Base is an Integrated Fire Management Planning (IFMP) initiative, administered by the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Fire Management Planning Committee on behalf of the Victorian State Fire Management Planning Committee. This collaborative project utilises existing data plus open source data overlayed on asset landscapes in order to provide the most current relevant information, including fire risk data, in a manner that supports the community to develop their integrated regional and local fire management plans.

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Knowledge Base

- Thompson, Helen, Dahlhaus, Peter, MacLeod, Andrew, McKenna, Kirsten

Authors: Thompson, Helen , Dahlhaus, Peter , MacLeod, Andrew , McKenna, Kirsten
Type: Text , Dataset
Full Text: false
Description: The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Knowledge Base is part of an interoperable web-GIS maintained by Federation University Australia. The site provides an extensive collection of publications and Datasets on all aspects of the catchment. The collection focuses on information written specifically for the Corangamite Region. The database has been indexed by subject and locality for information retrieval and analysis. Federation University Australia's Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation is hosting the site on behalf of the CCMA. The Federation University Australia Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Knowledge Base was established to ensure the protection and sustainable development of land, vegetation and water resources within a boundary stretching from Geelong to Ballarat and along the coast to Peterborough. About 380,000 people live in the catchment's 13,340 square kilometres of south-western Victoria and 175 kilometres of coastal fringe. The region is defined by four river basins - the Moorabool, Barwon, Lake Corangamite and Otway Coast. It includes all or part of the cities of Ballarat and Greater Geelong, the Borough of Queenscliff and the shires of Moorabool, Surf Coast, Corangamite, Golden Plains, Colac Otway and Moyne. Related initiatives include Soil Health, an online repository of soil health information and knowledge: including reports, research papers, maps and descriptions related to current and past soil series mapping, land capability and suitability assessments, agricultural trials, and soil research and investigations; and, NRM Planning, a pilot project testing how online mapping can be used to match local and regional priorities for catchment management in the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority region.

SWIFFT: State Wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams

- Dahlhaus, Peter, Milne, Robert, MacLeod, Andrew

Authors: Dahlhaus, Peter , Milne, Robert , MacLeod, Andrew
Type: Text , Dataset
Full Text: false
Description: SWIFFT is a combined initiative between the community, conservation, education and government sectors.It aims to advance citizen science through facilitating awareness, information and knowledge sharing in relation to biodiversity and threatened species across Victoria and south-eastern Australia. SWIFFT actively encourages contributions from members of the community, conservationists, field naturalists, farmers, land carers, researchers, scientists, management agencies and environmental consultants. SWIFFT is a place for community members to share projects, activities, outcomes, current events and ideas, and to access information from experts in their field. It is also a place to share images of biodiversity projects, species and habitats or go to find out about these things - helping to build a more informed community. SWIFFT is part of an interoperable web-GIS maintained by the Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation(CeRDI) at Federation University Australia (FedUni). Project aim: Key aims of SWIFFT are to build community awareness and understanding of biodiversity and threatened species through sharing information about biodiversity or threatened species projects. Sharing project information can: assist others undertaking similar projects, or those considering starting a project provide opportunities to link science/research with projects increase community understanding and support for biodiversity and threatened species

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