Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP160102806 [ 2016-01-01 - 2019-10-31 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Dr David Booth (Chief Investigator) ,  Dr David Booth (Chief Investigator) ,  Dr Lyn Cook (Chief Investigator) ,  Emeritus Professor Gimme Walter (Chief Investigator) ,  Emeritus Professor Gimme Walter (Chief Investigator)
View all 7 related researchers

Brief description Why are Australian cycads endangered: pollinators, climate or humans? The project aims to determine whether Australian cycads were threatened by historical processes, such as ancient climate change, megafaunal extinction, increased fire regimes and pollinator disruption, or by post-European changes to their environment. Globally, and in Australia, a majority of cycad species are currently listed as vulnerable or endangered. Land-clearing post-European settlement is thought to be the major threat, but Australian cycads might already have been restricted to refugia following the aridification of Australia or landscape changes induced by the arrival of the first humans. Project findings should inform management of a group of vulnerable plants, and contribute to our understanding of the maintenance of biodiversity in general.

Funding Amount $388,800

Funding Scheme Discovery Projects

View this grant in the ARC Data Portal