The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Climate research on the Amery Ice Shelf
Research conducted by the Australian Government Antarctic Division into the dynamics of heat transfer between
the waters flowing underneath the Amery Ice Shelf continued in 2006 with the completion of two further bore
holes made with a hot-water drill.
The project is part of a strong research effort focused on the factors affecting local climate conditions. Both
holes were instrumented with thermistors and upward-looking sonars, which revealed details of the
freeze-melt interface and the crystal structure of reforming marine ice. Samples from the sea floor
underneath the ice were extracted for examination of past glacial events. Initial photographic analysis of
the cavity beneath the ice revealed the unexpected presence of Antarctic krill and other invertebrates.
On the same ice shelf, the Australian Government Antarctic Division is also conducting research in collaboration
with the University of Tasmania and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography on a large block of calving
ice at the margin of the shelf.
Detailed differential GPS observations have shown that rifting occurs faster in summer than winter and
occurs in short, sharp bursts followed by periods of relative quiescence. It is expected this block of ice will
calve within the next few years into a substantial iceberg, some 30 kilometres long. Observations are expected
to continue for the next two years with joint studies being undertaken by US and Australian scientists.
Signals from Antarctica have been detected by hydroacoustic sensors based in Western Australia and on
an Indian Ocean island. Scientists at Curtin University have identified the signals as either long lasting harmonic
tremors associated with drifting icebergs or pulse-like signals from ice shelf fracturing. The sensors, which
monitor the ocean as part of the comprehensive test ban treaty, show potential for long-term monitoring of
changes in Antarctic ice.
Australian Biological Resources Study
The Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) funds taxonomic and biogeographic research and training
that leads to the scientific documentation of Australia’s biodiversity. In 2005-06, total research expenditure under
the programme was $1.869 million, which included support for 57 taxonomic research projects, four scholarships,
18 student bursaries and a number of small research contracts.
All ABRS projects contribute to the taxonomic knowledge necessary for the conservation and sustainable use
of Australia’s biodiversity. Taxonomic information also contributes to industries such as medicine, biosecurity,
bioprospecting and agriculture.
In 2006 investigations included research into such diverse biota as zooxanthellae (microalgae), diatoms, dinoflagellates,
xiphydriidae (primitive woodwasps), sea anemones, kangaroo beetles, orchids, smut fungi (causing diseases
particularly to cereals and native grasses) and polychaetes (segmented sea worms that are the main food source
for many commercially important shellfish and fish).
ABRS research will contribute to future publications such as Fungi of Australia, Algae of Australia, Flora of Australia
and the ABRS identifi cation series, and expand existing online sources of information including the Flora of
Australia online and the Australian faunal directory (now holding information on 70 900 species). Two books,
(Fungi of Australia, Hygrophoraceae and Castiarina, Australia’s richest jewel beetle genus) and one CDROM (Catalogue
of tunicata in Australian waters) were published during the year. Other products launched were:
• Flora of Australia, Volume 44B is the second part of four volumes on Australia’s grasses;
• Native plants of Christmas Island is No. 22 in the Flora of Australia supplementary series and illustrates 118 of
the island’s most common native plants;
• Fabulous fl atworms: a guide to marine polyclads is the first CDROM to identify over 400 species of polyclad
flatworms from around the world;
Chapter 2 - Initiatives for a dynamic national innovation system 23