Research Datasets
Images from series: Research Datasets

Important factors contributing to the burn severity of the 2021 Wooroloo bushfire

Increases in consecutive days that meteorological, climatic and biophysical variables combine to influence fire is projecting an increase in fire size and intensity. This prompts investigation into the severity of recent fires to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence fire severity. Using a highly accurate spectral index, a geospatial analysis was undertaken to identify key variables that control the variability in fire severity of the 2021 Wooroloo Bushfire. Random Forest regression and General Additive Model (GAM) were utilised to determine variable importance in modelling fire severity and to create parsimonious models. Elevation and the Soil Dryness Index (SDI) were the two most influential factors in explaining the variability of the fire. Whilst a good variable importance was achieved, the parsimonious Random Forest and GAM models performed poorly, managing to explain 14% of variance (RF) and 17% of deviance (GAM). This work supports reports that the Wooroloo Bushfire was severe, unpredictable, and difficult to control. Further testing into fire behaviour variable interaction and the influence of fire on fire severity should be conducted to determine important variables in modelling fire severity.

https://ro.ecu.edu.au/datasets/140

ECU-MSS-2 dataset, a new multi-species seagrass dataset

The "ECU-MSS-2' dataset contains four different habitats, 'Amphibolis' spp (hereafter 'Amphibolis"), 'Halophila' spp (hereafter 'Halophila'), 'Posidonia' spp (hereafter 'Posidonia') and 'Background'. We compiled this image dataset from different sources. The 'Halophila' images were collected by the Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia.

The 'Amphibolis' 'Background' and 'Posidonia' images were collected by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Australia. The 'Amphibolis' class includes the seagrass species Amphibolis griffithii and Amphibolis Antarctica. The 'Halophila' class includes Halophila ovalis, while the 'Posidonia' class includes Posidonia sinuosa, Posidonia coriacea, and Posidonia Australis. The 'Background' class includes coral, sand, sponge, seaweeds, fish and other benthic debris.

The dataset contained total 5,201 images, where the 'Amphibolis' class has 1304 images, the 'Background' class has 1237 images, the 'Halophila' class has 1315 images and the 'Posidonia' class has 1345 images. The total images were divided into training and test sets. The training set has 4,161 images and the test set has 1,040 images. All four classes have the same 260 images in the test set.

https://ro.ecu.edu.au/datasets/141

Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes [dataset]

This database contains metadata for the study sites in Serrano et al. 2023 (Ecosphere):

- Latitude and longitude data for the survey transects conducted in Posidonia australis escarpments and canopies, and reef in Big Lagoon, Faure Island and Peron Peninsula in Shark Bay (Western Australia)

Habitat characteristics, including abiotic factors (habitat height, cave volume, structural complexity) and biotic variables (total species, species richness, fish density, total biomass, biomass of apex predators, carnivores, hervibores, detritivores and planktivores).

https://ro.ecu.edu.au/datasets/128

Drones for large-scale wildlife surveys: Raw data to support manuscript - Hodgson et al

We conducted trial ScanEagle drone surveys of dugongs in Shark Bay, Western Australia, covering the full extent of the drone’s range (~ 100 km), concurrently with observer surveys, with drone flying above or just behind the piloted aircraft. We aimed to test the assumption that drone imagery could provide comparable detection rates of dugongs to human observers when influenced by same environmental conditions. Data in "All data for analysis - Shark Bay Hodgson et al" include a summary of the sightings from both platforms per transect segment, including associated environmental covariates. Also included are details of each dugong group sighted by each platform. "Comparison between reviewers - Shark Bay Hodgson et al" contains details of the drone image sightings recorded for a subset of drone images that were reviewed by three reviewers. These data were used to compare the reviewers and calculate perception bias for the manual review of the drone images. "Perception bias data - Shark Bay Hodgson et al" contains the data used to calculate the perception bias for the observers onboard the piloted aircraft.

Accuracy of spectral indices assessing fire severity utilizing maximum and minimum pixel values

This data set contains all Spectral Indices created using Google Earth Engine through Google Collaborate. 16 Spectral Indices were created that utilise different image collection and pixel value parameters to map the burn severity of the 2021 Wooroloo Bushfire.

Seagrass soils sequester the equivalent of up to half the metal emissions by one of the world’s largest smelters [dataset]

The database compiles published data (in Lafratta et al. 2023, Marine Pollution Bulletin) on physical, biogeochemical and chemical characteristics (coordinates, cm compressed and decompressed, dry weight (DW), dry bulk density (DBD), Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations analysed at Edith Cowan University (ECU), Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations analysed at University Autonoma of Barcelona (UAB), final Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations, organic carbon content (%), < 63 µm sediment particles content (%) and Pb isotopes ratio) of soils underneath Posidonia australis seagrass meadows in Port Pirie, South Australia. Cumulative dry mass, total and excess Pb-210 concentrations are also included. The dataset includes data for a total of twelve cores (PP1, PP2, PP3, PP4, PP5, PP6, PP7, PP8, PP9, PP11 and A15) plus two addition cores (PP10 and PP12) for which only raw data of metal concentrations are provided, as per associated manuscript.

For the twelve main cores, values in black represent the “operating period”, while values in blue represent the “pre-operation period” (check associated manuscript for details).

Recovery time, biomass characteristics and recovery mechanisms of seagrass following simulated grazing

The database compiles data published on seagrass recovery time, biomass characteristics, and recovery mechanisms following simulated grazing disturbance experiment in the Swan Canning Estuary, Western Australia. Observations of swans in the vicinity is also included.

Seagrass species data occurrence recorded in Indonesia's water

This is the dataset of seagrass species occurrence compiled for the research project, titled “Prioritizing areas in Indonesia to conserve and enhance seagrass ecosystem functions under a changing climate”, funded by the 2021/2022 ANU Indonesia Project Research Grants.

Porewater salinity influences germination of Ruppia polycarpa in variable estuarine habitats

Porewater salinity at different depth intervals during different months. Seed, germling and seedling density data in two estuaries and during different months. Seed germination, seedling establishment and growth under experimental conditions.

The influence of abiotic and biotic conditions on life cycle stages is critical for estuarine seagrass resilience

Data collected in the field as part of an experimental manipulation that excluded and allowed natural swan grazing to determine the effects on seagrass.

Supplementary Table 11: Regional zOTU table (data as relative abundances)

This zOTU table is the relative abundances for the whole regional (combined WA and NSW) dataset.

Journal of ecology 2021 global rainfall-seagrass resilience-Swan River

The excel file contains: summary of daily maximum precipitation from global rainfall analysis, monthly change in seagrass indicators (biomass, leaf density etc); water quality data including salinity, temperature and light data. There are also .nc files containing precipitation data from 1979-2019.

Kelp-associated microbes facilitate spatial subsidy in a detrital-based food web in a shoreline ecosystem [dataset]

The database compiles data (used in Singh et al. In Review, Frontiers in Marine Science) obtained from a laboratory experiment where Juvenile amphipods (Allorchesta compressa) were raised on fresh and aged kelp (Ecklonia radiata (“Type”) that had either been treated with antibiotics or left untreated (Treatment). Aged kelp had been maintained in an aquarium for two weeks to allow bacteria in the biofilm to increase to levels found in surf zones. Treated kelp represented kelp with reduced bacterial abundances, while control kelp represented kelp with natural abundances of bacteria. The experiment comprised 5 replicates for each treatment/type combination. The experiment ran over 6 weeks to examine growth of amphipods, and a further 2 weeks to examine reproductive traits (number of eggs and number of ovigorous females. Bacterial abundances were measured on kelp pieces at intervals throughout the experiment, along with tissue toughness, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content and C:N ratios to represent food palatability and quality.

Keep watch seagrass monitoring dataset 2012 - 2021

This is the summary dataset of the seagrass monitoring data for Posidonia sinuosa shoot density, morphological characteristics and leaf tissue nutrients, Amphibolis antarctica leaf tissue nutrients and water quality measurements from Geographe Bay. These as well as other observations were recorded from eight locations in Geographe Bay area annually in summer over a 10-year period from 2012-2021.

Breeding and feeding habitat selection by an island endemic bird may increase its vulnerability to climate change [dataset]

Characterising patterns of habitat use is an important first step for effective conservation planning. Species restricted to low-lying islands are at greatest risk from climate change-related sea level rise, and requirements for breeding and foraging habitat may determine their risk from tidal inundation. The endangered Micronesian Scrubfowl (Megapodius laperouse senex) is a model species for understanding these impacts. This species faces the cumulative challenges of tourist visitation, invasive species, and rising sea levels, yet little is understood about its habitat use in the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon Conservation Area (RISL) of Palau. We studied the habitat requirements of this mound-nesting scrubfowl as a representative of a group of birds considered highly vulnerable to climate change. Analysis of 15 habitat variables at 24 incubation mounds and 26 randomly chosen sites indicated that scrubfowl selected incubation sites that were close to shore, contained large trees, and exhibited greater canopy heights than the surrounding forest. Birds preferentially built mounds at the base of large ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia) but selected sites with significantly more breadfruit trees (Artocarpus mariannensis) than random. Scrubfowl foraged in a non-preferential manner, making use of all littoral strand forest habitat. Direct anthropogenic habitat loss is not a major threat to scrubfowl in the RISL but their breeding habitat is highly vulnerable to climate change-driven sea level rise.

Conserving critical seagrass habitat for dugong. Dugong seagrass associations SUMMARY data.

This is the summary dataset of the dugong seagrass associations data containing dugong counts, benthic habitat cover, seagrass nutrient content, water temperature, water current speed, water depth and water transparency from three locations in the Pilbara over 3 time periods in 2018-2019.

Conserving critical seagrass habitat for dugong. Seagrass network monitoring data SUMMARY

This is the summary dataset of the seagrass monitoring data containing benthic habitat, seagrass meadow characteristics, seed density and environmental variables from three locations in the Pilbara over 3-4 time periods in 2018-2019.

Predictors of marine genetic structure in the Indo-Australian Archipelago [dataset]

This is the dataset extracted from 101 publications on 99 marine species from eight taxonomic groups in the Indo Australian Archipelago. Data extracted includes measures of genetic structure and the potential predictors.

Impact of seagrass establishment, industrialization and coastal infrastructure on seagrass biogeochemical sinks [dataset]

The database compiles published data (in Serrano et al. 2020, Marine Environmental Research, in press) on biogeochemical characteristics (density, organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes, chemical element and sediment grain size) of cores from Posidonia sinuosa soil in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia. Pb-210 concentrations of the first 20 cm are included along with C-14 raw ages.

Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Oscar Serrano: o.serranogras@ecu.edu.au

Seagrass losses since mid-20th century fuelled CO2 emissions from soil carbon stocks [dataset]

The database compiles published data (in Salinas et al. 2020) on biogeochemical characteristics (density, organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes, sediment grain size) of cores from Posidonia australis and sinuosa soil in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia.

Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Cristian Salinas: c.salinaszapata@ecu.edu.au

SNP population genetic data for the seagrass Halodule uninervis from Pilbara region, Western Australia

This dataset contains 80 SNP loci from 15 locations with 25-47 samples per locations. Each column contains data from two alleles. All genotyped samples are included. Prior to population genetic analysis clone mates were identified and removed.

Floral display and habitat fragmentation: effects on the reproductive success of the threatened mass-flowering Conospermum undulatum (Proteaceae) [dataset]

1. Fragmentation of natural vegetation is currently one of the largest threats to plant populations and their interactions with pollinators. Plant reproductive susceptibility to habitat fragmentation has been investigated in many species; however, the response of wild mass-flowering species is poorly known, with research limited to mainly boreal plant species.

2. Here we studied twelve remnant populations of the threatened mass-flowering shrub Conospermum undulatum in the southwest Australian biodiversity hotspot, each presenting different population size, level of isolation, and floral display. We assessed the impact of fragmentation on: 1) fruit and seed production; and 2) seed germination. To gain a deeper understanding of factors influencing the reproductive success of C. undulatum we performed pollinator exclusion and self-pollination treatments to experimentally assess the mating system of this threatened shrub.

3. We found C. undulatum to be strictly self-incompatible and totally reliant on pollinators visiting with an outcrossed pollen load to complete the reproductive cycle. Further, we found that fruit production significantly decreased with decreasing floral display. A decrease in population size and floral display led to a decrease in seed output, while increasing isolation also led to a reduced production of seeds. Overall, seed germination was positively related to population size, and a negative relationship was found between germination and isolation.

4. Our results demonstrate the important relationship between pollinators and floral morphology in plants of southwest Australia that have coevolved with native pollinators and developed characteristic flower morphologies over long timeframes. The self-incompatible C. undulatum cannot rely on its mass-flowering trait to attract pollinators from co-flowering species, neither can it compensate for the lack of visitors by promoting geitonogamy. Consequently, fragmentation has a significant effect on the reproductive output of C. undulatum, and size, isolation, and floral display of populations should be considered when planning conservation actions for the species.

A geospatiotemporal and causal inference epidemiological exploration of substance and cannabinoid exposure as drivers of rising US pediatric cancer rates [Dataset]

Background. Age-adjusted US total pediatric cancer incidence rates (TPCIR) rose 49% 1975-2015 for unknown reasons. Prenatal cannabis exposure has been linked with several pediatric cancers which together comprise the majority of pediatric cancer types. We investigated whether cannabis use was related spatiotemporally and causally to TPCIR.

Methods. State-based age-adjusted TPCIR data was taken from the CDC Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer database 2003-2017. Drug exposure was taken from the nationally-representative National Survey of Drug Use and Health, response rate 74.1%. Drugs included were: tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioid analgesics and cocaine. This was supplemented by cannabinoid concentration data from the Drug Enforcement Agency and ethnicity and median household income data from US Census.

Results. TPCIR rose while all drug use nationally fell, except for cannabis which rose. TPCIR in the highest cannabis use quintile was greater than in the lowest (β-estimate=1.31 (95%C.I. 0.82, 1.80), P=1.80x10-7) and the time:highest two quintiles interaction was significant (β-estimate=0.1395 (0.82, 1.80), P=1.00x10-14). In robust inverse probability weighted additive regression models cannabis was independently associated with TPCIR (β-estimate=9.55 (3.95, 15.15), P=0.0016). In interactive geospatiotemporal models including all drug, ethnic and income variables cannabis use was independently significant (β-estimate=45.67 (18.77, 72.56), P=0.0009). In geospatial models temporally lagged to 1,2,4 and 6 years interactive terms including cannabis were significant. Cannabis interactive terms at one and two degrees of spatial lagging were significant (from β-estimate=3954.04 (1565.01, 6343.09), P=0.0012). The interaction between the cannabinoids THC and cannabigerol was significant at zero, 2 and 6 years lag (from β-estimate=46.22 (30.06, 62.38), P=2.10x10-8). Cannabis legalization was associated with higher TPCIR (β-estimate=1.51 (0.68, 2.35), P=0.0004) and cannabis-liberal regimes were associated with higher time:TPCIR interaction (β-estimate=1.87x10-4, (2.9x10-5, 2.45x10-4), P=0.0208). 33/56 minimum e-Values were >5 and 6 were infinite.

Conclusion. Data confirm a close relationship across space and lagged time between cannabis and TPCIR which was robust to adjustment, supported by inverse probability weighting procedures and accompanied by high e-Values making confounding unlikely and establishing the causal relationship. Cannabis-liberal jurisdictions were associated with higher rates of TPCIR and a faster rate of TPCIR increase. Data inform the broader general consideration of cannabinoid-induced genotoxicity.

Contemporary epidemiology of rising atrial septal defect trends across USA 1991-2016: A combined ecological geotemporospatial and causal inferential study [Dataset]

Background: Cardiovascular anomalies are the largest group of congenital anomalies and the major cause of death in young children, with a range of data linking rising atrial septal defect incidence (ASDI) with prenatal cannabis exposure. Objectives / Hypotheses. Is cannabis associated with ASDI in USA? Is this relationship causal?

Methods: Geospatiotemporal cohort study, 1991-2016. Census populations of adults, babies, congenital anomalies, income and ethnicity. Drug exposure data on cigarettes, alcohol abuse, past month cannabis use, analgesia abuse and cocaine taken from National Survey of Drug Use and Health (78.9% response rate). Cannabinoid concentrations from Drug Enforcement Agency. Inverse probability weighted (ipw) regressions. Analysis conducted in R.

Results. ASDI rose nationally three-fold from 27.4 to 82.8 / 10,000 births 1991-2014 during a period when tobacco and alcohol abuse were falling but cannabis was rising. States including Nevada, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee had steeply rising epidemics (Time: Status β-estimate=10.72 (95%C.I. 8.39-13.05), P1.5.

Conclusions. ASDI is associated with cannabis use, frequency, intensity and legalization in a spatiotemporally significant manner, robust to socioeconomicodemographic adjustment and fulfilled causal criteria, consistent with multiple biological mechanisms and similar reports from Hawaii, Colorado, Canada and Australia. Not only are these results of concern in themselves, but they further imply that our list of the congenital teratology of cannabis is as yet incomplete, and highlight the particular cardiovascular toxicology of prenatal cannabinoid and drug exposure.

Broad spectrum epidemiological contribution of cannabis, tobacco and alcohol to the teratological profile of northern New South Wales: Geospatial and causal inference analysis [Dataset]

Background. Whilst cannabis commercialization is occurring rapidly guided by highly individualistic public narratives, evidence that all congenital anomalies (CA) increase alongside cannabis use in Canada, a link with 21 CA’s in Hawaii, and rising CA’s in Colorado indicate that transgenerational effects can be significant and impact public health. It was therefore important to study Northern New South Wales (NNSW) a known cannabis use centre.

Methods. Design: Cohort. 2008-2015. Setting: NNSW and Queensland (QLD), Australia. Participants. Whole populations. Exposures. Tobacco, Risky Alcohol, Annual cannabis. Source: National Drug Strategy Household Surveys 2010, 2013. Main Outcomes. CA Rates. NNSW-QLD comparisons. Geospatial and causal regression.

Results. Cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal anomalies rose with falling tobacco and alcohol but rising cannabis use rates across Queensland. Maternal age NNSW-QLD was not different (2008-2015: 4,265/22,084 v. 96,473/490,514 >35 years, Chi.Sq.=1.687, P=0.194). A higher rate of NNSW cannabis-related than cannabis-unrelated defects occurred (prevalence ratio (PR)=2.13, 95%C.I. 1.80-2.52, P=3.24x10-19). CA’s rose more potently with rising cannabis than with rising tobacco or alcohol use. Exomphalos and gastroschisis had the highest NNSW:QLD PR (6.29(2.94-13.48) and 5.85(3.54-9.67)) and attributable fraction in the exposed (84.11%(65.95-92.58%) and 82.91%(71.75-89.66%), P=2.83x10-8 and P=5.62x10-15). In multivariable geospatial models cannabis was significantly linked with cardiovascular (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, patent ductus arteriosus), genetic (chromosomal defects, Downs syndrome), gastrointestinal (small intestinal atresia), body wall (gastroschisis, diaphragmatic hernia) and other (hypospadias) (AVTPCDSGDH) CA’s. In linear modelling cannabis use was significantly linked with anal stenosis, congenital hydrocephalus and Turner syndrome (ACT) and was significantly linked in borderline significant models (model P1.3 ranging up to 3.8x1030 making uncontrolled confounding unlikley.

Conclusions. These results suggest that population level CA’s react more strongly to small rises in cannabis use than tobacco or alcohol; cardiovascular, chromosomal, body wall and gastrointestinal CA’s rise significantly with small increases in cannabis use; and that cannabis is a bivariate correlate of AVTPCDSGDH and ACT anomalies and is robust to adjustment for other substances.

Co-occurrence across time and space of drug- and cannabinoid- exposure and adverse mental health outcomes in the national survey of drug use and health dataset 2: Combined ecological geotemporospatial and causal inference analysis [Dataset]

Background: Whilst many studies have linked increased drug and cannabis exposure to adverse mental health (MH) outcomes their effects on whole populations and geotemporospatial relationships are not well understood.

Objectives: Determine: (1) if cannabis use is associated with major MH outcomes ascross space and time, (2) if such impacts are robust to multivariable adjustment and (3) if the relationship is causal.

Methods. Ecological cohort study of National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) geographically-linked substate-shapefiles 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 supplemented by five-year US American Community Survey. Drugs: cigarettes, alcohol abuse, last-month cannabis use and last-year cocaine use. MH: any mental illness, major depressive illness, serious mental illness and suicidal thinking. Data analysis: two-stage, geotemporospatial, robust generalized linear regression and causal inference methods in R.

Results: 410,138 NSDUH respondents. Average response rate 76.7%. When all drug exposure, ethnicity and income variables were combined in final geospatiotemporal models tobacco, alcohol cannabis exposure, and various ethnicities were significantly related to all four major mental health outcomes. Cannabis exposure alone was related to any mental illness (β-estimate= -3.315 (95%C.I. -4.04, -2.58, P

Conclusions: Data show all four indices of mental ill-health track cannabis exposure across space and time and are robust to multivariable adjustment for ethnicity, socioeconomics and other drug use. MH deteriorated with cannabis legalization. Cannabis use-MH data are consistent with causal relationships in the forward direction and include dose-response relationships. Together with similar international reports and numerous mechanistic studies preventative action to reduce cannabis use is indicated.

Cannabis consumption patterns explain the East-West gradient in Canadian neural tube defect incidence: An ecological study [dataset]

While a known link between prenatal cannabis exposure and anencephaly exists, the relationship of prenatal cannabis exposure with neural tube defects (NTDs) generally has not been defined. Published data from Canada Health and Statistics Canada were used to assess this relationship. Both cannabis use and NTDs were shown to follow an east-west and north-south gradient. Last year cannabis consumption was significantly associated (P < .0001; cannabis use–time interaction P < .0001). These results were confirmed when estimates of termination for anomaly were used. Canada Health population data allowed the calculation of an NTD odds ratio) of 1.27 (95% confidence interval = 1.19-1.37; P < 10−11) for high-risk provinces versus the remainder with an attributable fraction in exposed populations of 16.52% (95% confidence interval = 12.22-20.62). Data show a robust positive statistical association between cannabis consumption as both a qualitative and quantitative variable and NTDs on a background of declining NTD incidence. In the context of multiple mechanistic pathways these strong statistical findings implicate causal mechanisms.

New Bathynellidae (Crustacea) taxa and their relationships in the Fortescue catchment aquifers of the Pilbara region, Western Australia [Dataset]

In the past 20 years, the number of subterranean taxa discovered in Australia, especially in the Pilbara bioregion, has considerably increased due to incidental environmental surveys often associated with mining development. Bathynellidae are an important component of stygofauna and they occur in most Australian aquifers, but their collection and identification are difficult due to their habitat, and small and fragile bodies with conservative morphology. The study of Pilbaranella ethelensis in the upper Fortescue catchment contributed to a better understanding of the group at local scale, but knowledge at larger catchment scale is still limited. Abundant material collected by different environmental consultant companies on behalf of mining companies allowed an accurate analysis of the populations of Central Hamersley Range bathynellids. A new genus and one new species from the lower Fortescue catchment, Fortescuenella serenitatis gen. et sp. nov., is described using an approach that integrates morphological and molecular data. Three additional lineages are defined through morphology and DNA sequencing, using Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery and Poisson Tree Processes species delimitation methods. Based on previous knowledge on bathynellids and other stygofauna we expected to find multiple taxa, geographically restricted, possibly related to each other and to Pilbaranella genus described upstream of the Fortescue catchment. The phylogenetic reconstruction of the relationships among known lineages of the family in the Pilbara highlights a pattern of distribution characterized by a complex evolutionary history that does not reflect contemporary surface water catchments, suggesting a diversification that preceded the aridification processes started in the north of Western Australia during the Miocene. This study also clarifies the status of the 'cosmopolitan' Bathynella by excluding the Australian bathynellids from this genus.

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Isolation, characterization, and cross-amplification of 20 microsatellite markers for the rare Conospermum undulatum (Proteaceae) [dataset]

Premise of the study: Recent habitat fragmentation is posing a risk to the wavy-leaved smokebush, Conospermum undulatum, a rare plant species endemic to the south-western Western Australia. Microsatellites markers are required to characterize the genetic diversity and structure of the species for conservation purposes and to facilitate ecological studies. Methods and Results: Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing was used to develop 20 novel microsatellite markers for C. undulatum. Polymorphism at each locus was assessed using 72 individuals from three natural populations. Nineteen markers were polymorphic, with the number of alleles per locus ranging from two to 21, and observed and expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.000 to 1.000 and 0.117 to 0.919, respectively. All markers successfully amplified in three congeneric species. Conclusions: The microsatellite markers will be useful for revealing patterns of genetic diversity, dispersal dynamics and hybridization events for C. undulatum to inform future conservation efforts.

Habitat discontinuities form strong barriers to gene flow among mangrove populations, despite the capacity for long distance dispersal [dataset]

Mangrove forests are among the world’s most important ecosystems but are declining rapidly worldwide. Effective conservation management requires a better understanding of the patterns and drivers of gene flow across a range of spatial scales.

Despite the capacity for long distance propagule dispersal, field studies suggest that mangrove propagules tend not to disperse far from the release point, which has important implications for the impact of habitat discontinuities on gene flow. We use a comprehensive seascape genomics approach to investigate this concept in the world’s most widely distributed mangrove species, Avicennia marina.

Location 21 sites along 2400 km of Western Australian coastline Methods We used 6,162 neutral SNP loci and a hierarchical sampling design to investigate patterns of gene flow and structuring among 21 populations of A. marina. We combined this data with GIS spatial analyses in a regression model to test the relative influence of habitat continuity and geographic distance on patterns of genetic differentiation.

We found a complex pattern of gene flow; broadscale isolation-by-distance, disrupted by strong genetic discontinuities that coincided with gaps in mangrove distribution. These genetic discontinuities formed seven discrete subpopulations with negligible evidence for recent migration among them. The regression model combining marine geographic distance and habitat continuity as explanatory variables best fit the data, explaining 86% of the total genetic variation.

Our results validate previous assertions that propagule dispersal in A. marina is spatially limited and demonstrate that significant gaps in mangrove distribution present strong barriers to stepping-stone gene flow in this species. This reiterates that dispersive life history features cannot be assumed to lead to widespread connectivity and demonstrates that effective management of these important ecosystem builders should prioritise restoring habitat continuity and minimising further fragmentation.

Global careers for women managers, 1997

In 1995 the authors were commissioned by the Australian Research Council to investigate the personal, organisational and cultural barriers to women managers' global placements. The research involved gathering baseline data on the number of men and women currently employed as expatriates in Australian private sector organisations, in respect of size of organisation, industry, occupational function, and country and length of placement. Organisational attitudes to international placements of women were sought, and organisational policies and practices commonly associated with the recruitment, selection and management development of expatriates were identified. In the survey expatriates were defined as someone employed by an organisation on an international appointment, in a country other than Australia, for six months or more. The survey of companies was designed to elicit details of the location, functional areas, and occupational levels of both male and female expatriates, together with their marital status and educational levels.

Microorganisms facilitate uptake of dissolved organic nitrogen by seagrass leaves [dataset]

The database compiles data (used in Tarquinio et al. 2018, ISME Journal, accepted for publication) obtained from nitrogen stable isotope analysis (IRMS) and Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) of seagrass (Posidonia sinuosa) leaves and associated microorganisms. Row data (IRMS) are presented for bulk tissue 15N enrichment of P. sinuosa leaves at different times of incubation (plotted as bar chart in the manuscript), as well as the enrichment detected through the drawing of regions of interest (ROI) from NanoSIMS image analysis and plotted as box plots in the manuscript.

Importance of habitat selection for Blue Carbon projects: Doubtful additionality in a seagrass case study

The database compiles published data on biogeochemical characteristics (density, organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes and sediment grain size) of soils underneath seagrass meadows in False Bay, South Australia. Pb-210 concentrations of the first 12-20 cm are included. The dataset compiles data for a total of 12 cores, 80-140 cm-long (5 cores with Pb-210 data, 4 cores with sediment grain size).

Seagrass soil archives reveal centennial-scale metal smelter contamination while acting as natural filters [dataset]

The database compiles published data (in Lafratta et al. 2019, STOTEN) on physical, biogeochemical and chemical characteristics (density, organic carbon, sediment grain size, metals concentration, Pb isotopes ratio) of soils underneath seagrass meadows in Port Pirie, South Australia. Pb-210 concentrations of the first 12 cm are also included. The dataset includes data for a total of two cores, A12 and A15 that are 147 and 96 cm long respectively.

Ecosystem biomonitoring with eDNA: metabarcoding across the tree of life in a tropical marine environment [dataset]

Effective marine management requires comprehensive data on the status of marine biodiversity. However, efficient methods that can document biodiversity in our oceans are currently lacking. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sourced from seawater offers a new avenue for investigating the biota in marine ecosystems. Here, we investigated the potential of eDNA to inform on the breadth of biodiversity present in a tropical marine environment. Directly sequencing eDNA from seawater using a shotgun approach resulted in only 0.34% of 22.3 million reads assigning to eukaryotes, highlighting the inefficiency of this method for assessing eukaryotic diversity. In contrast, using ‘tree of life’ (ToL) metabarcoding and 20-fold fewer sequencing reads, we could detect 287 families across the major divisions of eukaryotes. Our data also show that the best performing ‘universal’ PCR assay recovered only 44% of the eukaryotes identified across all assays, highlighting the need for multiple metabarcoding assays to catalogue biodiversity. Lastly, focusing on the fish genus Lethrinus, we recovered intra- and inter-specific haplotypes from seawater samples, illustrating that eDNA can be used to explore diversity beyond taxon identifications. Given the sensitivity and low cost of eDNA metabarcoding we advocate this approach be rapidly integrated into biomonitoring programs.

Managing seagrass resilience under cumulative dredging affecting light: predicting risk using dynamic Bayesian networks [dataset]

Coastal development is contributing to ongoing declines of ecosystems globally. Consequently, understanding the risks posed to these systems, and how they respond to successive disturbances, is paramount for their improved management. We study the cumulative impacts of maintenance dredging on seagrass ecosystems as a canonical example. Maintenance dredging causes disturbances lasting weeks to months, often repeated at yearly intervals. We present a risk-based modelling framework for time varying complex systems centred around a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN). Our approach estimates the impact of a hazard on a system's response in terms of resistance, recovery and persistence, commonly used to characterise the resilience of a system. We consider whole-of-system interactions including light reduction due to dredging (the hazard), the duration, frequency and start time of dredging, and ecosystem characteristics such as the life-history traits expressed by genera and local environmental conditions. The impact on resilience of dredging disturbances is evaluated using a validated seagrass ecosystem DBN for meadows of the genera Amphibolis (Jurien Bay, WA, Australia), Halophila (Hay Point, Qld, Australia) and Zostera (Gladstone, Qld, Australia). Although impacts varied by combinations of dredging parameters and the seagrass meadows being studied, in general, 3 months of duration or more, or repeat dredging every 3 or more years, were key thresholds beyond which resilience can be compromised. Additionally, managing light reduction to less than 50% can significantly decrease one or more of loss, recovery time and risk of local extinction, especially in the presence of cumulative stressors. Synthesis and applications. Our risk-based approach enables managers to develop thresholds by predicting the impact of different configurations of anthropogenic disturbances being managed. Many real-world maintenance dredging requirements fall within these parameters, and our results show that such dredging can be successfully managed to maintain healthy seagrass meadows in the absence of other disturbances. We evaluated opportunities for risk mitigation using time windows; periods during which the impact of dredging stress did not impair resilience.

Effects of small-scale, shading-induced seagrass loss on blue carbon storage: Implications for management of degraded seagrass ecosystems [dataset]

1. Seagrass meadows are important global ‘blue carbon’ sinks. Despite a 30% loss of seagrasses globally during the last century, there is limited empirical research investigating the effects of disturbance and loss of seagrass on blue carbon stocks.

2. In this study, we hypothesised that seagrass loss would reduce blue carbon stocks. Using shading cloth, we simulated small-scale die-offs of two subtropical seagrass species, Halodule wrightii and Thalassia testudinum, in a dynamic northern Gulf of Mexico lagoon. The change in quantity and quality of sediment organic matter and organic carbon were compared among kill, control and bare plots before the kill treatment, shortly after the kill treatment and 11 months after the kill treatment. 210 Pb age dating was performed on bare and Thalassia plots at 11 months to evaluate the impact of sediment erosion in the absence of vegetation.

3. The small-scale die-off led to a 50-65% organic matter (OM) loss in the sediment in the top 8 cm of Halodule plots. Thalassia plots lost significant portions OM (50%) and organic carbon (C; 21-47%) in only the top 1 cm of sediment. The 210 Pb profiles indicated Thalassia die-off reduced the C sequestration rate by 10%, in addition to a loss of ~1 years’ worth of C stocks (~22 g m-2) Furthermore, analyses on O Morg quality indicated a loss of labile OM/C and enhanced remineralisation by microbes.

4. Synthesis and applications: This study provides empirical evidence that small-scale shading-induced seagrass die-offs can reduce seagrass carbon sequestration capacity and trigger losses of blue carbon stocks. While the losses recorded here are modest, these losses in blue carbon storage capacity are notable due to the proximity of shading structures (for example, boat docks) to seagrass habitats. Thus, policies to avoid or protect seagrass habitats from common small-scale, shading disturbances are important for optimising both carbon sequestration capacity and coastline development and management.17-Nov-2017

Latitudinal variation in seagrass herbivory: global patterns and explanatory mechanisms [dataset]

Aim: The aim was to quantify latitudinal patterns in seagrass–herbivore interactions in the context of a warming climate. Location: We carried out a global meta‐analysis combined with a field experiment across 1,700 km and 12° of latitude in Western Australia. Time period: 1984–2014. Major taxa studied: Seagrasses. Methods: We first synthesized the global literature on herbivore exclusion experiments in seagrasses to test whether differences in herbivore impacts are related to latitude and sea surface temperature. We then quantified leaf production and consumption rates in the field at nine meadows of the seagrass Amphibolis antarctica across 1,700 km, from tropical to temperate latitudes. Seagrass biomass and nutritional traits (nitrogen, C:N, phenolics) were also measured. Results: Our meta‐analysis showed that herbivores had a similar net impact on seagrasses across 37° of absolute latitude, and there was little variation in herbivore exclusion effects at different temperatures. In the field, rates of both production and consumption of seagrass were greatest in the tropics and decreased with latitude. Seagrass nutritional quality was lowest in the tropics, where fish removed c. 30% of primary production. Consumption of the more nutritious temperate seagrasses was lower overall but also highly variable and dominated by invertebrates. Main conclusions: In tropical latitudes, faster growth rates compensated for greater consumption of A. antarctica by herbivores. This resulted in similar net impacts of herbivores across latitudes, because higher latitude plants grew more slowly but also suffered less herbivory. This match between consumption and production rates might explain the global patterns derived from the literature, which show little latitudinal variation in the effects of consumers on seagrasses. As ocean temperatures continue to rise and overall herbivory levels are expected to increase in temperate regions, the survival of seagrass meadows in higher latitudes will depend on the ability of plants to increase growth at compensatory rates.

Optimal soil carbon sampling designs to achieve cost-effectiveness: a case study in blue carbon ecosystems [dataset]

Researchers are increasingly studying carbon (C) storage by natural ecosystems for climate mitigation, including coastal ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems. Unfortunately, little guidance on how to achieve robust, cost-effective estimates of blue C stocks to inform inventories exists. We use existing data (492 cores) to develop recommendations on the sampling effort required to achieve robust estimates of blue C. Using a broad-scale, spatially explicit dataset from Victoria, Australia, we applied multiple spatial methods to provide guidelines for reducing variability in estimates of soil C stocks over large areas. With a separate dataset collected across Australia, we evaluated how many samples are needed to capture variability within soil cores and best methods for extrapolating C to 1 m soil depth. We found that 40 core samples are optimal for capturing C variance across 1000’s of kilometres but higher density sampling is required across finer scales (100-200 km). Accounting for environmental variation can further decrease required sampling. The within core analyses showed that nine samples within a core capture the majority of the variability and log-linear equations can accurately extrapolate C. These recommendations can help develop standardised methods for sampling programs to quantify soil C stocks at national scales.

WAMSI 2 - Dredging Node - Project 5.2 - Genetic variability of seagrass in NW Australia [dataset]

Three species of seagrass, H. ovalis, H. uninervis and Thalassia hemprichii (Ehrenberg) Ascherson (year) were assessed across a range of spatial scales to determine:

- the variation in genetic diversity within and among sites;

- the patterns in connectivity among sites; and

- the relationship between genetic diversity and relevant environmental conditions.

Spatial representation type:

textTable : textual or tabular data is used to represent geographic data

Geographic bounding :

WAMSI 2 - Kimberley Node - Project 1.1.3 - Ecological connectivity of Kimberley marine communities (ECU - AIMS) [dataset]

The overarching objective is to infer the routine distances of dispersal and patterns of connectivity among key populations within the Kimberley. Nine sub-projects will address this objective. The data provided by these methods are complimentary, and each improves the others. The projects and objectives can be summarised as:

- Existing samples and desktop study

- Genetic analyses

- Coral stock-recruitment and larval durations

- Fish otolith microchemistry

Genotypes data have been generated from seven marine organisms:

1. Tectus niloticus - gastropod (CSIRO)

2. Pomacentrus milleri - fish (CSIRO)

3. Lutjanus carponotatus - fish (CSIRO)

4. Halophila ovalis - seagrass (ECU)

5. Thalassia hemprichii - seagrass (ECU)

6. Isopora brueggmanni - coral (AIMS)

7. Acropora aspera - coral (AIMS)

There is a CSIRO metadata record that describes data for Tectus niloticus; Pomacentrus milleri and Lutjanus carponotatus <a target="_blank" title="Link to !0d389dab-d6e2-4895-ba09-389e689b565e)

Spatial representation type :

Vector: vector data is used to represent geographic data

StereoModel: three-dimensional view formed by the intersecting homologous rays of an overlapping pair of images

WAMSI 2 Dredging Science Node: Theme 5 Project 5.4 Recovery mechanisms [dataset]

The objective of Project 5.4 was to determine whether recovery of seagrass in the Pilbara following disturbance is by sexual (recruitment from seeds) or asexual (vegetative regrowth from rhizome extension) means, and the relative importance of each, thereby determining the capacity, timeframes and mechanisms of recovery from light and sediment deposition effects. This was achieved through an experiment in which plots cleared of seagrass were enclosed by a barrier or left open, and changes in cover were compared to unmanipulated control (and procedural control) plots. The experiment was done at two sites, a 2-m deep (the 'shallow' site) and a 6-m deep (the 'deep' site). The experiment was intended to run for 6 months, but after 5 months disturbance caused by Tropical Cyclone (TC) Olwyn reduced seagrass cover at both sites, and removed the experimental apparatus at the shallow site. Nevertheless, results yielded by surveys prior to TC Olwyn unambiguously showed strong evidence for recovery through vegetative regrowth (full recovery in cleared plots with no barriers, plus a pattern of increasing cover from the edges of the plots) and no evidence for recovery through recruitment from seeds (no seagrass was ever recorded in any cleared plot with a barrier). The main species of seagrass present was Halophila ovalis, which is widespread throughout northwestern Australia. The transferability of inferences from this study to other places in the Pilbara is hampered by the substantial variation in abundance and species composition from place to place - different species might have different mechanisms of recovery. The nature of the experimental disturbance (complete removal of all seagrass, including roots and rhizomes) is a reasonable facsimile of a severe dredging-induced disturbance, but the spatial extent of the experimental clearances (~0.5 m2) is orders of magnitude smaller than the spatial extents of dredging-induced mortality induced elsewhere: it is plausible that recovery of patches within meadows is more easily achieved through rhizome extension than recovery that encompasses spatial extents of hectares.

A marine heat wave drives massive losses from the world’s largest seagrass carbon stocks [dataset]

The database compiles published data (in Arias-Ortiz et al., 2018) on biogeochemical characteristics (density, organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes and sediment grain size) of soils underneath seagrass meadows in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Pb-210 concentrations of the first 20 cm are included along with C-14 raw ages. The dataset compiles data for a total of 49 cores, 25 - 300 cm-long (11 cores with Pb-210 and C-14 data). Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Ariane Arias-Ortiz: <a

Variability in the carbon storage of seagrass habitats and its implications for global estimates of Blue Carbon ecosystem service [dataset]

The dataset compiles published data (in Lavery et al. 2013, PLoS ONE 8(9): e73748. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073748) on biogeochemical variables (organic matter, organic carbon and CO3 contents, and stable carbon isotope signatures of the organic carbon) in sediment core from seagrass meadows in Australia. The cores studied were up to 29 cm long, and ecompass tropical, subtropical and temperate seagrass meadows in intertidal and subtidal habitats. Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Paul Lavery <a

Community Building, Multiculturalism and the Suburban Public Library: Community, Cohesion and Sustainability. Qualitative Data From Interviews on Western Australian Migrants' Information Needs & Quantitative Web Survey Data On Service Provision At Australian Public Libraries, 2011-2012

This dataset consists of 3 files:

File 1: Qualitative data enclosed in Microsoft Excel file. Data collection includes one to one interviews with Western Australian migrants.

Content analysis: interview utterances were analysed for content, classified into categories, and coded and entered in Microsoft Excel file columns.

File 2: Qualitative data enclosed in Microsoft Word file. Data collection includes one to one interviews with Western Australian migrants.

Content analysis: interview utterances were analysed for content, classified into categories, and coded and entered in Microsoft Word file columns.

File 3: Quantitative data enclosed in Qualtrics software which includes public librarians’ responses to a Web survey. SPSS Tables and Figures imported from the Qualtrics Software raw data into a Word file.

Key Biogeochemical Factors Affecting Soil Carbon Storage In Posidonia Meadows [dataset]

The database compiles published data (in Serrano et al. 2015, Biogeosciences, doi:10.5194/bgd-12-18913-2015) on biogeochemical characteristics (age, density, organic carbon, inorganic carbon, stable carbon isotopes and sediment grain size) of sediments underneath seagrass meadows (Posidonia sinuosa) along a bathymetric gradient (from 2 to 8 m) and adjacent un-vegetated patches in Garden Island (Perth, Western Australia). The dataset compiles data on biogeochemical sediment characteristics (including organic and inorganic carbon stocks and burial rates) for a total of 5 cores (4 cores from seagrass meadows and 1 core from adjacent un-vegetated sediments). Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Oscar Serrano <a

Can mud (silt and clay) concentration be used to predict soil organic carbon content within seagrass ecosystems? [dataset]

The database compiles published data (in Serrano et al. 2016, Biogeosciences, doi:10.5194/bg-2015-598) on biogeochemical characteristics (%organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes and mud content) of sediments underneath seagrass meadows and bare sediments in Australia and Spain. Details on habitat characteristics (latitude/longitude, water depth, seagrass species and geomorphology) and sediment depth are also provided for each location studied. The data set includes 1345 data entries from 100 sediment cores, encompassing 10 seagrass species in estuarine and coastal habitats. Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Oscar Serrano <a

Impact of mooring activities on carbon stocks in seagrass meadows [dataset]

The database compiles published data (in Serrano et al. 2016, Scientific Reports, in press) on biogeochemical characteristics (density, organic carbon, calcium carbonate, stable carbon isotopes and sediment grain size) of sediments underneath seagrass meadows and adjacent un-vegetated patches after mooring disturbances in Rottnest Island (Perth, Western Australia). The dataset compiles data on biogeochemical sediment characteristics for a total of 16 cores, 50 cm-long (4 cores from seagrass meadows and 4 cores from adjacent bare sediments at Thompson Bay, and 4 cores from seagrass meadows and 4 cores from adjacent bare sediments at Stark Bay). Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Oscar Serrano <a

Historical processes and contemporary ocean currents drive genetic structure in the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the Indo-Australian Archipelago [dataset]

Understanding spatial patterns of gene flow and genetic structure is essential for the conservation of marine ecosystems. Contemporary ocean currents and historical isolation due to Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations have been predicted to influence the genetic structure in marine populations. In the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA), the world's hotspot of marine biodiversity, seagrasses are a vital component but population genetic information is very limited. Here, we reconstructed the phylogeography of the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the IAA based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and then characterised the genetic structure based on a panel of 16 microsatellite markers. We further examined the relative importance of historical isolation and contemporary ocean currents in driving the patterns of genetic structure. Results from SNPs revealed three population groups: eastern Indonesia, western Indonesia (Sunda Shelf), and Indian Ocean; while the microsatellites supported five population groups (eastern Indonesia, Sunda Shelf, Lesser Sunda, Western Australia, and Indian Ocean). Both SNPs and microsatellites showed asymmetrical gene flow among population groups with a trend of south-westward migration from eastern Indonesia. Genetic diversity was generally higher in eastern Indonesia and decreased southwestward. The pattern of genetic structure and connectivity is attributed partly to the Pleistocene sea level fluctuations modified to a smaller level by contemporary ocean currents.

Should we sync? Seascape-level genetic and ecological factors determine seagrass flowering patterns [dataset]

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in flowering occur in many plant species with abiotic pollination and may confer fitness advantages through mechanisms such as predator satiation or pollination efficiency. Environmental factors such as light quality or quantity and temperature play an important role in inducing synchronisation on wide geographic scales. On a smaller geographic scale, external factors such as resource availability and herbivory are theorised to trigger flowering, while genetic factors may also play an important role. In this study, we assessed the importance of ecological and genetic factors in shaping seascape-level spatial heterogeneity in flowering of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica. By investigating spatially close sites ( 20 km) with similar seascape configurations and depth, we assume that major environmental drivers (temperature and light) were equivalent. We assessed four ecological factors (productivity, leaf nitrogen and carbon content and herbivory) and three genetic factors (heterozygosity, relatedness and clonality) to assess three hypotheses for synchronised flowering in P. oceanica: (1) clone synchronisation (internal clock hypothesis), (2) variation in nutrient availability, potentially caused by spatial heterogeneity in herbivory rates or nutrient translocation via clonal integration (resource budget hypothesis) or (3) kin selection and sibling synchronisation. Internal relatedness and heterozygosity had a significant positive effect on the abundance of flowers. Moreover, productivity and genotypic richness (clonality) were negatively associated with flower density, although at a lower level of significance. In addition we found that clones were almost exclusively shared among mass-flowering patches and patches without mass-flowering, respectively. Synthesis. The results shed new light on seagrass flowering patterns and on the mechanisms of flower synchronisation at the patch level within a wider spatial scale. We found support for the kin selection hypothesis and indirect evidence for the resource budget hypothesis. Thus a combination of mainly genetic but also ecological factors causes the observed heterogeneous flowering patterns in Posidonia oceanica seascapes. In addition, we found a strong positive relationship between the number of flowers and heterozygosity, adding evidence to the controversial association between heterozygosity and fitness when a limited number of loci are used. To our knowledge, this study is the first to link both ecological and genetic factors with flower abundance in a species with a presumed masting strategy.

Historical Datasets of Dugong (Dugong Dugon) Observations in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia

This dataset (shapefiles) includes estimates of dugong abundance and distribution in the West Kimberley region collected during preliminary assessment surveys conducted in 1984 and a series of strip transect aerial surveys throughout 1985.

Cruel and Usual

Cruel and Usual is a music composition for string quartet electronics. It is inspired by an article by the Al Jazeera news service that discusses the use of solitary confinement in US prisons as incarceration rates explode in the USA. In some cases, prisoners have remained in solitary for over 38 years., or may even be children, and the reasons for going in there are not always clear or legitimate. This kind of confinement is known as ‘no touch torture’.

Drone, glissandi and the trembling bass are features of this work, where the string players are sampled at certain small moments of the piece, and ‘translated’ into much lower ranges instantaneously, which fade out, grow, and distort as indicated on the score.

Patience Is A Virtue : The Effect Of Students’ Time Preferences On Academic Results

This dataset was constructed from 114 surveys completed by 191 Edith Cowan University’s first year Economics students in Semesters 1 and 2, 2011(August).

Data variables includes gender, enrolment type (full-time, part-time, local, international), postcode (as a proxy for socio-economic status), parent’s highest level of education (as a proxy for income effect or expectation of educational achievement), previous week’s tutorial attendance (as a proxy for commitment to study) and twenty choice/statements. Each of these choice/decision statements requires students to choose between ‘payment in one-months time’ (of a fixed amount) and ‘payment in seven-months time’ (ranging from slightly more than the fixed amount chosen for ‘payment in one-months time’ to an amount that is double the fixed amount).

Genome-wide scans detect adaptation to aridity in a widespread forest tree species [dataset]

Patterns of adaptive variation within plant species are best studied through common garden experiments, but these are costly and time-consuming, especially for trees that have long generation times. We explored whether genome-wide scanning technology combined with outlier marker detection could be used to detect adaptation to climate and provide an alternative to common garden experiments. As a case study, we sampled nine provenances of the widespread forest tree species, Eucalyptus tricarpa, across an aridity gradient in southeastern Australia. Using a Bayesian analysis we identified a suite of 94 putatively adaptive (outlying) sequence-tagged markers across the genome. Population-level allele frequencies of these outlier markers were strongly correlated with temperature and moisture availability at the site of origin, and with population differences in functional traits measured in two common gardens. Using the output from a canonical analysis of principal coordinates we devised a metric that provides a holistic measure of genomic adaptation to aridity that could be used to guide assisted migration or genetic augmentation.

Genome-wide scans reveal cryptic population structure in a dry-adapted eucalypt [dataset]

Genome-wide DArTseq scans of 268 individuals of Eucalyptus salubris, distributed along an aridity gradient in southwestern Australia, revealed cryptic population structure that appears to signal hitherto unappreciated ecotypic differentiation and barriers to gene flow. Genome-wide scans were undertaken on 30 wild-sampled individuals from each of nine populations; 10 individuals per population were measured for habit and functional traits. DArTseq generated 16,122 high-quality markers, of which 56.3 % located to E. grandis chromosomes. Genetic affinities of the nine populations were only weakly correlated with geographic distances. Rather, populations appeared to form two distinct molecular lineages that maintained their distinctiveness in an area of geographic overlap. Twenty-four outlier markers signalled divergent selection and differentiation of the two putative lineages. Populations from the two lineages were phenotypically differentiated in leaf thickness, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf nitrogen per unit mass (Nmass). The more northerly lineage (with thinner leaves) occurred in hotter, drier conditions with higher radiation. Populations of the more southerly lineage occurred on soils that were relatively low in phosphorus; the trees had thicker leaves, lower SLA and lower leaf Nmass, consistent with general responses to low nutrient levels. While historic isolation and drift may have contributed to the cryptic population structure observed, there is evidence of ecotypic adaptation, which may provide an exogenous barrier to gene flow. This study highlights the power of new molecular technologies to provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of wild populations.

Wetlands macroinvertebrate monitoring program of the Gnangara Mound

The dataset consists of environmental data gathered since 1996 from sixteen wetlands on the Gnangara Mound north of Perth, Western Australia and it provides a reliable and reasonably long term record of the conditions of wetlands over time, as a benchmark for future conditions and a reliable indicator of wetland condition. It also provides detailed knowledge of the way data have been gathered in the past so as to keep monitoring consistent and contribute to the understanding of wetland ecosystem function on the Swan Coastal Plain.
The wetlands of the Gnangara Mound that are being monitored as part of the program are: Lake Gnangara, Lake Goollelal, Lake Jandabup, Lake Joondalup North, Lake Joondalup South, Lake Marginiup, Loch McNess North, Loch Mcness South, Melaleuca Park, Lake Nowergup, Pipindinny Swamp, Lake Yonderup, Lake Bambun, Lake Muckenburra, Quins Brook, Yeal Lake. Wetland monitoring falls into four categories: sentinel wetlands, triennial wetlands, episodic wetlands and SGS (Shallow Groundwater Systems) wetlands.
The dataset consists of environmental data: water quality measurements and photos held in Excel and Primer files. Data is categorised by wetland, by water quality parameters, and by different invertebrates. The research program produces an annual report presenting a summary of the water chemistry and findings of macro-invertebrate monitoring work carried out for the year. The report is accompanied by two databases on CD.

Western Australian New Music Archive (WANMA)

Over five terabytes of material was digitised from the Tura New Music collection, including CDs, mp3s, analogue cassettes and reel to reel tapes, raw multi-tracked recordings; VHS and digital video, DVD, DVCAM digital and film photographs; promotional material such as brochures, postcards, posters, and programs; material related to the production of work such as originals, drafts, rehearsal photos, session dates and details of recording sessions; scores; interviews; artist biographies; books; magazines/ zines and reviews.

The Parents and Smoke-Free Kids dataset

The data collection contains qualitative and quantitative research data associated with the Parents and smoke-free Kids Project. The data was collected from a convenience sample of 46 parents/carers of primary school aged children via four focus groups and 17 interviews. To be eligible to participate, parents/carers had to have children aged four to nine years and to currently smoke, used to smoke or lived with someone who smoked. Participants were asked for their opinions about smoking cessation; ways to discourage children from smoking and features of the proposed intervention materials. Intervention materials were four versions of a pamphlet for parents about protecting their child from cigarette smoke and provide information on their preferred setting and channel for receiving information relating to smoking cessation and their child. Quantitative data includes gender, age, rural or Metro location and smoking status. In 2008 participants were also asked their preferred version of the draft pamphlets that had been developed and preferred channel and settings for distribution of smoking information. Quantitative data are stored as Excel and SPSS files. The qualitative data includes transcriptions of audio recordings of interviews (face-to-face and telephone) and focus groups conducted with parents of primary school aged children. Qualitative data are stored in Word format as NVivo6 and NVivo8 files. Data was collected from 150 parents/carers of primary school aged children in socially disadvantaged areas (selected using the SEIFA index) of the Perth Metropolitan area and two rural areas of Western Australia (Geraldton and Northam) during 2007 and 2008.

Treatment of lymphoedema in breast cancer survivors dataset

This dataset was collected during a study of 61 Western Australian women who had undergone treatment for breast cancer. The aim of the research project was to determine optimal exercise prescription for the management of lymphoedema in breast cancer survivors. The program for participants involved a regime of resistance training to determine the effect of high versus low load upper body resistance training on upper body physical function. The study examined the impact of the resistance training in reducing the side effects of lymphoedema. The data that was collected includes physiological measures, physical measures, exercise diaries, training logs and questionnaires regarding a range of areas: quality of life and impairments in physical, mental and social function. SPSS was used to analyse the results.

Systematics of Andersonia character set

The data collection includes a range of physical and digital materials concerning Dr Kristina Lemson's research on the Western Australian plant, Andersonia, found in the South West Botanical Province. The data collection includes collecting books in print format, drawings, digital photo images, physical plant specimens, plant measurements, hand written notebooks, a database of morphology, outputs from MacClade computer program used for phylogenetic analysis. Measurements were applied and the computational phylogenetics program PAUP (Phyogenetic Analaysis Using Parsimony) was used a for inferring trees. This was used together with the program MacClade. There is a mixture of data with various formats depending on the data: Excel files, tif images, text files with GPS co-ordinates, Clade output format from the MacClade computer program, Nexis data format, physical specimens and hand-written notes.

Spectral reflectance data of plant green

The dataset contains spectral reflectance data of various crop plants and weeds. The data has been collected in the field using a spectrometer, from farm locations in Queensland and Western Australia. The dataset contains the spectral reflectance characteristics of various crop plants and weeds including sugarcane, cotton, wheat, skeleton weeds, guinea and Johnson grasses, which were monitored at different plant development stages in Gingin, Western Australia and Toowoomba and Bundaberg, Queensland. The data is categorised by time of year collected, plant name, weed name, farm and place. At this stage the dataset contains spectral reflectance data of more than 10 different plants, collected since 2008, however the dataset is growing. Data is stored in Excel file format.

Skill acquisition in skin cancer detection dataset

The dataset supports a research project into using a different approach to improving skill acquisition in skin cancer detection. 100 student recruits were tested to investigate the effect of practice in self examination at distinguishing between dangerous and nondangerous skin lesions. Around 30 minutes of such practice, viewing 360 computer screen pictures of skin lesions, provided a significant advantage in making decisions about a target set of dangerous and nondangerous lesions, compared to no practice or practice with a filler task. Viewing a skin cancer pamphlet for 5 min. at the beginning of the experiment made no difference to the speed or accuracy of decisions regarding the test lesions. The dataset consist of pre and post test participant data from three different groups of volunteer students at Edith Cowan University. The data was collected between April and September 2004 and was processed and analysed using SPSS.

Moral reasoning and traumatic brain injury dataset

Moral reasoning skills are crucial for appropriate and adaptive social functioning. Impairments in moral reasoning have been associated with aggressive and violent behaviours. Traditional measures of moral reasoning may provide limited insight into daily behavioural functioning as these measures are dependent on several higher order cognitive skills and, as such, may be limited in their utility with certain clinical populations. This dataset consists of measures of sociomoral reasoning and maturity, known as the So-Moral and So-Mature. The data relates to two groups: (1) a control group of 50 adolescents aged 11 to 19 and (2) a clinical group 25 adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The data consists of a mixture of existing clinical data and new data from the two groups, comprising questionnaires, list of tasks, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) images.
FMRI data has been collected by the hospital radiologists from Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Questionnaire data has been collected by the researchers: Dr Julian Dooley and Dr Miriam Beauchamp of the University of Montreal, Canada. Questionnaire data is in SPSS format.

Inquiry-based learning set

The dataset consist of a set of ten survey questions and the survey results, indicating students' levels of engagement in a higher education undergraduate course unit. The ten survey questions were a mixture of Likert scale and open questions. 250 first year undergraduate students from Edith Cowan University were surveyed. The data was collected during the year 2005 and was processed and analysed using Excel and SPSS. The data was collected to support research that explored the utility and efficacy of the application of a Web-based tool to promote learner engagement among first year students in a large class in an undergraduate communications degree. The Web-based tool was developed to support an inquiry-based learning approach that was characterised by strong learning scaffolds, meaningful contexts, feedback and support and administrative efficiencies. Students were surveyed at the end of the semester to measure the levels of engagement that the Web-supported inquiry-based learning approach was able to engender.

Heterogeneity in Parkinson’s disease dataset

This collection comprises SPSS files, computer-based cognitive and neuropsychological tasks and an analysis of the results of surveys and questionnaires. Data has been collected from a cohort of Western Australians with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The participants involved in the project are a mixture of newly diagnosed and those that are more than two years post diagnosis. The research is a longitudinal study aimed at identifying a proposed two phenotypically distinct PD subtypes (PD-ST) of Parkinson’s Disease and comparing findings relating to these functional types to the findings reported in similar research in the U.K. The data is measuring the distinct PD subtypes, the functional impact of these PD phenotypes on well-being and quality of life and the patterns of change of the different phenotypes over a 2 year period.

Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System (HWSS)

The Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System (HWSS) is a cross-sectional survey which can be used to investigate the relationship between modifiable risk factors and non-communicable diseases in a population-based sample of Western Australians. The HWSS study population includes approximately 55,000 Western Australians randomly sampled via the electronic white pages for a Computer Assisted Telephone Interview between 2003 and 2010, covering a range of health and behavioural issues. Information collected from over 6000 people per year include demographics, general health, self-reported co-morbidities, health service utilisation, mental health, physical and sedentary activity, body measurements, alcohol and tobacco use, and nutrition. More than 80% of respondents provided consent for the use of their de-identified information in health-related research projects and these people have been used for this study. The HWSS is a rich source of health and behavioural information from a cross-sectional sample of the WA population, including children, adults and older people. It allows investigation into the possible contribution of these modifiable risk factors and may provide further evidence for use in disease prevention efforts and policy-making decisions. Access to the HWSS was provided to the Edith Cowan University Survey Research Centre for the research project: Influence of Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle on Non-Communicable Disease in Western Australians. The data consists of surveys, statistical data and analyses. Data was processed and analysed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS).

Dr Anthony Gunnell is the principle researcher. Co-researchers are Associate Professor Daniel Galvao and Dr Vicki Graham of the Edith Cowan University Health and Wellness Institute.

Engaging Parents in Research dataset

This dataset results from the "Engaging parents in research project" of the Child Health Promotion Research Centre at Edith Cowan University. In 2009, the data was collected from a convenience sample of 150 parents/carers of school aged children via intercept interviews at the Perth Royal Show. To be eligible to participate, parents/carers had to have children aged four to sixteen years old. Participants were asked for their opinions about the information they required to make informed decisions about their son/daughter’s involvement in low-risk research projects at school, and the best ways to communicate this information to them. The data collection contains a mixture of new qualitative and quantitative research data. Quantitative data includes gender, age, postcode, number and age of children. The qualitative data includes audio recordings of interviews conducted with parents/carers of school aged children. Quantitative data are stored as Excel and SPSS files. Qualitative data summaries are stored in Microsoft Word documents. This data from Western Australia may be used to maximise parent response rates to research information pertaining to their son/daughter. The qualitative nature of the data may provide insight to accompany more qualitative datasets.

Data for a randomized controlled trial of men receiving androgen suppression therapy for prostate cancer

This dataset has been collected during a randomized controlled trial of 57 Western Australian men undergoing Androgen Suppression Therapy (AST) for prostate cancer. The participants were involved in a 12 week intervention study and undertook a regime of resistance training. The study examined the impact of the resistance training undergone in reducing the side effects of AST. The data that was collected includes physiological and physical measures (such as body mass, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory capacity, blood biomarkers) and questionnaires regarding a range of areas: quality of life, well being, length of time in therapy, types of treatment and the clinical characteristics of the subjects. SPSS was used to analyse the results.

Circulating melanoma cells relative to disease stage

This collection comprises clinical data with four-five melanoma markers per patient. collected over three years of data comprising genetic tests, clinical data and clinical evaluations. The dataset includes names of genes being investigated: by clinical stage of metastasis, and by drug treatments and is stored in Excel file format. The dataset supports research on the PAX3 gene and its role as a key regulator of the myriad steps in melanocytic cell determination. The purpose of the research is (1) to identify the transcriptional profile of circulating melanoma cells relative to disease stage and (2) to test the efficacy of using circulating cells as a prognostic marker. The data has the potential to be used by others to correlate new research data using different methodologies.

Child support and perceptions of fairness dataset

The dataset consists of quantitative and qualitative data supporting a research project relating to perceptions of fairness in the Australian Government’s Child Support Scheme. The primary data source is survey data which has been manipulated into family vignettes based on the participants’ perceptions of fairness in relation to payment of child support. Data was collected from a national sample of 1879 participants (53.7% female; n= 1009 and 45.6% male; n= 857). Demographic data collected from participants included: age, sex, marital status, presence of biological children and if present, whether those children reside with the participant, number of unions, presence of subsequent children born to a new union, presence of stepchildren and if present, whether those stepchildren reside with the participant, and whether the participant currently pays child support. Quantitative data has been coded into PASW and qualitative data has been entered into question-ordered matrices in MS Word format. The online tool, Research Now, was used to manipulate the data. The funding was provided internally by Edith Cowan University.

AU Kids Online dataset

Australian researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation conducted research into the risks and safety for Australian children on the internet. This research, known as AU Kids Online, was a study that paralleled a larger 25 nation European study, known as EU Kids Online. As part of the research 400 9–16 year olds and their parents/carers were surveyed about their experiences online. The Australian data was collected between 13 November 2010 – 9 Feb 2011 using the EU Kids Online surveys and protocols. The survey was conducted through a questionnaire. The researcher asked each question to the participants face-to-face and most answers involved ticking a box on an online web form accessed via a computer. Some questions were open-ended and required the child or parent/carer to input their response directly into the computer. The dataset consists of an SPSS file and Excel spreadsheet, and participants have been de-identified.

Australian maternal exposure to toxic substances (AMETS) dataset

The dataset contains a range of data gathered from 173 participants from across Western Australia, in particular the South West, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and the Perth metropolitan region. The aim of the study was to investigate the concentrations of persistent toxic substances (PTS) in non occupationally exposed pregnant women and to assess the risk of adverse birth outcomes. Participants in the study completed self-administered questionnaires about lifestyle and diet and maintained diet diaries. They also provided blood, urine, drinking water, soil and dust samples which were analysed for metals and other environmental pollutants. The broad groups of chemicals measured were: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), the DDT-group; the HCH-group; HCB and dioxin-like PCBs. New contaminants being tested for were brominated flame retardants (BFR) (PBDEs), and metals. This dataset consists of MS Access database records, chemical data kept in SPSS files, dietary diary data in Foodworks.

Supporting information for Predictors of grandparental investment decisions in contemporary Europe: Biological relatedness and beyond

Contains supporting information explaining the data analysis in more detail and additional analyses to test the robustness of the initial multinomial logistic regression predicting grandparental investment. Table S1, Descriptive data; Table S2, Hours of grandparental investment for the almost daily level; Table S3, True confounders between biological relatedness and grandparental investment; Table S4, Mediation effect of grandparent's age by health on grandparental investment; Table S5, Independent effects of fertility rates and regions of Europe; Table S6, Results for each investment level from the multinomial logistic regression; Table S7, Binary logistic regression for the entire sample including non-investors; Table S8, Multinomial logistic regression for each grandparental investment level excluding non-investors; Table S9, Binary logistic regression excluding non-investors.