Explore ARDC

RAiD https://raid.org/10.71613/19a9646a
NESP RL Project 4.6 - Managing and monitoring for improved biodiversity outcomes using state-and-transition models

Dates

Start Date
01-Jul-2024
End Date
30-Jun-2027

Titles

Title
NESP RL Project 4.6 - Managing and monitoring for improved biodiversity outcomes using state-and-transition models
Title Type
Primary
Title Type:
Primary
 Preferred full description or abstract.
Start Date
07-Jul-2024
End Date
30-Jun-2027
Language
English

Descriptions

Description

Agricultural landscapes in Australia have historically been places of ecological decline. Habitat loss and fragmentation from land clearing, overgrazing by livestock and feral herbivores, inappropriate fire regimes and weed invasion in remnant vegetation are among the factors that pose challenges for conservation in these landscapes. Yet agricultural landscapes retain important conservation values, and new incentives for nature-positive outcomes will provide opportunities for changes in farm management that improve biodiversity outcomes.

This project is developing state-and-transition models, interactive maps and practical decision-support tools to help land managers understand how ecosystems change and identify actions that can maintain or improve their condition.

The research brings together two complementary areas:

investigating how changes to grazing and fertiliser management can improve biodiversity in working agricultural landscapes without compromising farm production or profitability safeguarding Mallee birds and their habitats in the Murray Darling Depression.

Limestone Coast state-and-transition models

State-and-transition models of the agricultural zone: flooding red gum woodland, lowland resprouting woodland and sedgelands.

Mallee Woodlands state-and-transition models

State and transition models for Mallee Woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression of south-east Australia.

Understanding how ecosystems change

State-and-transition models describe the different condition states in which an ecosystem can occur and the processes that move it from one condition state to another.

For example, an ecosystem may transition from a relatively intact state to a modified or highly modified state because of grazing, clearing, weeds, changed fire regimes or altered hydrology. Management actions such as controlling grazing, restoring vegetation, managing fire or improving hydrological conditions may support recovery.

By bringing this information together, the models can help land managers:

  • recognise ecosystem condition
  • understand the pressures driving change
  • identify possible degradation and recovery pathways
  • compare management options
  • plan monitoring, restoration and conservation activities.

Improving biodiversity in working agricultural landscapes

The project is investigating how changes to fertiliser and grazing management may help agricultural ecosystems transition to higher biodiversity condition states.

Research is taking place across approximately 10–12 farms in each of three regions:

  • Tasmanian Midlands
  • Western Victorian Volcanic Plains
  • Limestone Coast.

The research compares paddocks with different histories of fertiliser use and grazing management. It measures ecosystem condition and biodiversity indicators, including plants, selected invertebrate groups, bats, birds and soils.

The findings will be used to update and validate regionally specific state-and-transition models and develop:

  • a monitoring framework for assessing ecosystem condition in production areas
  • practical advice for landholders seeking to improve biodiversity and landscape resilience
  • stronger evidence for sustainability reporting, natural-capital accounting and emerging nature markets.

How the research supports conservation action

The project’s models, reports and interactive maps will help land managers and decision-makers understand how management affects biodiversity and ecosystem condition.

The research can support:

  • Mallee bird habitat management
  • grazing, fire and vegetation management planning
  • restoration planning
  • biodiversity and natural-capital monitoring on farms
  • assessment of changes to farming practices
  • biodiversity incentives, nature markets and sustainability reporting. By linking management actions with ecological outcomes, the project will support better conservation and sustainable agriculture decisions.
Description Type

Primary
Description Type:

Primary

 Preferred full description or abstract
Language
English

Contributors

Name James Radford ORCID Logo (unauthenticated)
Contributor ID ORCID Logo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6014-0019 (unauthenticated)
Leader
Yes
Contact
Yes
Positions
Position
Principal or Chief Investigator
Position:
Principal or Chief Investigator
 Principal investigator refers to the person(s) in charge of a research project
Start Date
07-Jul-2024
End Date
---
Roles
No Entries
Name Vanessa M. Adams ORCID Logo (unauthenticated)
Contributor ID ORCID Logo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3509-7901 (unauthenticated)
Leader
Yes
Contact
Yes
Positions
Position
Principal or Chief Investigator
Position:
Principal or Chief Investigator
 Principal investigator refers to the person(s) in charge of a research project
Start Date
07-Jul-2024
End Date
---
Roles
No Entries

Organisations

Name
La Trobe University

Roles
Role
Lead Research Organisation
Role:
Lead Research Organisation
 The research organistion administratively responsible for the project; administering organisation
Start Date
2024-07-07
End Date
---

RelatedObjects

Citation
---
Type
Conference Poster
Categories
Output
Citation
Maisey, A., Richards, A. E., de Oliveira Anderson, R. C., Stubbs, W., Reid, N., L. Boulton, R., Hansen, N. A., West, A., & Radford, J. (2026). State and transition models for Mallee Woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression of south-east Australia. La Trobe.
Type
Report
Categories
Output
Citation
de Oliveira Anderson, R. C., Maisey, A., Mitchell, W., & Radford, J. (2026). Landscape structure shapes avian heat and hydric stress under climate change (Version 1) [Dataset]. La Trobe.
Type
Dataset
Categories
Output
Citation
Maisey, A. C., & Radford, J. Q. (2026). Safeguarding Mallee Birds - Condition States Map (Version v1.0.0) [Computer software]. Zenodo.
Type
Dataset
Categories
Output
Citation
Maisey, A. C., & Radford, J. Q. (2026). Safeguarding Mallee Birds - Mallee Birds Habitat Suitability Maps (Version v1.0.0) [Computer software]. Zenodo.
Type
Dataset
Categories
Output
Citation
Maisey, A. C., & Radford, J. Q. (2026). Safeguarding Mallee Birds - Mallee vegetation Map (Version v1.0.0) [Computer software]. Zenodo.
Type
Dataset
Categories
Output
Citation
Maisey, A. C., & Radford, J. Q. (2026). Safeguarding Mallee Birds - Grazing Pressure Index Map (Version v1.0.0) [Computer software]. Zenodo.
Type
Dataset
Categories
Output
Citation
Maisey, A., & Radford, J. (2026). Limestone Coast state-and-transition models of the agricultural zone: flooding red gum woodland, lowland resprouting woodland and sedgelands. La Trobe.
Type
Report
Categories
Output
Citation
DOI exists but metadata could not be retrieved - contact info@doi.org for help with this
Type
Dataset
Categories
Output

Alternate Identifier

No Entries

Alternate URLs

Related RAiDs

Title
NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub (10.71821/ffc970c8)
Relation
IsPartOf
Relation:
IsPartOf
 Relates a subproject back to its parent project

Access

Type
Open Access
Type:
Open Access
 Open access refers to a resource that is immediately and permanently online, and free for all on the Web, without financial and technical barriers.The resource is either stored in the repository or referenced to an external journal or trustworthy archive.
Language
---
Text
---
Embargo Expiry
---

Subjects

No Entries

Raw Data

{
  "access": {
    "type": {
      "id": "https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/access_rights/c_abf2/",
      "schemaUri": "https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/access_rights/"
    }
  },
  "alternateIdentifier": [],
  "alternateUrl": [
    {
      "url": "https://nesplandscapes.edu.au/projects/nesp-rlh/mallee-birds/"
    }
  ],
  "contributor": [
    {
      "contact": true,
      "id": "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6014-0019",
      "leader": true,
      "position": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/contributor.position.schema/307",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/contributor.position.schema/305",
          "startDate": "2024-07-07"
        }
      ],
      "role": [],
      "schemaUri": "https://orcid.org/",
      "status": "AWAITING_AUTHENTICATION"
    },
    {
      "contact": true,
      "id": "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3509-7901",
      "leader": true,
      "position": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/contributor.position.schema/307",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/contributor.position.schema/305",
          "startDate": "2024-07-07"
        }
      ],
      "role": [],
      "schemaUri": "https://orcid.org/",
      "status": "AWAITING_AUTHENTICATION"
    }
  ],
  "date": {
    "endDate": "2027-06-30",
    "startDate": "2024-07-01"
  },
  "description": [
    {
      "language": {
        "id": "eng",
        "schemaUri": "https://www.iso.org/standard/74575.html"
      },
      "text": "Agricultural landscapes in Australia have historically been places of ecological decline. Habitat loss and fragmentation from land clearing, overgrazing by livestock and feral herbivores, inappropriate fire regimes and weed invasion in remnant vegetation are among the factors that pose challenges for conservation in these landscapes. Yet agricultural landscapes retain important conservation values, and new incentives for nature-positive outcomes will provide opportunities for changes in farm management that improve biodiversity outcomes.\n\nThis project is developing state-and-transition models, interactive maps and practical decision-support tools to help land managers understand how ecosystems change and identify actions that can maintain or improve their condition.\n\nThe research brings together two complementary areas:\n\ninvestigating how changes to grazing and fertiliser management can improve biodiversity in working agricultural landscapes without compromising farm production or profitability\nsafeguarding Mallee birds and their habitats in the Murray Darling Depression.\n\n**Limestone Coast state-and-transition models**\n\nState-and-transition models of the agricultural zone: flooding red gum woodland, lowland resprouting woodland and sedgelands.\n\n**Mallee Woodlands state-and-transition models**\n\nState and transition models for Mallee Woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression of south-east Australia.\n\n**Understanding how ecosystems change**\n\nState-and-transition models describe the different condition states in which an ecosystem can occur and the processes that move it from one condition state to another.\n\nFor example, an ecosystem may transition from a relatively intact state to a modified or highly modified state because of grazing, clearing, weeds, changed fire regimes or altered hydrology. Management actions such as controlling grazing, restoring vegetation, managing fire or improving hydrological conditions may support recovery.\n\nBy bringing this information together, the models can help land managers:\n* recognise ecosystem condition\n* understand the pressures driving change\n* identify possible degradation and recovery pathways\n* compare management options\n* plan monitoring, restoration and conservation activities.\n\n**Improving biodiversity in working agricultural landscapes**\n\nThe project is investigating how changes to fertiliser and grazing management may help agricultural ecosystems transition to higher biodiversity condition states.\n\nResearch is taking place across approximately 10–12 farms in each of three regions:\n* Tasmanian Midlands\n* Western Victorian Volcanic Plains\n* Limestone Coast.\n\nThe research compares paddocks with different histories of fertiliser use and grazing management. It measures ecosystem condition and biodiversity indicators, including plants, selected invertebrate groups, bats, birds and soils.\n\nThe findings will be used to update and validate regionally specific state-and-transition models and develop:\n* a monitoring framework for assessing ecosystem condition in production areas\n* practical advice for landholders seeking to improve biodiversity and landscape resilience\n* stronger evidence for sustainability reporting, natural-capital accounting and emerging nature markets.\n\n**How the research supports conservation action**\n\nThe project’s models, reports and interactive maps will help land managers and decision-makers understand how management affects biodiversity and ecosystem condition.\n\nThe research can support:\n* Mallee bird habitat management\n* grazing, fire and vegetation management planning\n* restoration planning\n* biodiversity and natural-capital monitoring on farms\n* assessment of changes to farming practices\n* biodiversity incentives, nature markets and sustainability reporting.\nBy linking management actions with ecological outcomes, the project will support better conservation and sustainable agriculture decisions.",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/description.type.schema/318",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/description.type.schema/320"
      }
    }
  ],
  "identifier": {
    "id": "https://raid.org/10.71613/19a9646a",
    "license": "Creative Commons CC-0",
    "owner": {
      "id": "https://ror.org/01db6n192",
      "schemaUri": "https://ror.org/",
      "servicePoint": 20000011,
      "servicePointName": "Resilient Landscapes Hub - National Environmental Science Program"
    },
    "raidAgencyUrl": "https://static.prod.raid.org.au/raids/10.71613/19a9646a",
    "registrationAgency": {
      "id": "https://ror.org/038sjwq14",
      "schemaUri": "https://ror.org/"
    },
    "schemaUri": "https://raid.org/",
    "version": 5
  },
  "metadata": {
    "created": 1754981209,
    "updated": 1789715592
  },
  "organisation": [
    {
      "id": "https://ror.org/01rxfrp27",
      "role": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/organisation.role.schema/182",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/organisation.role.schema/359",
          "startDate": "2024-07-07"
        }
      ],
      "schemaUri": "https://ror.org/"
    }
  ],
  "relatedObject": [
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20260911013218/https://biocollect.ala.org.au/document/download/2026-06/Safeguarding-mallee-birds-info-sheet.pdf",
      "schemaUri": "https://web.archive.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/248",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    },
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://doi.org/10.26181/32969429",
      "schemaUri": "https://doi.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/252",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    },
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://doi.org/10.26181/32054235.v1",
      "schemaUri": "https://doi.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/269",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    },
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21307078",
      "schemaUri": "https://doi.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/269",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    },
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21306722",
      "schemaUri": "https://doi.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/269",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    },
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21307097",
      "schemaUri": "https://doi.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/269",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    },
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21307157",
      "schemaUri": "https://doi.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/269",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    },
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://doi.org/10.26181/32969768",
      "schemaUri": "https://doi.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/252",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    },
    {
      "category": [
        {
          "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.id/190",
          "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.category.schemaUri/386"
        }
      ],
      "id": "https://doi.org/10.26181/33173258",
      "schemaUri": "https://doi.org/",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/269",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedObject.type.schema/329"
      }
    }
  ],
  "relatedRaid": [
    {
      "id": "https://raid.org/10.71821/ffc970c8",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedRaid.type.schema/202",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/relatedRaid.type.schema/367"
      }
    }
  ],
  "spatialCoverage": [],
  "subject": [],
  "title": [
    {
      "endDate": "2027-06-30",
      "language": {
        "id": "eng",
        "schemaUri": "https://www.iso.org/standard/74575.html"
      },
      "startDate": "2024-07-07",
      "text": "NESP RL Project 4.6 - Managing and monitoring for improved biodiversity outcomes using state-and-transition models",
      "type": {
        "id": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/title.type.schema/5",
        "schemaUri": "https://vocabulary.raid.org/title.type.schema/376"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Page generated: