The programme has been divided up into six research projects:

Invertebrate Ecophysiology
Insect Ecology
Molecular Systematics
Plant Ecology
Science Journalism

The research projects are based on the following three research objectives:

Although the B.Sc.(Hons.) students are not mentioned specifically here - their research does tend to fall under these broad objectives.

Determine the change in relationships between species richness and functional group diversity across the elevational gradient at Marion Island.

Species richness forms the major surrogate measure for biodiversity. It is straightforward to determine across a variety of systems. Functional groups are an additional measure of biodiversity. Across the elevational gradient the main factors influencing species richness and functional group diversity are likely to differ substantially. Historical factors provide the backdrop against which differences in temperature, water availability and nutrients are likely to influence this diversity. The significance of these latter factors, and the impact of climate change on them, form the major topic of this question, which will be addressed by investigating a variety of sites along the elevational gradient.

In addition, the relationship between species richness and functional group diversity may be important in determining a system's resilience and resistance to change. The gradient in species richness from relatively species poor and trophically simple fellfield communities to the more species rich and complex lowland, nitrophilic grasslands provides a useful tool for assessing this relationship.

To address this major research question the following issues will be investigated:

• How does species richness and functional diversity change along the gradient?
• What are the relationships between environmental factors and abundance, richness and functional diversity along the elevational gradient?
• To what extent do introduced species alter species richness, and functional diversity, and how does this change with a change in climate?

The following project leaders will be addressing this objective:

Prof. Steven Chown - Invertebrate Ecophysiology
Dr Michael Somers - Insect Ecology

Determine the nature of the responses of organisms to abiotic variables along the elevational gradient and how climate change is likely to influence these repsonses.

Abiotic factors such as irradiance, temperature, and water availability are important factors controlling performance of terrestrial animals. These factors vary both within and between seasons and sites, and this variation encompasses freeze/thaw and wet/dry cycles. The optimum levels of these factors and the thresholds at which the organisms are still able to function should be determined. Changes in the relationship between abiotic factors and performance will profoundly influence life histories and productivity of organisms. These relationships in turn will influence the distribution and abundance of organisms and community structure.

To provide answers to this major research question, the following issues must be addressed using selected species:

• How will climate change alter the relationship between physiological and life history traits?
• How do changes in ecosystem functioning alter the performance of top predators as climates change?

The following project leaders will be addressing this objective:

Prof. Steven Chown - Invertebrate Ecophysiology
Dr Michael Somers - Insect Ecology
Prof. Melodie McGeoch - Plant Ecology
Prof. Marthan Bester - Animal Ecology

Determine the extent of phenotypic plasticity, ecotypic variation and genetic ariation in key indigenous and introduced species and the extent to which this might allow differential success under climate change scenarios.

Geographic isolation is a major feature of the Marion Island terrestrial environment. The extent of this isolation however is not uniform and varies across many levels. The time scales for immigration and colonization also vary from decades at lowland sites to millennia at higher elevations. The combination of different degrees of geographic isolation, time since colonisation, species biology and climatic gradients will lead to potential variation in response to climate change between species and populations. Through pre-adaptation, phenotypic plasticity or ecotypic variation species will have different capacities to absorb the effects of climate change. This variation will result in alterations to species distributions and abundances and hence will give rise to changes in community structure. The difference in plasticity or adaptability between indigenous and invasive species will in large measure determine the extent to which introduced, invasive species, alter community structure and functioning as climates change.

Hence the major issues to be addressed here are:

• What is the extent of phenotypic plasticity and ecotypic variation within key species across the altitudinal gradient?
• What is the extent of genetic variation within populations of key species across sites?
• Do invasive and indigenous species differ in the extent of their genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in a demonstrably regular way such that invasive species are likely to be more tolerant of significant climate change?

The following project leader(s) will be addressing this objective:

Prof. Steven Chown - Invertebrate Ecophysiology
Dr Savel Daniels & Dr Bettine Jansen van Vuuren- Molecular Systematics