Grants

The following is a list of grants awarded at the November 2008 meeting of Trustees of The Norman Wettenhall Foundation.

Australian Platypus Conservancy

Development of a community-based monitoring program for Platypus

This is the first grant to be awarded under the RE Ross Trust's "Small Victorian Rural Grants" Scheme, being administered by The Norman Wettenhall Foundation. (For more information about this grant scheme, go to "RE Ross Trust" on this website.)

As night trapping surveys are not always possible, a simpler and cheaper visual method of surveying platypus was trialled in the Yarra River, funded by Melbourne Water. The trial was successful and the APC wants to expand the trial into a wider community-based monitoring program. Funds were sought to complete the development of the methodology used, and to roll out 4 other model programs. The project will identify locations and potential partner organisations for running the programs, hold information sessions, collate and analyse sightings data, publicise results and carry out a review.

$7,690

Greening Australia (ACT)

A long term birdseye view of revegetation on farms

$10,000

GA sought funds to revisit land that has been surveyed under their Birdwatch program 8 years ago. The aim is to assess the same revegetation areas for diversity and abundance of bird species. Data collected from the survey work will be used to assess how changes in restored habitat affects birds. Sites used for surveying include those that have been directed seeded and planted with tubestock, remnant vegetation, and paddock sites. Data will be provided to the Canberra Ornithologists Group and Birds Australia.

The University of Sydney

Direct and indirect consequences of predation on the common ringtail possum

$4,728

PhD Candidate, Jennifer Anson, aims to study the impacts of an introduced predator (fox) on the ecology of a native prey species (possum) by looking at: population size and structure, abundance, growth, fecundity, and survival; capacity of foxes to induce stress in native prey; impacts on native species caused by native predators; environmental disturbances on population. Funds were sought for radio equipment. The study is part of a larger project by Zoos Victoria.