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About CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

CSIRO's core areas of impact

Contact Enquiries: Phone - 1300 363 400 | Email - Enquiries@csiro.au | Contact Us

Ecosystem Sciences

We apply multidisciplinary science to the sustainability of Australia's agriculture and forestry, built environments, biodiversity, communities, and industries. 

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/news/Sequencing-human-body-louse-genome.html A picture of a louse. They make you itch and they are hard to find but scientists have got the body louse well and truly in their sights.
/science/adapt-farming-Asia.html Farmer inspecting his sweet lime horticulture crop, watered by drip-irrigation, India. Farming communities in many parts of Asia are highly vulnerable to climate change.
/news/Biofuel-crops-push-ignoring-biosecurity-impacts.html A high-intensity gamba grass fire in the Northern Territory. Important biosecurity issues are being ignored in the global push to develop new non-food crops for biofuels.
/news/Giant-rat-found-in-East-Timor.html Upper toothrows of Timor's extinct giant rat (left) and the skull of a black rat (right). Archaeological research in East Timor has unearthed the bones of the biggest rat that ever lived.
A picture of a louse.
They make you itch and they are hard to find but scientists have got the body louse well and truly in their sights.

Our Research

Long rows of crops.

Agricultural and forest ecosystems
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Three people sitting at a table.

Social and economic sciences
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Murrumbidgee River with lucerne and wheat crops.

Functional ecology and systematics
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Agricultural and forest ecosystems - Agricultural and forest ecosystems - Bringing together a wealth of research expertise to tackle current and emerging challenges in agricultural and forest land management Learn more>
Social and economic sciences - Over 80 scientists working in one of the world's largest social science programs focused on environmental
challenges. Learn more>
Functional ecology and systematics - Managing threats from invasive species and the benefits to agriculture from ecosystem services while ensuring the preservation and sustainable use of Australian ecosystems. Learn more>
Looking up at a high rise city centre.

Urban systems
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Arid Landscape.

Tropical and arid systems
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Close-up of 96-well plate stained green.

Environmental biotechnology and genomics
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Urban systems - Our innovative building design and urban planning, infrastructure management and resource use science is helping improve the sustainability and liveability of our cities. Learn more>
Tropical and arid systems - Our science addresses national issues relating to biodiversity, ecosystem services and community development in tropical and arid zones. Learn more>
Environmental biotechnology and genomics - Contributing to environmental and bioindustries biotechnologies, and helping to build an understanding of the impact insects have on our environment and agriculture. Learn more>

Our Expertise

People

Portrait image of Dr Mark Lonsdale.

Dr Mark Lonsdale is Chief of CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences and has extensive experience in studying plant ecology and biological invasions in the United Kingdom, Africa and Australia.

Dr Daniel Walker

Dr Daniel Walker is Deputy Chief of CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences.

Portrait image of Dr Gary Fitt, Deputy Chief of Entomology.

Dr Gary Fitt's research on the Helicoverpa moth has greatly assisted in the development of Bt cotton resistance management.

Dr Peter Stone.

Dr Peter Stone is Deputy Chief of CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences. He has spent the last 10 years developing and managing project partnerships with collaborators tackling major land use issues such as erosion, water quality, salinity and biodiversity.

Facilities

The Australian National Wildlife Collection museum building, Canberra

The Australian National Wildlife Collection (ANWC) is the official Commonwealth collection of Australian land vertebrates with specimens and genetic samples covering amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Collection Hall at CSIRO's National Biology Collections

The Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) is the pre-eminent collection of our insects including mites, spiders, worms and centipedes, and is an invaluable resource maintained by CSIRO.

Fuel bed and viewing section of the CSIRO Pyrotron with reflections of observers.

A national research facility testing combustion and spread of bushfires to improve fire safety and fire-fighting for Australian communities.

A picutre of some of the trees included in the Atherton Arboretum.

The arboretum of over 1 300 trees, shrubs and vines from northern Australia, and a reference herbarium in Atherton is used for research and public education.

Achievements

Colourful image of a collagen triple helix.

Industrial biotechnology and biomaterials research involves investigating insects and other invertebrates as new sources for biomaterials.

Image of a paddock with rows of a crop with Brigalow trees in the background

Potential exists for avoiding resource degradation, recovering biodiversity values and promoting sustainable agriculture, by deliberately integrating regrowth and mature stands of vegetation with dryland cropping systems in Queensland’s Brigalow Belt.

Ladybird beetle (coccinellidae) on a leaf.
Research at CSIRO is examining the evolution and classification of beetles, also known as Coleoptera.

Partnerships

Field of flowering canola

The National Invertebrate Pest Initiative (NIPI) brings together Australian scientists from State Departments, Universities, growers and CSIRO to improve pest management in Australian grain crops.

Firefighters on the left hand side observe and  investigate a bushfire experiment in Ngakart, South Australia.

The bushfire research program at CSIRO is part of a large-scale collaborative effort.

Green tree ants.

DIVERSITAS links biology, ecology and social sciences, to develop socially relevant knowledge that supports sustainable use of biodiversity.

Making a difference

Saltbush plains suffering the effects of wind erosion during drought near Booligal, NSW.

Providing comprehensive, rigorous science to help Australia understand, respond to and plan for a changing climate.

North Queensland Rainforest canopy

We are applying our knowledge and resources across many science disciplines to one of the world's key natural resource challenges: sustaining biodiversity in plants, animals and entire ecosystems.

Man in swamp with insect net

To help protect Australia's ecosystems, CSIRO is undertaking invasive species research at pre-border, border and post-border level.

Two scientists performing molecular research in a laboratory.

In support of a developing bioeconomy in Australia, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences is conducting research on industrial biotechnology and biomaterials; environmental biotechnology and enzymology; and sensory biology.

Yellow flowers of a canola crop in an Australian paddock

CSIRO's Sustainable Agriculture Flagship aims to reduce the carbon footprint of Australia’s land use whilst achieving the productivity gains needed for prosperous agricultural and forest industries and global food security.

Crowd of people walking on bridge.

The debate on population policy requires clear scientific advice about how our population is likely to affect resources, environmental sustainability, the economy and society. CSIRO researches these areas to predict how population policies may affect our sustainability.

Glass of wine.

To maintain Australia's position as a global leader in wine production, the Food Futures Flagship is working closely with the wine industry on research into biosensors and flavour identification in wines and grape berries.

 Channel Name:
Ecosystem Sciences
Index of Ecosystem Sciences related information:
  • Housing development adjacent to agricultural production.  The growing demand for land by these two uses requires considered planning to achieve on-going sustainability in Australia.

    CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences (CES) conducts research and development across a range of disciplines, targeting social, economic and environmental sustainability.

  • Flowering Alligator weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides.

    The process of weed biocontrol involves many steps and often requires a huge investment of time and resources to be successful at managing and controlling a target species.

  • Two scientists performing molecular research in a laboratory.

    In support of a developing bioeconomy in Australia, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences is conducting research on industrial biotechnology and biomaterials; environmental biotechnology and enzymology; and sensory biology.

  • Murrumbidgee River with lucerne and wheat crops near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.

    The Functional Ecology and Systematics Program is helping to manage the increasing threat from invasive species and the benefits to agriculture from ecosystem services while ensuring the preservation and sustainable use of Australian ecosystems.

  • People standing a field by a 4wd and tree.
    Over 80 scientists are currently engaged in CSIRO’s Social and Economic Sciences Research Program, making it one of the largest social science research programs in the world focused on natural resource management and sustainability challenges.
  • A photograph of land with crops in the foreground and some trees in background.
    Finding better ways to manage agricultural systems and lands so that food and fibre production can be sustained in balance with environmental and socioeconomic outcomes.
  • Black and white photo of Sir George Julius speaking at the opening ceremony of the CSIR Entomological building.

    On 30 June 2010, Dr Jim Cullen presented an overview of the history of CSIRO's Division of Entomology from 1928 to 2010. Watch his presentation in the video below (73:12) or download the PowerPoint slides. (177 pages)

  • The steel-framed house at the height of the flame test at Mogo on Friday 16 April 2010.

    CSIRO scientists have 'flame-tested' a steel-framed house near Mogo on the New South Wales south coast to see how the structure would stand up to realistic bushfire conditions. (4:49)

  • Front cover of ECOS issue 155

    Australia's most authoritative magazine on sustainability in the environment, industry and community. ECOS is published bi-monthly by CSIRO PUBLISHING both in print and online.

  • CSIRO Times image

    The CSIRO Times is CSIRO's conference and events newspaper. Editions are compiled for various scientific conferences and public events.

  • Summer Students logo

    Summer studentships offer second and third year university students an opportunity to conduct research at CSIRO Plant Industry.

  • A set of four climate climate forecast maps.

    Australia’s two lead climate science agencies – the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology - have produced a snapshot of the state of the climate to update Australians about how their climate has changed and what it means.

Contact

Mr Ben Creagh
Communication Manager
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences
Phone: 61 7 3214 2680 
Alt Phone: 61 4 1774 2552 
Fax: 61 7 3214 2608 

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