Tropical Water & Ecosystems

Scott Morrissey

Scott Morrissey

Tim Smith

Tim Smith

Alejandro Navarro Otero

Alejandro Navarro Otero

Jack Koci

Jack Koci

Sarah McDonald

Sarah McDonald

Emily Webster

Emily Webster

Abbi Scott

Abbi Scott

Catherine Collier

Catherine Collier

Rob Coles

Rob Coles

Aaron Davis

Aaron Davis

Science Partnerships in RRAP (Old ID 27111)
Ian McLeod
01 Jan 2021 - 04 Sep 2024
The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) is a >$100M multi-institution 10-year research program designed to accelerate the resilience and recovery of corals reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. This project will provide coordination and leadership for the many science programs in the RRAP, support management, deliver milestones and assist research coordination and future planning.
Marine plant survey of the Half Tide Tug Harbour Hay Point (Old ID 27445)
Paul York
01 Sep 2021 - 31 Dec 2021
North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) have engaged the TropWATER to undertake a survey to determine the presence/absence of marine plants within the Half Tide Tug Harbour, located at the Port of Hay Point. Specifically, the survey requires assessment of marine plant distribution in the area proposed for expanded maintenance dredging, as well as a contemporary survey of marine plants in the area currently approved for dredging.
Seagrass Monitoring of Dugong Sanctuary in Torres Strait and Baseline survey/mapping of Torres Strait Eastern Cluster. (Old ID 26894)
Alexandra Carter
25 Jun 2020 - 30 Jun 2021
Seagrass Monitoring of the Dugong Sanctuary and Torres Strait’s western cluster subtidal seagrass, and baseline survey and mapping of Torres Strait’s Eastern Cluster intertidal seagrass.
Does natal philopatry drive variable female bull shark movement? (Old ID 27470)
Nicolas Lubitz
31 Dec 2021 - 31 Dec 2023
Despite recent advances in animal movement ecology and an increased number of studies revealing the spatio-temporal patterns of large-scale movement, drivers of movement remain less well understood in many taxa. Why animals move, however, provides vital information on life history strategies, such as reproduction and feeding behaviour, how animals interact with their environment and how they may respond to future change. Sharks and rays are no exception and for many species the drivers of movement remain unknown. This project uses acoustic telemetry and genetics to investigate reproduction as a driver for variable female bull shark movement along Australia’s East Coast.
Seagrass Monitoring and Protection in Wuthathi Sea Country (Old ID 27656)
Catherine Collier
01 Mar 2022 - 14 Feb 2023
Wuthathi land and sea country in far northern Cape York extends from Captain Billy landing south to Temple Bay and includes Shelburne Bay and Raine Island. JCU will work with Wuthathi rangers to map coastal seagrass habitats in Wuthathi. A range of techniques will be adopted, including helicopter surveys and airborne/spaceborne imagery (UAV drone and satellite) for intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats and drop cameras in deeper subtidal waters. Wuthathi rangers will be trained in seagrass mapping and monitoring techniques to facilitate continued monitoring of seagrass habitats in Wuthathi sea country.
Mt Leyshon REMP (Old ID 22096)
Shelley Templeman
01 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2019
Development, implementation and reporting of the first stage of a receiving environment monitoring program (REMP) for the closed Mt Leyshon Mine, Charters Towers, Queensland.
Working with traditional owners and local citizens to better manage GBR estuarine wetlands (Old ID 22542)
Norm Duke
01 Jan 2016 - 20 May 2019
Traditional Owner rangers and local citizens of the Port Curtis Coral Coast (PCCC) TUMRA will be engaged in developing a Mangrove Management Plan (MMP) that provides a strategic basis for estuarine repair activity and maximises water quality outcomes in the southern GBR. Development of this MMP will build capacity within the Gidarjil Development Corporation (GCD) and local community to undertake scientifically-rigorous, ecological monitoring and assessment. These management and rehabilitation strategies will protect sea country resources through partnerships between community, scientists and NRM agencies. The MMP will enable rangers and citizen scientists to conduct scientifically valid surveys of estuarine monitoring, management and rehabilitation within the PCCC TUMRA area.
Seagrass monitoring for Inshore Marine South Zone for the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership (Old ID 26977)
Alexandra Carter
01 Jul 2020 - 30 Jun 2023
Continuation of annual seagrass monitoring program and development and implementation of seagrass condition report card in the south zone of the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region.
Great Barrier Reef catchments historical water quality data compilation. (Old ID 27764)
Zoe Bainbridge
03 Aug 2022 - 30 Sep 2024
Compilation of extensive historical water quality data into a single database to be made available to all researchers, modellers and end users working in the GBR catchment area, with the data to be presented in a form consistent with that currently in use by existing WQ monitoring frameworks and databases (for example the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program).
Gladstone Healthy Harbours Seagrass Condition Report Card. (Old ID 22645)
Alexandra Carter
01 Mar 2016 - 01 Jul 2022
Gladstone Healthy Harbours Partnership (GHHP) produces an annual report card on the condition of Gladstone Harbour. JCU TropWATER have been contracted to produce the seagrass component of the report card.

Coral decline threatens fish biodiversity in marine reserves

Mid-late Holocene sea-level variability in eastern Australia

Recruitment in time and space: the dynamics and distributions of reef fish populations on a low latitude coral reef

  • 2006
  • Researchers:Maya Srinivasan

Patterns in tropical seagrass photosynthesis in relation to light, depth and habitat

Niche shifts and local competition between two coral reef fishes at their geographic boundary

A multi-trace element coral record of land-use changes in the Burdekin River catchment, NE Australia

Assessment of the water quality and ecosystem health of the Great Barrier Reef (Australia): conceptual models

Chlorophyll fluorescence measures of seagrasses Halophila ovalis and Zostera capricorni reveal differences in response to experimental shading

Sediment and nutrient exports for the Burdekin River catchment, north Queensland: a comparison of monitoring and modelling data

A review of load tools available for calculating pollutant exports to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon: a case study of varying catchment areas

Title: Bachelor of Science , James Cook University
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2001
End Date: 01 Jan 2005
Title: Fine-scale Water Quality Monitoring Program Technical Reference Group
Reseracher: Zoe Bainbridge (Senior Research Fellow)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Queensland Community of Practice for STEM Engagement
Reseracher: Zoe Bainbridge (Senior Research Fellow)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Associate Editor Marine and Freshwater Research
Reseracher: Tim Smith (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Indian Institute of Technology Bhudaneswr Seagrass and Mangroves Restoration Workshop
Reseracher: Tim Smith (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2026
End Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Global Seagrass Nursery Network Seminar Series Presentation
Reseracher: Tim Smith (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2026
End Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: International Basking Turtle Working Group
Reseracher: Caitlin Smith (Research Officer)
Title: Australian Marine Turtle Society
Reseracher: Caitlin Smith (Research Officer)
Title: Project manager, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2005
End Date: 01 Jan 2012
Title: Fisheries Technician, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
End Date: 01 Jan 2005