Tropical Water & Ecosystems
Scott Morrissey
- Research Officer
- scott.morrissey@jcu.edu.au
Tim Smith
- Senior Research Officer
- tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au
Alejandro Navarro Otero
- Casual Research Worker
- alejandro.navarrootero@jcu.edu.au
Jack Koci
- Principal Research Officer
- jack.koci1@jcu.edu.au
Sarah McDonald
- Senior Research Officer
- sarah.mcdonald@jcu.edu.au
Emily Webster
- Research Officer
- emily.webster1@jcu.edu.au
Abbi Scott
- Senior Research Officer
- abbi.scott1@jcu.edu.au
Catherine Collier
- Principal Research Officer
- catherine.collier@jcu.edu.au
Rob Coles
- Principal Research Scientist
- rob.coles@jcu.edu.au
Aaron Davis
- Principal Research Officer
- aaron.davis@jcu.edu.au
Mapping Sea Country & Investigating Conservation and Restoration Opportunities along the Kakadu Coast & Garig Gunak Barlu National Park
This project addresses the need for contemporary biodiversity and habitat data in the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park (Cobourg Peninsula) and coastal Kakadu National Park, essential for effective Sea Country planning and management. Successful co-management of protected areas requires strong support from the government to enable local communities to have autonomy in decision-making to benefit both the environment and livelihoods. The research focuses on a two-way knowledge transfer process to integrate Western science and Traditional Owners' knowledge to improve knowledge on the extent, condition, and biodiversity of coastal ecosystem habitats under current management and threats. This will empower Traditional Owners to make informed decisions on managing their coastal ecosystems, including restoration opportunities under emerging environmental markets, to improve the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems under environmental changes while enhancing livelihoods.
To achieve this, researchers will collaborate with Traditional Owners to map coastal habitats, assess the biodiversity of coastal habitats, and evaluate environmental changes due to sea level rise and feral ungulate impacts. Outputs include co-authored publications, visually engaging materials, and a co-designed mapping project. Outcomes include better management of Kakadu National Park and Cobourg Peninsula by empowering Traditional Owners with enhanced knowledge that they can use to make on-ground decisions that benefit their communities and biodiversity conservation. This collaboration ensures that Traditional Owners' perspectives guide the management and preservation of culturally significant sites while exploring socio-economic opportunities in emerging environmental markets.
Mapping Sea Country & Investigating Conservation and Restoration Opportunities along the Kakadu Coast & Garig Gunak Barlu National Park
This project addresses the need for contemporary biodiversity and habitat data in the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park (Cobourg Peninsula) and coastal Kakadu National Park, essential for effective Sea Country planning and management. Successful co-management of protected areas requires strong support from the government to enable local communities to have autonomy in decision-making to benefit both the environment and livelihoods. The research focuses on a two-way knowledge transfer process to integrate Western science and Traditional Owners' knowledge to improve knowledge on the extent, condition, and biodiversity of coastal ecosystem habitats under current management and threats. This will empower Traditional Owners to make informed decisions on managing their coastal ecosystems, including restoration opportunities under emerging environmental markets, to improve the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems under environmental changes while enhancing livelihoods.
To achieve this, researchers will collaborate with Traditional Owners to map coastal habitats, assess the biodiversity of coastal habitats, and evaluate environmental changes due to sea level rise and feral ungulate impacts. Outputs include co-authored publications, visually engaging materials, and a co-designed mapping project. Outcomes include better management of Kakadu National Park and Cobourg Peninsula by empowering Traditional Owners with enhanced knowledge that they can use to make on-ground decisions that benefit their communities and biodiversity conservation. This collaboration ensures that Traditional Owners' perspectives guide the management and preservation of culturally significant sites while exploring socio-economic opportunities in emerging environmental markets.
Dugong Sanctuary seagrass survey
The Dugong Sanctuary in Western Torres Strait contains critical seagrass habitat and food for green turtle and dugong. Dramatic seagrass declines were recorded by Western Cluster Rangers in subtidal seagrass monitoring sites in this region in 2019-2020, which triggered an extensive survey of the northern Dugong Sanctuary in December 2020 and southern Dugong Sanctuary in 2021. Both surveys confirmed widespread loss of seagrass since the first comprehensive survey of the Dugong Sanctuary in 2009. The meadow contained large patches of bare sediment, and the loss of high biomass and relatively stable species, indicating a large-scale disturbance. Ranger-led monitoring since then has demonstrated some recovery of subtidal seagrass at Orman Reefs, but seagrass condition in the Dugong Sanctuary remains very poor. This project will survey the Dugong Sanctuary in 2025 to evaluate seagrass condition, and identify potential additional locations for establishing additional Ranger-led monitoring in the Sanctuary.
Dugong Sanctuary seagrass survey
The Dugong Sanctuary in Western Torres Strait contains critical seagrass habitat and food for green turtle and dugong. Dramatic seagrass declines were recorded by Western Cluster Rangers in subtidal seagrass monitoring sites in this region in 2019-2020, which triggered an extensive survey of the northern Dugong Sanctuary in December 2020 and southern Dugong Sanctuary in 2021. Both surveys confirmed widespread loss of seagrass since the first comprehensive survey of the Dugong Sanctuary in 2009. The meadow contained large patches of bare sediment, and the loss of high biomass and relatively stable species, indicating a large-scale disturbance. Ranger-led monitoring since then has demonstrated some recovery of subtidal seagrass at Orman Reefs, but seagrass condition in the Dugong Sanctuary remains very poor. This project will survey the Dugong Sanctuary in 2025 to evaluate seagrass condition, and identify potential additional locations for establishing additional Ranger-led monitoring in the Sanctuary.
What's really damaging the Reef? Tracing the origin and fate of the environmentally detrimental sediment and associated bioavailable nutrients (Old ID 26391)
Recent research has shown that only a portion of the fine sediment fraction delivered from rivers draining into the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon (GBRL) reaches coral reefs and seagrass meadows. The specific sources of this sediment, which affects the health of corals and seagrasses, are as yet unresolved. This project will, for the first time characterise and trace the origin(s), fate and nutrient bioavailability of this environmentally detrimental sediment using samples collected in flood plumes and during resuspension events. This will enable direct spatial targeting of the sources of this material to achieve maximum benefits to GBR health from catchment management actions.
Ports North Seagrass Monitoring Program. (Old ID 23101)
The aim of this research is to monitor seagrass habitats in areas around Mourilyan, Karumba, Cairns and Thursday Island. The objectives include comparing results of previous monitoring and base line surveys and assessing any changes in seagrass distribution and abundance in relation to natural events or human induced activities, and establishing the capacity for recovery of key seagrass meadow types. Relationships between seagrass and environmental parameters, and the drivers of seagrass change will also be investigated.
Mapping of Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Straits seagrass meadows post floods (Old ID 27628)
This project will map seagrass meadows across Hervey Bay and collect data on intertidal seagrass habitats in Great Sandy Straits to provide post flood update on the state of seagrass meadows in the region.
The role of restoration in conserving matters of national environmental significance (MNES) (Old ID 25011)
This project will review and assess the capacity of active restoration to secure conservation outcomes for Matters of National Environmental Significance across four habitats: giant kelp forests, seagrass communities, saltmarsh communities, and shellfish communities.
Project CaNE (Old ID 27277)
The CaNE™ project will work with farmers to drive productive, financially, and environmentally sustainable farming systems. The project will address the issue of DIN being exported from the farm into freshwater and marine ecosystems within the Catchment area, while maintaining cane productivity. TropWATER is to provide local water quality monitoring support to local agronomic extension providers to facilitate farming practice change to produce water quality benefits in the lower Herbert River canegrowing region. The water quality monitoring program will involve scientific engagement, communication and education surrounding local water quality processes associated with agriculture.
Protection, Restoration and Management of Seagrass and Saltmarsh Ecosystems of India
This project is about restoration, protection and management of seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems from the coast of Odisha, India. Within the project GIS based mapping, field work for collection of sediment and plant samples, data analysis and reporting writing would be included. Consequently, restoration activities are also planned for both seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems in India.
Coral decline threatens fish biodiversity in marine reserves
- 2004
- National Academy of Sciences
- Researchers:Maya Srinivasan
Mid-late Holocene sea-level variability in eastern Australia
- 2008
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:Stephen Lewis
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2024
Title:
Presenter - US Embassy - Presentation of TropWATER work to the US Embassy Public Affairs team
Start Date:
01 Jan 2022
End Date:
01 Jan 2024
Start Date:
01 Jan 2022
End Date:
01 Jan 2024
Start Date:
01 Jan 2020
End Date:
01 Jan 2022
Start Date:
01 Jan 2015
End Date:
01 Jan 2016
Title:
Examination of PhD thesis
Start Date:
01 Jan 2012
End Date:
01 Jan 2012
Title:
Examination of PhD thesis
Start Date:
01 Jan 2011
End Date:
01 Jan 2011
Start Date:
01 Jan 2012
End Date:
01 Jan 2012
Title:
Examination of PhD thesis
Start Date:
01 Jan 2013
End Date:
01 Jan 2013
Title:
Examination of PhD thesis
Start Date:
01 Jan 2017
End Date:
01 Jan 2017