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

Improving historical estimates of abundance and distribution of dugongs and large green turtles in western and central Torres Strait (Old ID 22259)
Christophe Cleguer
01 Jul 2015 - 31 Mar 2016
This project will improve the accuracy of aerial survey estimates of the size and distribution of dugong and green turtle populations in western and central Torres Strait by: (1) collecting and analysing data on their movements and diving behaviour, and (2) estimating the proportion of turtles seen during aerial surveys that are the large female green turtles harvested by Indigenous hunters. These data will then be used to (re) estimate the size and distribution of the populations of dugongs and harvestable green turtles in Torres Strait by (re) analysing historical aerial survey data collected in 2001, 2005, 2006, 2011 and 2013.
Desktop Analyses to Inform the Design for Monitoring Within the Reef Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) (Old ID 24763)
Catherine Collier
22 Dec 2017 - 30 Jun 2018
Assist AIMS in the delivery of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program Phase 2 under the Deed of Standing Offer for Environmental Research and Analysis Panel between Aims AND THE Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. This will be done by contributing to the development of detailed design recommendations for monitoring coral reefs within the Reef Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) and to specific desktop analyses that underpin those recommendations.
Desktop Analyses to Inform the Design for Monitoring Within the Reef Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) (Old ID 24763)
Stephen Lewis
22 Dec 2017 - 30 Jun 2018
Assist AIMS in the delivery of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program Phase 2 under the Deed of Standing Offer for Environmental Research and Analysis Panel between Aims AND THE Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. This will be done by contributing to the development of detailed design recommendations for monitoring coral reefs within the Reef Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) and to specific desktop analyses that underpin those recommendations.
Mangrove & Saltmarsh monitoring program of the Northern Land Expansion Project (NLEP) (Old ID 27908)
Adam Canning
15 Dec 2022 - 31 Jul 2031
This monitoring program provides an effective and responsive methodology for monitoring and assessment of the condition of mangroves and saltmarsh habitat in the vicinity of construction works associated with the Northern Land Expansion Project (NLEP). The mangrove research hub at James Cook University (JCU)’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) will develop and trial this monitoring and ‘Alert-to-Action’ management program for the Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited (GPC).
Torres Strait Seagrass and Dugong Sanctuary Research (Old ID 21328)
Alexandra Carter
01 Dec 2013 - 30 Jun 2016
This project will examine the impacts of climate change on seagrasses in the Torres Strait and examine the drivers of seagrass change. The project will also work in collaboration with the Torres Strait rangers to assess changes in seagrasses in the Torres Strait dugong sanctuary and provide relevant scientific information to inform dugong and turtle management plans for the Torres Strait.
Torres Strait Seagrass and Dugong Sanctuary Research (Old ID 21328)
Skye McKenna
01 Dec 2013 - 30 Jun 2016
This project will examine the impacts of climate change on seagrasses in the Torres Strait and examine the drivers of seagrass change. The project will also work in collaboration with the Torres Strait rangers to assess changes in seagrasses in the Torres Strait dugong sanctuary and provide relevant scientific information to inform dugong and turtle management plans for the Torres Strait.
2023 Southern GBR Coastal Wetland Feasibility Assessment (Old ID 28939)
Adam Canning
07 Nov 2022 - 01 Nov 2023
To identify locations and activities between Cairns and Gladstone where coastal protection and restoration could occur to increase carbon sequestration and storage. Climate change is threatening the health of all ecosystems globally, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The restoration of coastal ecosystems presents a substantial opportunity to not only sequester carbon, necessary for reducing climate change, with mangrove forests estimated to store approximately five times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests. In addition, carbon sequestration, coastal ecosystems can protect from storm surges and erosion, provide habitat for fisheries, improve water quality from runoff, and support immense biodiversity. This project aims to survey the health of the coastal ecosystems between Cairns and Gladstone and identify opportunities for the restoration of mangroves and salt marsh.
Reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping in the Coral Sea Marine Park (Old ID 27466)
Michael Rasheed
01 Jun 2022 - 30 Nov 2024
This project will undertake reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping within the Coral Sea Marine Park. Sites to be surveyed are the western lagoon of Holmes Reef, all of Herald Cays, the lagoon between the Diamond Islets in Tregrosse Reef, and the eastern corner of the lagoon in Lihou Reef. This project will produce the first extensive reef lagoon benthic maps of the selected regions in the Coral Sea Marine Park and will be the first seagrass survey in the Coral Sea.
Reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping in the Coral Sea Marine Park (Old ID 27466)
Paul York
01 Jun 2022 - 30 Nov 2024
This project will undertake reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping within the Coral Sea Marine Park. Sites to be surveyed are the western lagoon of Holmes Reef, all of Herald Cays, the lagoon between the Diamond Islets in Tregrosse Reef, and the eastern corner of the lagoon in Lihou Reef. This project will produce the first extensive reef lagoon benthic maps of the selected regions in the Coral Sea Marine Park and will be the first seagrass survey in the Coral Sea.
The role of herbivores in structuring ecosystem service delivery in seagrass meadows (Old ID 23563)
Paul York
14 Dec 2017 - 30 Jun 2020
Seagrasses provide a range of ecosystem services which benefit people worldwide. In the Great Barrier Reef there is a huge diversity of seagrass species and communities covering over 35, 000 km2. These seagrass beds are an important food source for a many different herbivores. My research investigates the impact herbivores are having on the seagrass communities in the GBR and the ecosystem services they provide. Currently we know little about how different ecosystem services interact with each other and with the food web, so the outcomes of my research will be important for managers seeking to maintain ecosystem function and understand potential trade offs in delivery of ecosystem services.

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: The Reef Authority Local Marine Advisory Committee
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Gladstone Ports Corporation, Environmental Research and Management Program
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
Title: Guest lecturer for Indigenous Winter School
Reseracher: Stephen Lewis (Senior Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Traditional Owner focussed information sessions and training workshops
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Guardians of the Bay Seagrass - Small plants play a big role
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: PhD Candidate, James Cook University
Reseracher: Ian McLeod (Adjunct Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
End Date: 01 Jan 2014
Title: Pint of Science Australia - Cairns
Reseracher: Emma Rehn (Research Support Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Research Fellow, University of the Sunshine Coast
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
End Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: Scientific Sampler, Seqwater
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
End Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: Research Officer, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2013
End Date: 01 Jan 2015