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

A validation of coral geochemical records to reconstruct suspended sediment loads to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon (Old ID 22242)
Stephen Lewis
01 Jul 2015 - 01 Mar 2016
While coral geochemistry records are widely cited as evidence for increased suspended sediment loads delivered to the Great Barrier Reef since the 1850s, there has been little replication or quantification of the records. Indeed, most records are based on cores collected prior to the year 2000 when limited catchment monitoring data existed to 'validate' the interpretations that certain trace element ratios provided proxies of annual sediment loadings. This project will analyse the geochemistry of coral cores collected in 2012 from sites in the central GBR and compare the ratios to measured sediment and particulate nutrient loads from the Burdekin River.
Nest to Ocean - Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers
Caitlin Smith
01 Jan 2026 - 30 Jun 2026
The Nest to Ocean funding scheme supports community-based sea turtle nesting monitoring across Queensland. Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples Prescribed Body Corporate has successfully secured funding through the Nest to Ocean program to monitor sea turtle nesting across GMY Sea Country. TropWATER, JCU will support the GMY Rangers by providing expert advice, assisting with drone survey design and implementation, and supplying vessel and skipper support. TropWATER will also assist with data analysis and report preparation.
The role of seagrass dispersal by marine mega-herbivores, dugong (Dugong dugon) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). (Old ID 22411)
Samantha Tol
02 Mar 2014 - 02 Mar 2017
This project will investigate the dispersal mechanisms of tropical seagrasses and determine which mechanisms are most effective for long distance dispersal. It will examine whether marine mega-herbivores (dugongs and green sea turtles) disperse seagrass seeds through their fecal matter and whether those seeds are viable. It will determine how long seagrass fragments, created by abiotic and biotic mechanisms, remain viable and establish new meadows. This information will be used to model which seagrass meadows are at greater risk of slow recovery after a large scale loss. This recovery model will have the potential to highlight which seagrass meadows rely solely on dispersal by marine mega-herbivores for recovery.
Macroinvertebrate Taxonomy and Biological Monitoring (Old ID 27918)
Shelley Templeman
16 Jan 2023 - 30 Sep 2026
Biological sorting an identification of macroinvertebrates from Kakadu national Park in support of research and monitoring programs for the Supervising Scientist Branch.
Seagrass Monitoring and Research Ports North
Michael Rasheed
12 Sep 2025 - 31 Dec 2030
Ports North in partnership with James Cook University’s TropWATER Seagrass Ecology Group have been engaged in seagrass monitoring and research programs in the Ports of Cairns, Mourilyan, Karumba and Thursday Island since at least 2001. The monitoring programs involve annual surveys that are conducted between October and December each year (Thursday Island is conducted in February/March). underpinning major research initatives and our understanding of tropical seagrass ecology. The monitoring programs: • Provide a regular update of the marine environmental health of the ports • Satisfy commitments linked to maintenance dredging and sea disposal approvals • Provide an assessment of seagrass condition and resilience to inform port management. In addition to monitoring, the program is utilised and leveraged for broader initiatives and contributions for joint research and activities including providing: • A key information feed and contribution to regional report cards including Wet Tropics Partnership for Healthy Waterways and for Torres Strait Reporting • A link to Traditional Owner participation in environmental monitoring and research • A range of value-added seagrass research projects including leveraged funding from Australian Government and industry funded research programs investigating seagrass recovery and restoration
Southeast Asian Peatlands as a Natural Climate Solution
Sigit Deni Sasmito
23 Jun 2026 - 23 Dec 2026
The Programme aims to support research and strategic analysis on Peatlands in Southeast Asia in order to strengthen the evidence base for philanthropic engagement in peatland conservation and restoration for climate resilience outcomes across the region. The Programme is intended to generate actionable recommendations and investment pathways for philanthropy and other stakeholders to advance climate adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable livelihoods in Southeast Asia.
Exploring Nature Based Economies with the Lama Lama Rangers
Caitlin Smith
01 Aug 2026 - 01 Dec 2027
This project aims to upskill the Lama Lama Rangers to conduct seagrass monitoring using boat based and drone methods. Using the knowledge from these surveys we aim to explore nature based economy and blue carbon opportunities on Lama Lama Sea Country.
NESP 3.5: Supporting regional planning in northern Australia: Building knowledge, skills & partnerships for understanding seagrass distribution (Old ID 29021)
Alexandra Carter
01 Feb 2023 - 20 Nov 2026
Northern Australia has vast development opportunities but limited knowledge of the environment to inform decision making. This region has globally significant seagrass habitat, supporting dugong, green turtle, and commercially important fish and prawns. However, knowledge about seagrass habitats for extensive areas of the coast is limited - data is patchy or not freely available, few large-scale mapping surveys have been conducted, and even fewer seagrass long-term monitoring programs exist. This project will address these problems by: 1. Mapping selected benthic habitats, with a focus on seagrass, using methods consistent with previous and ongoing surveys in northern Australia. 2. Establishing a benchmark of seagrass habitats for Traditional Owners, Indigenous communities, rangers, management agencies, ports, industry, and researchers to assess change. 3. Partnering with management agencies and ranger groups to co-design mapping and monitoring methods in remote areas that use new technology such as drones. 4. Compiling and synthesizing historical seagrass data into a publicly available spatial database to create a permanent record. 5. Interpreting and reporting on survey findings, including providing advice on options for establishing monitoring programs.
Molongle Creek Seagrass Monitoring (Old ID 22917)
Skye McKenna
21 Jul 2016 - 31 Dec 2016
The aim of this research is to survey seagrass habitats in areas around Molongle Creek. The objectives include conducting seagrass assessments, comparing results of previous surveys and assessing changes in seagrass distribution and abundance in relation to natural events or human induced activities.
A Forensic Approach to Elucidating the Life History of the Deadly Jellyfish Chironex fleckeri using eDNA. (Old ID 27045)
Scott Morrissey
01 Nov 2020 - 31 Oct 2022
The polyps of the deadly Chironex fleckeri represent the longest-lived stage of jellyfish and are the source of medusa. However, there is almost no information on the benthic polyp stages of this species. Environmental DNA should allow me to detect polyps and therefore identify the sources of jellyfish which will increase our understanding of cubozoan ecology and how to minimise their threat of envenomating humans. Further, oceanographic modelling, that incorporates the decay of eDNA, will provide greater knowledge of ‘DNA’ halos’ that signals proximity to targeted polyp beds and jellyfish aggregations.

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: Deep Seagrass Bed Could Stall Climate Change, If Climate Change Doesn't Kill It First, National Public Radio
Reseracher: Paul York (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 16 Dec 2018
Title: Gladstone Ports Corporation, Develop and implement a seagrass monitoring program for Gladstone Port Corporation to monitor and report on the condition and health of seagrass communities and other benthic habitats in the ports. Research has included remote sensing techniques to monitor dugong feeding trails on intertidal seagrass meadows in Port Curtis and Rodds Bay to gain a better understanding of the behaviour and feeding ecology of these endangered species.
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
End Date: 01 Jan 2030
Title: Awards for Excellence - Community Engagement
Reseracher: Melanie Hamel (Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Tasmanian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Member of Scientific Advisory Panel for Water Quality Technical Standards for finfish farms. This panel provides scientific and peer review of the draft technical standards that the EPA are in the process of developing against both state and national frameworks.
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Grant Submission Support Scheme
Reseracher: Zoe Bainbridge (Senior Research Fellow)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Advance Queensland Research Fellowship
Reseracher: Zoe Bainbridge (Senior Research Fellow)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2016
Title: Mandaburra Ranger Seagrass Monitoring Training Field Day
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Torres Strait Ranger seagrass transect training workshop
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
End Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Ozfish / TropWATER Seagrass restoration project
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: From the Ground Up Cloncurry & Lara Downs, Southern Gulf NRM
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jun 2024