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

NESP Tropical Water Quality Research Plan 7 (Old ID 27291)
Aaron Davis
24 May 2021 - 30 Jun 2021
The National Environmental Science Program Tropical Water Quality Hub, funded by the federal government, has funded a wide variety of research projects during its operations from 2015-2021. As this programme draws to a close, there is a need to repatriate the knowledge and learnings from these research projects to relevant stakeholders and end-users. This project will undertake a series of meetings and workshops with end-users to enable the outcomes of research to be adopted. This engagement process will include analysis and synthesis of data collected to date.
Great Barrier Reef catchments historical water quality data compilation. (Old ID 27764)
Cassandra James
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).
Great Barrier Reef catchments historical water quality data compilation. (Old ID 27764)
Stephen Lewis
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).
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.

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: Pesticide working group - Australian and Queensland Government's Paddock to Reef Program
Reseracher: Stephen Lewis (Senior Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011
End Date: 01 Jan 2017
Title: Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - Australasia (SETAC AU)
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: Chair of the Local Organising Committee, AMSA Conference Cairns, 2022
Reseracher: Paul York (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
End Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Adjunct Professor - University of Queensland
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Title: Adjunct Professor - Nipissing University, Canada
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Title: Adjunct Professor - Griffith University
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Title: Research Associate - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Title: Research Associate - Smithsonian Institute, USA
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Title: Associate Editor
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2000
End Date: 01 Jan 2008
Title: Queensland Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Member of the Gulf Water Plan Review Working Group (2024 - present)
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2025