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

GBRF EOI Island Monitoring (Old ID 27698)
Jack Koci
01 Jun 2022 - 30 Jun 2024
The more than 1000 islands and cays in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) World Heritage Area (GBRMPA spatial data, 2019) support a diverse range of ecological, cultural and economic values. Many are threatened by climate change, but monitoring and management is difficult as many cays are remote and difficult to access. This project will develop and implement an efficient drone-based hierarchical monitoring protocol based on the recognition and use of ‘natural ground control points’ that will enable more rapid and resource efficient capture of reef island status to inform management decisions.
CYWP Annan Sediment Tracing (Old ID 27825)
Stephen Lewis
14 Oct 2022 - 30 Nov 2024
Prepare, analyse and report on Annan Catchment tributary water samples for geochemistry and grain size, to assess the sources of sediment to Walker Bay.
NESP 4.3: Improved detection of non-native freshwater fish species in northern Australia
Cecilia Villacorta Rath
01 Apr 2024 - 30 Sep 2025
Introduction and establishment of non-native fish pose severe risks to native freshwater biodiversity and habitats in Australia. This project aims to provide critical information to support decision-making by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Live Import List team and other key stakeholders concerned with the management of non-native fish species in Australia. The project will evaluate and, where possible, further develop early-detection tools such as environmental DNA (eDNA) for improved management and detection of high-risk fish species, and undertake fieldwork in identifying priority locations to assess the presence of priority non-native fish species.
Development of mangrove indicators for the 2024 Gladstone Harbour Report Card
Adam Canning
10 Jun 2024 - 30 Aug 2024
This 2024 program extends on those in 2018 & 2019 (Shultz et al. 2019, 2020). As before, a wide range of expertise will be used in this environmental management project in the PCPA TUMRA Indigenous Protected Area. The multiple threatened ecosystems of this Central Queensland region will be evaluated. The program will support GHHP efforts for the better management of shoreline environmental values. This will be achieved through the on-going implementation of an integrated monitoring and archiving program, bringing together the research, and remote sensing, gathered and compiled by expert mangrove tidal wetland scientists from James Cook University. The integrated project will help identify environmental indicators and reporting options based on an updated thorough assessment of estuarine and coastal shorelines of their habitat condition, biodiversity conservation and landscape scale connectivity of shoreline ecosystems as described in the GHHP tender document. Ongoing consultation with the GHHP and other stakeholders will ensure a robust and lasting outcome.
Small equipment grant for water quality monitoring multiparameter instrument
Skye McKenna
15 Jul 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
Purchase of a multiparameter water quality monitoring instrument to replace old and no longer fit-for-purpose instruments. The new instrument is required to fulfil the research outcomes of several current projects and will be necesssary for future projects. The projects' monitor and assess water quality across the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon and Gulf of Carpenataria and include CRC for Water Security for Northern Australia, NQBP Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Program, and Whitsundays Water Quality Blueprint for Tourism Operators. The projects are led by JCU and involve collaborations across JCU, other institutions, government, Traditional Owners, NGO's, citizen science.
Marine mega-fauna DNA testing in Cleveland Bay
Skye McKenna
07 Aug 2024 - 06 Aug 2025
The seagrass meadows in Townsville harbor are well established foraging grounds for a large herd of dugong and a high number of green sea turtles (marine mega-herbivores). These foraging grounds have maintained a healthy and resilient meadow after quickly bouncing back from large loss after tropical cyclone Yasi and have provided vital foraging grounds for the endangered and vulnerable marine mega-herbivores. Healthy seagrass meadows are also home to many different benthic macro fauna (such as sea cucumbers, ascidians, sponges, etc). Previous port funded seagrass surveys have found the seagrass meadows in Townsville harbor contain a wide range of benthic macro fauna. When marine mega-herbivores forage in seagrass meadows, they are known to incidentally consume benthic macro fauna. However, it is unknown at what extent this incidental consumption occurs, and how important this fauna is to their diet. This project will determine which benthic macro fauna are present in the faeces of marine mega-herbivores using two different DNA methods: eDNA water filtration and laboratory-based DNA extraction. The DNA results will be compared with results of the presence of marine benthic macro fauna from an already scheduled port funded ariel seagrass survey (May and November 2024). Determining which benthic macro fauna are present in dugong and green turtle diets in relation to what is present in the foraging meadow, will enable a greater understanding the role these benthic macro fauna play in the health and resilience of seagrass meadows. This project will enable a greater understanding of the complex interactions marine mega-herbivores have with their main food source (seagrass), and the role macro benthic fauna play with the value seagrass meadows provide. This information can help to inform whether a seagrass meadow is functioning to its full potential, based on the importance of macro benthic fauna to the diet and health of marine mega-herbivores.
Macroinvertebrate Taxonomy and Biological Monitoring (Old ID 27918)
Sarah McDonald
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.
Lady Loretta Compliance Framework Review (Old ID 27380)
Sarah McDonald
15 Sep 2021 - 31 Mar 2026
Desktop review and assessment of compliance surface water and stream sediment data to provide recommendations for an updated and/ or alternative compliance framework for Lady Loretta mine. This will include review of all existing data and assessment of potential cause/s of exceedances in existing program. Recommendations for an updated limnological monitoring program to be included in the site REMP will be developed.
Mt Leyshon Receiving Environment Monitoring & Environmental Assessment. (Old ID 26869)
Sarah McDonald
01 Feb 2020 - 31 Dec 2025
Environmental monitoring and assessment to meet regulatory assessment requirements for aquatic, riparian and terrestrial systems in the region of the closed Mt Leyshon mine. In addition, there are investigations and research into site specific water quality and sediment quality objectives.
Water Quality & Receiving Environment Monitoring Programs (Old ID 26879)
Sarah McDonald
01 Feb 2020 - 31 Mar 2026
Environmental monitoring and assessment to meet regulatory assessment requirements for aquatic, riparian and terrestrial systems in the region of the closed Woodcutters mine, Northern Territory. In addition, there are investigations and research into site specific water quality and sediment quality objectives

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: Journal article peer review
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Journal article peer review
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Oral presentation at European Geophysical Union Conference 2021
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Public Seminar, Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences 2021
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Invited presentation, International Association of Geomorphologists 2021
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Invited presentation, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Symposium on Geomorphic Hazards (2021)
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Australian Rangelands Conference 2023
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Oral presentation at the International Rangelands Congress
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2025
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Floodplain Management Australia Conference 2025
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2025
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Oral presentation at the International Rangelands Congress 2025
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2025
End Date: 01 Jan 2025