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

Assessing impacts of extreme events on inshore coastal habitats in the northern Great Barrier Reef
Lucas Langlois - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
01 Feb 2025 - 30 Jun 2026
This project aims to assess the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and associated flooding on inshore coastal habitats (i.e. mangroves, seagrass, coral) in the northern GBR. This project will provide a current consolidated asset assessment that will be compared against previous monitoring/assessment data to determine any impacts of TC Jasper. This will be achieved through high-resolution imagery, rapid on-ground aerial surveys, subtidal surveys using underwater camera systems, and consolidating other available information (i.e., anecdotal/private records). Understanding the impact of TC Jasper on inshore coastal habitats is essential as extreme climate events can cause significant and enduring changes to the condition and resilience of critical habitats of key species, such as dugongs and turtles.
Assessing impacts of extreme events on inshore coastal habitats in the northern Great Barrier Reef
Adam Canning - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
01 Feb 2025 - 30 Jun 2026
This project aims to assess the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and associated flooding on inshore coastal habitats (i.e. mangroves, seagrass, coral) in the northern GBR. This project will provide a current consolidated asset assessment that will be compared against previous monitoring/assessment data to determine any impacts of TC Jasper. This will be achieved through high-resolution imagery, rapid on-ground aerial surveys, subtidal surveys using underwater camera systems, and consolidating other available information (i.e., anecdotal/private records). Understanding the impact of TC Jasper on inshore coastal habitats is essential as extreme climate events can cause significant and enduring changes to the condition and resilience of critical habitats of key species, such as dugongs and turtles.
Assessing impacts of extreme events on inshore coastal habitats in the northern Great Barrier Reef
Len McKenzie - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
01 Feb 2025 - 30 Jun 2026
This project aims to assess the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and associated flooding on inshore coastal habitats (i.e. mangroves, seagrass, coral) in the northern GBR. This project will provide a current consolidated asset assessment that will be compared against previous monitoring/assessment data to determine any impacts of TC Jasper. This will be achieved through high-resolution imagery, rapid on-ground aerial surveys, subtidal surveys using underwater camera systems, and consolidating other available information (i.e., anecdotal/private records). Understanding the impact of TC Jasper on inshore coastal habitats is essential as extreme climate events can cause significant and enduring changes to the condition and resilience of critical habitats of key species, such as dugongs and turtles.
Do green sea turtle faeces increase seagrass seed germination and seedling success through fertilisation (Old ID 31172)
Samantha Tol - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
01 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
This project will measure if seagrass seed germination and seedling growth is enhanced by the addition of nutrients from sea turtle faeces. Seagrass meadows are experiencing a global decline, and therefore an increase in restoration efforts. Restoration by seeds has not yielded a high rate of success in Australia, primarily due to low germination rates. Recent research has found that seed coat scarification or passage through a dugong and green sea turtle enhances seed germination. Manual scarification of seeds is time consuming but adding sea turtle faeces to the seeds before dispersal would be a simple and cost-effective alternative.
Herbert Integrated Program - comms support
Cassandra James - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
30 Nov 2025 - 28 Mar 2027
Provide communication support for Terrain's Herbert Integrated Program
Herbert Integrated Program - comms support
Zoe Bainbridge - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
30 Nov 2025 - 28 Mar 2027
Provide communication support for Terrain's Herbert Integrated Program
Feral Pig Reduction for Improved Wetland Health in the Southern Gulf Region
Adam Canning - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
05 Jan 2026 - 30 Jun 2028
The Southern Gulf NRM are conducting wild pig control works to protect wetlands across the Southern Gulf region. JCU will develop and implement a Wetland Health Report Card. This will involve establishing a monitoring program to collect and analyse data on wetland and riverine health across the Southern Gulf of Carpentaria. Monitoring will include assessing water quality, biodiversity via eDNA metabarcoding, and conducting aquatic habitat assessments.
Feral Pig Reduction for Improved Wetland Health in the Southern Gulf Region
Adam Canning - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
05 Jan 2026 - 30 Jun 2028
The Southern Gulf NRM are conducting wild pig control works to protect wetlands across the Southern Gulf region. JCU will develop and implement a Wetland Health Report Card. This will involve establishing a monitoring program to collect and analyse data on wetland and riverine health across the Southern Gulf of Carpentaria. Monitoring will include assessing water quality, biodiversity via eDNA metabarcoding, and conducting aquatic habitat assessments.
Protection of the Gulf Snapping Turtle in the Southern Gulf Region
Adam Canning - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
23 Feb 2026 - 30 Jun 2028
Southern Gulf NRM seek to improve the protection of the Gulf Snapping Turtle through the control of feral pigs and better managing cattle movements. JCU will be supporting this project through applying environmental DNA, collected from soil and water, across the Southern Gulf region to help identify the locations where the Gulf Snapping Turtle and introduced Tilapia are present, along with a broader aquatic biodiversity screen, to help guide where protection efforts should be prioritised.
Protection of the Gulf Snapping Turtle in the Southern Gulf Region
Adam Canning - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
23 Feb 2026 - 30 Jun 2028
Southern Gulf NRM seek to improve the protection of the Gulf Snapping Turtle through the control of feral pigs and better managing cattle movements. JCU will be supporting this project through applying environmental DNA, collected from soil and water, across the Southern Gulf region to help identify the locations where the Gulf Snapping Turtle and introduced Tilapia are present, along with a broader aquatic biodiversity screen, to help guide where protection efforts should be prioritised.

Trophic ecology of terapontid fishes (Pisces: Terapontidae): the role of morphology and ontogeny

Evaluating risk to seagrasses in the Tropical Indo-Pacific Region

Monitoring inshore seagrasses of the GBR and responses to water quality

Extreme weather conditions in the Great Barrier Reef: drivers of change?

Quantifying total suspended sediment export from the Burdekin River catchment using the loads regression estimator tool

Marine-freshwater transitions are associated with the evolution of dietary diversification in terapontid grunters (Teleostei: Terapontidae)

A paddock to reef monitoring and modelling framework for the Great Barrier Reef: paddock and catchment component

Larval export from marine reserves and the recruitment benefit for fish and fisheries

The influence of a season of extreme wet weather events on exposure of the World Heritage Area Great Barrier Reef to pesticides

Light thresholds derived from seagrass loss in the coastal zone of the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Title: Ports North, Ports North supports an annual monitoring program conducted by James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet, as well as at our other ports, such as Karumba, Mourilyan and Thursday Island. By using helicopters and underwater cameras on boats, the seagrass meadows are mapped and assessed for any changes.
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Gladstone Ports Corporation, The purpose of the Long-term Maintenance Dredging Management Plan (LMDMP) is to address operational needs, environmental risks, monitoring and adaptive management actions specific to the Port of Gladstone whilst ensuring the ongoing sustainability of maintenance dredging within the port.
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2030
Title: North Queensland Bulk Ports, Partnering with scientists at James Cook University (JCU), NQBP has been collecting data on seagrass growth around our port sites for more than 20 years. In addition to informing our own environmental activities and port operations, our data has contributed to advances in an international body of seagrass knowledge through JCU's academic research and regional report cards developed to help monitor the health of our waterways.
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
End Date: 01 Jan 2030
Title: Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service contracted James Cook University to conduct surveys and research on the impacts to and resilience of seagrass in Great Sandy Marine Park. This important surveying and research help government understand the impacts to seagrass from the 2022 flooding events and its ability to recovery.
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Master of Science - Botany, James Cook University
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1981
End Date: 01 Jan 1984
Title: Doctor of Philosophy, James Cook University
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1986
End Date: 01 Jan 1988
Title: Bachelor of Science with Honours, James Cook University
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1973
End Date: 01 Jan 1973
Title: Editor of the SeDNAS PeerJ Hub
Reseracher: Cecilia Villacorta Rath (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Higher Degree By Research Committee
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
End Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Conference co-chair
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2023