Research Projects
Experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) on dating apps
Daniel Miller
01 Jun 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
Dating app preferences among men who have sex with men (MSM) privileges partner profiles that depict norms of masculinity and particular ethnicities. Concerningly, preoccupation to appear masculine and internalisation of race-based sexual stereotypes are linked with health disparities. This study will attempt to elucidate the role of bias in partner preferences among MSM within the Australian context.
Marine sediment geochemical survey: Coastal waters of southeastern Brazil
This project involves comprehensive geochemical fingerprinting of sediments from a marine environment to trace the potential distribution of exogenous components from a tailings dam failure. JCU is leading the systematic multi-instrument (XRD, XRF, ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS) geochemical and isotopic characterization of approximately 200 samples. This includes quantifying the mineralogy, major, trace and volatile element concentration analysis, coupled with high-precision O-Sr-Nd-Fe isotope composition analyses.
TERN FNQ OzFlux
Michael Liddell
01 Jul 2011 - 30 Jun 2028
TERN FNQ OzFlux sites are funded by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network.
TERN EP Robson Creek site - Rainforest in the Lamb Range on the Atherton Tablelands.
TERN EP Cow Bay site - Daintree Rainforest.
Redefining E-waste Management: Circular Economy Business Models in Action
Eijaz Khan
27 May 2024 - 31 Jul 2025
The Queensland Government has implemented the 'E-Products Action Plan 2023–2033' with the vision of transforming Queensland into a zero-waste society by 2050. This comprehensive plan aims to minimise waste generation by emphasizing avoidance, reuse, and recycling practices. Queensland-based volunteer organizations can play a vital role in this initiative. However, the traditional approaches they use often fall short of addressing the environmental and social impact. The proposed research will introduce innovation by embedding circular economy principles into the existing model of volunteering organizations to address the challenges associated with responsible recycling. The objectives of this project is to develop a ‘blueprint’ that will be flexible and can be used by national and local volunteers, local and state government, civil society, the private sector, and local communities.
AIMS@JCU Pilot Research Funding
Research Masters student Karl Jensen on feeding selectivity in herbivorous juvenile CoTS
David Yellowlees Excellence in Research Award 2022
Project: Molecular-based method for the quantification of in situ crown-of-thorns starfish settlement rates
Effective sampling of Acanthaster cf. solaris to provide early-warning of new and renewed outbreaks (Old ID 26779)
Peter Doll
01 Jun 2020 - 31 May 2022
This project aims to develop a holistic monitoring program that will not only help to deliver an early-warning syste, but will increase the viability of culling CoTS populations even during non-outbreak periods with the ultimate goal of reducing the frequency and severity of future outbreaks. Perhaps even more importantly, this project will deliver (for the first time) spatially and temporally explicit information about the structure and dynamics of crown-of-thorns starfish within the “initiation zone” and in the lead-up to a new population irruption, which is a critical knowledge gap that limits understanding of the initiation and causes of population outbreaks.
Pre-outbreak monitoring of the density, distribution and size-structure of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) in the Great Barrier Reef (Old ID 27501)
Peter Doll
01 Jan 2021 - 01 Jun 2024
This project will conduct annual field surveys (diver-based and eDNA) across reefs in the primary outbreak initiation region to reveal how the density, distribution and size-structure of COTS populations changes, providing field data to inform early warning and response in the lead up to the 2025 outbreak.
Quantifying predation rates on CoTS relative to fisheries management zones and corresponding differences in abundance of putative predators (Old ID 27504)
Peter Doll
01 Jan 2022 - 30 Jun 2024
The purpose of this research is to quantify rates of predation on CoTS at reefs within contrasting Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) management zones. More specifically, we will quantify predation and mortality rates for CoTS, as well as differences in the abundance and composition of potential predators, between reefs where fishing is permitted (Blue zones), restricted (Yellow zones) or effectively prohibited (Green zones). The focus of this project is unequivocally on relatively large and conspicuous post-settlement life stages of CoTS (e.g., sub-adults and adults) and the relatively large predators (mainly fishes) that might be consuming them.
In situ feeding rates of crown-of-thorns starfish and fate of prey corals (Old ID 27494)
Peter Doll
01 Jan 2022 - 30 Jun 2024
Accurate measurements of CoTS feeding rates are key in modelling ecological thresholds to inform CoTS management. This project aims to quantify feeding rates of CoTS in the field, to better resolve ecological impacts of CoTS on coral assemblages relative to the size and abundance of CoTS, as well as changes in prey availability and seasonal variation in temperature. This will significantly improve current models that estimate ecological thresholds used to inform surveillance (density of CoTS required to prevent further coral damage) and control (levels of culling required to ensure that coral growth outpaces CoTS feeding) activities in the GBR.