Research Projects
Enhanced landscape scale management of feral pigs and buffalo in large remote landscapes with new technologies enabling real-time data, modelling and analytics (Old ID 23595)
Ian Atkinson
05 Aug 2017 - 30 Jun 2019
In remote Northern Australia properties are vast with limited seasonal access. In these large connected landscapes feral pigs and buffalo are controlled on an annual basis with limited success despite significant investment in time and money. Here we propose to develop an Internet of Things low power network connected with advanced low cost tracking devices and big data analytical techniques to develop a real time pest species tracking system including environmental sensors. Using these data, scientists and land managers will work together to develop end user products that will be used to inform strategic integrated pest management programs.
Viral load in APF prawn stocks (Old ID 23597)
Dean Jerry
07 Aug 2017 - 06 Aug 2018
This project will test viral load in new broodstock brought into Aussie Prawn Farms so they can identify broodstock to not spawn from and to know what viruses are coming on farm.
Best practice coral restoration for the Great Barrier Reef (Old ID 24990)
Ian McLeod
01 Jan 2018 - 10 Dec 2020
Great Barrier Reef (GBR) continues to degrade, pressure is growing for direct interventions to assist the recovery of corals at important sites. This project will (1) summarise and evaluate the success of coral restoration and assisted recovery techniques worldwide (2) identify the techniques most likely to help the GBR and experimentally test the most promising techniques, (3) come up with best practices for post-impact coral reattachment and reorientation and (4) explore options for training courses, offset models and Indigenous employment.
Connectivity in pinnacle reef fishes (Old ID 26726)
Benjamin Cresswell
01 Jan 2020 - 31 Mar 2023
My project focuses on distributions and movements of predator fish species across a range of coastal habitats in Kimbe Bay, PNG and how these might interact with a variety of environmental drivers including anthropogenic stressors. Specifically, I am investigating communities of predator fishes inhabiting a group of pinnacle reefs in the bay and how these unique structures may support abundant and diverse assemblages, potentially conferring resilience to regional fish populations in the face of climate change, overfishing and near-shore habitat degradation. My project aims to include how these distinct habitats can be incorporated into management plans for regional fisheries.
Future proofing and restoring Australia’s tropical seagrasses (Old ID 27805)
Michael Rasheed
01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2026
This project aims to develop and apply a comprehensive framework for restoration of Australian tropical seagrasses using innovative approaches and partnerships. The project expects to provide coastal managers with tools to mitigate and restore seagrass to minimise effects of climate and development related loss, protecting ecosystem services measured in hundreds of millions of dollars. Expected outcomes include new techniques for tropical seagrass restoration, a blueprint for seagrass friendly marine infrastructure, and restoration decision tools applied at local and regional scales. This will provide significant benefits by protecting seagrass ecosystem services and place Australia at the forefront of global seagrass restoration efforts.
Taxonomic assessment of corals in the Australian Indian Ocean Territory (Old ID 28958)
Tom Bridge
08 Mar 2023 - 30 May 2024
Document the species richness of the coral fauna of Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) islands (Australian Indian Ocean Territory), with a focus on identifying new species, species endemic to the region or vulnerable to threats due to low abundance or limited distributions.
Genetic audit of Harvest Road’s Akoya oyster (Pinctada fucata) broodstock and phenotypic assessment of existing cohorts relevant to the requirements of a selection program (Old ID 29001)
Dave Jones
29 May 2023 - 28 May 2024
Harvest Road Oceans Pty Ltd wants to undertake a genetic audit of potential broodstock for use in a future selective breeding program for Akoya pearl oysters focusing primarily on oyster growth, shell depth and meat yield. Before such a program commences, it is vital to establish that the genetic diversity represented in the current broodstock population is sufficient to ensure long-term exploitation of genetic potential over subsequent generations of breeding. Therefore, this project aims to generate the preliminary data needed to undertake a genetic audit, estimate relatedness between animals from the current farm cohorts, generate genetic parameters and make recommendations on appropriate breeding scenarios for Harvest Road Oceans Pty Ltd.
Monitoring Survival and Recovery of Shorelines. (Old ID 21926)
Norm Duke
31 Oct 2014 - 31 Aug 2022
This project is to assess and monitor the health of tidal wetlands (mangroves, salt marsh and saltpans) in the Port Curtis and Port Alma areas. These Port locations have been subject to dredging and other activities associated with intensive port infrastructure development. The project will provide a baseline against which future changes can be referenced. It will include high resolution and NDVI mapping of tidal wetlands, shoreline condition assessment using oblique aerial image acquisition and boast-based horizontal image acq1uisition as well the establishment of public entry data and image access portals to display the results of this mapping. The use of community and in particular indigenous Australian rangers will also be incorporated into the field components of this project.
Establishing Baseline Health Assessment Criteria for Green Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) (Old ID 22137)
Ellen Ariel
01 Dec 2014 - 30 Nov 2018
The first part of this project is to optimise procedures involved in assessing turtle health. The second part is to collect data for reference ranges. The third part is to analyse influence of age, location, season, sex and exertion on the results of the assessment. The ultimate output of this project is a robust and obje3ctive method for assessing turtle health, with will facilitate diagnosis and treatment of sick animals and enable assessment of population health of green turtles.
Viral Causes of Crayfish Handling Mortalities (Old ID 23613)
Leigh Owens
18 Sep 2017 - 31 Dec 2020
Northern Queensland crayfish from farms affected by stress, particularly transportation stress, started to die with mortality reaching 20-40% after about three weeks. Two new viruses were found, Cheque iflavirus and Athtab Bunya-like virus. This research will determine the infection cycle of the viruses to understand how to intervene and control the impact of these viruses.