Marine Biology & Aquaculture
Tom Lloyd
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Global Ecosystems
- tom.lloyd@jcu.edu.au
Alys Young
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Global Ecosystems
- alys.young@jcu.edu.au
William Arlidge
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Community-Based Fisheries Co-Management
- william.arlidge@jcu.edu.au
Anna Wilson
- Senior Research Worker
- anna.wilson@jcu.edu.au
Kelly Condon
- Senior Lecturer, Aquaculture (Aquatic Animal Health)
- kelly.condon@jcu.edu.au
Graeme Cumming
- Adjunct Professor
- graeme.cumming@jcu.edu.au
Takahiro Shimada
- Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
- takahiro.shimada@jcu.edu.au
Peter Doll
- Research Fellow, Coral Reef Health Assessments
- peter.doll@jcu.edu.au
Michela Mitchell
- Casual Research Assistant
- michela.mitchell@jcu.edu.au
Jan Strugnell
- Professor, Promotional Chair
- jan.strugnell@jcu.edu.au
Ecosystem Risk Assessment: new solutions to the global biodiversity crisis (Old ID 26808)
Nicholas Murray
14 Feb 2019 - 14 Feb 2023
This project aims to develop a typological framework for the world's ecosystems, and undertake the first broadscale global risk assessment for ecosystems. It also includes detailed Australian risk assessments and scenario analyses to develop sustainable management of ecosystem services and climate adaptation strategies. The outcomes include the first global-scale framework for classifying terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, the first global Red List of Ecosystems an didentified priorities for protecting Earth's remaining wild ecosystems and restoring those that have suffered degradation. These advances will support progress on UN Sustainable Development Goals. The case studies will significantly benefit on-ground action.
A global standard for the status of Wetlands of Interatnional Importance (Old ID 26809)
Nicholas Murray
30 Jun 2019 - 30 Jun 2024
The project will develop and test a new global standard for the assessment and reporting on ecological condition of internationally important wetlands, listed aunder the Ramsar Convention. It has four aims: establishment of a strategic adaptive management and governance framework, a meta-analysis of the 2,303 internationally listed wetlands, development of a protocol for assessmetn and prediction and delivering a digital reporting platform for effective management. The project is significant because it tackles the decline of freshwater ecosystems, by targeting the most prominent wetlands. It also assists state and national governments to meet their obligations under the Ramsar Convention and most importantly guides more effective management.
Towards a consolidated and open-science framework for restoration monitoring (Old ID 27770)
Nathan Waltham
01 Sep 2021 - 30 May 2022
This project will undertake a national review of marine and coastal restoration monitoring programs to build a database of the data collected, frequency, and how the data is used to assess restoration success. The project will provide recommendations for monitoring requirements for future restoration projects, to assist in a more coordinated and publicly available data framework.
Long-term effects of sea-weeding on degraded coral reefs
Hillary Smith
01 Oct 2024 - 30 Sep 2029
Coral reefs around the world are under threat from the combined impacts of climate change and local stressors. Often, when corals die, macroalgae (seaweeds) rapidly take over available space on a reef, with corals struggling to regain dominance once seaweeds are established. My research has shown that a low-tech, simple approach of “sea-weeding” (i.e. removing seaweed by hand) is effective in rapidly rehabilitating degraded, macroalgae-dominated reefs. Over five years, my research program on two degraded reefs of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef saw a >600% increase in coral cover where macroalgae were removed three times annually, while no change was observed in control plots.
These spectacular results provide an exciting potential management approach for other seaweed-dominated areas, as sea-weeding can be achieved through collective action via citizen science. However, because reef recovery dynamics operate on decadal time-scales, it is critical to understand the long-term effects of intervention via sea-weeding. In this project, I will extend the timeframe of the established sea-weeding experiment to document the trajectory of reef recovery. Specifically, the project will transition into a "maintenance" phase of weeding once per year (rather than 2-3 times per year in the first 5 years) to establish the efficacy of less frequent intervention. The results will help inform the best-practice application of sea- weeding in reef management strategies.
Wildlife Conservation Society Graduate Scholarship Program
Patrick Smallhorn-West
01 Jun 2024 - 01 Jan 2029
WCS is committed to a strategy that invests in developing the global conservation leaders of tomorrow. As part of that strategy, the Graduate Scholarship Program provides support for graduate education opportunities (masters or doctoral programs) at international institutions of academic excellence for exceptional conservationists from Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and North American indigenous groups. Scholars will be selected based on their exceptional abilities, their potential to become leaders of the conservation movement in their home country, and the relevance of their proposed study and future work to WCS conservation priorities. This funding is for a candidate to come study a PhD at JCU.
Addressing key technical bottlenecks in the grouper supply chain in Vietnam and Australia through manufactured feed and hatchery developments that aim to improve sector profitability (Old ID 29011)
Leo Nankervis
01 Jun 2024 - 01 Dec 2027
The project aims to address key bottlenecks in the aquaculture grouper supply chain in Vietnam and Australia through research into nutritional constraints and drivers for commercial feed adoption by the Vietnam grow-out farming sector, as well as factors affecting the supply of high-quality eggs, larvae and juveniles in both Vietnam and Australia. A physiological approach to nutrient requirements and feeds development will be applied to address nutrient-related production bottlenecks for grouper aquaculture. This project will develop commercially implemented feed formulated specifically for grouper, facilitating the further development of the industry in Vietnam and Australia.
SEAPRO - Seaweed Environmental Action for Pollution Reduction and Algae Protein Optimisation
Ludwig Lopata
27 May 2024 - 30 Jun 2025
Aquaculture plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security and fostering future job creation, especially given the rising global demand for seafood and the plateauing of capture fisheries. In Queensland, it significantly contributes to the bioeconomy, playing a pivotal role in food production and economic development. The industry's value in the region has reached $224.7 million, indicating a notable growth of 16.1% from 2021. While the aquaculture industry in Queensland heavily relies on two main species, prawns, and barramundi, which collectively contribute to 95% of the state's production. Currently within aquaculture there is a growing global recognition of another species group: Seaweed. Seaweed is gaining recognition not only as a sustainable food source but also for its remarkable capacity to function as bio-filters, extracting excess nutrients (N & P) from aquatic environments. This makes it a potentially valuable new aquaculture product while also enhancing the environmental sustainability and circularity of aquaculture operations. Integrated aquaculture technology is a key driver of this progress, enabling the coordinated and sustainable cultivation of multiple species. This technology can be integrated into both new and existing commercial operations both on land and at sea, thereby diversifying production within a single cultivation area. By incorporating algal biofilters, this technology efficiently removes excess nutrients and contaminants from farm effluent, transforming them into valuable co-products.
This project aims to strategically deploy seaweed aquaculture to eliminate nutrient pollution and simultaneously enhance the growth of the aquaculture and seaweed industry in the tropics. Focusing on Queensland's aquaculture industry, we aim to employ innovative technology developed by Blue Carbon Pty Ltd to convert excess nutrients into high-value food proteins (extracted from algae) developed by James Cook University, crucial for the growing alternative protein sector.
Preliminary work will determine which species of seaweed which are culturable within the IMTA systems will be most appropriate for use in the alternative protein sector, and will include both marine (Ulva ohnoi, Cladophora sp., Sargasum sp. Asparagopsis taxiformis, etc.) and freshwater species (Oedogonium sp.). The selected seaweed species will be analysed for the abundance and type of extracted proteins using biochemical process developed by the research team at James Cook University. This proof-of-concept project envisions a harmonious blend of technological innovation and sustainable aquaculture practices to produce sustainable proteins for the growing alternative protein food sector as well as animal feed.
The new protein products developed from seaweed will be economically viable and increase the circular product generation of the aquaculture industry, while helping to reduce negative effect on the environment both directly and indirectly. This innovative protein production is highly scalable through the implementation of IMTA technology within aquaculture operations and different types of seaweed can be identified for production in both tropical and tempered water of Australia. The introduction of Australia's Reef Credit Scheme further amplifies the benefits of such technology. Farms implementing integrated aquaculture technology not only contribute to sustainable farming and diversifying products but also standing to gain additional benefits through this innovative credit scheme.
Overall, these advancements have the potential to significantly improve the overall sustainability, environmental impact, and circularity of aquaculture operations. This investment promises not only environmental benefits but also positions Queensland as a key player in the evolving landscape of alternative protein production.
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.
Functional innovations and morphological diversification in parrotfish
- 2010
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:David Bellwood
Variability in mesophotic coral reef communities along the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- 2011
- Inter-Research
- Researchers:Tom BridgeRob Beaman
Start Date:
10 Nov 2024
Start Date:
31 Mar 2025
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2027
Start Date:
01 Jan 2004
End Date:
01 Jan 2006
Start Date:
01 Jan 2007
End Date:
01 Jan 2007
Title:
PhD, James Cook University
Start Date:
01 Jan 2002
End Date:
01 Jan 2005
Start Date:
01 Jan 1996
End Date:
01 Jan 1999