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

Deriving ecologically relevant targets to meet desired ecosystem condition for the Great Barrier Reef: a case study for seagrass meadows in the Burdekin region (Old ID 26473)
Alexandra Carter
01 Jan 2019 - 10 Dec 2020
This project will derive ecologically relevant targets (ERTs) for water quality and sediment loads for the Burdekin basin and provide the ecological targets required to revise ERTs across the GBR by: 1) defining seagrass desired state targets for the GBR: 2) calculating water quality guidelines (light); and 3) calculating ERTs for te3rrestrially sourced sediment loads, using Cleveland Bay as a case study. Historical and new data collections will be compiled and used to derive ERTs via statistical models and eReefs (RECOM), and the seagrass sub-model in eReefs will be used to test ERTs.
Characterising Mary River flood sediment deposited in Hervey Bay. (Old ID 27627)
Stephen Lewis
29 Apr 2022 - 30 Jun 2022
Analysis of recently deposited sediments in seagrass meadows offshore from the Mary River.
Wetland Restoration Surveys Burdekin Catchment (Old ID 22221)
Aaron Davis
03 Jul 2015 - 31 Mar 2016
This project will complete freshwater wetland surveys throughout the Burdekin catchment to examine the success of wetland system repair. Field work will include fish, water quality, vegetation, habitat, and macroinvertebrate sampling. A component of this program will include community training, education and workshops. Data generated will be sued in the preparation of promotional material, reports and social media releases.
Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project Synthesis Report (Old ID 23203)
Stephen Lewis
09 Feb 2017 - 30 Jun 2017
Extensive science has been conducted in the catchments of the wet tropics region with the aim of improving water quality in the Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to compile and synthesise this information for the Johnstone and Tully Catchments. The synthesis will utilize and integrate extensive existing biophysical, land management practice, social and economic data with the aim of generating new and increased understanding of the current status and options for the future. It will be used in conjunction with feasibility studies to inform decision making around the best location and mix of on-ground actions to reduce nutrient and pesticide loads.
Marine Plant Habitat Survey and Monitoring Program (GCWA SRMP-002) (Old ID 22500)
Paul York
15 Jul 2015 - 30 Apr 2016
The aim of this research is to map & monitor seagrass habitats in areas around the Gold Coast. The objectives include comparing results of previous monitoring and baseline surveys and assessing any changes in seagrass distribution and abundance in relation to natural events or human induced activities.
Marine Plant Habitat Survey and Monitoring Program (GCWA SRMP-002) (Old ID 22500)
Skye McKenna
15 Jul 2015 - 30 Apr 2016
The aim of this research is to map & monitor seagrass habitats in areas around the Gold Coast. The objectives include comparing results of previous monitoring and baseline surveys and assessing any changes in seagrass distribution and abundance in relation to natural events or human induced activities.
Mapping South East Arnhem Land Sea Country - Intertidal (Old ID 27885)
Catherine Collier
11 Nov 2022 - 30 Jun 2023
Understanding the location and extent of ecological and cultural values in Sea Country is necessary to support the aspirations of South East Arnhem Land (SEAL) people and further their connection with Sea Country through sustainable resource management. The proposed SEAL Sea Country IPA has high biodiversity values, including extensive habitat for large foraging populations of dugong and turtles which depend on healthy seagrass. Historical seagrass data, dugong aerial surveys (2019), recent surveys in adjacent Marra Sea Country (2021) and the Yanyuwa IPA (2021-22) indicate that extensive areas of seagrass habitat also occur in the SEAL IPA. However, there are no recent maps of seagrass habitat in the IPA. This project will assist the Aboriginal Traditional Owners to protect, maintain and sustainably manage Aboriginal land/ and sea country within the proposed SEAL Marine Indigenous Protected Area by providing base line bilingual maps, GIS and report of seagrass and other benthic habitats.
Mapping South East Arnhem Land Sea Country - Intertidal (Old ID 27885)
Carissa Reason
11 Nov 2022 - 30 Jun 2023
Understanding the location and extent of ecological and cultural values in Sea Country is necessary to support the aspirations of South East Arnhem Land (SEAL) people and further their connection with Sea Country through sustainable resource management. The proposed SEAL Sea Country IPA has high biodiversity values, including extensive habitat for large foraging populations of dugong and turtles which depend on healthy seagrass. Historical seagrass data, dugong aerial surveys (2019), recent surveys in adjacent Marra Sea Country (2021) and the Yanyuwa IPA (2021-22) indicate that extensive areas of seagrass habitat also occur in the SEAL IPA. However, there are no recent maps of seagrass habitat in the IPA. This project will assist the Aboriginal Traditional Owners to protect, maintain and sustainably manage Aboriginal land/ and sea country within the proposed SEAL Marine Indigenous Protected Area by providing base line bilingual maps, GIS and report of seagrass and other benthic habitats.
Seagrass surveys in the lower Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland (Old ID 29024)
Catherine Collier
15 Jun 2023 - 01 May 2024
The proposed work is for marine habitat mapping in the in the Thuwathu/Bujimulla Indigenous Protected Area (TBIPA). Benthic habitats for this area have not been surveyed for more than 15 years and so it is considered a high priority for a comprehensive survey. This will expand the scope (i.e. coverage) of planned benthic habitat surveys currently funded by Parks Australia for the Gulf of Carpentaria Marine Park (GOCMP) into the adjacent IPA. Therefore, the proposed project is supported by Parks Australia who have confirmed that this work is outside the scope of their funded work, but complements and enhances their work program given the importance of this area for marine turtle and dugong foraging and to the Lardil, Yangkaal, Kaiadilt and Gangalida Peoples. Funding will be used to procure a helicopter for surveying intertidal areas, and for staff time to undertake the surveys, process the data and deliver the outcomes including a ‘baseline’ map on which rangers can continue to monitor benthic habitat condition and to improve their negotiation on resource condition and use with other stakeholders in the region.
TFTA Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Program (2016/2017). (Old ID 23057)
Shelley Templeman
30 Oct 2016 - 31 Jan 2022
This project continues the long standing monitoring that TropWATER has undertaken for Defence that incorporates water quality (including standard physio chemical, nutrients and metals), aquatic ecosystems on the Townsville Field Training Area. It will also report on previous years monitoring (2013/2014 and 2014/2015) and provide an overall review of ambient monitoring at TFTA in light of more than 20 years of ambient water quality monitoring data.

Long distance (>20 km) downstream detection of endangered stream frogs suggests an important role for eDNA in surveying for remnant amphibian populations

  • 2021
  • PeerJ, Ltd.
  • Researchers:Cecilia Villacorta RathConrad HoskinJan Strugnell

Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear ‘ghost nets’ are increasing through time in Northern Australia

Influence of the 2015–2016 El Niño on the record‑breaking mangrove dieback along northern Australia coast

Effects of gamma irradiation on instream leaf litter decomposition

Impacts of detritivore diversity loss on instream decomposition are greatest in the tropics

The bioavailability of nitrogen associated with sediment in riverine plumes of the Great Barrier Reef

Diet-tissue discrimination and turnover of δ 13 C and δ 15 N in muscle tissue of a penaeid prawn

Development of an effective cryopreservation protocol for Blue Catfish oogonia

Range restriction leads to narrower ecological niches and greater extinction risk in Australian freshwater fish

The changing face of science communication, technology, extension and improved decision-making at the farm-water quality interface

Title: Supervising Scientist Branch (SSB), DCCEEW
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Editorial Board Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Editorial Board Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Editorial Board Chemosphere
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Ellison Movie Screening Panel participant
Reseracher: Tim Smith (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2026
End Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: PhD, James Cook University
Reseracher: Melanie Hamel (Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011
End Date: 01 Jan 2015
Title: MSc, University of South Paris 11
Reseracher: Melanie Hamel (Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2005
End Date: 01 Jan 2007
Title: Committee member - Organising committee member of the Australian Marine Science Association, Cairns Conference
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Presenter - Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference 2022
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
End Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Co-presenter - Reef Resilience Symposium
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2024