Tropical Water & Ecosystems


Tim Smith

Tim Smith

Jack Koci

Jack Koci

Sarah McDonald
Abbi Scott

Abbi Scott

Rob Coles

Rob Coles

Aaron Davis

Aaron Davis

Mapping global predation in coastal marine habitats (Old ID 22941)
Paul York - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
01 Sep 2016 - 31 Dec 2017
Nearshore vegetated habitats are one of the most productive ecosystem on the planet providing services valued at AU$7 trillion annually. These habitats are structured by both bottom-up (supply of resources; e.g., light and nutrients) and top-down (consumption by animals) forces. While bottom-up forces are well understood and can be mapped with great precision, comparatively little is known about the geography of top-down forces. Here, I will conduct standardised predation experiments in vegetated (seagrass) and unstructured habitats in tropical Queensland linking with identical studies at sites around the world to produce the first global heat map of predation in coastal environments.
Bainbridge Maternity Funding for Lab Assistant (Old ID 23282)
Zoe Bainbridge - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
10 Apr 2017 - 09 Oct 2017
Maternity funding to employ a research/laboratory assistant to assist primary researcher whilst on maternity leave to maintain research progress.
LDC Community Water Quality Monitoring Program (LME#17-004). (Old ID 25147)
Zoe Bainbridge - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
13 Aug 2018 - 30 Jun 2029
The objective of the Burdekin MIP is to work closely with groups in one or two focus areas, with the Bowen-Broken-Bogie(BBB) catchments, to trial a range of regionally tailored coordinated actions that reduce sediment and nutrient loads. Throughout this Major Integrated Project, progress in achieving land management practice changes, economic benefits for landholders and pollutant load reductions will be closely monitored an results will inform adaptive management. This project is to develop a community water quality monitoring program for the BBB catchments.
Re-Invigorating the Pesticide Working Group (PWG) (Old ID 22959)
Stephen Lewis - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
01 Jun 2016 - 30 Sep 2017
The project is designed to facilitate communication between industry, extension providers, scientists resource managers and regulators, and undertake activities to accelerate progress towards the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan target for pesticides.
Mangrove Dieback in the Gulf of Carpentaria (Old ID 23655)
Norm Duke - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
08 Sep 2017 - 30 Jun 2021
Landsat and on-ground analysis showed that 7,400 hectares of mangrove forest along a 1,000km long front of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coastline (from Karumba in the east to Limmen River in the west) suffered dieback over a relatively short and synchronous time period around November 2015. This is the largest event of natural dieback of mangroves ever recorded in the world. This project will provide a survey, description and analysis of the extent and patterns of the dieback across its range. The assessment will include mangrove assessment and monitoring methods, as well as providing recommendations for recovery, potential intervention, future monitoring and further studies.
Assessing the Gulf of Carpentaria mangrove dieback (Old ID 24998)
Norm Duke - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
01 Jan 2018 - 10 Mar 2020
In early 2016, extensive dieback of mangrove forests was recorded along the southern and western Gulf of Carpentaria coastline. Landsat analysis suggests that 7,400 hectares of mangrove forest suffered dieback over a relatively short and synchronous time period around November, 2015, along a >1,000km wide front from Karumba in the east to Limmen River in the west. Recent field visits to a limited range of affected sites suggest that a relatively low percentage of trees have recovered and most are dying/dead. This is the largest event of natural dieback of mangroves ever recorded in the world. This project will provide a survey, description and analysis of the extent of the dieback across its range, as well as examining patterns of dieback. The assessment will include training and participation of local Indigenous ranger groups in mangrove assessment and monitoring methods, as well as providing recommendations for recovery, potential intervention, future monitoring and further studies. A synthesis workshop will also be held to present the findings of the assessment to a wide audience.
Port of Mackay - Tug Harbour Relocation - Benthic Habitat Surveys 2018 (Old ID 26231)
Skye McKenna - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
29 Oct 2018 - 01 Dec 2018
Conduct benthic habitat surveys in the Port of Mackay as part of application approval processes associated with relocating the tug harbour.
Sources of Bioavailable Nutrients: Phase 2 (Old ID 22526)
Stephen Lewis - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
01 Jan 2016 - 01 Dec 2016
The primary objective of this project is to determine which indicators (ideally 2 - 4 in total for N and P) best predict algal growth (whole community and diatom only) in freshwater and marine conditions. Research indicates that diatoms are the key food source for Crown of Thorns Starfish larvae therefore having a "diatom only" treatment will enable us to look at indicators specifically related to this issue. Indicators will be tested on a range of key soil types (key soils with a range of erodibilities from the Bowen and Johnstone catchment will be selected), erosion processes (surface and sub-surface) and land uses (grazing and cane) to ensure their applicability and reliability.
DES - JCU GBRCLMP Collaborative Agreement (Old ID 31131)
Zoe Bainbridge - Tropical Water & Ecosystems
15 Sep 2023 - 30 Jun 2029
Collaborate and support the Water Quality and Investigations’ GBR Catchments Loads Monitoring Program under a regionally based science partnership.
Torres Strait Seagrass Research (Old ID 23045)
This seagrass research program continues collaborations with TSRA LSLMU Rangers in the Dugong Sanctuary, and will conduct seagrass baseline surveys at Dungeness Reef. The baseline assessment will form the foundation for ongoing monitoring, and provide essential information to the TSRA, Australian and Queensland Governments for dugong and turtle management plans, complimenting dugong and turtle research studies in the region and building skills and capacity of Traditional Owners and Rangers.

Herbicides: a new threat to the Great Barrier Reef

  • 2009
  • Elsevier
  • Researchers:Stephen LewisZoe BainbridgeAaron Davis
Reseracher: Stephen Lewis (Senior Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
End Date: 01 Jan 2019
Reseracher: Stephen Lewis (Senior Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
End Date: 01 Jan 2022
Reseracher: Stephen Lewis (Senior Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Start Date: 01 Aug 2025
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Aug 2025
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 17 Mar 2021
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 18 Aug 2022
Reseracher: Skye McKenna (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2016
End Date: 01 Jan 2016