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

Seagrass seed dispersal by marine mega-herbivores: Dugongs (Dugong dugon) & green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) (Old ID 21639)
Samantha Tol
02 Mar 2014 - 31 May 2017
This project will investigate the dispersal mechanisms of tropical seagrasses and determine which mechanisms are most effective for long distance dispersal. It will examine whether marine mega-herbivores (dugongs and green sea turtles) disperse seagrass seeds through their faecal matter and whether those seeds are viable. It will determine how long seagrass fragments, created by abiotic and biotic mechanisms, remain viable and establish new meadows. This information will be used to model which seagrass meadows are at greater risk of slow recovery after a large scale loss. This recovery model will have the potential to highlight which seagrass meadows rely solely on dispersal by marine mega-herbivores for recovery.
Underpinning the repair and conservation of Australia's threatened coastal-marine habitats - Phase 2 (Old ID 22735)
Ian McLeod
01 Jan 2016 - 01 Jan 2018
The primary objective of this project is to provide essential research to underpin restoration efforts to increase the success and efficiency of shellfish and saltmarsh repair. The secondary objective is to quantify clear easily understood benefits of repair to further increase Indigenous and interest group support for repair efforts.
Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership Seagrass Report Card Proposal: Project ISP011 (Old ID 29016)
Tim Smith
13 Jun 2023 - 30 Sep 2026
This project will produce annual scores and report on the condition of seagrass in the Gladstone Harbour as part of the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership. The project is a collaboration between Gladstone Ports Corporation, TropWater and GHHP.
Sources, transformations and fate of particulate and dissolved organic carbon-implications for the GBR (Old ID 25001)
Stephen Lewis
01 Jan 2018 - 30 Sep 2018
Organic carbon has traditionally been poorly studied in marine systems, but recent studies suggest that GBR microalgae can utilise organic matter, and that eroded soil carbon parameters can ameliorate marine algal responses to catchment nutrients. This suggests that organic carbon may play an important role in marine ecosystems than previously thought. Additionally, GBR organic carbon concentrations are increasing, but the mechanisms are unclear. The proposed study would review the literature, develop a conceptual model, and undertake data analysis on organic carbon in the GBR and catchments, and examine links to ecosystem effects. This will improve monitoring and management of water quality in the GBR.
Seagrass surveys in the Southern Gulf 2023-2024
Catherine Collier
01 Oct 2023 - 15 Mar 2025
This project is a collaboration of specialists including the Yanyuwa and Marra Traditional Owners and li-Anthawirriyarra Sea Rangers, scientists from James Cook University and Charles Darwin University, and Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife. The team will survey the subtidal marine benthic habitats within Yanyuwa and Marra sea country. Using data from the survey and other available information, rangers and scientists will work together to determine priority management areas and identify areas and opportunities for broader community engagement in the management of sea country.
Research Design Development for FST-2022-123 Sundarban Ecosystem Management. (Old ID 28925)
Norm Duke
16 Jan 2023 - 15 Apr 2023
A contract for Dr Duke to develop a large research project for ACIAR. The tasks include a preliminary analysis of change in mangrove forest and habitat condition in the Sundarban Reserve Forest, meetings with potential project collaborators and stakeholders in Bangladesh, and a report with recommendations for ACIAR forestry research design plus water SRA, FST 2022 123.
Mapping global predation in coastal marine habitats (Old ID 22941)
Paul York
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
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
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
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.

Differential coping capacities underlie the overall resistance of temperate seagrasses to herbivory

Distinct population-wide differences in contaminants and blood parameters in foraging green sea turtles

Scoping the suitability of water-tolerant species of trees for swamp restorations across Australia and its Great Barrier Reef catchment

Half of land use carbon emissions in Southeast Asia can be mitigated through peat swamp forest and mangrove conservation and restoration

A comprehensive functional trait database of seagrasses in Tropical Queensland

  • 2024
  • CSIRO
  • Researchers:Michael RasheedAlana Grech

Mismatch Between Global Importance of Peatlands and the Extent of Their Protection

Methane and carbon dioxide production and emission pathways in the belowground and draining water bodies of a tropical peatland plantation forest

Compilation of riverine water quality data from the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, northeastern Australia

Hydro-ecological relationships and thresholds to inform environmental flow management

Murray‒Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project: Vegetation Theme Research Report

Title: Ports North, Ports North supports an annual monitoring program conducted by James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet, as well as at our other ports, such as Karumba, Mourilyan and Thursday Island. By using helicopters and underwater cameras on boats, the seagrass meadows are mapped and assessed for any changes.
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Gladstone Ports Corporation, The purpose of the Long-term Maintenance Dredging Management Plan (LMDMP) is to address operational needs, environmental risks, monitoring and adaptive management actions specific to the Port of Gladstone whilst ensuring the ongoing sustainability of maintenance dredging within the port.
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2030
Title: North Queensland Bulk Ports, Partnering with scientists at James Cook University (JCU), NQBP has been collecting data on seagrass growth around our port sites for more than 20 years. In addition to informing our own environmental activities and port operations, our data has contributed to advances in an international body of seagrass knowledge through JCU's academic research and regional report cards developed to help monitor the health of our waterways.
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
End Date: 01 Jan 2030
Title: Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service contracted James Cook University to conduct surveys and research on the impacts to and resilience of seagrass in Great Sandy Marine Park. This important surveying and research help government understand the impacts to seagrass from the 2022 flooding events and its ability to recovery.
Reseracher: Carissa Reason (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Master of Science - Botany, James Cook University
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1981
End Date: 01 Jan 1984
Title: Doctor of Philosophy, James Cook University
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1986
End Date: 01 Jan 1988
Title: Bachelor of Science with Honours, James Cook University
Reseracher: Norm Duke (Senior Research Scientist)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1973
End Date: 01 Jan 1973
Title: Editor of the SeDNAS PeerJ Hub
Reseracher: Cecilia Villacorta Rath (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Higher Degree By Research Committee
Reseracher: Jack Koci (Principal Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
End Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Conference co-chair
Reseracher: Sarah McDonald (Senior Research Officer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2023