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 Monitoring in Wuthathi Sea Country (Old ID 31147)
Catherine Collier
04 Oct 2023 - 31 Dec 2025
Wuthathi land and sea country in far northern Cape York extends from Captain Billy landing south to Temple Bay and includes Shelburne Bay and Raine Island. JCU will work with Wuthathi rangers to continue to map coastal seagrass in Wuthathi and establish monitoring sites and methods. A range of techniques will be adopted, including airborne/spaceborne imagery (UAV drone and satellite) and transects for intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats and drop cameras in deeper subtidal waters. Wuthathi rangers will be trained in seagrass mapping and monitoring techniques to facilitate continued monitoring of seagrass habitats in Wuthathi sea country.
NESP 3.10 – A partnership approach to filling key knowledge gaps on dugongs in northern Australia using novel technologies (Old ID 28964)
Christophe Cleguer
01 Jan 2023 - 20 Nov 2026
In Australia, the dugong is protected under the EPBC Act 1999 as a listed migratory, and listed marine species, it is also a Matter of National Environmental Significance. The dugong is culturally significant to the coastal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of northern Australia and has a high biodiversity value. This project includes five activities that will contribute to addressing key knowledge gaps about the spatial and temporal patterns in the distribution, abundance, connectivity and health of dugong populations. The project is designed to inform management in several regions of high value habitat across northern Australia. Transversal to the activities described below is a strong partnership approach with Traditional Owners and members of the wider community. The project will be co-designed, co-produced and will co-deliver research and monitoring outputs. The studies will utilise and advance emerging technologies (e.g., aerial images collected from planes and drones, Artificial Intelligence, population genomics) with the ultimate goal of enhancing data quality, reducing research and monitoring costs, and increasing accessibility of monitoring tools to non-experts.
CYWP Annan Sediment Tracing (Old ID 27825)
Zoe Bainbridge
14 Oct 2022 - 30 Nov 2024
Prepare, analyse and report on Annan Catchment tributary water samples for geochemistry and grain size, to assess the sources of sediment to Walker Bay.
Using eDNA methods for red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta) detection
Cecilia Villacorta Rath
01 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025
This project will test the extent to which red imported fire ants (RIFA) can be detected in soil around nests and adjacent water bodies.
SmartCoast: Coastal management digital twin pilot in Torres Strait, Queensland based on LiDAR and satellite EO data fusion, with a focus on mangroves
Norm Duke
22 Apr 2024 - 21 Apr 2025
SmartCoast is a research-industry collaboration between James Cook University, EOMAP and Fugro (Brisbane) to co-design a coastal management digital twin pilot that supports Geodata for the management of the effects of climate change and sea level rise is sensitive coastal areas, with a particular focus mangrove management and monitoring in Torres Strait, Queensland. For best practice we propose using satellite EO-LiDAR data fusion to provide accurate baseline data and models whilst also offering a cost-effective means to monitor change. The activities will be to: 1) develop an efficient method to measure and detect mangroves accurately using satellite and LiDAR fusion technologies, 2) create and evaluate a research-based methodology for mangrove carbon sequestration estimates for Blue Carbon efforts that are essential measures of some key ecosystem benefits and will bring revenue to Queensland (via carbon credits), 3) develop change detection technique based on the relatively low cost satellite data to monitor and predict shoreline ecosystem change (e.g. decrease of mangrove coverage) that are essential indicators for risk management monitoring regarding rising sea levels and extreme weather events, 4) hold workshops to understand the needs of Queensland coastal management decision makers and codesign a digital twin pilot (prototype) project in Torres Strait. Expected outcomes are: 1) successful transferral of research, methods and expertise on mangrove management and earth observation techniques to an industry-led project; 2) a pilot platform (prototype) for coastal management to demonstrate the value of a digital twin of northern Queensland; 3) evaluation about commercialisation and scalability of the digital twin.
Desktop synthesis for the Seagrass Restoration Roadmap for the Great Barrier Reef
Catherine Collier
14 Feb 2024 - 30 Apr 2024
This is a short-term consultancy to inform the basis of a seagrass restoration roadmap across the GBR catchment. The consultancy will be a desktop analysis of currently available seagrass literature, with occasional interviews if required. The outcome will be a report used to inform the strategic scaling of future seagrass restoration activities, including opportunities for seagrass nursery locations, Traditional Owner involvement and further details, and an online meeting with GBRF to present the report and key findings.
Benthic Mapping with Angkamuthi Traditional Owners in West Cape York Marine Park
Alexandra Carter
25 May 2024 - 06 May 2026
This project's requirements are for field work, data analysis and reporting on benthic habitats and fish, principally in the Habitat Protection and Special Purpose Zones of West Cape York Marine Park in the North Network of Australian Marine Parks in collaboration with Angkamuthi Traditional Owners.
Expanding Traditional Owner led seagrass monitoring and restoration in the Girringun TUMRA
Alexandra Carter
14 Feb 2024 - 01 Aug 2025
Girringun elders and rangers have discussed the emerging Australian blue carbon market and are interested to learn more about what it means for Girringun clans and the health of their country. While progress has been made to include blue carbon in international and national policy and finance mechanisms, the full integration of coastal management activities as part of a climate mitigation strategy has not yet been realised. Estimates of organic carbon storage by seagrass meadows considering inter-habitat variability are essential to understand their potential to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) and derive robust global and regional estimates of blue carbon storage. Girringun Aboriginal Corporation sees this project as an opportunity to investigate the potential to improve the health of our coast, trial new technology to map seagrass/ blue carbon habitat, estimate carbon value in sea country, increase ranger skills, and learn more about carbon storage in the TUMRA region and how emissions can be reduced in sea country. The project is designed to use a two-way knowledge approach, incorporating Indigenous knowledge (IK) and western science and technology in the Girringun TUMRA. Through this project GAC aims to continue their collaboration with JCU and CDU and form a new partnership with UQ. GAC have chosen these university partners due to their scientific expertise in seagrass and carbon research and experience working with Traditional Owners and Indigenous Ranger groups. This project includes Traditional Owners for six coastal clan groups in the Girringun TUMRA.
Dugong tagging expedition in the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (Mozambique)
Christophe Cleguer
06 Jul 2024 - 31 Jul 2024
James Cook University dugong research leader Dr Christophe Cleguer will be providing on-the-ground assistance to Africa Parks to coordinate the first ever dugong satellite tracking study in Africa. JCU and African Parks will carry out an innovative conservation initiative with the placement of satellite tracking tags with the aim of monitoring and thus better protecting the Dugong population in the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (PNAB), Mozambique
Coral Sea Conservation – Mapping Fish Nurseries and Biodiversity Hotspots (Old ID 31184)
Samantha Tol
21 May 2024 - 30 Sep 2026
This project will locate fish nursery grounds and identify fish biodiversity, density, and life cycle habitat use in the reef lagoons in the Coral Sea Marine Park. This project will provide information that aligns with the national Australian Marine Park science priorities to assist with marine management plans and protection of marine park values and will help inform the 10-yearly statutory plan review. This project will provide information which will be useful for the development of management solutions to help enhance the health, ecological resilience, and sustainable economic use of the Coral Sea Marine Park.

Enhancing tropical conservation and ecology research with aquatic environmental DNA methods: an introduction for non-environmental DNA specialists

Convergent adaptation of the genomes of woody plants at the land-sea interface

Predicting seagrass decline due to cumulative stressors

The differential importance of deep and shallow seagrass to Nekton assemblages of The Great Barrier Reef

  • 2020
  • MDPI
  • Researchers:Paul YorkMichael Rasheed

An assessment of the seascape genetic structure and hydrodynamic connectivity for sub-tropical seagrass restoration

Climate drives the geography of marine consumption by changing predator communities

An evidence-based approach for setting desired state in a complex Great Barrier Reef seagrass ecosystem: a case study from Cleveland Bay

  • 2020
  • Elsevier
  • Researchers:Alexandra CarterMichael RasheedLen McKenzieCaroline Petus

Interventions to help coral reefs under global change – a complex decision challenge

Tracing the sources of sediment and associated particulate nitrogen from different land uses in the Johnstone River catchment, Wet Tropics, northeastern Australia

The global distribution of seagrass meadows

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