Resilience of Moreton Bay to climate change: Links between nutrient inputs and plankton dynamics. A healthy Moreton Bay, with its lucrative fishing, iconic turtles, dugongs and seabirds, helps support the $9 billion per annum tourist industry in SE Queensland. Moreton Bay is under increasing threat from nutrients produced by a mushrooming coastal population and from climate change impacts. Here we investigate nutrient-plankton relationships and develop a simple model to evaluate future impacts o ....Resilience of Moreton Bay to climate change: Links between nutrient inputs and plankton dynamics. A healthy Moreton Bay, with its lucrative fishing, iconic turtles, dugongs and seabirds, helps support the $9 billion per annum tourist industry in SE Queensland. Moreton Bay is under increasing threat from nutrients produced by a mushrooming coastal population and from climate change impacts. Here we investigate nutrient-plankton relationships and develop a simple model to evaluate future impacts on bay health. This project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research focused on the adaptation of coastal marine environments to climate impacts, and ensure that Moreton Bay remains healthy now and into the futureRead moreRead less
Linking freshwater flows, salt wedge dynamics and fisheries productivity in estuaries. Freshwater is a critical resource in Australia, but there is a perception that freshwater running to the sea is wasted. Australia's estuaries are of great importance - economically, socially and environmentally. Estuaries provide habitat for unique and endangered animals and plants, support valuable fisheries, and have enormous recreational value, particularly in regional communities. Our lack of understanding ....Linking freshwater flows, salt wedge dynamics and fisheries productivity in estuaries. Freshwater is a critical resource in Australia, but there is a perception that freshwater running to the sea is wasted. Australia's estuaries are of great importance - economically, socially and environmentally. Estuaries provide habitat for unique and endangered animals and plants, support valuable fisheries, and have enormous recreational value, particularly in regional communities. Our lack of understanding about the effects of freshwater flows on estuarine productivity impedes decision making on the allocation of water to sustain healthy estuaries. The health of Australia's estuaries and sustainability of their resources, particularly fisheries, depend on understanding their freshwater requirements and securing environmental flows.Read moreRead less
Testing the Flood Pulse Concept for rivers with variable flow regimes. For floodplain rivers the major unifying conceptual model linking hydrology, biogeochemistry and ecology is the Flood Pulse Concept (FPC). The model is based on rivers that have a seasonally predictable and long duration inundation of floodplain habitats. Recent reviews of the FPC indicate that the model needs to be broadened to describe the function of rivers with more variable flow regimes. This project will test some of th ....Testing the Flood Pulse Concept for rivers with variable flow regimes. For floodplain rivers the major unifying conceptual model linking hydrology, biogeochemistry and ecology is the Flood Pulse Concept (FPC). The model is based on rivers that have a seasonally predictable and long duration inundation of floodplain habitats. Recent reviews of the FPC indicate that the model needs to be broadened to describe the function of rivers with more variable flow regimes. This project will test some of the predictions of the FPC for variable dryland rivers by investigating how food webs in the channels of a floodplain reach respond to flows of different magnitude, seasonal timing and duration.Read moreRead less
Spatial ecology of inshore predators in tropical marine systems and implications of marine protection zones. Coastal development and threats of global climate change mean that coastal ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Developing an understanding of how coastal habitats are used by native fauna and how effective protected areas are in the preservation of these species is critical for future management and sustainable use of resources. This research will provide data for resource and fis ....Spatial ecology of inshore predators in tropical marine systems and implications of marine protection zones. Coastal development and threats of global climate change mean that coastal ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Developing an understanding of how coastal habitats are used by native fauna and how effective protected areas are in the preservation of these species is critical for future management and sustainable use of resources. This research will provide data for resource and fisheries managers that are valuable for maintenance of several sectors of the economy including tourism and commercial fishing (inshore fishing worth $23 m a year). The project is linked to a national telemetry network thus providing opportunity for national and international collaboration benefiting scientific, management and coastal communities.Read moreRead less
Enhancement of fish stock by habitat manipulation in artificial coastal waterways. Human settlement significantly changes the spatial characteristics of natural coastal waterways. The value of artificial waterways, such as canals, as a habitat for fish is poorly known. We will evaluate the significance of artificial canals as a fish habitat, and test the effect of habitat modification by artificial reef installation on fish distribution and abundance. We will investigate whether artificial reefs ....Enhancement of fish stock by habitat manipulation in artificial coastal waterways. Human settlement significantly changes the spatial characteristics of natural coastal waterways. The value of artificial waterways, such as canals, as a habitat for fish is poorly known. We will evaluate the significance of artificial canals as a fish habitat, and test the effect of habitat modification by artificial reef installation on fish distribution and abundance. We will investigate whether artificial reefs enhance fish production in canals, rather than simply acting as fish aggregation devices. This research will address an important question in fisheries ecology and help formulate management guidelines for artificial waterways.Read moreRead less
Assessing linkages across arid zone estuarine landscapes. We aim to understand the degree of connectivity between the terrestrial environment and estuaries in the arid tropics of Australia. We will investigate the impact of terrestrial-estuarine linkages on near shore food webs, which include a diverse fauna, some of which are commercially important. Human activities in the land-ocean interface have to have the capacity to alter greatly the timing, magnitude, and composition of inputs from water ....Assessing linkages across arid zone estuarine landscapes. We aim to understand the degree of connectivity between the terrestrial environment and estuaries in the arid tropics of Australia. We will investigate the impact of terrestrial-estuarine linkages on near shore food webs, which include a diverse fauna, some of which are commercially important. Human activities in the land-ocean interface have to have the capacity to alter greatly the timing, magnitude, and composition of inputs from watersheds to estuaries, thereby greatly altering the function of estuaries. The results of this project will fill a gap in our knowledge of how arid zone estuaries function, and will contribute to developing management strategies needed to maintain estuary productivity.Read moreRead less
Integrating climate and ecosystem models to predict climate change impacts on Australian marine systems. This project will underpin Australia's commitment to maintain environmental sustainability and biodiversity in the face of climate change. We will describe the consequences of climate change on harvested marine resources, biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function, and sensitive species and habitats. We will provide practical management solutions to maintain ecosystem integrity and enhanc ....Integrating climate and ecosystem models to predict climate change impacts on Australian marine systems. This project will underpin Australia's commitment to maintain environmental sustainability and biodiversity in the face of climate change. We will describe the consequences of climate change on harvested marine resources, biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function, and sensitive species and habitats. We will provide practical management solutions to maintain ecosystem integrity and enhance resilience under a changing climate. This information is of immediate use by a range of Australian stakeholders including national, state and local government agencies and authorities. The project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research focused on adapting to marine climate impacts.Read moreRead less
Ecological impacts of QX Oyster disease and its management strategies. QX disease is responsible for mass mortality of oysters, and, as a result, economic and job losses. QX disease also threatens ecosystem services provided by wild oysters, such as biodiversity enhancement and fish production. This project will provide estuarine managers with information about how proposed QX management solutions will impact wild oyster populations and vital ecosystem services. It will also contribute to traini ....Ecological impacts of QX Oyster disease and its management strategies. QX disease is responsible for mass mortality of oysters, and, as a result, economic and job losses. QX disease also threatens ecosystem services provided by wild oysters, such as biodiversity enhancement and fish production. This project will provide estuarine managers with information about how proposed QX management solutions will impact wild oyster populations and vital ecosystem services. It will also contribute to training of early career researchers in strategies to ensure the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity. As QX outbreaks appear to be increasing, this research and training is urgently needed to underpin management to ensure long-term sustainability of valuable estuarine resources.Read moreRead less
Living on the edge: settlement dynamics of reef fishes across their ranges. Settlement and early establishment (recruitment) are major determinants of population viability of marine organisms, and can vary greatly among oceans and latitudes. We will compare the recruitment dynamics of populations of reef fishes across their range, including at range boundaries where populations may be more vulnerable to environmental impact. We will test the hypothesis that a combination of highly erratic sett ....Living on the edge: settlement dynamics of reef fishes across their ranges. Settlement and early establishment (recruitment) are major determinants of population viability of marine organisms, and can vary greatly among oceans and latitudes. We will compare the recruitment dynamics of populations of reef fishes across their range, including at range boundaries where populations may be more vulnerable to environmental impact. We will test the hypothesis that a combination of highly erratic settlement, poor physiological condition of incoming larvae, and poor recruit growth and survivorship will occur at range boundaries. Outcomes of the study will help in prediction of the viability of fish populations which will improve their management and protection.Read moreRead less
A modelling analysis of the implications of biogenic feedbacks on environment for the adaptation of ecosystems. The sustainable management of Australia's living resources depends critically on a deep understanding of the fundamental properties of ecosystems. These properties will determine the response of an ecosystem to perturbation. Anthropogenic perturbation of ecosystems, whether instantiated by living resource harvesting, habitat destruction, species invasions, pollution or climate change, ....A modelling analysis of the implications of biogenic feedbacks on environment for the adaptation of ecosystems. The sustainable management of Australia's living resources depends critically on a deep understanding of the fundamental properties of ecosystems. These properties will determine the response of an ecosystem to perturbation. Anthropogenic perturbation of ecosystems, whether instantiated by living resource harvesting, habitat destruction, species invasions, pollution or climate change, is the greatest current threat to Australia's biodiversity and hence the continued functioning of the systems that we rely on for maintaining our environment in a habitable state and for providing economic benefit. This research will attempt to discover some of these properties, and assess their implications for the sustainably management of our environment.Read moreRead less