ORCID Profile
0000-0003-0455-0811
Current Organisation
University of Melbourne
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology) | Turbulent Flows | Natural Hazards | Ocean Engineering | Ecology | Fluidisation and Fluid Mechanics | Maritime Engineering
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Coastal and Estuarine Land Management | Climate Change Adaptation Measures | Natural Hazards in Coastal and Estuarine Environments | Rehabilitation of Degraded Coastal and Estuarine Environments |
Related Links
Publications
Seahorse Hotels: Use of artificial habitats to support populations of the endangered White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2020
Fish‐smart seawalls: a decision tool for adaptive management of marine infrastructure
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-05-2018
DOI: 10.1002/FEE.1809
Eco‐engineering in urbanised coastal systems: consideration of social values
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1111/EMR.12200
Swimming nets have positive effects on populations of the endangered White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-09-2020
DOI: 10.1002/AQC.3451
Application of management tools to integrate ecological principles with the design of marine infrastructure
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2015.05.001
Abstract: Globally the coastal zone is suffering the collateral damage from continuing urban development and construction, expanding resource sectors, increasing population, regulation to river flow, and on-going land change and degradation. While protection of natural coastal habitat is recommended, balancing conservation with human services is now the challenge for managers. Marine infrastructure such as seawalls, marinas and offshore platforms is increasingly used to support and provide services, but has primarily been designed for engineering purposes without consideration of the ecological consequences. Increasingly developments are seeking alternatives to hard engineering and a range of ecological solutions has begun to replace or be incorporated into marine and coastal infrastructure. But too often, hard engineering remains the primary strategy because the tools for managers to implement ecological solutions are either lacking or not supported by policy and stakeholders. Here we outline critical research needs for marine urban development and emerging strategies that seek to mitigate the impacts of marine infrastructure. We present case studies to highlight the strategic direction necessary to support management decisions internationally.
Interacting effects of habitat structure and seeding with oysters on the intertidal biodiversity of seawalls
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 16-07-2020
Kelp Aquaculture as a Nature-Based Solution for Coastal Protection: Wave Attenuation by Suspended Canopies
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-09-2023
DOI: 10.3390/JMSE11091822
Rücktitelbild: Unidirectional Presentation of Membrane Proteins in Nanoparticle‐Supported Liposomes (Angew. Chem. 29/2019)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-06-2019
Increasing habitat complexity on seawalls: Investigating large‐ and small‐scale effects on fish assemblages
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-10-2017
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.3475
From grey to green: Efficacy of eco‐engineering solutions for nature‐based coastal defence
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-02-2018
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.14063
Abstract: Climate change is increasing the threat of erosion and flooding along coastlines globally. Engineering solutions (e.g. seawalls and breakwaters) in response to protecting coastal communities and associated infrastructure are increasingly becoming economically and ecologically unsustainable. This has led to recommendations to create or restore natural habitats, such as sand dunes, saltmarsh, mangroves, seagrass and kelp beds, and coral and shellfish reefs, to provide coastal protection in place of (or to complement) artificial structures. Coastal managers are frequently faced with the problem of an eroding coastline, which requires a decision on what mitigation options are most appropriate to implement. A barrier to uptake of nature-based coastal defence is stringent evaluation of the effectiveness in comparison to artificial protection structures. Here, we assess the current evidence for the efficacy of nature-based vs. artificial coastal protection and discuss future research needs. Future projects should evaluate habitats created or restored for coastal defence for cost-effectiveness in comparison to an artificial structure under the same environmental conditions. Cost-benefit analyses should take into consideration all ecosystem services provided by nature-based or artificial structures in addition to coastal protection. Interdisciplinary research among scientists, coastal managers and engineers is required to facilitate the experimental trials needed to test the value of these shoreline protection schemes, in order to support their use as alternatives to artificial structures. This research needs to happen now as our rapidly changing climate requires new and innovative solutions to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to an increasingly uncertain future.
Identifying key factors for transplantation success in the restoration of kelp (Ecklonia radiata ) beds
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-09-2021
DOI: 10.1111/REC.13536
Abstract: Kelp beds are a defining feature of temperate reefs worldwide, playing a fundamental role as ecosystem engineers and primary producers. Overgrazing by the native sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma has driven a phase shift from kelp beds of Ecklonia radiata to barrens across much of Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. Here, we present the results of a transplant experiment, which took juvenile E. radiata sporophytes from a source reef and attached them with silicon tubing to basalt tiles. Following an initial localized cull, we monitored the development and survival of in idual E. radiata to investigate the drivers of loss during transplantation, including disturbance (control vs. procedural control), receiving environment (kelp canopy vs. no canopy), and translocation site (within vs. between reefs). We also investigated the role of holdfast reattachment and developmental stage on kelp survival. Sixty‐nine percent of the kelp transplants survived over the 17 weeks, with no increased loss resulting from transplantation to a reef 41 km away. We observed high survival of transplants in the absence of ongoing urchin exclusion. Furthermore, the provision of a canopy is not necessary and may result in adverse impacts on survival and development of juvenile sporophyte transplants presumably through competition for light. In iduals at the collection location (controls) were unlikely to survive to maturity suggesting their removal for transplanting is likely to have minimal impact on the kelp population of the donor reef. The methods used could be feasibly upscaled for rehabilitating or restoring kelp beds both in Port Phillip Bay and elsewhere.
Developing a nature-based coastal defence strategy for Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-07-2019
Key Principles for Managing Recovery of Kelp Forests through Restoration
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 08-07-2020
Abstract: There is increasing interest in mitigating the loss of kelp forests through restoration, but this has received scant attention relative to other coastal habitats. We evaluate current knowledge centered on key restoration principles to provide guidelines for best practice in kelp restoration. The cause and scale of degradation is fundamental in determining if kelp can be restored and the methods required to promote reestablishment. Removal of stressors may be adequate to achieve restoration goals where degradation is not too widespread or acute. Extensive losses of kelp forests will often require active reseeding of areas because of the low dispersal ability of many kelp species. Restoration efforts have generally taken a trial-and-error approach at experimental scales to develop techniques for establishing in iduals. Furthermore, studies that inform cost–benefit analysis and the appropriate spatial scales for restoration of sustainable kelp forests are urgently needed for prioritizing and scaling up restoration efforts globally.
Kelp beds as coastal protection: wave attenuation of Ecklonia radiata in a shallow coastal bay
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 19-08-2019
DOI: 10.1093/AOB/MCZ127
Abstract: Coastal protection from erosion and flooding is a significant ecosystem service provided by vegetated marine systems. Kelp beds are a dominant habitat-forming species on temperate reefs worldwide. While they are valued as hotspots of bio ersity, there is a paucity of information that supports their use in nature-based coastal defence. This includes the effectiveness of kelp beds in attenuating waves approaching the shore and how this influences sediment transport. Wave loggers were deployed at paired kelp bed and control (urchin barren) treatments at four sites in Port Phillip Bay, Australia. The significant wave height offshore (exposed side) to onshore (sheltered side) of the treatment were compared to determine wave attenuation. At three sites, the wave attenuation of kelp beds was significantly less than the control. This result was consistent across the environmental conditions recorded in this study. At the fourth site, on average there was no significant difference in wave transmission between kelp and control. However, wave attenuation at kelp beds was 10% greater than the control during periods of northerly winds. We highlight the importance of disentangling the effects of the reef substratum and kelp when evaluating the efficacy of kelp at providing coastal protection. We have highlighted a significant gap in the research on ecosystem services provided by kelp beds. A greater understanding is needed on which kelp species are able to provide coastal protection, and under what conditions. Such future research is essential for providing managers and policy makers with actionable information on sustainable and cost-effective solutions for coastal defence when faced with a changing climate.
Urban blue: A global analysis of the factors shaping people's perceptions of the marine environment and ecological engineering in harbours
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2018.12.285
Abstract: Marine harbours are the focus of a erse range of activities and subject to multiple anthropogenically induced pressures. Support for environmental management options aimed at improving degraded harbours depends on understanding the factors which influence people's perceptions of harbour environments. We used an online survey, across 12 harbours, to assess sources of variation people's perceptions of harbour health and ecological engineering. We tested the hypotheses: 1) people living near impacted harbours would consider their environment to be more unhealthy and degraded, be more concerned about the environment and supportive of and willing to pay for ecological engineering relative to those living by less impacted harbours, and 2) people with greater connectedness to the harbour would be more concerned about and have greater perceived knowledge of the environment, and be more supportive of, knowledgeable about and willing to pay for ecological engineering, than those with less connectedness. Across twelve locations, the levels of degradation and modification by artificial structures were lower and the concern and knowledge about the environment and ecological engineering were greater in the six Australasian and American than the six European and Asian harbours surveyed. We found that people's perception of harbours as healthy or degraded, but not their concern for the environment, reflected the degree to which harbours were impacted. There was a positive relationship between the percentage of shoreline modified and the extent of support for and people's willingness to pay indirect costs for ecological engineering. At the in idual level, measures of connectedness to the harbour environment were good predictors of concern for and perceived knowledge about the environment but not support for and perceived knowledge about ecological engineering. To make informed decisions, it is important that people are empowered with sufficient knowledge of the environmental issues facing their harbour and ecological engineering options.
Assessing the coastal protection services of natural mangrove forests and artificial rock revetments
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
Climate-resilient coasts require diverse defence solutions
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-2020
Increasing microhabitat complexity on seawalls can reduce fish predation on native oysters
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2018
An environmental DNA approach to informing restoration of the functionally extinct oyster, Ostrea angasi
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-09-2022
DOI: 10.1002/AQC.3886
Abstract: The success of oyster reef restoration can be enhanced by data on the distribution of remnant populations to inform the selection of suitable restoration locations. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction‐based environmental DNA (eDNA) assay was designed to provide distribution data for the oyster, Ostrea angasi , whose reefs are functionally extinct in Port Phillip Bay, Australia. Ostrea angasi eDNA accumulation and decay was measured in aquaria containing oysters in low and high densities, prior to testing the efficacy of the eDNA approach for detection of oysters at 15 field sites. Ostrea angasi eDNA accumulated significantly faster in aquaria where more in iduals were present, while eDNA became undetectable 2–6 days after oysters were removed in low‐density treatments. The eDNA s les were successful at detecting O. angasi in the field when taken in close proximity of an oyster population. Increasing the s le number and volume could maximize oyster detection, demonstrating the potential of eDNA to identify suitable sites for the restoration of functionally extinct marine ecosystems.
The coastal protection and blue carbon benefits of hybrid mangrove living shorelines
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2023
Eco‐engineering urban infrastructure for marine and coastal biodiversity: Which interventions have the greatest ecological benefit?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-07-2017
Identifying the consequences of ocean sprawl for sedimentary habitats
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2017
Can coir increase native biodiversity and reduce colonisation of non-indigenous species in eco-engineered rock pools?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2018
Effects of ocean sprawl on ecological connectivity: impacts and solutions
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2017
The endangered White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei chooses artificial over natural habitats
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-05-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JFB.14002
Abstract: To explore whether the endangered White's seahorse Hippoc us whitei would choose to inhabit artificial over natural habitats, 10 adult H. whitei in iduals were put through a series of binary choice trials in aquaria, during which they were offered different paired combinations of natural (different types of macroalga and seagrass) and artificial habitat (panels of swimming-net material). It was found that H. whitei displayed a significant choice for swimming-net material over all other available natural habitats and chose habitats according to the following rankings: (a) Net (b) Sargassum sp. (c) Posidonia australis (d) Zostera muelleri. Hippoc us whitei's choice of swimming net material over natural habitat suggests that these artificial structures could be a useful conservation measure for seahorses in areas where natural habitat is becoming less favourable due to declines in abundance or quality.
Current and projected global extent of marine built structures
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-08-2020
The application of oyster reefs in shoreline protection: Are we over‐engineering for an ecosystem engineer?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-04-2019
Large‐scale variation in wave attenuation of oyster reef living shorelines and the influence of inundation duration
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-06-2021
DOI: 10.1002/EAP.2382
Abstract: One of the paramount goals of oyster reef living shorelines is to achieve sustained and adaptive coastal protection, which requires meeting ecological (i.e., develop a self‐sustaining oyster population) and engineering (i.e., provide coastal defense) targets. In a large‐scale comparison along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, the efficacy of various designs of oyster reef living shorelines at providing wave attenuation was evaluated accounting for the ecological limitations of oysters with regard to inundation duration. A critical threshold for intertidal oyster reef establishment is 50% inundation duration. Living shorelines that spent less than one‐half of the time ( %) inundated were not considered suitable habitat for oysters, however, were effective at wave attenuation (68% reduction in wave height). Reefs that experienced % inundation were considered suitable habitat for oysters, but wave attenuation was similar to controls (no reef ~5% reduction in wave height). Many of the oyster reef living shoreline approaches therefore failed to optimize the ecological and engineering goals. In both inundation regimes, wave transmission decreased with an increasing freeboard (difference between reef crest elevation and water level), supporting its importance in the wave attenuation capacity of oyster reef living shorelines. However, given that the reef crest elevation (and thus freeboard) should be determined by the inundation duration requirements of oysters, research needs to be refocused on understanding the implications of other reef parameters (e.g., width) for optimizing wave attenuation. A broader understanding of the reef characteristics and seascape contexts that result in effective coastal defense by oyster reefs is needed to inform appropriate design and implementation of oyster‐based living shorelines globally.
Building blue infrastructure: Assessing the key environmental issues and priority areas for ecological engineering initiatives in Australia's metropolitan embayments
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2018.09.047
Abstract: Ecological engineering principles are increasingly being applied to develop multifunctional artificial structures or rehabilitated habitats in coastal areas. Ecological engineering initiatives are primarily driven by marine scientists and coastal managers, but often the views of key user groups, which can strongly influence the success of projects, are not considered. We used an online survey and participatory mapping exercise to investigate differences in priority goals, sites and attitudes towards ecological engineering between marine scientists and coastal managers as compared to other stakeholders. The surveys were conducted across three Australian cities that varied in their level of urbanisation and environmental pressures. We tested the hypotheses that, relative to other stakeholders, marine scientists and coastal managers will: 1) be more supportive of ecological engineering 2) be more likely to agree that enhancement of bio ersity and remediation of pollution are key priorities for ecological engineering and 3) identify different priority areas and infrastructure or degraded habitats for ecological engineering. We also tested the hypothesis that 4) perceptions of ecological engineering would vary among locations, due to environmental and socio-economic differences. In all three harbours, marine scientists and coastal managers were more supportive of ecological engineering than other users. There was also greater support for ecological engineering in Sydney and Melbourne than Hobart. Most people identified transport infrastructure, in busy transport hubs (i.e. Circular Quay in Sydney, the Port in Melbourne and the Waterfront in Hobart) as priorities for ecological engineering, irrespective of their stakeholder group or location. There were, however, significant differences among locations in what people perceive as the key priorities for ecological engineering (i.e. bio ersity in Sydney and Melbourne vs. pollution in Hobart). Greater consideration of these location-specific differences is essential for effective management of artificial structures and rehabilitated habitats in urban embayments.
Bringing harbours alive: assessing the importance of eco-engineered coastal infrastructure for different stakeholders and cities
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2018
Can transplanting enhance mobile marine invertebrates in ecologically engineered rock pools?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.MARENVRES.2018.08.008
Abstract: The field of eco-engineering has burgeoned in recent years in response to the proliferation of artificial structures. Adding water-retaining features to seawalls has been successful in increasing bio ersity relative to the surrounding structure. Artificial rock pools may not, however, completely mimic natural rock pools. Here, we compared natural colonisation, through dispersal and recruitment, of intertidal mobile species to water-retaining flowerpots on seawalls with that into rock pools. This represents the more usual 'passive' approach to eco-engineering where features are built to enhance bio ersity and are allowed to colonise naturally, as opposed to seeding or transplanting organisms to features. While flowerpots supported some mobile species not found on the seawall, other species common on natural shores did not recruit to flowerpots. Thus, in a second experiment we tested the effectiveness of an 'active' approach through transplanting mobile organisms to flowerpots to expedite the colonisation process. For the species examined, however, most in iduals did not stay in the flowerpots for more than 24 h after being transplanted. Further understanding of the processes (e.g. dispersal distances, recruitment) influencing colonisation of eco-engineered habitats is needed to effectively inform management of marine infrastructure, particularly for projects targeted at restoration rather than enhancement.
Related Organisations
Related Funding Activities
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100330
Start Date: 03-2021
End Date: 04-2025
Amount: $461,299.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP210100386
Start Date: 04-2022
End Date: 04-2025
Amount: $433,540.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity