We are using DNA methods to identify what dugongs in the Townsville region are eating other than seagrass, and trialling a new eDNA approach. Townsville Location Dugongs feed primarily on seagrass, but it is not known whether dugongs actively seek out or avoid any species that live within seagrass meadows like, sea cucumbers, sea squirts, sponges. This project will analyse dugong poo using DNA methods to identify what dugongs are eating other than seagrass. This will give us clues about what makes a seagrass habitat most beneficial for them. It will also assess eDNA methods on poo faeces collected to accurately determine if it came from a dugong or turtle. This has the potential to help communities identify if the marine mammals are present in the area, especially in regions where populations have significantly declined or hard to find. Key points Assessing dugong poo using eDNA BACK Eating habits of dugongs Dugongs feed primarily on seagrass . They also incidentally consume species found living in seagrass such as sea cucumbers, soft corals, and sea squirts. However, little is known about whether dugongs actively seek out or avoid any of the species found in seagrass habitats, especially when seagrass is scarce. Knowing more about dugong feeding behaviours, including what marine species they prefer to eat, could improve our understanding of which seagrass meadows best support this iconic megafauna. DNA traces provide a unique way to determine what dugongs are eating. Finding clues in poo This project is breaking new ground by using non-intrusive eDNA methods to analyse dugong poo, offering detailed insights into their diets. Our researchers will collect and analyse up to 20 samples during surveys across 350 square kilometres of seagrass meadows in the Townsville region. The team will then use two DNA analysis methods on these samples to detect what marine species dugongs are consuming: Mini eDNA kits will be used to determine whether the sample is dugong or turtle poo, and the presence or absence of marine species. As these kits were designed for water sampling, samples will be suspended in distilled water for analysis. Conventional DNA analysis will confirm whether the sample is dugong or turtle poo and provide more detailed results on presence of DNA of other species in the sample. This work is connected a broader project by our researchers assessing seagrass habitats in the Townsville region. Our researchers will compare all DNA results with species recorded during the seagrass surveys. How these insights progress dugong conservation Determining what species dugongs are consuming will reveal if dugongs have specific food preferences or if they eat any available seagrass and any species living within these meadows. The presence of species not recorded locally – including types of seagrass as well as sea cucumbers, sponges, and other animals living among seagrass –may also suggest the Townsville dugong population is traveling farther, possibly to find food. This will expand our understanding of dugong behaviour and help assess the ability of seagrass meadows to support their preferred foods. The research will help protect vital seagrass habitats and support conservation efforts for endangered dugong populations globally. Researchers will also compare mini eDNA kits with conventional DNA analysis to see if these kits can be used to reliably study marine megafauna feeding habits. If successful, mini eDNA kits could offer an affordable, accessible way to study dugong feeding behaviour in other regions with endangered populations. This project can answer key questions without disturbing these endangered animals. Project details This project is led by Dr Samantha Tol and Skye McKenna, in collaboration with Dr Joseph Di Battista from Griffith University. The project is funded by the Port of Townsville and a private donation from Sandra Hudspith. Research support Samantha Tol Senior Research Officer samantha.tol@jcu.edu.au Skye McKenna Senior Research Officer skye.mckenna@jcu.edu.au Research leads

We use multiple lines of evidence including water quality monitoring, tracing, modelling, and proxy-based data analysis, to a better understand of the catchment-to-marine connection. Queensland Location Our team is identifying sediments, nutrients, and pesticides sources and understand their transport and fate across the catchment-to-reef continuum. We are determining priority pollutants impacting freshwater and marine ecosystems to guide targeted management interventions. We are providing stakeholders and growers with a comprehensive dataset on pollutant sources, transport, and fate to encourage adoption of improved land practices. Key points Pollutant sources, transport and fate across catchment to Reef BACK Pollutant loads threaten freshwater and marine ecosystems About 75 per cent of the major catchments within the Great Barrier Reef region have been modified for cropping and grazing, leading to excessive runoff of suspended sediments, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticides. This poses a significant threat to both freshwater and marine ecosystems. While growers are making changes to farming practices, understanding pollutant sources, transport, and fate is critical for adopting more progressive practices, while identifying 'hotspots' is essential for targeted management strategies. Our research provides important insights to guide these efforts effectively. Research-informed solutions to identify pollutants runoff Great Barrier Reef Our research focuses on understanding how suspended sediments, nutrients, and pesticides are transported across the catchment to Great Barrier Reef continuum. This contributes to a better understanding of the catchment-to-marine connection and guides growers, managers and policymakers in interventions, improved farming practices, and prioritising remediation efforts to reduce pollutant loads. To achieve this, we employ a comprehensive approach, utilising multiple lines of evidence including water quality monitoring, tracing, modelling, and proxy-based data analysis, including: Refined understanding of catchment hot spots through intensified monitoring at finer scales, using advanced sensors for nitrogen inputs on cropping lands and community-based programs for sediment sources on grazing lands. Compiling land-use-focused water quality data across specific natural management regions to pinpoint water quality issues and validate catchment models. Conducting strategic monitoring of catchment runoff and resultant flood plumes to assess pollutant transport within the catchment network and into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, identifying pollutant pathways. Deployed sediment traps and turbidity/light loggers on coral reefs and seagrass meadows to understand the influences of riverine discharge events and sediment resuspension on sediment exposure regimes. Analysing sediment cores from freshwater wetlands and major offshore deposition areas to gain insights into the fate and long-term delivery of sediments to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Outcomes of water quality research Our research has had a significant impact on understanding and managing water quality in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area. Using multiple lines of evidence, we've refined 'hot spot' sediment sources in the Bowen-Broken-Bogie catchments of the Burdekin Basin. Almost real-time nitrate sensors across the Russell Mulgrave, Johnstone, Tully, and Herbert basins have identified catchment 'hot spots' and engaged industries in improved management practices. Revealed key water quality issues in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, promoting a 'whole of catchment' approach to water quality management. Strategic monitoring in the Burdekin River catchment calculated the trapping efficiency of the Burdekin Falls Dam, establishing sediment budgets and developing an algorithm for predicting sediment trapping in tropical reservoirs. Characterised sediments in riverine flood plumes, prioritising the fine sediment fraction (< 20 µm) for better management. Provided empirical evidence supporting remote sensing and modelling research, showing reduced water clarity following elevated riverine discharge. Offshore sediment cores from the Burdekin region reveal active sediment accumulation changes over the past 200 years, linked to European modification of the catchment. Research support Aaron Davis Principal Research Officer aaron.davis@jcu.edu.au Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Caroline Petus Senior Research Officer caroline.petus@jcu.edu.au Cassandra James Senior Research Scientist cassandra.james@jcu.edu.au Jack Koci Senior Research Officer jack.koci@jcu.edu.au Zoe Bainbridge Senior Research Fellow Zoe.brainbridge@jcu.edu.au Stephen Lewis Principal Research Officer stephen.lewis@jcu.edu.au Research leads

This research uses satellite images and advanced remote sensing technology to map and monitor water quality conditions, including flood plumes, across expansive reef ecosystems. Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, Pacific Islands Location We are developing remote sensing technologies in conjunction with long-term water quality databases to examine spatial and temporal water quality trends for global marine ecosystems. By integrating satellite images, ocean colour advanced remote sensing technology and water quality measurements, we can map and monitor water quality conditions across ocean expansive areas. Our remote sensing products can be used to understand water quality conditions in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait and have been used by managers to identify areas of greatest risk to coastal and marine ecosystems. Key points Large scale water quality monitoring using remote sensing BACK Challenges in monitoring water quality across vast areas Research shows that terrestrial runoff can impact large geographical areas, influencing the water quality of marine ecosystems and putting pressure on these habitats. The Great Barrier Reef, which spans 344,400 square kilometres and includes 35 river basins, is susceptible to poor water quality, particularly in inshore areas. It can experience terrestrial runoff and flood plumes that extend over 700 kilometres, covering large areas of vital inshore and some midshelf ecosystems. Given the vast area of the Great Barrier Reef and similar oceanic reef ecosystems, the rapid variability in water quality over time and space, and the need to understand the range of conditions, traditional in-field monitoring methods often fall short in capturing comprehensive data. These challenges make it difficult for managers to fully understand water quality conditions and trends necessary for informing targeted management actions. Using advanced remote sensing for water quality monitoring Our research focuses on utilising satellite images and advanced remote sensing technology to map and monitor water quality conditions from ocean colour products across expansive reef ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, Pacific Islands and Gulf of Carpentaria. By interpreting and classifying ocean colour products, we generate extensive data on water quality conditions, providing crucial insights for effective environmental management. This approach bridges knowledge gaps, supports the development of unique methods, and offers comprehensive information essential for managing large and dynamic environments. To achieve this, we are: Analysing ocean colour using medium-resolution satellite data to provide valuable insights into water quality, particularly water clarity and primary productivity levels. Integrating satellite data with on-site water quality monitoring data to classify water colour into 'optical water types' using sophisticated algorithms. Each optical type corresponds to specific combinations and levels of suspended sediments, chlorophyll-a, coloured dissolved organic matter, and other factors. Offering reliable water quality assessments over vast areas, providing cost-effective insights into coastal and marine water quality status and trends. How remote sensing helps reef conservation Remote sensing products are integrated with ecological health data, including information about seagrass and coral reef condition. This approach helps identify areas where ecosystems may be vulnerable to land-based runoff, giving critical insights for conservation and management efforts. This research contributes to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Marine Monitoring Program, partnering with Australian Institute of Marine Science and Cape York Water Monitoring Partnership. Under this program we report trends and conditions in the Great Barrier Reef every year through the Marine Monitoring Program Annual Reports. The data informs the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program , Reef Plan 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan , Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan , the five-yearly Outlook Report , and the regional water quality report cards . Research support Caroline Petus Senior Research Officer caroline.petus@jcu.edu.au Jane Waterhouse Senior Research Officer jane.waterhouse@jcu.edu.au Paula Cartwright Senior Research Officer paula.cartwright@jcu.edu.au Research leads

For over two decades, we've studied how runoff from land and river plumes enter the Great Barrier Reef. Great Barrier Reef Location River plumes transport sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from the land into the inshore Great Barrier Reef, exposing inshore reefs, seagrass meadows and other important species and ecosystems to terrestrial runoff. We collect and analyse data from various sources to understand the concentrations and transport and fate of land-sourced pollutants in the Great Barrier Reef. Our research shows how sediment, nutrients, and pesticides move from the land to the sea, providing a comprehensive understanding of water quality science from paddock to reef. Key points Impact of water quality and river plumes in the Great Barrier Reef BACK Effects of increased floods on water quality in the Great Barrier Reef Over the past 50 years, water quality has been declining across many parts of the Great Barrier Reef, primarily in the inshore areas. Research shows that the volume of large floods has almost doubled compared to historical data from 150-350 years ago, and occur more often. This increase exposes a more extensive area of the Great Barrier Reef to river flood plumes , which carry sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants from the land into coastal and inshore waters. These flood plumes extend along the coast, influencing inshore reefs and seagrass meadows and other species and ecosystems. This can lead to a decline in water quality, increasing pressure on these vital habitats. While large floods that extend further offshore occur less often, they also have the potential to carry terrestrial runoff to mid and outer reefs. Our ongoing research aims to better understand the concentrations and movement of land-sourced pollutants into the Great Barrier Reef. This knowledge is critical for developing targeted conservation strategies to reduce the impact of these flood events on coastal and marine ecosystems. How we are measuring and analysing flood plumes and terrestrial runoff For over two decades, we've studied how runoff from land and river plumes move within the Great Barrier Reef. Our research has significantly contributed to current understanding of how sediment, nutrients, and pesticides move from the land to the sea, giving us a catchment wide understanding of paddock to reef water quality science. To understand the concentrations and transport of land-sourced pollutants in the Great Barrier Reef, we collect and analyse data from various sources, this includes: Sample flood plumes during the wet season from key rivers, including the Russell-Mulgrave, Tully, Haughton, Burdekin, Proserpine, O’Connell and Pioneer Rivers. Water samples are taken along transects extending offshore from river mouths, focusing on the measurement of salinity, suspended sediment, chlorophyll-a, nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica), coloured dissolved organic matter, pesticides, and temperature. Compile and analyse catchment rainfall data, river discharge data, and annual end-of-catchment sediment and nutrient loads. Analyse the quality of river plumes in the Great Barrier Reef through a combination of on-site measurements and remote sensing outputs. Characterise and trace sediments across the flood plume extent as freshwater mixes with sea water. Measure dispersal of pesticides in the inshore Great Barrier Reef. Investigate the bioavailability of particulate nutrients in the flood plume. Informing managers and policymakers on water quality issues Our research provides managers and policymakers with critical information about catchment-to-reef water quality science by: Modelling the risk of pesticides in the Great Barrier Reef. Establishing ecologically relevant end-of-catchment pollutant load reduction targets. Characterising the most damaging sediment transported and transformed across flood plumes in the Great Barrier Reef. Identifying hotspots to prioritise remediation efforts on grazing land by tracing sediments in flood plumes. Conducting marine risk assessments to identify spatial priorities for management in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area. This research contributes to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Marine Monitoring Program , partnering with Australian Institute of Marine Science and Cape York Water Monitoring Partnership. Under this program we report trends and conditions in the Great Barrier Reef every year to the Reef Authority, through the Marine Monitoring Program Annual Reports. The data informs the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring , Modelling and Reporting Program , Reef Plan 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan , Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan , the five-yearly Outlook Report , and the regional water quality report cards . It has also been used within the Scientific Consensus Statement. More broadly, we provide advice and extensive communication of water quality data to stakeholders, providing critical current knowledge of water quality science. Research support Caroline Petus Senior Research Officer caroline.petus@jcu.edu.au Jane Waterhouse Senior Research Officer jane.waterhouse@jcu.edu.au Stephen Lewis Principal Research Officer stephen.lewis@jcu.edu.au Research leads

Our long-term environmental monitoring of port industries is extensive, covering coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity. Gladstone, Hay Point, Mackay, Abbot Point, Townsville, Mourilyan Harbour, Cairns, Thursday Island, Weipa and Karumba Location We lead long-term monitoring and assessment programs in all of Queensland’s tropical trading ports, including assessments of seagrass, ambient water quality, and coral. Environmental monitoring and management help ports better manage their environment and nearby coastal ecosystems – our science provides the solutions industry needs for improved environmental outcomes. Our teams inform port management, guide government policy, contribute to regional report cards, and lead innovative research. Key points Long-term monitoring for port industries: coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity BACK Partnering with ports for environmental management The expansion and maintenance of port facilities across northern Australia is a high-profile environmental issue, especially on the Great Barrier Reef coast, where there are 12 trading ports. Port activities like dredging and shipping can damage seagrass , coral, and marine life if not carefully managed. We have strong partnerships with port authorities in the region, founded on our long-term monitoring programs that provide crucial data to inform port management as well as contributing to significant applied research programs. Monitoring seagrass We annually monitor seagrass at 10 ports across Queensland and conduct baseline assessments and mapping in the majority of ports throughout the state – assessing over 1,660 square kilometres of seafloor. Seagrass monitoring is our most established long-term program and among the longest continuous seagrass monitoring efforts worldwide. For decades, these programs have been delivering valuable data that inform management decisions, feed into state and environment reporting, and advance understanding tropical seagrass ecology. We use the following methods: Intertidal seagrass meadows are surveyed by helicopter. Subtidal meadows are surveyed from boats using drop cameras or sled tows. Seagrass meadow characteristics are recorded, such as meadow area, species composition, above-ground biomass and sediment type. Each year we survey key meadows near port infrastructure and reference sites, and every three years we complete surveys of all seagrass meadows within port limits. This long-term monitoring program provides valuable insights into seagrass meadow dynamics, including seasonal and year-to-year changes as well as impacts from extreme weather events. Data on seagrass health and resilience ensures port activities are not impacting seagrass meadows and allows for strategic planning of maintenance dredging and infrastructure development. Monitoring ambient water quality Flood events, runoff from catchments and port activities such as dredging and shipping can all increase turbidity, reduce light, and alter nutrient and chemical balances. This can reduce water quality and impact seagrass, coral, and marine life. Since 2014, We’ve monitored water quality in ports since 2014, and now survey over 100 km of coastline at 12 sites. Every 10 minutes, loggers on the seafloor at sites close to seagrass and coral reefs measure: Water turbidity. Light. Temperature. Depth. Wave pressure. Every eight weeks, we record: Water temperature. Chemistry (including nutrients and heavy metals). Dissolved oxygen and pH. Electrical conductivity. This work helps us to understand ambient conditions and to guide decision-making for port-related activities. Monitoring inshore coral Inshore reefs located close to ports infrastructure can be at increased risk of biodiversity loss and coral habitat health decline associated with poor water quality. As part of our monitoring program, we work with port authorities and regulators to provide reliable data on long-term coral health. We monitor inshore coral reefs twice a year at three ports: Abbot Point, just north of Bowen, and the ports of Hay Point, and Mackay in central Queensland. This program fills critical gaps in monitoring data of inshore reefs in the central and southern Great Barrier Reef. Our team measures the following at multiple reef locations in each port: Coverage of coral and other reef communities. Juvenile hard coral recruitment . Signs of stress including bleaching, disease, sediment deposition and damage, corallivorous Crown of Thorns starfish, and Drupella snails. This work provides valuable data on inshore coral conditions to understand natural fluctuations and responses to environmental disturbance. These findings can then inform coral health monitoring and management in areas potentially impacted by port expansion or dredging. Investigating biodiversity Alongside our long-term monitoring programs, we are investigating the biodiversity within port infrastructure. This helps us better understand what species are present, how they are using these environments and how we can improve human-made infrastructure to support marine species. This work includes: Using satellite and acoustic tags to track manta rays and understand populations and movements around Abbot Point. Informing better design of seawalls by investigating the thermal tolerance of oysters – with findings showing that oysters avoid the high temperatures of sun-facing seawall boulders. Underwater video surveys and side-scanning sonar to understand fish communities around port facilities. Developing artificial intelligence (AI) approaches to automate image processing for video surveys. Partnering for impact The impact of this long-term monitoring extends beyond the programs to contribute to regional reporting and form the basis of cutting-edge research. Each of the monitoring programs provides valuable data to regional report cards on waterway health. The report cards are a key annual update on the health of the region’s waters, with our monitoring programs contributing significantly to the marine scores each year. Our monitoring programs and ports partnership have also formed the foundation of additional research projects and collaborations, including an Australian Research Council Industry Linkage Grant on restoring and future-proofing seagrass , a project using novel tools to assess the fish and crustaceans using these habitats , and Project Blueprint . Project details This work is conducted in partnership with North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, Ports North, the Port of Townsville, and Gladstone Ports Corporation. Abbi Scott Senior Research Officer abbi.scott1@jcu.edu.au Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Carissa Reason Research Officer carissa.reason@jcu.edu.au Paul York Senior Research Officer Paul.York@jcu.edu.au Paula Cartwright Senior Research Officer paula.cartwright@jcu.edu.au Skye McKenna Senior Research Officer skye.mckenna@jcu.edu.au Tim Smith Senior Research Officer tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au Research support Michael Rasheed Principal Research Scientist michael.rasheed@jcu.edu.au Nathan Waltham Senior Principal Research Officer nathan.waltham@jcu.edu.au Research leads

A local network to connect, grow and champion the efforts of diverse organisations in the region to support the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns, Port Douglas Location Local organisations are working to protect and rehabilitate areas of the Great Barrier Reef, but these activities need to be coordinated and collaborative for greater impact. The Reef Hub is an open collaborative network that is connecting, growing, and championing the efforts of tourism operators, Traditional Owners, community groups, and other organisations in the Cairns-Port Douglas region that are supporting the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Through building a skilled network, facilitating collaborative reef science and championing local voices, the Reef Hub aims to increase the positive impact of local reef restoration efforts. Key points Cairns Port Douglas Reef Hub BACK Local challenges for building reef resilience A range of pressures increasingly threaten the health of the Great Barrier Reef, and hands-on efforts are urgently needed to build reef resilience. These stewardship activities are needed across regional to local scales, and many local organisations are already acting to protect and rehabilitate the reef. These activities need to be coordinated and collaborative to be effective. Local organisations need a way to share ideas, gain knowledge and skills, and work together to improve reef health in a scalable way. The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub was created to provide these connections. A network for sharing, learning, and championing local reef restoration efforts The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub (Reef Hub) is an open collaborative network that is connecting, growing, and championing the efforts of tourism operators, Traditional Owners, community groups, and other organisations in the region that are supporting the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. The Reef Hub aims to coordinate activities and pilot programs, serving as a platform for communication and collaboration. It supports activities, facilitates knowledge sharing, and builds capacity through training and access to appropriate tools. Using an action learning approach, the Reef Hub collaborates closely with partners and adjusts its strategies to meet evolving project needs. By connecting and supporting local organisations, the Reef Hub strives for a better future for coral reefs. The Reef Hub has coordinated several projects to date: Spawning School – a practical learning program run in partnership with Reef Recruits that trained local First Nations Land and Sea Rangers how to raise coral larvae for reef restoration. Recruitment Tile Study – run with a collective of local organisations, investigating relative coral recruitment within and across five reefs following mass spawning. Collaborative Monitoring Project – a pilot project run with RRAP, Traditional Owners, community partners, and tourism operators to test collaborative models for deploying and monitoring the best coral seeding systems for widespread use on the Great Barrier Reef. Capacity building workshops – practical training that assists reef recovery and monitoring, based on practitioner needs. Further funding needed to expand initiatives Further funding is needed to expand the Reef Hub's programs and ensure their long-term impact. This support will enable the continuation and growth of initiatives that enhance reef resilience across the region, facilitating collaboration among local organisations, Traditional Owners, government bodies, researchers, and community stakeholders. Project details The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub is hosted by TropWATER and coordinated by Dr Katie Chartrand and Dr Abbi Scott. The Reef Hub pilot program was funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and enabled by the partnership’s Community Reef Protection and Traditional Owner Reef Protection components, and the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program with a network of local partners. https://www.reefhub.com.au/ Research support Abbi Scott Senior Research Officer abbi.scott1@jcu.edu.au Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Research leads

We surveyed over 250 km of coastline with First Nations partners to assess the impact of flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, one year after the flood event. Far North Queensland Location One year after the extensive flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, we surveyed over 250 km of coastline to assess the impacts on mangrove forests, inshore coral reefs, and seagrass habitats. We identified severe damage to mangrove forests and found that mud still smothers many inshore reefs. Ongoing monitoring will track ecosystem recovery, with 2025 surveys planned to also pinpoint priority areas for coral, mangrove, and seagrass restoration trials. Key points Assessing the impacts of flooding after Tropical Cyclone Jasper BACK Flooding from Tropical Cyclone Jasper Tropical Cyclone Jasper made landfall in Far North Queensland as a Category 2 storm in December 2023. The slow-moving storm system brought record-breaking rainfall to the region, causing widespread flooding that washed sediments across coastal habitats. The affected region included parts of the Wet Tropics of Queensland and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage areas – home to valuable mangrove forests, intertidal fringing coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. These coastal habitats are vulnerable to the impacts of terrestrial runoff, including sediment-laden floods. Surveys of the affected region are needed to understand the environmental impacts of the flooding, potential for recovery, and priority areas for restoration before these ecosystems face another disturbance. Initial assessments can then be followed by monitoring to track recovery over time and inform management decisions to support these valuable coastal ecosystems in the future. Surveys in 2024 with First Nations partners Our researchers partnered with Jabalbina, Yirrganydji, Gunggandji, Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji and Mandubarra Rangers to survey coastal habitats from Cooktown to just south of Cairns. Together, we assessed the impacts of the flooding on mangrove forests, inshore coral reefs, and seagrass meadows and identified potential sites for restoration, using: Helicopter surveys to assess intertidal inshore areas across more than 250km of coastline, including mangrove condition and benthic habitat cover. Boat surveys to record subtidal benthic habitats – including algae, coral, and seagrass – and mangrove condition in the Daintree River. Drone surveys to assess reef top habitats at Struck Island, Unity Reef, and Ganyjira Reef. Remote sensing to map mangrove cover and condition using satellite imagery before and after flooding. Damage, recovery and potential restoration The team found significant damage as well as some signs of potential recovery across the habitats they surveyed: Mangroves: Extensive damage to mangrove ecosystems across the region, particularly in the Bloomfield River and Daintree River. Large areas of mangrove trees were flattened and uprooted, with significant shoreline scouring and erosion. There were also other forested areas where the breathing roots of mangrove trees were buried in mud and silt. Losses from erosion damage to mangrove cover of around 19 square kilometres, with early signs of patchy regrowth in the 12 months since flooding. Delayed, ongoing damage and loss of mangrove trees in areas where trees survived but had roots buried by sediment deposition. Corals: Many intertidal fringing coral reefs remained smothered in mud, blocking the sunlight needed to sustain existing corals and preventing new coral recruits from becoming established. Coral presence at Hope Isles, Snapper Island, Low Isles, and Double Island, but with significant losses in coral cover. Seagrasses: Eight seagrass species spanning over 35 square kilometres, and just four species in the north of the region where impacts were most severe. Despite the low cover, these seagrasses show signs of potential recovery if conditions remain favourable. Assessing the impact on seagrasses was challenging due to limited data being available on seagrasses in the region prior to Tropical Cyclone Jasper, highlighting the need for expanded monitoring programs. Late in 2025, the team will return to the area to track natural recovery as well as ongoing impacts. These follow-up surveys will also identify sites for small-scale restoration trials, designed to test techniques and locations where restoration efforts may be most effective. Future monitoring efforts will use satellite mapping, aerial surveys, and field monitoring to continue to assess habitat condition and recovery, and to guide potential restoration and mitigation options. Project details This project is part of the Queensland and Australian Government initiative under the National Environmental Science Program and Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Research support Abbi Scott Senior Research Officer abbi.scott1@jcu.edu.au Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Norm Duke Senior Research Scientist norman.duke@jcu.edu.au Skye McKenna Senior Research Officer skye.mckenna@jcu.edu.au Research leads

The project embraces the combined benefits of Indigenous Knowledge, on-ground monitoring, and science and management expertise to provide training for Torres Strait rangers and to report data needed for ecosystem management. Torres Strait Location Tracking the health of seagrass meadows in the Torres Strait is key to sustaining the diverse species and marine resources they support. We’ve partnered with Torres Strait Regional Authority Rangers and Traditional Owners for over 15 years to map, monitor, and research seagrass, with data collected by Rangers and researchers. This project provides critical data to understand and mitigate changes to seagrass habitats in the region and to inform management decisions. Key points Torres Strait seagrass mapping, monitoring and research BACK Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website may contain images of people who have passed away. Seagrass meadows and marine health in Torres Strait Seagrass meadows in Torres Strait teem with diverse species and serve as vital food sources and nursery grounds for local marine life. For Torres Strait Islanders, these habitats support culturally important species, including dugong and green sea turtle. While seagrass is widespread and abundant, some of these meadows have recently declined, potentially disrupting food sources for dugongs and green turtles. Understanding the health of these meadows is key to managing the rich marine life and resources they support. A long-term partnership For more than 15 years our researchers have partnered with Torres Strait Regional Authority and their Land and Sea Rangers and Traditional Owners to map, monitor, and research seagrass habitats. Eight Ranger groups play a critical role in this partnership, collecting valuable on-ground data for long-term monitoring. The partnership combines Indigenous Knowledge, on-ground monitoring, and scientific expertise to assess and understand seagrass condition. Condition indicators include density (percent cover or biomass), distribution, and species diversity. Data collection methods include: Ranger-led intertidal monitoring (walking, transects, and quadrats) at 12 sites spread across six islands, surveyed twice a year. Ranger-led seagrass monitoring (boats, drop video cameras, and van Veen grab) at four meadows, surveyed annually. Scientist-led intertidal meadow-scale surveys (helicopter and quadrats) at three meadows, surveyed annually. Anecdotal information from Rangers and Traditional Owners about observed local trends is also collected to help interpret results. Impact of long-term monitoring for Torres Strait seagrass As of 2024, all sites have a minimum of 5 years of survey data, with most sites reaching the 10-year minimum required to create meaningful baselines for seagrass condition. This provides valuable data for understanding seagrass health across Torres Strait in the long term, as well as the culturally and ecologically important species these meadows support. This is essential for identifying and mitigating the effects of change on these habitats. Monitoring activities give the people of the Torres Strait critical information to inform management decisions and maintain important marine resources such as dugong and turtle populations and fisheries. Key findings are annually presented by Rangers to the community and Traditional Owners. Seagrass report cards This project develops annual Torres Strait seagrass report cards, compiling monitoring results and comparing them with conditions across Queensland. This informs management decisions and response planning to conserve seagrass habitats across the state. The most recent Torres Strait seagrass monitoring report card (2024) is available online here . Further outputs from contracted research through collaborations with Rangers and Traditional Owners include: Large-scale mapping of benthic habitats and production of publicly available spatial products to describe Torres Strait marine resources, including seagrass, coral, and algae. A synthesis of all spatial data collected in Torres Strait, part of a larger synthesis that included the Gulf of Carpentaria (1983-2022). A targeted research program since 2021 to understand effect of dugong and turtle herbivory on seagrass declines. A targeted research program from 2009-2014 to understand seagrass recovery and environmental conditions on seagrass. Project details The project is led by Dr Alex Carter with Madeina David and Don Whap from the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Land and Sea Management Unit, and Torres Strait Land and Sea Rangers. Additional funding and partnerships since the project began have included the National Environmental Science Program, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, CRC Torres Strait, CSIRO, AIMS, and Ports North. Research support Alex Carter Principal Research Officer alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au Research leads

This project aims to monitor fish communities in nursery seascape, using a range of underwater camera technology. This enhances our understanding of the role habitats play in fish abundance and size. Magnetic Island, Dunk Island Location Despite the critical role of inshore nursery habitats in the life history of many fish species, data on fish communities in these areas are limited. This project surveys fish abundance and distribution across coastal, island, and inter-reef inshore nursery habitats between Magnetic Island and Dunk Island. Survey design, site selection and field monitoring are conducted with Traditional Owners and Rangers from Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, Minga Minga Rangers, and Wulgurukaba Rangers. Key points Monitoring fish communities in nursery seascapes BACK Finding inshore fish nurseries Inshore nursery habitats are vital for many fish species. The rich abundance of fish using these nurseries is valuable for recreational, commercial, and cultural purposes. Despite their importance, these nurseries are often overlooked. Data on fish communities, especially juveniles, in habitats like seagrass and mangroves are scarce. Identifying fish nurseries ensures appropriate management to support adult populations. Understanding fish size, distribution, and habitat connectivity is essential for effective species management. TropWATER scientists, in partnership with Traditional Owners and Rangers, are addressing this gap in the central Great Barrier Reef by monitoring a wide range of inshore fish habitats to collect key baseline data. Surveying fish nursery habitats Our team are conducting fish surveys of inshore habitats between Dunk Island and Magnetic Island over two years. We are monitoring nursery seascapes of habitats of a variety habitats – from mangrove, seagrass, shoals, algae, and reef habitats using underwater stereo camera systems. The project is a collaboration with Traditional Owners and Rangers from Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, Minga Minga Rangers, and Wulgurukaba Rangers. They contributed to the survey design, using local and cultural knowledge for site selection, and participated throughout the field surveys. Monitoring surveys for inshore nurseries incorporate the following: Surveys in three seascapes: coastal, inter-reef, and islands. A variety of habitats, such as mangroves, seagrass, shoals, algae, the bottom of reef slopes, and reef flats. Use of stereo non-baited Remote Underwater Video Stations as well as Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations for fishes and drop cameras for benthic habitats. Two surveys conducted per year, for two years. These surveys will increase our understanding of the role that habitat plays in fish abundance and size. They will also be integrated with inshore fringing reef and deep-water inter-reef monitoring undertaken by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and other TropWATER researchers to deliver a more comprehensive look at reef fish status and trends. Creating a monitoring baseline This project will develop a baseline of monitoring data for inshore fish habitats. Future assessments of the status and trends in fish communities, including how they respond to environmental changes, can then be compared to this baseline. So far, over 221 fish species have been identified as part of this project. These include many species of commercial, recreational, and cultural importance such as: Barramundi (Lates calcarifer ) Coral trout (Plectropomus maculatus ) Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran ) Mackerel (Scomberomorus sp.) Results also showed distinct fish communities in inshore habitats, with certain species associated with particular habitat types. These findings are critical for conserving these habitats to maintain adult populations into the future. This research supports healthy fish populations and sustainable fisheries. It informs strategies to protect critical habitats, supports the replenishment of adult populations, and guides efforts to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem health. Project details This project is supported by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is a collaboration with the University of the Sunshine Coast, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, Minga Minga Rangers, and Wulgurukaba Rangers. Research support Alex Carter Principal Research Officer alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au Tim Smith Senior Research Officer tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au Research leads

This project identifies potential wetland restoration sites between Cairns and Gladstone. Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone Location Maintaining wetland health and exploring restoration opportunities is critical, with ongoing degradation in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. Scientists identified potential restoration sites, including over 2,200 land parcels covering over 20,000 ha for wetland restoration, along with a further 17,255 hectares for mangrove and saltmarsh restoration between Cairns and Gladstone. Carbon sequestration programs could offer new opportunities for wetland restoration. Key points Scoping coastal wetlands and suitable trees for blue carbon restoration BACK Wetlands as coastal protectors Wetland provide key ecosystem services including protecting and stabilising shorelines, regulating floods, supporting fisheries, improving water quality, storing carbon , and acting as habitats for a diverse range of species. The Great Barrier Reef catchment has lost a significant area of wetlands over the past 200 years, with those remaining continuing to face a range of threats. This includes sea level rise, severe storms, coastal erosion and impacts from human activities, which affect health, resilience, and reduce biodiversity. While maintaining the health of existing wetlands is crucial, scoping potential sites for restoration is also an important step. Our scientists explored restoration opportunities in two ways: identifying sites where freshwater and intertidal wetlands, including mangrove and saltmarsh, could be restored, and scoping the environmental suitability of water-tolerant trees at potential sites to support diverse restorations. Finding restoration opportunities for water-tolerant trees This project investigated potential areas for wetland restoration across the Great Barrier Reef Catchment. The research screened over 120 water-tolerant trees for their environmental suitability to identify potential sites. By identifying the best-suited species for these areas, we can enhance restoration efforts. Planting multiple species in initial wetland restoration, instead of a monoculture, better supports the establishment of diverse and healthy ecological communities. Over 2,200 land parcels were identified, covering over 20,000 hectares across the Great Barrier Reef catchment, with numerous species being suitable for all sites. The team used the following methods: Extracted data on water-tolerant tree species and distribution, climate, water inundation frequency, and soil attributes from databases. Used machine learning to predict the likelihood of water-tolerant trees occurring at each location based on climate, water, and soil characteristics. Applied this modelling to locations of former wetlands across the Great Barrier Reef catchment to identify the suitability of different species for potential restoration at each location. Identifying potential sites for mangrove and saltmarsh restoration The team investigated locations between Cairns and Gladstone for potential mangrove or saltmarsh restoration to increase carbon sequestration and storage. They identified around 17,255 hectares of coastal land for restoration, across 52 potential restoration sites. The team identified potential sites for restoration using: High-resolution photography from low-flying helicopters to capture overlapping, georeferenced images of shorelines. Evaluation of potential areas using measures such as tidal inundation mapping, digital elevation models, long-term changes in mangrove health, and land parcel tenure status. The team also identified likely risks for each potential restoration project, and dominant drivers of change including pollutant impact, access tracks, shoreline erosion, and storm damage. Future steps: carbon benefits and maintaining wetlands Carbon sequestration programs such as the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund and Blue Carbon program could offer new opportunities for wetland restoration. But this requires identifying areas where interventions can yield tangible and measurable carbon benefits. While the studies identified multiple locations for potential restoration – for both freshwater and intertidal wetlands – they emphasise that effective and lasting restoration can be challenging to achieve. Monitoring and maintaining the health of wetlands and coastal habitats is the best way to ensure carbon storage benefits and maintain biodiversity. This is especially true as degradation continues to impact these vital ecosystems along the coast. Project details These projects were led by Dr Adam Canning and Professor Norman Duke and were funded by Greening Australia for its Reef Aid program . Research support Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Norm Duke Senior Research Scientist norman.duke@jcu.edu.au Research leads

Over four years, we will plant thousands of seagrass fragments and over half a million seeds, while tracking the return of fish species and measuring the blue carbon benefits. Cairns, Mourilyan Harbour Location Scientists are investigating the most effective restoration methods for different species to maximise growth. We’re also new trailing planting methods, like hovercrafts. This work involves working with Traditional Owner and engaging community groups for training and seagrass planting events. The team will measure blue carbon storage benefits and improvements in fisheries habitat throughout the project’s lifecycle. Key points Restoring tropical seagrasses and their ecosystem services BACK Restoring seagrass meadows Tropical seagrass in the Indo-Pacific represents 35% of the global seagrass species, with an area of 88,000 km² mapped in tropical Australia. A third of this is found in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region of Queensland. Over a decade ago, cyclones and floods devastated seagrass habitats in Cairns and Mourilyan, North Queensland, impacting their ecological functions. Climate-driven events put pressure on these ecosystems, with the intensity of cyclones, storms, floods, and marine heatwaves expected to rise due to climate change. The need for tropical seagrass restoration becomes increasingly urgent. Despite their importance, many tropical seagrass species remain understudied, and there have been few restoration attempts. Restoring tropical seagrass meadows in Northern Australia presents unique challenges. They are often found in muddy, crocodile-inhabited environments, requiring innovative restoration approaches. Australia’s largest tropical seagrass restoration project We are leading Australia's first meadow-scale tropical seagrass restoration project, restoring tropical seagrass meadows at Cairns and Mourilyan. Over four years, the team aim to restore five hectares of meadows wiped out a decade ago, planting tens of thousands of seagrass fragments and seeds. They will also work to speed the recovery of 425 hectares of meadows that are struggling to recover from cyclone damage. What species? Different seagrass species may respond better to different restoration methods. We are matching methods to species to maximise survival and regrowth. How do we plant? We are planting with the tide. At high tide, we use boats to drop anchored fragments. At low tide, we are trialling methods such as using hovercraft to plant sods (small intact clumps with roots and surrounding mud) on intertidal flats too shallow for boats. Who do we work with? The team is engaging with Traditional Owners, community groups and school students for seagrass planting events and Indigenous Rangers for training. What do we measure? We are measuring blue carbon storage benefits and improvements in fisheries habitat throughout the project’s lifecycle, and the most effective restoration methods. This project will investigate a range of methods to identify the safest, most cost-effective options, creating an evidence base to guide restoration efforts elsewhere. The project is in collaboration with four Traditional Owner groups (Gimuy Walubara Yidindji, Mandubarra, Goondoi and Yirrganydji), OzFish Unlimited and local community groups, with funding support from BHP’s Blue Carbon Grants program. Volunteers vital for planting Researchers collected seagrass fragments to initiate the restoration effort, with planting days held in 2023, 2024, and 2025. During these planting days, volunteers were essential in rapidly planting these fragments in Cairns and Mourilyan, including Traditional Owners, community members, and school students. Future proofing Australia's tropical seagrasses As part of this work, our scientists are developing species-specific restoration methods and approaches tailored to the diverse range of tropical seagrass species found across the Indo-Pacific. Seagrass planting methods and enhancement methods are being tested experimentally and restoration suitability models developed to build a restoration framework applicable across the Indo Pacific. This research is being funded through an Australian Research Council linkage program partnering with North Queensland Bulk Ports and Ports North. Research support Abbi Scott Senior Research Officer abbi.scott1@jcu.edu.au Michael Rasheed Principal Research Scientist michael.rasheed@jcu.edu.au Paul York Senior Research Officer Paul.York@jcu.edu.au Tim Smith Senior Research Officer tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au Research leads

We're working with Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers in a long-term partnership to map and monitor benthic habitats and the megafauna, and provide the tools and training to support Rangers in managing their Sea Country. Yarrabah Location Data on benthic habitats in Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Sea Country near Yarrabah are limited, despite their cultural and ecosystem importance. Our scientists are working with Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers to map and monitor these habitats and megafauna that rely on these areas. We provide tools, training, and capacity building to support Rangers in managing their Sea Country. Key points Building capacity of Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers BACK Understanding benthic habitats on GMY Sea Country Benthic habitats, such as seagrass and coral reefs, provide critical ecosystem services like feeding grounds for turtles and dugongs, nursery grounds for fish , and blue carbon storage. Deep-water seagrass habitats are recognised as an important ecological resource that contributes sustaining value to the Great Barrier Reef. Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers want to better understand habitats on their Sea Country near Yarrabah to improve management and conservation efforts. With the last comprehensive surveys on benthic habitats in this region happening over 30 years ago, data was urgently needed on where these habitats occur, how much area they cover, and their condition. Capacity building on GMY Sea Country We partnered with Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji (GMY) Rangers to enhance their skills in mapping, monitoring, and assessing Sea Country while updating data on benthic habitats. Our scientists facilitated training, including a first-of-its-kind water confidence course for free-diving, and hands-on activities in mapping and monitoring benthic habitats to update information gaps in GMY Sea Country. We are now training GMY Rangers how to use drones to track and monitor animals that rely on these critical benthic ecosystems, such as dugong and turtles. Outcomes from this project include: Empowering a team of Rangers with the skills and confidence to lead, collaborate on, and complete on-the-ground activities on Sea Country Contributing to statistics on dugong populations across the Great Barrier Reef Filling key knowledge gaps in current deep-water seagrass monitoring Habitat assessments underway This project, which began in 2022, will improve our understanding of benthic habitats on GMY Sea Country and fill critical knowledge gaps. GMY Rangers and our scientists have: Completed habitat assessments at 226 sites, identifying over 15 km2 of seagrass habitat and six species of seagrass. Completed the targeted assessment of 41 offshore sites at seven reefs and uploaded around 1,600 photographs to the Great Reef Census AI platform for analysis. Further baseline and monitoring surveys are planned for 2024 and 2025, with funding for the project continuing until 2026. Project details This project is led by Skye McKenna and Dr Katie Chartrand in partnership with the Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers. The project is funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Department of Environment and Science’s Land and Sea Ranger Great Barrier Reef Grant Program. Research support Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Skye McKenna Senior Research Officer skye.mckenna@jcu.edu.au Research leads

Native fish are vital to Australian waterways. They support ecosystem health and serve recreational, commercial, and cultural needs. Fish habitats Using eDNA to detect barriers to fish in Australian waterways We are using environmental DNA to understand the distribution of fish species, allowing us to identify structures that act as barriers to fish migration. Featured project READ MORE Native fish are vital to Australian waterways. They support ecosystem health and serve recreational, commercial, and cultural needs. We monitor fish habitats and species in both freshwater and marine environments. This research monitors fish populations, tracks invasive fish species and helps understand fish communities. BACK We are using environmental DNA to understand the distribution of fish species, allowing us to identify structures that act as barriers to fish migration. Using eDNA to detect barriers to fish in Australian waterways Research, Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON We closely monitor coral reefs around Great Barrier Reef islands to understand their condition. We assess the impacts of disturbances such as cyclones, floods, and coral bleaching, and help track the patterns of recovery following these events. Long-term monitoring of coral reefs at inshore islands in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Our rapid visual surveys mapped 3,500 km² of benthic fauna and seagrass in five reef lagoons of the Coral Sea Marine Park, leading to further research on potential fish nurseries in deepwater marine vegetation areas. Reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping in the Coral Sea Marine Park Monitoring, Research READ MORE COMING SOON This project aims to monitor fish communities in nursery seascape, using a range of underwater camera technology. This enhances our understanding of the role habitats play in fish abundance and size. Monitoring fish communities in nursery seascapes Monitoring, Community READ MORE COMING SOON Projects Adam Smith Adjunct Professor adam.smith@jcu.edu.au Adam is CEO of Reef Ecologic (a B Corp) and has 30 years experience as a marine scientist, marine park manager, environmental consultant, Director. He has extensive regulatory, EIA, policy, partnership, incident and communication experience in coral reef research and management. He has led diverse, multidisciplinary projects associated with conservation and sustainable management of Tourism, Defence, Shipping, Fisheries, Port and Restoration in the Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. He was co-investigator (with Dr Ian McLeod) of the National Environment Science Program (NESP) Tropical Water Quality Hub project Best practice coral restoration for the Great Barrier Reef. He is a co-founder of the International Coral Reef Management and Leadership program. He is founder of the Museum of Underwater Art. He is on numerous reef and international advisory committees. Ahmed Gad PhD student Ahmed Gad is a marine ecologist and PhD candidate; his research focuses on ecological engineering of marine artificial structures to enhance biodiversity and mitigate environmental impacts in urbanised coastal environments. His work explores innovative habitat designs and their ecological performance in tropical seascapes. In parallel, Ahmed works as a Marine Scientist at GHD, a global environmental consultancy. He has over eight years of experience in marine and environmental applied research across the Middle East, USA, and Australia. His consulting work spans environmental impact assessments (EIAs), marine baseline surveys, coral reef monitoring, water quality studies, and environmental management plans for major coastal infrastructure projects. His research and industry roles are closely aligned, both aiming to promote nature-positive outcomes in coastal development. April Hall Senior Research Officer april.hall@jcu.edu.au April Hall is a senior research officer at TropWATER with broad interests in coral reef fish ecology and a particular focus on marine parks management and conservation of coral reef fish communities. April’s current research is centred on monitoring fish communities and associated benthic habitats on inshore fringing coral reef habitats of the Great Barrier Reef. April is a specialist in identifying and quantifying reef fishes, and is part of a team delivering a broad-scale integrated monitoring program for fishes on inshore reefs. In collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, in 2022 April completed an Advance Queensland Postdoctoral Research Fellowship examining the contribution of partially protected conservation park (yellow) zones to biodiversity conservation in the Marine Park. This project built on her PhD research (2015) about the importance of predatory fishes on reefs and the trophic impacts of predator removals on coral reef fish communities. The fellowship provided novel data on the contribution of yellow zones to conservation and management of reef fishes on the Great Barrier Reef. April has worked collaboratively on a range of projects in Australia and the Indo-Pacific, including examining spatial and temporal trends in coral trout abundance, evaluating outcomes from locally managed marine reserves in Fiji and Solomon Islands, and investigating the demographics and reproductive biology of reef fishes. Brendan Ebner Senior Research Officer brendan.ebner@jcu.edu.au Ebb is an ecologist with expertise in aquatic conservation. His primary interest is at the interface between society and aquatic fauna in freshwater and near shore marine ecosystems. He champions the application of direct observation and remote video for studying freshwater fishes and this has led to new insights into behaviour of rare and threatened species. This exploration has led to detection of species not previously known to occupy Australian waters and the conservation listing of species. Ebb provides key input to regional, state and national conservation planning in tropical Australia. Christopher Gillies Adjunct Associate Professor christopher.gillies@jcu.edu.au Dr Chris Gillies has worked across the science and conservation sectors in both aquatic and terrestrial environments but his true passion is the ocean. He was formerly the Director of Science at Earthwatch Australia, where he managed the scientific program across their expedition and citizen science portfolio. He has served as an invertebrate ecologist for both state and federal government environmental agencies and several consultancies. Chris is currently managing The Nature Conservancy’s Australian marine branch, leading the Great Southern Seascapes program helping to protect and restore healthy marine ecosystems from Western Australia to New South Wales. His research at JCU and TropWATER focuses on understanding shellfish reef ecology and restoration, ecosystem service benefits of aquaculture and nature-based approaches to coastal resilience. Eva McClure Senior Research Officer eva.mcclure@jcu.edu.au Eva McClure is a senior research officer at TropWATER, working with Dr Maya Srinivasan on the Great Barrier Reef Integrated Reef Fish Monitoring program. Eva’s role sees her surveying fish on inshore island reefs of the GBR and relating fish species abundance and distributions to reef condition and management zoning. She is particularly interested in fish species that have commercial and ecological importance, and how these species respond to their environment, including the effect of reef habitat change and fishing. Eva developed her experience as a fish ecologist at the University of Queensland, where she worked on a variety of projects as a research and field assistant. Topics included fish visual systems and the ecological influence of cleaner wrasse on coral reefs. Eva completed her PhD in 2019 with Prof. Garry Russ and Dr Andrew Hoey at James Cook University’s College of Science and Engineering and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. Her research, based in the Philippines, investigated the relative influence of environmental and anthropogenic drivers on reef fish assemblages, such as disturbance to habitat, fishing and the spatial context of reefs. She was a Research Fellow at Griffith University from 2019-2020 with the Global Wetlands project, working broadly in wetland ecology and on projects using artificial intelligence to identify fish species from video. From 2021 Eva returned to JCU to work on a number of projects in the Coral Sea Marine Park with Prof. Andrew Hoey in CSE, where she currently holds a part-time position. More information: •Full profile [https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/eva.mcclure/] •Publications [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Fco2RA8AAAAJ&hl] •Other links [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eva-Mcclure] Gemma Galbraith Senior Research Officer gemma.galbraith@jcu.edu.au Gemma Gailbraith completed her PhD at James Cook University in 2021. Her research explored the ecology of reef fishes on submerged seamount and pinnacle coral reefs. Before this, Gemma completed a Master of Science in marine environmental management and spent time working in the South Pacific, Caribbean and south-east Asia. Broadly, Gemma is interested in combining community ecology and emerging technologies to study remote and distinct coral reef habitats and to understand how understudied marine ecosystems are connected to the wider seascape. As a senior research officer at TropWATER, Gemma’s key focus is conducting reef fish surveys across the inshore island groups of the Great Barrier Reef as part of the IMR Reef Fish Monitoring Project. Gemma’s past research efforts have included using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and remote video technologies to investigate deep and distinct coral reefs in Papua New Guinea and the Coral Sea, and investigating connectivity between marine reserves on the Great Barrier Reef. This work was conducted at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies as a postdoctoral research associate. Geoffrey Collins Adjunct Research Fellow geoffrey.collins@jcu.edu.au Geoffrey is the Program Manager with OzFish Unlimited and Adjunct Research Fellow with TropWATER and based in Townsville, North QLD. Geoffrey has active projects across all of tropical QLD. He is working on applied research and project delivery with community groups, government, industry and traditional owners. Geoffrey is also working on a range of environmental restoration and monitoring projects including waterway monitoring and restoration, seagrass restoration, fishway monitoring and mapping tropical shellfish reefs. Ian McLeod Adjunct Professor ian.mcleod@jcu.edu.au Ian is a multidisciplinary research leader with a passion for science communication, innovation, and applied research. He has 20 years broad experience working in environmental research, management, and communication on every continent. Currently, Ian is the Executive Director, Strategy, Science and Partnerships for General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Sea Turtles in the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. He is also an Adjunct Professor at TropWATER, James Cook University. From 2022-23 Ian was the Program Director for the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. Ian was based at James Cook University from 2010 until 2023, most recently as a Professorial Research Fellow. He was seconded to the Australian Institute of Marine Science to help lead the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program from 2019-2023. From 2014-2019 Ian was also the Managing Director for Cinematic Science, a media company focused on science communication. Katie Motson Casual Research Worker katie.motson@jcu.edu.au Katie grew up in the North of England, spending most of her free-time living abroad and diving the world’s oceans. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2012 with a BSc in Geography and took to the skies once more, dreaming of diving and studying on the Great Barrier Reef. In 2014 Katie obtained her MSc in Marine Biology & Ecology at James Cook University, investigating the capacity for thermal developmental acclimation in three tropical wrasse species. After spending two years working in various research positions: as a research assistant for Prof. Philip Munday; as a Research Projects Officer with CSIRO in Brisbane; and researching the effects of Cyclone Winston on coral reefs in Fiji, Katie returned to her academic nest at JCU to begin her next adventure. Under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Hoey and Dr. Kate Hutson, Katie’s PhD looks at the effects of coral reef condition and disturbance on the parasite communities infecting herbivorous fish on the Great Barrier Reef. Kevin Kane Adjunct Associate Professor kevin.kane@jcu.edu.au As a marine science graduate and postgraduate in the 90’s, Kevin studied and worked at James Cook University (JCU) in the areas of reef research, aquaculture and fisheries science. Since then Kevin has been a Hatchery Manager, Construction Manager, Fisheries Inspector, Maritime Safety Officer, a Principal with the Department of Environment and Heritage, before his present role with North Queensland Bulk Ports in 2010. Kevin previously chaired the Queensland Ports Association Environment and Planning Committee, and is active on a range of Great Barrier Reef advisory panels and regional committees. He co-chaired an international working group authoring a practical guideline on environmental risk management of navigational infrastructure projects. Kevin was integral in establishing what is now one of Queensland’s most extensive coastal marine monitoring programs and a long-standing partnership with James Cook University. Also a long standing member of the management committee of the Mackay Whitsunday Healthily Rivers to Reef Partnership, Kevin holds a number of directorships on the boards of Natural Resource Management Regions Queensland, The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure – Australia/New Zealand and Reef Catchments Limited. Kirsty Whitman Research Worker kirsty.whitman@jcu.edu.au Kirsty started diving in 2011 and loved it so much that she decided to become a dive instructor. She started working at AQWA (Aquarium of Western Australia) as an ocean guide and dive master. Kirsty then went overseas to Mexico working as a dive instructor. She started volunteering for Reef Life Survey doing temperate and tropical biodiversity surveys in 2015 and loved this side of the diving and science world. Kirsty started her Bachelor of Marine Science in 2016 at James Cook University and would work in Cairns in the summer breaks as a dive instructor. After finishing her degree, she worked as a marine biologist, dive instructor on Passions of Paradise, doing Eye on the Reef surveys and coral nurturing. Kirsty loves introducing people and educating them to the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Maya Srinivasan Principal Research Officer maya.srinivasan@jcu.edu.au Maya Srinivasan is an experienced researcher in the field of coral reef ecology with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. She is skilled in Marine Research Design, Lecturing, Conservation Issues, and Scientific Writing. Maya is a strong research professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Reef Fish Recruitment from James Cook University and is currently running a monitoring program on inshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Paul Marshall Adjunct Professor paul.marshall@jcu.edu.au Paul is responsible for leading the visionary program to conserve 95% of NEOM (25,000 km2) as a protected area spanning spectacular red deserts, snow-capped mountains, vibrant coral reefs and deep ocean habitats. NEOM is a gigaproject that aims to accelerate human progress and spearhead delivery of Vision 2030 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In collaboration with Saudi Arabian and international partners, the NEOM Nature Reserve will kickstart a new era in the conservation of Arabian wildlife through a unique approach integrating landscape-scale habitat restoration, rewilding, nature-based tourism and development planning. Before joining NEOM, Paul served as a Managing Director of Reef Ecologic, a company specialized in creating innovative solutions for environmental challenges. This followed a 15-year career in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, where he was the founding director of the Climate Change Program and led key programs in research, monitoring, conservation planning and resilience-based management. Throughout his career spanning private sector, government and NGO engagements, Paul has regularly advised and worked with international organisations, national governments, NGOs and leaders from the private sector. These have included International Union for the Conservation of Nature, UNESCO, The Nature Conservancy, NOAA, The Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and governments of Australia, USA, St Lucia, Grenada, Belize, Vietnam, Palau and Saudi Arabia. He is a founding member of the IUCN Working Group on Climate Change and Coral Reefs, member of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, member of the Advisory Board of the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre, founding co-chair of the International Working Group on Management for the Coral Restoration Consortium and serves on the Executive Committee for Sustainability of the Red Sea. Samantha Tol Senior Research Officer samantha.tol@jcu.edu.au Samantha is an ecologist dedicated to unravelling the intricacies of marine ecosystems. Presently, her research encompasses seagrass and algal ecology. She has led investigations mapping benthic habitats within the Coral Sea Marine Park's deepwater lagoons, providing critical insights for habitat preservation and marine management. Simultaneously, her postdoctoral pursuits concentrate on pioneering environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to detect Yellow Crazy Ants and their eDNA degradation, offering promising pathways for biosecurity enhancement. Samantha’s journey began with the Seagrass Ecology Team at TropWATER since 2012, contributing to coastal seagrass monitoring for industrial sectors. In 2021, she successfully completed her PhD, studying the complex dispersal mechanisms of tropical seagrass, notably emphasizing the influential roles of dugongs and green sea turtles. This research has provided insight for conservation strategies, through emphasizing the crucial interplay between species interactions and ecosystem health. Overall, Samantha's research is marked by a dedicated commitment to bridging academic exploration and practical applicability. Her work provides a synergy between theoretical insight and real-world impact, contributing to the preservation of marine environments and advancing the boundaries of ecological understanding. Sofi Forsman Master's student Originally from California, Sofi spent much of her childhood at the beach exploring tide pools and collecting shells. After spending her teen years volunteering at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Marine Science Institute in Redwood City, she attended the University of Oregon, graduating with B.S. degrees in marine biology and environmental studies in 2022. It was during this time that she became dive certified and developed a passion for marine ecology and conservation. After finishing college, she spent time in Mexico, El Salvador, and Oregon before moving to Cairns to pursue her M.Phil with TropWATER in 2024. Sofi’s project focuses on mapping fish-benthic habitat associations and their implications for conservation planning in Marra Sea Country in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In addition to her studies, she works as a casual researcher assisting with image analysis, fish identification, GIS, and field work. In her free time, she enjoys being in the water, hiking, and knitting. Overall, Sofi is excited to be a part of the TropWATER team and hopes that her work can assist with long-term sustainable management of vital coastal ecosystems. Tim Smith Senior Research Officer tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au Tim Smith is a marine ecologist with a background in seagrass and fisheries ecology. His research largely focuses on seagrass resilience and restoration, fisheries contribution and connectivity. Tim completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2010 on the effects of seagrass landscape on fish assemblages and maintained a broad interest in seagrass habitats. Tim has received funding from industry and government for projects that aim to understand fisheries and aquaculture practices to improve efficiency and reduce bycatch, investigate the impacts of herbivory on seagrass ecosystems, and is involved in mapping and monitoring seagrass habitats throughout North Queensland Ports. Tim has conducted research at institutes across the world, including Chile, Spain and France, and has worked in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. More recently, Tim has been monitoring fish community in nearshore habitats using underwater video to better understand fish connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef. This is in collaboration with researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the University of Sunshine Coast, and with Traditional Owners and rangers. Tim is also part of an ARC and industry-funded team working to develop a toolkit for tropical seagrass restoration, then up-scaling this for far north Queensland. Researchers MORE ACCESS Donaldson J, Maeda K, Iida M, Kobayashi H, Ebner BC, Tran HD. Fish habitats New distributional records of four amphidromous gobies (Gobioidie: Sicydiinae) in contential Vietnam. ACCESS Moy K, Schaffer J, Hammer MP, et al. Fish habitats Alternative conservation outcomes from aquatic fauna translocations: Losing and saving the running River rainbowfish. ACCESS Jahanbakht M, Azghadi MR, Waltham NJ. Fish habitats Semi-supervised and weakly-supervised deep neural networks and dataset for fish detection in turbid underwater videos. ACCESS Harrison HB, Drane L, Berumen ML, Cresswell BJ, Evans RD, Galbraith GF, Srinvasan M, Taylor BM, Williamson DH, Jones GP. Fish habitats Ageing of juvenile coral grouper (Plectropomus maculatus ) reveals year-round spawning and recruitment: Implication for seasonal closures. ACCESS Bradley M, Sheaves M, Waltham NJ. Fish habitats Urban-industrial seascapes can be abundant and dynamic fish habitat. ACCESS Lear KO, Ebner BC, Fazeldean T, Whitty J, Morgan DL. Fish habitats Inter-decadal variation in diadromous and potamodromous fish assemblanges in a near pristine tropical dryland river. ACCESS Douglas SRL, Tebbett SB, Choukroun S, Goatley CHR, Bellwood DR. Fish habitats Depth stratified light trap sampling reveals variation in the depth distribution of late-stage cryptobenthic reef fish larvae. ACCESS Sheaves M, Mattone C, Barnett A, Abrantes K, Bradley M, Sheaves A, Sheaves J, Waltham NJ. Fish habitats Whale sharks as oceanic nurseries for Golden Trevally. Reports and publications MORE

Coral reef habitats support thousands of species. The Great Barrier Reef alone makes up about 10 per cent of the world's coral reef ecosystem. Coral reef habitats Long-term environmental records across the Great Barrier Reef We are producing new environmental and climate proxy records to provide a greater understanding of the Reef's disturbance history and long-term ecosystem evolution. Featured project READ MORE Coral reef habitats support thousands of species. The Great Barrier Reef alone makes up about 10 per cent of the world's coral reef ecosystem. Our scientists undertake multiple monitoring programs to provide governments and industries with essential data on the condition of coral habitats. We also work closely with Traditional Owners, communities, and tourism operators in monitoring and coral reef resilience-building projects. BACK We surveyed over 250 km of coastline with First Nations partners to assess the impact of flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, one year after the flood event. Assessing the impacts of flooding after Tropical Cyclone Jasper Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON A local network to connect, grow and champion the efforts of diverse organisations in the region to support the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns Port Douglas Reef Hub Community READ MORE COMING SOON We closely monitor coral reefs around Great Barrier Reef islands to understand their condition. We assess the impacts of disturbances such as cyclones, floods, and coral bleaching, and help track the patterns of recovery following these events. Long-term monitoring of coral reefs at inshore islands in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Our rapid visual surveys mapped 3,500 km² of benthic fauna and seagrass in five reef lagoons of the Coral Sea Marine Park, leading to further research on potential fish nurseries in deepwater marine vegetation areas. Reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping in the Coral Sea Marine Park Monitoring, Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are producing new environmental and climate proxy records to provide a greater understanding of the Reef's disturbance history and long-term ecosystem evolution. Long-term environmental records across the Great Barrier Reef Research READ MORE COMING SOON Our long-term environmental monitoring of port industries is extensive, covering coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity. Long-term monitoring for port industries: coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects Adam Smith Adjunct Professor adam.smith@jcu.edu.au Adam is CEO of Reef Ecologic (a B Corp) and has 30 years experience as a marine scientist, marine park manager, environmental consultant, Director. He has extensive regulatory, EIA, policy, partnership, incident and communication experience in coral reef research and management. He has led diverse, multidisciplinary projects associated with conservation and sustainable management of Tourism, Defence, Shipping, Fisheries, Port and Restoration in the Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. He was co-investigator (with Dr Ian McLeod) of the National Environment Science Program (NESP) Tropical Water Quality Hub project Best practice coral restoration for the Great Barrier Reef. He is a co-founder of the International Coral Reef Management and Leadership program. He is founder of the Museum of Underwater Art. He is on numerous reef and international advisory committees. April Hall Senior Research Officer april.hall@jcu.edu.au April Hall is a senior research officer at TropWATER with broad interests in coral reef fish ecology and a particular focus on marine parks management and conservation of coral reef fish communities. April’s current research is centred on monitoring fish communities and associated benthic habitats on inshore fringing coral reef habitats of the Great Barrier Reef. April is a specialist in identifying and quantifying reef fishes, and is part of a team delivering a broad-scale integrated monitoring program for fishes on inshore reefs. In collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, in 2022 April completed an Advance Queensland Postdoctoral Research Fellowship examining the contribution of partially protected conservation park (yellow) zones to biodiversity conservation in the Marine Park. This project built on her PhD research (2015) about the importance of predatory fishes on reefs and the trophic impacts of predator removals on coral reef fish communities. The fellowship provided novel data on the contribution of yellow zones to conservation and management of reef fishes on the Great Barrier Reef. April has worked collaboratively on a range of projects in Australia and the Indo-Pacific, including examining spatial and temporal trends in coral trout abundance, evaluating outcomes from locally managed marine reserves in Fiji and Solomon Islands, and investigating the demographics and reproductive biology of reef fishes. Gemma Galbraith Senior Research Officer gemma.galbraith@jcu.edu.au Gemma Gailbraith completed her PhD at James Cook University in 2021. Her research explored the ecology of reef fishes on submerged seamount and pinnacle coral reefs. Before this, Gemma completed a Master of Science in marine environmental management and spent time working in the South Pacific, Caribbean and south-east Asia. Broadly, Gemma is interested in combining community ecology and emerging technologies to study remote and distinct coral reef habitats and to understand how understudied marine ecosystems are connected to the wider seascape. As a senior research officer at TropWATER, Gemma’s key focus is conducting reef fish surveys across the inshore island groups of the Great Barrier Reef as part of the IMR Reef Fish Monitoring Project. Gemma’s past research efforts have included using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and remote video technologies to investigate deep and distinct coral reefs in Papua New Guinea and the Coral Sea, and investigating connectivity between marine reserves on the Great Barrier Reef. This work was conducted at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies as a postdoctoral research associate. Ian McLeod Adjunct Professor ian.mcleod@jcu.edu.au Ian is a multidisciplinary research leader with a passion for science communication, innovation, and applied research. He has 20 years broad experience working in environmental research, management, and communication on every continent. Currently, Ian is the Executive Director, Strategy, Science and Partnerships for General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Sea Turtles in the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. He is also an Adjunct Professor at TropWATER, James Cook University. From 2022-23 Ian was the Program Director for the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. Ian was based at James Cook University from 2010 until 2023, most recently as a Professorial Research Fellow. He was seconded to the Australian Institute of Marine Science to help lead the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program from 2019-2023. From 2014-2019 Ian was also the Managing Director for Cinematic Science, a media company focused on science communication. Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Dr Katie Chartrand has 20 years of expertise spanning tropical coral and seagrass ecosystems, photobiology, spatial analysis, and mapping. Katie's extensive research background has influenced the management and compliance of large-scale dredging programs. Katie’s research also extends to monitoring at-risk habitats, particularly inshore coral reefs and seagrass, while leading multiple applied research programs focused on replenishing high value marine ecosystems in a highly collaborative framework. Katie's passion has centred on building authentic partnerships with First Nations communities and tourism operators on the Great Barrier Reef. Her initiatives include the Great Reef Census, a citizen science-based monitoring program, Mars Reef Stars for rubble stabilization and repair, and coral larval delivery at targeted reef locations. These initiatives drive localised and scalable outcomes, anchored in partnerships spanning various sectors, including ports, indigenous rangers, tourism, and citizen science, complementing traditional government bodies such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Katie's overarching philosophy is to forge strong partnerships, using interdisciplinary networks to support scalable research strategies and conservation science. Through this approach, she is dedicated to advancing the science and management of reef and coastal assets. Katie’s research offers solutions that are making a tangible and positive impact on the preservation and resilience of our vital marine ecosystems. Katie Motson Casual Research Worker katie.motson@jcu.edu.au Katie grew up in the North of England, spending most of her free-time living abroad and diving the world’s oceans. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2012 with a BSc in Geography and took to the skies once more, dreaming of diving and studying on the Great Barrier Reef. In 2014 Katie obtained her MSc in Marine Biology & Ecology at James Cook University, investigating the capacity for thermal developmental acclimation in three tropical wrasse species. After spending two years working in various research positions: as a research assistant for Prof. Philip Munday; as a Research Projects Officer with CSIRO in Brisbane; and researching the effects of Cyclone Winston on coral reefs in Fiji, Katie returned to her academic nest at JCU to begin her next adventure. Under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Hoey and Dr. Kate Hutson, Katie’s PhD looks at the effects of coral reef condition and disturbance on the parasite communities infecting herbivorous fish on the Great Barrier Reef. Kevin Kane Adjunct Associate Professor kevin.kane@jcu.edu.au As a marine science graduate and postgraduate in the 90’s, Kevin studied and worked at James Cook University (JCU) in the areas of reef research, aquaculture and fisheries science. Since then Kevin has been a Hatchery Manager, Construction Manager, Fisheries Inspector, Maritime Safety Officer, a Principal with the Department of Environment and Heritage, before his present role with North Queensland Bulk Ports in 2010. Kevin previously chaired the Queensland Ports Association Environment and Planning Committee, and is active on a range of Great Barrier Reef advisory panels and regional committees. He co-chaired an international working group authoring a practical guideline on environmental risk management of navigational infrastructure projects. Kevin was integral in establishing what is now one of Queensland’s most extensive coastal marine monitoring programs and a long-standing partnership with James Cook University. Also a long standing member of the management committee of the Mackay Whitsunday Healthily Rivers to Reef Partnership, Kevin holds a number of directorships on the boards of Natural Resource Management Regions Queensland, The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure – Australia/New Zealand and Reef Catchments Limited. Maya Srinivasan Principal Research Officer maya.srinivasan@jcu.edu.au Maya Srinivasan is an experienced researcher in the field of coral reef ecology with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. She is skilled in Marine Research Design, Lecturing, Conservation Issues, and Scientific Writing. Maya is a strong research professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Reef Fish Recruitment from James Cook University and is currently running a monitoring program on inshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Paul Marshall Adjunct Professor paul.marshall@jcu.edu.au Paul is responsible for leading the visionary program to conserve 95% of NEOM (25,000 km2) as a protected area spanning spectacular red deserts, snow-capped mountains, vibrant coral reefs and deep ocean habitats. NEOM is a gigaproject that aims to accelerate human progress and spearhead delivery of Vision 2030 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In collaboration with Saudi Arabian and international partners, the NEOM Nature Reserve will kickstart a new era in the conservation of Arabian wildlife through a unique approach integrating landscape-scale habitat restoration, rewilding, nature-based tourism and development planning. Before joining NEOM, Paul served as a Managing Director of Reef Ecologic, a company specialized in creating innovative solutions for environmental challenges. This followed a 15-year career in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, where he was the founding director of the Climate Change Program and led key programs in research, monitoring, conservation planning and resilience-based management. Throughout his career spanning private sector, government and NGO engagements, Paul has regularly advised and worked with international organisations, national governments, NGOs and leaders from the private sector. These have included International Union for the Conservation of Nature, UNESCO, The Nature Conservancy, NOAA, The Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and governments of Australia, USA, St Lucia, Grenada, Belize, Vietnam, Palau and Saudi Arabia. He is a founding member of the IUCN Working Group on Climate Change and Coral Reefs, member of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, member of the Advisory Board of the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre, founding co-chair of the International Working Group on Management for the Coral Restoration Consortium and serves on the Executive Committee for Sustainability of the Red Sea. Roger Beeden Adjunct Professor roger.beeden@jcu.edu.au Roger is the Reef Authority’s Chief Scientist. He has held several senior management roles since he joined the Reef Authority in 2008 including positions in Climate Change, Reef Knowledge, Reef Interventions and Tourism and Stewardship. His current role is the culmination of more than two decades working to protect the Reef, and focuses on communicating the Reef Authority’s key management initiatives to the community and developing science collaborations with national and international research teams to better protect the Reef for future generations. In recent years Roger has focused on the expansion and delivery of the Crown-of-thorns starfish control work and coordination with the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. These initiatives are delivered in partnership with government, not-for-profit, industry, community and Traditional Owners, serving as front-line response actions that can be taken to protect the Reef for future generations. The demonstrated coral protection outcomes delivered by the COTS control program aid the implementation of the Reef 2050 plan, inform the five-yearly Outlook report, and underpin resilience-based management of the Great Barrier Reef as the climate changes. Originally from the UK, Roger moved to Townsville in 2004 to complete an MSc degree in Marine Biology at James Cook University. Since then, he has combined this knowledge with 12 years of commercial marketing experience from the pharmaceutical industry to identify strategies to support the future of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem under a changing climate. In partnership with a range of scientific, government and non-government organisations Roger has focused on improving Reef stewardship and building knowledge about the resilience of coral reef ecosystems to climate change. Roger completed a PhD in 2014 that examined how individuals, industry and managers can jointly assess reef health to inform actions to support the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Severine Choukroun Research Associate severine.choukroun@jcu.edu.au Severine Choukroun is a physical oceanographer and biophysical modeller with a background in marine science. Severine has developped hydrodynamic models models for understanding and predicting ecological processes – like how marine life moves in ocean currents – and understanding how physical and biological processes influence marine population connectivity and persistence. She has significant experience in conducting observational and modelling research on coastal and shelf dynamics, coupled with biophysical modelling that integrates complex early life behaviour. Severine’s recent activities include work with crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), including a project with CSIRO to develop information infrastructure to better share modelled data between stakeholders involved in COTS control. This will improve data-sharing reliability and efficiency, while aligning with the broader infrastructures already being created through other programs. Severine is also studying patterns of COTS outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef by tracking larval spread via ocean currents. Understanding, measuring and predicting how larvae are dispersed is vital to both modelling COTS outbreaks on the GBR and controlling those outbreaks effectively. Tessa Concannon Research Worker tessa.concannon@jcu.edu.au Tess joined the TropWATER team in 2024. She works across a range of projects including seagrass and coral monitoring, spatial analysis, coral recruitment studies, running training workshops for community members and Indigenous Rangers both on and off Country, and collaborating with industry partners. Tess completed her Bachelor of Animal Science in 2014, her Graduate Diploma in Conservation Biology in 2016, and is currently completing her Masters in Conservation Biology. Tess is a qualified coxswain and has extensive experience in scientific diving, management and work health and safety practices, and coral reef health monitoring. Previous work has seen Tess project manage a collaborative reef restoration and community engagement project with Traditional Owners, facilitate a broad range of research and education activities on JCU's Orpheus Island Research Station as a Station Officer, and manage and train teams in marine naturalist guiding in multiple locations on the Great Barrier Reef. Researchers MORE ACCESS Barrios-Garrido H, Alatawi A, Alghrair M, Alkaboor A, Ghazzawi E, Khamis A, Lyons B, Marshall P, Vijaya AP, Santillan A, Porej D, Cowie W, Ramalho RO. Coral reef habitats Post-breeding dispersal of nesting marine turtles from the NEOM Islands, Saudi Arabia. ACCESS Cartwright P, Browne N, Fearns P, O'Leary M, Lowe R. Coral reef habitats Applying ensemble climate models to predict the fate of marginal coral reefs already existing at thermal and turbidity limits in arid tropical Australia. ACCESS Bode M, Choukroun S, Emslie MJ, Harrison HB, Leis JM, Mason LB, Srinivasan M, Williamson DH, Jones GP. Coral reef habitats Marine reserves contribute half of the larval supply to a coral reef fishery. ACCESS Suggett DJ, Goergen EA, Fraser M, Hein MY, Hoot W, McLeod I, Montoya-Maya PH, Moore T, Ross AM, Vardi T. Coral reef habitats A user’s guide to coral reef restoration terminologies. ACCESS Emslie MJ, Ceccarelli DM, Logan M, Blandford MI, Bray P, Campili AR, Cantin N, Choukroun S, Cole A, Jonker MJ, Langlais C, Puotinen M, Prenslau T, Sinclair-Taylor TH, Stephenson B. Coral reef habitats Anthropogenic climate change causes substantial loss of coral on the northern Great Barrier Reef during the 2024 bleaching event. ACCESS Smith AK, Jefferies J, Gordon IJ, Coulter-Atkins K-M, Shand A, Turton SM. Coral reef habitats Citizen science facilitates reporting of reef fish species’ ecological health indicators in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ACCESS Lawson CL, Chartrand KM, Roelfsema CM, Kolluru A, Mumby PJ. Coral reef habitats Broadscale reconnaissance of coral reefs from citizen science and deep learning. ACCESS Mason RAB, Langlais C, Uribe-Palomino J, Tonks M, Coman F, Choukroun S, Porobic J, Coropoulos C. Coral reef habitats Reef-scale variation in larval supply and settlement: validating Lagrangian dispersal predictions with observations of coral larvae. Reports and publications MORE

Good water quality is essential for the health of marine and freshwater ecosystems. When water quality declines, the resilience of these ecosystems weakens. Water quality: catchment to reef Impact of water quality and river plumes in the Great Barrier Reef For over two decades, we've studied how runoff from land and river plumes enter the Great Barrier Reef. Featured project READ MORE Good water quality is essential for the health of marine and freshwater ecosystems. When water quality declines, the resilience of these ecosystems weakens. We play a major role in monitoring the condition and tracking long-term trends of pollutants entering the Great Barrier Reef. We also work with growers, graziers and communities to help reduce runoff and improve on-farm practices. BACK Five years after widespread flooding in northwest Queensland, we assessed land and soil condition across grazing lands to better understand recovery and resilience. Post-2019 flood recovery of Mitchell Grass Downs grazing lands Research READ MORE COMING SOON Our program provides real-time nitrate data to growers in Great Barrier Reef catchments, helping them quickly adjust practices to reduce runoff. Water quality monitoring for growers using high-frequency sensors Community READ MORE COMING SOON Our researchers train and support tourism operators and communities in collecting data to better understand water clarity, nutrients, and temperature at key tourism sites. Whitsunday water quality monitoring: citizen science and ecotourism Community, Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON We are producing new environmental and climate proxy records to provide a greater understanding of the Reef's disturbance history and long-term ecosystem evolution. Long-term environmental records across the Great Barrier Reef Research READ MORE COMING SOON We use multiple lines of evidence including water quality monitoring, tracing, modelling, and proxy-based data analysis, to a better understand of the catchment-to-marine connection. Pollutant sources, transport and fate across catchment to Reef Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are collaborating with extension staff throughout the Great Barrier Reef catchment to enhance their understanding of water quality science and how to effectively communicate it. Improving water quality science communication Community READ MORE COMING SOON This research uses satellite images and advanced remote sensing technology to map and monitor water quality conditions, including flood plumes, across expansive reef ecosystems. Large scale water quality monitoring using remote sensing Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON By consolidating historical water quality data, we aim to uncover the spatial and temporal scope of existing monitoring efforts, enabling analysis of water quality trends across broader scales. Historical water quality database for the Great Barrier Reef Research READ MORE COMING SOON For over two decades, we've studied how runoff from land and river plumes enter the Great Barrier Reef. Impact of water quality and river plumes in the Great Barrier Reef Monitoring, Research READ MORE COMING SOON Our long-term environmental monitoring of port industries is extensive, covering coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity. Long-term monitoring for port industries: coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects Aaron Davis Principal Research Officer aaron.davis@jcu.edu.au Aaron Davis’ research broadly focuses on catchment water quality in northern Australia, particularly the role of anthropogenic (human) stressors in aquatic communities. One of his key research interests is identifying progressive agricultural practices that offer industry improvements from a natural resource management perspective, while also ensuring the long-term social and economic viability of farming enterprises. Aaron is also interested in better quantifying the temporal and spatial extent of water quality contamination in coastal freshwater and estuarine wetlands, particularly in regard to chronic, sub-lethal exposure to pollutants. Other research interests include landscape ecology in relation to wetland connectivity, and identifying primary production sources for aquatic communities and relationships to flow regime (for instance, dietary and isotopic ecology). Aaron’s research interests also span fish ecology, particularly size-related trophic ecology, and the evolutionary processes influencing the present-day Australasian fish fauna. This includes the biogeographic, phylogenetic and paleoecological drivers that have shaped the unique contemporary fish assemblage structure seen in Australian freshwaters. Barry Butler Principal Research Officer barry.butler@jcu.edu.au Barry is a limnological consultant with more than thirty years experience studying the relationships between ambient water quality, ecological health and anthropogenic pressures in the freshwater ecosystems of northern Australia. Since joining the current research group at TropWATER (formerly the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research) in 1990 he has participated in numerous interdisciplinary contract research and consultancy projects for government agencies, resource managers, and industrial clients such as mines and refineries, and has authored in excess of 150 environmental monitoring reports for submission to State and Federal regulatory authorities. Ben Jarihani Principal Research Officer ben.jarihani@jcu.edu.au With a fervent commitment to advancing environmental science and water resources engineering, Ben brings a wealth of professional and research excellence to James Cook University. As a seasoned hydrologist and water engineer with over 25 years of industry experience, his expertise spans Environmental Earth Science, Water Resources Engineering, Catchment and Coastal Processes, and Environmental Modelling. Armed with a PhD in Hydrological Science from the University of Queensland and dual master's degrees in Water Resources Engineering and Remote Sensing/GIS, Ben possesses a robust educational foundation in environmental modelling. His multifaceted career has seen him successfully navigate diverse multidisciplinary research projects, utilising advanced modeling skills and spatial analysis. In addition to his research prowess, he has demonstrated a dedication to education, delivering courses on Hydrology, Natural Hazards, Geomorphology, Remote Sensing, and GIS at undergraduate and master's levels. Ben has actively mentored students and supervised numerous PhD and Honours candidates, showcasing his commitment to knowledge dissemination. His interests include water resources management and engineering, watershed management and water quality modelling, environmental modelling (including hydrological and hydrodynamic modelling), hydroinformatics, flood risk assessment and mitigation, water-energy-food nexus, ecohydrology, remote sensing applications in hydrology, natural disasters and resilience to climate extremes, and soil and gully erosion modelling and mapping. Caroline Petus Senior Research Officer caroline.petus@jcu.edu.au Caroline Petus is originally from the south-western coast of France. She completed her PhD (2009) at the University of Bordeaux (France) and moved to Australia in 2010. Caroline is interested in how Earth observation sciences can contribute to the conservation of natural resources. Her research focus on monitoring marine environments conditions and trends through the integration of in-situ and satellite data and on translating these spatial data into relevant information for management. One key focus is the monitoring of water quality, including the mapping of riverine plumes and land-sourced contaminants transport and the assessment of marine habitats exposure and risk to flood waters (seagrasses and coral reefs). Caroline loves showcasing satellite images to support scientific stories and is passionate about promoting and facilitating the use of Earth observation technologies in marine conservation. Caroline has 10 years of experience working in the Oceania region through TropWATER and is currently one of the principal investigators for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority project Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program ($4,340,656 over 11 years). Caroline was also an investigator in water quality and seagrass projects for the Department of the Environment, and for multidisciplinary research and monitoring projects in Australia and overseas. Cassandra James Senior Research Scientist cassandra.james@jcu.edu.au Cassie James is an experienced aquatic ecologist with a research interest in riparian and wetland vegetation. She specialises in using information technologies and GIS to collate, manage and analyse data and support ecological research. Cassie completed a Bachelor of Science in plant biology at the University of Wales, Bangor, before transitioning to Liverpool University to complete a PhD in 1999 investigating the dynamics of invasive aquatic plants. Following stints working in the Murray Darling Basin, China and south-east Queensland, Cassie moved to Townsville in 2012 to work on identifying climate refuges for freshwater biodiversity, joining TropWATER in 2013. Some of Cassie’s recent projects include conducting a review of water quality monitoring and evaluation for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN)-focused projects for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and managing the long-standing ambient monitoring for Defence at the Townsville Field Training Area. She has also been involved in a Queensland Department of Environment and Science project, compiling extensive historical water quality data into a single database that will be available to all researchers, modellers and end-users working in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area. Chris Williams Research Worker chris.williams@jcu.edu.au Chris Williams is a civil/environmental engineer with more than 35 years’ experience in assessment and management of water quality in riverine and coastal systems across northern Australia and south-east Asia. This experience spans process design and modelling, wastewater treatment, mine tailings disposal, riverine and estuarine geomorphology and environmental data management. Chris’ primary research focus is developing the Australian water quality management framework to account for spatial and temporal complexity in highly ephemeral, tropical drainage systems. Current work is seeing Chris designing and implementing Receiving Environment Monitoring Programs (REMPs), which support surface water management and regulatory compliance by external mining clients in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Annual REMP reporting, and associated surface water investigations, address the physical, chemical, and biological context to observed water quality outcomes, with the aim to distinguish potential mine influence from wider background variation. Chris has co-authored more than 70 major investigation reports in this area during his time at TropWATER. Jack Koci Senior Research Officer jack.koci@jcu.edu.au Dr Jack Koci is a Senior Research Officer at the Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), with over ten years’ experience working across university, government, and industry. Jack is committed to working collaboratively with community, industry, and government to deliver innovative and science-based solutions to challenges affecting agricultural and rangeland productivity, while preserving the health and function of natural landscapes, waterways, and biodiversity. Jack’s research is primarily focused on improving understanding of the causes, processes, impacts and management of land degradation in tropical agro-ecosystems. In this research, Jack combines detailed on-ground field studies, including soil, water, and vegetation monitoring, mapping and modelling, with broader scale remote sensing, including the use of drones and satellites. Prior to joining TropWATER, Jack worked as a Lecturer in the College of Science Engineering at James Cook University, Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Field Scientist at Seqwater, and Project Officer at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Jane Waterhouse Senior Research Officer jane.waterhouse@jcu.edu.au Jane is an environmental scientist with 26 years’ experience in Great Barrier Reef ‘catchment to reef’ water quality science and management. She specialises in the synthesis of scientific information to inform management decisions, reflected by her coordination or lead role in the 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2022 Scientific Consensus Statements. She has also been involved in several research projects involving water quality monitoring, modelling and analysis in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait and has led the inshore water quality monitoring component of the Marine Monitoring Program at TropWATER since 2015. Jane has worked on several projects to guide government investment including development of end-of-catchment pollutant load reduction targets, assessment of the risk of water quality to sensitive ecosystems to guide spatial priorities, and coordination and input to several regional Water Quality Improvement Plans. She is an advisor to the Reef Trust Partnership Water Quality Program and is a member of several committees including the Reef 2050 Independent Expert Panel, the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership Independent Science Panel and the Reef Credits Technical Advisory Committee. Luke Buono Research Worker luke.buono@jcu.edu.au As a Research Worker, Luke plays a pivotal role in advancing scientific endeavours by offering technical support to research scientists. His responsibilities encompass the selection and configuration of environmental monitoring equipment, overseeing the logistical operations of research experiments and projects, as well as designing workflows related to post-processing of research data and data quality analysis. Notably, Luke has been directly involved in the maintenance and installation of over twenty real-time nitrate-nitrogen monitoring stations across the wet tropics, making significant contributions to the Great Barrier Reef catchment-to-reef monitoring projects. Luke also strives to achieve cross-disciplinary visionary within project and research design by applying the theoretical and practical insights from various fields to generate novel and effective solutions to technical problems. His expertise further extends to designing data visualisation tools, establishing communication protocols and data acquisition services, programming embedded systems to achieve monitoring goals and the communication of scientific data back to relevant stakeholders and community members. Luke is interested in leveraging IoT technology to create cost-effective, large-scale sensing networks, enriching researchers with comprehensive water quality data for the region. Michelle Devlin Adjunct Senior Research Fellow michelle.devlin@jcu.edu.au Michelle has been undertaking research in the areas of tropical and temperate marine ecosystems since 1990. Her work specialises in the environmental monitoring of water quality and eutrophication and the provision of regulatory advice on eutrophication. Michelle’s projects have involved management of national and international research programs relating to the fate and consequences of human activity and pollutants on freshwater, coastal and offshore marine waters, establishing links between the freshwater zone and marine systems, and coastal zone management. Michelle Tink Manager, Laboratories TropWATER michelle.tink@jcu.edu.au Michelle Tink is an Analytical Chemist with 30 years of experience as a Laboratory Manager having managed and worked in laboratories analysing oil, soil, plants and water. Michelle began her career at Tobacco Research Board (Harare Zimbabwe) in the Analytical Chemistry Services Division where she developed expertise in a variety of analytical instruments including GC, HPLC, AAS & UV-Vis Spectrophotometers. Michelle then joined Tribology Services (Harare Zimbabwe) where she oversaw the establishment and operation of their Oil Analysis Laboratory for 9 years before relocating to Townsville in 2001. After a number of years as General Manager of Oil Solutions NQ in Townsville Michelle joined CSIRO Land and Water in their Soil, Plant and Water Laboratory where she developed expertise in soil, plant and water analysis techniques in particular nutrient analysis using segmented flow analysers. In 2007 Michelle joined TropWATER (ACTFR) where she has been responsible for the upgrading of laboratory instrumentation and establishment of streamlined workflows to improve the efficiency and turnaround times of the laboratory while maintaining the quality of the water quality data. During this time in addition to managing the Water Quality Lab on a day to day basis Michelle has also specialized in low level nutrient analysis and works with research scientists to provide customized analytical services to support their research outcomes. Patrick Cunningham Laboratory Technician patrick.cunningham1@jcu.edu.au Since graduating at JCU in 2012, Patrick has taken up the role as laboratory technician for the water quality laboratory at TropWATER. Ambitiously, he has delved deep into the science of water quality and quantitative analysis. Now with 13 years of experience Patrick has acquired many lab-based skills and his knowledge of water quality continues to flourish and grow. Patrick’s educational background is chemistry and he has a Bachelor of Science with honours. One particular interest of his is quantitative analysis of chlorophyll a using both UV-Vis and Fluorescence spectroscopy. Patrick has been involved in producing data from all kinds of sample points from the marine environment to inland aquatic habitats, occasionally undertaking fieldwork when it is required. Paula Cartwright Senior Research Officer paula.cartwright@jcu.edu.au Paula is a multi-disciplinary scientist specialising in marine and aquatic ecosystems. Her current research includes: 1) analysing spectral light wavelengths reaching benthic habitats (seagrasses, coral reefs) under changing metocean conditions and catchment pollutants; 2) investigating the impacts of urban/industrial and agricultural terrestrial activities on the northern Australian coastal water quality; 3) understanding the ecology of temporary waterholes across northern Australia and the potential effects of changes to the environmental water regime; and, 4) analysing current and historical satellite imagery to define distribution of freshwater river plumes for sediment and nutrients over northern Australian, and their relationship to river flow to examine future plume extent under future development and climate scenarios. Previously Paula has examined oceanic properties (physical, chemical, and biological) and quantified their relationship to climatic processes such as El-Nino Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole events, as well as regional synoptic influences; developed algorithms for detecting marine sediment plumes and provided ‘toolkits’ for managers to monitor water quality from river outflow, conducted research in marine benthic ecology using remotely operated video and applied climate modelling techniques to quantify impacts of changing climate processes on coastal water quality. Richard Pearson Emeritus Professor richard.pearson@jcu.edu.au Richard was employed at JCU as Senior Tutor in Zoology in 1974, eventually becoming Professor in 1999. He was successful in his 1988 funding application to the federal government to establish the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research (ACTFR, now TropWATER) and became its Deputy Director, moving to Director in the mid-90s. He was appointed as Head of the new School of Tropical Biology in 1999 and subsequently relinquished the directorship of the ACTFR. During this time, he continued to teach, supervise postgraduate students and undertake research, for which he had continuous funding from several sources. Richard initially investigated the effects of river pollution by sugar mills, followed by projects associated with the sugar industry and Cooperative Research Centres for Rainforest Management and the Great Barrier Reef. For the rainforest CRC he investigated the ecology of pristine tropical streams and continued that work beyond retirement in an international programme on stream ecology. He led the original joint CRC Catchment to Reef programme, and he worked for several years on the ecology of the Burdekin River. Richard has authored at least 70 technical reports and over 160 refereed journal papers and book chapters. He supervised more than 70 postgraduate students. He continues to collaborate with TropWATER staff and others, and to write up his and his students’ research results. Shelley Templeman Principal Research Officer shelley.templeman@jcu.edu.au Shelley (Michelle) Templeman’s research is broadly focused on understanding the impacts of pollutants and contaminants in tropical aquatic ecosystems, as well as developing more suitable ecological monitoring tools to measure and mitigate pollutant impacts. A childhood spent on cattle properties in central Australia may seem like an unlikely foundation for an aquatic scientist, however this experience provided Shelley with some early insights into the important interactions and impacts between humans and the environment. Since leaving school she has completed a range of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across Australia, mostly while performing several scientific roles in northern Australia, Indonesia and Antarctica. Shelley’s studies culminated in a PhD at James Cook University in 2012, investigating the bioindicator potential of jellyfishes to metal pollution. Her more recent research is focused on macroinvertebrate taxonomy and biological monitoring at Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Also, she is working with a north Queensland local council as an environmental specialist to help support the internal team to achieve sustainable outcomes for the community. Stephen Lewis Principal Research Officer stephen.lewis@jcu.edu.au Stephen Lewis is a geochemist who focuses primarily on water quality in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment area and lagoon, including evaluating the sources, transport and risks of various pollutants in freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems. A Townsville original, Stephen completed a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and PhD in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at James Cook University in 2000 and 2005, respectively. Stephen’s work includes examining water quality issues for a variety of land use types – including agriculture, industry and urban – and considering potential improvements that can be made to reduce runoff to receiving ecosystems. This is achieved through a combination of various monitoring and modelling activities. Some of these include the Paddock to Reef Program and the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program, which span paddock, tributaries, river catchments and GBR lagoon. Other research interests include examining sea-level change on the east coast of Australia over the past 20,000 years and the development and growth of fringing reefs in the GBR. Stephen’s work also explores the use of trace elements and stable isotopes in coral core records to investigate changes in water quality since the time of European settlement in north Queensland (c.1850). Zoe Bainbridge Senior Research Fellow Zoe.brainbridge@jcu.edu.au Dr Zoe Bainbridge is a research fellow at the Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), with over 15 years of experience dedicated to the field of reef water quality science. Zoe is currently hosted by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science’s Soil, Catchment and Riverine Processes unit, where she is working on a number of collaborative projects with the Queensland Government and CSIRO. Zoe’s research has focused on identifying catchment sources of sediment, characterising this sediment and advancing the understanding of its transport and dynamics in the tropics. With a focus on bridging the connection between catchment and marine environments, this knowledge is pivotal in identifying the most impactful sediment to manage and preserve aquatic ecosystems. Most recently, this research included a multiple lines of evidence approach to identify catchment sediment hotspots, utilising community-based water quality monitoring, sediment source tracing and catchment modelling. This research significantly contributes to and informs Australian and Queensland Government remediation investment programs to improve water quality. Throughout her career, Zoe has played an active role in engaging with regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies and regionally focused water quality programs. She understands the importance of effective engagement across scientists, landholders, management agencies and industry to achieve positive water quality outcomes. Through these interactions, Zoe seeks to enhance community awareness and understanding of water quality issues across the Great Barrier Reef catchment and lagoon, fostering a sense of collective responsibility for its protection. Researchers MORE ACCESS James C, Bainbridge Z, Lewis S, et al. Water quality: catchment to reef Compilation of riverine water quality data from the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, northeastern Australia. ACCESS Cartwright P, Mulloy R, Johns J. Water quality: catchment to reef Whitsunday water quality monitoring blueprint for tourism operators: Annual report 2024-2025. ACCESS Cartwright P et al. Water quality: catchment to reef Port of Weipa ambient marine water quality monitoring program: Annual report 2023-2024. ACCESS Cartwright P et al. Water quality: catchment to reef Port of Abbot Point ambient marine water quality monitoring program: Annual Report 2022-2023. ACCESS Cartwright P et al. Water quality: catchment to reef Port of Mackay and Hay Point ambient marine water quality monitoring program: Annual report 2023-2024. ACCESS Yu W, Guo R, Thompson LG, et al. Water quality: catchment to reef Water isotope ratios reflect convection intensity rather than rain type proportions in the pantropics. ACCESS Davis A & Pearson R. Water quality: catchment to reef 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement - Question 1.4 How are the Great Barrier Reef’s key ecosystem processes... ACCESS Lewis SE, Baird ME, Bainbridge Z, Davis A. Water quality: catchment to reef Correspondence on “Submarine Groundwater Discharge Exceeds River Inputs as a Source of Nutrients to the Great Barrier Reef”. Reports and publications MORE

Technology is revolutionising the way scientists monitor, research and uncover new information about habitats and species. eDNA and technology Assessing agricultural nutrient recycling using metabarcoding We are using metabarcoding and other innovative techniques to better understand how farming affects nutrient cycling in soils. Featured project READ MORE Technology is revolutionising the way scientists monitor, research and uncover new information about habitats and species. We are at the forefront of testing the feasibility of new technologies, including eDNA, drones, artificial intelligence and advanced camera technology. BACK We are using metabarcoding and other innovative techniques to better understand how farming affects nutrient cycling in soils. Assessing agricultural nutrient recycling using metabarcoding Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are using DNA methods to identify what dugongs in the Townsville region are eating other than seagrass, and trialling a new eDNA approach. Assessing dugong poo using eDNA Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are using environmental DNA to understand the distribution of fish species, allowing us to identify structures that act as barriers to fish migration. Using eDNA to detect barriers to fish in Australian waterways Research, Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Environmental DNA (eDNA) research plays a vital role in for detecting and monitoring invasive species for biosecurity management. eDNA technology revolutionises invasive species biosecurity Monitoring, Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are using eDNA to detect the presence of invasive fish in waterways. Using eDNA as a surveillance tool for invasive fish Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects Cecilia Villacorta-Rath Senior Research Officer cecilia.villacortarath@jcu.edu.au Cecilia Villacorta Rath is passionate about using genetic tools towards the sustainable management of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Cecilia is currently leading multiple projects using environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for biosecurity and conservation purposes and is also trialling field methods and conducting laboratory experiments testing the persistence and detectability of eDNA in an array of species of conservation and management concern. Cecilia’s work focuses on answering the questions that end-users want to address. She works in close collaboration with government agencies, Traditional Owners, consultancy companies, and community groups. Cecilia has previously worked across a wide variety of research topics, ranging from larval fish and seagrass ecology to invertebrate genomics. At James Cook University Cecilia pursued a Master of Science in Marine Biology and then worked for the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation of Queensland conducting seagrass monitoring along the northern and central Queensland coast. After spending some time in the tropics, Cecilia moved to Hobart to start a PhD at the University of Tasmania. Using next generation sequencing (NGS), she investigated the genetic connectivity of the southern rock lobster in south-east Australia to inform fisheries management. Damien Burrows Director, TropWATER Founder damien.burrows@jcu.edu.au Professor Damien Burrows is the founding director of TropWATER. He specialises in freshwater, estuarine and coastal aquatic ecosystems and catchment management, and has more than 30 years research experience in the tropics. Damien has spent most of his professional life studying freshwater, estuarine and coastal ecosystems; in particular, applied management in the context of development pressures. He has engaged extensively with industry, community and government from grassroots to policy level. Damien is the co-Hub leader for the $47 million National Environment Science Programme (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub (2021–2027). This follows his leadership of the NESP Tropical Water Quality Hub, a six-year $32 million research program (2015–2021) to improve water quality of the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments. The current program has an expanded focus to encompass Australia-wide marine and coastal issues. Damien coordinates research, engagement and knowledge-sharing across multiple and diverse stakeholders. Damien is also a member of the Independent Expert Panel for the GBR, which advises the state and federal environment ministers about scientific matters. He is on the board of Directors for Townsville-Burdekin-focused natural resource management organisation NQ Dry Tropics and has served on several GBR-related steering committees and boards over his career. Jamie Jones Research Worker jamie.johns@jcu.edu.au An employee with TropWATER since 2021, Jamie assists in the development and optimization of methods and protocols for the processing, quality control and management of data obtained from marine data-logging instruments that TropWATER regularly uses. The finalised datasets from these instruments are crucial for the annual and technical reports that TropWATER produces and distributes to its long-term clients and project stakeholders. In addition, Jamie has optimized and developed further guidelines for the maintenance of marine data-loggers to ensure that they appropriately and regularly maintained for fieldwork. Prior to being at TropWATER, Jamie has worked in research and technical positions with JCU since 2017 on various projects of which his work involved: •processing, quality control and analysis of field-collected data. •Development and optimization of computer code and software for data handling, analysis, and research. •Research and development: assisting and undertaking research and experimentation to improve processes for data handling, analysis, and equipment usage and maintenance. •Production of technical reporting for long-term project clients. •Maintaining field equipment to ensure regulatory compliance for fieldwork. Lucas Langlois Research Officer lucas.langlois@jcu.edu.au Originally from Paris, France, Lucas completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2011 at University Pierre et Marie Curie, followed by a Master of Science in Marine Biology at James Cook University in 2013. Since finishing the Masters project on coral physiological acclimation, Lucas has been involved in several projects that have investigated seagrass productivity under various environmental gradients (light, temperature, CO2, nutrients). Lucas is currently working on both the seagrass and water quality components of the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (MMP). The main tasks involve a combination of field work, including monitoring of seagrass intertidal habitat and lab work, along with data analyses and data management for reporting. As an R (programming language) enthusiast, Lucas developed strong statistical skills especially in temporal and spatial modelling using Bayesian statistics (R INLA). He also uses machine and deep-learning models to assist with assessing seagrass photoquadrats and producing seagrass maps from imagery, including from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellites. Luke Buono Research Worker luke.buono@jcu.edu.au As a Research Worker, Luke plays a pivotal role in advancing scientific endeavours by offering technical support to research scientists. His responsibilities encompass the selection and configuration of environmental monitoring equipment, overseeing the logistical operations of research experiments and projects, as well as designing workflows related to post-processing of research data and data quality analysis. Notably, Luke has been directly involved in the maintenance and installation of over twenty real-time nitrate-nitrogen monitoring stations across the wet tropics, making significant contributions to the Great Barrier Reef catchment-to-reef monitoring projects. Luke also strives to achieve cross-disciplinary visionary within project and research design by applying the theoretical and practical insights from various fields to generate novel and effective solutions to technical problems. His expertise further extends to designing data visualisation tools, establishing communication protocols and data acquisition services, programming embedded systems to achieve monitoring goals and the communication of scientific data back to relevant stakeholders and community members. Luke is interested in leveraging IoT technology to create cost-effective, large-scale sensing networks, enriching researchers with comprehensive water quality data for the region. Mohammad Jahanbakht Research Officer mohammad.jahanbakht@jcu.edu.au Dr Mohammad Jahanbakht is an innovative software engineer with diverse skills and interests from code development and numerical modelling to web programming and cloud technologies, and further to data science and machine intelligence. In addition to computer sciences, Mohammad has a rich background in the simulation and design of electronic, electromagnetic, antenna, and microwave technologies. The interdisciplinary research background has allowed Mohammad to participate in many research-based, as well as industrial-scale projects, including environmental studies, maritime research, and biodiversity monitoring. Some of his research topics include: Marine environmental parameters estimation and forecasting. Edge processing of underwater image and video data. Maritime, as well as wetland biodiversity monitoring with both the IP cameras and aerial images. AI-powered land studies in drone surveys and remote sensing. Cloud-based database design and implementation. Samantha Tol Senior Research Officer samantha.tol@jcu.edu.au Samantha is an ecologist dedicated to unravelling the intricacies of marine ecosystems. Presently, her research encompasses seagrass and algal ecology. She has led investigations mapping benthic habitats within the Coral Sea Marine Park's deepwater lagoons, providing critical insights for habitat preservation and marine management. Simultaneously, her postdoctoral pursuits concentrate on pioneering environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to detect Yellow Crazy Ants and their eDNA degradation, offering promising pathways for biosecurity enhancement. Samantha’s journey began with the Seagrass Ecology Team at TropWATER since 2012, contributing to coastal seagrass monitoring for industrial sectors. In 2021, she successfully completed her PhD, studying the complex dispersal mechanisms of tropical seagrass, notably emphasizing the influential roles of dugongs and green sea turtles. This research has provided insight for conservation strategies, through emphasizing the crucial interplay between species interactions and ecosystem health. Overall, Samantha's research is marked by a dedicated commitment to bridging academic exploration and practical applicability. Her work provides a synergy between theoretical insight and real-world impact, contributing to the preservation of marine environments and advancing the boundaries of ecological understanding. Researchers MORE ACCESS Firth LB, Bone J, Bartholomew A, et al. eDNA and technology Coastal greening of grey infrastructure: An update on the state-of-the-art. ACCESS De Brauwer M, Clarke LJ, Chariton A, et al. eDNA and technology Best practice guidelines for environmental DNA biomonitoring in Australia and New Zealand. ACCESS Villacorta-Rath C, Lach L, Andrade-Rodriguez N, Burrows D, Gleeson D, Trujillo-Gonzalez A. eDNA and technology Invasive terrestrial invertebrate detection in water and soil using a targeted eDNA approach. ACCESS Walker SE, Sheaves M, Waltham NJ. eDNA and technology Barriers to using UAVs in conservation and environmental management: A systematic review. ACCESS Cooper MK, Villacorta-Rath C, Burrows D, Jerry DR, Carr L, Barnett A, Huveneers C, Simpfendorfer CA. eDNA and technology Practical eDNA sampling methods inferred from particle size distribution and comparison of capture techniques for a critically endangered elasmobranch. ACCESS Villacorta-Rath C, Espinoza T, Cockayne B, Schaffer J, Burrows D. eDNA and technology Environmental DNA analysis confirms extant populations of the cryptic Irwin's turtles within its historical range. ACCESS Snape N. eDNA and technology Environmental DNA survey of Rhinella marina (cane toad) on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) – June 2022. ACCESS Joyce KE, Anderson K, Bartolo RE. eDNA and technology Of Course We Fly Unmanned – We’re Women! Reports and publications MORE

Marine megafauna are iconic to Australian oceans. We are home to the world's largest dugong population. Marine megafauna Tracking dugong movement and behaviour We are using established and innovative sensor technologies to understand dugong movement, behaviour, diving patterns, and habitat use. Featured project READ MORE Marine megafauna are iconic to Australian oceans. We are home to the world's largest dugong population. We use a combination of conventional and innovative research using cutting-edge technology to monitor the trends in the abundance, distribution and habitat use of megafauna across Australia and globally. BACK We are using established and innovative sensor technologies to understand dugong movement, behaviour, diving patterns, and habitat use. Tracking dugong movement and behaviour Monitoring, Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are developing a new method to measure dugong health using drone imagery to assess body condition. Investigating dugong health Research READ MORE COMING SOON We're facilitating transparent knowledge exchange and enhancing rapport and relationships between science and Traditional Owner groups across the Great Barrier Reef. Dugong Connections Monitoring, Community READ MORE COMING SOON We are using DNA methods to identify what dugongs in the Townsville region are eating other than seagrass, and trialling a new eDNA approach. Assessing dugong poo using eDNA Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are are working with Traditional Owners and museum curators to understand dugong genetic diversity and connectivity across northern Australia. Using dugong genetics to understand connectivity Research READ MORE COMING SOON Aerial surveys reveal extensive data on dugong populations, movement, and habitat use in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, Moreton Bay, Hervey Bay, the Gulf of Carpentaria, and Western Australia's Shark Bay, Ningaloo, and Exmouth Gulf. Large scale monitoring of dugong populations across northern Australia Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects Caitlin Smith Research Officer Caitlin.smith2@jcu.edu.au Caitlin’s research focuses on marine ecosystem health and habitat monitoring across northern Australia. She completed her PhD at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where she investigated the impact of contaminants on marine turtles. Caitlin plays a key role in the large-scale marine habitat mapping across northern Australia, applying advanced mapping and spatial analysis to track seagrass condition and inform long-term management strategies. With expertise in marine megafauna ecology and collaborative approaches, she integrates scientific research with Traditional Owner engagement to advance science-based solutions that protect biodiversity and deliver inclusive, community-led conservation outcomes. As a member of the Marine Megafauna team, Caitlin specialises in marine turtle ecology, GIS, and ecological statistics. She leads the Healthy Hatchlings project, which aims to improve marine turtle hatchling survival through innovative conservation strategies and strong partnerships with Indigenous communities. Her work reflects a commitment to combining cutting-edge science with local knowledge to achieve meaningful and lasting conservation impact. Chloe Edwards PhD student Chloe first developed her passion for marine mammals while studying at Flinders University, where she completed her undergraduate and Honours degrees researching the social structure of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. She joined TropWATER in 2022 as a casual research assistant and has since contributed to a variety of projects. In this role, she works closely with Traditional Owners and Rangers, providing training in drone-based megafauna surveys and imagery processing on Country. She also helps coordinate large-scale aerial surveys, supports vessel operations, and analyses ecological data. Chloe recently began her PhD at James Cook University, focusing on Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins in Princess Charlotte Bay, a remote region of the northern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Her research aims to improve understanding of the abundance, distribution, behaviour, social structure, and health of these inshore dolphins. She is passionate about applied marine research and enjoys working at the interface of conservation, ecology, and Indigenous knowledge. Christophe Cleguer Principal Research Officer – Marine Megafauna Group Leader christophe.cleguer@jcu.edu.au Chris Cleguer is a research scientist at TropWATER and leader of dugong research at James Cook University (JCU) in Australia. Chris also acts as international advisor to the United Nations’ Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding on the conservation and management of dugongs and seagrass habitats throughout their range. Chris has broad research interests in marine mammal population assessments, spatial ecology and conservation. His current research focuses on dugong, with Chris’ research team developing novel approaches to assess dugong abundance, health, distribution, behaviour and habitat use. This work uses aerial imagery, drones, biologging, and AI. As a strong advocate of research partnerships with First Nations people, Chris has worked with Indigenous communities across northern Australia, the Pacific-Island region, and in south-east Asia. Chris also develops training programs to upskill Indigenous land and sea rangers, local NGOs, and citizens to conduct their own monitoring studies. He works closely with state and federal governments in Australia and abroad to share the latest knowledge about dugong populations and ecology to inform management. After completing his PhD in 2015, Chris worked in Western Australia to develop methods using drones to map dugongs at the local scale, before returning to JCU in 2022. Emily Webster Research Officer emily.webster1@jcu.edu.au Emily grew up in New South Wales where she studied biological science at UNSW. She worked for several years as a research assistant in field programs across Australia, Costa Rica and the Cayman Islands, primarily monitoring nesting marine turtles. She has recently completed her PhD thesis on the fine-scale movement of inshore green turtles in human modified habitats. Throughout her PhD she was also a data analyst for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Science for Management team, whose purpose is to translate science and data into information that can be used by marine park managers. Emily started at TropWATER in October 2024 to contribute to the centre’s growing marine megafauna research program. She is currently working across several projects including tracking dugongs and marine turtles to elucidate their fine-scale patterns of behaviour, habitat preferences and how they may respond to environmental change. She is also a member of the ‘dugong connections’ science team, who aim to connect with Traditional Owners across the Great Barrier Reef to foster knowledge-sharing about dugongs and marine turtles and explore avenues for Traditional Owners to learn about dugongs on their Sea Country. Erina Young Research Scientist erina.young@jcu.edu.au Erina is an experienced wildlife veterinarian with over 18 years experience in Australia and overseas with a passion for integrating wildlife health into conservation projects and developing collaborative partnerships. Over the past decade, she has specialised in marine wildlife, in particular sea turtles and has served as a clinical and research veterinary consultant to the Western Australian, Queensland and NSW governments. She earned a PhD from Murdoch University for research developing health and disease baselines for sea turtles in WA. During her PhD, she developed blood reference intervals for flatback turtles, investigated causes of stranding and mortality events, and identified novel diseases. Erina is especially passionate about working with First Nations communities. She has been involved in a range of marine wildlife conservation projects including turtle soft shell disease investigation in Hervey Bay in collaboration with DES, nesting turtle health assessments with ranger groups in the Gulf of Carpentaria, sea krait monitoring and research in the Andaman Islands, investigating mass mortality event involving fish, turtles and sea snakes in the Kimberley, delivering stranding response and necropsy training workshops in regional WA and QLD, and foraging turtle health assessments in the Kimberley and Pilbara. Eva Paulus PhD student Eva is German and hates the cold, which is why she is very happy to be in tropical Townsville to do her PhD on dugong population genetics. She did her Bachelor’s degree at a small University in Florida, Barry University, and moved back to Europe to complete her MSc at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. She has worked on many different organisms: deep-sea hydrothermal copepods, benthic isopods, mesopelagic fishes, eels, and now marine mammals. Hector Barrios-Garrido Adjunct Research Fellow hector.barriosgarrido@jcu.edu.au Hector focuses on understanding the complex relationships among socio-economic and cultural values of marine megafauna species in different societies. This is important for informing decision-making takers, especially in developing countries. His main interests lie within the broad field of Marine Biology and Conservation with special emphasis in the human dimensions looking to improve our understanding of the interactions among aquatic species, their habitats, and human societies. In particular, he is interested in identifying and evaluating the challenges and impacts of anthropogenic pressures on threatened species, and the potential mechanisms to reduce these impacts (through management conservation actions, or by understanding how species can adapt to changes). Hector is an Associate Professor at the University of Zulia (Venezuela), Founder-President of the Venezuelan NGO “Working Group on Marine Turtles of the Gulf of Venezuela – GTTM-GV”, member of the International Sea Turtle Society (ISTS), and the Marine Turtle Specialist Group-International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN MTSG). Hector holds a PhD from James Cook University in Environmental Science and Management, a Magister Scientiarum (Master of Science) in Aquatic Ecology (University of Zulia), and he is Licentiate in Biology (University of Zulia). His current position at JCU as TropWATER Adjunct Research Fellow is Ad-Honorem. Helene Marsh Emeritius Professor helene.marsh@jcu.edu.au Helene Marsh is a conservation biologist with > 40 years’ experience in research into species conservation, management and policy with particular reference to tropical coastal megafauna. Helene was awarded an Order of Australia for this work. She is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and her research has been recognised by awards from the Pew Foundation, the Society for Conservation Biology, the American Society of Mammalogists, the Society for Marine Mammalogy and the Australian Marine Science Association. The policy outcomes of her research include significant contributions to the science base of the conservation of dugongs in Australia and internationally (IUCN, UNEP, Convention for Migratory Species) and through advising the governments of some 14 countries. Helene is the cross-hub lead for the Threatened and Migratory Species and Threatened Ecological Communities for the National Environmental Science Program (NESP). She chaired the Australian Threatened Species Scientific Committee from 2022–2023, was Vice President and the Secretary Biological Sciences of the Australian Academy of Science 2019-2023) and was a member of the Australian delegation to the World Heritage Committee 2018–2021. She is currently a member of the Independent Expert Panel for the Great Barrier Reef 2050 Plan and on the editorial boards of Conservation Biology, Endangered Species Research and Oecologia. Helene is proud of the accomplishments of the 62 PhD candidates that she has supervised to graduation, all of whom have taught her a lot. Luisa Schramm Research Worker luisa.schramm@jcu.edu.au Luisa Schramm is a Research Worker with expertise in community engagement, field logistics, remote sensing, and scientific reporting. She completed a BSc in 2022, gaining advanced GIS and remote sensing skills. At JCU TropWATER’s Marine Megafauna Program, she has worked on marine megafauna ecology, environmental stewardship, and community-based conservation. She has contributed extensively to the Dugong Connections project, facilitating knowledge exchange between Traditional Owners and western scientists across the Great Barrier Reef. Luisa’s experience with marine megafauna tagging and tracking, drone monitoring, and education, combined with her focus on Indigenous knowledge systems, equips her to conduct independent, multi-scale conservation research with rigour. Mélanie Hamel Research Officer melanie.hamel@jcu.edu.au Mélanie is a dynamic conservation scientist with a broad expertise. She currently supports research for a NESP initiative on Australia's threatened and migratory species and threatened ecological communities, and several projects within the Dugong Research Group. A key goal of her work is providing a strong evidence base for informing the management of coastal and terrestrial ecosystems in a range of socio-ecological contexts. She uses and develops approaches that integrate multi-disciplinary data with a combination of tools such as geographic information systems, reserve design algorithms, and programming. A lot of her work focuses on coastal and marine environments in the Pacific Islands, but she is also involved in various projects on threatened species (including marine megafauna) ecology, management/conservation and monitoring in other parts of the world. Renae Lambourne PhD student Renae’s PhD project is using new, innovative multi-sensor and high-resolution tags to investigate the behavioural ecology of dugongs. This project aims to understand how activity influences the diving behaviour of dugongs using multi-sensor tags that record movement, behaviour and physical characteristics of the animal’s environment. Before coming to James Cook University, Renae completed her undergraduate and Honours degrees at Murdoch University, studying the diving behaviour of flatback turtles using similar technology to her current project. Sarah Landeo Yauri PhD student Sarah’s PhD research uses drone-based photogrammetry to assess the body condition of dugongs as an indicator of nutritional health, also exploring potential seasonal and regional variations. Sarah is originally from Peru, where she obtained her biology degree at the National Agrarian University – La Molina. For her undergraduate thesis, she studied the habitat use of post-released Amazonian Manatees using VHF telemetry. She later completed her MSc in Marine Sciences and Limnology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, using drones as to detect, photo-ID and record the behaviour of Antillean Manatees in the Caribbean region. Her professional experience includes environmental consultancy for biota sampling and monitoring in freshwater ecosystems, as well as marine and freshwater megafauna monitoring in natural protected areas. Researchers MORE ACCESS Smith T, Collier C, Evans S, Barrett D, Barrett E, Forsman S, Settli E, Whitman K, Langlois L, Kerr R, Wilkins S, Kellett D, Groom R, Lawrence E, Carter A. Marine megafauna Fish communities and benthic monitoring of Marra Sea Country in the Gulf of Carpentaria. ACCESS Cleguer C et al. Marine megafauna 2023 Dugong aerial survey: Mission Beach to Cape York. ACCESS Edwards CM et al. Marine megafauna Feasibility of using satellite imagery to detect dugong groups in the waters of the Kingdom of Bahrain. ACCESS Cleguer C et al. Marine megafauna 2022 Dugong Aerial Survey: Mission Beach to Moreton Bay. ACCESS Cleguer C & Marsh H. Marine megafauna An inventory of dugong aerial surveys in Australia. ACCESS Waltham N et al. Marine megafauna Examining marine biodiversity associated with port infrastrucure. ACCESS Scott A et al. Marine megafauna Exclusion experiments show the role of green turtle and dugong grazing in structuring Torres Strait seagrass meadows. ACCESS Cleguer C. Marine megafauna Review of dugong detections in images collected during an imagery survey conducted in New Caledonia. Reports and publications MORE

Mangroves are crucial for coastal ecosystems, providing nursery habitats, protecting shorelines, and acting as significant carbon sinks. Mangroves Scoping coastal wetlands and suitable trees for blue carbon restoration This project identifies potential wetland restoration sites between Cairns and Gladstone. Featured project READ MORE Mangroves are crucial for coastal ecosystems, providing nursery habitats, protecting shorelines, and acting as significant carbon sinks. Our projects focus on monitoring, assessing, and restoring mangrove ecosystems to address environmental changes and impacts. We provide expert advice, conduct detailed floristic surveys, and develop effective mitigation strategies to support conservation and sustainable management efforts. BACK We surveyed over 250 km of coastline with First Nations partners to assess the impact of flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, one year after the flood event. Assessing the impacts of flooding after Tropical Cyclone Jasper Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON We conduct large-scale shoreline surveys and monitoring of mangrove ecosystems to assess the impacts of sea level rise, extreme climate events, and human activities. These surveys provide crucial information to inform effective protection and restoration efforts for these habitats. Regional-scale aerial surveys of mangroves across northern Australia Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON This project identifies potential wetland restoration sites between Cairns and Gladstone. Scoping coastal wetlands and suitable trees for blue carbon restoration Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Adam’s interests lie in investigating nature-based solutions to have a productive agricultural landscape within ecologically healthy catchments that support high water security. He has experience in using network modelling to better under the flow of nutrients (carbon and nitrogen) through catchments and aquatic ecosystems, species distribution modelling, catchment land use planning, sports fish and game bird management, and the interface between freshwater science and policy/planning. At present, he is on working on how wetlands and regenerative actions can be incorporated into our landscapes to increase food production, improve water quality or buffer against climate change. Gabriela Thompson-Saud Research Officer gabriela.thompsonsaud@jcu.edu.au Gabriela is a marine spatial ecologist currently working on mangrove conservation. She is involved in projects that combine remote sensing and fieldwork to assess mangrove health, recovery after disturbances and carbon storage, as well as a restoration program aimed at improving mangrove conservation strategies. Gabriela’s PhD in Environmental Science with James Cook University focused on the transport, dispersal, and connectivity of mangrove and kelp forests in the Great Barrier Reef and Southeast Pacific, with the goal of informing ecosystem management and conservation. During her Master’s in Environmental Management at the University of Queensland, Gabriela’s thesis assessed the drivers of successful water quality management. Gabriela also has experience in social-ecological research, collaborating with fishers and other stakeholders to promote more sustainable fishing practices. Gabriela experienced in developing biophysical models, performing spatial analysis in GIS and R, statistical and network analysis, remote sensing, fieldwork, laboratory experiments, literature reviews and conducting local community and stakeholder surveys. Gabriela is passionate about applying spatial ecology and quantitative approaches to support evidence-based environmental decision-making, enhance coastal management and develop practical strategies for ecosystem restoration and conservation. Norm Duke Senior Research Scientist norman.duke@jcu.edu.au Norman C Duke (MSc, PhD) is a mangrove ecologist with 50 years’ experience. During this time, he has become a specialist in global mangrove floristics, biogeography, climate change adaptation, vegetation mapping, pollution and coastal habitat condition assessments. Before James Cook University, Norm gathered experience at the University of Queensland, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, where he developed his further specialist knowledge of the fate and impact of large oil spills on mangrove forests. He has since expanded this knowledge to include the damage, recovery and consequences on mangrove ecosystems of a variety of impacting agents including herbicides, severe tropical cyclones, and extreme changes in sea level and climate. With a particular interest in northern Australia because of the diverse set of topographic, environmental and climatic conditions, Norm currently leads an active research group on marine tidal wetlands at TropWATER. He regularly conducts exploratory research investigations and provides managers with effective monitoring and mitigation of disturbed and damaged tidal wetland ecosystems. Norm has published more than 280 articles and technical reports, including his authoritative book Australia’s Mangroves (2006), and has developed a smart device app for the identification of all mangrove species in the world. Norm heads the JCU Mangrove Hub and not-for-profit community-science partnership called MangroveWatch. Sigit Deni Sasmito Senior Research Officer sigitdeni.sasmito@jcu.edu.au Sigit Sasmito is a wetlands ecologist who has more than 12 years of experience in researching to assess the roles and impacts of tropical wetlands for climate change mitigation and adaptation, especially through peatland and blue carbon ecosystems. His research interests focus on carbon monitoring, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, ecosystem restoration assessment and natural carbon capture and removal. He uses multiple approaches such as systematic review and meta-analysis, spatial mapping and field assessment. His works are closely relevant to policies and decision-makers, specifically by providing science-based evidence on how to include wetlands conservation and restoration into national emissions reduction targets. He holds a PhD in Environmental Science from Charles Darwin University, Australia and a BSc in Applied Meteorology from IPB University, Indonesia. He has previous extensive research collaboration experiences at the National University of Singapore and CIFOR-ICRAF in Indonesia. Sigit is an active member of Science Technical Working Group for UN Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC). Tertius de Kluyver Adjunct Senior Research Fellow tertius.dekluyver@jcu.edu.au Tertius has applied his marine science, biochemistry, and occupational hygiene knowledge and skills across a range of environmental issues over a forty-year career. Early career highlights include helping to establish Tasmania’s first oyster hatchery at Bicheno, managing asbestos and other environmental issues within Queensland’s state schools, undertaking research across a range of environmental disciplines at the CSIRO Marine Laboratories (Cleveland, Qld), Lions Cancer Institute (UQ), and at QUT, and developing and teaching a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses on environmental management and marine science in Australia and the USA. Tertius entered the Commonwealth Public Service on return from the USA, initially working on air quality policy development. Here he developed the emission models and cost benefit analysis that led to the establishment of Australia’s first emission standards for non-road two-stroke petrol engines. Tertius then moved to the Climate Change Division and over the following decade worked as a member of the team that produces Australia’s annual greenhouse gas accounts reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He specialised in waste and land-based emissions and was singularly responsible for establishing the wetland greenhouse gas accounts for coastal wetlands (mangroves, tidal marsh and seagrass), farm dams and reservoirs. He later collaborated with Australian academics to improve the farm-dam and reservoir accounts resulting in two co-authorships on peer-reviewed papers, with a third currently in preparation. In retirement Tertius continues to be actively involved in promoting the work of the UNFCCC as a registered member of the Roster of Experts (RoE), the group that undertakes formal audits of all annual GHG accounts and associated reports submitted to the UNFCCC. Tertius is also lead author on four draft IUCN Red List of Ecosystem Assessments for Australia’s mangrove communities and is finalising this work in collaboration with JCU and other Australian scientists. Researchers MORE ACCESS Mulloy R, Aiken CM, Dwane G, Ellis M, Jackson EL. Mangroves Scalable mangrove rehabilitation: Roots of success for Rhizophora stylosa establishment. ACCESS Duke NC, & Canning AD. Mangroves Biomass and canopy condition indicators of short-term effects and long-term recovery of mangrove forests affected by a large oil spill. ACCESS Arnaud M, Lovelock CE, Maceiras M, Thuong-Huyen D, Robin S, Abiven S, Mishra AK, Farooq SH, Bhadra T, Felbacq A, Marchand C, Bottinelli N, Le T-P, Amir AA, Rumpel C. Mangroves The nature of soil blue carbon varies across mangrove geomorphic settings. ACCESS Murdiyarso D, Sharma S, Sasmito S. Mangroves Editorial: Indonesian mangrove ecology and the changing climate. ACCESS Sasmito SD, Taillardat P, Adinugroho WC, et al. Mangroves Half of land use carbon emissions in Southeast Asia can be mitigated through peat swamp forest and mangrove conservation and restoration. ACCESS Thompson-Saud G, Robertson AI, Choukroun S, Ospina-Alvarez A, Logan M, van der Mheen M, Grech A. Mangroves Factors influencing the early growth and dispersal potential of mangrove propagules. ACCESS zu Ermgassen PSE, Worthington TA, Gair JR, et al. Mangroves Mangroves support an estimated annual abundance of over 700 billion juvenile fish and invertebrates. ACCESS Canning AD, & Duke NC. Mangroves Assessing threats and rehabilitation opportunities for mangrove-saltmarsh blue carbon ecosystems. Reports and publications MORE

Seagrasses are powerful carbon sinks, vital food sources for dugongs and green turtles and serve as essential nurseries for prawns and fish. Seagrass habitats Torres Strait seagrass mapping, monitoring and research The project embraces the combined benefits of Indigenous Knowledge, on-ground monitoring, and science and management expertise to provide training for Torres Strait rangers and to report data needed for ecosystem management. Featured project READ MORE Seagrasses are powerful carbon sinks, vital food sources for dugongs and green turtles and serve as essential nurseries for prawns and fish. We house Australia's largest seagrass research group and have more than 40 years of experience in seagrass research. We monitor, map, restore and research inshore seagrass meadows, collaborating with Traditional Owners, industries, and governments. BACK We are partnering with Indigenous Rangers across northern Australia to co-design seagrass monitoring programs, conduct baseline surveys, and build capacity in key skills for ongoing Ranger-led monitoring. Establishing Ranger-led seagrass monitoring programs Community, Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON We surveyed over 250 km of coastline with First Nations partners to assess the impact of flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, one year after the flood event. Assessing the impacts of flooding after Tropical Cyclone Jasper Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON We are working with Traditional Owners to deploy temperature loggers to measure thermal risk to inshore seagrass, and developing a model to predict areas of seagrass most at risk of thermal stress from high temperatures. Thermal risk for inshore seagrass on the Great Barrier Reef Monitoring, Community READ MORE COMING SOON We're working with Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers in a long-term partnership to map and monitor benthic habitats and the megafauna, and provide the tools and training to support Rangers in managing their Sea Country. Building capacity of Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers Community, Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Our rapid visual surveys mapped 3,500 km² of benthic fauna and seagrass in five reef lagoons of the Coral Sea Marine Park, leading to further research on potential fish nurseries in deepwater marine vegetation areas. Reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping in the Coral Sea Marine Park Monitoring, Research READ MORE COMING SOON The project embraces the combined benefits of Indigenous Knowledge, on-ground monitoring, and science and management expertise to provide training for Torres Strait rangers and to report data needed for ecosystem management. Torres Strait seagrass mapping, monitoring and research Monitoring, Community READ MORE COMING SOON We monitor and assess the condition of inshore seagrass meadows across the Great Barrier Reef, providing long-term data essential for managing these habitats. Monitoring seagrass health in the Great Barrier Reef Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Following back-to-back floods, scientists undertook surveys to understand seagrass loss and its impact on dugong and turtles. Post-flood monitoring of seagrass in Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Over four years, we will plant thousands of seagrass fragments and over half a million seeds, while tracking the return of fish species and measuring the blue carbon benefits. Restoring tropical seagrasses and their ecosystem services Restoration READ MORE COMING SOON Our long-term environmental monitoring of port industries is extensive, covering coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity. Long-term monitoring for port industries: coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects Abbi Scott Senior Research Officer abbi.scott1@jcu.edu.au Abbi Scott moved to Australia in 2016 to pursue a passion for seagrass ecology after working on seagrasses, rocky shore ecology and citizen science projects in the UK. Abbi completed her PhD with the TropWATER seagrass ecology team in 2021, with her research examining how herbivores structure seagrass meadows on the Great Barrier Reef and how this could affect the delivery of ecosystem services by seagrasses. The focus was on the herbivore community as a whole, from large herbivores such as dugongs and turtles to small mesograzers, to quantify their impact on meadow structure. Understanding the role of plant-herbivore interactions in structuring seagrass meadows and modifying seagrass ecosystem service delivery is key to managing and conserving both seagrass meadows and herbivore populations in the future. Abbi currently works on research in seagrass herbivory, monitoring and restoration and coordinates the Cairns Port Douglas Reef Hub. Abbi is also an enthusiastic science communicator who has made regular contributions to illuminate the wonders of marine life and science on ABC radio. She also shares her knowledge via seminars targeted at various audiences, and through her blog. Alejandro Navarro Research Officer alejandro.navarrootero@jcu.edu.au Alex is originally from Spain and moved to Australia in 2017 to do a PhD in Remote Sensing at Deakin University and finished this in 2021. His PhD focused on developing new remote sensing approaches (using emerging technologies such as drones and novel machine learning models) for assessing ecosystem services provided by coastal wetlands. Seeking warmer climates Alex moved to FNQ in 2021 to do a postdoc at James Cook University. His main research project was to create the first nationally consistent map of saltmarsh and salt flat ecosystems around Australia. Alex started working for TropWATER in 2024 doing seagrass habitat mapping, monitoring and analysis using a wide range of remote sensing techniques such as drones, aerial imagery and satellites. His interests are mainly programming, using novel technologies to map and monitor marine habitats and fauna (work), scuba diving and underwater photography. Alex Carter Principal Research Officer alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au Alexandra Carter’s research focuses on the ecology, conservation and assessment of coastal environments; in particular, large-scale ecosystem processes in northern Australia involving seagrass, coral, fish communities, turtle and dugong. Prior to commencing at James Cook University, she was employed as a scientist at Queensland Fisheries. She completed her PhD on spatial variation in reproductive biology for common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus), and the role of marine reserves as a potential fisheries management tool for this species on the Great Barrier Reef. Alex leads a variety of projects and collaborations with diverse stakeholders and funding agencies, including all levels of government, other universities, industry, Traditional Owners, rangers, citizen scientists, and community groups. Some of her current work includes conducting large-scale marine habitat mapping across northern Australia, habitat and species modelling, and quantifying habitat use by species with significant cultural, ecological, conservation and economic importance. Alex is also involved in developing and implementing environmental condition report cards; working with rangers and Traditional Owners to expand seagrass and fish research and monitoring; and coral restoration. Caitlin Smith Research Officer Caitlin.smith2@jcu.edu.au Caitlin’s research focuses on marine ecosystem health and habitat monitoring across northern Australia. She completed her PhD at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where she investigated the impact of contaminants on marine turtles. Caitlin plays a key role in the large-scale marine habitat mapping across northern Australia, applying advanced mapping and spatial analysis to track seagrass condition and inform long-term management strategies. With expertise in marine megafauna ecology and collaborative approaches, she integrates scientific research with Traditional Owner engagement to advance science-based solutions that protect biodiversity and deliver inclusive, community-led conservation outcomes. As a member of the Marine Megafauna team, Caitlin specialises in marine turtle ecology, GIS, and ecological statistics. She leads the Healthy Hatchlings project, which aims to improve marine turtle hatchling survival through innovative conservation strategies and strong partnerships with Indigenous communities. Her work reflects a commitment to combining cutting-edge science with local knowledge to achieve meaningful and lasting conservation impact. Carissa Reason Research Officer carissa.reason@jcu.edu.au Carissa's role as a Research Officer with James Cook University TropWATER involves studying and researching various aspects of seagrass ecosystems. As a project manager of various statewide monitoring programs, her work revolves around understanding seagrass ecosystems, their ecological significance and their interactions with other organisms and the environment. Monitoring and assessment projects involve regularly monitoring seagrass meadows to assess condition, growth patterns, reproductive strategies and adaptations to different environmental conditions. Another important role is conducting research to gain a comprehensive understanding of seagrass biology, ecology and physiology and investigating the impacts of human activities on seagrass ecosystems and evaluating the effects of restoration and mitigation efforts. She graduated from James Cook University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology and began her science career working with Queensland Government in the Fisheries assessment and monitoring program as a Fisheries Technician. She rapidly enhanced her skills during various roles and acquired the position of Fisheries Biologist before transferring to James Cook University in a similar role as a Research Officer in 2012. Catherine Collier Principal Research Officer catherine.collier@jcu.edu.au Catherine Collier is broadly interested in coastal marine ecology, with a particular emphasis on seagrass eco-physiology and ecology. Her current work is focused on flood impacts to seagrasses. This research focus was triggered following record floods in 2011, which saw widespread loss of seagrass throughout Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. Catherine aims to further knowledge about tropical seagrass ecology and to contribute to protecting seagrass meadows in regions where livelihoods are particularly dependant on vibrant coastal systems. A particular feature of Catherine’s work is using experimental techniques to address targeted questions about seagrass health and resilience. This approach focuses on both the risks and impacts to seagrass habitat from local scale stressors such as water quality, and on the prospective changes to seagrass ecosystems from rising temperature and ocean acidification. Catherine collaborates with diverse teams of scientists and managers, and is involved in contributing to long-term seagrass habitat monitoring in the GBR through the Paddock to Reef Marine Monitoring Program, which is used to track progress towards meeting the targets and objectives of the Reef 2050 Plan. Chris van de Wetering Research Worker chris.vandewetering@jcu.edu.au Chris has had a passion for the ocean from a young age, involved with marine rescue and conservation groups throughout the mid north coast before undertaking a Bachelor in Marine Science and Management. He has been heavily involved with research and management efforts for sea turtles and dugong through the Department of Environment and Science (QLD Government). Taking part in feeding ground capture and monitoring programs as well as mainland and isolated island nesting beach work throughout southeast Queensland since 2016. He is now a Research Worker for the TropWATER seagrass ecology group, based in Cairns, helping with the maintenance, collection, processing and reporting of our water quality monitoring sites and seagrass research and surveys. Darcy Philpott Research Worker darcy.philpott@jcu.edu.au Darcy is originally from the UK where she completed a MSc in Marine Environmental Management from the University of St. Andrews. She has worked as a marine biologist in various locations worldwide, including teaching fish survey techniques to aspiring marine conservationists in the Bahamas and the Seychelles. More recently, she worked as a Marine Scientist on Ascension Island, one of the world’s largest marine protected areas, where she contributed to a variety of marine projects. Darcy is currently undertaking a PhD on fish and prawn nurseries in recovering seagrass meadows in Cairns, utilising beam trawling and eDNA metabarcoding techniques. Embla Settli Research worker embla.settli@jcu.edu.au Embla is originally from Norway and completed her BSc in Zoology and Ecology at James Cook University. She developed a passion for marine biology and was certified as a Divemaster during this time. After graduating Embla managed a research project in coral restoration on the Central GBR and assisted in the out planting of thousands of coral fragments. After that she worked as a supervisor in the Crown of Thorns Starfish Control program, managing reef health monitoring and reef protection strategies across the Central GBR. Embla has extensive experience in scientific data collection, research project management and marine ecosystem mapping using Geospatial Information Systems. She is also an experienced mariner and diver. Embla gets to apply all of these skills at TropWATER, organising and assisting in complex fieldtrips to remote areas across the Australian coast. Overall, she loves spending all her time in or around the ocean and doing her part in protecting what makes the ocean so special. Evie Furness PhD student Evie Furness is a marine biologist and PhD candidate at James Cook University specialising in restoration techniques for tropical seagrass species. With over a decade of experience working in temperate and tropical coastal systems, she has successfully led both research and industry focused marine ecology projects. Evie is interested in collaborating with communities to reverse habitat loss, combining hands-on expertise with a commitment to sustainable solutions for marine ecosystems. Hayley Brien Research Worker hayley.brien@jcu.edu.au Hayley joined TropWATER in 2020. Her main role as a research worker is to provide field and technical support for the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (MMP) and Seagrass Watch programs. This involves conducting intertidal and subtidal seagrass monitoring along the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, lab work, and data analysis. A highlight in Hayley's role is engaging and collaborating with First Nation groups along the inshore Great Barrier Reef to better understand the thermal risk to seagrass. In 2013 Hayley completed a Bachelor of Marine Science and in 2016 she completed a Master of Science (majoring in Marine Biology and Ecology) both from James Cook University. Her masters involved publishing research that investigated how coral communities would compete under thermal and acidified stress. Hayley is always eager to learn and collaborate with other TropWATER teams and beyond to further fuel her passion in investigating and communicating how ecosystems on the Great Barrier Reef could be impacted under accelerated climate change. Jaelen Myers Research Officer jaelen.myers@jcu.edu.au Jaelen’s research interests include freshwater and marine ecology, community dynamics, animal behaviour, and remote sensing. Jaelen completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology, where she first developed a keen interest in fisheries science. Jaelen then continued on this research trajectory, studying reproductive physiology and articial reproduction techniques of hybrid catfish. For her PhD, Jaelen moved from the United States to Townsville to study trophic ecology and habitat use of rays in intertidal zones. This work was carried out with the Science Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Mangement (SICEM) lab at JCU and the Biopixel Oceans Foundation and was pivotal broaden our understanding of nursery habitat value and how shark and ray communities participate in ecosystem function. Jaelen is now assisting the Seagrass Ecology group with ongoing seagrass restoration initiatives across North Queensland. In addition to her research career, Jaelen also engages in science communication through her Instagram account and by participating in public outreach events. She is an avid drone enthusiast, working as a drone pilot for the Queensland Sharksmart drone trials program from 2024-2025. She is also passionate about educating the next generation of marine scientists and bridging gaps in understanding between academia and the public. Jane Mellors Casual Senior Research Officer jane.mellors@jcu.edu.au Jane is a born Queenslander. She completed her MSc (1990) and PhD (2003) both at James Cook University. Her PhD research investigated the sediment and nutrient dynamics in coastal intertidal seagrass habitat of North Eastern Tropical Australia. Jane’s broad research interests encompass all aspects of seagrass habitat: taxonomy, plant nutrient requirements, population genetics, plant-animals interactions, and educating and training citizen scientists to monitor this marine resource. Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Dr Katie Chartrand has 20 years of expertise spanning tropical coral and seagrass ecosystems, photobiology, spatial analysis, and mapping. Katie's extensive research background has influenced the management and compliance of large-scale dredging programs. Katie’s research also extends to monitoring at-risk habitats, particularly inshore coral reefs and seagrass, while leading multiple applied research programs focused on replenishing high value marine ecosystems in a highly collaborative framework. Katie's passion has centred on building authentic partnerships with First Nations communities and tourism operators on the Great Barrier Reef. Her initiatives include the Great Reef Census, a citizen science-based monitoring program, Mars Reef Stars for rubble stabilization and repair, and coral larval delivery at targeted reef locations. These initiatives drive localised and scalable outcomes, anchored in partnerships spanning various sectors, including ports, indigenous rangers, tourism, and citizen science, complementing traditional government bodies such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Katie's overarching philosophy is to forge strong partnerships, using interdisciplinary networks to support scalable research strategies and conservation science. Through this approach, she is dedicated to advancing the science and management of reef and coastal assets. Katie’s research offers solutions that are making a tangible and positive impact on the preservation and resilience of our vital marine ecosystems. Kirsty Whitman Research Worker kirsty.whitman@jcu.edu.au Kirsty started diving in 2011 and loved it so much that she decided to become a dive instructor. She started working at AQWA (Aquarium of Western Australia) as an ocean guide and dive master. Kirsty then went overseas to Mexico working as a dive instructor. She started volunteering for Reef Life Survey doing temperate and tropical biodiversity surveys in 2015 and loved this side of the diving and science world. Kirsty started her Bachelor of Marine Science in 2016 at James Cook University and would work in Cairns in the summer breaks as a dive instructor. After finishing her degree, she worked as a marine biologist, dive instructor on Passions of Paradise, doing Eye on the Reef surveys and coral nurturing. Kirsty loves introducing people and educating them to the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Laura Garcia Forte Valiente Research Officer laura.garciafortevaliente@jcu.edu.au Laura is a passionate marine biologist originally from Spain. She began her career working with cetaceans as a science communicator in the Azores Islands before pursuing her lifelong dream of studying marine biology on the Great Barrier Reef. During her Master’s degree at James Cook University, Laura joined TropWATER and conducted her thesis on seagrass ecology, specialising in recovery dynamics following disturbances. Focusing on seagrass succession, she developed independent research both experimentally and spatially, providing valuable insights into the resilience of tropical seagrass ecosystems. Since then, she has built extensive expertise in seagrass restoration, monitoring, and ecological modelling, combining field experience with advanced skills in programming, spatial analysis, and statistical modelling. In her role as Research Officer at TropWATER, Laura contributes to a wide range of projects across northeastern Australia, including long-term seagrass monitoring and restoration research. Her work spans from coordinating and conducting fieldwork in remote locations to analysing complex ecological datasets and producing technical reports for environmental management. Guided by her lifelong passion for the ocean, Laura’s mission is to safeguard seagrass habitats and inspire others to recognise the essential role they play in the health of our planet. Len McKenzie Principal Research Officer len.mckenzie@jcu.edu.au Len McKenzie has over 20 years’ experience as a research scientist on seagrass ecology, assessment and fisheries habitats. This includes experience within Australia and overseas in seagrass research, resource mapping/assessment and biodiversity. Len is interested in the relationship between seagrass and associated fauna, the impacts of declining water quality, and climate change. He has provided information about seagrass communities that has been vital in management of seagrass resources of the Great Barrier Reef, and at the state, national and international levels. Len has also advised about fisheries and coastal resource-use issues for managers, fishing organisations, conservation and community groups. He is the principal researcher and program leader of Seagrass-Watch, a non-profit seagrass research organisation that conducts research is 17 countries. Len is also the secretary of the World Seagrass Association. One of Len’s recent projects is investigating spatial and temporal trends in the health of GBR inshore seagrass meadows in relation to water quality, which includes identifying areas of seagrass that have been significantly impacted by flood plumes. Lloyd Shepherd Research Worker lloyd.shepherd@jcu.edu.au Lloyd Shepherd completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in 2006 at James Cook University in Cairns. He went on to work for Fisheries Queensland’s Long Term Monitoring Program for six years, before moving to TropWATER in 2012 and joining the seagrass ecology group. Lloyd has extensive experience in research and monitoring coastal habitats throughout tropical Australia, with special expertise in field logistics, equipment, and complex field work in remote areas. Lloyd plays a pivotal role in various projects, including seagrass and coral restoration, benthic habitat mapping, collaboration with Indigenous ranger groups, water quality monitoring, marine fauna observation, and other diverse experimental setups. Lucas Langlois Research Officer lucas.langlois@jcu.edu.au Originally from Paris, France, Lucas completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2011 at University Pierre et Marie Curie, followed by a Master of Science in Marine Biology at James Cook University in 2013. Since finishing the Masters project on coral physiological acclimation, Lucas has been involved in several projects that have investigated seagrass productivity under various environmental gradients (light, temperature, CO2, nutrients). Lucas is currently working on both the seagrass and water quality components of the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (MMP). The main tasks involve a combination of field work, including monitoring of seagrass intertidal habitat and lab work, along with data analyses and data management for reporting. As an R (programming language) enthusiast, Lucas developed strong statistical skills especially in temporal and spatial modelling using Bayesian statistics (R INLA). He also uses machine and deep-learning models to assist with assessing seagrass photoquadrats and producing seagrass maps from imagery, including from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellites. Luke Hoffmann Research Worker luke.hoffmann@jcu.edu.au Luke joined the TropWATER Seagrass Ecology Group in 2017. Luke has experience in research and monitoring coastal habitats along the Queensland coast along with expertise in field logistics, equipment and data collection. He has worked on multiple projects to develop data processing and statistical analysis procedures implemented within the TropWATER Seagrass Ecology Group. Luke also has experience working in the tropical rainforests around Cairns where he installed and maintained sensor networks to gather hydraulic flux data and other data for climate change experiments. Key services include the calibration, maintenance and operation of field equipment including water quality meters, data-loggers, implementing field surveys involving the collection of water, sediment and flora and fauna samples. Megan Proctor Research Worker megan.proctor@jcu.edu.au Meg has spent the last 15 years working in marine research, science education and eco-tourism in the US and Australia, beginning with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in the US. Since moving to Australia in 2016, she has held diverse roles such as leading coral ecology field courses on the Great Barrier Reef, creating interactive visitor programs for Tasmania Parks and Wildlife, assisting an eDNA research expedition on Ningaloo Reef, and leading projects to remove and prevent marine debris in north Queensland. Meg completed a Master of Science in Marine Science at the University of Western Australia in 2023, where her research examined the growth rates of corals growing on high-latitude reefs. Meg joined TropWATER in 2023, bringing her skills in project management, scientific data collection and monitoring methods along with extensive experience working in coastal ecosystems. Her primary roles include assisting with large-scale marine habitat mapping and planning remote marine research trips. She enjoys the collaborative nature of her work, working with Traditional Owners and Rangers on Sea Country to expand seagrass research and monitoring across northern Australia. Michael Rasheed Principal Research Scientist michael.rasheed@jcu.edu.au Mike Rasheed has been researching tropical marine habitats, with a focus on seagrass ecology, since the early1990s. He has a Bachelor of Science in zoology and ecology, an Honours degree from Flinders University and was awarded a PhD from James Cook University for research investigating recovery and succession in tropical seagrass communities. Mike is passionate about finding science-based solutions to support marine habitat management efforts. As seagrass ecology lab leader, he has built a team to focus on researching the relationship between coastal development and risk, which has significantly impacted the way seagrass and fish habitats are managed and protected. The results of these endeavours have led to advances in the field of seagrass ecology and have also changed practices within coastal development, ports and shipping industries, and improved the ability of regulators and managers to protect marine habitats. Nicki Wilson Research Worker nicki.wilson@jcu.edu.au Nicki is part of the Seagrass Futures team, responsible for monitoring intertidal and subtidal seagrass habitats across the Great Barrier Reef as part of the Reef Authority’s Marine Monitoring Program (MMP), which informs progress against the objectives of the Reef 2050 Plan. Her role involves field work, maintaining field gear, analysing seagrass samples, partnership building with First Nations ranger groups on Country, GIS and data management. She completed her studies at La Trobe University in 2021, achieving a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours (Zoology) and a Master of Science (Marine Ecology). Her research focused on the macro-invertebrate biodiversity associated with a recently discovered and globally significant bryozoan reef in Western Port Bay. Some of Nicki’s multidisciplinary experience includes marine and terrestrial surveys and habitat assessments, naturalist guiding for a tourism operator, contributing to DELWP’s CoastKit, project managing Traditional Owner Land and Sea training (a QPWS incentive), local fisheries research in Costa Rica and ecological consulting. Paul Leeson Technical Officer paul.leeson@jcu.edu.au Paul is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in fieldwork and aquatic conservation. Since 2012, he has served as the lead field technician at TropWATER, contributing his expertise in scientific field equipment and boat operations. Additionally, Paul has been instrumental as a boating and diving officer at JCU, ensuring safe and efficient marine research activities. With a career spanning back to 1987, Paul's journey began with Fisheries Queensland, where he honed his skills as part of the boat crew. His extensive background has made him an expert in various aspects of fieldwork, from data collection to equipment maintenance. Paul's dedication to environmental conservation and his proficiency in field operations make him an invaluable asset to any team working to safeguard our aquatic ecosystems. Paul York Senior Research Officer Paul.York@jcu.edu.au Paul York is a marine and estuarine ecologist who has worked extensively in benthic communities and particularly seagrass ecosystems. Paul completed his PhD in marine biology at The University of Technology, Sydney, in 2011. His research interests include seagrass food webs, invasive species, seagrass genetics, resilience, reproductive and population biology. He has also worked on soft sediment faunal communities and rocky shore ecology in both Australia and South America. Most recently, Paul has been working with Mandubarra Land and Sea Rangers on their sea country at Kurrimine Beach/King Reef to co-design and implement a habitat mapping program as part of a Healing Country Partnership. He has also been involved with research for the Queensland Department of Environment and Science mapping seagrass meadows across Hervey Bay to provide a condition update following the 2022 floods. A current focus for Paul is identifying, refining and implementing restoration methods for tropical seagrass species. This includes a combination of research through an ARC linkage project partnering with port management bodies, and a large-scale planting project in the Great Barrier Reef and Cocos Keeling Islands. Rob Coles Principal Research Scientist rob.coles@jcu.edu.au Rob has a Bachelor of Science in zoology, an Honours degree (first class) in entomology, and a PhD in fisheries from the University of Queensland. He has worked as an entomologist, a fisheries scientist, a fisheries manager in the Torres Strait, an environment and regional manager for the Queensland government, and as a seagrass scientist and research administrator. Rob has a history of promoting seagrass and coastal management research in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world and was the founding secretary of the World Seagrass Association. Some of Rob’s recent work has seen him study the connectivity among seagrass meadows and how this may influence management approaches. He has also been part of a team that has recompiled and revalidated Australian seagrass data extending back to the early 1980s with the aim to provide a publically available and reliable data set. His recent research and environment management focus has been to engage with northern Australian Traditional Owner groups in collaboration with seagrass and dugong expert colleagues from James Cook University and Charles Darwin University. This approach responds to concerns about threats and reduced resilience in the coastal environment. It addresses knowledge gaps about dugongs and seagrasses that are critical to Traditional Owners’ cultural identity and traditional values. Samantha Tol Senior Research Officer samantha.tol@jcu.edu.au Samantha is an ecologist dedicated to unravelling the intricacies of marine ecosystems. Presently, her research encompasses seagrass and algal ecology. She has led investigations mapping benthic habitats within the Coral Sea Marine Park's deepwater lagoons, providing critical insights for habitat preservation and marine management. Simultaneously, her postdoctoral pursuits concentrate on pioneering environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to detect Yellow Crazy Ants and their eDNA degradation, offering promising pathways for biosecurity enhancement. Samantha’s journey began with the Seagrass Ecology Team at TropWATER since 2012, contributing to coastal seagrass monitoring for industrial sectors. In 2021, she successfully completed her PhD, studying the complex dispersal mechanisms of tropical seagrass, notably emphasizing the influential roles of dugongs and green sea turtles. This research has provided insight for conservation strategies, through emphasizing the crucial interplay between species interactions and ecosystem health. Overall, Samantha's research is marked by a dedicated commitment to bridging academic exploration and practical applicability. Her work provides a synergy between theoretical insight and real-world impact, contributing to the preservation of marine environments and advancing the boundaries of ecological understanding. Skye McKenna Senior Research Officer skye.mckenna@jcu.edu.au Skye McKenna completed a Bachelor of Science and an Honours degree in the field of marine biology and zoology at James Cook University. Her Honours research investigated invertebrates, namely, the Asian green mussel. This led to work with the Queensland Government and its marine pest program, and then onto working with the Queensland Fisheries Marine Ecology Group, with a focus on seagrass research and monitoring across the state. Skye has worked in the Cairns TropWATER team since 2012 across various research and monitoring projects. Her research is focused on tropical seagrass ecology and conservation, including implementing science and community-based solutions to assist with managing these important marine habitats. In her current role as a senior member and project leader/manager of the team, Skye is responsible for several state-wide seagrass habitat research, assessment, and monitoring programs. This work includes research and monitoring as part of a partnership between JCU and North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation to assess marine environmental health within ports. This project also supports related research and education opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students in seagrass and coral ecology, along with applied management in the ports industry. Sofi Forsman Master's student Originally from California, Sofi spent much of her childhood at the beach exploring tide pools and collecting shells. After spending her teen years volunteering at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Marine Science Institute in Redwood City, she attended the University of Oregon, graduating with B.S. degrees in marine biology and environmental studies in 2022. It was during this time that she became dive certified and developed a passion for marine ecology and conservation. After finishing college, she spent time in Mexico, El Salvador, and Oregon before moving to Cairns to pursue her M.Phil with TropWATER in 2024. Sofi’s project focuses on mapping fish-benthic habitat associations and their implications for conservation planning in Marra Sea Country in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In addition to her studies, she works as a casual researcher assisting with image analysis, fish identification, GIS, and field work. In her free time, she enjoys being in the water, hiking, and knitting. Overall, Sofi is excited to be a part of the TropWATER team and hopes that her work can assist with long-term sustainable management of vital coastal ecosystems. Tessa Concannon Research Worker tessa.concannon@jcu.edu.au Tess joined the TropWATER team in 2024. She works across a range of projects including seagrass and coral monitoring, spatial analysis, coral recruitment studies, running training workshops for community members and Indigenous Rangers both on and off Country, and collaborating with industry partners. Tess completed her Bachelor of Animal Science in 2014, her Graduate Diploma in Conservation Biology in 2016, and is currently completing her Masters in Conservation Biology. Tess is a qualified coxswain and has extensive experience in scientific diving, management and work health and safety practices, and coral reef health monitoring. Previous work has seen Tess project manage a collaborative reef restoration and community engagement project with Traditional Owners, facilitate a broad range of research and education activities on JCU's Orpheus Island Research Station as a Station Officer, and manage and train teams in marine naturalist guiding in multiple locations on the Great Barrier Reef. Tim Smith Senior Research Officer tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au Tim Smith is a marine ecologist with a background in seagrass and fisheries ecology. His research largely focuses on seagrass resilience and restoration, fisheries contribution and connectivity. Tim completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2010 on the effects of seagrass landscape on fish assemblages and maintained a broad interest in seagrass habitats. Tim has received funding from industry and government for projects that aim to understand fisheries and aquaculture practices to improve efficiency and reduce bycatch, investigate the impacts of herbivory on seagrass ecosystems, and is involved in mapping and monitoring seagrass habitats throughout North Queensland Ports. Tim has conducted research at institutes across the world, including Chile, Spain and France, and has worked in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. More recently, Tim has been monitoring fish community in nearshore habitats using underwater video to better understand fish connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef. This is in collaboration with researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the University of Sunshine Coast, and with Traditional Owners and rangers. Tim is also part of an ARC and industry-funded team working to develop a toolkit for tropical seagrass restoration, then up-scaling this for far north Queensland. Researchers MORE ACCESS Scott A & Rasheed M. Seagrass habitats Port of Karumba long-term annual seagrass monitoring 2024. ACCESS Reason C, Rasheed M, Concannon T, Forte Valiente L, McKenna S. Seagrass habitats Seagrass habitat of Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet: Annual monitoring report 2024. ACCESS Said NE, Cleguer C, Lavery P, et al. Seagrass habitats Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveys. ACCESS Rasheed MA, Bryant CV, Reason CL, York P, Cleguer C, Shrubhsall H, Hoffmann L. Seagrass habitats Towards water quality and monitoring guidelines for the health of seagrass and associated megafauna in the Burnett Mary Region. ACCESS van de Wetering C, & Rasheed M. Seagrass habitats Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac seagrass monitoring 2017-2024. ACCESS Scott A, Shepherd L, Forte Valiente L, Concannon T, Rasheed M. Seagrass habitats Seagrass habitat in the Port of Thursday Island: Annual seagrass monitoring report 2025. ACCESS Smith T, York P, van de Wetering C, Reason C, Forte Valiente L, Bryant C, Rasheed M. Seagrass habitats Post-flood seagrass monitoring in the Great Sandy Marine Park - 2024. ACCESS Carter A, Proctor M, Forsman S, Scott A, Rasheed MA, David M & Torres Strait Regional Authority Land and Sea Rangers. Seagrass habitats Torres Strait seagrass report card 2025. Reports and publications MORE

Freshwater and wetland habitats are the lungs of our environment, filtering pollutants, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining good water quality. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Monitoring and protection of temporary waters in Northern Australia Our team is developing guideline values that can protect temporary aquatic ecosystems from contaminants. This will inform and improve mine site operations and rehabilitation in the future. Featured project READ MORE Freshwater and wetland habitats are the lungs of our environment, filtering pollutants, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining good water quality. We use innovative and science-based solutions to restore, preserve, and rehabilitate coastal wetlands. This research is key in developing coastal restoration, optimising water resource allocation, improving carbon storage, protecting coastlines, and boosting biodiversity. BACK We are working with the Department for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water to improve Australia's environmental planning and approval processes for threatened and migratory species and ecological communities. Improving outcomes for threatened and migratory species and threatened ecological communities Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are developing restoration techniques for oyster reefs and Vallisneria, marking the first Vallisneria restoration in Australia and the first oyster reef restoration in the Australian tropics. Oyster and Vallisneria restoration with Wanjuru-Yidinji Traditional Owners Restoration, Community READ MORE COMING SOON This project identifies potential wetland restoration sites between Cairns and Gladstone. Scoping coastal wetlands and suitable trees for blue carbon restoration Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Our team is developing guideline values that can protect temporary aquatic ecosystems from contaminants. This will inform and improve mine site operations and rehabilitation in the future. Monitoring and protection of temporary waters in Northern Australia Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON This project has developed a comprehensive roadmap to guide coordinated, large-scale coastal and marine restoration efforts in Australia. Roadmap to large scale restoration Research READ MORE COMING SOON Our researchers are exploring how to maximise water resource allocation across the vast and diverse landscapes of Northern Australia, advising policymakers on potential impacts to ecosystems. Sustainable water security in northern Australia Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Adam’s interests lie in investigating nature-based solutions to have a productive agricultural landscape within ecologically healthy catchments that support high water security. He has experience in using network modelling to better under the flow of nutrients (carbon and nitrogen) through catchments and aquatic ecosystems, species distribution modelling, catchment land use planning, sports fish and game bird management, and the interface between freshwater science and policy/planning. At present, he is on working on how wetlands and regenerative actions can be incorporated into our landscapes to increase food production, improve water quality or buffer against climate change. Amrit Kumar Mishra Senior Research Officer amrit.mishra@jcu.edu.au Amrit's research experience is as a coastal marine ecologist, assessing coastal biogeochemistry of marine habitats of tropical marine ecosystems. His areas of specialisation coincide with coastal marine macrophyte (i.e., seagrass, saltmarsh, macroalgae) ecology and the biogeochemical processes that governs the functioning of these coastal ecosystems. Currently in TropWATER, Amrit is working on wetland restoration of the Queensland coast. His previous research experience includes coastal trace metal pollution monitoring through the use of seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems as models. Secondly, he is also interested in climate change mitigation capacity of these coastal ecosystems through organic carbon, i.e., blue carbon sequestration and storage and how these ecosystem services can be utilised for conservation and management of coastal ecosystems. Amrit is also working on the impacts of ocean acidification on seagrass ecosystems and associated biodiversity for the Indian Ocean Region. His research also aims to understand the role of seascape connectivity in influencing climate change mitigation (both Carbon sequestration and ocean acidification) and adaptation strategies of coastal ecosystems and its associated biodiversity. His aim is to link the outcomes of his research to various Sustainable Development Goals. As an early career researcher, Amrit is aiming to generate new data on existing knowledge gaps on coastal ecology and high-quality science in partnership with government, and external funding agencies. Antony Squires Technical Officer antony.squires@jcu.edu.au Barry Butler Principal Research Officer barry.butler@jcu.edu.au Barry is a limnological consultant with more than thirty years experience studying the relationships between ambient water quality, ecological health and anthropogenic pressures in the freshwater ecosystems of northern Australia. Since joining the current research group at TropWATER (formerly the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research) in 1990 he has participated in numerous interdisciplinary contract research and consultancy projects for government agencies, resource managers, and industrial clients such as mines and refineries, and has authored in excess of 150 environmental monitoring reports for submission to State and Federal regulatory authorities. Ben Jarihani Principal Research Officer ben.jarihani@jcu.edu.au With a fervent commitment to advancing environmental science and water resources engineering, Ben brings a wealth of professional and research excellence to James Cook University. As a seasoned hydrologist and water engineer with over 25 years of industry experience, his expertise spans Environmental Earth Science, Water Resources Engineering, Catchment and Coastal Processes, and Environmental Modelling. Armed with a PhD in Hydrological Science from the University of Queensland and dual master's degrees in Water Resources Engineering and Remote Sensing/GIS, Ben possesses a robust educational foundation in environmental modelling. His multifaceted career has seen him successfully navigate diverse multidisciplinary research projects, utilising advanced modeling skills and spatial analysis. In addition to his research prowess, he has demonstrated a dedication to education, delivering courses on Hydrology, Natural Hazards, Geomorphology, Remote Sensing, and GIS at undergraduate and master's levels. Ben has actively mentored students and supervised numerous PhD and Honours candidates, showcasing his commitment to knowledge dissemination. His interests include water resources management and engineering, watershed management and water quality modelling, environmental modelling (including hydrological and hydrodynamic modelling), hydroinformatics, flood risk assessment and mitigation, water-energy-food nexus, ecohydrology, remote sensing applications in hydrology, natural disasters and resilience to climate extremes, and soil and gully erosion modelling and mapping. Brendan Ebner Senior Research Officer brendan.ebner@jcu.edu.au Ebb is an ecologist with expertise in aquatic conservation. His primary interest is at the interface between society and aquatic fauna in freshwater and near shore marine ecosystems. He champions the application of direct observation and remote video for studying freshwater fishes and this has led to new insights into behaviour of rare and threatened species. This exploration has led to detection of species not previously known to occupy Australian waters and the conservation listing of species. Ebb provides key input to regional, state and national conservation planning in tropical Australia. Damien Burrows Director, TropWATER Founder damien.burrows@jcu.edu.au Professor Damien Burrows is the founding director of TropWATER. He specialises in freshwater, estuarine and coastal aquatic ecosystems and catchment management, and has more than 30 years research experience in the tropics. Damien has spent most of his professional life studying freshwater, estuarine and coastal ecosystems; in particular, applied management in the context of development pressures. He has engaged extensively with industry, community and government from grassroots to policy level. Damien is the co-Hub leader for the $47 million National Environment Science Programme (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub (2021–2027). This follows his leadership of the NESP Tropical Water Quality Hub, a six-year $32 million research program (2015–2021) to improve water quality of the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments. The current program has an expanded focus to encompass Australia-wide marine and coastal issues. Damien coordinates research, engagement and knowledge-sharing across multiple and diverse stakeholders. Damien is also a member of the Independent Expert Panel for the GBR, which advises the state and federal environment ministers about scientific matters. He is on the board of Directors for Townsville-Burdekin-focused natural resource management organisation NQ Dry Tropics and has served on several GBR-related steering committees and boards over his career. Elle Robertson PhD student Elle is currently completing her PhD, broadly examining the response of vertebrate biodiversity to water availability, land condition and grazing in far north Queensland. She has an interdisciplinary and international background, having spent 5 years in the UK completing her BSc and MSc in business management and environmental management respectively. This included 7 weeks spent in Madagascar conducting research for her MSc thesis in 2024, with a focus on the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on avifauna. Elle has recently worked with a team of international researchers examining opportunities for methane reduction in Australian agriculture and is passionate about stakeholder engagement and multidisciplinary research. Originally from a sheep farm in southern NSW, she is keen to continue her involvement in agriculture and create positive environmental and production outcomes. Elle’s PhD is supervised by Dr Jack Koci (TropWATER) and Prof Lin Schwartzkopf (College of Science and Engineering, JCU). Geoffrey Collins Adjunct Research Fellow geoffrey.collins@jcu.edu.au Geoffrey is the Program Manager with OzFish Unlimited and Adjunct Research Fellow with TropWATER and based in Townsville, North QLD. Geoffrey has active projects across all of tropical QLD. He is working on applied research and project delivery with community groups, government, industry and traditional owners. Geoffrey is also working on a range of environmental restoration and monitoring projects including waterway monitoring and restoration, seagrass restoration, fishway monitoring and mapping tropical shellfish reefs. Glenn Morgan Technical Officer glenn.morgan1@jcu.edu.au Glenn has worked for TropWATER in the freshwater ecology group since 2005. His main focuses are providing field support to several limnological research projects and technical assistance to establish and maintain laboratory experiments in TropWATER’s aquarium facilities. For example, Glenn is involved in determining the tolerance of a large range of native tropical freshwater and exotic pest fish species to elevated temperatures and low dissolved oxygen. He also runs experiments designed to quantify and maximise the effects of electrofishing on the pest species tilapia. Glenn has also designed and developed field equipment used to collect water samples and other environmental data. Other key contributions include calibrating, maintaining and operating field equipment including water quality meters, data-loggers, boats and electro-fishers; implementing field surveys involving collecting water, sediment and freshwater biota samples; and conducting macro-invertebrate and fish surveys. Jack Koci Senior Research Officer jack.koci@jcu.edu.au Dr Jack Koci is a Senior Research Officer at the Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), with over ten years’ experience working across university, government, and industry. Jack is committed to working collaboratively with community, industry, and government to deliver innovative and science-based solutions to challenges affecting agricultural and rangeland productivity, while preserving the health and function of natural landscapes, waterways, and biodiversity. Jack’s research is primarily focused on improving understanding of the causes, processes, impacts and management of land degradation in tropical agro-ecosystems. In this research, Jack combines detailed on-ground field studies, including soil, water, and vegetation monitoring, mapping and modelling, with broader scale remote sensing, including the use of drones and satellites. Prior to joining TropWATER, Jack worked as a Lecturer in the College of Science Engineering at James Cook University, Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Field Scientist at Seqwater, and Project Officer at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Jordan Iles Research Fellow jordan.iles@jcu.edu.au Jordan is an aquatic scientist interested in ecological and biogeochemical processes occurring in freshwater rivers, streams and wetlands. Jordan obtained a Bachelor of Science at the University of Technology, Sydney (2003), and completed his PhD at The University of Western Australia in 2019. His thesis on intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams investigated how nutrients and organic matter are utilised and conserved throughout these systems. Jordan has broad experience working in remote arid aquatic systems throughout Australia, spending many years wading through wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin, chasing ephemeral streams and waterholes in the arid Pilbara, and exploring mountain streams in the tropics. He takes a mechanistic approach to investigating environmental and ecological issues. He is interested in all the small things that do the heavy lifting to make ecosystems work – like algae, macrophytes, charophytes, macroinvertebrates and microcrustaceans – and putting them in the big picture. Jordan is involved with water quality and monitoring projects for North Queensland Bulk Ports; the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership; and some tourism and groundwater-centred projects in the Whitsundays and Torres Strait, respectively. Justin Perry Adjunct Senior Research Fellow justin.perry@jcu.edu.au Justin had been intimately involved with conservation management, Indigenous land management and biodiversity monitoring/ecology in Northern Australia since the late 90s. Living and working in remote areas of the Northern Territory and Queensland has exposed him to the inherent limitations and challenges faced by land mangers in remote areas. He leads interdisciplinary projects that work with land managers (predominately Indigenous ranger groups) to develop robust monitoring of values with a specific emphasis on the impact of threatening processes such as feral animals and fire on the plants and animals. The main focus of this work has been to collaboratively develop appropriate frameworks and tools for measuring the success of environmental projects in relation to biodiversity conservation. Nathan Waltham Senior Principal Research Officer nathan.waltham@jcu.edu.au Nathan has a deep interest in coastal landscape ecology and urbanisation, which has developed growing up on the Gold Coast in southeast Queensland, Australia. He completed a BSc in Marine Biology/Aquaculture in 1997 at Southern Cross University (Lismore) and post graduate studies in environmental management at Griffith University in 2001. Nathan has worked in local government (Gold Coast City Council) for 13 years. His PhD research investigated the habitat, role and value of artificial urban waterways (residential canal estates), which are an obvious and major feature of the worlds’ estuaries. Nathan’s research interests include ecosystem responses (freshwater, marine and estuarine) to urbanisation and landscape change, ecosystem health assessment, fish ecology, water quality, and modelling optimal mitigation responses to protect and enhance waterways and catchments. Richard Pearson Emeritus Professor richard.pearson@jcu.edu.au Richard was employed at JCU as Senior Tutor in Zoology in 1974, eventually becoming Professor in 1999. He was successful in his 1988 funding application to the federal government to establish the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research (ACTFR, now TropWATER) and became its Deputy Director, moving to Director in the mid-90s. He was appointed as Head of the new School of Tropical Biology in 1999 and subsequently relinquished the directorship of the ACTFR. During this time, he continued to teach, supervise postgraduate students and undertake research, for which he had continuous funding from several sources. Richard initially investigated the effects of river pollution by sugar mills, followed by projects associated with the sugar industry and Cooperative Research Centres for Rainforest Management and the Great Barrier Reef. For the rainforest CRC he investigated the ecology of pristine tropical streams and continued that work beyond retirement in an international programme on stream ecology. He led the original joint CRC Catchment to Reef programme, and he worked for several years on the ecology of the Burdekin River. Richard has authored at least 70 technical reports and over 160 refereed journal papers and book chapters. He supervised more than 70 postgraduate students. He continues to collaborate with TropWATER staff and others, and to write up his and his students’ research results. Rory Mulloy Research Officer rory.mulloy@jcu.edu.au Rory’s interest in coastal marine science began in the waters of Tobago in the Caribbean where he worked on a citizen science project conducting coral reef health monitoring. Since then he has completed a Master of Science majoring in Protected Area Management from James Cook University and conducted a PhD in ecological engineering at CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC). Rory’s work has involved roles in project management for NGOs leading reef health impact assessments, as a science educator on board National Geographic expeditions and as a principal investigator in restoration research projects. His PhD research focused on nature-based solutions for industrial port design and specifically how urban coastal infrastructure can be developed to incorporate habitat provision for mangroves and benthic ecosystems. Throughout his research career Rory has been involved in a range of projects monitoring coastal ecosystems including mangroves, seagrass, and wetlands alongside water quality and fishery assessment projects. His research interests are centered on coastal restoration and the development of applied solutions to coastal development that minimise impacts on marine ecosystems. Sarah McDonald Research Officer sarah.mcdonald@jcu.edu.au Sarah’s passion lies in understanding the impact of human actions on the aquatic environment, with specific regards to ephemeral systems such as urban stormwater and dry streambeds in the wet-dry tropics. Her field of special competence is water and sediment quality assessment, focusing on the quantification of the form (speciation), behaviour (bioavailability) and ecotoxicological impact (bioaccumulation) of chemical contaminants and stressors, and the development of suitable ecological monitoring tools to measure and mitigate these impacts. She has a deep and varied understanding of the national water quality guidelines framework and the application of the guidelines in complex ephemeral systems. Her additional capabilities include knowledge on the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic ecosystems, it’s characteristics and effect on the speciation and toxicity of chemical contaminants. She also has experience conducting research in the field of radioecology. Sigit Deni Sasmito Senior Research Officer sigitdeni.sasmito@jcu.edu.au Sigit Sasmito is a wetlands ecologist who has more than 12 years of experience in researching to assess the roles and impacts of tropical wetlands for climate change mitigation and adaptation, especially through peatland and blue carbon ecosystems. His research interests focus on carbon monitoring, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, ecosystem restoration assessment and natural carbon capture and removal. He uses multiple approaches such as systematic review and meta-analysis, spatial mapping and field assessment. His works are closely relevant to policies and decision-makers, specifically by providing science-based evidence on how to include wetlands conservation and restoration into national emissions reduction targets. He holds a PhD in Environmental Science from Charles Darwin University, Australia and a BSc in Applied Meteorology from IPB University, Indonesia. He has previous extensive research collaboration experiences at the National University of Singapore and CIFOR-ICRAF in Indonesia. Sigit is an active member of Science Technical Working Group for UN Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC). Tertius de Kluyver Adjunct Senior Research Fellow tertius.dekluyver@jcu.edu.au Tertius has applied his marine science, biochemistry, and occupational hygiene knowledge and skills across a range of environmental issues over a forty-year career. Early career highlights include helping to establish Tasmania’s first oyster hatchery at Bicheno, managing asbestos and other environmental issues within Queensland’s state schools, undertaking research across a range of environmental disciplines at the CSIRO Marine Laboratories (Cleveland, Qld), Lions Cancer Institute (UQ), and at QUT, and developing and teaching a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses on environmental management and marine science in Australia and the USA. Tertius entered the Commonwealth Public Service on return from the USA, initially working on air quality policy development. Here he developed the emission models and cost benefit analysis that led to the establishment of Australia’s first emission standards for non-road two-stroke petrol engines. Tertius then moved to the Climate Change Division and over the following decade worked as a member of the team that produces Australia’s annual greenhouse gas accounts reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He specialised in waste and land-based emissions and was singularly responsible for establishing the wetland greenhouse gas accounts for coastal wetlands (mangroves, tidal marsh and seagrass), farm dams and reservoirs. He later collaborated with Australian academics to improve the farm-dam and reservoir accounts resulting in two co-authorships on peer-reviewed papers, with a third currently in preparation. In retirement Tertius continues to be actively involved in promoting the work of the UNFCCC as a registered member of the Roster of Experts (RoE), the group that undertakes formal audits of all annual GHG accounts and associated reports submitted to the UNFCCC. Tertius is also lead author on four draft IUCN Red List of Ecosystem Assessments for Australia’s mangrove communities and is finalising this work in collaboration with JCU and other Australian scientists. Thomas Stieglitz Adjunct Associate Professor thomas.stieglitz@jcu.edu.au With a background in physics and biogeography, as well as economics, Thomas Stieglitz’s research in the coastal zone covers a wide range of subjects. His interests range from coastal hydrology, in particular submarine groundwater discharge, to seafloor geomorphology and benthic ecology, including benthic habitats and animal-habitat interaction. Thomas’ work is divided between academic research, research-for-management and scientific consulting, including working with the European Centre for Research and Education in Environmental Geosciences (CEREGE) in France. Researchers MORE ACCESS Sasmito SD, Mishra AK, Duvert C, Montagna L, Barkley AS, Widanto DS, Mulloy R, Cartwright P, Waltham NJ. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Contrasting sediment and aquatic CO2 and CH4 effluxes across Australian tropical salt flat, saltmarsh, mangrove and tidally restricted wetlands. ACCESS Carpenter-Bundhoo L, O'Mara K, Davis A, Villacorta-Rath C, Bock D, Burrows D, Pusey B, Donaldson J, Kennard M. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Freshwater fishes of the Bloomfield River: Preliminary report on field surveys in the early dry season 2025. ACCESS Coughlan A, & Canning A. Wetlands and freshwater habitats The influence of rainbow trout on dwarf galaxiid habitat preferences. ACCESS Waterhouse J, Molinari B, Star M, Weber T, Waltham N, Motson K. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Synthesis of evidence of the effectiveness of wetlands in water quality improvement, costs and cost-drivers in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area. ACCESS McKnight DT, Bower DS, Ariel E, Beatty S, Clulow S, Connel M, Deppe AR, Doody S, Freeman A, Georges A, Hannabass SL, Hollender EC, Howel H, Krochmal A, Ligon DB, Munscher E, Nordberg EJ, Roth TC, Santoro A, Schaffer J, Simms A, Spencer R, Stone P, Voves KC, Walde AD, Wassens S, Welsh MA, Whiterod NS, Wirth W, Van Dyke JU. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Does a lack of juveniles indicate a threat? Understanding body size distribution in a group of long-lived vertebrates. ACCESS Malerba ME, de Kluyver T, Wright N, Omosalewa O, Macreadie PI. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Including methane emissions from agricultural ponds in national greenhouse gas inventories. ACCESS Vulliet C, Koci J, Jarihani B, Sheaves M, Waltham N. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Assessing tidal hydrodynamics in a tropical seascape using structure-from-motion photogrammetry and 2D flow modelling. ACCESS Trevathan-Tackett SM, Kepfer-Rojas S, Malerba M, Macreadie PI, Djukic I, et al. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Climate effects on belowground tea litter decomposition depend on ecosystem and organic matter types in global wetlands. Reports and publications MORE