Breakthrough research by James Cook University scientists has solved the mystery of the catastrophic death of 40 million mangrove trees around the Gulf of Carpentaria in 2016 – and the discovery could help scientists predict, and possibly prevent, future events. TropWATER Gulf mangrove dieback discovery 27 July 2022 TropWATER BACK The latest research reveals that the devastating mass death of tidal mangrove forests was a result of an unusually low sea level due to large-scale swings in El Niño – Southern Oscillation events. Lead author Dr. Norm Duke from JCU’s TropWATER Research Centre said the mangroves had not recovered seven years on, making the mangrove dieback event an ongoing coastal catastrophe.“The key factor responsible for the mass dieback appears to have been the sudden 40-centimeter drop in sea level that lasted for about six months, coinciding with no rainfall, killing vast areas of mangroves,” he said. “Essentially, the trees died of thirst.” The study shows that strong El Niño events – often associated with coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef – are also a threat to vital mangrove ecosystems. Nearly 40 million mangrove trees died along 2000 kilometers of coastline in northern Australia’s remote Gulf region, releasing nearly one million tonnes of carbon. More than 76 km2 of mangroves were lost, making this the worst incidence of climate-related mass tree dieback that has ever occurred globally. “Recovery has been repeatedly stymied by other climate-driven events including severe cyclones and flooding,” Dr Duke said. Author assisting with data analysis and JCU TropWATER Researcher Dr. Adam Canning said the study’s evidence for sea-level drop being the cause was found in the discovery of an earlier mass dieback in 1982, observed in satellite imagery. “The 1982 dieback also coincided with an unusually extreme drop in sea level during another very severe El Niño event. We know from satellite data that the mangroves took at least 15 years to recover from that dieback,” he said. “Now they are caught in a vicious collapse and recovery cycle because of repeated pressure from climate change – the question remains when or if they will recover.” Enhancing the resilience of these ecosystems is possible with targeted action. Co-author and wetlands researcher at Earthwatch Australia, Jock Mackenzie, said “To help mangrove ecosystems respond to environmental impacts such as climate change, we must address the localized human impacts that degrade mangrove habitats including pollution, altered hydrology, feral animals, weeds, and improper fire management. These impacts impede the natural ability of mangroves to adapt to climate change.” “We encourage community groups, Indigenous custodians, and catchment management agencies to continue to monitor mangrove shorelines through a combination of satellite monitoring and the MangroveWatch citizen science program, to help identify and prioritize targeted local mangrove management and threat reduction.” Satellite imagery could also be used to help monitor the recovery of mangroves in remote areas and identify key areas under pressure. It may even be possible to predict future events, which could help prepare for innovative rescue efforts that may include reducing water stress during El Niño events via targeted irrigation. Dr. Duke said mangroves are vital to the ecology and stability of tropical and subtropical coastlines and their protection is critical. “They provide essential habitat for many species and can hold substantially more carbon than tropical forests within the same area,” he said. “These extraordinary trees are normally environmentally resilient, being able to grow in seawater, intertidal zones, and on coastal salt flats. They are also essential for preventing or reducing shoreline erosion and retreat.” The dieback’s exact cause has been revealed after a four-year research partnership between James Cook University, Charles Darwin University, and Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation Indigenous Rangers in the Gulf, funded by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program and the Northern Territory Government. The Gulf mangrove dieback research project and team were funded by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP), through both its Tropical Water Quality Hub and Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub. Next Previous

Murky waters, resident crocodiles, dense seagrass, and elusive species make studying fish in seagrass meadows challenging – testing the limits of available monitoring techniques. TropWATER Finding fish in murky waters: TropWATER study guides best monitoring methods in seagrass meadows 12 September 2025 TropWATER BACK A new study by James Cook University TropWATER scientists explores the benefits and limitations of monitoring techniques for fish and prawns, providing a practical roadmap to help researchers choose the right tools for the right conditions in seagrass habitats. The team reviewed 13 common methods, from nets and trawls to underwater cameras, sonar, and cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA). Each method has trade-offs. Some risk disturbing seagrass, others falter in turbid water, while eDNA excels at detecting species but cannot yet measure abundance. Darcy Philpott, a PhD student with TropWATER and lead author of the study, said the research provides an important guide for choosing the right monitoring techniques. “Studying fish and prawns in seagrass meadows is challenging, with species behaviour and traits making them hard to find,” she said. “Our message is that no single method gives you the full story. By combining complementary techniques, researchers can capture a more complete picture of biodiversity without disturbing these habitats.” The research was supported by the partnership between North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation and James Cook University through a scholarship and research funding. JCU TropWATER conducts annual seagrass monitoring as part of this partnership, collecting over 30 years of data in ports. Professor Michael Rasheed, seagrass scientist and program lead, said without reliable monitoring, declines in these habitats could go unnoticed until it’s too late. “We can’t protect what we can’t measure. Better monitoring tools mean better management and stronger conservation of seagrass meadows and the fisheries they support,” he said. “We have a strong commitment to work with industries to ensure the habitats surrounding Ports are well protected and managed in a way that has minimal impact on the local environment. “This NQBP partnership has allowed us to take this monitoring further – we can assess what we do, improving our techniques and sharing this knowledge with other researchers and with port managers.” Future work will focus on refining monitoring approaches to improve biodiversity assessments while reducing environmental impacts. The study is published in Marine Environmental Research : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107395 Next Previous

JCU TropWATER researchers have studied dugong populations for decades, and our marine megafauna team continues to lead cutting edge projects to improve our understanding of dugong ecology. This work is critical to effectively conserve this culturally and ecologically important species. TropWATER A snapshot of TropWATER’s dugong research for World Dugong Day 2 July 2025 TropWATER BACK This week, to celebrate World Dugong Day, we’re presenting a snapshot of our work studying dugongs around Australia and globally. All of these projects are designed and undertaken in collaboration with Traditional Owners on their Sea Country. We’re surveying dugong populations from the air Where: WA: Shark Bay, Ningaloo, Exmouth Gulf; QLD: Torres Strait, Great Barrier Reef, Hervey Bay, Moreton Bay; QLD/NT: Gulf of Carpentaria We use small planes to regularly survey dugong populations across northern Australia, with most regions surveyed every five years. Cameras attached to survey planes capture thousands of images, and our researchers are developing artificial intelligence methods to quickly and accurately analyse these images. Recent surveys showed a decline in dugong numbers across the southern Great Barrier Reef, compared to around 7,000 dugongs living in the waters of the northern Great Barrier Reef. Read more We’re tagging dugongs to track movement and behaviour Where: WA: Broome, Shark Bay; QLD: Moreton Bay; New Caledonia; Mozambique Our researchers are using GPS-satellite and multi-sensor tags to track the movements, diving behaviour and habitat use of dugongs, detecting behaviours not visible from above the ocean’s surface. Understanding how dugongs use their habitats will inform local and regional management and give insights into potential disturbances to dugongs. Our team has provided specialist technical support for dugong tagging projects in collaboration with African Parks in Mozambique, Yawuru Traditional Owners in Broome, and the Australian National University in Shark Bay. We’re assessing the health of dugongs Where: WA Broome; QLD: Townsville region, Moreton Bay We are developing a non-invasive method to assess dugong body condition using drone-based photogrammetry. Body condition is an indicator of nutritional health, a key element to inform dugong conservation and population management strategies. Drone footage of dugongs is being collected mainly in Cleveland Bay and Moreton Bay (Australia), with plans to expand through collaborations across the dugong’s range. We’re partnering with and training Indigenous sea Rangers on the use of small drones to monitor marine megafauna species Where: WA: the Kimberley; QLD: Yarrabah, Innisfail, Cardwell, Townsville TropWATER works alongside Traditional Owners to train Rangers in drone-based monitoring of marine megafauna (such as dugongs) and seagrass habitats. We help Rangers become independent in the use drones to detect and monitor the presence of dugongs and other animals and to map seagrass meadows across tidal zones. This data is used to track seasonal changes, identify key feeding areas, and support Ranger-led long-term monitoring. These projects support community-led mapping and data collection to strengthen management of Sea Country using both scientific and cultural knowledge. We’re using new genomic tools to assess dugong genetic health and population connectivity Where: Australian dugong range, from Shark Bay to Moreton Bay We are using genomic tools to assess the genetic health and connectivity of dugong populations across northern Australia. This includes whole-genome sequencing and ancient DNA analysis to examine genetic diversity, population structure, historical population changes, and gene flow between regions. In 2025, as part of a major collaborative effort between JCU researchers and Traditional Owners from across northern Australia, the team sequenced 90 dugong samples from key locations including Shark Bay, Exmouth Gulf, Port Hedland, the Kimberley, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait, and different locations throughout the Great Barrier Reef. Samples from Mozambique and New Caledonia were also included to provide broader regional context. We’re using small drones to assess the body condition of dugongs Where: QLD: Cleveland Bay, Moreton Bay We're developing a non-invasive method to assess dugong body condition using drone-based photogrammetry. Body condition is an indicator of nutritional health, providing key information for dugong conservation and population management strategies. At this stage, drone footage of dugongs is being collected mainly in Cleveland Bay and Moreton Bay, with plans to expand through collaborations across northern Australia. We’re connecting with Traditional Owners to share dugong knowledge Where: QLD: Great Barrier Reef Our Dugong Connections project brings together Traditional Owners and scientists to build connections, exchange knowledge, and reshape the way we approach dugong research, monitoring, and management. Together, we’re respectfully exploring opportunities for knowledge sharing, training, dugong surveys and culturally and ecologically sustainable management practices to help dugong populations remain healthy across the Great Barrier Reef. Read more 'Dugong Connections' artwork by Robert Paul. Next Previous

Our capabilities include water quality and eDNA labs, specialised training programs, technology development, and a range of environmental assessments and restoration efforts. We provide science-based solutions, stakeholder training, and innovative monitoring technologies. Our services and capabilities How we apply science for environmental solutions. Our capabilities include water quality and eDNA labs, specialised training programs, technology development, and a range of environmental assessments and restoration efforts. We provide science-based solutions, stakeholder training, and innovative monitoring technologies. TropWATER’s Water Quality Laboratory specialises in monitoring and analysing water samples, providing services in inorganic and organic chemistry. Our expertise spans various aspects of water quality research, supporting studies on freshwater streams, rivers, wetlands, reservoirs, groundwaters, and marine waters. Our expertise allows us to address a wide range of environmental water quality challenges, providing essential data and insights that guide environmental management strategies, conservation initiatives, and policy decisions concerning water quality and ecosystem health, allowing for a holistic approach to water quality evaluation. Our analyses include evaluating nutrient levels and potential pollutants that threaten freshwater and marine ecosystems. Following extreme weather events like floods, we analyse water quality changes and contaminants introduced into water bodies. This helps TropWATER scientists understand the immediate and long-term impacts on aquatic ecosystems. We also provide training in sampling and sample preservation techniques. For further information about the services provided by TropWATER’s Water Quality Laboratory, please contact our Laboratory Manager, Michelle Tink on +61 (0)7 4781 5214 or email TropWATER.WQL@jcu.edu.au Our Water Quality Lab provides comprehensive tailored services for James Cook University research and consulting projects, and a commercial analytical service for government agencies and industry. Water Quality Laboratory eDNA Laboratory Our lab utilises cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to detect and monitor invasive and endangered species, playing a vital role in bolstering biosecurity measures. TropWATER's eDNA lab advances genomics and molecular biology research. We develop innovative methods and protocols for field collection and laboratory analysis. We offer a range of services, from primer design to sample collection and analytical services. We provide the following services: Design and validation of eDNA assays. Experimental design. Sample collection. Sample processing. Data analysis and visualisation. Training and workshops. LEARN MORE Laboratories Short course in aquatic environment monitoring skills Enhance your understanding and value-adding abilities in aquatic environment monitoring with TropWATER's short course. Ideal for field staff, recent graduates, and experienced professionals, this course focuses on optimising monitoring programs, contextual importance in environmental monitoring, and leveraging techniques and technologies for better insights. Contact Shelley Templeman for more information at shelley.templeman@jcu.edu.au. eDNA workshops This workshops gives a practical introduction to eDNA, along with the best eDNA sampling methods and strategies tailored to your needs. Led by eDNA experts, this workshop equips you with the skills and knowledge to apply eDNA approaches in aquatic environments. Optional laboratory work and sampling design sessions are available upon request. Duration: 1 to 2 days. Contact Cecilia Villacorta Rath for more information at cecilia.villacortarath@jcu.edu.au. STEM waterways citizen science project Engage in the STEM Waterways Citizen Science Project designed for school teams. Learn to study waterways in depth, identify scientific areas of interest, and contribute valuable data to local and global knowledge. Partnering with experts from TropWATER, Cairns Regional Council, Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation, and more, this project offers access to facilities and support for high school teams in the region. Contact Shelley Templeman for more information at shelley.templeman@jcu.edu.au . Traditional Owner and ranger training We upskill, train, and teach Traditional Owners and Indigenous Rangers on sea Country in a range of environmental techniques. This includes drone, snorkelling, transect-based seagrass and coral monitoring, and local-scale dugong drone surveys. We deliver this training to multiple Traditional Owner groups across northern Australia. Contact Alexandra Carter at Alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au for more information. We offer advanced training in environmental science and conservation with our specialised workshops and programs. Courses and workshops Training Our scientists take pride in maintaining and developing strong relationships with communities, Traditional Owners, and landholders. Working together allows us to address environmental impacts of joint concern and achieve common goals to help create a more sustainable future. Coordinate and train Indigenous rangers, tourism operators and community groups to undertake monitoring at reefs and seagrass habitats. Collaborate with Traditional Owners and upskill rangers to conduct seagrass mapping and monitoring. Work with landholders to understand how, where, and when sediment moves from the land into key catchments. Work with growers to monitor water quality, detect hotspots and improve management practices. Find ways to incentivise restoration opportunities for landholders. Community collaboration Technology Traditional and manual monitoring methods can be slow, labour intensive, and expensive. Innovative technologies have the potential to dramatically transform how we monitor and manage aquatic ecosystems. We are applying these technologies and developing our own to make data collection easier, more cost-effective, and scalable, so we can better tackle major ecological challenges. Develop environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to cost-effectively detect invasive and endangered species and provide training in eDNA sample collection. Combine satellite remote sensing data with aerial and field surveys to identify and monitor coastal ecosystems such as mangroves. Use AI to track and monitor a range of species, including fish and dugongs. Use underwater and land surveillance cameras to track species. Aquatic surveys Understanding species distribution and diversity is critical to aquatic ecosystem conservation and management, but collecting data in these environments can be challenging. Our scientists specialise in designing and conducting surveys suited to a range of aquatic ecosystems. Conduct marine biodiversity surveys of fish invertebrates in human-made structures to improve habitats, such as jetties, marinas, and sea walls. Use electro-fishing and drop cameras in wetland surveys to detect invasive fish and plant species, such as climbing perch and water hyacinth. Provide training and short courses in aquatic environmental monitoring such as invertebrate surveys Use environmental eDNA to monitor and detect species, including frogs, fish and more. Environmental assessments and modelling Industrial and urban development is growing, bringing with it an increasing risk to wetland, coastal, and marine environments. Informed decision-making is critical to identify and reduce these risks. Our scientists conduct essential work in environmental assessments and modelling to guide management decisions and inform conservation efforts. Undertake environmental assessments for proposed dams, mine sites, port authorities and urban development, and provide advice to inform management decisions. Conduct species and habitat distribution modelling to inform conservation and restoration. Conduct environmental life cycle assessments from agricultural production. Restoration Coastal and marine ecosystem restoration has never been more urgent on a large scale, and our window of opportunity to regain what’s lost is vanishing. It's critical to address restoration needs in Australia, and our scientists are leaders in this field. Build resilience of high priority reefs through leading targeted restoration programs, and provide scientific advice and guidance on restoration and coral reef monitoring. Research seagrass resilience including restoration and recovery, connectivity, and environmental thresholds. Investigate tidal barrier removal for mangrove restoration for blue carbon opportunities. Examine the performance of restored natural and artificial constructed wetlands. Find ways to incentivise restoration opportunities for landholders leveraging off ecosystem service markets, such as access carbon credit schemes. Ecosystem and species mapping and monitoring The tropics have a diverse range of aquatic ecosystems that face different threats and management challenges. To conserve and manage these ecosystems, we need to understand their distribution and how conditions may be changing. Conduct long-term monitoring of water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and species, including inshore coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass meadow sand dugongs. Identify and map potential restoration sites to maximise outcomes for biodiversity, carbon storage and water quality improvement opportunities. Design robust ecological monitoring programs to help industries proactively reduce their risks. Identify and map flood prone agricultural land for potential restoration to restore biodiversity, store carbon and remove nutrients and sediments. Science-led environmental solutions

James Cook University scientists are in the air conducting a critical Queensland-wide dugong population survey – counting dugongs along 2000 kilometers of coastline in under two months. TropWATER Dugong Census begins 22 May 2024 TropWATER BACK Like a census, the surveys are conducted over an intense period every five years to get a snapshot of dugongs and calves’ populations, from Cape York to Moreton Bay. JCU TropWATER’s Dr. Chris Cleguer said Australia is home to the largest dugong population in the world, and the surveys are critical for monitoring trends in abundance and distribution. “These aerial surveys have been conducted for more than 30 years and are essential in not only estimating the current dugong population size but also mapping where dugongs are more or less abundant,” he said. “There are concerns about the decline in dugongs across the urban coast of the Great Barrier Reef – this year’s surveys will give us the opportunity to understand the extent of this.”Hervey Bay to the south of the Great Barrier Reef, a known hotspot for dugongs, is an area of concern following a major loss of seagrass habitat earlier this year. The seagrass loss resulted from two flood events, which smothered the seagrass and destroyed the dugongs’ main food source. “The surveys will help us determine how many dugongs currently are in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait as well as understanding their large-scale movements,” he said. “It is possible the dugongs have moved in search of seagrass to other nearby key habitats such as Gladstone to the north or Moreton Bay to the south.” Dr. Cleguer said, for the first time in Queensland, the aerial surveys will also use cameras attached to one of the legs of the aircraft to capture thousands of images of the water surface. “These large-scale aerial surveys usually rely solely on highly trained observers to count dugongs from the sky,” Dr. Cleguer said. “But our collaborative research group is transitioning to using imagery survey and artificial intelligence to track and monitor dugongs in the future – saving time, money, and providing enhanced data.” The Great Barrier Reef dugong population aerial surveys are one of the critical Reef monitoring projects funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (Cape York to Bundaberg). The surveys in Queensland’s southern bays, Hervey Bay, and Moreton Bay, are also funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said incorporating new technologies like AI is key to accelerating impact in tracking the health of the Reef and its animals. “Dugongs are not only a vulnerable marine species we must protect, they’re also a priority indicator species for climate change and ecosystem health, with dugongs’ in-shore seagrass nurseries and feeding grounds highly susceptible to climate change impacts,” Ms. Marsden said. “By using new technologies and supporting efforts to accelerate and advance the aerial dugong surveys with our research partners from JCU, we will be able to give Reef managers and researchers access to the best possible information to proactively manage and protect the Reef and its marine life.” The research team will survey from the Cairns region south to Moreton Bay over the next two months, and further surveys are planned for Cooktown to Cape York in 2023. Next Previous

Following back-to-back floods, scientists undertook surveys to understand seagrass loss and its impact on dugong and turtles. Hervey Bay, Great Sandy Strait Location Seagrass meadows in the Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait region suffered severe damage from consecutive floods, jeopardising crucial food sources for dugongs and turtles. Scientists are conducting continuous surveys to evaluate the enduring impacts of these flood events on seagrass. Initial findings reveal significant declines in seagrass cover and biomass, providing essential baseline data for future trend analysis and restoration planning efforts. Key points Post-flood monitoring of seagrass in Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait BACK Back-to-back floods impact seagrass meadows The Great Sandy Strait and Hervey Bay regions have some of the largest and most ecologically important seagrass meadows in eastern Australia. These habitats support dugongs and green turtles as well as much of the region’s marine biodiversity. Floodwater runoff can have severe impacts on the species that rely on these habitats. By carrying large amounts of sediment into the environment, floodwaters can reduce light and potentially smother seagrass meadows. Floods in 1991 led to the loss of over 1000 sq km of seagrass in the Hervey Bay region, significantly impacting dugong populations. In early 2022, major back-to-back floods from the Mary River again carried significant sediment into marine waters, causing significant damage to seagrass meadows resulting in significant mortality of dugongs and sea turtles. This threat prompted scientists to initiate ongoing large-scale surveys to understand the long-term impact of the floods on seagrass meadows. Recent dugong surveys have also shown a large decline in both adult and calf dugong numbers in Hervey Bay. Surveys show ongoing impacts on seagrass since floods In response to the 2022 floods, scientists from JCU TropWATER and rangers from the Department of Environment and Science undertook surveys to understand seagrass loss and its impact on dugong and turtles. To assess the extent of seagrass loss in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait after the floods, surveys were conducted in 2022, 2023, and 2024 to track recovery. Over 2,300 km2 were surveyed by helicopter and by boat. Surveyed areas were divided into 353 sites based on where seagrass had previously been recorded. 2022 surveys: widespread seagrass declines Immediately after the 2022 floods, 80% of previously recorded seagrass meadows were gone. The remaining meadows showed substantial decline. The surveyed area in Hervey Bay revealed an area of just 744 km2 that retained some seagrass, representing just one third of the previously recorded meadow. The remaining seagrass showed significantly reduced plant cover and biomass, and nearly all seagrass was found in deeper waters. Only one shallow-water meadow remained intact. 2023 surveys: recovery begins Follow-up surveys in 2023 indicated that seagrass recovery is underway. There are concerns that the seagrass ‘seed bank’ was impacted during the floods and could slow regeneration. Results from the 2023 surveys are available here . Recent dugong surveys have also shown a large decline in both adult and calf dugong numbers in Hervey Bay. Read more about the dugong surveys here: https://www.tropwater.com/projects/large-scale-monitoring-of-dugong-populations-across-northern-australia- Data to form the foundation of future restoration strategies Seagrasses form the foundation ecosystem for much of the region's marine biodiversity. Meadows need long-term monitoring and supported restoration efforts so that valuable species are not lost. These surveys will help provide critical data insights, including: Baseline post-flood data for seagrass and dugongs in 2022. This has since been compared to 2023 data and will serve as a point of comparison for future surveys to reveal changes over time. Valuable insights into seagrass ecosystems and the effects of disruption on dugong and sea turtle populations from the 2022 and 2023 surveys. This information will be important for ongoing monitoring under predicted increases in extreme weather events due to climate change. Knowledge of regional-scale seagrass meadow collapse. This will drive research into meadow restoration and propagation techniques by TropWATER scientists. Project details Surveys were funded by the Department of Environment and Science (DES). Research support Michael Rasheed Principal Research Scientist michael.rasheed@jcu.edu.au Paul York Senior Research Officer Paul.York@jcu.edu.au Research leads

TropWATER are northern Australia's leading environmental DNA (eDNA) experts. We use genetic clues to revolutionise how we detect invasive and threatened species, and we are advancing eDNA science with our easy-to-use field kits and targeted assays for northern Australian species. Environmental DNA We use genetic clues to revolutionise how to detect invasive and threatened species. 0 Samples analysed 0 Target species assays 0 Sites surveyed What is evironmental DNA (eDNA)? All species shed traces of DNA into the environment through skin, faeces, blood, mucus, sperm, and other biological material. This is known as environmental DNA (eDNA). By analysing small fragments of this DNA in water or soil samples, we can detect species across large or hard-to-reach areas without the need to physically see or capture them. Results are delivered in a report with expert interpretation to help you understand what was detected and what it means. We ensure high-quality data: Our eDNA metabarcoding data is reviewed by ecologist experts on each particular taxon (fish, amphibians, invertebrates, etc) to minimise species misassignments Our targeted eDNA assays are developed following international guidelines, and our data is always Sanger-sequenced to minimise false positives We advise whether further field surveys are recommended. Where relevant, we highlight biosecurity concerns or whether the detection supports recovery or conservation planning. High-quality data Results: expert interpretation for management, biosecurity and conservation Samples collected in the field are sent to our lab, where DNA is extracted and analysed. All lab protocols are designed to maximise eDNA detection and ensure accurate, reliable results. Our team uses specialised equipment to extract eDNA directly from large volumes of water, so field teams don’t need to filter samples. We’ve also developed preservation methods that don’t require refrigeration, making it easier to collect and store samples in remote areas for later analysis. Analysis in the lab Our lab: advanced analysis and preservation methods Our eDNA kits Each eDNA kit is designed by our scientists to maximise detection, by either targeting a specific species (like yellow crazy ants) or a broader group (such as all fish or bacteria) using metabarcoding. We also adapt sampling methods to suit different environments, from fast-flowing rivers to estuaries and the open ocean. We provide training so that anyone, including community groups and Traditional Owners, can use these kits to collect water or soil samples. Their simplicity supports widespread, community-led monitoring across large and remote areas. eDNA kits: how they work and who collects samples We are northern Australia’s leading eDNA experts Using advanced techniques in our lab, our scientists have developed targeted eDNA methods to detect and monitor invasive and endangered species. We’ve contributed to biosecurity surveillance, environmental impact assessments, tracking fish communities in Australian waterways, locating threatened species, and advancing eDNA science itself, while working with Traditional Owners, community groups, governments, councils and regional bodies. Locating and protecting threatened species We have advanced eDNA technology to detect threatened species, such as frogs, turtles, and freshwater fish, without needing to see or capture them. This is highly effective at surveying large or remote areas, identify hard-to-find species, and minimise disturbance to sensitive habitats. It helps conservationists, land managers, and Traditional Owner groups make informed decisions and respond more effectively to species decline. Case studies Finding ‘missing’ frogs using eDNA TropWATER scientists developed a method to detect endangered frog populations by tracing their DNA in waterways – even when the frogs are more than 20 kilometres upstream. This approach is helping locate elusive species once thought to be lost, and is transforming how threatened amphibians are surveyed across northern Australia. We rediscovered the Irwin turtle TropWATER scientists used environmental DNA (eDNA) to confirm the presence of the Irwin’s turtle in the lower Burdekin River – the first formal record in more than 25 years. This rediscovery, made possible through water sampling across three river catchments, challenges earlier assumptions about the species’ survival in turbid waters and shows the power of eDNA to detect elusive species in remote and crocodile-prone areas. Strengthening community-led efforts We work closely with community groups, Traditional Owners, Indigenous Rangers, and local councils to make eDNA science more accessible and locally relevant. By supporting community-led monitoring and offering training in sampling techniques, we’re helping build capacity on the ground. These partnerships strengthen local knowledge, improve long-term data collection, and create shared ownership in the protection of northern Australia’s waterways and biodiversity. Case studies Tracking cane toads We developed a highly sensitive eDNA method that can detect the presence of a single cane toad from just a brief visit to a small waterbody, even when toads only stayed for five minutes. In partnership with the Torres Strait Regional Authority, this technique is now helping Indigenous Rangers monitor cane toads across the Torres Strait, providing a practical tool to detect early invasions and support local biosecurity efforts. Monitoring fish communities We’ve worked with local groups like OzFish, Creekwatch, and Traditional Owners to monitor fish communities in creeks and rivers using eDNA. By training community members to collect water samples, species can be detected without relying on traps or nets. This approach has helped communities in Townsville, the Burdekin, and the Herbert region better understand the fish living in their waterways and contribute to long-term monitoring and management. Biosecurity for invasive species Our eDNA technology allows early detection of invasive species, like yellow crazy ants and Varroa mites. It enables rapid biosecurity response and management to stop their spread and be used as a surveillance tool. We can deliver a fast, cost-effective methods to improve biosecurity by detecting low-density and hidden species over large areas. Case studies Invasive ants on Reef Islands Invasive ants like electric ants, fire ants, and yellow crazy ants pose a serious biosecurity risk to Great Barrier Reef islands, threatening native wildlife such as bird chicks and turtle hatchlings. TropWATER researchers, working with Traditional Owner groups, used eDNA to detect these species by analysing soil samples for their unique DNA. The project developed and field-tested targeted detection methods to support early intervention and protect island ecosystems. Screening for Varroa mites Varroa mites are one of the most serious biosecurity threats to Australia’s honeybee industry, weakening bee populations and putting pollination-dependent crops and ecosystems at risk. To support early intervention, TropWATER researchers have developed reliable eDNA protocols to detect Varroa mites in honeybee populations. This work has also contributed to portable diagnostic tools for rapid, on-site screening — improving response times and strengthening national efforts to contain outbreaks. Advancing eDNA science We have advanced eDNA methods for science to detect both individual species and broader groups of species using genetic markers, with both processes requiring detailed genetic knowledge and rigorous lab testing. To accurately detect rare or invasive species, our team designs species-specific primers. We have also advanced metabarcoding methods, which are a newer eDNA technique that detects many species at once by analysing shared genetic markers in samples. This provides a broader view of biodiversity and how ecological communities change over time. Case studies First to detect invertebrates TropWATER was among the first to successfully detect terrestrial invertebrates using eDNA, demonstrating that species like yellow crazy ants could be identified from water samples — even when infestations were located hundreds of metres from the source. This early breakthrough expanded the scope of eDNA beyond aquatic species and paved the way for new applications in terrestrial biosecurity and pest surveillance. Tracking cane toads Metabarcoding improves soil health TropWATER scientists are expanding the use of eDNA metabarcoding to study how microbes and invertebrates cycle nutrients in agricultural soils. This technique detects multiple microbial and invertebrate organisms at once, helping reveal how different farming practices influence nutrient retention, leaching, and runoff. The research is advancing eDNA science while supporting landholders to improve soil health, reduce fertiliser losses, and improve water quality. Explore our work Use our map below to explore different projects and target species. eDNA FAQ Looking for more information? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about eDNA sampling and analysis. Still have questions? Contact us about our eDNA lab and kits. What is the difference between target species detection and metabarcoding? Target species detection uses a highly specific test, called an assay, to look for the DNA of one species, such as the endangered armoured frog or the invasive yellow crazy ant. Every field sample collected is scanned for this specific assay. Metabarcoding scans for a broad group of species (like all fish or all bacteria) by targeting a gene section they all share. It gives you a snapshot of the biodiversity present in your sample. Both approaches rely on reference databases of known DNA sequences. When would you use metabarcoding? Metabarcoding is ideal when you want to understand what communities of species live in an environment. It’s used to assess biodiversity in rivers, oceans, or soil, track changes in ecosystems over time, or study microbes involved in soil and water health. It's also useful when you're not sure what species you're looking for. The most common species tend to appear most in the results because they collectively shed more eDNA, but rare species can still be detected. Can metabarcoding identify all species with DNA present in a sample? No – while metabarcoding identifies a broad group of species with a shared gene in a sample, identifying all species from all groups is very challenging for technical and practical reasons. Technical reasons include the sampling design (eDNA from some species may not be captured due to low abundance, low shedding rates, or suboptimal sampling) and PCR efficiency (DNA from some species will be more easily amplified than others). Metabarcoding assays are designed to focus on a targeted group of species (such as fish, corals, or microbes) so species outside that group will not be detected. Practical limitations involve reference databases; DNA sequences must be matched to known references, and not all species have reference DNA available. When would you use targeted detection? Targeted detection is used when you are searching for one specific species. Since it is the most sensitive eDNA method of detection, it is useful when trying to locate an endangered or invasive species because the presence or absence of an individual of that species could have implications for conservation or biosecurity. Targeted detection is also valuable for locating species whose characteristics, like camouflage or remaining hidden, make them difficult to observe directly. How is eDNA improving the way we find species? The way eDNA samples are collected and analysed has revolutionised how we can detect species across a range of environments. Sampling is quick and easy, allowing for screening of large areas, and it does not require expertise. Detection is also indirect, as it doesn’t require sighting the species directly, so it can be used to find rare/cryptic species or provide a broad snapshot of whole communities in an ecosystem. This can be a powerful tool for early detection of invasive species, before sightings occur. Are all eDNA labs the same? No, not all eDNA labs operate at the same level. Our lab: Delivers both commercial and research services, while developing new field and lab methods to advance eDNA science and ensure robust data. Targeted eDNA : We design assays to international best practice guidelines, test them against our large fish and reptile tissue collection, and validate all positive detections through Sanger sequencing. This guarantees that all positive detections have been scrutinised. Metabarcoding : Our data is reviewed by expert ecologists with knowledge of Australian biodiversity in each taxonomic group (e.g., fish, vertebrates, invertebrates) to reduce false positives from taxonomic misassignments. Training : We provide training in eDNA methods, covering theory, sampling techniques, and data interpretation. Do you test in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments? Yes. Soil and water samples can be collected from terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine environments. We can design a sampling plan tailored to your project and research questions. What species can be detected using eDNA methods? Species from across a wide range of taxonomic groups can be detected using eDNA analysis, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and plants as well as mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, and more. Although some organisms naturally shed more DNA than others, even rare species can be detected using appropriate eDNA protocols. Does eDNA sample collection require specialised equipment? No – our sampling kits have been specifically designed to be used in tropical remote areas of northern Australia. Sampling simply consists of filling up a jar with water and pouring it into another jar containing the preservative buffer. This means that there is no need to specialised equipment, not even a fridge or ice, since the samples do not have to be kept cool. How long do samples last? Water samples can last for between six weeks to three months, depending on temperatures. We have trialled the efficiency of the preservative buffer and it can keep eDNA intact in temperatures as high as 60°C for at least six weeks and ambient temperatures for at least three months. What is the process? Project goals : The TropWATER eDNA team meets with you to discuss project objectives. Sample collection : Water, soil, or air samples are taken using a field kit provided by TropWATER. DNA extraction : The sample is processed in a lab to extract any DNA present. Analysis for metabarcoding or target species : The target gene sequences for a taxon/organism are identified, matched to databases, and interpreted based on the species you’re targeting or group you’re assessing. Results : A report is provided that includes a detailed account of the methods used, results on species detection, and recommendations. Contact us about our eDNA lab and kits If you’re considering using eDNA for research, monitoring, or management, we can help tailor the right tools and methods for your needs. Get in touch today. Please fill out the contact form and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible to discuss how we can support your project. Your details First name Last name Email* Organisation Next

Indigenous rangers and scientists team up to drive coral growth on the Great Barrier Reef during spawning season and beyond. A team of scientists, First Nations Rangers, tourism operators, and conservationists have collected millions of coral sperm and egg bundles at Moore Reef on Gunggandji Sea Country, 50 kilometers offshore from Cairns. TropWATER Indigenous rangers and scientists team up to drive coral growth 3 December 2024 TropWATER BACK After a week of incubating in custom-designed pools, the coral babies have been settled out at nearby Hastings Reef, on Yirrganydji Sea Country, in the hope of repairing patches of degraded reef. The larval delivery project is part of the newly launched reef conservation collective called ‘The Reef Cooperative’, a partnership between Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation, James Cook University (JCU), Reef Recruits, Mars Sustainable Solutions, GBR Biology, and funded by Cotton On Foundation. The coral larvae project is led by JCU TropWATER and Reef Recruits, who bring years of experience with raising and settling coral larvae and managing complex marine field operations. JCU’s Dr. Katie Chartrand says climate-related disturbances are increasing and the windows for reefs to recover are getting shorter and shorter. “By using the Great Barrier Reef’s most reproductive time of year – the annual synchronized spawning – we have the potential to significantly boost reef recovery at targeted reef sites,” she said. “Key to this project is that it’s being delivered with traditional custodians who hold a wealth of knowledge about their local reefs while the research team provides the scientific tools to train those involved. “This project has been an opportunity to work hand in hand with two local Traditional Owner groups. Sharing our knowledge on spawning and larval rearing is building local capacity to drive conservation outcomes for First Nations peoples across the Great Barrier Reef in the future.” The team will release 30 million larvae in the project over the next 3 years and build capacity within the community and The Reef Cooperative. “The transfer of coral larvae from Gunggandji Sea Country to Yirrganydji Sea Country for settling on Hastings Reef is an important opportunity to engage Traditional Owner groups and tell our story about the Great Barrier Reef. Through The Reef Cooperative, we can focus on the Aboriginal cultural heritage dimensions of the Great Barrier Reef, which have not historically been known or told across Australia and the world,” Gavin Singleton, Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation. These larvae will increase coral coverage over more than 200 square meters of strategically selected degraded reef. The baby corals will have lots of natural predators, but at least 15,000 of them should survive to maturity. ”It’s a privilege to work on this project in collaboration with Traditional Owners. It’s also exciting to be trialling new methods to increase the coverage of high-density larval delivery,” said Dr. Kerry Cameron, Reef Recruits. This project spans two different sea countries, which is only possible thanks to the support and collaboration of the Gunggandji and Yirrganydji people. Gunggandji Elders say Moore Reef has long been known to them as a source reef and they have a strong spiritual connection with it. “The fusion of Traditional Owner Ecological Knowledge with modern science for the whole world to see and be part of is what the mutually beneficial partnership of the Reef Cooperative is all about, and provides hope for the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef for generations to come,” said Eric Fisher, GBR Biology. Tim Diamond, GM of Cotton On Foundation says, “Through our partnership with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, we are proud to be the founding funders of The Reef Cooperative and supporting the important cultural and conservation milestones for Hastings Reef on Yirrganydji Sea Country. The Reef Cooperative is a unique conservation model in action, driven by innovation and knowledge sharing between Traditional Owners, scientists, and conservationists that can help protect and conserve the Great Barrier Reef. We’re looking forward to mobilising our customers and supporters in reef conservation over the next three years of The Reef Cooperative journey.” Yirrganydji rangers have supported the fieldwork to prepare the delivery site at Hastings Reef, and rangers from both groups will help with the collection of coral spawn and raising of the larvae Next Previous

Restricting spearfishing in some 'yellow zones' in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park has doubled the abundance of coral trout, according to new research led by James Cook University scientists. TropWATER Spearfishing restrictions boost fish stocks 3 December 2024 TropWATER BACK The study published in Biological Conservation focused on reefs around the Capricorn Bunkers, offshore from Gladstone, looking at the abundance of targeted fish species in partially protected Marine Park Zones known as 'yellow zones'. Researchers compared yellow zones that allow spearfishing to ‘special management area’ yellow zones that prohibit spearfishing. JCU’s TropWATER scientist Dr April Hall said while spearfishing can be an ecologically sustainable activity with minimal bycatch, restricting the activity via designated spearing-free management zones can have conservation benefits at a regional scale. “What we found was in yellow zones that excluded spearfishing, the numbers of target species such as coral trout were significantly higher compared to fishing zones that allow spearfishing,” she said. “These restricted yellow zones also rivaled the abundance in nearby protected no-take green zones." “Regardless of the effects of spearfishing, both kinds of yellow zones still support a greater abundance of coral trout compared to nearby blue zones, where fishing is less restricted.” Dr Hall said while this study showed the conservation benefits of prohibiting spearfishing, it’s not necessarily the case across the entire Great Barrier Reef. “We’ve compared other yellow zones in different parts of the Great Barrier Reef and the outcome varies, most likely due to differences in the popularity of spearfishing.” JCU’s Professor Mike Kingsford said no-take marine reserves were one of the most effective conservation measures to restore the abundance of fish. “Fully protected green zones in the area support the most significant number of large coral trout,” he said. “This is a really important protection measure because large coral trout change sex from female to male, and this helps to maintain healthy breeding populations.” Co-author, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Director Darren Cameron said the research demonstrated that yellow zones were an important marine park management tool providing a balance between conservation and sustainable fishing activities. “Healthy fish populations in both yellow zones and protected no-take green zones produce baby fish, many of which grow up and are subsequently caught throughout fished areas. These zones improve fishing, with more fish also importantly contributing to the health and resilience of the entire Great Barrier Reef,” he said. Next Previous

As part of the newly-launched Water Quality Science & Agriculture Hub, Dr Stephen Lewis delves into the history of the Great Barrier Reef, tracing its development over the past 7,000 years and exploring the complexities of establishing a baseline for assessing its health. Stephen Lewis A history of the Great Barrier Reef 8 April 2025 Stephen Lewis BACK In this article, Dr Lewis examines how scientists use geological and coral records to measure the reef's health over centuries and millennia, shedding light on how the frequency of disturbances like river runoff and coral bleaching has increased in recent times. There are several reasons that motivate me to do my research. Mostly it is to quantify what has changed in our local region over the longer term and to share this knowledge with others. For the Great Barrier Reef, that means exploring one of my favourite topics: long-term environmental and climate records. These records help us build a baseline of the Reef’s natural variability. But how do we establish a starting point to measure its health? The answer is more complex than it seems... Let’s think about climate change Scientists have grappled with measuring changes to environmental health for years. Let’s think about this in terms of climate change research. We know the climate is changing rapidly, and to understand future impacts, scientists look to the distant past. We also know that rapid climate shifts have happened before, some leading to mass extinctions – and some of those ancient events are used to downplay today’s climate crisis. But is it valid to compare climate changes from over 10 million years ago to what’s happening now? Modern humans have only been around for 300,000 years – a blink in Earth’s 4.6-billion-year history. Our ancestors lived through major sea-level changes, including five ice ages and six interglacial periods. But the rate of today’s change is faster than anything they experienced. So where should we draw the baseline? A human lifetime of 80 years? The 300,000 years of modern human history? The 66 million years since mammals took over? The 580 million years of complex life? Or the full 4.6 billion years of Earth’s story? I honestly don’t know the best answer for climate change, but it does give us great context for measuring the baseline health of the Great Barrier Reef. Seven thousand years young: how old is the reef? So let’s get back to the Great Barrier Reef – how far back should we go to assess the Reef’s current health and future prospects against a long-term baseline? When should we start comparing its recovery and disturbance patterns – like shifts in seawater temperatures, sea-level changes, cyclone intensity and frequency, terrestrial runoff and exposure to sediment and nutrient loads, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks? To answer that, we first need to consider the Reef’s history. The Great Barrier Reef has been in existence for the past 800,000 years. The ‘modern Reef’, as we know today, has only been in place for the past 7,000 years. That’s only about 1 percent of that time. Sea level during the last ice age, around 19,000 years ago, was 125 metres lower than today. This means Australia’s coastline was about 50 to 100 km further offshore. The inshore Great Barrier Reef we know today didn’t exist. It was part of a large floodplain. Back then, the Great Barrier Reef was a thin veneer – a much smaller, narrow strip of reefs growing along the outer edge of the continental shelf. With the melting of the ice sheets, sea-level rose from -125 m to reach present levels around 7,500 years ago. This coincides with when most of the coral reefs of the middle and inner shelf began growing about 7,000 years ago. Coral reef accretion – their growth vertically and laterally – peaked 5,000–6,000 years ago before slowing around 4,000 years ago as most reefs reached sea level and sea levels fell by around 1 m. To put it simply, coral reefs grew quickly to use the best space available and then accretion rates have slowed or even ceased at some sites. This natural shift suggests a 4,000-year baseline for assessing reef health, as it reflects the conditions under which today’s Reef ecosystems evolved –making it a more relevant point of comparison than deeper geological history. Great Barrier Reef monitoring dates back 40 years – how can we go beyond that timeline? There are two large scale monitoring programs that use systematic and reproducible methods to gauge the health of the Reef that allow trends in condition to be evaluated. The Long Term Monitoring Program run by the Australian Institute of Marine Science mostly focuses on the mid and outer reefs of the Great Barrier Reef commenced around 1986. The Marine Monitoring Program run by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority that focuses on seagrass meadow and coral reef health of the inshore Great Barrier Reef started in 2005. Both of these monitoring programs show disturbances are occurring more frequently, leaving less capacity for recovery. But do we only have “the data” to properly benchmark reef condition trends over the past 20 to 40 years? While these datasets are highly valuable, we need to draw on geological records to build a longer baseline to understand a more complete picture of how the Reef has changed over time and what lies ahead. Coral cores, growth rings, and rubble – how we uncover evidence Now I can come back to my favourite topic – foundational records of climate and environmental change. By studying geological and natural records like coral growth rings, coral rubble, and reef cores, we can find evidence that show when and how often disturbances happened over much longer periods – and in some cases we can date this back 7,000 years. This extends our baseline back much further than a few decades. So, let’s consider these disturbances and the methods we can use to investigate how they have changed beyond our monitoring data, to go back hundreds and even thousands of years. Seawater temperatures and coral bleaching Coral bleaching is a stress response where a coral expels its zooxanthellae. It can be triggered by unusually warm or cold seawater temperatures, low salinity or other environmental stressors. Not all bleached corals die. While severely bleached corals can die and some reefs do not fully recover to their former state – many have the ability to recover if conditions improve. Historical records provide evidence that bleaching at individual or a small cluster of reefs has likely always occurred. But mass coral bleaching events – where bleaching of a large proportion of corals occur across multiple coral reefs – appears to be a relatively recent phenomenon. It was first recorded globally in the strong El Niño of 1983/84, and for the first time in the Great Barrier Reef during the strong 1997/98 El Niño. Since then, the Great Barrier Reef has endured six mass coral bleaching events (2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024) – each linked to abnormally warm seawater temperatures that persist over several weeks. So how do we know that mass bleaching linked to elevated seawater temperatures is a recent phenomenon, especially when monitoring only dates back to the 1980s? How can we measure past seawater temperatures before reliable instrument measurements were available? This is where we look at coral skeletons. Here scientists can use the chemistry of coral skeletons to quantify the seawater temperatures over much longer periods. Massive corals lay down annual growth rings similar to trees and we can use trace elements such as strontium and uranium in these skeletons to reveal past seawater temperatures. By counting coral growth rings or using dating methods like radiocarbon or uranium-series, and analysing the skeleton’s chemistry, we can reconstruct past seawater temperatures from long before instruments existed. A recent study used this method on a number of coral core records dating back 400 years and showed that seawater temperatures today are much higher than what they have been over that period. Longer records suggest that seawater temperatures are the highest they have been for at least 20,000 years. More research is required to produce coral reef temperature records that extend further back over the past 7,000 years, although it appears the seawater temperatures are changing faster than what reefs of the past have experienced. Records of tropical cyclone frequency and intensity The Great Barrier Reef holds natural records of past cyclones – like coral rubble piled behind beaches or tossed onto reef flats. Even cave formations (speleothems) on the Atherton Tablelands have captured cyclone history through their chemical makeup. Tropical cyclones can break up coral reefs with large waves. Storm surges then push the broken pieces onshore, forming coral rubble ridges like sand dunes, but made instead of coral fragments. Scientists measure their height and date the fragments to learn about past storms. This tells us when the cyclone occurred and how intense the cyclone was – the more intense the higher the ridge. The records point to the presence of ‘super cyclones’ in the period between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago. Indeed, the past 1,000 years is thought to be a ‘lull period’ for large tropical cyclones. Crown of thorns starfish outbreaks The Great Barrier Reef has now endured four recent waves of destructive crown of thorns starfish outbreaks since the 1960s. The outbreaks of crown of thorns greatly reduce coral cover over a reef and the frequency of these recent outbreaks occurs every 12 to 15 years. While the specific cause of these outbreaks is still subject to debate and under investigation, it is thought outbreaks have become more frequent in recent times. Some scientists believe the increase is due to more food (plankton) from increased nutrients, and others that it is due to less natural predators (such as the triton snails). Both hypotheses may be correct. When crown of thorns starfish die they leave behind small spicules (like a skeleton) that become buried in the reef structure. Sediment cores from coral reefs reveal layers that are indicative of historical outbreaks. This evidence shows crown of thorns starfish outbreaks have occurred in the Great Barrier Reef over the past 6,000 years, although the evidence for the frequency of these historical events is lacking. River discharge and terrestrial runoff The growth rings of the massive corals provide other useful measures of climate and environmental variability, including river discharge and terrestrial runoff. When a coral slice is illuminated under a UV light, thin yellow lines of varying intensity glow from the skeleton. The intensity of these individual lines are directly correlated with the volume of river discharge from the adjacent river catchment. Hence, we can use these coral records as a river gauge to quantify river discharge over hundreds of years. This has been done for the Burdekin River where we can extend the river discharge history back to 1648 CE. Data show that the biggest flow events (top 10%) for the Burdekin River have increased over time. From 1650–1850, they were about 10–12 million ML. This rose to 17 million ML from 1850–1950, and 22 million ML from 1950–2012. The increase in the volume of these large flow events means that river plumes carrying terrestrial pollutants are likely to extend further into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Further, the frequency of these large discharge events has increased. From 1650–1850, they occurred about once every 14–20 years. That changed to once every 7 years (1850–1950), and once every 6 years (1950–2012). So, floods have become both larger and more frequent. Discharge over the extreme 2010–11 season was likely the biggest freshwater discharge to the Great Barrier Reef in over 500 years. The chemistry of the coral skeleton also reveals changes in sediment loads discharged to the Great Barrier Reef as a result of land use changes in the adjacent river catchments. The corals are ‘seeing and recording’ the influence of increased terrestrial runoff. Findings emerging from the Marine Monitoring Program show that terrestrial runoff including freshwater, sediments and nutrients are impacting the condition of coral reefs and seagrass meadows within the inshore Great Barrier Reef. Furthermore, the findings also show that good water quality is paramount for marine ecosystems to recover quickly from disturbance events. Data from the Long Term Monitoring Program of the mid and outer shelf coral reefs currently show faster recovery of coral cover relative to their inshore counterparts partly because of better water quality conditions. Summary Geological records provide incredible insights into the Great Barrier Reef, clearly showing the Reef is experiencing disturbances at much greater frequency than it has done for at least the past 500 to 1,000 years. It’s unclear if this is unprecedented over the past 4,000 to 7,000 years – that’s what motivates much of my research. With rising sea temperatures, larger floods, stronger cyclones, and threats like ocean acidification, disturbance frequency is likely to increase. The current observations from monitoring programs suggest that the condition of marine ecosystems have been ramping down over the past decade or so. It’s not all bad news though. Evidence is emerging there are some ‘fortunate reefs’. While coral reefs are declining, some reefs sit in cooler, more sheltered waters. Management efforts like crown of thorns starfish control, restoration, and water quality programs aim to ease pressure and give the Reef a better chance to recover. Time will tell whether these interventions are enough but at least we have some hope in trying. Image credits: Eric Matson, AIMS; Ido Fridberg, JCU; Dr Emma Ryan and Emily Lazarus. Next Previous

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 conduct floristic surveys of mangrove ecosystems in Australia and worldwide to identify mangrove species and hybrids, map the distribution of mangrove communities, and monitor their health and condition, as well as developing identification guides that allow anyone to identify mangrove plants anywhere in the world. Floristic assessments and botanical guides for mangrove ecosystems Research 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 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 READ Explainer: Blue carbon 1 October 2025 READ Coastal imagery tool unlocks ecological insights 2 July 2025 READ Explainer: Nursery habitats 12 May 2025 READ Long-term recovery of mangroves after a major oil spill 10 March 2025 News 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 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 Sasmito SD, Ximenes AC, Kridalaksana A, Brown BM, Wigati M, et al. Mangroves i-Mangrove Blue Carbon Dashboard. 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. Reports and publications MORE

Traditional Owners and Indigenous Rangers are key partners in many ongoing TropWATER projects. Our collaborations include mapping seagrass and coral reefs on Sea Country, conducting Traditional Owner-led dugong surveys, monitoring mangrove shorelines, performing eDNA monitoring of invasive species, and participating in wetland protection initiatives. TropWATER Celebrating Indigenous-led seagrass initiatives 3 December 2024 TropWATER BACK Many of our seagrass projects are community-led, built on a foundation of cultural and environmental stewardship and two-way knowledge sharing. Establishing a seagrass nursery at Mourilyan Harbour A new partnership with Mandubarra Rangers, Goondoi Rangers, and Ports North will see the establishment of the first Indigenous-led seagrass nursery at Mourilyan Harbour. Dr Paul York joined Mandubarra and Goondoi Rangers in Innisfail earlier this month for the announcement of the project as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations. The nursery will be run by the local Rangers and will support local restoration projects by providing planting stock for harvesting seagrass seeds and cuttings. Our researchers will provide scientific support to the nursery, including culturing seagrass plants and experimental trials of different planting techniques. The nursery will support new and ongoing seagrass restoration projects such as our current restoration work with Traditional Owners in Cairns and Mourilyan. Establishment of the nursery is funded by a grant from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Restoring seagrass in Cairns and Mourilyan Our seagrass restoration project in Cairns and Mourilyan is a partnership with Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Mandubarra, Goondoi, and Yirrganydji Traditional Owner groups. The project, now entering its second year, is doing critical work restoring seagrasses that were lost in the region between 2007 and 2011. Together, we will plant tens of thousands of seagrass fragments and seeds over four years. Traditional Owners and Rangers are integral in collecting seagrass fragments, processing and planting fragments, and monitoring the growth of replenished meadows after planting. This project not only aims to restore seagrass but also the valuable ecosystem services that seagrass meadows provide, such as fisheries and carbon sequestration. The project is also a collaboration with local community groups and OzFish Unlimited, with funding from BHP’s Blue Carbon Grants program. Monitoring seagrass habitats in Torres Strait We have been working with the Torres Strait Regional Authority, Rangers, and Traditional Owners to map and monitor seagrass habitats in Torres Strait since 2008. Extensive and diverse seagrass meadows are present across the Torres Strait, and understanding their health is crucial for understanding overall marine health in the region. For this long-term project, Rangers lead surveys to assess seagrass abundance, distribution and species distribution, with guidance from our scientists. These surveys are conducted on foot, by boat, and using underwater cameras, and they provide valuable data on seagrass condition. By continuing these vital partnerships with Traditional Owners and Rangers, we ensure impactful, community-led research that fosters cultural stewardship, empowers Indigenous communities, and promotes the health of our marine ecosystems. Photo right: Dr Paul York with Mandubarra and Goondoi Rangers during NAIDOC Week. Next Previous

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. Great Barrier Reef Location Working with extension staff to help bridge the gap between science and farmers, to ultimately improve growers’ adoption of improved farming practices. Providing critical resources, technical guidance, and training to empower growers in managing nutrient and pesticide runoff. Establishing the Water Quality (WQ) Information Hub, a comprehensive website for validated scientific data and water quality resources accessible to all stakeholders, promoting collective action and sustainable practices. Key points Improving water quality science communication BACK Misinformation and miscommunication on water quality Landholders hold a critical role in managing nutrient and pesticide runoff from their paddock into waterways connected to the Great Barrier Reef. Most farmers are environmentally aware and have a long and valued connection to nature, recognising good land management decisions benefits both their farm and the environment. Despite this, the complexities of water quality science and media sensationalism has led to over three decades of misinformation and miscommunication directed at growers. This misinformation has widened the gap between science and farmers, resulting in a delay in the adoption of environmentally progressive farming practices. Extension staff, who work closely with growers on the ground, are pivotal in bridging this gap and conveying strategies on how to reduce runoff effectively. Through water quality monitoring programs led by extension staff, growers have the potential to be empowered to adopt advanced management practices that directly mitigate paddock runoff. Bridging the gap between science and growers Our scientists 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 – paving a clear, strong, and united pathway forward. This collaborative effort aims to expedite the adoption of sustainable farming practices, benefiting both landholders and the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. In response to the increasing complexities of water quality science, agriculture, and the Great Barrier Reef, our team is dedicated to supporting extension staff with actionable solutions and resources. This includes: Conducting workshops and training programs to clarify water quality science issues and promote strategic messaging. Providing critical resources, technical guidance, and one-on-one training to extension officers for water quality monitoring. Developing tailored content such as factsheets, FAQs, and narratives to emphasise the link between water quality science and farming systems. Offering ongoing support to extension staff throughout the project duration. Future directions in water quality science communications Building on the success of these initiatives, our team is now establishing the Water Quality (WQ) Information Hub, a comprehensive website acting as a knowledge hub for validated scientific data accessible to all stakeholders. The WQ Hub will ensure accuracy, independence, and credibility across a range of water quality issues, featuring: Introductory resources, technical documents, and regional narratives on water quality science and farming. Critical analysis of misleading reports with contextual insights. Promotion of training opportunities, science communication tools, FAQs, and a blog to foster collective action and sustainable practices promotion. This project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, under the Regional Water Quality Program. Michelle Tink Manager, Laboratories TropWATER michelle.tink@jcu.edu.au Research support Michelle Tink Manager, Laboratories TropWATER michelle.tink@jcu.edu.au Aaron Davis Principal Research Officer aaron.davis@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

We are trialling multispecies cover crops at eight sugarcane farms to measure the benefits for crop productivity, soil health, and pollinator biodiversity, supporting growers seeking sustainable approaches to nutrient management. North Queensland and New South Wales Location Careful nutrient management is critical for sugarcane crop health and productivity, soil health, and water quality. We are assessing how multispecies cover crops such as legumes may benefit crop production, soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, and fertiliser requirements. The project will provide practical, region-specific data for growers on using multispecies cover cropping for sustainable sugarcane production and improved soil health and biodiversity. Key points Measuring the benefits of multispecies cover crops in sugarcane BACK Balancing soil health, productivity, and fertiliser on farms Nutrient management is critical to promote crop health and productivity. Synthetic fertilisers have been heavily used to sustain sugarcane yields but applying too much can have big impacts on the environment. Over the last decade, more growers have explored alternative methods to improve soil health while reducing standard fertiliser application amounts. Using rotational cropping, such as legumes, can help replace the soil nutrients while reducing the reliance on synthetic fertilisers. Multispecies cropping can enhance soil health and structure, prevent erosion and surface runoff, and manage nutrient leaching through cover crops with diverse root systems. Limited research has been done on the benefits of multispecies cropping for commercial sugarcane farming in Australia. Field trials are needed in our region to assess how this approach can improve soil health, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining sugarcane yields. Trialling the benefits of multispecies cropping We are running trials of multispecies cover cropping at eight sugarcane farms across northern Queensland and New South Wales to measure the effects on crop productivity, soil health, and biodiversity. We will test different rates of nitrogen fertiliser application across the trials. We are: Measuring crop productivity throughout crop cycles, using biomass and yield assessments. Tracking vegetation growth and nutrient uptake, using remote sensing and field surveys. Comparing nitrous oxide and methane emissions, using gas collection chambers. Assessing pollinator and soil microbial biodiversity, using environmental DNA (eDNA). Measuring bird biodiversity, using acoustic recording. Measuring overall resource consumption, using lifecycle impact assessment. These measures will give a comprehensive assessment of how multispecies cover cropping in sugarcane could affect nitrogen retention, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity. Supporting scalable, sustainable nutrient management This project is supporting growers seeking sustainable approaches to nutrient management by providing robust, real-world data on the benefits of multispecies cropping across major Australian sugarcane regions. The project also aligns with programs such as the Queensland Government Reef Credit Scheme, evaluating potential economic benefits for growers adopting regenerative practices. Participating growers and industry networks will share experiences from the cropping trials through workshops and factsheets, providing practical guidance for growers and supporting broader adoption across the sugarcane sector. Project details This project is led by Queensland Cane Agriculture & Renewables (QCAR), Lawrence DiBella from Tropical Agricultural Services, and independent grower and advisor Robert Quirk, with Dr Adam Canning from JCU TropWATER leading the scientific design and assessments. The project is funded by the Bonsucro Impact Fund. Research support Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Research leads

We are measuring the effects of common turtle nest relocation methods on the health of hatchlings to develop updated conservation guidelines to give Queensland's turtles the best chances to survive and thrive. Bundaberg Location Relocating nests can potentially protect turtle eggs from increasing sand temperatures, sea level rise, and predators, but the impacts of relocation on the overall health of hatchlings is unknown. We are trialling the effects of common relocation methods on the fitness of loggerhead turtle hatchlings. Results will be used to develop updated guidelines for statewide turtle monitoring programs to maximise hatchling success and support sustainable turtle populations. Key points Healthy Hatchlings BACK Turtle nests under threat Turtle hatchlings face many threats to their survival, even before they emerge from a nest. Increasing sea levels can shrink nesting beaches and may wash away turtle eggs close to the waterline. Increasing temperatures can skew sex ratios – leading to lower genetic diversity in adult populations – or kill turtles before they hatch. Relocation can potentially reduce risks to turtle nests. However, moving a nest can also change conditions like sand moisture, temperature, vegetation, and nest depth, with unknown effects on the success and health of hatchlings after they leave the nest. Effective conservation needs to maintain both the quantity of eggs that hatch and the quality of those hatchlings to give turtles the best chance of becoming healthy adults. Measuring hatchling health We are conducting relocation trials of 40 loggerhead turtle nests at Mon Repos Conservation Park near Bundaberg, measuring the effects of different relocation techniques on hatchling health. Along with an unchanged control group, we will use three common relocation techniques for eggs: Predator exclusion cages – used to reduce risk from predators such as foxes and pigs. Higher ground – used to reduce risk of being flooded or washed away. Shaded hatchery – used to reduce temperatures. For 20 hatchlings from each clutch, we will assess: Energetics – by measuring crawling speed, self-righting ability (how quickly a hatchling can flip over after being placed on its back), and swimming speed. Health – by measuring weight and size and identifying any mutations. Guiding conservation of Queensland’s turtles This project will identify how turtle egg relocation strategies can improve hatchling quantity without sacrificing quality, increasing the chances of turtles surviving and thriving after leaving the nest. We will use our findings to create updated conservation protocols for turtle monitoring and conservation programs across Queensland to support resilient and sustainable turtle populations. These trials are a valuable first step, but more work still needs to be done. Additional funding is needed to work directly with communities to improve local conservation programs. Local data can be used to develop tailored approaches – and provide insights into different risks to turtle nests and hatchlings across our region. Project details This project is led by Dr Caitlin Smith in partnership with researchers from Griffith University. The project is funded by Sea World Foundation. Photography by Styledia. Alex Carter Principal Research Officer alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au Catherine Collier Principal Research Officer catherine.collier@jcu.edu.au Research support Caitlin Smith Research Officer Caitlin.smith2@jcu.edu.au Research leads

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. Northern Australia Location Northern Australia’s water resources must be well understood and expertly managed to sustain the natural environment, communities and economies. This research maximises constrained water resource opportunities in Northern Australia through rigorous scientific measures, ensuring environmental preservation amid economic aspirations. We are investigating catchment flows, groundwater dynamics, aquatic species, Indigenous people’s values and aspirations, governance systems, agriculture, and more. Key points Sustainable water security in northern Australia BACK Issues constraining sustainable water resource utilisation across Northern Australia Northern Australia boasts vast land areas, ample rainfall, and abundant water resources, making it a favourable region for agricultural expansion and developing water security. However, this expansion could pose a significant threat to the region's biodiverse aquatic ecosystems, disrupting water quality and the natural flow essential to ecosystems in both wet and dry seasons. Many questions remain to be answered about these ecosystems before sustainable utilisation of available water can be achieved. Investigating optimal water resource management 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. Under the Water Security for Northern Australia program , scientists from JCU TropWATER, Charles Darwin University and CQ University are examining targeted catchments from Western Australia to eastern Queensland, including the Gilbert River, Lower Fitzroy River, Daly River, and Ord River irrigation area. Within this project, our research includes: Investigating water flows and dynamics, including groundwater and seasonal waterholes, to better understand water availability and distribution. Assessing potential impacts on catchments due to climate change pressures, providing crucial data to forecast and mitigate adverse effects. Integrating Indigenous values and traditional knowledge to ensure culturally sensitive and sustainable water management practices. Exploring ecosystem and species' responses to water resource changes, aiming to protect biodiversity and maintain ecological balance. Enhancing water management and decision-making processes by providing scientific evidence and practical solutions to policymakers. Assessing the impact of development on ecosystem services to guide environmentally responsible decisions. Guiding managers on sustainable water management solutions Our research provides crucial insights that guide water management decisions. This helps to maximise constrained opportunities in Northern Australia through rigorous scientific measures, ensuring environmental preservation amid economic aspirations. By integrating scientific evidence with practical solutions, we are helping to balance human needs with environmental preservation. Research support Jack Koci Senior Research Officer jack.koci@jcu.edu.au Nathan Waltham Senior Principal Research Officer nathan.waltham@jcu.edu.au Paula Cartwright Senior Research Officer paula.cartwright@jcu.edu.au Damien Burrows Director, TropWATER Founder damien.burrows@jcu.edu.au Research leads

A revolutionary new DNA detection method has helped rediscover an iconic species of turtle last seen more than 25 years ago in a northern Queensland river. TropWATER Long lost ‘bum-breathing’ turtle makes its return 22 May 2024 TropWATER BACK Water samples taken from the lower Burdekin River by a James Cook University-led team of researchers and analyzed for environmental DNA (eDNA) confirmed the presence of the Irwin’s turtle at many sites along the river, which has not been formally recorded in the area for more than 25 years. The turtle, first discovered in the Burdekin catchment by the late Steve Irwin and his father Bob in the early 1990s, is among a number of freshwater species that use its cloaca (equivalent to its bum) to breathe while underwater, thus able to stay submerged underwater for longer. Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) Director Professor Damien Burrows and Research Officers Dr. Cecilia Villacorta-Rath and Jason Schaffer teamed up with a State Government agency, a consultancy firm, and Traditional Owners to survey the Burdekin, Bowen, and Broken rivers for the elusive turtle. “Until this rediscovery, we didn’t have any formal records to prove that the Irwin’s turtle was still living in the lower Burdekin River, and that river has changed a lot since the construction of the Burdekin Falls Dam,” Prof. Burrows said. “It’s reassuring to know they are still living there.” The survey findings, co-authored by the JCU team and the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing, and Water’s Thomas Espinoza and Bernie Cockayne, were published this week in BMC Ecology and Evolution journal following two years of research comprising three separate survey periods over 2020 and 2021. Funded by the National Environmental Science Program, 37 sites were investigated across the three river catchments, some of which involved the use of helicopters to get in and out. Prof. Burrows said eDNA technology was vital to the rediscovery of the turtle in the lower Burdekin River and had the potential to revolutionise how researchers track and locate both aquatic and land-based animals. “Previously, it has been very difficult to sample for the Irwin’s turtle because they only live in places where there are crocodiles, or in upland tributaries which are very hard to access,” he said. “They also don’t come into traps easily and the water they are living in in the Burdekin isn’t clear so you can’t put in underwater cameras to see them.” “But now with eDNA, all we had to do was take a water sample and analyze for their DNA.” With the new process, DNA itself can be extracted and amplified directly from environmental samples such as soil, sediment, and water without having to catch the target organism. Dr. Villacorta-Rath said while the eDNA samples taken by the team could not determine the age of the turtles found in the lower Burdekin and other rivers surveyed, the results were potentially game-changing. “With the original site samples that we took in 2020, we had the beginnings of the story, but we needed to investigate further and go closer to the dam and see where the uppermost distribution of the species was,” she said. “We don’t know anything about the demographics of this population, but the fact we have found their eDNA now, despite the dam being built in the 1980s, could point to adult Irwin’s turtles being able to survive in these more turbid water conditions.” “This rediscovery has now challenged the previous hypothesis that the species could not survive in these conditions.” The information gathered will also help the State Government as it evaluates a proposal to build a dam in the upper reaches of Broken River at Urannah Station. Next Previous

Wuthathi Land and Sea Custodians will use drones, helicopters, and drop camera surveys to map seagrass habitats on Wuthathi Sea Country in Northern Cape York, in partnership with TropWATER scientists. TropWATER Wuthathi Land and Sea Custodians partner with TropWATER scientists 11 May 2022 TropWATER BACK Combining cutting-edge technology, science, and Traditional Ecological knowledge, the data collected will give Land and Sea Custodians and Traditional Owners the tools to develop plans for future monitoring and management of seagrass on Wuthathi Sea Country. TropWATER is working alongside Wuthathi Land and Sea Custodians to conduct these surveys, helping to develop capacity in drone flight path programming, image collection, and recording of data on seagrass habitat. The partnership will expand to helicopter and drop camera survey training later this year, where Wuthathi Land and Sea Custodians will be upskilled to undertake aerial and subtidal surveys to monitor inshore seagrass meadows. The program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Next Previous

James Cook University scientists will lead seagrass restoration research spanning tropical Australia’s two oceans. TropWATER Seagrass restoration project spans two oceans 22 May 2024 TropWATER BACK Researchers from JCU’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) will investigate restoration techniques for key tropical seagrass species, from Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef across to the north of Western Australia. Their aim is to develop a blueprint for coastal managers to rapidly restore seagrass meadows in high-priority regions. TropWATER’s Associate Professor Michael Rasheed said future-proofing highly diverse seagrass meadows is crucial to reversing the global downward trend in tropical seagrasses. “Seagrasses are critical ecosystems,” he said. “They provide habitat for fish, they power coastal marine productivity, and they sequester carbon to help combat climate change – but they’re under increasing pressure from extreme weather events, coastal development, and declining water quality.” Associate Professor Rasheed said climate models predict that future conditions will see more frequent seagrass loss in tropical Australia, making it essential to have tools at hand for effective intervention and restoration. “We’re investigating the most effective ways to restore different seagrass species, and developing the tools needed for rapid restoration on local and regional levels,” he said. Professor Rasheed said the project would focus on tropical seagrasses, as most previous seagrass restoration projects have occurred in temperate regions. “Tropical seagrasses can be very different from temperate seagrasses. They have different growth strategies, and they have the potential for much faster recovery once established. “Some restoration methods applied in temperate systems may not be applicable or transferable to tropical seagrass meadows, which makes our work all the more valuable. “We’ll investigate methods such as using seeds and cuttings, and new ways they can be used in the field, much the same as many land plants and nurseries operate.” “We’re going to develop new techniques for tropical seagrass restoration, a blueprint for seagrass-friendly marine infrastructure, and restoration decision tools that can be applied at local and regional scales.” The project builds on a long-term collaboration with industry partners Ports North and North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP). “We are proud to support this ground-breaking research that aims to provide practical solutions to safeguard seagrasses and the Reef,” said Simona Trimarchi, NQBP’s Senior Manager of Sustainability and Environment. The research is a significant next step in TropWATER’s long-term partnership with industry and will benefit from the decades of data already gathered. “We take our environmental responsibilities seriously,” said Paul Doyle, Ports North’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability. “Together with JCU’s TropWATER Centre, we’ve supported seagrass monitoring and research for almost three decades across the ports of tropical Queensland.” The project is funded by a more than $450,000 Linkage grant from the Federal Government’s Australian Research Council. Next Previous

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 working with Marranbala and li-Anthawirriyarra Rangers and other partners to map the location and condition of seafloor habitats - and record the many species these ecosystems support - in Marra Sea Country. Mapping benthic habitats and fish communities in Marra Sea Country Community, Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON We are surveying fish communities to find nursery habitats and understand species connectivity across remote reef lagoons in the Coral Sea Marine Park. Finding fish nurseries in the Coral Sea Marine Park 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 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 READ Finding fish in murky waters: TropWATER study guides best monitoring methods in seagrass meadows 12 September 2025 READ Explainer: Nursery habitats 12 May 2025 READ Marine reserves boost Great Barrier Reef coral trout fisheries 10 March 2025 READ Celebrating the work of women in science 11 February 2025 News 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