National Marine Science Centre
research > current postgraduate research projects
Ben Black (enrolled in PhD) - Yellowfin bream (Acanthopagrus australis) is endemic to much of the east cost of Australia, where it supports important commercial and recreational fishing. Yellowfin bream is a hardy species and is thought to have potential for marine aquaculture because of it ability to tolerate wide variations in both salinity and temperature. The aim of Ben’s research is to develop hatchery techniques for the controlled reproduction of this species. The development of controlled spawning techniques will assist hatchery operators in the production of juvenile yellowfin bream for the aquaculture industry.
Contact: Phone: (02) 6648 3900
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Greg Clancy (enrolled in PhD) - Greg is researching the Black-necked Stork which is one of Australia's largest birds. This bird is an endangered species and Greg's research aims to find out how the bird lives, where it is found, its habitat, diet, breeding biology, threats and how it catches its food.
Contact:
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Cristiana Damiano (enrolled in PhD) - Cristiana is a Brazilian researcher studying the life history strategies of reef-building scleractinian corals. She is particularly interested in their reproduction and patterns of larval recruitment, along with the development of new techniques for reseeding and transplanting coral planulae at islands in the Great Barrier Reef and the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Contact:
Phone: (02) 6648 3919
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Steve Dalton (enrolled in PhD) – There is growing concern about the effects disease is having on coral communities throughout the world. Detection of more widespread signs of disease globally has been linked, to increased stress caused by human activity (Hayes and Goreau 1998; Ritchie et al. 2001; Kuta and Richardson 2002). Following the 1998 mass bleaching episode, outbreaks of coral disease were observed at locations throughout the Solitary Islands Marine Park affecting species of Acropora and Turbinaria. Subsequently, coral disease prevalence and rate-of-spread of disease through individual coral species were monitored during 2002 and 2004, using photographic and video methods and radial belt transects. Many common coral species were observed with disease characteristics similar to reported White Syndrome and White Plague. The aims of this research are to determine; the prevalence and rate-of- spread of coral disease at representative sites within the SIMP and at other subtropical locations; if there is any correlation between disease prevalence and virulence and increased seawater temperature; the epibenthic community structure between 2004 and 2007 and explore any relationships with disease outbreaks and loss in coral cover; the mode of infection between colonies using aquarium experiments; and determine the effect elevated seawater temperature on the photosynthetic efficiency of coral symbiotic dinoflagellate.
Results from in situ data collection and aquarium experiments will provide important information concerning the potential effect that coral disease has on subtropical corals. This data in conjunction with microbiological and molecular studies presently being conducted at the NMSC will provide managing authorities with probes that will enable an early warning system for future disease outbreaks.
Contact:
Phone: (02) 6648 3900
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Adam Davey (enrolled in PhD) – Increasing coastal populations continue to pressure marine and estuarine ecosystems. There is need to further develop methods of determining ecosystem function and monitoring how this is affected by coastal development To date, there are many conceptual models to describe estuarine processes, yet few have been tested empirically. Thus, measures of estuarine function and condition remain poorly understood. The proposed project aims to improve existing knowledge through assessment and experiment within eastern Australian estuarine systems.
During the three years of the project this project will:
- Test and develop a number of existing and novel methods in the detection and definition of human impacts on estuarine ecosystems
- Relate land use data to macrofaunal invertebrate communities and estuarine health
- Utilise modelling techniques to predict macrofuanal communities in relation to physical parameters
- Develop indicators of various levels of human impacts on estuarine ecosystems at the level of
- Species
- Community
- Higher taxonomic groups
- Trophic/functional
- Investigate productivity of macrofaunal communities in relation to land-use and physical parameters
- Develop rapid assessment techniques for detection of human impacts on estuarine ecosystems
- Investigate ecosystem function by the use sterile sediment trays, transplant experiments, artificial disturbances and artificial sampling units
Contact:
Phone: (02) 6648 3900
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Andrew Dingle (enrolled in Masters) – Two experiments will be carried out by Andrew to determine the selectivity of commercial and recreational fish species in Clarence River prawn trawls rigged with bycatch reduction devices (BRD) known as Nordmøre Grids. In each experiment, two new bycatch reduction devices containing rigid separating grids with different bar spacings will be compared against each other as well with the control gear (conventional BRD). Catches from replicate tows of the trawls containing the BRDs will be measured, counted and weighed. The data will be analysed to determine if there are any differences in selectivity between the new and conventional BRDs.
Contact:
Phone: (02) 6648 3927
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Scott Godwin (enrolled in PhD) - Extensive bleaching and disease of reef-building corals has recently been observed near Coffs Harbour in the subtropical waters of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Scott is using microbiological techniques to identify the microbes causing the disease. Molecular biology will then be used to develop tools to detect the disease in the early stages and help prevent outbreaks in the future.
Contact: Phone: (02) 6648 3900
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Jeff Guy (enrolled in PhD) - Jeff's research is part of a genetic improvement program aimed at increasing growth rates in silver perch, a native freshwater fish. By providing faster growing fish for farmers, the time taken to grow fish to market size will decrease, allowing more fish to be grown in a given time period. This leads to increased profitability in environmentally sustainable fish farming.
Contact: Phone: (02) 6648 3900
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Annette Harrison (enrolled in PhD) - Both Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers are listed as Vulnerable in NSW on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. However, little work has been carried out on oystercatcher ecology, particularly in northern NSW. Furthermore, work that been carried out is mostly incidental observations (Watkins 1993). Annette is carrying out detailed scientific investigations of the ecology of the species and the impact of disturbances which are imperative to the conservation of vulnerable species such as the Pied and Sooty Oystercatcher, as this will provide the basis of effective management plans for the future.
Contact:
Phone: (02) 6648 3919
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Matthew Harrison (enrolled in PhD) – Matt is looking at the biodiversity of molluscs that live on the rocky reefs of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Molluscs are important animals living within our marine communities. Understanding the biology of these creatures is very important for effective management of our marine environment.
Contact:
Phone: (02) 6648 3919
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Jen Rowland (enrolled in PhD) - The benthos is the seabed and all that live in and on it. Because of the high value of the benthos as a potential resource, Jennifer is studying the structure of the animal communities that utilise it. The results being achieved by Jennifer will aid in the development of management strategies that will ensure both humans and sea life benefit from this mutually important habitat.
Working Title: Dredging Effects on Near-shore Benthic Communities: Impact and Recovery.
Abstract: Humans dredge sediment from the seabed for navigational, beach nourishment and mining purposes. Such dredging constitutes a major disturbance on benthic habitats with potentially large effects on the soft-sediment invertebrate communities which are important components of marine ecosystems in diversity and trophic terms. The present study investigates the ecological effects of dredging on benthic communities at two places, Currumbin, Qld, and Coffs Harbour, NSW. At Currumbin, nourishment of beaches is now underway. The sand is dredged offshore at a depth of 20 meters for replenishment of the nearby eroded beaches. At Coffs Harbour, the entrance to the marina was dredged to deepen the channel for navigational purposes. The effects of both operations in terms of impact and recovery of the local benthic communities are being investigated via asymmetrical BACI sampling designs that incorporate an impact site and multiple control sites. Supplementing these studies, investigations into the mechanisms of recovery will be examined via experimental manipulations. Three different types of defaunated sediment trays will be grouped and deployed for varying times and in various locations. One tray will allow larval recruitment from above, the second will allow adult migration through the sediment and the third will be a control tray to allow both. The macro/meiofaunal suites of all trays will be compared to determine differences, if any, in the mechanisms of recovery.
Contact:
Phone: (02) 6648 3913
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Nicole White (enrolled in PhD) - The coastal wetlands of the Clarence River Catchment (north coast of NSW) have been dramatically altered by the installation of drains and floodgates since the early 1900’s. In many cases this alteration reduced fish and bird habitats, produced acid sulphate soils and mono-sulphitic black ooze, and led to reduced water quality in the wetland and river. Management agencies are attempting to restore some of these wetlands by re-establishing aspects of the tidal regime, but the effects of restoration are unknown and could potentially lead to further environmental problems. The Little Broadwater wetland is a large coastal wetland that has been the subject of a restoration trial since July 2003. This study aims to evaluate and model the impact of tidal restoration and tidal gate manipulation on water quality in the Little Broadwater. A pilot study was completed from November 2004 to February 2005, and at present a combination of systematic water sampling (surface and ground water) is currently being undertaken and analysed to facilitate the development of a water quality model capable of predicting water quality responses to various water input scenarios.