Recent datasets

This project intends to facilitate targeted consultations with key individuals and institutions (i.e. Torres Strait Regional Authority, GBR TO’s and Land Councils, etc.) to seek feedback on the implementation of the NESP TWQ Hub Indigenous Engagement and Participation Strategy (IEPS). This will enable the evolution of a strong Implementation Strategy for the IEPS.

This project will improve the accuracy of aerial survey estimates of the size and distribution of dugong and green turtle populations in western and central Torres Strait by: (1) collecting and analysing data on their movements and diving behaviour, and (2) estimating the proportion of turtles seen during aerial surveys that are the large female green turtles harvested by Indigenous hunters.

This project addresses a series of critical initial steps required to develop a cost-effective integrated monitoring program. First, environmental, social and economic elements and indicators will be identified that could be monitored to enable an integrated evaluation of the Long Term Sustainability Plan (LTSP) targets. Second, existing monitoring programs will be evaluated against the newly developed LTSP targets, to ensure that the relevant aspects of these monitoring programs are considered for inclusion in an integrated monitoring program.

This project fills a critical information gap for dugong and turtle habitat management in the Torres Strait. It describes seagrasses in a recently identified data deficient region in northern Torres Strait that contains large dugong and turtle populations and is the subject of a proposed extension of the existing Dugong Sanctuary.

This project describes the activities of the AIMS long-term program to monitor the effects of zoning on coral reef communities in the period July-October 2015. 1. In that period there will be one survey trip (out of four made annually) to the southern GBR (Capricorn-Bunker and Swain Reefs) using the RV Cape Ferguson. As well as forming part of the long-term program, these reefs are interesting as they are recovering from the effects of severe storms, notably TC Hamish in 2009. 2.

The Keppel Islands, southern GBR, suffered successive climatic disturbance events (coral bleaching, flood plumes) between 2006 and 2013. Long-term monitoring at 26 sites revealed significant declines in coral cover and fish abundance on both no-take reserve (green zone) and fished reefs. In February 2015, Cyclone Marcia (Category 5) hit the Keppel Islands. We propose to re-survey all 26 monitoring sites to quantify cyclone damage and to identify remaining refuge areas that can support reef recovery and long-term resilience.

The project will conduct an inclusive facilitated workshop with key researchers and stakeholders to identify the future knowledge needs for improved management of dredging activities in the GBR. Building upon the recent dredging synthesis and other resources, this workshop will distill a clear, prioritized research framework to inform future NESP investment into dredging research.

This project will lay the foundations for the development of a reliable CoTS surveillance and control program based on detailed understanding of i) CoTS ecology, population dynamics and movement, ii) the CoTS control program’s capabilities and constraints, and, iii) IPM principles. In the project’s initial phase a COTS Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Workshop will be conducted. This workshop will bring together managers and researchers with purpose of defining a tactical approach to current COTS management and a strategic approach for the management of future outbreaks.

Key to understanding the desired state of Queensland seagrasses is reliable data on seagrass distribution, abundance and species composition, and how this changes through time. Also valuable is the ability to reliably “drill” down from large-scale (World Heritage Area) to small-scale estuaries and meadows. TropWATER provides a composite map of seagrass for the GBRWHA available through eAtlas, GBRMPA and Pangaea. However this layer has not been updated since 2010 and is missing changes from important areas and extensive new data, and provides no meadow-specific information.

This project aims to provide information on cost benchmarks for key management actions to improve water quality into the GBR. The project involves a review and evaluation of summary data about NRM projects that have been funded recently to address water quality issues. By pooling the data across NRM regions and different activities, it will be possible to identify the distribution of cost/outcome ratios. From this, potential benchmarks can be established (e.g. 75% of sediment reduction actions are less than $xxx/tonne, 95% are less than $XXX per ton).

This project intends to conduct a workshop with key researchers and stakeholders to establish the future research framework for NESP investment into better understanding of box-jellyfishes presence and risk in the Great Barrier Reef. This will include defining the scope of work required to: identify how species of Irukandji and stingers respond to changing water quality conditions, predictions of box-jellyfishes presence based on environmental conditions, determine ecological impacts, innovative management options.

Light levels (i.e. water quality/turbidity) can be managed to minimise seagrass losses. Recent attempts to define threshold levels of light required to maintain GBR seagrass state has resulted in a spectrum of recommendations with no single definitive source document to guide regulation. We will compile the available information on light thresholds into a guiding document, which will become a key reference for managers and regulators to use in generating relevant water quality guidelines and conditions for developments such as dredging programs.

This project involves preparing, publishing, and visualizing approximately 50 recently submitted datasets, making them available through the eAtlas and the AODN. This proposal covers the activities of the eAtlas in 2015 (July - December). These are: 1. The eAtlas has approximately 50 datasets that were recently submitted for review that are awaiting preparation, publication and visualization. This project will complete the publication process for these datasets making them available via the eAtlas and with spatial datasets also being made available via the AODN. 2.

While coral geochemistry records are widely cited as evidence for increased suspended sediment loads delivered to the Great Barrier Reef since the 1850s, there has been little replication or quantification of the records. Indeed, most records are based on cores collected prior to the year 2000 when limited catchment monitoring data existed to ‘validate’ the interpretations that certain trace element ratios provided proxies of annual sediment loadings.

This project will progress an approach for incorporating environmental offsets into the Reef Trust through development of a prototype calculator to assist potential approval holders and relevant agencies in determining appropriate financial payments as offsets under the Reef Trust. It will extend the methodology currently used to calculate terrestrial offsets to the marine setting. It will delineate clearly the differences in applying such a calculator to the marine–catchment continuum and terrestrial settings.

This project conducts an ex-post evaluation of a water quality tender (auction) project. In 2007-08, a water quality pilot tender was trialled in the Lower Burdekin River area, funded by the Australian Government through the National Market Based Instruments and co-funded and administered by the NQ Dry Tropics. This project will collaborate with NQ Dry Tropics and engage with tender participants to review design, operational, administrative and other matters of the trial.

Refinement of biological indicators for condition assessment is an immediate priority as highlighted in a recent review of the GBR Marine Monitoring Program (MMP). Seagrass carbohydrate content is an early-warning indicator of water quality impacts. Samples collected quarterly since 2008 will be analysed and used to establish baselines and optimize protocols for applying carbohydrates as an indicator for future monitoring.

Increased human activities in the GBR and Torres Strait regions are expected to increase the sources and diversity of contaminants in their marine environments. Here, we will (i) determine the presence and locations of emerging contaminants based on monitoring data and the types of human activities present, and (ii) prioritize the identified emerging contaminants based on their potential risk to these marine environments.

This metadata is a brief overview of the National Environmental Science Program Tropical Water Quality (NESP TWQ) Hub. The aim of the National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) is to assist decision-makers to understand, manage and conserve Australia’s environment by funding world-class biodiversity and climate science.

This dataset shows the concentrations of multiple herbicides remaining over time in a simulation flask persistence experiment conducted in 2013. The aim of this study was to quantify the persistence multiple herbicides in a standard flask experiment. Time it takes for degradation of half of this herbicide is termed the "half-life". The half-life can be used to help develop environmental risk assessments. Methods: Herbicide degradation experiments were carried out in flasks according to the OECD methods for "simulation tests".