Recent datasets

Extent of the Great Barrier Reef coastal zone for investigating coastal management and its impacts on marine life in the context of conservation planning (NERP TE 9.4, JCU)

Modified on

21 January 2015

This dataset contains the extent of the coastal zone for the Great Barrier Reef.

Distribution of cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) density and abundance in the Wet Tropics of Australia 2014 - 2014 (NERP TE 3.4 CSIRO)

Modified on

14 January 2015

This dataset contains the estimated distribution and abundance of cassowaries across the Wet Tropics Region and the sub-regions used in these estimates. The key areas for cassowary conservation are those with the highest densities and abundance.

Australia's River Basins 1997 - Divisions (eAtlas, source: GA)

Modified on

26 September 2014

This dataset is derived from the Australia's River Basins 1997 (GA) dataset. It shows the 12 drainage divisions. Primary credit should be given to Geoscience Australia.

NERP TE Project 12.3 Relative social and economic values of residents and tourists in the WTWHA (JCU)

Modified on

3 September 2014

The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) is famous for its wildlife, biodiversity and natural beauty, but none of these important assets are bought or sold in the market place, so none are explicitly ‘valued’ with a price. Recognising that absence of price does not mean absence of value, this project seeks to improve our understanding of the importance of these non-market ‘values’ to a variety of different stakeholders. How important is a beautiful view or a cassowary to the community, to tourists and to the tourism industry?

NERP TE Project 11.1 Building resilience communities for Torres Strait futures (CSIRO)

Modified on

3 September 2014

The low-lying islands of the Torres Strait are vulnerable to climate change and the region faces a range of pressures including a growing population, future climate change, potential pollution as a result of rapid mining and resources development in Papua New Guinea, and increased shipping. Through participatory scenario planning with Torres Strait and PNG communities and stakeholders, informed by integrated ecosystem and climate modelling this project will identify ‘best bet’ strategies to protect livelihoods and achieve sustainable economic development. Tasks include:

NERP TE Project 10.1 Social and economic long term monitoring programme (SELTMP) – (CSIRO, JCU)

Modified on

3 September 2014

Long-term social and economic monitoring helps reef managers understand the current status of marine park users, industries and communities. It also helps build a picture of how industries and communities are likely to respond and cope with changes associated with environmental degradation, climate change, regulatory frameworks, and changes in culture.

NERP TE Project 7.2 Invasive species risks and responses in the Wet Tropics (CSIRO)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This project focuses on understanding the current and future risks and responses of invasive species in the Wet Tropics. The aim is to develop a strategic approach to pest management that considers the complexity of ecological processes involved with establishment and spread and takes account of the values and assets in the region. The project will contribute to the management of invasive plants and animals by providing prioritisation tools that align with existing regional pest management frameworks.

NERP TE Project 7.1 Fire and rainforests (CSIRO)

Modified on

3 September 2014

Little is known about the impacts of fire on rainforest vegetation or the animals which depend on it. This project will investigate the positive and negative impacts of fire on rainforest vegetation and wildlife. In collaboration with NPRSR rangers, and where possible with local NGOs and Indigenous Rangers, we propose to establish vegetation and faunal monitoring sites across the rainforest/woodland boundaries and associated vegetation types in key areas of the Mission Beach, Tully lowlands and Hinchinbrook Channel areas to assess faunal and floral status and trends.

NERP TE Project 4.4 Hazard assessment for water quality threats to Torres Strait marine waters, ecosystems and public health (JCU)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This project involved an assessment of all existing and potential sources of pollution to the Torres Strait marine environment. This was combined with information on water movement patterns to assess the hazard (and to some degree risk) of these pollutant sources to marine ecosystems and public health. This project was predominantly a desktop study with some field work to sewage treatment plants, and other point sources of potential pollutants.

This project:

NERP TE Project 4.3 Ecological risk assessment of pesticides, nutrients and sediments on water quality and ecosystem health – Phase 1 (CSIRO, JCU)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This project undertook a scoping study to develop a robust approach that will allow us in Phase 2 to carry out an ecological risk assessment (ERA) of nutrients, fine suspended sediments, and pesticides used in agriculture in the GBR region including ranking the relative risk of individual contaminants originating from priority catchments to the GBR ecosystems using a systematic, objective and transparent approach.

NERP TE Project 3.4 Monitoring of key vertebrate species (CSIRO)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This project will implement monitoring programs for the endangered southern cassowary, Casuarisus casuarius, and the vulnerable spectacled flying-fox, Pteropus conspicillatus.

Cassowary monitoring will be based on regular surveys to collect dung. DNA fingerprinting of the bird dung will provide data on cassowary abundance and distribution, the influence of habitat type and the structure and phylogeography of cassowary populations across the region.

NERP TE Project 3.3 Targeted surveys for missing and critically endangered rainforest frogs in ecotonal areas, and assessment of whether populations are recovering from disease (JCU)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This project is conducting surveys of frogs and other vertebrates in ecotonal areas of the Wet Tropics and Eungella.

NERP TE Project 3.2 What is a risk? Identifying rainforest refugia and hotspots of plant genetic diversity in the Wet Tropics and Cape York Peninsula (JCU)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This project will map the genetic and phylogenetic diversity of northeast Queensland rainforest plants and fungi with a focus on the mountaintop species, which are regarded as among the most at risk from climate warming. The project consists of two nested subprojects.

NERP TE Project 3.1 Rainforest Biodiversity: (a) Monitoring; (b) Climate change vulnerability and adaptation; (c) Determinants of biodiversity – synthesis and integration; and (d) Status, trends and future predictions (JCU)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This project will act as an integrating focus within the rainforest theme to strategically target research gaps and thereby increase our understanding of the drivers of rainforest biodiversity. We will generate high resolution maps and landscape scale estimates of temporal trends in the condition of biodiversity and environmental changes.

The project consists of four subprojects:

A. Monitoring: Tasks include a microsensor network, standardised vertebrate surveys, habitat structure monitoring and data harvesting from other projects.

NERP TE Project 2.2 Mangrove and freshwater habitat status of Torres Strait islands (JCU)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This project will examine the status, diversity and condition of mangroves and freshwater habitats in the Torres Strait. This will provide a baseline against which future changes can be assessed and will also enable planning for adaptation to potential sea level rise/increased storm surge. The project builds on Torres Strait Islanders’ knowledge and understanding of mangrove habitats, with scientists working in partnership with Traditional Owners.

This project will:

Effects of handling on sponges of aquaculture potential from the Torres Strait, Australia (MTSRF Project 1.3.2)

Modified on

3 September 2014

A one-off study of the effects of handling on Coscinoderma mathewsi around Masig (Yorke) and Kodall (off Masig) Islands. Experimental work was carried out in 2009.

Larval settlement behaviour of Coscinoderma sponges from the Torres Strait, Australia (MTSRF Project 1.3.2)

Modified on

3 September 2014

This experimental study of larval settlement behaviour of Coscinoderma mathewsi, undertaken in December 2009, explored some specific aspects of recruitment behaviour raised from the Torres Strait recuritment study.

Heritability of heat tolerance of corals on the Great Barrier Reef (MTSRF Project 2.5i.2)

Modified on

3 September 2014

Using a quantitative genetics approach, the proportion of the variance in thermal tolerance traits that has a genetic basis (i.e.