Research has confirmed that some coral and important reef building algae can sustain being exposed to low light conditions for up to 10 consecutive days before their health is critically affected. The findings have important implications for the environmental impact assessment and management of dredging operations, which cause sediment plumes. The results of the Western […]
Researchers working to better predict the likely environmental impacts associated with dredging have found that branching corals are highly adept at cleaning their surfaces of depositing sediments compared to other coral structures. The Western Australian Marine Science Institution Dredging Science Node study assessed the sediment rejection ability of eight common Indo-Pacific coral species from three […]
For many people, a primeval fear of large carnivores clouds their ability to see how top-order predators struggle to survive on a planet dominated by an ever-intrusive human population. Lions, tigers, wolves, bears, sharks and crocodiles have all suffered extensive population losses due to the proximity of their habitats to cities and towns. Today, Australia […]
An eight-year study into the movement of critically endangered sawfish in the isolated freshwater reaches of northwestern Australia’s Fitzroy River has identified the habitats that are important to their survival. A group of Murdoch University researchers has found that deep pools and shallow environments, like glides, are important habitats for the Freshwater (Largetooth) Sawfish (Pristis […]
More than nine final reports for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution Kimberley Marine Research Program will be available online this month delivering the marine research needed to support the management of the marine environments of the Kimberley region. The $30 million program, which began in 2012, has had up to 160 scientists from 10 […]
The Kimberley Marine Research Program is presenting its latest research results with two open sessions scheduled for September and seven presentations held at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in Kensington over the past month. The Lunch and Learn sessions are part of the knowledge transfer process to Kimberley marine managers and stakeholders. […]
Effective management of dredging operations requires understanding the effect of the activities on the surrounding environment including important habitats like coral. New research conducted by researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and The University of Western Australia (UWA) has supported decision-making in this field by defining a series of thresholds that can […]
Further research into dredging pressures on coral has revealed that even a very fine layer of sediment can prevent coral larvae from settling on a surface and building on the coral community. Successful recruitment, where coral larvae attach and establish themselves as part of the adult community, is important for sustaining and recovery of coral […]
Three researchers from Western Australian Marine Science Institution’s Dredging Science Node recently presented their findings at the World Sponge Conference in Ireland, with PhD candidate Brian Strehlow winning a prize for best student presentation. Mr Strehlow, from The University of Western Australia, won the prize for best student presentation in the category of organismal biology, […]
Different sponge species adopt different strategies to cope with sediments in turbid environments and while many of these alleviate pressure in the short-term, researchers have found that longer-term exposure may still compromise fitness and overcome the sponge’s ability to withstand sediment stress. Sponges are ecologically important filter feeders that employ a wide variety of mechanisms […]