WAMSI Research 2006–2011
About the Projects
From 2006-2011, over 250 researchers across disciplines ranging from oceanography, fisheries science and marine ecology, worked on more than 85 projects which led to achievements, including:
- New discoveries of deepwater sponges off the iconic Ningaloo Reef;
- A ten-fold increase in our understanding of the habitats, as well as the physical and biological processes occurring at Ningaloo Marine Park;
- Development of a Tourism Destination Model for the Ningaloo Coast which will be a valuable aid in tourism planning;
- Enabling the state-wide adoption of a broad scale, holistic fisheries management system (Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management) for all WA fisheries;
- Increased understanding about the effects of climate variability on the Western Rock Lobster to help ensure its ongoing sustainable management;
- Establishment of a WA Marine Bioresources Library and encouraging the drafting of legislation to enhance the State’s capability in managing biodiscovery and biotechnology research and investment;
- Improved understanding of the oceanographic processes on coastal infrastructure and offshore structures in the North-West Shelf;
- Improved understanding of how projected climate variability will impact the natural and man-made built environment as a result of sea level rise, storm surges and wave climates;
- Detailed climatic and ocean current modelling leading to more accurate predictions of the effects of the Leeuwin Current on the marine environment; and
- Detailed understanding of the marine ecosystems off the Perth Metropolitan Region.
Through the work of its 16 partners, WAMSI has successfully completed highly relevant, strategic, multidisciplinary research that has increased the understanding of WA’s marine environment; delivering better science to help inform decision making on some of the big picture, complex multi-sectoral issues facing Governments, industry and communities.
Symposia
A Changing Climate
End of WAMSI 1 Conference Abstracts
End of WAMSI 1 Conference Presentations
Kimberley Symposium RSWA and WAMSI
Monitoring For Action
Young Career Researchers Symposium
Media
Projects and Reports
1.0 Synthesis: Western Australian Marine Ecosystem Research
Characterise the southwest Australian marine coastal and shelf ecosystem structure, function and response to pressures.
1.1 Southwest Coastal Biochemistry
Models developed to explore influences on benthic habitats.
1.2 Coastal ecosystem characterisation
An assessment of the importance of physical forcing and ecological interactions among key functional groups.
1.3 Benthic habitat surveys of potential LNG hub locations in the Kimberley
Rapid assessment of the marine benthic communities within four locations along the Kimberley coast.
2.0 Synthesis: Climate processes, predictability and impacts
Strategic climate change research in the Indian Ocean and the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean, upwind from WA in the westerly air-streams.
2.1 Dynamics and predictability of the Indo-Pacific Ocean
Understanding and predicting large-scale variation and change of the ocean-climate and its impact with the continental shelf.
2.2 Dynamics and impacts of the Leeuwin Current
Oceanography, multidecadal trends and quantitative heat budgets in the warming regions of the eastern Indian Ocean.
2.3 Oceanic Conditions at Ningaloo Reef
Understanding and predicting large scale variation and change of ocean-climate.
3.0 Synthesis: Managing and Conserving the Marine Estate
An intense program of collaborative research that produced an unprecedented wealth of knowledge about the iconic Ningaloo area.
3.1 Ningaloo Deepwater Communities
Benthic habitats and biologit communities in the waters deeper than 20 metres beyond the fringing reef.
3.1.2 Methods of monitoring the health of coral and fish
Coral and fish recruitment and cost effective methods that may be developed to monitor recruitment.
3.1.3 Stock assessment of lobster and octopus
The status of lobster and octopus, along the length of the Ningaloo Marine Park during 2008-9.
3.1.4 Population monitoring protocols for whale sharks
Review and development of new protocols for genetic analysis of whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.
3.2.1 Diversity, abundance and habitat of sharks and rays
Characterising the diversity, abundance and spatial dynamics of sharks and rays within different habitats and zones in the Ningaloo Marine Park.
3.2.2 Effectiveness of zoning for biodiversity conservation
Assessment of the effectiveness of sanctuary zones in the lagoon system in protecting biodiversity and coral reef health.
3.2.2b Intertidal invertebrate species
Diversity, abundance and distribution of intertidal invertebrate species.
3.2.2c Trophic effects through herbivory at Ningaloo Reef
Variation in biodiversity along the length of the Ningaloo Marine Park.
3.2.3 Management Strategies for line fishing
An Evaluation of Management Strategies for line fishing in the Ningaloo Marine Park
3.4.1 Reef Morphology and Growth History
Reef Morphology and Growth History of the Ningaloo the reef system.
3.4.2 Characterisation of Geomorphology and Sedimentology
How ancestral features influence present day geomorphic structure of the reef and shelf.
3.5 Oceanographic processes
Characterisation and modelling of oceanographic processes.
3.8 North West Marine Research Inventory
Metadatabase of completed, current and planned marine and coastal research in State and Commonwealth waters of Western Australia between Kalbarri to the Northern Territory border.
3.10 Coastal Groundwater and Linkages
Assessment of Coastal Groundwater and Linkages with Ningaloo Reef.
Student Projects
Facts sheets on policy, manta ray and stingray student projects.
CSIRO Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster
Additional research conducted as a strategic collaboration.
Impact and Lessons Learned
Factors that influenced knowledge exchange among conservation scientists and decision makers.
4.0 Synthesis: Sustainable Marine Ecosystems
Development of Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM).
4.1 Applying the Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) Framework
Developing a means of integrating EBFM into mainstream fisheries management.
4.2 Assessment of Marine Communities and the Impact of Anthropogenic Influences
Quantitative methods to assess the status of the community structure, biodiversity and key habitats within West Coast Bioregion priority ecosystems.
4.3 Trophic interactions and ecosystem modelling
Develop a better understanding of the broader potential anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems in the West Coast Bioregion.
4.4 Captured species assessments
To examine stock structure, connectedness and risk to indicator species of the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery
4.5 Socio-economic implications
Implications of the modelling results for understanding the way in which existing restrictions have affected fisher behaviour.
5.0 Summary: Marine Biodiscovery, Biotechnology and Aquaculture
Enhance marine, microbial, chemical and biomedical sciences.
5.1 Western Australia Marine Bioresources Library (WAMBL)
A table linked to the Western Australian Museum marine invertebrates collections database.
5.2 BioMolecular Diversity and Partnered Biodiscovery
Identify and study valuable lead compounds from Western Australia’s marine biodiversity
5.3 Microbial Quorum Sensing
Investigate ecological aspects of the formation and activity of quorum quenching compounds.
6.0 Summary: Ocean Science for Offshore and Coastal Engineering
Enhance engineering design and operations through understanding and prediction of the physical oceanographic processes over the vast regions of operations.
6.1 Offshore and coastal engineering and the effects of climate change
Determine how the coast on the southwest of Australia will respond to the combined action of waves, storm surges and mean sea level rise under climate change.
6.2 Impact of Internal Waves on Offshore Engineering
Providing a comprehensive understanding and predictive capability of the tidal motions and tidally driven internal wave climatology on the Australian North West Shelf.
6.3 Ocean Glider Deployment as part of WAIMOS
Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence, turbidity and CDOM data from the West Australian shelf and slope waters between Dampier and Fremantle.
