Hydrodynamics of Intermittently Closing and Opening Lakes and Lagoons. Intermittently closing and open lakes and lagoons are shallow coastal water bodies that are connected intermittently to the ocean. Sixty of the 135 estuaries in New South Wales are considered to be ICOLL's. The closure of the Lake/Lagoon entrance to the ocean prevents water exchange that can lead to poor water quality. Detailed field and numerical model studies in two ICOLLS (Coila Lake and Wamberal Lagoon) are proposed us ....Hydrodynamics of Intermittently Closing and Opening Lakes and Lagoons. Intermittently closing and open lakes and lagoons are shallow coastal water bodies that are connected intermittently to the ocean. Sixty of the 135 estuaries in New South Wales are considered to be ICOLL's. The closure of the Lake/Lagoon entrance to the ocean prevents water exchange that can lead to poor water quality. Detailed field and numerical model studies in two ICOLLS (Coila Lake and Wamberal Lagoon) are proposed using modern instrumentation. It is recognised that a fundamental understanding of the circulation and mixing characteristics of ICOLLs is imperative for the development of proper management strategies for these systems.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the legacy of groundwater pollution to coastal waters. This project aims to resolve whether groundwater polluted decades ago is now seeping out along shorelines, and driving coastal water quality. The project will challenge common assumptions about the sources of chemical pollution to Australian coastal waters using a combination of cutting-edge analytical techniques, modelling, and laboratory investigations. The outcomes of the project will support the development of pollutant budge ....Unravelling the legacy of groundwater pollution to coastal waters. This project aims to resolve whether groundwater polluted decades ago is now seeping out along shorelines, and driving coastal water quality. The project will challenge common assumptions about the sources of chemical pollution to Australian coastal waters using a combination of cutting-edge analytical techniques, modelling, and laboratory investigations. The outcomes of the project will support the development of pollutant budgets and models required for the effective creation of water management solutions. As a result, the project will benefit the management of iconic waterways experiencing persistent, unresolved water quality issues which are costing the government billions of dollars.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100204
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,000.00
Summary
A laser optical plankton counter for laboratory and in-situ size distributions of zooplankton, to assess the basis and outcomes of changing ecosystems. The researchers will integrate studies of zooplankton biodiversity from the tropics to the Southern Ocean with an optical plankton counter to quickly measure zooplankton size and approximate shape. This new technology, together with a resurgence in collaborative marine science through the Integrated Marine Observing System and the Sydney Institut ....A laser optical plankton counter for laboratory and in-situ size distributions of zooplankton, to assess the basis and outcomes of changing ecosystems. The researchers will integrate studies of zooplankton biodiversity from the tropics to the Southern Ocean with an optical plankton counter to quickly measure zooplankton size and approximate shape. This new technology, together with a resurgence in collaborative marine science through the Integrated Marine Observing System and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, will enable Australian researchers to understand changes in the plankton in freshwater or in estuaries, as well as in the East Australian Current. This current has already strengthened and is predicted to be the area of greatest warming in the Southern Hemisphere. The response of plankton communities to these changes will have profound effects on Australian fisheries and livelihoods.Read moreRead less
Wave dynamics in topographically-complex coastal reef systems. Both tropical coral and temperate rocky reefs are abundant features of Australia's coastline, yet their hydrodynamics (waves, currents and water levels) are poorly understood relative to other coastal environments such as beaches. This project will elucidate the complex hydrodynamic processes when waves interact with the steep-slopes and large bottom roughness of reefs, by establishing an international research program combining labo ....Wave dynamics in topographically-complex coastal reef systems. Both tropical coral and temperate rocky reefs are abundant features of Australia's coastline, yet their hydrodynamics (waves, currents and water levels) are poorly understood relative to other coastal environments such as beaches. This project will elucidate the complex hydrodynamic processes when waves interact with the steep-slopes and large bottom roughness of reefs, by establishing an international research program combining laboratory and field measurements with numerical modelling. The improved process-understanding of reef hydrodynamics developed through this project will lead to significant advances in our ability to predict the impacts of extreme events (for example, storms and tsunamis) and climate change on coasts, both here and abroad.Read moreRead less
Hydrodynamics of Fringing Reef Systems. This project aims to develop a numerical circulation model applicable to fringing reef systems, in particular, the Ningaloo reef, Western Australia. The model will include the effects of tides, winds, surface gravity waves and density. The model results will be compared to field measurements collected by the Australian Institute of Marine Science. After the model has been developed and validated, it will be used to investigate processes such as water e ....Hydrodynamics of Fringing Reef Systems. This project aims to develop a numerical circulation model applicable to fringing reef systems, in particular, the Ningaloo reef, Western Australia. The model will include the effects of tides, winds, surface gravity waves and density. The model results will be compared to field measurements collected by the Australian Institute of Marine Science. After the model has been developed and validated, it will be used to investigate processes such as water exchange between lagoons and open sea, effects of contaminant spills and recruitment within the reef systems. An understanding of these processes is essential for the sustainable management of these systems.Read moreRead less
Physical processes in complex coastal reef environments: the dynamics of wave- and tide-dominated systems. Coastal reefs are ubiquitous features of Australia's coastline, yet the dynamics controlling water motion on reefs still remain poorly understood. This project will significantly advance our understanding of coastal processes within reef environments, thus improving predictions of the impacts of extreme storms and climate change on our coasts.
Mechanisms of Iron Acquisition by the Cyanobacterium Trichodesmium in Coastal Waters. The toxic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium is the most conspicuous phytoplankter in Great Barrier Reef waters which, as a nitrogen fixer, produces and biologically packages "new" nitrogen into forms potentially available to other marine organisms and, as such, is likely to be a key driver of food web dynamics on the GBR. In this study, we will clarify the mechanism by which the critical nutrient iron is acquired by ....Mechanisms of Iron Acquisition by the Cyanobacterium Trichodesmium in Coastal Waters. The toxic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium is the most conspicuous phytoplankter in Great Barrier Reef waters which, as a nitrogen fixer, produces and biologically packages "new" nitrogen into forms potentially available to other marine organisms and, as such, is likely to be a key driver of food web dynamics on the GBR. In this study, we will clarify the mechanism by which the critical nutrient iron is acquired by this organism and, in so doing, assess the role that terrestrial activities play in iron supply.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100535
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,650.00
Summary
Is groundwater the missing nutrient source to the Great Barrier Reef? This project aims to reveal whether groundwater is a major missing source of nutrients to the Great Barrier Reef. Billions of dollars have been spent on improving water quality in the reef environment, yet nutrient budgets and the sources of pollution remain poorly quantified. This project expects to use cutting-edge technology and modelling to quantify the legacy of past land use practices on groundwater reef-nutrient dynamic ....Is groundwater the missing nutrient source to the Great Barrier Reef? This project aims to reveal whether groundwater is a major missing source of nutrients to the Great Barrier Reef. Billions of dollars have been spent on improving water quality in the reef environment, yet nutrient budgets and the sources of pollution remain poorly quantified. This project expects to use cutting-edge technology and modelling to quantify the legacy of past land use practices on groundwater reef-nutrient dynamics. The expected outcomes of this study will provide both land and marine managers with crucial insight into how to allocate resources to best manage water quality to meet desired environmental outcomes.Read moreRead less
New tools for managing ecosystem responses to climate change on the southern Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) underpins over $4 billions of economic activity each year. Recent evidence suggests that reefs like the GBR are vulnerable to climate change, which manifests itself at both local and global scales. Providing the tools for tracking and understanding these changes is vitally important to effective reef management strategies. This project will provide a major advance in o ....New tools for managing ecosystem responses to climate change on the southern Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) underpins over $4 billions of economic activity each year. Recent evidence suggests that reefs like the GBR are vulnerable to climate change, which manifests itself at both local and global scales. Providing the tools for tracking and understanding these changes is vitally important to effective reef management strategies. This project will provide a major advance in our understanding and the tools available to manage the impacts of climate change. In doing so, it will also produce the first comprehensive and multidisciplinary look at how environmental variability impacts coral reef organisms from corals to seabird populations.Read moreRead less
Assessing the risk of ocean acidification for the Great Barrier Reef. The increase in greenhouse gases such as CO2 represents a challenge for coral reefs such as Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). While the impact of greenhouse warming on coral reefs has been partially explored, the potentially serious implications of a decrease in ocean pH due have not been properly assessed. Detecting and understanding changes to carbonate concentrations and reef calcification are of great importance if ....Assessing the risk of ocean acidification for the Great Barrier Reef. The increase in greenhouse gases such as CO2 represents a challenge for coral reefs such as Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). While the impact of greenhouse warming on coral reefs has been partially explored, the potentially serious implications of a decrease in ocean pH due have not been properly assessed. Detecting and understanding changes to carbonate concentrations and reef calcification are of great importance if managers are to respond strategically to potential ecological changes. This project directly addresses National Research Priority 1 of achieving 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia' by addressing the priority goal of 'Responding to climate change and variability'.Read moreRead less