KEY: Researcher / Supervisor, Project title ($ awarded) Description of project

Naniel Aragones / Dr G Inglis,

Restoration ecology of seagrass beds: improving the efficiency of seagrass transplantation ($800) The general objective of this project is to examine the biological and methodological factors that affect the success of attempts to restore seagrass beds through active transplantation. Naniel was awarded a grant for this project in 1996 and has carried out short-term pilot experiments in areas near Townsville. Preliminary results imply that fast-growing seagrass species, such as Halodule uninervis and Cymodocea serrulata are suitable for transplanting and that transplanting efforts as part of on-site or off-site mitigation for developmental projects which are impacting seagrasses, should be conducted in autumn or early winter when daytime low tides and bed exposure occur.

Andrew Baird / Dr B Willis & Dr T Hughes,

The length of the larval phase in corals: new insights into patterns of reef connectivity ($1300) Some controversy exists among reef ecologists as to whether or not coral larvae are mostly retained on their reef of origin or are dispersed among reefs. Andrew aims to determine the likelihood of localised recruitment by quantifying the number of larvae settling over time from single cohorts from a range of coral species. He also hopes to establish the potential of coral larvae for long distance dispersal by quantifying the capacity of coral larvae to delay metamorphosis. This project will address a major gap in our knowledge of the larval phase of reef corals. It will enable managers to identify reefs, isolated by distance or lack of connecting currents, which require higher levels of protection.

Michaela Dommisse / Dr C Alexander & Dr M Furnas,

Characterising detritus of the Great Barrier Reef: quantity and quality over space and time ($1124) Detritus has been recognised as a significant component of marine food webs such as those in coral reef ecosystems. However, the nutritional value of detritus is not well known. The objectives of this study are to assess the potential nutritional value of detritus on reef communities and to determine whether significant spatial and temporal variability exists in the nutritional value and quantity of detritus delivered to reef communities of the Great Barrier Reef. This project will provide information on the contribution of detritus to nutrient stocks within the Great Barrier Reef. Such information is particularly relevant for management of near-shore reefs exposed to terrigenous detritus containing elevated levels of nutrients.

Michael Pido / P Valentine,

Evaluation of resource management in small-scale tropical marine fisheries: a comparison of marine reserves/parks in the Philippines and Australia ($1000) This research is aimed at evaluating the performance and outcomes of resource management in small-scale tropical marine fisheries. Michael will develop performance and outcome indicators that cover the relevant facets of management of small-scale fisheries. He will carry out a between-country evaluation of selected marine parks/reserves in the Philippines and Australia via a survey questionnaire distributed to users groups engaged in small-scale fisheries. This study will generate information on people-resource interactions as they relate to the management of inshore fisheries under marine parks/reserves.

Michael Rasheed / Dr G Inglis & Dr R Coles,

Investigations of recovery and succession in north Queensland tropical seagrass communities ($1200) This research is aimed at establishing and comparing some of the mechanisms of recovery for tropical seagrass communities following loss, at an inshore intertidal and an offshore subtidal site in the Great Barrier Reef region. Michael received funding from the Authority in 1996 for this project and has reported that preliminary results indicate that sexual reproduction plays a minor role in the recovery of experimentally cleared areas with the majority of recolonisation due to vegetative growth. Further field work is required to complete this project which will provide managers and planners with some of the basic knowledge of the natural recovery process. This knowledge is essential in developing strategies to deal with potential seagrass loss.

Janine Sheaves / Associate Professor C Alexander, Dr J Collins & Dr B Molony,

The trophic role of alpheid shrimps ($1000) Alpheid shrimps are common inhabitants of tropical mangrove forests and seagrass beds. Both habitats are important nursery areas for many species. Alpheid shrimps are believed to eat fallen mangrove leaves and seagrasses. Janine aims to determine the importance of mangrove leaves and seagrasses in the diet of alpheid shrimps and their trophic role within these areas. She states that an understanding of the role of alpheids and their role in nutrient recycling and consequent enhancement of primary productivity may lead to more informed planning and management decisions regarding these important nursery grounds.

James True / Dr B Willis,

Massive Porites corals as indicators of environmental changes ($700) In order to develop a technique for monitoring coral health, James will examine short-term acclimation and survivorship of scleractinian corals exposed to environmental stress. By improving our understanding of how environmental factors influence the growth and health of scleractinian corals, this study will also validate current assumptions which underlie models of coral growth. During this study James will document natural variation in tissue thickness of Porites corals and investigate the mechanisms which control the timing of tissue uplift. Results will provide new insights into extracting long-term records from coral skeletons.

THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Ingo Ernst / Dr I Whittington & Dr M Jones,

Gyrodactylidae (Monogenea) of the Great Barrier Reef ($1360) Gyrodactylidae are viviparous flatworms which parasitise the fins and gills of teleost fishes. There are no published records or descriptions of gyrodactylid species from Australia yet preliminary investigations have revealed several species of Gyrodactylus from Heron Island. Ingo will describe these and other species found in a comprehensive survey of fish from Heron and Lizards Islands. He states that gaining basic information on the gyrodactylid fauna of Australian marine fishes is essential if we are to identify our natural parasitic fauna, potential threats to/of future fish culture ventures and understand the role of these organisms in the coral reef community.

Michelle Heupel / Dr M Bennett,

Biology of two reef-living sharks: the blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus, and the epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum ($612) Michelle was awarded a grant in 1996 for this project to examine various aspects of the biology and behaviour of two species of reef-dwelling sharks at Heron Island Reef. She reported that the main focus of her research, to date, has concerned H. ocellatum and that substantial progress has been made in relation to population sizes and tagging effort, prey selection and growth rates, activity programs and habitat use, reproductive biology and host-parasite interactions. Future work on this project will include tag/recapture studies for both species but the overall focus of her research will be on the blacktip reef shark, C. melanopterus. Michelle believes this study, in addition to studies on other species, will assist future management decisions regarding elasmobranch fishes.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Misaki Takabayashi / Dr O Hoegh-Guldberg,

Intra-specific variability in reef corals ($1610) This project will investigate intra-specific variability in corals with respect to their tissue colours. Whether or not different coral colour morphs differ in ecology, physiology and skeletal morphology will be determined. The project will also explore the potential use of coral colour as an indicator of the health and genetic origin of colonies, physical changes in habitat and water clarity. Misaki believes that the genetic techniques established in this project, to determine the clonal genetic variability of corals, will provide insight into the gene flows among and within Pacific reefs.

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE /
UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG, GERMANY

Sven Uthicke / Dr D Klump & Professor H Thiel,

The role of sediment feeding holothurians in nutrient cycles of coral reef ecosystems ($1200) Sven seeks to enhance our understanding of material fluxes on coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef by quantifying different components of the sediment/water column interface nutrient cycle, such as grazing and excretion by sediment feeders. Information on the biology and ecology of commercially harvested holothurian species will be obtained as Sven also plans to study whether sediment-feeding holothurians can be regarded as herbivores as they feed on fresh autotrophic material.