AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
NERP TE Project 8.3 Significance of no-take marine protected areas to regional recruitment and population persistence on the GBR (JCU)

This project uses genetic parentage analysis, biophysical modelling and information on coral trout larval behaviour to determine patterns of recruitment of coral trout larvae within and among inshore and offshore reefs in the southern Great Barrier Reef. The overall goal of this project will be to assess larval dispersal patterns, demographic connectivity and levels of recruitment subsidies from green zones at a regional scale. Tasks include:

1. Collect tissue samples from adult and juvenile coral trout, develop a new set of hyper-variable microsatellite markers, conduct DNA genotyping analyses of all samples, carry out genetic parentage analysis to examine parent-offspring relationships.

2. Refine the existing biophysical model and assess likely origins of larvae at key recruitment hot spots in the region.

3. Undertake demographic metapopulation analyses using dispersal distances and trajectories derived from this study and available demographic data (growth, natural mortality, fishing mortality) to evaluate long-term persistence of green zone and blue zone populations under different levels of fishing pressure and habitat condition.

Tags: marine
Organization: School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University (JCU)
NERP TE Project 8.2 Do no-take marine reserves contribute to biodiversity and fishery sustainability? Assessing the effects of management zoning on inshore reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (JCU)

This project is providing a direct assessment of the ecological effects of multiple-use zoning on inshore reefs of the GBRMP. Underwater visual census (UVC) monitoring of fish and benthic communities is being carried out at 50 no-take marine reserve (green zone) sites and at 50 sites that have remained open to fishing within the Palm, Magnetic, Whitsunday and Keppel Island groups. Long-term monitoring surveys are providing information on:

1. The effects of no-take marine reserves on populations of both species that are fished and other non-fished species. 

2. Variations in structure of fish communities due to the reserves and natural disturbances.

3. Structure and dynamics of marine species on the sea bed.

4. Coral health, bleaching, incidence and severity of coral disease and coral predators.

5. Temporal monitoring of the relative number of fishing lines recorded at each site will be used to assess the distribution of fishing effort and provide information on the levels of non-compliance with zoning regulations.

Tags: marine
Organization: School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University (JCU)
NERP TE Project 7.3 Climate change and the impacts of extreme climatic events on Australia¿s Wet Tropics biodiversity (JCU)

This project investigates in detail the exposure and sensitivity of Wet Tropics animals to extreme climate and weather events, such as heat waves, fires, flooding rain and cyclones. This information will be used to assess and map the vulnerability of biodiversity to the impacts of current and future extreme events in the Wet Tropics bioregion. The information gathered in the Wet Tropics can potentially be applied to other regions in Australia and elsewhere to predict and mitigate the impacts of extreme climatic events on biodiversity. Outcomes will include: Maps of exposure and the sensitivity of organisms to temperature extremes, identification of thermal hotspots and refugia and a list of biodiversity values particularly at risk from extreme events.

This project is now complete.

Organization: Centre for Tropical Biodiversity & Climate Change, James Cook University (CTBCC/JCU)
NERP TE Project 7.2 Invasive species risks and responses in the Wet Tropics (CSIRO)

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. Outcomes include: Identifying geographic areas and natural assets particularly at risk from invasive species, networks of weed and pest animal spread throughout the Wet Tropics, emerging weed threats in the Wet Tropics as a result of climate change (using climate matching methods with CLIMEX).

Organization: Ecosystem Sciences, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
NERP TE Project 7.1 Fire and rainforests (CSIRO)

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. This project will produce maps and assess the impact of fire in of areas of greatest concern, including littoral rainforest and coastal vine thickets and riparian forest. We will assess the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Yasi on mahogany glider habitat, levels of rainforest invasion, and impacts of fire on new vegetation.

Organization: Ecosystem Sciences, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
NERP TE Project 6.2 Drivers of juvenile shark biodiversity and abundance in inshore ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef (JCU)

Sharks play an important role in marine ecosystems but are facing increasing pressure from fishing and other anthropogenic factors. Along the Queensland coast inshore waters play an important role as nursery areas for sharks. However, the same inshore waters are also most prone to fisheries exploitation and effects of freshwater discharge from coastal streams and rivers. This project will examine the importance of different types of inshore habitat (protected bay vs. open coastline) and marine park zoning (open and closed to fishing), and how environmental factors such as freshwater discharge from rivers effect how these nursery areas function. The project has two broad objectives:

A. Investigate the spatial and temporal changes in the biodiversity and abundance of sharks in inshore nursery areas along the central GBR coast.
B. Determine the effect of environmental drivers on inshore shark biodiversity along the central GBR coast.

Results from the project will be used to improve the information available to fisheries and marine park managers on the relative importance of inshore habitats, the role of areas closed to fishing, and the sustainability of inshore shark populations.

Tags: marine
Organization: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University (JCU)
NERP TE Project 5.3 Vulnerability of seagrass habitats in the GBR to flood plume impacts: light, nutrients and salinity (JCU)

The Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (RRMMP) has identified that seagrass meadows along the Great Barrier Reef are in a state of decline. This project will undertake desktop analyses to quantify the exposure of seagrass meadows to flood plumes. Aquaria experiments will measure responses of seagrass to variation in light, nutrients and salinity. This project will also use use True Colour Remote sensing images, to derive flood plume exposure and relate to changes in seagrass abundance and composition.  The results will be synthesised to define thresholds of concern of water quality impacts, with a particular focus on flood plumes, and input into the development of guidelines for the protection of seagrass meadows.

Tasks include: 
1. Quantifying the level of exposure of seagrass meadows to changes in water quality associated with flood plumes (using True Colour Remote sensing) in coastal regions of the GBR.
 
2. Measurement of changes in biological traits (e.g. growth, biomass) of seagrass in relation to water quality  (Light, nutrients, salinity) determined by experimental studies.

3. Experimental testing of indicators of seagrass status adopted in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program (MMP) (e.g. nutrient ratios) in response to changes in water quality. 

4. Experimental verification of water quality response models and thresholds, in particular in relation to the MMP.

Tags: marine
Organization: TropWATER, James Cook University (TropWATER/JCU)
NERP TE Project 3.4 Monitoring of key vertebrate species (CSIRO)

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. 
 
For spectacled flying-fox monthly surveys of all known spectacled flying-fox camps in the Wet Tropics Region will be conducted. Resulting data will be used to describe population distribution, population size and trends to build upon the long term database already established.

Organization: Ecosystem Sciences, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
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)

This project is conducting surveys of  frogs and other vertebrates in ecotonal areas of the Wet Tropics and Eungella. The primary aims are to: (1) assess the current status, distribution and population size of missing and critically endangered frog species of the Wet Tropics and Eungella; (2) map the distribution and intensity of chytrid fungus disease across ecotonal areas; (3) survey these poorly known ecotonal areas for other vertebrates; and (4) provide recommendations for the management of endangered frogs and other threatened vertebrates, and work with land managers to carry out conservation actions. Ultimately this project will determine: 

1. whether the ¿extinct¿ frogs of the Wet Tropics and Eungella are really extinct, and what the status of the critically endangered and endagered species is,
2. whether the dry forest/rainforest ecotones of the western Wet Tropics and Eungella harbour overlooked populations of missing and endangered endangered frog species, and other vertebrates of interest, and
3. whether threatened frogs are recovering from chytrid disease.

Organization: School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University (JCU)
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)

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. 

Project ¿a¿ (PD analysis) will provide a broad scale analysis of patterns of genetic diversity across the NE Qld rainforests. This study will investigate the relative performance of taxonomic richness and phylogenetic diversity measures for conservation priority setting in the Wet Tropics and Cape York rainforest contexts. We will use the results to identify and map areas of high biodiversity significance and investigate correlations with environmental and ecological variables. Preliminary results to date show that areas with higher PD than expected contain a higher proportion of immigrant plant lineages dispersed mostly from Southeast Asia within the past few million years. Our results demonstrate how the integration of historical data and PD can more effectively inform conservation priority setting particularly in biomes with complex evolutionary histories. 

Project ¿b¿ (mountain-top diversity) takes a finer scale look at population-level genetic diversity in one highly restricted rainforest ecosystem ¿ mountain-top rainforest ¿ projected to be most threatened by climate change. We will combine emerging genetic technologies with environmental, ecological and morphological information to: 1) elucidate the location and relative importance of high altitude refugia for plants in the Wet Tropics and Cape York Peninsula Bioregions and the mechanisms that influence the survival of populations and species; and 2) document the fungal biodiversity of the mountain tops.

Organization: Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University (ATH/JCU)
Northern and Central Queensland Ambient Estuarine Water Quality Monitoring quality monitoring

All available ambient data from water quality monitoring in drainage basins by the Queensland Department of Science Information Technology Innovation and the Arts. Data covers coastal and estuarine waters in central and northern Queensland.

Tags: Central Queensland, ECOSYSTEM Analysis, ECOSYSTEM Research, ENVIRONMENTAL Education, ENVIRONMENTAL Impact, ENVIRONMENTAL Indicators, ENVIRONMENTAL Protection, ENVIRONMENTAL Research, HUMAN ENVIRONMENT Liveability Monitoring, MARINE Ecosystems Indicators, MARINE Ecosystems Monitoring, MARINE Ecosystems Research, MARINE Estuaries Indicators, MARINE Estuaries Monitoring, MARINE Estuaries Research, POLLUTION Water, WATER Quality, WATER Quality Analysis, WATER Quality Indicators, WATER Quality Monitoring, WATER Quality Networks, WATER Quality Research, WATER Surface Monitoring
Organization: Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
NERP TE Project 2.2 Mangrove and freshwater habitat status of Torres Strait islands (JCU)

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:

1. Undertake a baseline survey of the status and condition of mangroves and freshwater wetland habitats in Torres Strait based on a combination of aerial imagery and on-ground surveys, including documenting species present and identifying the presence of exotic species.

2. Where feasible, document knowledge of selected communities about their uses of mangrove and freshwater habitats and provide management advice for these habitats, where required.

3. Assess mitigation options for mangroves, protection/management/rehabilitation needs, and climate change-related adaptive strategies.

Organization: TropWATER, James Cook University (TropWATER/JCU)
NERP TE Project 2.1 Marine turtles and dugongs of Torres Strait (JCU)

The project will determine the status of threatened marine (green, hawksbill and flatback) turtles and dugongs in the Torres Strait and threats to these populations. It also will investigate links between different populations of dugongs and turtles in terms of movement and habitat use. They will also assess the abundance of dugongs in the Torres Strait using aerial surveys.

Working in conjunction with the Torres Strait Regional Authorities (TSRA) Land and Sea Unit and the TSRA Community Ranger program this project will:

1. Determine the status of green turtles in Torres Strait (sex ratios, patterns of juvenile recruitment, nesting success and hatchling production) using seasonal surveys of green turtle foraging and nesting sites. Foraging sites will vary to cover as many different habitats as possible (e.g. one per year). Nesting sites will include Maizub Kaur (Bramble Cay) and Dowar Island (Mer Group)

2. Determine the status of hawksbill and flatback turtles in Torres Strait by conducting Iama community and Mabuiag Community seasonal surveys and trial remote camera deployments at Sassie Island and Malu Kiai (Deliverance Island) to quantify nesting events, which are suspected to be declining, and predation levels, which are speculated to be high. Data will then be used in combination with survey data collected by QDERM (Col Limpus) since 1992, and other life history and mortality data to determine a robust account of population status.

3. Investigate population connectivity of dugong and green turtles using satellite tracking of dugongs caught in the northern section of Torres Strait (i.e. around Biogu), analysis of previous tracking data (from QDERM, CRC TS, MTSRF and AMMC) of turtles and dugongs and collection of skin samples from dugongs and green turtles to strengthen the genetic understanding.

4. Undertake dugong and turtle aerial surveys in March 2011 and November 2013 of western Torres Strait, including the Dugong Sanctuary and the area west of Orman Reef in association with a parallel survey of the northern GBR. 

5. Analyse historical data to examine patterns of turtle abundance in key areas such as western Torres Strait and the Dugong Sanctuary.

Tags: marine
Organization: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University (JCU)
NERP TE Project 1.2 Marine wildlife management in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (JCU)

This project will monitor and study dugongs, dolphins and turtles along the coast of the GBRWHA with the following key tasks:
 
1. Determine the distribution and status of inshore dolphins in the northern Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) by identifying likely important habitats based on collaboration with Tradition Owners and published information, then conduct line transect surveys (along with biopsy samples) in the Cardwell area (Girringun) and Bathurst Bay (far northern GBR).

2. Perform aerial surveys of Dugongs from the region from the southern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) to Cooktown (2011/2012) and from Cooktown north in late 2013. 

3. Perform at least two field trips per year between 2011 and 2014 to collect samples of skin (turtle and dugong), feces (dugong) and marine flora (seagrass, algae and mangrove species) to examine foraging dynamics and ecosystem role of green turtles and dugongs in algal and seagrass based ecosystems of the GBRWHA (coastal zone from Bowen to Cardwell).  

4. The project will also work with Traditional Owners to improve conservation of these species of conservation concern and high cultural value.

Tags: marine
Organization: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University (JCU)
NERP TE Project 12.3 Relative social and economic values of residents and tourists in the WTWHA (JCU)

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? How would people feel if there fewer (or more) opportunities to enjoy those beautiful views or to observe these charismatic birds?

The project will provide environmental managers throughout the world with an illustrated, easy to understand, means of assessing the importance of these types of non-market values to a variety of different stakeholder groups in World Heritage listed forests and other scenic environments. 

This project will:
1. Develop a survey to assess the relative importance of core 'values' of the WTWHA (e.g. cassowaries, mahogany sugar gliders, waterfalls, aesthetics) with other ¿values¿ (e.g. development of roads, employment, or income) so that managers are able to assess trade-offs between core WTWHA attributes and other ¿values¿.

2. Distribute the questionaire to residents (householders) throughout the WTWHA and to tourists at the Cairns airport at different times of the year (to control for seasonality of data) in the form of an exit survey;

3. To analyse the results using multivariate analysis to measure the satisfaction and relative value across different stakeholder groups and to use insights from this analysis to identify priorities for conservation and marketing.

Organization: School of Business, James Cook University (JCU)
NERP TE Project 6.3 Critical seabird foraging locations and trophic relationships for the Great Barrier Reef (JCU)

Overall the key objectives of this program are to: 
1. Identify and map the principal foraging locations for shearwaters and boobies breeding at the most important colonies of the GBR, both within and between breeding seasons, using a combination of different Geolocation, GPS and Satellite PTT data loggers; 
2. Obtain detailed information on the biophysical oceanographic characteristics of these foraging habitats in both the GBR and Coral Sea regions using a range of biophysical parameters derived from satellite and in situ data; 
3. Quantify how prey availability at these sites varies with climate driven changes in biophysical oceanography; 
4. quantifying the level of prey availability and associated oceanographic conditions required to maintain viable reproduction at significant breeding colonies and 5) establish potential linkages and interactions between these areas/processes and other anthropogenic activities.

Tags: marine
Organization: Centre for Tropical Environmental & Sustainability Sciences, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University (JCU)
NERP TE Project 12.1 Indigenous co-management and biodiversity protection (CSIRO)

The project seeks to improve understanding of practices that can underpin co-management arrangements for conservation areas, including the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA).

A co-research team of CSIRO scientists, Rainforest Aboriginal peoples, protected area managers and other key partners will investigate the potential of Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs), and other collaborative models and tools, to engage Indigenous values and world views.  The team will focus on the conditions under which these arrangements lead to effective joint management.

The overall goal of the project is to identify the means for effective engagement of Indigenous knowledge and co-management for biodiversity and cultural protection in the region; and for joint management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area between governments and Rainforest Aboriginal peoples, in partnership with communities.

The project will deliver tested mechanisms for co-governance and collaboration between Traditional Owners, government managers, and other key partners, for biodiversity and Indigenous cultural conservation in the Wet Tropics region.

This project is now complete.

Organization: Ecosystem Sciences, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)