My PhD Journey: From Brazil to Australia

My PhD Journey: From Brazil to Australia

By Dr Bianca Molinari Article Read Time: 974 words about 8 minutes. I've often been called brave for doing a PhD so far away from home, I don't know if it's bravery, but it's certainly rewarding. As a Brazilian, I couldn’t have picked any country further from home to complete my PhD than, Australia. Taking on [...]

The role of wetlands in improving water quality and protecting coastal ecosystems

The role of wetlands in improving water quality and protecting coastal ecosystems

By Melanie Roberts and Fernanda Adame Article Read Time: 524 words about 3 minutes. The 2019 Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report from the Australian Government Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority identifies the risk of nutrient runoff from catchments for the reef as Very High, the same rating as the 2014 and 2009 reports.  --- This [...]

Director’s Welcome to ARI Magazine Edition 3

Director’s Welcome to ARI Magazine Edition 3

Australian Rivers Institute Director, Stuart Bunn. We welcome you back to another edition of the Australian RiversInstitute (ARI) Magazine. (Link). Over the past few months our staff have been active in strengthening research partnerships and establishing new connections across the globe. The importance of connections, not only with fellow researchers, industry and government but also [...]

The ecological importance of groundwater along the Fitzroy River

The ecological importance of groundwater along the Fitzroy River

By Ryan Burrows Article Read Time: 623 words about 4 minutes. Groundwater upwelling to rivers not only sustains surface flow but also delivers nutrients and creates favourable conditions for algae growth, importantly algae is a critical food source for aquatic animals. The Fitzroy River is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. Geikie [...]

While Australia burns under a changing climate, our mangroves die-off

While Australia burns under a changing climate, our mangroves die-off

By PhD student Yota Harada Climate driven mass die-back is causing significant changes in mangrove ecosystems. Numerous marine species, including crabs, prawns and fish, rely on mangroves for nurseries, refuges and food. Mangrove forests support global fisheries and the livelihood's of people, but large-scale mortality of mangroves is anticipated due to climate change and associated [...]

Timeframes – another key element for planning Great Barrier Reef recovery interventions

Timeframes – another key element for planning Great Barrier Reef recovery interventions

Sediment plume washing over The Great Barrier Reef, 2019. Photo Credit: Matt Curnock. By Dr Melanie Roberts Read Time: 1000 words about 6 mins. Climate change and poor water quality are placing unprecedented pressures on the reef, and it is imperative that these stressors are eased to provide the reef with an opportunity to recover.   [...]

In the face of degradation: Planning framework can help safeguard Amazon wetlands

In the face of degradation: Planning framework can help safeguard Amazon wetlands

By Dr Vanessa Reis In the face of dramatic degradation of the Amazon ecosystems, a new conservation planning framework can help safeguard the floodplain wetlands. Floodplain wetlands are unique ecosystems often highly influenced by seasonal variation in their connection to rivers. They contribute to the Amazons high biodiversity and are used by the local people [...]

The Great Isoscape: Using barnacles to retrace oceanic movements

The Great Isoscape: Using barnacles to retrace oceanic movements

By Dr Ryan Pearson Techniques for tracking marine animals and objects have long been evolving; gaining in accuracy and reliability. However, most techniques rely on accessing an animal prior to tracking and few techniques are capable of retracing historical movements. Along with conservation efforts for threatened species, marine tragedies (where vehicles disappear in the ocean) [...]

WETLANDS: LIFE SUPPORT FOR THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

WETLANDS: LIFE SUPPORT FOR THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

By Dr Fernanda Adame and Emeritus Professor Angela Arthington The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is well recognised as one of the most biodiverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. However, few of us appreciate that one million hectares of wetlands are the life support system for this important ecosystem. In this article, Dr Fernanda Adame and Emeritus Professor [...]

EFFECTIVE ACTION NEEDS ACCESSIBLE SCIENCE

EFFECTIVE ACTION NEEDS ACCESSIBLE SCIENCE

  By Dr Chris Brown Coastal wetlands are globally threatened. However, the plight of these habitats, like mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes, is not well recognised relative to other coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs. This translates into funding shortfalls both for the science needed to address coastal wetland decline and for the protection and [...]