“We are failing to protect coastal ecosystems from the multitude of human threats” explains Dr Laura Griffiths
Seagrass habitats lack protection at a global scale
Should we keep hanging our water out to dry – or is there another solution?
By Professor Fran Sheldon As the drought tightens its grip on southeastern Australia many towns look like running out of drinking water with a forecast of millions of dollars needing to be spent to keep regional communities viable until the drought breaks. This current drought is occurring hot (pardon the pun) on the heels [...]
Decline in tiger shark population defies expectations
Tiger shark. Photo credit Juan Oliphant. By Dr Chris Brown Our new research has revealed a 71% decline in tiger sharks across Queensland’s coastline. The decline has been particularly rapid in southern regions which is unusual. Tiger sharks are top predators that have few natural enemies, so the cause of the decline is likely overfishing. [...]
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 [...]
From sharks in seagrass to manatees in mangroves, we’ve found large marine species in some surprising places
Michael Sievers, Griffith University; Rod Connolly, Griffith University, and Tom Rayner, Griffith University When we think of mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes, we don’t immediately think of shark habitats. But the first global review of links between large marine animals (megafauna) and coastal wetlands is challenging this view – and how we might respond [...]
Assessing Deltas in Canada: We all live downstream
By Tim Jardine NOTE: This is a guest article written by Dr Tim Jardine from the School of Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. So I’ve heard it said. And there’s some truth to it. Unless you’re camped on the top of a mountain peak, you’re going to be downstream of [...]
Prey availability and flow conditions drive changes in barramundi abundance
By Mischa Turschwell Predator-prey interactions between fishes are important ecological processes that help maintain healthy populations and ecosystems. But often we don’t know if predators control prey numbers (top-down control) or if the number of prey available controls predator numbers (bottom-up control). We also don’t know how these interactions might change if environmental conditions like [...]
Turtley sick moves: rescuing weak sea turtles and the science aimed at helping their equally weak populations
Author: Dr Ryan Pearson Sea turtles are threatened. Literal boatloads of things affect their already low survival rates, most attributable to humans. Plastics, fishing entanglements, temperature increases, habitat degradation and actual boat strikes are killing turtles and affecting their populations in many other ways. Ultimately threatening their very existence. Knowing this, when my buddy [...]
From the comfort of warm water to the freezing fjords of Denmark – collaborating in international waters as a PhD student
Author: Kristin Jinks “I had no idea whether I was going to live up to the expectations of my collaborators, but it was too good an opportunity to let my doubts stop me,” explains Kristin Jinks. - Working in the environmental sciences has its perks. Including the opportunities to visit and work at [...]
The Amazon is under threat, but our new study gives hope to improving conservation planning and management
Author: Dr Vanessa Reis, Wetland ecosystems are important hotspots of biodiversity in the Amazon River Basin, but they're under threat from human activity. These ecosystems rely on the maintenance of the annual river flood pulse that drives inundation across the major wetlands of the Amazon. Infrastructure project proposals such as dams have increased in response to higher [...]
Catchment to Coast 