The outlook for coral reefs remains grim unless we cut emissions fast — new research

The outlook for coral reefs remains grim unless we cut emissions fast — new research

"Our research, published today, paints a grim picture. We estimate that even under the most optimistic emissions scenarios, we’ll see dramatic reductions in coral reef growth globally. The good news is that 63% of all reefs in this emissions scenario will still be able to grow by 2100."

When good animals like bad habitats: ecological traps in the marine environment

When good animals like bad habitats: ecological traps in the marine environment

"By altering the environment, are humans tricking animals into making poor life choices?"

Deep Learning For Ecological Monitoring: Performance In Novel Habitats And Benefits Of varied Training Data

Deep Learning For Ecological Monitoring: Performance In Novel Habitats And Benefits Of varied Training Data

By PhD candidate Ellen Ditria, Reading Time: 452 words, about 2 minutes. Fish IDing Sample. Photo: Global Wetlands Project. Deep learning has fast become recognised as a powerful data processing tool for ecologists faced with vast amounts of image-based data. The ability of deep learning to accurately detect target species in videos and images unlocks [...]

How can computer vision supercharge fish connectivity research?

How can computer vision supercharge fish connectivity research?

By Sebastian Lopez-Marcano  Read Time: 344 words, about 3 minutes. Studying animal movement is crucial. Animal movement research is conducted to monitor ecosystem health, understand ecological dynamics and address management and conservation questions. In marine environments, there are different methods to measure fish movement. From nets, tags and statistical modelling, the use of different techniques [...]

There are cross-benefits to protecting coastal wetlands in the wake of COVID-19

There are cross-benefits to protecting coastal wetlands in the wake of COVID-19

Dr Ryan Pearson Read Time: 503 words about 3 minutes. The effects of COVID-19 on the world has been profound. We're now re-evaluating intergovernmental, trade and personal relationships, and rethinking our consumer needs. Environmental groups have been encouraging people to 'eat more fish' in response to this pandemic.  Consumer surveys during the pandemic have  also highlighted [...]

Climate Change strikes again: Warming rivers are reducing fish recruitment

Climate Change strikes again: Warming rivers are reducing fish recruitment

There is an urgent need to understand what factors contribute to successful breeding and juvenile survival for Australia’s freshwater fishes, especially as many freshwater fish species are affected by events like those that led to the recent fish kills in the Murray-Darling Basin.

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 [...]

Climate change threat to fish diversity in Murray-Darling Basin

Climate change threat to fish diversity in Murray-Darling Basin

By Mark Kennard Read Time: Words 518 about 3 mins Native freshwater fish diversity in the Murray-Darling Basin could be under serious threat from climate change in coming decades. This potential loss of biodiversity could result in a further decline in the health of the Basin. Murray Darling Basin. Photo: iStock Freshwater fishes are highly [...]

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 [...]

Prey availability and flow conditions drive changes in barramundi abundance

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 [...]