In this section:
Marine Environment & Ecology
The program provides scientific and technical advice across government, industry and the community in respect of key issues in the management of marine environments. These include, but are not restricted to, developing our understanding about processes that degrade the environment, climate change, developing tools to assess and mitigate environmental impacts and rehabilitate environments, conducting environmental assessments and conducting research on how fished species interact with their environment. Click here to download Marine Environment & Ecology Science Program capability statement (.pdf).
Overview
This program was established on July 1, 2001, is led by Dr Jason Tanner, and focuses its research through five subprograms, Environmental Assessment, Mitigation and Rehabilitation; Aquaculture Environment; Marine Pests; Benthic Ecology and Threatened Endangered & Protected Species. Currently the group has about 20 staff and ten students, based at West Beach and Port Lincoln.
Key staff have affiliate appointments at both Adelaide and Flinders Universities, and supervise honours and PhD students through both institutions.
Environmental Assessment, Mitigation and Rehabilitation
Focuses on developing principles for assessing environmental impacts and addressing questions on how to mitigate these affects or rehabilitate degraded habitats. Past projects include studies to assess the likely impact of dredging of Outer Harbour, determining the causes of seagrass loss along the Adelaide coast, and a large reef health survey. The later has enabled us to detect trends in reef health over the last ten years, and also provides a comparison of the performance of scientific divers and the community-based Reef Watch program. Current projects include studies to assess the potential for rehabilitating seagrass habitats along the Adelaide coast, habitat modelling of the Coorong, and baseline surveys for the proposed Adelaide desalination plant. The group also conducts commercial environmental assessment projects. Staff have expertise in benthic ecology, environmental chemistry, marine botany and spatial modelling.
Aquaculture Environment
Conducts research to enhance the environmental sustainability of the aquaculture industry. The group has had a close involvement with the recently completed Aquafin CRC - examining the wastes produced by tuna farming, and how nutrients cycle through the environment, developing methods for regional-scale assessments of aquaculture, developing genetic techniques for determining local impacts, and in collaboration with CSIRO, developing an integrated hydrodynamic and biogeochemical model of the tuna farming area. In addition, several projects conducted in conjunction with PIRSA Aquaculture to conduct an environmental audit of the industry and enhance existing models of finfish carrying capacity. We have recently started a project to collate data and conduct field investigations to determine the best locations to encourage aquaculture expansion, to underpin the planning process, and are extending the gene probe project to yellowtail kingfish farming. The group also conducts the annual Tuna Environmental Monitoring Program.
Marine Pests
Conducts research to determine the distribution of, and potential eradication strategies for, introduced marine pests. Research on eradication and management strategies led to the most successful large-scale removal of Caulerpa taxifolia worldwide. A recently completed risk assessment defined the potential for spread of the alga and surveillance and management priorities. The program has undertaken two federal projects: the development of PCR detection systems for three priority marine pests in collaboration with SARDI Plant & Soil Health, and a risk assessment of the marine pest risks associated with Australian aquaculture industries. The Marine Innovation SA (MISA) initiative has a firm commitment to expansion of biosecurity R&D, with recent appointments covering micro-algae, molecular diagnostics, and spatial modelling. A key component of the initiative is development of physical containment facilities for aquatic biosecurity research in Adelaide.
Benthic Ecology
This program focuses on conducting ecological studies on hard and soft substrate communities. In particular, research is conducted on the population and community organisation of bottom dwelling fauna, and on trophic linkages between benthos and demersal fish. The program undertakes benthic research on coastal, shelf and deepsea environments throughout southern Australia. A large component of this research is directed towards the selection and ongoing assessment of State and
Commonwealth Government marine reserves (including the Great Australian Bight Marine Park). We are currently working with SA DEH to conduct biodiversity surveys in coastal waters. The group also
collaborates on research to understand the population dynamics of the fished species and ways to improve harvesting strategies. The program further undertakes research on the ecological impact of these fisheries.
Threatened, Endangered & Protected Species
This program focuses on the ecology and management of marine protected species. The primary areas of research include a broad-scale study of the pelagic ecology of the eastern Great Australian Bight, with a focus on the role of small pelagic fish, and the effects of fishing on populations of seabirds and marine mammals. Implicit in this research is an understanding of the trophic pathways that sustain commercial fish production and high trophic-level predator populations, and the development of ecological performance measures and reference points to assess the ecological sustainability of fisheries and ecosystem health. The application of ecological models and ecological performance measures for other management purposes such as marine protected area planning and management, and the application of high trophic-level predators as sentinels of change in marine ecosystems, especially in climate change research, are also being developed. Other projects include
research to support the conservation and management of the threatened Australian sea lion. This includes research on the population and foraging ecology of the species to support conservation and management objectives, and the development of mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts of bycatch in commercial fisheries.
Contacts
Dr Jason Tanner
Science Leader
Marine Environment & Ecology
Tel: 08 8207 5489 Fax: 08 8207 5481
E-mail: jason.tanner@sa.gov.au
