CURTIN’S NORTHWEST MARINE RESEARCH WAMSI NORTH WEST MARINE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM 21 February 2013 WA...
Transcript of CURTIN’S NORTHWEST MARINE RESEARCH WAMSI NORTH WEST MARINE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM 21 February 2013 WA...
CURTIN’S NORTHWEST MARINE RESEARCH
WAMSI NORTH WEST MARINE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM
21 February 2013WA Maritime MUSEUM
CMST, Remote Sensing, Department of Applied Geology, Agriculture and Environment Departments/Centres
CENTRE FOR MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CMST)
WWW.CMST.CURTIN.EDU.AU
• Dolphin acoustics in the northwest (WAMSI II project: joint project with Murdoch)
• Sydney/Kormoran Project: To create an immersive, virtual museum experience using deep sea imagine of the story of two ships that sank each other in 1941 (collaboration with UWA)
• Acoustic assessment of habitat and abundance in the Northern Demersal Scalefish Fishery
• WA IMOS (Integrated Marine Observing System): collect oceannoise data sets to link with various physical, biological, man-made and climate driven processes
An acoustic assessment of habitat and abundance in the Northern Demersal Scalefish Fishery – FRDC Project 2011/022
Collaborators: CMST, Curtin; Kimberley Wildcatch, Licensee; Department of Fisheries, WA
Objectives:1. Characterise seafloor habitat associated with high fish abundance and fishing effort
distribution;2. Identify possible locations of significant biomass outside current areas of commercial effort;3. Determine relative demersal fish biomass and investigate changes through time.
Methods: Attach a multi-frequency (18, 38, 120 and 200 kHz) scientific, split-beam sonar system to a commercial vessel and collect acoustic backscatter during routine operations.
To date:1. >15,000 km of acoustic data collected. 2. Video ground-truth data on habitat and fish.3. Observed spatial relationships for acoustic habitats and in-water biomass.
WAMSI II Project 1.2.4 Distribution, abundance and genetic connectivity of Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins across the Kimberley
Murdoch University, Australian National University & Curtin University joint project
• Carry out concurrent passive acoustic and visual observations of dolphins
• Correlate acoustic and visual detection rates and behaviour
• Integrate both acoustic and visual data to validate species presence and correlate with relative abundance
• Investigate geographic variation of humpback and snubfin vocalisations.
Aims
Roebuck Bay, Cygnet Bay and Beagle BayLocations
Begins April 2013
Courtesy of Deborah Thiele
Montara Oil Spill, Timor SeaAug – Oct 2009 Scientific StudiesScientific Studies
Fish health assessed by biochemical
measurements in various organs
Four fish samplings conducted: Nov 2009-Nov 2011(total 90 days at sea)
Results show trend towards recovery by 2011
Full Report available on SEWPaC websitehttp://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/oilspi
ll/scientific-monitoring.html#four
Ecotoxicology Group, Curtin University
Environmental costs of PFW discharge from
offshore facilities- fish health
- growth - bioaccumulation
- geographical extent of impact- 2013 onwards
Ecotoxicology Group, Curtin University
Description of macrotidal reefs:• Remote sensing and ground truth• Seismic mapping• Holocene sea level curve and climate history
– reef building communities– chronology and growth patterns– History of sea level: oceanographic and biological
evolution; substrate/reef growth interactions
WAMSI II Project 1.3.1Growth history of Coral reefs of the Kimberley region
http://geology.curtin.edu.au/
WAMSI II Project 1.3.1Growth history of Coral reefs of the Kimberley region
regional geomorphology growth patterns and substrates of inshore reefs
Description of macrotidal reefs:• Remote sensing and ground truth
http://geology.curtin.edu.au/
© A. Sandes. Montgomery Reef
Description of macrotidal reefs:• Remote sensing and ground truth• Seismic mapping
WAMSI II Project 1.3.1Growth history of Coral reefs of the Kimberley region
http://geology.curtin.edu.au/
Collins et al., 2010
Description of macrotidal reefs:• Remote sensing and ground truth• Seismic mapping• Holocene sea level curve and climate history
Twiggs & Collins, 2010
WAMSI II Project 1.3.1Growth history of Coral reefs of the Kimberley region
http://geology.curtin.edu.au/
Present SL
LGM Lowstand
Transgression
StableHolocene Highstand
Holocene highstand at 6ka(+0.7/2.5m, Nakada & Lambeck, 1989)
WAMSI II Project 1.3.1Drowning History
http://geology.curtin.edu.au/
• Kimberley wide database of reefs: classification based on Hopley et al (2007).
• Types of morphology differ distinctly from eastern Australian reefs
Juvenile
Mature
Senile
Montgomery Reef
• CMST: Chandra Salgado Kent [email protected]
• Curtin University, Department Environment and Agriculture: Monique Gagnon [email protected]
• Curtin University, Department of Applied Geology: Lindsay Collins [email protected]
• Curtin University, Remote Sensing and Satellite Research Group: Peter Fearns [email protected]
Contacts