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Sea Turtles and the Environmental Management of Industrial Activities in North West W.A. - Satellite telemetry
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: - Ptt deployment -
Twenty one Kiwisat 101 platform terminal transmitters (ptts) were attached to sea turtles between December 2000 and January 2004 as follows:
- Eight units, female green turles at Barrow Island in January 2001, 2002 and 2003;
- Four units, female green turtles at Sandy Island, Scott Reef in October 2002, September 2003 and January 2004;
- Six units, females hawksbills at Varanus island in December 2000 and November 2002; and
- Three units, female hawksbills at Rosemary Island in November 2002.
Each turtle was captured as she came ashore to nest. Each was held in a wooden pen until the ptt attachment was complete and then released. Nineteen of the ptts were attached using fibreglass tape and resin. The ptt was placed on the first full vertebral scute behind the head. This procedure was long (average 3 hours per animal) and required the animals be held overnight so fibreglassing could be done in day light. The last two transmitters (Scott reef turtles Eden and Manari) were attached using Foil-FastTM (also known as Power-FastTM), a 2 part epoxy adhesive. Compared to the fibre glassing attachment method, the epoxy gel can be used in high humidity, on shell that is not perfectly dry or sanded and sets within 1 hour. The attachment could be done at night and took ~ 1.5 hours. The turtles were released immediately, significantly reducing the time the animals were held on the beach.
The ptts were built and supplied by Sirtrack, New Zealand. (See section 7.3.1 of thesis for more information)<b>Credit</b><br/>ChevronTexaco<b>Credit</b><br/>Apache Energy<b>Credit</b><br/>Natural Hertiage Trust Grant #9924<b>Credit</b><br/>BHP Billiton<b>Credit</b><br/>Santos<b>Credit</b><br/>WoodsideSatellite tracking data from twelve green turtle and nine hawksbill turtles are used to identify the internesting grounds at Barrow Island (green turtles), Varanus Island (hawksbill turtles), Rosemary Island (hawksbill turtles) and Sandy Island, Scott Reef (green turtles). The migratory pathways used by these animals returning to their foraging ground area individually reconstructed and analysed
The Phytoplankton Ecology of Wilson Inlet, Western Australia - Nitrogen Uptake
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: Fourteen field trips were conducted at three sampling stations (see Fig 3.1 of thesis), between January 1997 to November 1998. During periods of high water column primary production in spring, field sampling was intensified to determine which sources of nitrogen were responsible for the initiation and maintenance of phytoplankton blooms. Water column temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentrations were measured with a Hydrolab H2O multiprobe (Hydrolab Corportation, Austin Texas, USA) at 0.5 m intervals from the surface to the bottom.
Water samples for nutrient and chlorophyll a analysis were collected at the surface and bottom of each site. Water samples collected for dissolved nutrient analyses were immediately filtered through 0.45 um cellulose nitrate membranes with a diameter of 47 mm (Whatman). Chlorophyll a samples were collected by filtering of a known volume of sample water through 47 mm glass fibre filters (Whatman, GF/C) with a nominal pore size of 1.2um. Nutrient samples and chlorophyll a samples were stored below 4 degrees Celsius and sent for analysis within one week at the Australian Environmental Laboratories. Duplicate chlorophyll a samples were collected and measured immediately upon return to the laboratory (<24 h). The chlorophyll a concentrations were determined by acetone extraction and analysed by spectrophotometry. Ammonium, nitrate and total nitrogen (TN), were determined by an Auto-Analyser with a detection limit of 0.36 ug-atoms N liter-1 for NH4+ and NO3- and 3.6ug-atoms N liter-1 for TN. Urea concentration was determined using the urea-diacetyl monoxime method with a detection limit of 0.1 ug-atoms N liter-1.
For further methods see Chapter 5 of the thesis.<b>Credit</b><br/>National Eutrophication Management Program and Water and Rivers Commission of WA (now Department of Water)The phytoplankton uptake rates of ammonium, nitrate and urea on monthly, seasonal and annual time scales in Wilson Inlet were measured. <br/><br/>In addition, it was determined whether phytoplankton community in Wilson Inlet was preferentially using a particular form of nitrogen and whether the ambient concentration of ammonium, nitrate or urea was limiting to phytoplankton biomass production
Coastal Lake Assessment and Management Tool (CLAM): Lake Wooloweyah, Clarence Valley Council
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: irregularStatement: ICMS
Bayesian Networks<b>Credit</b><br/>NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change<b>Credit</b><br/>Former NSW Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources<b>Purpose</b><br/>The Coastal Lake Assessment and Management (CLAM) tool was developed to allow decision-makers and stakeholders to assess the social, economic and environmental trade-offs associated with development, remediation and use options for coastal lakes and estuaries.The Coastal Lake Assessment and Management (CLAM) tool allows stakeholders to assess the social, economic and environmental trade-offs associated with development, remediation and use options for coastal lakes and estuaries. Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) developed CLAM in 2004 when contracted by the NSW State Government to provide sustainability assessments of 8 coastal lakes. Several projects have since been established directly with local government and NRM groups.<br/><br/>To date, 27 CLAMs have been developed in New South Wales, where they generally fit within estuary management or catchment management plans. To develop these CLAMs and build local capacity to maintain them, ANU-Enterprise Pty Ltd - the commercial company of ANU developed an Accreditation Scheme whereby local consultants are trained in the CLAM approach
Public Environmental Review - Pilbara Iron Ore and Infrastructure Project: Stage A Port and N-S Railway
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: unknownStatement: Original record compiled for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), Project 3.8, 2008. Originally sourced from WA DEC Spatial Environmental Index of Reports (SEIR) database (April, 2008).<b>Credit</b><br/>Environ Australia Pty Ltd<b>Credit</b><br/>Fortescue Metals Group LimitedPublic Environmental Review - Pilbara Iron Ore and Infrastructure Project: Stage A Port and N-S Railway. Public Environmental Review - part of the environmental approval process for the Pilbara Iron Ore and Infrastructure Project: Stage A Port and N-S Railway. To provide detailed information about the existing environment and the impacts of the proposed project
Genetic analysis of populations of north-western Australian fish species
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: unknownStatement: Original record compiled for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), Project 3.8, 2008. Originally sourced from WA DEC Marine Policy and Planning Branch Pilbara and Lower West Kimberley Environmental Report Library. Date range generated from citation date, limited abstract information available.<b>Credit</b><br/>M.S. Johnson<b>Credit</b><br/>D.R. Hebbert<b>Credit</b><br/>M.J. Moran<b>Credit</b><br/>Department of Zoology, The University of Western Australia (UWA)This record is derived from DEC Marine Policy Branch Endnote library and spatially referenced SIER Database
Predator-Prey Interactions, Foraging Ecology and Stable Isotope Analysis of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Shark Bay, Western Australia
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: unknownStatement: Original record compiled for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), Project 3.8, 2008. Originally sourced from several databases compiled by WA DEC Marine Science Branch of projects relevant to the marine parks of WA. Variable metadata information was available.<b>Credit</b><br/>Derek Burkholder, Florida International University (FIU)I will examine the impacts of green turtle foraging on sea grass beds and the potential behaviorally mediated indirect interaction (BMII) of tiger sharks on sea grass beds via green turtle foraging behavior and habitat use
Western Australia Coral Core Fluorescence Data (AIMS).
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: Original record compiled for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), Project 3.8, 2008. Original records sourced from AIMS Data Centre export (May, 2008).<b>Credit</b><br/>J. LoughThe Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) collected two cores from each of three large Porites colonies at South Muiron Island, Tantabiddi Lagoon and Bundegi Reef in Exmouth Gulf in November 1994. The cores were collected to reconstruct the climate and environmental history of the region from the annual density bands, luminescent bands and geochemical tracers contained withing the coral skeleton. Isotopic analyses of two of the coral cores from South Muiron Island and Tantabiddi lagoon were undertaken by Anne Muller as part of her PhD study at RSES, ANU. These results were published in Muller et al. (2004). AIMS is currently undertaking growth and luminescence analyses of the coral cores
Coastal forms and quaternary processes along the arid Pilbara coast of northwestern Australia
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: unknownStatement: Original record compiled for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), Project 3.8, 2008. Originally sourced from WA DEC Marine Policy and Planning Branch Pilbara and Lower West Kimberley Environmental Report Library. Date range generated from citation date, limited abstract information available.<b>Credit</b><br/>V. SemeniukThis record is derived from DEC Marine Policy Branch Endnote library and spatially referenced SIER Database
Circulation and Mixing in the Ningaloo Marine Park
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: unknownStatement: Original record compiled for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), Project 3.8, 2008. Originally sourced from several databases compiled by WA DEC Marine Science Branch of projects relevant to the marine parks of WA. Variable metadata information was available.<b>Credit</b><br/>Prof. Chari Pattiaratchi - UWA<b>Credit</b><br/>Dr. Graham Symonds - CSIRO<b>Credit</b><br/>Dr. Richard Brinkman - AIMSThis project addresses parts of Projects C1, C2 and C3 in so much as each of these projects hinges on having the capacity to model the circulation and mixing of water, nutrients, propagules or pollutants. A numerical model that includes forcing due to wind, waves and tides will be used to simulate currents and dispersion over time scales of 1- 10days and spatial scales of 10-100km. The model will be tested against data collected during the startup projects in April/May 2006. Following satisfactory calibration of the model against the in situ data the model will be upscaled to simulate circulation over larger sections of the reef (up to 100km). Over the larger model domain we will undertake to model a number of different scenarios to address issues of particle dispersion and settlement, and climate related changes such as rising sea level, changing offshore wave climate or changes in offshore sea surface temperature
Visually mediated neighbour recognition in the fiddler crab Uca capricornis
No full textStatement: Uca capricornis (like other species of fiddler crab) are capable of rapidly muting their carapace colours, for instance in response to handling, although their specific patterns generally remain discernable. However, unlike many species in which dramatic colour changes occur in association with the diurnal or tidal cycle, changes in carapace patterns and their colours in U. capricornis appear to be long-term. The experiment was therefore not hampered by short-term colour changes.
Between neap and spring tide, male and female U. capricornis living 10-30cm apart were identified. The female was caught and randomly assigned to one of seven treatments: 1) unaltered control, 2) replacing her with an unfamiliar female of a similar size, 3) dramatically altering her appearance by painting her carapace black; applying a 2mm spot of black paint to 4) a black part of her carapace or 5) on her abdomen as paint controls; 6) painting her carapace with clear nail polish; or 7) replacing her with a freshly painted black wooden bead (1cm). The female was then tethered half way between the male and female burrows (5-15cm from the male).
The experiment ended once the male touched the tethered female, which was considered an approach, or after 5 minutes had passed with no approach. We observed both aggressive and courtship behaviour directed at the females but it was often difficult to classify the behaviour as courtship could turn into aggression, probably due to the females lack of response. Consequently, males behaviour was classified as 'approach' or 'ignore'.
To examine the effect of position on recognition unaltered neighbours and unfamiliar females were tethered 10cm from the male's burrow in the same direction as the female's burrow or in the opposite direction. All treatments were conducted on the same male in a random order. When the unfamiliar female was presented first, the neighbouring female was sealed in her burrow with a shell during the trial and was given 10 minutes to recover before being tested.
Parameters: Manipulation performed and male response (number that approached or ignored).<b>Credit</b><br/>Funded by The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre for Excellence for Vision Science<b>Credit</b><br/>Funded by The Centre of Visual Sciences (CVS, The Australian National University)<b>Credit</b><br/>Funded by an Australian National University (ANU) PhD Scholarship<b>Purpose</b><br/>To demonstrate that distinct carapace colour patterns in Uca capricornis enable males to discriminate between their female neighbours and unfamiliar females.Mating signals are often directed at numerous senses, and provide information about species identity, gender, receptiveness, individual identity and mate quality. Given the diversity of colourful body patterns in invertebrates, surprisingly few studies have examined the role of these visual signals in mate recognition. This experiment demonstrates that distinct carapace colour patterns in the fiddler crab, Uca capricornis, enable males to discriminate between their female neighbours and unfamiliar females.<br/><br/>The experiment was conducted in the East Point Reserve, Darwin, NT from September to January 2003 and 2004. <br/><br/>The methodology involved identifying male and female U.capricornis neighbours living 10-30cm apart. The female was caught and randomly assigned to one of seven treatments, including replacement with a similar sized female, and various manipulations to alter her appearance. The female was then tethered close to the males burrow and the interaction monitored. The males behaviour was classified as either 'approach' or 'ignore.' The results show that males tended to approach unfamiliar females tethered nearby, whereas they were more likely to ignore their unaltered neighbours tethered in the same position