Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF)

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	Home / Publications / Search by MTSRF Program No. Search by MTSRF Program No. \| Program 1 \| Program 2 \| Program 3 \| Program 4 \| Program 5 \| Program 6 \| Program 7 \| Program 8 \| Program 9 \| Program 10 \| Publications Search: Program 4 'Species and Communities of Conservation Concern' Key Publications: MTSRF Research Report Series Project 1.4.1 JCU Marsh, H. et al. (2008) Condition, status and trends and projected futures of the dugong in the Northern Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait; including identification and evaluation of the key threats and evaluation of available management options to improve its status This PDF document is designed to be printed double-sided. [pdf 6.6 Mb] Program 4 Technical and Research Reports Project 1.4.1 JCU Marsh, H. (2007) Northern Great Barrier Reef Torres Strait Final Report Project final report on Condition, status and trends and projected futures of the dugong in the Northern Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait; including identification and evaluation of the key threats and evaluation of available management options to improve its status. [pdf 2.2 Mb] Project 1.4.1 JCU Marsh, H. et al. (2008) Condition, status and trends and projected futures of the dugong in the Northern Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait; including identification and evaluation of the key threats and evaluation of available management options to improve its status This PDF document is designed to be printed double-sided. [pdf 6.6 Mb] Project 1.4.1 Marsh, H. et al. (2007) Northern Great Barrier Reef & Torres Strait Final Report This report provides the first synopsis of the distribution and abundance of the dugong on the remote coast of Queensland from Cooktown north including Torres Strait. [pdf 3.0 Mb] Project 1.4.1(e) UQ Parra, G. et al. (2009) Feeding habits of Australian Snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) Little information exists on the feeding habits of Australian Snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis). In this study, University of Queensland researchers provide quantitative analyses of the diet of both dolphin species in Queensland waters, based on the examination of stomachs collected from stranded and bycaught animals between 1970 and 2008. Snubfin and humpback dolphins appear to be opportunistic-generalist feeders, eating a wide variety of fish and cephalopods associated with coastal-estuarine waters. [pdf 231.6 kb] Project 1.4.2 JCU Grech, A. et al. (2008) Torres Strait Community GIS - Project Report A report outlining activities conducted in Torres Strait to build the capacity of Torres Strait Islander communities in Natural Resource Management through the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Scientific Knowledge. [pdf 590.6 kb] Project 1.4.2 JCU Soto, A. (2007) Effects of Acoustic Alarms on Coastal Dolphins - Powerpoint Slides Copy of Microsoft PowerPoint presentation slides developed by Alvaro Berg, PhD Candidate, James Cook University for use in presentations to key stakeholders of Project 1.4.2 Objective A - To evaluate the effects of acoustic alarms on the behaviour of wildlife bycatch. [pdf 1.4 Mb] Project 1.4.3 CSIRO Metcalfe, D. et al. (2010) Floristic impacts of re-alignment of beach ridge track, Cowley Beach A long-standing 4WD track along the back of the foredunes and sand spit between Cowley Beach and the mouth of Liverpool Creek (south of Innisfail, North Queensland) was extensively damaged by Tropical Cyclone Larry in March 2006. Storm surges removed several metres of beach sand and many established trees, while high winds felled many trees across the track. Quad bike riders and 4WD drivers have subsequently made their own tracks, following the original track at the southern end, but running along the ridge crest for much of its length, damaging sand-stabilising vegetation and potentially disturbing turtle nest sites. The Cassowary Coast Regional Council is assessing the feasibility of re-routing the track to the landward side of the foredune where the sand is better stabilised and potential ecological damage is minimised. This report provides details of a site assessment carried out by CSIRO ecologists to assess community structure and condition in relation to the mapped vegetation communities under the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management's Regional Ecosystem Framework (RE), search for significant plant species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) (NCA), and for bioregionally important occurrences of other plant species, assess weed abundance and distribution, and assess the ecological values of the site and the damage being caused by on-going motor vehicle access. [pdf 2.4 Mb] Program 4 Project Milestone Reports Project 1.4.1 JCU Hamann, M. (2007) Project Milestone Report (Objective B) June Project milestone report by James Cook University researchers, addressing Objective B - Analysis of the patterns, rates and causes of sand loss from green turtle rookeries of international significance in the northern Great Barrier Reef region; and assessment of remote methods of recording human visitation at remote sites of high conservation significance. Project milestone report to the MTSRF, June 2007. Unpublished report. [pdf 783.3 kb] Project 1.4.1 JCU Hamann, M. (2008) September Milestone Report A project progress report detailing the Turtle Rodeo held in July 2008, community liaison between the Traditional owners at Murray Island and the planned project field trips. [pdf 66.9 kb] Project 1.4.1 JCU Hamann, M. (2009) January Milestone Report A project progress report - January 2009. [pdf 83.7 kb] Project 1.4.1 JCU Hamann, M. (2009) June Milestone Report Project progress reporting outlining specific achievements of Year 3 (2008/2009) activities including field work, communication activities and outputs, and results of sea turtle tagging exercises. [pdf 325.2 kb] Project 1.4.2 JCU Marsh, H. (2008) June Milestone Report Project progress report as at June 2008. Includes an overview of PhD projects nested within Project 1.4.2, as well as a report by A. Grech et al. on work to build the capacity of Torres Strait Islander communities in Natural Resource Management (also available for download from the Project 1.4.2 webpage); and copies of project media coverage. [pdf 2.0 Mb] Project 1.4.2 JCU Marsh, H. (2008) September Milestone Report A project progress report - September 2008. [pdf 42.3 kb] Project 1.4.3 CSIRO Metcalfe, D. (2007) Project Milestone Report August Report prepared by CSIRO researchers which summarises work carried out between December 2006 and June 2007 in pursuance of the objectives set for 2006/2007. [pdf 103.2 kb] Project 1.4.3 CSIRO Metcalfe, D. (2009) November Milestone Report Project progress report - November 2009. Includes update on objectives and sub-projects: Littoral rainforest mapping; Impacts of climate change; Cassowaries and flying foxes; Mechanisms of climate change impacts on threatened species; Tolerances of arboreal marsupials; and Physiological tolerances of microhylid frogs. [pdf 1.7 Mb]	See also MTSRF Research Report Series Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Books and Book Chapters Conference Abstracts and Proceedings Brochures and Booklets Newsletters and Other Publications Conference Poster Presentations Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Technical and Transition Reports Program 4 Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Dryden, J., Grech, A., Moloney, J. and Hamann, M. (2008) Rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: Does it afford greater protection for marine turtles? Wildlife Research 35(5): 477-485 [doi:10.1071/WR07087] Fuentes, M. M. P. B. and Hamann, M. (2009) A rebuttal to the claim natural beaches confer fitness benefits to nesting marine turtles. Biology Letters 5: 266-267 [doi:10.1098/rsbl.2008.0596] Fuentes, M., Dawson, J. L., Smithers, S. G., Hamann, M. and Limpus, C. (2009) Sedimentological characteristics of key sea turtle rookeries: Potential implications under projected climate change. Marine and Freshwater Research (In press). Fuentes, M. M. P. B., Hamann, M. and Limpus, C. J. (2010) Past, current and future thermal profiles of gtreen turtle nesting grounds: Implications from climate change. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 383: 56-64 [doi:10.1016/j.embe.2009.11.003] Fuentes, M. M. P. B., Limpus, C. J. and Hamann, M. (2010) Vulnerability of sea turtle nesting grounds to climate change. Global Change Biology (In press). Fuentes, M. M. P. B., Maynard, J. A., Guinea, M., Bell, I. P., Werdell, P. J. and Hamann, M. (2009) Proxy indicators of sand temperature help project impacts of global warming on sea turtles in northern Australia. Endangered Species Research (In press) [doi:10.3354/esr00224] Grech, A. and Marsh, H. (2008) Rapid assessment of risks to a mobile marine mammal in an ecosystem-scale marine protected area. Conservation Biology 22(3): 711-720 [doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00923.x] Grech, A., Marsh, H. and Coles, R. (2008) A spatial assessment of the risk to a mobile marine mammal from bycatch. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18(7): 1127-1139 [doi:10.1002/aqc.943] Hazel, J., Lawler, I. and Hamann, M. (2009) Diving at the shallow end: Green turtle behaviour in near-shore foraging habitat. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 371(1): 84-92 [doi:10.1016/j.embe.2009.01.007] Jones, K. M. W. and Krockenberger, A. K. (2010) Plant defenses determine feeding preferences in a specialist rainforest folivore. Journal of Animal Ecology (In review). KROCKENBERGER, A. and Kanowski, J. (2010) Thermal intolerance limits the distribution of a marsupial folivore. Oecologia (In review). KROCKENBERGER, A., MacLagan, S. and Jones, K. M. W. (2010) Home range of a rainforest marsupial folivore, the green ringtail possum, Pseudochirops archeri. Austral Ecology (In review). Metcalfe, D. J. and Ford, A. J. (2009) A re-evaluation of Queensland's Wet Tropics based on 'primitive' plants. Pacific Conservation Biology (15)2: 80-86. Santana Garcon, J., Grech, A., Moloney, J. and Hamann, M. (2009) Relative Exposure Index: An important factor in sea turtle nesting distribution. Aquatic Conservation (In Press) [doi:10.1002/aqc.1057] Salmon, M., Hamann, M., Wyneken, J. and Schauble, C. (2009) *Early swimming activity of hatchling flatback sea turtles Natator depressus: A test of the 'predation risk' hypothesis. Endangered Species Research* 9: 41-47 [doi:10.3354/esr00233] Sonter, L., Metcalfe, D. J. and Mayfield, M. M. (2011) Assessing rainforest restoration: The value of buffer strips for the recovery of rainforest remnants in Australia's Wet Tropics. Pacific Conservation Biology 16: 274-288. Project 1.4.3 CSIRO (2009) The spatial distribution and characteristics of the Queensland Forest Service rainforest map units in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland Compiled and edited by Andrew W. Graham from a study initiated by M. S. Hopkins with data recorded by P. Harland and R. K. Hewett. CSIRO Report No. VM1/049-15, 6 April 2009. ABSTRACT: This report presents unpublished but somewhat 'dated' data on the spatial distribution patterns of mainland North Queensland rainforests from 43 Queensland Forest Service 1:50,000 maps as available in 1990. At that time all data extractions from the maps were carried out manually as digital mapping resources were not available. All mapped rainforest isolates were assessed and arbitrarily classified as massifs (>10,000 ha), blocks (1,000–10,000 ha) and patches (<1,000 ha). Eleven massifs were defined, covering 635,945 ha and representing 89.4% of the total mapped area of 711,574 ha; seven blocks extended over 14,248 ha and represented two percent of the mapped area; 3,974 patches were identified covering 61,381 ha representing 8.6 percent of the mapped area. All patches were classified with regard to location in regard to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) boundary, elevation and boundary length, naturalness of the margins, distance to the nearest patch, as well as topographic and geomorphic settings. Approximately two-thirds of the patches, both by number and area, had natural boundaries. Just over 50% of the patches occurred across 10 maps sheets and represented 59% of all patches with natural boundaries, being concentrated in the north-northwest and southern sections of the study area. Natural patches are most common in areas of marginal to unsuitable climate for rainforest, in rugged areas and on lower fertility soils. Map sheets with the largest areas of patches with modified boundaries are most commonly located in wet coastal areas and Tablelands areas. Just over 60% of patches are located completely outside the WTWHA boundary. In terms of geomorphic and topographic settings, riparian patches are most common, typically at lower altitudes. Discrepancies between the total mapped area and other contemporaneous estimates of the mainland rainforest area are addressed and some important general implications for management are briefly considered. Images of the 43 assessed maps and the spreadsheet of the full dataset are included with the report. [pdf 2.4 Mb]