These results justify the widespread use of Fremantle sea level as an index for the Leeuwin Current. SRFME showed how eddies form south of the Abrolhos Islands (29ºS) from meanders of the Leeuwin Current.
INTRODUCTION 1 About SRFME
- Role and Purpose of SRFME
- Background to SRFME
- Structure and Governance of SRFME
- SRFME Joint Venture Management Committee
- SRFME Technical Advisory Committee
- SRFME Research Director and Project Leaders
- The SRFME Framework and Research Portfolio Structure .1 The SRFME Framework
Joint Venture Management Committee (JVMC) Members DR SUE MEEK Head, Science and Technology, (Chairman, Department of Trade and Commerce. MS LINDA PENNY Senior Policy Officer, Office of Science and Innovation, (Observer) Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Baseline monitoring and defining natural variability of ecosystem function and change over time - will be important in order to
SRFME Research Portfolio Structure
The SRFME will enhance Western Australia's marine research capability and capacity, deliver strategic research outcomes for the benefit of Western Australia and strengthen collaboration between Western Australian marine researchers.
Collaborative Linkages Program
- SRFME PhD Scholarships
- SRFME Collaborative Research Projects
- State Linkage Projects
The other major component of the Collaborative Links Program is the SRFME Collaborative Research Projects scheme which invested around $2 million in projects dealing with The total value of SRFME's Collaborative Research Projects is approximately $4.3 million, including joint investment from SRFME's research partners, collaborators and the private sector.
SRFME Core Projects
- Development of the SRFME Core Projects
- Biophysical Oceanography Core Project
- Coastal Ecosystems and Biodiversity Core Project
- Integrated Modelling Core Project
Among the objectives of the SRFME Collaborative Research Projects were to address the gaps in the JVMC framework not addressed by the Core SRFME Projects, to leverage increased funding and research capacity for the SRFME research portfolio and to engage strongly with government and to engage community research organisations, WA Universities. and the private sector. SRFME has invested $155,000 into this scheme with the aim of enabling WA State Government agencies to actively engage with SRFME through small projects that link new or existing initiatives to other parts of the SRFME Research Portfolio.
COLLABORATIVE LINKAGES PROGRAM: PhD PROJECTS 1 SRFME PhD Scholarship Program
SRFME PhD Projects, Students, and Affiliations
- Responses of the seagrass Posidonia sinuosa to light reduction: A mechanistic approach
This is usually insufficient to fully account for the effects of light reduction and reduced growth and ultimately seagrass loss. Assess the applicability of currently used seagrass indicators for light reduction and derive (if appropriate) a range of complementary indicators for use in monitoring programmes.
Morphological and physiological characteristics of Posidonia sinuosa along a depth-related gradient of light availability
Seagrasses are demonstrably sensitive to light reduction, inducing a series of responses at the physiological level followed later by morphological changes (Longstaff et al. 1999) to achieve a balance between carbon gains and losses. Knowledge of the mechanisms for enduring light reduction is central to the positive identification of reliable monitoring tools that identify an effect of light reduction.
Shade induced response and recovery of Posidonia sinuosa
Some physiological parameters examined, such as carbohydrate concentration in the rhizome but not in the leaves, showed seasonal variation but little difference between depths (Fig 2.1C). Shoot density showed signs of recovery after 384 days without shade, but MS and HS still remained significantly lower than the control (Fig. 2.2A).
Shade effects on carbon and nitrogen translocation in P. sinuosa
Detached macrophyte accumulations in surf zones: significance of macrophyte type and volume in supporting secondary production
The role of different species of detached macrophytes for Allorchestes compressa, an amphipod living in the surf zone”. The role of different species of detached macrophytes in food and habitat choice of an amphipod-inhabiting surf zone.
Ecological and historical processes maintaining macroalgal diversity in the Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia
The influence of different amounts and types of detached macrophytes on fish community structure in surf zones on sandy beaches. Document the subtidal flora recorded in the Recherche Archipelago in relation to the island's location, depth and exposure to wave energy.
Document the subtidal flora recorded in the Recherche Archipelago in relation to island location, depth, and exposure to wave energy
Evaluate spatial and temporal variation in macroalgal diversity (species distribution and abundance)
Macroalgal assemblages differed significantly between sampling times (Clarke's R values > 0.5, P = 0.001), and between samples collected from the same season but in different years. Identifying surrogates for macroalgal diversity in the Recherche Archipelago Higher taxonomic levels and dominant taxa were evaluated as surrogates for detection.
Identify surrogates for macroalgal diversity in the Recherche Archipelago Higher taxonomic levels and dominant taxa were evaluated as surrogates for detecting
On coastal islands in depths of 10-20 m and > 20 m, genera from the orders Gigartinales, Fucales and Ceramiales were strongly correlated with data on species biomass. Surrogates such as species richness, which were strongly correlated with species biomass data, were also able to discriminate between wave energy exposures based on analysis of similarity tests.
Link patterns of diversity with dispersal potential of macroalgae
Genus-level richness was also strongly correlated with species diversity in RA, except at depths <10 m, where patterns in diversity were characterized by species turnover (Figure 2.11). Diversity in RA can be maintained by dispersal within island reefs for canopy species and between island reefs for many understory species.
Link patterns of diversity with interspecific interactions
At 500 meters, the number of algal recruits was negligible and the number of bivalves was relatively high.
Assess contemporary diversity in context with biogeography
Biogeochemical processes in sea grass sediment
Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus were found to increase significantly after either enrichment of organic matter or light reduction (Fig. 2.14), with phosphorus increasing almost twice as much as nitrogen. Limited nutritional benefit of the seagrass Halophila ovalis in culture after enrichment of organic matter in sediments.
The development and validation of algorithms for remotely sensing case II waters
Model-extracted bottom weighting coefficients of sand, seagrass and brown algae were related to the blue, green and red components of the ENVI color table. Australian Marine Sciences Association, Fremantle, 10-12 Jul 02, "The Development and Validation of Algorithms for Remote Sensing of Case II Waters".
Spatial, temporal and biogeochemical dynamics of submarine groundwater discharge in a semi-enclosed coastal basin
Spatial separation of surface water 226Ra/228Ra at different times of the year: A) end of winter, B) early summer, C) late summer, D) mid-winter. Minimum groundwater discharge was quantified at the end of winter, and a maximum in early summer.
Remotely sensing seasonal and interannual oceanic primary production for Western Australian waters
An example result for three SRFME production sites (A, C and E) from a January 2004 field trial aboard Southern Surveyor (SS2004/01) is shown in Figure 2.29. A model to estimate production from space-based platforms (using QAA rather than SA) was applied to MODIS-Aqua data during the SRFME field experiments. Based on the performance of the in situ model and the light field reconstruction, the integrated production at the SRFME field locations was calculated.
Ichthyoplankton assemblage structure in coastal, shelf and slope waters off south- western Australia
In the sea, at stations D and E, fish larval groups were dominated by species from Myctophidae (57% and 58%, respectively). In winter, coastal larval fish assemblages differed significantly from those at stations B to E, which showed a less clear separation. In summer, larval fish assemblages were also well differentiated by water depth, but by the added water mass of headlands.
Microzooplankton off south west Western Australia: Their spatial and temporal variations and impact of phytoplankton
In the lagoon and outer shelf, grazing rates did not increase in accordance with phytoplankton growth, resulting in decoupling. The grazing impact of microzooplankton on total phytoplankton off southwestern Western Australia varies between summer and the rest of the year. The role of mixotrophy/autotrophy relationships in contrasting coastal/offshore environments: in the Indian Ocean off southwestern Australia.
Diurnal variations in physical processes & phytoplankton response
The distribution of chlorophyll a concentration in the afternoon was not as localized at the seabed as in summer, but was higher near the middle of the water column. When the water column was well mixed in the morning, the yield was vertically homogeneous and relatively high. An interesting observation was the decrease in chlorophyll a concentration and lower in vivo fluorescence in the upper part of the water column at most sites during the middle of the day, especially at the most closed site in summer.
Comparisons between benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in estuarine and nearshore marine habitats
The same methods as those used in the marine component of the study were used. Objective: To compare recent and historical data on benthic macroinvertebrates in the Swan-Canning and Peel Harvey estuary basins. The composition of the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna in the Swan-Canning Estuary was influenced to a far greater extent by time period than by any other factor and was less variable in 1986/1987 than in Fig. 2.48A).
The ecology and biogeochemistry of sandy sediments in the warm temperate coastal waters of Western Australia
Dredging did not result in significant changes in the sediment-water exchange of inorganic nutrients. Changes in the sediment microbial community and nutrient cycling along a depth gradient in oligotrophic warm temperate waters. The effects of shelter and enrichment on the ecology of subtidal carbonate sediments in the warm temperate waters of Cockburn Sound, Western Australia.
COLLABORATIVE LINKAGES PROGRAM: COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS 1 SRFME Collaborative Projects
SRFME Collaborative Projects, PI’s, and Affiliations
Collaborative Project Reports
- Interaction of coastal currents, phytoplankton dynamics and trophic transfer in the coastal waters of Western Australia
Evidence from sardine gut analysis confirmed that these groups were the main diet of the sampled sardine. The main diet of the South Coast sardine is the small (>100 mm) copepods they consume. The effect of the Leeuwin Current on the recruitment of fish and invertebrates along the WA coast.
Papers submitted to Deep Sea Research II as part of Special Issue on the Leeuwin Current and its Eddies
Spatial patterns in sessile benthic sponge and ascidian communities of the Recherche Archipelago
Indeed, most of the historical collections were conducted in metropolitan waters (Cockburn Sound, Fremantle, Cottesloe and Rottnest Island). The lack of taxonomic detail illustrates the importance of this study in the Recherche Archipelago. Describe the distribution and abundance of the fungus- and ascidian-dominated communities from the Recherche Archipelago.
Describe the distribution and abundance of the sponge and ascidian dominated communities from the Recherche Archipelago
As a result of the 2002 collections, the sampling design was modified to capture habitats associated with vertical substrata in addition to the horizontal substrata. The Astrophorida had significantly more individuals in exposed locations and significantly more on vertical substrata (Figure 3.14). The Poecilosclerida had significantly fewer individuals with increasing depth, with more individuals in <10 m depth (Figure 3.15).
Compile a taxonomic database of specimens collected during this study
Provide a comprehensive voucher collection of sponge, ascidian and associated macro invertebrate species from the region
Understanding the natural variability of currents along the Western Australian coastline: Inter-annual variability of the Leeuwin Current
Sea surface height anomaly Slope (top) and mean sea surface height anomaly (bottom), calculated along the location of maximum southward transport (i.e. Leeuwin's current location). Latitudinal response of the Leeuwin Current to interannual forcing using SODA reanalysis data, poster. Latitudinal response of the Leeuwin Current to interannual forcing using SODA reanalysis data.
Ecological Interactions in Coastal Marine Ecosystems: Trophodynamics
The first phase of the study will examine the stable isotope signatures of a variety of primary producers and consumers in a variety of habitats in different regions of Jurien Bay. This part of the study will provide extensive information on the flow of energy and nutrients in the Jurien Bay food web. As diets may vary seasonally, samples will be collected during two periods of the year (summer/autumn and winter/spring).
Ecological Interactions in Coastal Marine Ecosystems: Rock Lobster
Studies of lobster populations in other parts of the world have shown, using marine protected areas (MPAs), that there are significant changes in population structure and also in total biomass within these areas relative to areas that (Kelly et al 1999), Edgar and Barrett 1999, Lafferty and Kushner 2000), but such changes are not universally observed, possibly because they lack suitable habitat (Mayfield et al 2000) or, where species are highly mobile , MPA boundaries fragment suitable habitat (Acosta 2001) . An investigation into the habitat requirements of the post-puerulus stocks of the Western Crayfish. Habitat use, movements and trophic linkages of the western rock lobster within the Jurien Bay Marine Park”.
Ecophysiology of Benthic Primary Producers
There are specific gaps in the understanding of the effects of light stress on Amphibolis species (A. antarctica and A. . griffithii). The research project involves establishing treatment and control areas to determine the effect of reduced PAR and the timing and duration of light reduction on Amphibolis ecosystems. Determine the effect of different intensities, durations and times of light reduction on Amphibolis ecosystems; and.
Experiment – High Intensity, short duration Light Reduction
This provided important information on the response to light reduction and also clarified the key variables to be measured in Phase 2. Both phases of the project were carried out in Jurien Bay, a relatively pristine system on the central Western Australian coast.
Experiment – Multiple intensities and durations and timing of light reductions Following analysis of the Stage 1 experimental outcomes, a second BACI-style field experiment
Biodiversity of Marine Fauna on the Central West Coast
Four species of the isopod family Sphaeromatidae collected in this study are new records for Western Australia. A study of the nearshore reef fish fauna of the west and south coasts of Western Australia - Leeuwin Province. Echinoderms of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia and their relationship to the Leeuwin Current.
Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems: The fish communities and main fish populations of the Jurien Bay Marine Park
Our data will be considered in the context of results obtained from other studies in the Jurien Bay Marine Park to refine our interpretations of the factors influencing the characteristics of the fish communities in that park. Sites in each of the three reef categories in the three main management zones in two regions of the marine park, i.e. bare coastal sites in each of the three zones in each of the three main regions, i.e.
