(Program Leader: Dr T Done, AIMS)
This program comprises a series of complementary studies which are investigating
aspects of the Great Barrier Reef's marine environment and the responses
of three of its major biological systems: planktonic communities, coral
reefs and seagrass beds. In accordance with the goals of the 25 Year Strategic
Plan for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the Program aims
to enhance understanding of biological, geological, physical and chemical
phenomena to a level which informs both appropriate management responses
to perceived and measured changes in ecosystem status, and planning for
sustainable development and conservation. The approach has been to expand,
link and influence the research directions of established teams at AIMS,
JCU, DPI, and GBRMPA. As the Program has progressed, the integrative disciplines
of ecological risk assessment and spatial analysis have been identified
as key tools for drawing many of the tasks together. The Program has achieved
good progress towards the goals and milestones it set itself in the initial
Centre Agreement and in addition, has added an additional Project 1.6
(Crown-of-thorns starfish), and a new Task 1.4.5 (Mangrove responses to
oil and dispersants). The focus of the next three years will be in large
part to better transmit technical outputs towards applications defined
by industry and management partners, without compromise to the continued
and ongoing improvement of knowledge, databases and models.
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Project 1.1: Inputs and Impacts
(Dr M Furnas, AIMS)
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Project 1.2: Hydrodynamics and
Dispersal
(Dr L Bode, JCU)
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Project 1.3: Sediment History
and Accumulation
(Dr K Woolfe, JCU)
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Project 1.4: Living System Response
(Dr R Coles, DPI)
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Project 1.5: System Models
(Dr T Done, AIMS)
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Project 1.6: Crown-of-Thorns
Starfish
(Dr B Lassig; Mr U Engelhardt [from February 96], GBRMPA)
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