AMSA 2015 Handbook.Pdf

Published by Deakin University Author: Australian Marine Sciences Association. Conference (52nd: 2015: Geelong, Vic.) Title: AMSA2015 Estuaries to Oceans Geelong 5-9 July 2015 program handbook and abstracts: Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference 2015 Paperback ISBN: 978-0-7300-0024-2 Digital resource ISBN: 978-0-7300-0028-0 Subjects: Marine sciences--Australia--Congresses.

Program and Abstracts for the 2015 conference of the Australian Marine Sciences Association (5–9 July 2015, Geelong, Victoria, Australia)

Conference Logo: Get Pixel Cover Design: Deakin University Cover Photograph: Jess McKenzie & Richard Zavalas, Deakin University Layout and typeset: Deakin Event Management Services Printed by: Deakin University

Recommended retail price, including GST (if applicable): $55

Conference Secretariat Claire Heazlewood, Deakin Event Management Pty Ltd,

Contents

Welcome from the AMSA President 1 Message from the Organising Chair 2 Message from the Scientific Chair 3 Acknowledgement of Country 4 AMSA 2015 Annual General Meeting 4 About AMSA 4 The Venue 5 Conference Structure 7 Guidelines for Parallel Sessions 8 General Information 9 Travel 13 Social Activities and Events 14 AMSA Jubilee Award for Excellence 2015 15 AMSA Technical Award 2015 15 AMSA Allen Award 2015 16 Speakers 17 Sponsor Recognition 28 AMSA Student Prizes 29 Conference Themes and Symposia 31 AMSA Conference Program in Brief 36 AMSA 2015 Full Schedule 37 AMSA 2015 Abstracts 49 Author Index 352 List of Delegates 360 Notes 373

Welcome from AMSA President On behalf of AMSA I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all delegates, sponsors and exhibitors at our 52nd annual conference “Estuaries to Oceans—Geelong 2015. This year we have a packed program of workshops, events, symposia and talks to both stimulate the mind and advance Australian marine science. At the conference, AMSA will continue our social media engagement with our twitter feed @amsa_marine #AMSA2015 and our AMSA Facebook page. There is sure to be a wave of tweets and posts covering topical marine issues and the latest Australian marine research (and perhaps the treading bar!). Also, for the first time, all accepted presenters will have the opportunity for a speaking slot with both long format presentations and speed talks associated with electronic posters.

Both students and their supervisors should also be aware of the range of glittering competitive prizes available at the conference for outstanding work and presentations. These include: The Ron Kenny, Peter Holloway Physical Oceanography, Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Ernest Hodgkin Estuary Research Award and Victorian Marine Science Consortium prize. Details on these awards can be sourced at our website https://www.amsa.asn.au/annual-conference-student-prizes. I wish all competitors the very best of luck.

One of the best things about AMSA is that we celebrate those among our community that excel. This includes the presentation of our association’s most prestigious prizes - the Jubilee, Technical and Allan award - at our conference. The Jubilee award is for an active marine scientist who has made an outstanding contribution to marine research in Australia during their career. The Jubilee award was first presented in 1988 to commemorate AMSA’s Silver Jubilee Year and this year, from a strong field, Professor Maria Byrne from the University of Sydney is our distinguished winner. Besides her productive science career, Prof. Byrne has also always been a class act as an ambassador for science to the general community and government. This includes both grace and integrity throughout her various advocacy roles, which have often been in the contentious area of resource management.

Our other professional prize is the AMSA Technical award which recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of technical support to marine science in Australia. This year our winner is Frank Salleo from Murdoch University, who, in the nomination form, was identified as one of the West’s best kept secrets! Finally, we will also present our Allan award for an outstanding postgraduate student to attend their first international conference, in any field of marine science. This year’s winner is Ms Alicia Sutton also from Murdoch University. As the conference progresses I urge all delegates to make time to seek out talks not only in your area of research but also across disciplines. One of the great strengths of AMSA conferences is that it is a multi-disciplinary event and by participating fully, new scientific insights may present themselves.

Yours

Dr Tim P. Lynch AMSA President

Message from the Organising Chair Welcome to AMSA2015 Estuaries to Oceans! On behalf of the organizing committee I would like to thank all delegates for coming to this year’s conference. It has been eight years since the last Victorian AMSA conference and thirty-one years since it has been held outside of Melbourne, the last time in 1984 at a ten-year-old Deakin University.

We are lucky to have not one, but two Jubilee award winners presenting this year, along with a great number and range of other presentations. There are some new features this year that we hope will be well received and will continue in future years. Notably, there is a public forum and exhibition planned for Monday night and a new presentation format, the PEP, which brings posters into the digital age and gives everyone the opportunity to present in-session.

In addition to the formal program, an attribute of AMSA conferences I have always enjoyed is the sense of community that it fosters. I hope that this year’s conference continues in that vein and that you all have a productive and enjoyable week.

Dr Adam Pope Conference Convenor

Organising Committee

Adam Pope Conference Convenor Deakin University Alecia Bellgrove General Member Deakin University Allyson O'Brien General Member The University of Melbourne Craig Sherman General Member Deakin University Hugh Kirkman General Member Jacqui Pocklington General Member Tohoku University Jan Strugnell General Member La Trobe University John Ford General Member The University of Melbourne Kimberley Millers National Council Liaison Oregon State University Peter Crockett General Member Consulting Environmental Engineers Prue Addison General Member Australian Institute of Marine Science Tim Lynch National Council Liaison CSIRO Tim Smith Deputy Convenor Deakin University Tom Hurst Student Representative Melbourne Water

Message from the Scientific Chair A warm welcome to all attendees from the Scientific Chair! Our Theme and Symposium organisers have been overwhelmed by the papers received.

The initial plenary by Emma Johnston introduces the ‘Estuarine Ecosystems’ theme. Other themes, such as Estuarine and Coastal Biogeochemistry, carry that focus further. The Valuing Ecosystem Services theme (introduced by Robert Costanza’s plenary), the Marine Contamination and Invasive Species theme and the Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting, Wastewater Outfalls, and Marine Habitat Repair and Restoration symposia broaden the focus to cover benefits from marine ecosystems, monitoring, threats, and how to reduce and repair damage.

Beth Fulton’s Tuesday plenary turns attention to the need for modelling of marine systems, to understand, predict, and manage them. New approaches such as Beth’s Atlantis modelling framework are key to progress in this area. The Application of Integrated Model Observing Systems, and Monitoring to Map the Marine World themes are concerned with how to provide the data for monitoring and modelling systems.

On Wednesday Geoff Jones’ plenary and award talk introduces another key issue in marine systems: patterns of connectivity between local populations, and how we determine these links. This relates to monitoring and management, but also to Marine Biogeography – another theme covered in depth in this conference. There is keen interest too, in the Behaviour and Tracking of Megafauna, and in the New Approaches to Marine Food Production. And in addition, there is a wonderful variety of Open Theme presentations.

I am sure you will all find much to interest you, and I welcome you all.

Associate Professor Rob Day Chair

Scientific Committee

Allyson O’Brien General Member The University of Melbourne Graeme Hays General Member Deakin University Jan Carey General Member The University of Melbourne Jan Strugnell Deputy Chair La Trobe University Jac Monk General Member Deakin University Jeff Shimeta General Member RMIT University John Beardall General Member Monash University John Sherwood General Member Deakin University Randell Lee General Member EPA of Victoria Rob Day Chair The University of Melbourne

Acknowledgement of Country We would like to acknowledge that this conference is being held on the traditional lands of the Wathaurong people. We wish to pay our respect to elders, both past and present.

AMSA 2015 Annual General Meeting The 2015 Annual General Meeting will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday 9th July, 2015 in the Costa (Plenary) Hall near the registration desk. Registered members of AMSA are entitled to vote.

About AMSA The Australian Marine Science Association Inc. (AMSA) is Australia's peak professional body for marine scientists from all disciplines and for over 50 years has promoted all aspects of marine science in Australia. AMSA operates with a membership network of individuals and corporate affiliates as a not-for-profit organisation. Its activities and resources are largely funded by membership contributions, donations from benefactors and surpluses from events. As well as operating nationally, AMSA has active branches in most States and Territories. Membership is open to professional marine scientists, students and corporate bodies engaged in marine research, policy or management.

AMSA works to promote marine science, through:  Hosting an annual conference which address marine science issues in Australia and abroad  Holding workshops, symposia and training at branch and national levels  Publishing three issues of the Australian Marine Science Bulletin each year  Publicly recognising outstanding marine scientists, technicians and students through annual AMSA awards  Providing weekly eNews with information about events, jobs and the latest marine science news  Representation of members views to government  Maintaining up to date position papers on matters of interest  Providing access to resources via our website  Providing commentary and digital information via social media

AMSA membership is open to those working and studying in all disciplines of marine science. Supporting AMSA through membership provides direct support for efforts in marine science research.

Membership Benefits include:  Access to member communications (AMSA Bulletin, e-News and other such material)  Reduced registration fee at the AMSA Annual Conference  Participation in activities of state branches  Eligibility for student awards and prizes  Opportunity to stand as a council member or office bearer  Opportunity to contribute to position statements and submissions on marine science and government policy  Affiliate membership of Science and Technology Australia (STA)  Networking of scientists for development of research opportunities and multidisciplinary collaboration, and dissemination of knowledge about marine science to the wider public

The Venue Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus The Geelong Waterfront Campus is located on the foreshore of Corio Bay in the central business district of Geelong. Originally built in 1893, the buildings have undergone extensive redesign and refurbishment to create a modern and impressive campus. The Waterfront Campus retains and acknowledges its history as the hub of the Victorian wool industry throughout most of the last century.

The centrepiece of the Geelong Waterfront Campus is Costa Hall, used for University ceremonial occasions, cultural performances and community functions. Costa Hall provides Geelong with a concert and theatre hall of international standard with excellent acoustics.

A $37 million redevelopment of the Dennys Lascelles Building has increased the capacity of this Campus, allowing the University to provide an expanded range of courses. This building houses the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library and the Alfred Deakin Research Institute, an interdisciplinary teaching and research centre covering political science, public policy and governance, international relations, globalisation, journalism and communications.

The Campus also houses an impressive library for both academic and community purposes, a special collection of rare and antique books and a display of part of the University's art collection. The University Chancellery is also housed at the Geelong Waterfront Campus.

Conference Venue Floorplan

Gheringhap

from

D2.194 D2.193 D2.212 Entrances

Catering and Exhibition D2.211

Costa Hall Plenary Sessions

Brougham St

Conference Structure For session details, refer to the Timetable pages. Each morning in the Costa Hall is a plenary session which includes the plenary speaker for that day.

After morning tea, concurrent sessions will commence in the breakout rooms and continue throughout the day. Most talks in the concurrent sessions in the breakout rooms are 20 minutes - 15 minute presentations with 5 minutes for questions. Every effort will be made by the chairs to keep to the allotted times, allowing delegates to move between rooms and presentations.

Tuesday morning’s plenary session will include the announcements of the winners of the 2015 AMSA Technical Award and 2015 Allen Award. On the following morning, the 2015 AMSA Jubilee Award winner will be announced and invited to make a presentation.

New 40-year Honour Life Members, some of whom will be at the conference dinner to receive this recognition.

Bruce Hodgson NSW [email protected] Hugh Kirkman Vic [email protected] David McMillan Vic [email protected] Bill Reed WA [email protected] David Ritz Tas [email protected] Andrew Short NSW [email protected]

The AMSA Annual General Meeting (will be held on Thursday after lunch at 1:00–1:30). All members are encouraged to attend the AGM and increase involvement in your Association. The new Council will be nominated at this meeting.

The scientific program finishes at 17:30 on Thursday, with the Gala Conference Dinner in the Lillias room at the Pier at 18:30. Student Awards will be presented at the Conference Dinner.

Presenting Electronic Posters (PEP) For the first time, AMSA will host PEP talks at the 2015 Geelong conference. PEP stands for “Presenting Electronic Posters” and is a format offered instead of the traditional printed poster. PEPs combine a short 5 minute oral presentation with an online version of your presentation that is accessible to anyone at the conference and afterwards. The PEP format provides an excellent opportunity for presenters to utilise electronic, digital and visual displays to share their research online and to interact with delegates on an individual basis. PEPs will be on display for the entire conference in the Costa Foyer area where lunch and morning/afternoon teas will be served. Since we have changed to the PEP format this year, no separate poster session will occur and PEPs are part of the regular session program.

Exhibition Booth Display Exhibition booth displays from our sponsors and exhibitors will be in the Costa Foyer area for the duration of the conference and can be accessed throughout the conference, Monday to Thursday. All refreshments will be served in this area during the conference to enable maximum time for delegates to meet Exhibition Stand holders. All exhibitors have put in enormous cost and effort to exhibit to the marine science audience. Please make them feel welcome.

Conference Dress Code Dress for the conference is business-casual comfortable clothing. Ties and jackets are not necessary. Dress for the Gala Dinner on Thursday 9 July is smart/casual (no jeans).

Guidelines for Parallel Sessions Moving Between Sessions The program schedule allows for common timing among all concurrent sessions so that delegates have the opportunity to move from room to room within a single session. When leaving and entering rooms, please be considerate of others around you and do so as quietly as possible. Please also ensure that you move to the middle of rows and fill all available seats within the rooms.

Session Chairs All rooms will have an allocated Session Chair responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the session. In addition to this an AV Technician will also be on hand to assist with any technical difficulties. Should you notice the Session Chair is not in the room at the scheduled start time of your session, please contact the Registration Desk as a matter of priority.

Timing Allocation To ensure the smooth running of the very full conference program and delegates wishing to move between concurrent sessions, it is important that all presenters keep to time.

 Long oral presentation have been allocated 15 minutes presentation time and 5 minutes question time.  Electronic Poster (PEP) presentations have been allocated 5 minutes presentation time with a short period for questions at the session chair’s discretion.  Session Chairs will assist presenters to keep to time.

Please note that the Session Chair will provide timing notice for presenters to ensure times are adhered to.

General Information Registration Desk All delegates must be registered in order to attend AMSA 2015. The Registration Desk will operate at the following times:

Preconference: Saturday 4th July, 2015 9:00am – 5:00pm Outer Costa Foyer (Level 2) Preconference: Sunday, 5th July, 2015 8:30am – 8:00pm Outer Costa Foyer (Level 2) Day 1: Monday, 6th July, 2015 7:30am – 5:30pm Outer Costa Foyer (Level 2) Day 2: Tuesday 7th July, 2015 8:00am – 5:30pm Outer Costa Foyer (Level 2) Day 3: Wednesday 8th July, 2015 8:00am – 5:30pm Outer Costa Foyer (Level 2) Day 4: Thursday 9th July, 2015 8:00am – 3:00pm Outer Costa Foyer (Level 2)

Alterations to the Program The Conference Committee reserves the right to make such alterations to the program as circumstances dictate and will not accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or changes made to the program. All alterations to the program will be advertised on the Message Board located near the Registration Desk.

Conference Proceedings Abstracts will be accessible from the commencement of the conference at the AMSA2015 web site: http://www.amsaconference.net/

Mobile Phones and Pagers As a courtesy to other participants, please ensure that all mobile phones and pagers are turned off or in silent mode during all presentations.

Conference App and Wireless Internet Access For easy navigation of the conference schedule, please use the conference app: http://programme.exordo.com/amsa2015/ - further information can be found at registration desk.

Wireless internet access will be available for all delegates. For information regarding set up and access to the wireless connection, please refer to “Connecting to wireless at Deakin” information sheet, available at the Registration Desk.

Photocopying If you wish to photocopy any items at the conference, please see conference organising staff at the Registration Desk.

Bags and Coats A small cloakroom is available for delegates. Please see conference organising staff at the Registration Desk. Delegates who wish to bring luggage with them on the final day of the conference are asked to bring their luggage to the Registration Desk for storage.

Message Board Messages may be left with the conference organising staff at the Registration Desk. The message board will be located near the Registration Desk. Please check this board regularly. 9

Catering Morning teas, lunches and afternoon teas will be served in the Outer Costa Foyer (Level 2). If you have advised the Conference Organiser of special dietary requirements, please identify yourself to the waiting staff for assistance.

Smoking Deakin University is a smoke-free environment, this policy has been implemented to create a healthy and safe environment for all Deakin students, staff and associates.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures In the event of an emergency, (for example a fire-alarm), delegates will be advised of the status of the emergency via loudspeaker.

Please only evacuate when advised to do so. Deakin University staff will be on hand to advise you of any action that needs to be taken. When asked to evacuate, please calmly make your way to the nearest assembly area and await further instructions. Deakin University’s Geelong Waterfront Campus emergency assembly points are shown in the map below:

Local Services Banks An ANZ ATM is located on level 2 of Building D of Deakin University’s Geelong Waterfront Campus. The following banks/ATM’s are located in Geelong’s CBD which is approximately a five minute walk from the venue: Westpac, Bank of Melbourne, Commonwealth Bank, Bendigo Bank and NAB.

Upon exiting the University, turn left down Gheringhap Street and continue to Brougham Street. Turn left onto Brougham Street, then after approx. 230 metres, turn right onto Moorabool Street and you have entered Geelong’s CBD where various ATM’s are located.

Shopping Complex A Westfield shopping complex is locating in Geelong’s CBD, only a short 6 minute walk from the conference venue. This Westfield includes a variety of shops such as supermarkets, pharmacies, fast food outlets, department stores, clothing shops and many more.

Upon exiting the University, turn left down Gheringhap Street and continue to Brougham Street. Turn left onto Brougham Street, then after approx. 230 metres, turn right onto Moorabool Street. After 110 metres Westfield Geelong will be accessible on the left.

Postal Centres Small letters may be left at the Registration Desk for mailing. Alternatively there is an Australia Post Office located on Moorabool Street, a short walk from the University.

Upon exiting the University, turn left down Gheringhap Street and continue to Brougham Street. Turn left onto Brougham Street, then after approx. 230 metres, turn right onto Moorabool Street and the Australia Post Office will be on your left-hand side in approx. 260metres.

Chemists and Pharmacies A Chemist Warehouse is located on Yarra Street, which is approximately a ten minute walk from the University.

Upon exiting the University, turn left down Gheringhap Street and continue to Brougham Street. Turn left onto Brougham Street, then after approx. 450 metres, turn right onto Yarra Street and the Chemist Warehouse will be on your right-hand side in approx. 180 metres.

International Visitors General Information Our country’s calling code is “61”; access is available for all mobile phones (cell-phones) and internet access is also available at most hotels, libraries and internet cafes.

When calling from outside Australia, leave out the leading “0” from the STD area code or mobile telephone number. For example, if you are calling Geelong from outside Australia, first dial your country’s international access number then dial “61”, then dial “3”, then dial the local phone number.

The electrical current in Australia is 220–240 volts, AC 50Hz. The Australian three-pin power outlet is different from some other countries so you may need an adaptor.

Locality Guide

Beav’s Bar Deakin University Waterfront Campus

Edge Geelong Geelong Railway Station

Westfield Geelong The Pier Geelong (shopping complex)

Directions From the conference venue to Beav’s Bar Upon exiting the University, turn left down Gheringhap Street and continue 300 metres. Take a slight left to continue on to Gheringhap Street then turn left onto Little Malop Street and continue on for 100 metres until Beav’s Bar is located on the left.

From the conference venue to Edge Geelong Upon exiting the University, turn right down Gheringhap Street and continue 110 metres to Western Beach road. Turn right onto Western Beach Road, then after approx. 250 metres, the Edge Geelong will be located on the right.

From the conference venue to The Pier Geelong Upon exiting the University, turn right down Gheringhap Street and continue 110 metres to Western Beach road. Turn right onto Western Beach Road, then after approx. 150 metres, turn left and head towards Cunningham pier. The Pier Geelong is located near the entrance to Cunningham Pier.

Travel Myki In Victoria Myki cards are used on all public transport (except Air Transfers—below). You cannot purchase these cards once on buses, trains or trams as they need to be purchased at either a train station or 7 Eleven. The card itself costs $6 and you need to add money to travel on top of that. You can top up your card online but this can take up to 24 hours so we recommend you top up your card at train stations or 7 Eleven stores. The touch screen machines take both cash and card and are relatively easy to follow. Major train stations such as Southern Cross station and Flinders Street station have staff that can assist you with purchase. Unless you are travelling by public transport from Melbourne or sightseeing you will not likely need one of these cards. More information can be found at http://ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/

Bus Services The main bus interchange is located in Moorabool St, which is approx. 700 metres away from Campus, however there are a number of bus stops close by depending on your route. Please visit Public Transport Victoria for more information about bus routes in your area: http://ptv.vic.gov.au/

Taxis To arrange a taxi, please contact Geelong Taxi Network directly on 131 008, or download the free iPhone booking app “Geelong Taxi” or visit their website at: http://geelongtaxis.com.au/home/

Car Parking There are more than 4700 off-street car parks and 5400 on-street car parks in Central Geelong. Both short and long term options are available. Parking fees and time limits are in place to ensure turnover of car spaces during busy periods so more people can access shops and businesses each day. In general terms parking time limits are shorter within the inner core of the city whilst longer time limits are more readily available as you move further out.

Train Services – Local Station: Geelong V/Line offer a regular and reliable train service between Melbourne and Geelong daily with increased services operating during peak hours. Train travel to Geelong is available but it is not convenient for visitors arriving by plane. For more information on these services please visit their website: www.vline.com.au or call directly on +61 3 9662 2505.

Dining Geelong offers a wide array of cuisine to choose from with many restaurants conveniently located on the waterfront boasting great views of the bay as well as many options within Central Geelong. A great resource to use when looking for somewhere to dine out is the Australian Good Food Guide (http://www.agfg.com.au/), which contains many different cuisine options for you to choose from.

Another website, Zomato (https://www.zomato.com/), formally Urban Spoon, is another resource you can use to locate restaurants on a map and choose from many different varieties of cuisine.

Social Activities and Events Welcome Reception Sunday, 7th July 2015, 6pm – 8pm Venue: Costa Outer Foyer, Gheringhap St, Deakin University Waterfront Campus Fee: Entry to this event is included in your registration for AMSA delegates, additional tickets can be purchased online.

The AMSA 2015 Welcome Reception is a relaxed event open to all registered delegates and provides a perfect opportunity to mingle with your fellow associates. Drinks and canapés provided. The Welcome Reception is proudly sponsored by CSIRO.

Public Forum Monday, 6th July 2015, 7pm– 8pm Exhibition open from 6pm Venue: Costa Hall, Gheringhap St, Deakin University Waterfront Campus Fee: Entry to this event is included in your registration for AMSA delegates, additional tickets can be purchased online.

Estuaries to Oceans: What are the issues? We invite members of the public to join AMSA 2015 conference delegates in an exciting ‘Q & A’- style event. Hosted by a special guest, a panel of leading Australian scientists will discuss some of Australia’s major marine issues, answering questions posed by YOU. Overwhelmed about overfishing? In a muddle over marine parks? Super confused about super trawlers? Get your questions at the ready and take part in an educational evening of lively debate!

Student Night Tuesday, 7th July 2015, 7:30pm Venue: The Edge, 6-8 Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong Fee: Ticket price for this event is included in student registration.

A social event for students has been organised at The Edge, a 2 minute walk from the conference venue. This will be a great opportunity to mingle with your fellow budding marine science enthusiasts and test your wits in a Trivia Quiz. It also provides a chance to unwind and chat about the exciting presentations you’ve seen at the conference over a complimentary drink and light refreshments. AMSA Victoria is proud to support and provide sponsorship for the student night.

Conference Gala Dinner Thursday, 9th July 2015, 6:30pm – 11:30pm Venue: The Pier, Cunningham Pier, 10 Western Beach Foreshore Rd. Fee: Entry to this event is included for Full AMSA delegates, additional tickets can be purchased online – please bring your ticket to enter the conference dinner.

This is our chance to celebrate a fantastic conference with good food, drinks, music, company and dancing. It will also be when the student prize winners are announced, and of course a chance for the students to judge their predecessors in the annual The SherwoodTM award for over 40s dancing. Our band for the night, which is guaranteed to get us up and dancing, is Brightside Duo www.brightsideduo.com.au.

Conference Dinner After Party - 11:45pm Venue: Beav’s Bar 77–79 Little Malop Street, Geelong If you want more after the conference dinner finishes we will head to Beav’s Bar (www.beavsbar.com.au) which is about a 10–15 minute walk from The Pier to keep the dancing and fun going. Drinks will be at bar prices. The Conference Gala Dinner is kindly sponsored by NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub.

AMSA Jubilee Award for Excellence 2015 First awarded in AMSAs Silver Jubilee Year (1988) our professional award recognizes excellence in marine research and is presented to a scientist who has made an outstanding contribution to marine research in Australia.

Professor Maria Byrne, University of Sydney This year our worthy and distinguished winner is Professor Maria Byrne from the University of Sydney who has undertaken pioneering research in several fields and amassed a significant body of peer reviewed scientific literature that continues to rise annually, with over 4000 citations from 250 refereed papers and other publications. Most significantly Prof. Byrne’s studies of larval ecologies of marine invertebrates (in particular sea stars and their relations) has led to discovery of new species and has shown that these species are highly responsive to environmental change (especially climate change) and can evolve rapidly. Prof Byrne has also shown ongoing grace and integrity across science advocacy and is the mentor and supervisor of multiple generations of graduate students.

AMSA Technical Award 2015 The AMSA Technical Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of technical support to marine science in Australia. The prize emphasizes the valuable contribution to marine science made by those who provide the technical and logistical support services which make much research possible.

Mr Frank Salleo, Murdoch University This year’s winner, Mr Frank Salleo from Murdoch University, was described in his application as one of the West’s best kept secrets! Frank has undertaken extensive marine and estuarine sampling programs using boats and various equipment (much of which he designed) for the many research projects that have taken place in the marine and coastal waters of south-western Australia. He developed a range of techniques for routine ultra-low level analyses using automated instrumentation and ensures that the many sea-going vessels under his control are in survey and compliant with Australian Marine Safety Authority regulations. Frank has also taken delight in first, bogging on beaches many generations of student 4WD drivers and then teaching them how to extract themselves before the tide rises.

AMSA Allen Award 2015 One of the most import roles of AMSA is to develop and encourage our student members. The AMSA Allen Award is a grant of $2,500 to support an outstanding postgraduate student to attend an international conference, with the aim to gain experience and serve as an ambassador for Australian marine science. The Allen Award is in memory of Kay Radway and Rosa Allen who were both active on AMSA Council for many years and is supported by a bequest from the estate of the late K Radway Allen since June 2008.

Ms Alicia Sutton, Murdoch University This year our student ambassador will be Ms Alicia Sutton from Murdoch University who will attend the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science 2015 conference in Copenhagen.

Speakers The AMSA 2015 conference is bringing together the finest researchers in marine science.

Plenary Speakers

Professor Maria Byrne (2015 Jubilee Winner) Professor Marine and Developmental Biology | University of Sydney

This year our worthy and distinguished winner is Professor Maria Byrne from the University of Sydney who has undertaken pioneering research in several fields and amassed a significant body of peer reviewed scientific literature that continues to rise annually, with over 4000 citations from 250 refereed papers and other publications. Most significantly Professor Byrne’s studies of larval ecologies of marine invertebrates (in particular sea stars and their relations) has led to discovery of new species and has shown that these species are highly responsive to environmental change (especially climate change) and can evolve rapidly. Professor Byrne has also shown ongoing grace and integrity across science advocacy and is the mentor and supervisor of multiple generations of graduate students.

Talk Title: “Marine invertebrates in a high-CO2 world - case studies from echinoderms”

Global change is impacting world coastal and oceanic regions in four co-occurring CO2 driven stressors: warming, increased pCO2, decreased pH and decreased carbonate mineral saturation, with the latter three being highly correlated in ocean acidification.

Understanding outcomes for marine species is a challenge because all these stressors can affect biological processes individually and in combination and because their integrative effects are often synergistic. It is key to rank stressors to assist the design of orthogonal multistressor experiments.

Echinoderm life stages exhibit variable responses to warming and acidification. Overall, embryos are more tolerant than larvae to acidification, but are sensitive to warming. Calcifying larvae exhibit reduced growth in near future acidification and the magnitude of the response is modulated by temperature. Feeding larvae were more vulnerable than non-feeding larvae. As occurred in past extinction events, echinoderms with non-feeding and non-calcifying larvae are more resilient to climatic change stressors.

Long-term acclimation and trans-generational studies with sea urchins show tolerance for near, but not far future conditions. This indicates potential for acclimation and/or adaptation as the ocean changes over coming decades, but with likely alteration of population dynamics.

Professor Geoffrey P Jones (2014 Jubilee Winner) Professor, College of Marine and Environmental Sciences | James Cook University

Geoff Jones is one of the world’s most influential authors in the fields of coral reef ecology and marine conservation biology, with ~230 publications in peer-reviewed journals and books. Geoff graduated with a PhD from the University of Auckland in 1981 and he is currently a Professor in the College of Marine and Environmental Sciences at James Cook University and a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. He has worked extensively on both temperate and tropical reefs in New Zealand, Australia, the South Pacific and Papua New Guinea. His special interests are in the processes determining the structure and dynamics of reef fish populations, and strategies to reduce human impacts on threatened fish species. In 1995, he began to develop new approaches to determine the fate of reef fish larvae, which until that time had remained a mystery. Geoff and collaborators were the first to tag and recapture marine fish larvae. He has since become a world leader in the field of marine population connectivity and its implications for the ecology, conservation and management of reef fish populations. His talk at AMSA will provide a historical overview of milestones in the search to discover how far and in what direction marine larvae disperse. He will highlight recent advances in the understanding of local population connectivity and the benefits of marine reserve networks for reef fish conservation and sustainable harvesting. Finally, he will look ahead to anticipate where this field will go in the next decade.

Talk title: “Unravelling the mysteries of marine larval dispersal: where we’ve been and where we’re going”

Our knowledge of the distance and directions that coral reef fish larvae disperse each generation has been transformed over the last 20 years. New discoveries from a diversity of approaches, including chemical tagging of larvae, genetic parentage analysis, population-level genetic analyses, otolith chemical signatures, and biophysical modeling, have all indicated a higher proportion of larvae settle closer to home than previously thought. Genetic parentage analysis appears to be the most promising approach as it provides individual dispersal vectors. It has now been scaled up to successfully describe full dispersal kernels, and to validate other genetic approaches and biophysical dispersal models. The relative dispersal frequencies of most species appear to decline with distance from source. However, while average dispersal distances may be small for species with short pelagic larval durations (PLDs), dispersal kernels of those with long PLDs have a long tail. The emerging picture suggests reef fish populations have the potential for local adaptation and have an innate resilience to local disturbances. New empirical dispersal data are beginning to be incorporated into spatially explicit demographic and reserve design models. Early indications are that local and regional management actions can achieve both biodiversity conservation and fisheries objectives.

Professor Emma Johnston Head of the Applied Marine and Estuarine Ecology Lab (AMEE) | Subtidal Ecology and Ecotoxicology Research Group | University of New South Wales

Emma Johnston is Professor at UNSW, Director of the Sydney Harbour Research Program at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and Vice President of Science and Technology Australia. Emma studies human impacts in marine ecosystems and her research is conducted in such diverse environments as Antarctica and Australia’s temperate estuaries. Emma completed her doctorate at the University of Melbourne in 2002. In 2010 she was awarded an Australian Research Fellowship and in 2014 she was awarded the inaugural Nancy Millis Medal from the Australian Academy of Science. Emma is a passionate advocate for science, she is an expert advisor to both industry and government and appears regularly in the media.

Talk Title: Muddy Waters: Biodiversity, bioinvasion and ecosystem functioning in multiply stressed coastal systems.

Estuaries are among the most highly disturbed of all aquatic environments due to their proximity to urban, agricultural and industrial activity. Aquatic communities are exposed to multiple stressors and it is vital that the ecological consequences are identified and distinguished using a range of observational and manipulative techniques. I will present our research, combining the disciplines of ecology and ecotoxicology, to identify drivers of marine invasion success, the plasticity of environmental niche space, stressor interactions and contaminant impacts on ecosystem functioning. In addition, I will detail how molecular approaches (targeted gene, metagenomics and meta-transcriptomics) are enhancing our capacity to observe biodiversity, community connectivity and ecological change.

Session Sponsor

Doctor Beth Fulton Principal Research Scientist | CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship

Dr Beth Fulton is a Principal Research Scientist with CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship where she heads the ecosystem modelling team. Beth also has a PEW Marine Conservation fellowship and is a member of the Centre of Marine Socioecology, a collaboration between UTAS, CSIRO and AAD. Beth began her science career at James Cook University in Townsville before doing her PhD on ecosystem modelling at the University of Tasmania. Beth has been employed by the CSIRO for the past 13 years, where she has developed various system modelling tools for looking at marine ecosystems and sustainability. The best known tool is the Atlantis modelling framework, which has been used to provide strategic advice to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and has been applied in more than 30 marine ecosystems around the world. The models developed by Beth’s team are some of the first to give equal attention to biophysical and human components of marine and coastal ecosystems. They underpin CSIRO’s research into managing potentially competing uses of Australia’s marine environments and adaptation to global change and have been used to consider the most effective means of monitoring marine ecosystems.

Talk Title: “Painting the world with numbers – what can we see?”

The marine world is a busy place, especially along our nation's coasts. Managing and understanding that space requires the involvement of many different knowledge systems and many different objectives. This is a difficult task, in part because all those knowledge systems have their own languages, making information sharing quite challenging. This is where mathematics helps, it is a truly universal language that, with a little patience, can be applied to paint rich pictures that provide a deep understanding of the world. In this lightning tour of the 'unreasonable effectiveness' of mathematics in the marine context we'll explore what picture it paints of our coasts, oceans and their future.

Professor Robert Costanza Chair in Public Policy | Crawford School of Public Policy | The Australian National University

Professor Robert Costanza is a Chair in Public Policy at Crawford School of Public Policy. He is also currently a Senior Fellow at the National Council on Science and the Environment, a Senior Fellow at the Stockholm Resilience Center, an Affiliate Fellow at the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, and a deTao Master at the deTao Masters Academy, China. Professor Costanza’s transdisciplinary research integrates the study of humans and the rest of nature to address research, policy and management issues at multiple time and space scales, from small watersheds to the global system. He is co-founder and past-president of the International Society for Ecological Economics, and was founding editor of the society’s journal, Ecological Economics. He currently serves on the editorial board of ten other international academic journals. He is also founding editor in chief of Solutions (www.thesolutionsjournal.org) a unique hybrid academic/popular journal. Professor Costanza is the author or co-author of over 500 scientific papers and 27 books. His work has been cited in more than 15,000 scientific articles and he has been named as one of ISI’s Highly Cited Researchers since 2004. More than 200 interviews and reports on his work have appeared in various popular media.

Talk Title: “Valuing Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services”.

Ecosystem services (the benefits people derive from functioning ecosystems) are increasingly being recognized as essential to sustainable human well-being. Oceans and coasts provide a significant portion of ecosystem services. We need to significantly improve our understanding and modelling of the complex interconnections between ecosystems and sustainable human well-being to allow us to make better management decisions. Australia is a timely and unique test bed to facilitate these advances, with applications to a broad range of critical coastal and marine issues.

Keynote Speakers Doctor Mark Baird Senior Coastal Modeller | CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship

Talk Title: “Integrating observational and modelling systems for the management of the Great Barrier Reef”.

Mark Baird is a biogeochemical modeller who leads the CSIRO Coastal Environmental Modelling Team. Dr. Baird combines observations and numerical models to study estuarine and marine ecosystems. He has published ~50 papers in the peer-review literature on topics including estuarine ecology, plankton population dynamics, coral biogeochemistry, salp blooms, ocean acidification, physical oceanography, bio-optics and ecosystem modelling, and developed original mathematical models of corals, seagrass, seaweeds and phytoplankton. His present focus is on the biogeochemical functioning of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.

Doctor Simon Barry Research Program Leader | Environmental and Agricultural Informatics Program | CSIRO Division of Computational Informatics | Canberra

Talk Title: “Marine invasive species management in Australia – past history and future challenges”.

Dr Simon Barry leads the Ecosystem Modelling and Risk Assessment group in the CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship. This group provides innovative approaches to modelling ecosystems and supports risk based management of industries operating in a broad range of sectors. Dr Barry’s personal research is focussed on developing improved risk analysis processes to support managers and policy makers. This encompasses challenges such as developing better ways of combining process models and data, improved ways of utilising experts and development of new ways to make inference in complex problems.

Dr Barry studied Ecology and Statistics at ANU before completing a PhD in Biostatistics. He has previously led the Environmental and Agricultural Informatics Research Program in the CSIRO Division of Mathematics and Statistics. Before that he was Senior Principal Research Scientist in the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry working on resource management issues including biosecurity in both the marine and terrestrial environments.

Doctor Janet Carey Marine Environmental Botanist | School of BioSciences |The University of Melbourne Talk Title: “Non-indigenous marine species – not all created equal”.

Jan Carey is a marine ecologist who worked as an environmental consultant for 18 years before returning to the University of Melbourne for a PhD on the assessment of impacts in marine environments. She is now employed in the School of BioSciences at Melbourne where her current research interests include the optimization of surveillance for introduced marine species and improved methods for the reporting of environmental monitoring data.

Mr Steven Clarke Science Initiatives & Support Manager | SARDI Aquatic Sciences

Talk Title: “Australian Aquaculture: Novel Innovations and Approaches to Drive Future Growth”.

Mr Steven Clarke is the Science Initiatives & Support Manager, SARDI Aquatic Sciences. He has over 30 years’ experience in aquatic sciences research management, research and development, and industry and government liaison, especially in aquaculture. In his Science Initiatives role he identifies research and development (R&D) opportunities and provides support with these; facilitates South Australian inter- organisational R&D activities through Marine Innovation South Australia (MISA), a partnership of key research, policy and industry organizations involved in the marine environment and seafood industry; facilitates interactions between MISA and the Southeastern and Southwestern regional Australian hubs that are an important element of implementing the National Fisheries and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy through the national Research Providers Network; and hosts many of the visitors to the South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre.

In his Science Support role he manages SARDI Aquatic Sciences administration, information technology, infrastructure, library, vessels and vehicles. Prior to 2012, he lead the SARDI Aquaculture Science Program and was involved in aquaculture research projects associated with aquaculture environmental assessment and planning, including predicting the effect of climate change; the propagation of crustaceans, finfish, shellfish and seaweeds; the development and optimisation of manufactured aquafeeds; the design of culture systems; the development of animal husbandry and farm management practices that optimise sustainable production of high quality products; and cost-benefit studies associated with the evaluation of novel aquaculture species, technologies and locations. He frequently provides presentations as an invited speaker and has published extensively.

Doctor Kathryn Hassell Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management (CAPIM) | University of Melbourne

Talk Title: “Emerging contaminant concerns in Victorian bays and estuaries, and impacts assessment using biological monitoring”.

Dr Kathryn Hassell is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within the Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management (CAPIM) at the University of Melbourne. Since completing her PhD in 2009, she has worked with a range of industry and academic collaborators from Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan. Her research is focused on the development and implementation of novel techniques for assessing the impacts of environmental pollutants on fish health and reproduction. Dr Hassell is the Victorian regional representative for the Australasian chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC-AU).

Doctor Emma Jackson Marine Ecology Research Fellow | School for Medical and Applied Sciences | Central Queensland University

Talk Title: “How well equipped is Australia to reverse the trend of declining seagrass habitat through restoration?”

Dr Emma Jackson is a marine landscape ecologist at Central Queensland University School for Medical and Applied Sciences and Associate Fellow of the Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA). Before moving to Australia, Emma worked as Associate Research Fellow at the MBA within the Evidence for Conservation, Management and Policy Team and was a Seagrass Landscape Research Fellow at Plymouth University Marine Institute (UK) where her research emphasis was on assessing the effects of human actions (positive and negative) on the state of seagrass and the subsequent changes in ecosystem functioning and provision of ecosystem services. In 2013 Emma moved to “the frontline” of seagrass conservation research, Gladstone, Queensland to work on implementing a science based restoration framework to facilitate successful seagrass restoration within Queensland. Emma now coordinates a seagrass restoration research project which takes a seascape approach to seagrass restoration ecology, assessing how seagrasses in Port Curtis Bay maintain their populations and how restoration (and creation) can help promote resilience within populations.

Dr Alan Jordan Research Leader | Marine Ecosystems | Department of Primary Industries | Port Stephens Fisheries Institute

Talk Title: IMOS: Recent advances in the mapping and monitoring of marine habitats that aim to improve management effectiveness

Alan Jordan is a marine ecologist with NSW Department of Primary Industries that leads a research group examining the spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity throughout NSW marine waters. His particular focus is on seabed habitat mapping and benthic biodiversity assessment using acoustics, and towed and autonomous video systems. These have been applied to a large range projects concerning environmental and marine resource assessment in NSW. At present he is involved in a project specifically assessing the structure and biomass of fish assemblages on coastal reefs along the NSW coast using baited video systems.

Doctor Clive R. McMahon Researcher | Sydney Institute of Marine Science

Talk Title: IMOS: “Seals are changing the way we monitor the Southern Ocean”.

I am the Australian Animal Tracking and Monitoring System (AATAMS) operations manager for IMOS and have the responsibility of coordinating the deployment of sophisticated ocean observing equipment on seals around the Australian coast and in the Southern Ocean. This is an especially privileged position to be in given I am particularly interested in the demographic responses of animals to changes in their environment. The in situ physical oceanography observations such as those being collected by IMOS are central to informing the links between environmental state and population viability and are particularly exciting for population ecologists like myself.

Doctor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop Conservation Ecologist | Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS), UK

Talk Title: “Challenges for developing policy indicators in a climate of macroecological change”.

Abigail McQuatters-Gollop is a conservation ecologist at the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS), which operates the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey. She completed her MA in Marine Affairs and Policy at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Atmospheric Science, USA, and went on to receive a PhD from University of Plymouth, UK. She is a NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow and is leading the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive for pelagic habitats for the UK and OSPAR (Northern Europe). Abigail is leading development of policy-related research and science-policy integration at SAHFOS. Her work focuses on marine ecological responses to anthropogenic and climate change and the subsequent integration of results into the policy process. A key area of interest lies in the separation of climate responses in the plankton from those due to anthropogenic disturbances, and the linking of ecological state changes to manageable human drivers. Abigail is active in the ICES Working Group on Biodiversity Indicators and SCOR’s Working Group on Phytoplankton Time-Series.

Session Sponsor

Doctor Peter Nichols Research Scientist | Long-chain Omega-3 Oils, Biochemical Tracers | CSIRO Food, Nutrition & Bioproducts; Oceans & Atmosphere Flagships

Talk Title: “Current issues and status with fish oil usage, and a way forward with new land plant long-chain omega-3”.

Peter Nichols leads new initiatives on marine oils, with particular emphasis on long-chain omega-3 oils and with signature lipid technology and environmental applications. The omega-3 research involves detailed characterization of fish-derived and novel microbial oils, process development for the utilization of oils, development as part of a wider CSIRO team of novel land plant sources of long-chain omega-3 oils, and transfer and application of these know-how to industry and the wider community. This research has led to better utilisation of substantial national fisheries resources and wastes, and to new oilseed crops. He has contributed to the development of the Australian marine oils industry, with CSIRO research resulting in novel national and international marine oil products (wax ester, omega-3 and shark liver oils). Other innovations have been the development and use of unique biochemical (lipid) signatures in microbial ecology, environmental (e.g., faecal pollution) and food-chain studies, and new discoveries and applications in marine microbial biotechnology. He has worked closely with a number of Australian and overseas Universities including actively supervising and mentoring postgraduate students. International collaboration has occurred across these research fields, including sponsoring sabbaticals and visits by overseas scholars. Peter received the 2009 AMSA Silver Jubilee and 2012 Australasian Aquaculture – Blue Thumbs Research Awards.

Doctor Tim D. O’Hara Deputy Head, Marine Sciences | Museum Victoria

Talk Title: “The ophiuroid project: a global biogeography and phylogeny of a class of marine invertebrates”.

Tim O’Hara has been a lead scientist with Museum Victoria since 2001 and participated in numerous biodiversity surveys, both in shallow water and in the deep-sea. His focus is on using seafloor species distribution and genetic data to inform marine managers about spatial and temporal biodiversity patterns and associated issues of conservation concern. To this end he has built global distributional databases that hold hundreds of thousands of verified distribution records that are being used to map species assemblages and other biodiversity metrics across large areas of the marine environment. This work has led to him being appointed leader of the INDEEP biodiversity working group, a large research network of deep-sea biologists. He has actively participated in Australia’s Marine Biodiversity Hubs funded through the Commonwealth CERF and NERP programs, and he is a member of both the overall Steering Committee and Research Leadership committee, and team leader for the project “National maps of Biodiversity and Connectivity”. He also leads projects investigating the phylogenomics and population genetics of marine species. His taxonomic speciality is ophiuroids.

Doctor Cynthia Riginos Researcher | School of Biological Sciences | The University of Queensland

Talk Title: “(Comparative phylogeography) ^200 Emergent patterns of genetic diversity across the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean”.

Cynthia Riginos is an evolutionary geneticist with wide-ranging interests spanning biogeography, phylogeography, molecular ecology, population genomics, speciation, hybridization, invasive species, and conservation. Overall, her research seeks to understand how marine biodiversity is created, where that biodiversity has accumulated, and how this knowledge can be used preserve biodiversity and the processes that create it in a changing world. She is especially fond of reef fishes and molluscs. She is an associate editor for Molecular Ecology and is a founding member of the Diversity in the Indo-Pacific Network (DIPnet), a consortium seeking to promote open data exchange and collaboration among genetic research groups and students working in the Indo-Pacific region. DIPnet currently includes 55 scientists from 19 countries and has been funded by the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (USA) and the National Science Foundation (USA). Cynthia has been at UQ since 2006 and previously held an endowed postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Evolution & Comparative Genomics at Duke University.

Associate Professor Tracey Rogers Deputy Director | Head of Research | The Evolution and Ecology Research Centre | University of New South Wales

Talk Title: “When mammals returned to the sea: the ecological implications of re- adaption to marine life in a rapidly changing world”.

Associate Professor Tracey Rogers is Deputy Director, Head of Research, of the Evolution and Ecology Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. She obtained her Ph.D. from the Veterinary Science Faculty at the University of Sydney in 1997. Her research aims to understand ecological patterns across mammals, her primary interest is examining how these large animals will survive a rapidly changing world. She is interested in understanding the trade-offs between physiology, life history and environment, balanced against phylogeny and past history. She combines the disciplines of macroecology, biomarker ecology and bioacoustics in an inter-disciplinary research program that expands our fundamental understanding of mammalian ecology. Her team conducts a diverse program working on mammals in Antarctica, the Tasmanian forests, along the coastlines and ocean basins of the southern hemisphere. Her work has met the highest standards of international research as evidenced by keynote presentations, invited lectures and more than 60 26

peer-reviewed publications.

Professor Isaac Santos Oceanographer | National Marine Science Centre | School of Environment, Science and Engineering | Southern Cross University

Talk Title: “Pumping the coastal carbon cycle: Porewater exchange from tidal rivers to the continental shelf”.

Prof. Isaac Santos is a coastal oceanographer specializing in the use of natural radioactive and stable isotope tracers to investigate submarine groundwater discharge and greenhouse gas cycling in the coastal zone. Much of his work focuses on developing approaches to obtain automated, high resolution observations. Santos has obtained 4 ARC Discovery grants and published 85 scientific papers. His research relies on active international collaboration with interdisciplinary projects completed in Antarctica, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, Cook Islands, China and USA. Santos is an associated editor for the journals Estuaries and Coasts and Frontiers in Marine Science. In 2011, Santos was given the Cronin Award from the Coastal and Estuarine Research Foundation for his research linking coastal biogeochemistry to hydrology.

Mr Tony Varcoe Manager Science and Management Effectiveness | Parks Victoria

Talk title: Accounting for and valuing ecosystem services in Victoria’s parks Co-presenting author: Ms Helen Betts O’Shea Position: Acting Manager Environmental Markets and Accounts Policy Organisation: Department of Environment Land, Water and Planning, Victoria

Tony Varcoe is the Manager, Science and Management Effectiveness for Parks Victoria. Tony has more than 25 years’ experience in park management with roles in policy, planning, senior operational roles and knowledge and evaluation management. With a background in conservation, recreation planning and education, Tony’s major interests are in the improved integration and application of evidence and knowledge to inform adaptive park management.

Doctor Ian G. Wallis Researcher | College of Medicine, Biology and Environment | Australian National University

Talk title: “Ocean Outfalls – the Inside View”.

Dr Ian Wallis carried out field studies of tidal flushing and sediment transport in Westernport Bay as part of his PhD research. He was a Visiting Research Fellow in Oceanography at the University of Southampton, and then worked at the UK Water Pollution Research Laboratory and Resources for the Future (USA).

Dr Wallis has been a consultant on outfall projects for over 30 years, and founded Melbourne based firm Consulting Environmental Engineers in 1984. He is recognised as an expert in the design and management of outfalls, hydrodynamic modelling and environmental, air and water quality studies. Over his career Dr Wallis has played a leading role in the design, construction and environmental studies for most ocean outfalls in Australia (including the Sydney ocean outfalls). He has also been involved in the design of outfalls in Thailand, USA, Pacific Islands and New Zealand. Dr Wallis will be talking about the challenges of wastewater management and the role of ocean outfalls in the 21stCentury, and the new risks that are emerging.

Sponsor Recognition

AMSA conferences could not happen each year without the very important sponsor support. This year has been no exception with generous support from our sponsors. The organising committee would like to thank each of these organisations for their generous contribution to our AMSA2015 conference.

AMSA is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting marine science and co-ordinating discussion and debate among researchers. The annual conference is our major event of the year and attracts marine researchers and students from many institutions, universities and private companies throughout Australia and New Zealand. AMSA2015 will again provide the opportunity for interaction between scientists, technologists, industry and policy-makers, and will heighten national and international awareness of marine and coastal science.

On behalf of the members of the Australian Marine Sciences Association Inc. and the organisers of the AMSA2015 Conference, we thank all sponsors for their support.

Conference Gala Dinner Welcome Reception Public Forum and Student and Exhibitor night sponsors

Venue Keynote Presentation Symposium sponsor Sponsor

Session and Website Exhibitor Exhibitor Sponsor

Exhibitor Exhibitor Exhibitor 28

Marine Sciences Water and Wastewater Air Quality and Odour www.cee.com.au

www.csiro.au Understanding our oceans CSIRO’s oceans and atmosphere Our research and delivery integrates: research takes a whole-of-system • innovative ocean modelling and observing technologies approach that recognises the world’s • marine biodiversity and conservation many borders share just one ocean. • sustainable fisheries and ecosystems CSIRO partners with universities and industry • offshore energy and mineral resource research partners to tackle key national and exploration and production international research challenges, such as enabling • multiple use management for marine integrated management of Ningaloo Reef, and coastal ecosystems designing subsea gas pipelines, and developing • information to manage weather, climate novel marine sensors and sensor networks. and ocean variability and change.

www.csiro.au/OandA B&M | 15-236 Calling all Coastal Champions!

Victorian Coastal Awards for Excellence 2015 Nominations now open The Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of people preserving and enhancing Victoria’s coastal and marine environments.

Nominations are sought for the following categories: Nomination forms are available from the website or • Natural Environment contact the Awards team for more information: • Education www.vcc.vic.gov.au • Community Engagement • Design and Building [email protected] • Planning and Management • Outstanding Individual Achievement 03 9637 8942 Nominations close midnight Sunday 2 August 2015

Collaborative park research

Parks Victoria manages 30 marine protected areas to protect the state’s significant marine, environmental and cultural values. These include 13 marine national parks, 11 marine sanctuaries and 6 other marine protected areas. Parks Victoria has an applied research program that aims to improve baseline knowledge and address important management challenges. The program is implemented through the Research Partners Panel (RPP), which involves collaboration between Parks Victoria, universities and other research institutions. For more information visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/park-management/environment/ research-and-scientific-management Or contact Steffan Howe on 13 1963, email [email protected] Geoscience Australia Coastal, Marine and Antarctic Geoscience

Geoscience Australia provides geoscientific Outputs include technical advice to Government on marine, coastal information and knowledge for the economic, and Antarctic matters, as well as spatial data, maps, models and social and environmental benefit of all predictions of: Australians. • marine geomorphology and geology • seabed sediments and geochemistry The marine group in the Environmental Geoscience Division • bathymetry and seabed habitats provides geoscientific information to support decision making • marine biodiversity. across a range of natural resource and environmental issues in the coastal zone, the offshore marine estate and the Current work is contributing to programs including: Australian Antarctic Territory. • The search for MH370: bathymetric survey

The group also provides pre-competitive advice on • Casey station seabed mapping survey, Antarctica offshore resources including the preparation of seabed • National Environmental Science Programme, Marine environmental summaries for future acreage release areas Biodiversity Hub and seabed mapping surveys in areas of planned offshore • Darwin Harbour seabed mapping infrastructure development. • National CO2 Infrastructure Plan.

Further information about the group’s activities can be found at www.ga.gov.au/about/what-we-do/projects/marine Publications can be found at www.ga.gov.au/data-pubs GA 15-9064 | Geocat 83737

EstuaryWatch Victoria A community based estuary monitoring program.

www.estuarywatch.com.au

Contact: Rose Herben, State EstuaryWatch Coordinator, Corangamite CMA. [email protected] 0467 810 797 tt Proud to be a long standing sponsor of the AMSA conference

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is global leader in tropical marine research.

With the expertise and capability to explore and understand the marine environment at the molecular and ecosystem level, AIMS delivers strategic, integrated, marine science in the areas of high priority for Australia and regional stakeholders.

AIMS conducts activities across seven research areas, including: · Ecologically sustainable development of marine industries · Ports and shipping · E ective, ecient and evidence-based marine reserve management · Cumulative impacts and ecosystem resilience · Catchment use and coastal water quality · Adapting to global change · Threatened and endangered species.

Our work in these areas is supported by an impressive array of infrastructure including state-of-the-art laboratories, research vessels, remote monitoring systems, the National Sea Simulator (SeaSim), and the most comprehensive data sets describing Australia's tropical marine ecosystems. sdfsd

www.aims.gov.au AIMS: Australia’s tropical marine research agency. The Marine Biodiversity Hub will assist decision-makers to understand, manage and conserve Australia’s environment by funding world-class biodiversity science.

Our goals are to deliver research that will support the Government’s marine biodiversity priorities in “A Plan for a Cleaner Environment” and provide nationally consistent scientific information in priority areas to support evidence-based decision making and improve environmental outcomes. Stakeholders include the Australian government, State governments, Indigenous partners, fishery managers, the oil and gas industry, conservation organisations and the marine community.

Humpback whale, Ningaloo. Image ©Australian Institute of Marine Science www.nespmarine.edu.au

AMSA Student Prizes At each annual AMSA conference, outstanding student presentations and posters are recognised by awarding a number of prizes.

The Ron Kenny Prize The Ron Kenny Student Presentation Prize for the best full-length oral presentation of research results and the Ron Kenny Student Poster Prize for the best poster display of research results. The prizes are named in honour of Associate Professor Ron Kenny, a foundation member of the Association and editor of its Bulletin for nine years until his death in August 1987. The purpose of the prizes is to reward excellence in scientific work by students in any field of marine science, and to encourage a high standard of scientific communication. The prizes are provided by a special Trust Fund maintained by AMSA, and are the Association’s major form of recognition and encouragement of student effort.

Peter Holloway Oceanography Prize The prize, originating in 2002, is awarded to the best full-length student oral presentation related to Oceanography. This prize is partly funded by interest on funds donated to AMSA by the Australian Physical Oceanography Division of AMSA when it ceased to function as a separate entity in mid-2002, and from the Peter Holloway Memorial Symposium at AMSA2004 in Hobart. Peter Holloway was a highly distinguished, physical oceanographer, internationally recognized for his contribution to the observation, theory and numerical modeling of internal waves (Obituary from Marine and Freshwater Research and Obituary from EOS).

Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation Prize The Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation (SWRRFI) has made a commitment to support the annual AMSA conference by donating a prize for the Best Student Poster in the area of Science and Conservation of Marine Vertebrates. The winning student must agree to their poster to be included as an insert in the annual SWRRFI newsletter which is distributed to the scientific, zoological, education, corporate and general communities both nationally and internationally. The SWRRFI Committee and Sea World are pleased to be able to offer financial support to students through this forum and look forward to a rewarding association with AMSA and its members.

Fisheries Research & Development Corporation Prize The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) student prize was first awarded in 2002. FRDC student prizes are supported by funding from the FRDC on behalf of the Australian Government. The FRDC sponsored prizes are to be given to any category of student presenting within one year of completing their respective study course. The subject matter of the talk/poster must be consistent with Programs 1 or 2 of FRDC’s Research and Development Plan, namely Natural Resources Sustainability and Industry Development. If no suitable winners are identified, a prize will be withheld. As a condition of acceptance of this prize, FRDC is to be provided with profiles, photos and write-ups of the prize- winners and their research for consideration for publication in FRDC’s regular newsletter, or social media.

Ernest Hodgkin Estuary Research Award Donated by The Committee of the Ernest Hodgkin Trust for Estuary Education and Research, this prize is to be awarded annually for the best student presentation on research that will facilitate a greater understanding of estuarine processes and management.

Victorian Marine Science Consortium The Victorian Marine Science Consortium (VMSC) is a consortium of five Victorian tertiary institutions (Deakin University, Monash University, RMIT University, The University of Melbourne and Victoria University), together with CSIRO, EPA Victoria, and the State Government’s Marine and Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute (MAFFRI). VMSC operates marine teaching and research laboratories at Queenscliff, on the entrance to Port Phillip Bay, a large embayment on the southeast coast of Australia. The VMSC facilities are available through negotiation to anyone with an interest in marine science. The VMSC Management Committee aim to provide encouragement to young scientists and havehave sponsored an annual student prize for best presentation on temperate marine sciences made at the AMSA annual conference.

The Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management The Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management (CAPIM) is a scientific research organisation, established to identify and address the impact of pollution in freshwater, marine and estuarine environments (www.capim.com.au). CAPIM's goal is to improve aquatic ecosystem health by developing innovative approaches to pollution detection, and working with environmental management practitioners to reduce pollution impacts. CAPIM is very pleased to sponsor a student prize for the first time at an AMSA conference. The prize will be awarded to the best student oral or PEP presentation that relates to contamination in the marine environment.

Award Rules These rules apply to the award of all AMSA Student Prizes. 1. The Presentation and Poster Prize awards shall be decided by AMSA Council or its appointed Committee. If there are more than five suitable entries in either category, a second prize of such amount as decided by Council may be awarded in that category. A written citation will accompany each prize; 2. The prizes shall be awarded on the determination of a Prizes Committee appointed by the Council of the Association, representing both the Council and the Conference Organising Committee. The decision of the Prizes Committee shall be final; 3. The Prizes Committee, noting the dual objectives of recognising and encouraging student effort, may take the age and experience of students into account in reaching its decision; 4. In judging the oral presentation, the Prizes Committee shall consider clarity of expression, originality, the standard of the scientific contribution, and the presentation (including the ability to stay within the allotted time); 5. Oral presentation and posters may include review of expository materials, progress reports, or substantive research results; 6. In judging the posters, the Prizes Committee shall consider effective use of the poster medium to communicate information, originality and standard of the scientific contribution. Expensive, high-quality graphics and photographs provided by institutions or external agencies will not be a major consideration; 7. Council reserves the right not to award the prizes, or to award only the first prize in each case, if it deems that entries are not of sufficient calibre; 8. A brief personal profile and a photograph of the winner are to be submitted by each prize winner to the Bulletin Editor by the end of the month in which the conference is held for publication in the AMSA Bulletin.

Conference Themes and Symposia Conference Themes Conference themes will have either a plenary (35min speaking to all attendees in morning session) or a keynote (30 min to start the theme session), followed by contributed presentations. They focus on broad scientific questions, not just areas of research, species groups or techniques. All themes will have a combination of traditional full-length talk slots and shorter 5-min Presentation Electronic Posters (PEP) talk slots to introduce the PEPs.

1. Applications of Integrated Model-observing Systems This theme provides an outline of oceanographic modelling and observations that have been translated and applied to research questions and operational requirements in the broader marine community.

With the maturing of the Integrated Marine Observing System, and a broadened development of coastal modelling systems, this information is now being utilised more widely to support decision making and impact investigations by management and community stakeholders. For this theme, we are seeking papers that use the available observational data and coastal modelling platforms to support further research or demonstrate an improved capability to respond to issues and assess dynamic systems.

2. Behaviour, Movement and Tracking of Marine Megafauna Australia is home to a large number of unique marine megafauna, including sharks, turtles and marine mammals. Understanding population dynamics, migratory patterns, habitat preferences and the impact of anthropogenic interactions is a key factor in mitigation. New approaches including direct tracking (acoustics, Argos, light based geolocation), modelling and molecular analyses have transformed our understanding of behaviour and movement for marine megafauna, including drifting turtle hatchlings and fish larvae up to adult turtles, fish and marine mammals that can swim strongly across entire ocean basins.

Combining and advancing technologies to track and monitor marine megafauna can provide new and important insights for improved management in particular for data deficient species. However, knowledge gaps remain for many marine megafauna, with new species still being discovered despite extensive long-term research. The marine environment, and the often small populations of marine megafauna, poses a significant challenge to successful research outcomes. This knowledge gap is often not recognised in public debates surrounding the management of megafaunal populations with limited public acceptance of scientific uncertainty. In addressing the challenges of marine megafauna research there is a need for collaborative research, assessment of long-term time series data and a review of current trends in megafauna research in the context of broader advancements in national marine science. In this theme, we welcome presentations from this diverse area and particularly those focusing on “burning questions” in the field and how these new approaches can be used for hypothesis testing rather than simply descriptive studies.

3. Estuarine and Coastal Biogeochemistry The land ocean interface including estuaries, subterranean estuaries and tidal inlets are zones of intense material transformation that bear the brunt of anthropogenic activities, receiving metals, greenhouse gases and nutrients. This session will explore how these zones process and respond to these material inputs. Contributions including ecological response to and controls on biogeochemical processes are particularly welcomed.

4. Estuarine Ecosystems Estuaries are highly variable, highly productive, and highly diverse. Coastal population growth, combined with an increasing reliance on shipping trade, is placing intense pressure on these vulnerable ecosystems. Better understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of estuarine ecosystems, and their response to natural and human stressors, is required if we are to protect their biological diversity while continuing to benefit from their services. This session will focus on the latest in estuarine diagnostics, modelling and understanding of physical, chemical and biological processes.

5. Marine Biogeography: origins, connectivity and micro-ecology of the austral biota Marine biogeography encompasses the distribution of marine species and ecosystems in geographic space and over geological time. This theme invites papers that explore patterns of the austral flora and fauna and that uncover processes that have shaped their ecology and evolution.

6. Marine Contamination Contamination is one of the key stressors affecting the health of marine and estuarine ecosystems worldwide. Contaminants typically occur as complex mixtures from a range of sources. Therefore, understanding how they affect ecosystem health requires an equally broad range of approaches, including chemical assessments, laboratory toxicity testing, experiments, field evaluations and monitoring. This theme will bring together the latest information on new and emerging contaminants and novel approaches to detecting biological impacts and ecological monitoring. We also aim to address key issues involved in assessing ecological impacts of contaminants and how we can improve current approaches to contaminant detection and management.

7. Mathematical Modelling of Marine Systems and Beyond Highly integrative and complex processes that occur within and between estuaries and oceans limit the synthesis of meaningful conclusions from experimental data. Mathematical models are increasingly used to identify the environmental, social, and economic factors that control the dynamics of marine systems. However the gulf between modellers and ecologists can be large, and this disconnect represents one of the biggest hurdles to improving both the models themselves, and their uptake. In this theme, we welcome presentations which directly use mathematical modelling of estuaries and oceans to answer important questions in marine science, particularly when this research bridges the modelling-ecological divide.

8. New Approaches to Marine Production Aquaculture in coastal and marine waters is expanding rapidly globally. New innovations and approaches are required to address some of the key production bottlenecks and environmental problems which have emerged. This session will focus on the science behind new ways to tackle aquaculture’s core issues.

9. Non-indigenous and Invasive Species: what have we learned? Although the establishment of non-indigenous marine species in Australian waters through human activities dates back to the 19th century, they have attracted little attention prior to the arrival of a number of highly invasive species in the 1980s and 1990s. Concerns about the potential impact on our ecosystems and economy of these and other possible introductions then both catalysed research, and triggered the development of a national system for the prevention, emergency response and ongoing management of marine pest incursions. The question now, twenty years on, is: what have we learned about the introduction, detection, facilitation, establishment, spread and impacts of non-indigenous marine species, the future threats they may pose, and the effectiveness of management strategies? We invite and would welcome presentations that address any of these aspects.

10. Population Connectivity: the ecology of larval dispersal and movement in marine environments The past two decades have seen major advances in our understanding of the biophysical complexities of marine dispersal and on movement. This session will focus the demographic consequences of population connectivity and its implications for marine spatial planning.

11. Using Monitoring to Map the Marine World There are numerous long-term biological monitoring programs being developed and implemented around the world. The design of such monitoring programs usually involves balancing factors that affect trade-offs between data quality and statistical power and the level of energy investment required for a given project.

Increasingly, long-term monitoring data are being used for purposes beyond what they were initially designed to address. For example, analysts are using such data to build habitat maps and predicting individual species distributions. While a sampling design may be appropriate for monitoring purposes, the design may fail to produce enough spatial data to build robust species distribution models. This theme session aims to bring together scientists and managers tasked with designing and implementing monitoring programs, as well as analysts whose job it is to use this monitoring data to provide predictions of distribution for species and habitats, to discuss the following questions:

1. What role does habitat mapping (and species distribution modelling) play in the management of marine resources? 2. What are the perceived secondary uses of monitoring data? 3. What are the likely issues associated with using monitoring data for building species distribution models and habitat maps?

12. Valuing Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services Marine and coastal ecosystems play a fundamental role in providing a wide range of benefits to sustainable human wellbeing, to the environment, the economy and the community. Services include, but are not limited to, coastal protection, nutrient cycling, nursery areas for commercially important species, carbon sequestration and many more. While our understanding of ecosystem services has improved significantly in recent years, primary data for many of these services in Australia is still lacking. There is also a need to improve our understanding and modelling of the complex interconnections between ecosystems and sustainable human well-being, to allow us to make better management decisions. Additionally, while some services provided by ecosystems can be measured and priced in markets, many important services cannot, so that many services and benefits are not accounted for in decision making and resource allocation. Over the past decade and more there has been a significant body of work internationally to recognise and account for the many ecosystem service benefits provided by nature. We invite papers that address these questions:

1. What are the ecosystem services provided by marine and coastal habitats (e.g. coastal protection, nursery areas for fisheries, carbon sequestration, recreational benefits etc.) and what primary data about the level of these services are is available from Australia? 2. What are the latest environmental accounting and evaluation approaches/frameworks that have been developed in Australia and around the world (and are there any approaches for monitoring and reporting on changes in these services over time)? 3. What approaches have been used for Payments for (marine and coastal) Ecosystem Services (PES) around the world and what are the opportunities in Australia?

13. Open Theme (for contributions that do not fit into named themes)

Symposia Symposia are narrowly defined, covering a hot topic of current interest, where new research and collaboration are encouraged. The topic will be discussed by key speakers and a wider audience, and the organiser will publish the outcomes in the AMSA bulletin.

S1. Are Marine Sanctuary Zones in Australia Adequate? The Australian Government signed an agreement called the Convention on Biological Diversity in which it agreed to effectively conserve 10% of its ecological regions by 2010. Scientific analysis classified Commonwealth waters into National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). In 1998 the Commonwealth, States and Northern Territory governments committed themselves to establishing the NRSMPA by 2012. The primary goal of the NRSMPA is to establish and effectively manage a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of marine reserves to contribute to the long-term conservation of marine ecosystems and to protect marine biodiversity. The questions this symposium will address are: Are marine scientists satisfied with the Sanctuary Zones within state waters? What should be done about the choice of Sanctuary Zones if the consensus is that MSZs are not satisfactory? What is the opinion of the symposium on Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas?

Join this symposium to express your opinion about the marine reserves, sanctuary zones and marine protected areas in state and federal waters. Express your scientific insight into the reasons these areas were selected and how well they are chosen and managed in Australia. Should we congratulate ourselves on well chosen and world standard reserves or should we ask where is the science? Is the consideration of biological diversity conservation and that of fishing and mineral and gas exploration given the same weight? Should scientists learn to present their findings in a more generally understood and simpler format? Where are the followers of scientific reason and how can scientists get to them. Bring along your cases of excellence in marine reserve selection and your criticisms. Help prepare a robust report on the position in Australia.

S2. Marine Wastewater Outfalls in the 21st Century: still a solution or just dilution The disposal (and treatment) of waste water using marine outfalls remains a contentious issue all around the world, due to both environmental and public health concerns. In recent decades better engineering has provided submarine outfalls so effective that constituents of even minimally treated wastewaters become undetectable within proximity to the point of discharge. But there is still much public opposition, and concern about the impact of nutrients and metals on marine ecosystems. And we now know that a range of endocrine disrupting compounds are not removed by even the highest levels of treatment. Modern waste water treatment systems can produce high quality recycled water, and increasingly do. But these often result in considerable greenhouse gas emissions. Have decades of engineering, research and environmental monitoring solved civilization’s perennial environmental and public health issue?

S3. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the health of Australia’s marine environment: innovative ideas to progress current approaches Many organisations have the same aim for, but different approaches to, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on Australia’s marine environment. Many organisations also continue to grapple with scientific issues relating to monitoring and evaluating the marine environment and reporting to different audiences. With increasing pressure for organisations to report on the effectiveness of environmental programs and contribute to state- wide and national environmental assessments, it is vital that marine practitioners share their innovative research and ideas in order to progress a national approach to monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

This symposium will provide a national forum to share innovative research that can help progress approaches to monitoring, evaluation and reporting of marine environmental programs. We welcome presentation and PEPs relating to monitoring (e.g., advances in marine monitoring, and indicator development), evaluation (e.g., developing data standards for online databases, setting condition categories, and decision thresholds), and reporting (e.g., advances in report cards, improvements in information accessibly and novel communication strategies for public engagement).

Symposium 3 Sponsors

S4. Marine habitat repair and restoration The intensive use of our coastal environment has come at a cost, with some 29% of Australian estuaries considered to be ‘extensively modified’ or ‘modified’—particularly those in the east, south-east and south-west. Some near-shore marine habitats, notably once extensive oyster reefs and mussel beds, are functionally extinct throughout most of Australia and most Australians are unaware this loss has even occurred. Repairing degraded coastal environments has the potential to boost fisheries productivity, increase biodiversity and improve water quality. Until fairly recently, however, repair of coastal marine environments has been largely ‘off the radar’ in terms of the national agenda. Whilst over the last 10 years, when other nations like the US, Canada and the UK have forged ahead and embraced the need for repair at a larger-scale, Australia’s efforts have been typically small and there is a general absence of policy and programs to support these efforts. This symposium aims to bring together scientists involved in coastal habitat repair and restoration, identify collaboration opportunities and set a direction for marine restoration in the years ahead.

Symposium 4 Sponsors

AMSA Conference Program in Brief The featured schedule was accurate as of the final print date 22nd June 2015. Please be aware that this is therefore subject to unforeseen last minute changes.

Sunday 5th July 2015 6.00pm – 8.00pm Welcome Reception

Monday 6th July 2015 7.30am Registration desk opens Costa Hall Outer Foyer 9.00am - 9.30am Conference welcome Costa Hall 9.30am - 10.05am Professor Emma Johnson: Keynote address Costa Hall 10.05am - 10.40am Morning tea Costa Hall Outer Foyer 10.40am - 12.20pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 12.20pm - 1.20pm Lunch Costa Hall Outer Foyer 1.20pm - 3.20pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 3.20pm - 3.50pm Afternoon tea Costa Hall Outer Foyer 3.50pm - 5.30pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 6.00pm – 8.00pm Public forum Costa Hall

Tuesday 7th July 2015 8.00am Registration desk opens Costa Hall Outer Foyer 9.00am - 9.05am Introduction Costa Hall 9.05am - 9.10am Presentation of the Allen and the Technical Awards Costa Hall 9.10am - 9.45am Dr Beth Fulton: Plenary address Costa Hall 9.45am - 10.20am Morning tea Costa Hall Outer Foyer 10.20am - 12.20pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 12.20pm - 1.20pm Lunch Costa Hall Outer Foyer 1.20pm - 3.20pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 3.20pm - 3.50pm Afternoon tea Costa Hall Outer Foyer 3.50pm - 5.30pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 7.30pm - late Student night The Edge

Wednesday 8th July 2015 8.00am Registration desk opens Costa Hall Outer Foyer 9.00am - 9.05am Introduction Costa Hall 9.05am - 9.10am Presentation of the Jubilee Awards Costa Hall 9.10am - 9.45am Jubilee Award Winner: Professor Maria Byrne: Plenary address Costa Hall 9.45am - 10.20am Geoff Jones: Plenary address Costa Hall 10.20am - 10.40am Morning tea Costa Hall Outer Foyer 10.40am - 12.20pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 12.20pm - 1.20pm Lunch Costa Hall Outer Foyer 1.20pm - 3.20pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 3.20pm - 3.50pm Afternoon tea Costa Hall Outer Foyer 3.50pm - 5.30pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres

Thursday 9th July 2015 8.30am Registration desk opens Costa Hall Outer Foyer 9.00am - 9.05am Introduction Costa Hall 9.05am - 9.40am Professor Robert Costanza: Plenary address Costa Hall 9.40am - 10.00am Morning tea Costa Hall Outer Foyer 10.00am - 12.00pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 12.00pm - 1.00pm Lunch Costa Hall Outer Foyer 1.00pm - 1.30pm AMSA Annual General Meeting Costa Hall 1.40pm - 3.20pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 3.20pm - 3.50pm Afternoon tea Costa Hall Outer Foyer 3.50pm - 5.30pm Concurrent sessions Various theatres 6.30pm – 11.30pm Gala Conference Dinner The Pier Geelong 11.45pm After party! Beav’s Bar 36

AMSA 2015 Full Schedule* Time Monday 6th July 2015 7:30 Registration (Costa Hall Outer Foyer) Plenary (Costa Hall) 9:00 Welcome to Country: Representative of the Wathaurong people 9:05 Introduction: Dr Adam Pope, Chair of Organising Committee 9:10 Official Opening : Councillor Darryn Lyons, Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong 9:20 Welcome to Deakin: Professor Joe Graffam, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor 9:30 Plenary: Professor Emma Johnston: Muddy Waters: Biodiversity, bioinvasion and ecosyst 10:05 Morning Tea 35m - Costa Hall Outer Foyer Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 D2.194 D2.211 D2.212 Symposium: S2 Wastewater Behaviour, Movement, Tracking of Application of Integrated Model Estuarine Ecosystems Marine Megafauna Observing Systems Open Theme: Climate Change Outfalls in the 21st Century: still a solution or just dilution? Chair: K. Dafforn Chair: M. Blewitt Chair: J. Treleaven em functioning in multiplyChair: G. stressed Newton coastal systems. Convenor: P Crockett J. Samper Villarreal: Blue gems: carbon V. Hamilton: Climate variability and storage in seagrass meadows is ecosystem response in the NE Pacific: Keynote: Ian Wallis: 10:40 determined by spatial and temporal Ocean Outfalls – the Inside Keynote: Mark Baird: a case study using otoliths of Pacific variability in environmental and Keynote: Clive McMahon: Ocean perch (Sebastes alutus). 144 View. 417 biological conditions. 193 IMOS: Seals are changing the way we An integrating observational and monitor the Southern Ocean 416 modelling system for the management of P. Lavery: Seagrass Blue Carbon – what the Great Barrier Reef. 307 C. Phelps: Determining the impact of C. Besley: 25 years on, have 11:00 is it made of and how well is it future climate change on ecologically Sydney’s deepwater ocean sequestered? 340 important macroalgae. 73 outfalls created problems in adjacent sediment? 85 A. Bellgrove: Restoration of J. Runcie: Diel patterns in a Posidonia N. Zanardo: Abundance, site fidelity T. Lynch: IMOS National Reference G. Ghedini: Erosion of compensatory effluent-affected intertidal 11:20 meadow: measuring molecules to and residency of the Burrunan Stations: a continental-wide physical, processes and the loss of resistance rocky shores: what have we macrophytes. 391 dolphin (Tursiops australis) in chemical and biological coastal observing to climate variability. 61 learnt and where to from here? Adelaide’s coastal waters. 16 system. 17 403 australis J. Wright: Ocean acidification alters A. Henderson: Population the predator-prey relationship L. Morris: Sewage effluent as T. Smith: Seed size affects germination demographics and seasonal variation R. Lee: Transforming environmental 11:40 and seedling survival in the seagrass protection with integrated model between the oyster Crassostrea gigas an ecological service provider? Zostera nigricaulis. 198 of the Burrunan Dolphin (Tursiops observing systems. 87 and the whelk Morula marginalba. 385 ) in the Gippsland Lakes. 201 240 PEPs: R. Proctor: Modelling made easy - The Marine Virtual Laboratory (120); R. PEPs: C. Collier: Interactive K. Charlton-Robb: Mixed species Vasile: Validation of Hydrodynamic temperature and ocean acidification P. Crockett: A long term R. Stafford-Bell: Seagrass hypocotyl assemblages: What do Burrunan Ocean Models Using Empirical Data For effects on tropical seagrasses (148); understanding of both water 12:00 hair development: the role of fresh dolphins, common dolphins and The Purpose of Larval Dispersal E. Mirskaya: Possible effects of quality and biological indicators water in the marine environment. 10 Australian fur seals have in common? Modelling (175); R. Eriksen: Using changes in sea level on coral is essential for quantifying the 363 plankton data from the National communities, and the abundance and impacts of wastewater Reference Stations in the Australian distribution of territorial reef fish (44) discharge. 353 Integrated Marine Observing System (203) 12:20 Lunch 1hr - Costa Hall Outer Foyer 37

Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 D2.194 D2.211 D2.212 Behaviour, Movement, Tracking of Application of Integrated Model Open Theme: Community Symposium: Wastewater Estuarine Ecosystems Marine Megafauna Observing Systems Interactions Outfalls in the 21st Centuary Chair: A. O'Brien Chair: G. Hays Chair: R. Lee Chair: J. Shimeta Convenor: L. . Morris S. Goldsworthy: Mixed fortunes: V.Cole: Shifting climate change S. Chidgey: Spatial and T. Davis: Uncovering habitats using contrasting status, trends in A. Lara: IMOS Observations for Coasts and research into Sydney Harbour – temporal effects of 13:20 video-based, cost-effective habitat abundance and management issues Extremes. 125 predictions for native and introduced wastewater discharges on mapping. 12 for South Australian pinnipeds. 272 species. 26 benthic marine ecology. 330 F. Bailleul: Assessing the smallest by H. Luter: Short-term nitrogen P. Scanes: Why did Nadgee Lake estuary one of the biggest: Australian sea V. Komyakova: Ecological traps in the pulses have no measurable H. Rapizo: Waves at the Southern Ocean impact on the health or 13:40 change state from benthic to pelagic lions as investigators of primary Time Series (SOTS) site. 176 marine environment: downsides to dominance? 194 production in the Great Australian artificial reef deployment. 121 microbiome of a common Bight. 135 marine sponge. 107 M. Feng: Freshening of the Indonesian M. Cambridge: Developing J. Kaempf: Spencer Gulf versus Coffin T. Knox: Dive behaviour of male Throughflow and the Leeuwin Current N. Kriegisch: Drift-kelp suppresses seagrass biomarkers to test 14:00 Bay: A comparison between inverse Australian fur seals: evidence of during the 2010-11 La Niña/Ningaloo sea urchin appetite for destruction. 76 impacts of desalination brine. estuaries of vastly different sizes. 89 individual specialisation. 231 Niño. 9 294 R. Baring: Macrobenthic species traits N. Hardy: Haul-outs and halos: V. Hrebien: Quantifying the effect of G. Clark: Effects of a and ecological functioning in an estuary assessing the effect of fur seal P. Thomson: In situ comparisons of glider seagrass productivity on growth and desalination outfall on marine 14:20 recovering from environmental stress. aggregations on temperate reefs. bio-optical measurements to CTD water survival of the foraminiferan invertebrate recruitment: 91 197 properties. 281 Marginopora vertebralis. 356 impacts and recovery. 409 G. Kendrick: Heat stress of two S. Evans: The role of genetic diversity in S. Iwanoczko: Influences of fasting on K. Wild-Allen: Fine-scale nutrient tropical seagrass species during low 14:40 the conservation of rapidly declining stable isotope ratios in male observations confirm simulated tides–net photosynthesis, dark seagrass meadows. 96 southern elephant seals. 388 biogeochemical variability in estuarine, respiration and diel in situ internal coastal and shelf systems. 351 aeration. 114

PEPs: J. Pocklington: Can structurally PEPs: J Ford: Using local knowledge to simple algal leaves provide a refuge understand seagrass decline in Corner Discussion Time for phytal animals when complex Convenor: P. Crockett Inlet, Victoria (49); S. Branigan: PEPS: K. Kliska: An 18-year time PEP: S. Jennings: Oceanographic synopsis fronds are lost to disturbance? (47); Conserving and restoring Australia's series of Australian fur seal diet in of the Southern Bluefin Tuna spawning M. Watson: The influence of biofilm- 15:00 Great Southern Seascapes (55); M Bass Strait. (134); A. Guerrero: ground in the Eastern Indian Ocean. L. associated ciliates on the settlement Vozzo: Interacting effects of habitat Drivers behind the fatty acid Beckley: Participation by Australia in the of Galeolaria caespitosa (177); S. forming species on key processes composition in mammals (67) second International Indian Ocean Strydom: The influence of spectral maintaining community structure (156); Expedition (2016-2020). 74 light quality on growth and M Bakhtiyari: Size and species diversity reproduction in the seagrass of fish using a created mangrove (397) Halophila ovalis (248) 15:20 Afternoon Tea 30m - Costa Hall Outer Foyer

Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 D2.194 D2.211 D2.212

Behaviour, Movement, Tracking of Application of Integrated Model Estuarine Ecosystems Marine Megafauna Observing systems Open Theme: Unique topics Chair: J. Ford Chair: T. Rogers Chair: A. Lopez Chair: J. Keesing G. Bribiesca Contreras: Two new A. Bugnot: Urban sprawl in marine M. Salton: Terrestrial and marine A. Richardson: Plankton 2015: an species of brittle-stars 15:50 systems: impacts, consequences and protected areas as a management assessment of Australia’s oceans (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from mitigation options. 45 tool for wide-ranging marine fauna. using plankton as ecosystem an anchialine cave in Cozumel Island, 20 indicators. 229 Mexico. 143 K. Liversage: Ecology of relic marine J-O. Meynecke: Lessons from K. Jones: Ephemeral biological L. Critchley: Ecological effects of coastal production in the oligotrophic North assemblages in unique marine- 16:10 armouring. 162 attempted video tagging of groundwater influenced lake humpback whales. 52 West Shelf, Western Australia. 278 habitats. 214 J. Reinke: Coastal fronts and T. Courtney: Coastal and upwelling areas utilised by oceanographic influences on the I. McLeod: Life-history movements 16:30 T. Stelling-Wood: Persistence of ghost migrating humpback whales, Queensland (Australia) east coast of black and spot-tail bass in Papua crabs in a highly urbanised estuary. 86 Megaptera novaeangliae, on the saucer scallop (Amusium balloti) New Guinea. Gold Coast, Australia (69); fishery. 406

K. Dafforn: Testing the waters: impacts PEPs: A. Sutton: Trophodynamics of T. Malthus: Where next with Earth PEP: M. Kinsey: Marine Sciences for 16:50 of contaminants on ecosystem structure krill and its potential role in blue Observation of coastal water Melbourne Schools: the Docklands and function in urban waterways. 127 whale feeding in the Perth Canyon, quality? 386 Ocean Education Project (365) south-east Indian Ocean (108); J. Reinke: Early calving of East Australian humpback whales outside J. Barton: Insights into Victorian of historic calving grounds (266); K. Cinque: Applications of 17:10 estuaries from the Index of Estuary Ms S. Stack: Match My Whale: A hydrodynamic modelling in Condition implementation trial. 362 crowdsourcing platform for cross- Western Port Bay. 225 identification of humpback whales (405) 17:30 Close of Monday sessions 18:00 Public Forum – Costa Hall

Time Tuesday 7th July 2015 8:00 Registration (Costa Hall Outer Foyer) Plenary (Costa Hall) 9:00 Introduction, Housekeeping 9:05 Allen Award and Technical Award: Tim Lynch, AMSA President 9:10 Plenary: Dr Beth Fulton: Painting the world with numbers – what can we see? 9:45 Morning Tea 35m - Costa Hall Outer Foyer Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 D2.194 D2.211 D2.212 Behaviour, Movement, Tracking of Mathematical modelling of Marine Non-indigenous and Invasive Estuarine Ecosystems Marine Megafauna Systems and Beyond New Methods of Marine Production species: what have we learned? Chair: P. Scanes Chair: O. Meynecke Chair: M. Adams Chair: T Dempster Chair: J Lewis J. Gay: Particulate organic matter C. Cavallo: Predicting climate 10:20 deposition and sediment flux in and Keynote: Tracy Rogers warming effects on green turtle around seagrass meadows in Port When mammals returned to the sea: hatchling viability and dispersal Keynote: Steven Clarke: Australian Keynote: Simon Barry: Marine Phillip Bay. 217 the ecological implications of re- performance. 79 Aquaculture: Novel innovations and invasive species management in adaption to marine life in a rapidly approaches to drive future growth. Australia - past history and future F. Valesini: Multi-decadal changes in the M. Adams: Seagrass responses to 279 challenges. 418 10:40 fish fauna of an extensively modified changing world. 389 light on different timescales: how do estuary. 376 models fit in? 57 G. Newton: The vital planktonic-benthic R. Trebilco: Size-based insights into link in estuarine ecology – with A. Sequeira: Comparative analysis of fish community structure: a kelp 11:00 particular reference to the Calanoida movement patterns of marine forest case study and Southern Keynote: Peter Nichols: Progress and estuarine fishes. 422 vertebrates. 302 Ocean applications. 99 towards innovative and sustainable Keynote: Jan Carey: Non-indigenous supplies of the health-benefitting marine species - not all created D. Chamberlain: Choosing spatially J. Hartog: Demonstration of a K. O'Brien: Relative timescales of long-chain omega-3 oils for equal, 374 resistance and recovery control aquaculture. 122 11:20 explicit conservation actions in estuarine Likelihood Framework for light- resilience in seagrass ecosystems. and coastal ecosystems. 257 based geolocation. 235 269 K. Lee Chang: Australian P. Wu: Using complex systems Thraustochytrids: potential G. Parry: Decadal decline in S. Hickey: Changing coastal landscapes: R. McIntosh: Trends in at-sea vulnerability models to synthesise demersal fish biomass coincident 11:40 tracking statistics of the Little production of biofuels and long- with a prolonged drought and Where are mangroves going? 32 Penguin from 2005 to 2012. 276 environmental windows for chain omega-3 oils using industrial dredging: a seagrass case study. 319 wastes. 68 introduction of an exotic starfish. 311 PEPs: M. Feng: Ocean circulation, larval retention, and connectivity among coral populations on the D. Burfeind: Recovery of benthic S. Weeks: Unique sequence of events Northwest Shelf of Australia (8); A. R. Day: 1H-NMR-based metabolite 12:00 communities following the installation triggers manta ray feeding frenzy in Roura: Small copepods add profiling of abalone digestive gland P. Doherty: Controlling outbreaks of of environmentally friendly moorings. the southern Great Barrier Reef, zooplankton to their diet: in response to short-term starvation. the Crown-of-thorns Starfish. 343 237 Australia. 42 consequences for pelagic 372 functioning, trophic webs and carbon fluxes (168) 12:20 Lunch 1hr - Costa Hall Outer Foyer

Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 D2.194 D2.211 D2.212 Symposium: Monitoring, evaluation, Behaviour, Movement, Tracking of Non-indigenous and Invasive Estuarine Ecosystems reporting on the marine New Methods of Marine Production Marine Megafauna species: what have we learned? environment Chair: A. Bugnot Chair: P. Addison Chair: M. Blewitt Chair: R. Day Chair: J. Lewis C. White: Shifting the quality of a P. O'Donnell: Penrhyn Estuary Habitat A. Dujon: High resolution Fastloc- trophic subsidy: Does increased use A. Hirst: Range expansion of Asterias 13:20 Enhancement Plan: Overview and Keynote: Abigail McQuatters- GPS tracks reveal the complexity of of high omega-6 feeds in amurensis along the east coast of Synthesis of Results. 23 Gollop: sea turtle migrations. 296 aquaculture impact on ecology of Victoria via larval dispersal. 199 Challenges for developing policy marine food webs? 165 indicators in a climate of M. Thums: Tidal fronts and complex, K. Wiltshire: Investigation of native B. Mitchell: Emergency response to P Straw: Penrhyn Estuary Habitat macroecological change. 414 submerged topography define southern Australian seaweeds with an incursion of Northern Pacific 13:40 Enhancement Plan: Results of Shorebird movements of flatback sea turtles potential for use in Integrated Multi- Seastar at Tidal River - applied Monitoring. 28 (Natator depressus). 106 Trophic Aquaculture. 147 science on the run. 371

R. Pillans: Long term movement of L. Barrett: Risk and reward for L. Hedge: Quantifying recreational I Fitridge: Biofouling and marine F. Molloy: Adaptive management of Green Turtles Chelonia mydas in invasive seastar feeding 14:00 intensity in complex urban waterways. aquaculture: risks, management and the Great Barrier Reef. 185 Gladstone Harbour: advantages of aggregations at Victorian shellfish 410 control. 289 acoustic telemetry. farms. 38

F. Warren-Myers: Stable isotope J. Shimeta: Long-term, indirect B. Sullivan: Occurrence of Labyrinthula C. Roelfsema: Great Barrier Reef PEPs:aduncus S. Sheehan: Tidal inﬂuences on otolith fingerprint signatures: a consequences of herbicide 14:20 spp. in seagrass species of New South Common ‘Live’ Habitat Map: A New foraging strategies of resident mass marking technique for farmed treatment to control the invasive Wales, Australia. 367 Project. 321 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops ) in Jervis Bay, NSW (286); D. salmon. 260 saltmarsh grass, Spartina anglica. 41 australis Lawler: Fin identification of the T. Dempster: Mismatching host and P. Miloslavich: GOOS Biology and E. Verspaandonk: Effects of herbicide D. McAfee: Can oysters provide a refuge Burrunan Dolphin (Tursiops parasite environments reduces Ecosystems Panel – The challenge of treatments on Spartina anglica and 14:40 for coastal biodiversity in a changing ) in Port Phillip Bay: encounter rates and prevents identifying ecological essential invertebrates in an Australian world? 117 bridging the gap to current infestation of farmed salmon by sea ocean variables. 208 saltmarsh. 247 population assessments (348); lice. 212

PEPs: R Patterson: You never, never pinnatifida know - if you never, never… integrate PEPs: A. Christie: Assessing the your monitoring and research needs effectiveness of removals of Undaria (273); P O'Donnell: Penrhyn Estuary at Point Cook Marine Habitat Enhancement Plan: Results of K. Chartrand: Growing Deep – How Sanctuary (183); C. Sherman: Genetic Monitoring Created Intertidal Benthic 15:00 to succeed as a deepwater seagrass. architecture and evolutionary Habitats (27); P. O'Donnell: Penrhyn 141 change in the invasive Northern Estuary Habitat Enhancement Plan: Pacific sea star (297); K. Wiltshire: Results of Saltmarsh Monitoring (25); P. Future directions for the detection of O’Donnell: Penrhyn Estuary Habitat marine pests (160) Enhancement Plan: Results of Seagrass Monitoring (26)

15:20 Afternoon Tea - Costa Hall Outer Foyer

Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 D2.194 D2.211 D2.212 Symposium: Monitoring, evaluation, Non-indigenous and Invasive Estuarine Ecosystems reporting on the marine Open Theme: Oceanic ecosystems Open Theme: Fisheries species: what have we learned? environment Chair: D. Chamberlain Chair: D. Collins Chair: A. Marshall Chair: R. Day Chair: J. Shimeta J. Morrongiello: Additive and S. Kamal: A closer look at the effect of A. Lewis: Geoscience Australia's J. Lathlean: Cheating the locals: T. Walshe: Integrated and cost- synergistic impacts of fishing and 15:50 aerial root spatial complexity on fish support in the search for Malaysian invasive mussels ‘steal’ the cooling effective monitoring. 221 warming on the growth of a distribution in mangroves. 396 Airlines Flight MH370. 411 effect of indigenous mussels. 93 temperate marine fish. 346

G. Wood: Shoreline shutterbugs: N. Patten: Picoplankton community P. Ross: Quantifying native and H-Y. Lin: Fishing and loss of connectivity A. Redondo Rodriguez: Predictability assessing human use of coastal structure and virioplankton invasive oyster distributions in the 16:10 interact to threaten persistence of a of South Australian sardine habitat environments with panoramic abundance in offshore waters of the iconic urbanised Port Jackson migratory population in Australia. 295 distribution. 232 camera systems. 344 central Great Australian Bight. 126 estuary. 252

C. Henderson: Top-down control is Y. Shah Esmaeili: Comparing the E. Kupriyanova: Is Hydroides P. Thompson: Predicting the future significantly important in structuring Effectiveness of Aquatic Reserves in M. Reis: Priorities for management brachyacanthus (Serpulidae, 16:30 by observing the past: Precipitation sub-tropical seagrass fish communities. the Hawkesbury shelf bioregion, of Chondrichthyans 349 Annelida) a widely distributed and phytoplankton. 136 140 NSW. 320 species? 138 R. Stuart-Smith: Identifying and M. Wellington: Macro-zooplankton F. Warry: Nitrogen loads influence tracking resilience to ocean E. Vargas-Fonseca: The ecology of J. Lewis: Biofouling, shipping and availability for foraging seabirds and 16:50 trophic organization of estuarine fish warming in marine communities surf-zone fishes on ocean shores: a invasive marine species: What are the influence of meso-scale assemblages. 146 using the Community Temperature review. 77 the risks? 182 oceanographic features. 98 Index. 58

PEPs: J. Hartog: Healthcheck for PEPs: R. Patterson: Is what you see Australian Fisheries (244); L. Wong: really what you get? A new method Assessing the distribution and of monitoring sediment dynamics in habitat preference of spotted a macro-tidal, monsoon climate PEP: J. Beard: Zooplankton as L. McKenzie: The spatial influence of handfish for development of new (274); S. Claus: Catalysing research indicators of changing dominance of treated effluent in Tilligerry Creek, artificial spawning habitat (322); J. 17:10 and adoption on the Great Barrier water masses in Storm Bay, NSW: 15N & 13C stable isotopes in Smith: Modelling fish attraction to Reef (161); D. Flynn: High-resolution Tasmania: comparing the 1970s to estuarine bioindicators. 21 artificial reefs – not always a fatal GigaPan remote camera now. 230 attraction (303); O. Berry: A photography for quantification of comparison of morphological and angler metrics and coastal area use DNA metabarcoding analysis of diets (306) in exploited marine fishes (301)

17:30 Close of Tuesday sessions 19:30 Student Night - The Edge

Time Wednesday 8th July 2015 8:00 Registration (Costa Hall Outer Foyer) Plenary (Costa Hall) 9:00 Introduction, Housekeeping 9:05 Jubilee Awards and Presentation 9:10 Plenary: Professor Maria Byrne - Marine invertebrates in a high-CO2 world - case studies from echinoderms 9:45 Plenary: Professor Geoff Jones (2014 Jubilee winner) - Unravelling the mysteries of ma 10:20 Morning Tea - Costa Hall Outer Foyer Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 D2.193 rine larval dispersal: where D2.211 D2.212 Symposium: Monitoring, evaluation, Population connectivity: Ecology of Marine Biogeography of Austral Biota Estuarine, Coastal Biogeochemistry reporting on marine environment Dispersal and Movement we’ve been and where we’re going Chair: J. Strugnell Chair: P. Addison Chair: S. Swearer & G. Jenkins Chair: A. Longmore R. Coles: Dispersion of seagrass propagules P. Scanes: Estuary Health and connectivity among meadows in the 10:40 Assessment and Reporting in NSW. Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Keynote: Tim O'Hara: 236 Keynote: Isaac Santos: The ophiuroid project: a global Queensland, Australia. 154 Pumping the coastal carbon cycle: biogeography and phylogeny of a class S. Howe: Improved Sampling of Rock Porewater exchange from tidal rivers to S. Hawes: Making sense of connectivity of marine invertebrates. 418 Lobster in Merri Marine Sanctuary the continental shelf 11:00 studies using a biophysical modelling and the role of habitat in MPA approach - a systematic review. 211 assessments. 333 E. Butler: Fluxes of nutrients and A. Miller: Seascape genetics and K. McMahon: Assessing risk from J. Smith: Eastern king prawn dispersal in suspended solids at the marine genomics refute long-standing current and future pressures on 11:20 eastern Australia: new information from boundary of a tropical macrotidal assumptions of recruitment patterns in a seagrass habitat – a nation-wide particle tracking. 337 estuary, Darwin Harbour – observations commercially important mollusc. 202 spatially explicit approach. 249 and modelling. 390

K. Brodersen: O2 and pH C. Carrea: Population structure and long- M. Saunders: Human impacts on E. Nicholson: Assessing risks to microdynamics around the rhizome and term decline in three species of heart connectivity in marine and freshwater 11:40 marine ecosystems: the IUCN Red roots of seagrasses determined via urchins (Abatus spp.) in the Vestfold ecosystems assessed using graph theory: a List of Ecosystems. 250 novel optical nanoparticle-based Hills, East Antarctica. 283 review. 284 sensors. 43

PEPs: P. Lavery: Genetic connectivity of the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the PEPs: S. Trevathan-Tackett: Is the Kimberley and Pilbara, Western Australia microbial priming effect a potential P. Lee: North or South? Biogeographic K. Anthony: From rear-view (341); S. Tol: Seagrass seed dispersal by threat to seagrass blue carbon storage? 12:00 origins of shorebirds with variable monitoring to early warning and marine mega-herbivores: Dugongs (Dugong (149); E. Butler: Determining aluminium mating systems. 83 proactive management. 338 dugon) and green sea turtles (Chelonia speciation in seawater from a mydas) (166); R. Vasile: Natal elemental subtropical estuarine port (400) signatures in the otoliths of Lipophrys pholis (Pisces: Blenniidae) (173)

12:20 Lunch 1hr - Costa Hall Outer Foyer 43

Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 D2.194 D2.211 D2.212

Symposium: Monitoring, evaluation, Population connectivity: Ecology of Estuarine, Coastal Biogeochemistry Symposium: Marine habitat repair & Marine Biogeography of Austral Biota reporting on marine environment Dispersal and Movement Restoration Chair: T. O'Hara Chair: S. Howe Chair: G. Jenkins & S. Swearer Chair: E Butler Convenor: C. Gillies J. Kent: Genetic analyses show high A. Parr: Monitoring marine reserves levels of connectivity for King P. Macreadie: Hot spots and hot 13:20 – a management perspective. 360 George whiting (Sillaginodes moments in seagrass ‘blue carbon’ Keynote: Cynthia Riginos: (Comparative punctatus) across two states. 316 science. 116 Keynote: E.mma Jackson: How well phylogeography)^200 Emergent equipped is Australia to reverse the patterns of genetic diversity across the P. Hedge: Reflecting on a decade of R. McWilliam: Genetic patchiness trend of declining seagrass habitat tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. 345 collaborations to improve among recruits of Girella elevata: A. Thomson: Bioturbators: Friend or through restoration? 53E. 13:40 monitoring, evaluation and reporting on marine ecosystem health in spatial and temporal variation in foe to seagrass carbon stocks? 145 offshore waters. 375 genetic composition. 224 P. Hamer: Rebuilding shellfish E. Sinclair: Ancient genetic signatures P. von Bumgarten: Understanding C. Sherman: The South American A. Bellgrove: Comparison of marine populations: critical ecological 14:00 and long distance dispersal in a marine the effectiveness of Marine Parks in seagrass Zostera chiliensis: macrophytes for their contributions features of our bays and estuaries – foundation species. 243 South Australia. 259 endangered or invasive? 207 to blue carbon sequestration. 402 under-appreciated, lost and under threat. 331 K. Kilminster: What do seagrass M. Coleman: Restoration of M. Waycott: Connectivity of seagrass N. Bax: What is the status of L. Woodings: Broad scale population experience? Snapshot versus time- underwater forests. 14:20 populations through gene flow along Australia's Marine Environment -- connectivity of the Eastern Rock integrated measures of sediment- I. Mcleod: Estuary Repair in North eastern Australia. 275 developing SOE 2016. 312 Lobster, Sagmariasus verreauxi. 215 sulfide exposure. 167 Queensland. 412

M. Amor: Untangling the Octopus A. Carter: Developing thresholds and G. Jenkins: Closing the life history H. Tohidi Farid: New approach for M. Wilcox: Determining the vulgaris species complex using a indicators of seagrass meadow loop on a fish species with determination of Fe in presence of sustainability of restored soft- 14:40 combined morphological and genomic condition using long-term embayment, coastal and oceanic life high concentrations of natural sediment mussel beds in the Hauraki organic matter (NOM) by the Gulf, New Zealand. 172 approach. 246 monitoring data. 204 phases. 233 modified ferrozine method. 163 PEPs: P. Addison: Applying decision science to develop an integrated monitoring program for the Great PEPs: B. Cleveland: Developing C. Villacorta-Rath: Population structure Barrier Reef. 299; K. Kilminster: S. Swearer: Realising connectivity- PEPs: M. Kilminster: Modelling the methods for oyster reef repair in 15:00 in the highly dispersed southern rock Unravelling complexity in seagrass the influence of early life history on biogeochemical drivers of water Port Phillip Bay, Victoria (310); I. lobster, Jasus edwardsii. 241 systems for management. 169; D. the dynamics of marine quality degradation in the Swan- Mcleod: Estuary Repair in North Collins: Measuring the effectiveness metapopulations. 190 Canning estuary. 387 Queensland. 412 of report cards in the age of information. 239 15:20 Afternoon Tea - Costa Hall Outer Foyer

Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 Theatre D2.194 D2.211 D2.212 Symposium: Monitoring, Marine Biogeography of Austral evaluation, reporting on Population connectivity: Ecology Estuarine, Coastal Symposium: Marine habitat Biota marine environment of Dispersal and Movement Biogeochemistry repair & Restoration Chairs: P. Addison, S. Howe Chair: J. Strugnell and D. Collins Chair: J. Morrongiello Chair: I Santos Convenor: C. Gillies K. Naughton: How much data is G. Jones: Lessons from J. O'Connor: There's no smell like S. Whitehead: Multiple H. Alleway: Recovering the loss enough? 1 name, 5 nuclear clades, 6 Tasmania’s Monitoring and home: how sensory ontogeny stressors, estuarine ecosystem of shellfish reefs, from coastal 15:50 mitochondria: resolving the Reporting System for National plays a role in the early life condition and management ecosystems and human memory. history of estuarine-dependent 364 Ophionereis schayeri complex. 62 Parks and Reserves 35 fishes. 264 response. 421 M. Alvarez Rodriguez: R. Galaiduk: Bioregional distributions J. Carey: Reporting on the E. Fobert: Implications of Changes in primary and assemblage composition of fish condition of Victoria’s Marine disperser phenotype on vertical productivity in Sydney A. Irving: Seagrass rehabilitation 16:10 populations with high endemism in National Parks and Marine migration and dispersal Harbour following a storm in South Australia: a story of loss, south-western Australia. 408 Sanctuaries. 368 outcomes of a temperate reef event: using cell-size as a action, failure, and success. 153 fish. 94 descriptor. 205 D. Cottam: Sharing is caring - S. Engelhard: A network analysis A. Marshall: Temporal J. Tanner: Seagrass rehabilitation S. Woolley: Energy export drives Real-time reports of pollution, of habitat connectivity for reef- changes in the genetic using Posidonia seedlings in 16:30 unique global patterns of deep-sea fish deaths and algal blooms associated fish to evaluate capacity of the Port Phillip Bay South Australia. 78 biodiversity. 305 in the Port Phillip Bay sediment microbiome to catchment, Victoria. 291 marine reserve placement. 218 remove nitrogen. 255 S. Birrer: Heavy metals and H. Macintosh: New sampling H. Kirkman: Marine Protected organic enrichment affect 16:50 highlights undescribed diversity in the Discussion Areas and Coastal Management greenhouse gas production Discussion deep Great Australian Bight. 384 in Australia. pathways in sediment microbial communities. 277 PEPs: A. O'Brien: Western Port: a marine biodiversity assessment (315); J. Potts: Increasing benthic S. Chambers: Genetic diversity and community respiration rates population connectivity of the eastern inevitably leads to net blue spot goby Pseudogobius sp. in heterotrophy and large 17:10 south-east Australia (332); X. Weber: inorganic nutrient effluxes to Cryptic kelp: Identifying the processes the water column regardless driving divergence within an of good light climate in photic ecologically important Australian kelp estuarine sediments. 287 species, Durvillaea potatorum (113) 17:30 Close of Wednesday sessions

Time Thursday 9th July 2015 8:00 Registration (Costa Hall Foyer) Plenary: Costa Hall 9:00 Introduction, Housekeeping 9:05 Plenary: Professor Robert Costanza: Valuing Marine and Coas 9:40 Morning Tea - Costa Hall Outer Foyer Lecture Theatre Costa Hall Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Lecture Theatre D2.193 Theatre D2.194 tal Ecosystem ServicesD2.211 D2.212 Marine Biogeography of Austral Monitoring to map the marine Biota Valuing Ecosystem services Marine Contamination world Chair: T. O'Hara Chair: S. Howe Chair: A. O'Brien Chair: J. Monk W. Figueira: Evaluating thermal performance reactions norms as 10:00 a predictor of vagrant tropical Keynote: Kathryn Hassell: Keynote: Alan Jordan: Recent fish success in temperate Keynote: Tony Varcoe: Emerging contaminant concerns advances in the mapping and waters. 350 Accounting for and valuing ecosystem services in Victoria's in Victorian bays and estuaries, monitoring of marine habitats J. Lathlean: Geographic parks. 347 and impacts assessment using that aim to improve management variability in the utilisation of biological monitoring. 265 effectiveness. 423 10:20 biogenic habitat: a South African perspective. 92 C. Gillies: Nature needs people: an overview of The Nature A. Finger: The Little Penguin J. Anstee: Assessing the impacts J. Uribe-Palomino: Composition Conservancy’s programs, (Eudyptula minor) as an effective of water quality on seagrass 10:40 and distribution of tintinnids in research and decision-making and accurate indicator of coastal extent using satellite time-series Australian marine waters. 200 tools for marine ecosystem trace metal pollution. 132 analysis. 377 services. 54 S. Bracewell: Fundamental species traits across a latitudinal P. Groves: The Ecological Process R. Cartlidge: Temperature as a J. Kaempf: Evidence of an 11:00 gradient: does the competition- Calculator: a tool for prioritising significant determining factor of upwelling centre on the western colonization trade-off hold true? ecological processes important petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity shelf of Tasmania. 88 184 to the Great Barrier Reef. 151 in marine spills. 80 M. Vozzo: Hydrocarbon A. Sutton: Basin-wide contamination from the L. Clementson: Providing high oceanographic drivers of krill D-M Audas: Is a changing Deepwater Horizon oil spill quality chlorophyll–a data 11:20 zoogeography in the Indian landscape leading to a changed affects long- and short-term streams from moored observing Ocean. 104 Great Barrier Reef? oyster recruitment and systems over broad spatial and succession. 178 temporal scales – part II. 254

PEPs: P. York: Are all seagrasses PEPs: K. Warnakulasooriya: created equal? Quantifying the Stable isotopes in mangrove PEP: G. Walker-Smith: New relative value of ecosystem leaves and gastropod snails K. Griffin: Biomonitoring crustaceans from the deep services on the Great Barrier reflect exposure to treated disturbed urbanised estuaries 11:40 waters of the Great Australian Reef (40); E. Yassin Mohammed: sewage effluent in a tropical with fine-resolution species Bight and their rapid Striking a balance between macro-tidal ecosystem (Buffalo distribution models driven by documentation using the carrots and sticks for fisheries Creek, Darwin, Australia) (181); A. seabed photo data. 355 Scratchpad platform (359) management: lessons from Carroll: Potential impacts of Bangladesh (323) marine seismic surveys on fish & invertebrates (102) 12:00 Lunch 1hr - Costa Hall Outer Foyer

13:00 AMSA AGM – Costa Hall Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 Theatre D2.194 D2.211 D2.212 Open Theme: Impacts on Monitoring to map the marine Symposium Are Marine Communities Valuing Ecosystem services Marine Contamination world Sanctuary Zones Adequate? Chair: L. Avery Chair: C. Gillies Chair: P. Crockett Chair: J. Monk Convenor: H. Kirkman

J. Sherwood: Installation and S. Dittmann: Carbon J. Woods: Community response to A. Schimel: Designing a validation operational effects of a HVDC sequestration in southern metal pollutants; a field spiking ground truth dataset for habitat A general discussion of the issues 13:40 temperate saltmarshes – local mapping using multibeam sonar - for all who are interested! marine cable: Basslink, SE insight and global comparison. experiment on an estuarine data, object-based image analysis Australia. 142 308 mudflat. 304 and AUV video. 379

R. Hull: The influence of M. Young: Forests of the sea: C. Brown: How overfishing can temporally heterogeneous Predictive habitat modelling to 14:00 M. McHugh: An angle to address improve fishery production. assess the abundance of canopy benthic-trawl impacts. 195 copper stress on mothers and forming kelp forests on their offspring. 180 temperate reefs. 150

R. McCallum: Spatial and temporal L. O'Connor Sraj: Trace patterns in seagrass abundance and W. Zhang: Surfing it together – determination of ammonia H. Kobryn: Mapping the Ningaloo 14:20 condition: insights for dredging the new wave of Marine nitrogen in marine waters using World Heritage Area to monitor management. 164 Biotechnology. 267 a flow analysis method with flow impacts of tourism. 219 manipulation. 357 C. Conacher: Review of R. Swanson: The impact of a C. Ewers: Blue carbon Y. Huang: Integrated microfluidic techniques for monitoring 14:40 century of industrial pollution on hotspots: distribution and technology for sub-lethal and impacts of dredging on seagrass: the current condition of the lower abundance of blue carbon in behavioral marine ecotoxicity a case study from north Hunter River estuary. 380 Victoria. 292 biotests. 128 Queensland. PEPs: K. McMahon: Understanding PEPs: A. Jalali: Topographic and impacts of dredging on the light PEPs: D. Nugegoda: Microbeads climatic descriptors determining climate – insights for impact from 'Personal Care' products the distribution of temperate prediction and threshold C. Martin: A systematic review facilitate transfer of adsorbed benthic invertebrates in a 15:00 development in seagrass habitat of coastal and marine cultural pollutants to fish (170); J. commercial fishery (71); S. (251); J. Keesing: Palaeoecological ecosystem services: current Merrett: Spatial distribution and McKenna: Reaping the benefits and biogeochemical analyses of status and future research. aggregation of marine debris in a (and costs) of monitoring sediments indicates long term complex, urbanized estuary: seagrass in Queensland ports changes associated with pearl Sydney Harbour (101) (206) oyster aquaculture (129); 15:20 Afternoon Tea 30m - Costa Hall Outer Foyer

Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Lecture Theatre Costa Hall D2.193 D2.194 D2.211 D2.212 Open Theme: Marine Protected Areas Valuing Ecosystem services Marine Contamination Chair: H. Kirkman Chair: S. Howe Chair: R. Hull & J. Merrett L. Beckley: Marine Protected Volumes: Incorporating T. Brewer: Planning for A. O'Brien: Contamination in estuaries: 15:50 oceanographic processes into the coastal and estuarine new approaches to measuring Commonwealth Marine Reserves landscape values. 285 ecological impacts. 314 in bioregions off Western Australia. 64 H. Davies: Planning for adequate D. Harrison: Phytoplankton class marine sanctuaries through H. Niner: The potential for selectivity of oligotrophic phytoplankton 16:10 integration of climate change biodiversity offsetting in the assemblages under nutrient enrichment. resilience features. 97 marine environment. 137 395 P. Goldsworthy: Ecosystem R. Przeslawski: Sponge biodiversity services and Net L. Naidoo: The effect of a climatically- patterns and their application to the Environmental Benefit induced wet phase on the meiofaunal 16:30 management of a tropical marine Analysis for offshore community of the St Lucia Estuary, reserve. 100 decommissioning: partial South Africa. 14 versus complete removal. 123

PEPs: A. George: Does zoning affect the distribution and abundance of sponge growth forms on corals D. Liu: Causes and reefs of the Great Barrier Reef? consequences of the world’s D. Greer: Understanding Water Quality 16:50 (404); L. Beckley: Benchmarking largest macroalgal blooms in in Raglan Harbour. 290 human use of the new Eighty Mile the Yellow Sea, China. 131 Beach Marine Park prior to zoning (63)

17:10 17:30 Close of final sessions AMSA Judging Panel Meeting 18:30 Gala Conference Dinner - The Pier 23:30 After Party - Beavs Bar CONFERENCE FINISHED

*The featured schedule was accurate as of the final print date 22nd June 2015. Please be aware that this is therefore subject to unforeseen last minute changes

The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Seagrass responses to light on different timescales: how do models fit in?

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Matthew Adams1, Dr. Angus Ferguson2, Dr. Catherine Collier3, Dr. Paul Maxwell4, Dr. Brodie Lawson5, Dr. Mark Baird6, Ms. Jimena Samper-Villarreal1, Ms. Renee Gruber7, Dr. Kate O’Brien1 1University of Queensland, 2NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 3James cook University, 4Healthy Waterways Ltd, 5Queensland University of Technology, 6CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 7University of Western Australia

Light is a critical requirement for seagrass survival, and light deprivation is a major contributing factor to the loss of seagrass meadows at a global scale. However, light availability varies on multiple timescales, ranging from seconds to years. The responses of seagrasses to this variable light environment are complex, and analyses using modelling approaches can help to identify the dynamics that likely underlie the ecological processes. This talk presents our recent work combining field data and modelling approaches to identify (1) how seagrass ecosystem metabolism responds to light history over the diel cycle and (2) how seagrass biomass responds to light history on seasonal timescales. First, we analysed the diel pattern of O2 flux between a seagrass ecosystem and the water column for three depths within a monospecific Zostera muelleri meadow in Swansea Shoals, NSW. Three separate models, each representing different ecological mechanisms, were fit to the data to identify the mechanism most likely to explain the distinct pattern observed in O2 flux, which was a model of diel variation in ecosystem respiration driven by light history. Eco- logical mechanisms which are potentially responsible for this best model fit are discussed. Second, we analysed field data sets for daily light and seasonal biomass of several seagrass meadows from the Great Barrier Reef and two lakes in NSW. The correlation of different light history indicators to biomass, for different periods oflight history, was compared. The indicators tested ranged from an unweighted mean light history period (typically used to inform statistical models) to a rolling average of light history which analytically approximates an ordinary differen- tial equation of growth/mortality kinetics of seagrass biomass (typically used in deterministic models). The relative merits of each indicator, and the recommended light history period that should be considered in seagrass monitoring programs as a result of this work, are discussed. Mathematically, the dynamics of light history considered in these studies is highly analogous to previous models of photoacclimation responses in corals and phytoplankton. To conclude, I demonstrate how the mathematical concepts used here can be applied to investigate photoacclimation and/or light history kinetics in any aquatic ecosystem.

49 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Applying decision science to develop an integrated monitoring program for the Great Barrier Reef

Wednesday, 8th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Prue Addison1 1Australian Institute of Marine Science

The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan is the most recent government initiative designed to guide adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) over the next 35 years, and to ensure the protection of natural values of this world heritage area. A key initiative of the plan is to develop an integrated monitoring and reporting program for the GBR. The aim of the integrated monitoring and reporting program is to evaluate whether environmental, social and economic objectives and targets of the plan are being achieved. This can be thought of as a regular ‘health check’ that will allow managers to understand the condition of the GBR’s values, the status of natural and anthropogenic impacts affecting these values, and evaluate the effectiveness of current management approaches. Here, tools from decision science are introduced that can assist with the initial stages of developing an integrated monitoring program: indicator development and quantifying ecological condition. Indicator development will benefit from the use of conceptual models, objectives hierarchies and means-ends diagrams. Quantifying ecological condition can benefit from a variety of statistical and predictive modelling techniques, such as control charts and scenario planning. The decision science approach advocated here acknowledges that decision-making is not a value-free process. Thus, the tools used for indicator development and quantification of ecological condition can be used to incorporate scientific evidence and human values in this process. This work acknowledges and builds on the vast amount of monitoring and research conducted in the GBR, which when integrated into decision science tools can be applied to an integrated monitoring and reporting program for the GBR.

50 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Penrhyn Estuary Habitat Enhancement Plan: Results of Saltmarsh Monitoring

Tuesday, 7th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Brendan Alderson1, Dr. Andrea Nicastro1, Dr. Peggy O’Donnell1 1Cardno (NSW/ACT) Pty Ltd

As part of the Port Botany Expansion Project, extensive modifications to Pen- rhyn Estuary including dune levelling have substantially altered intertidal saltmarsh habitat within the estuary. One of the objectives of the rehabilitation works for the project was to expand the area of saltmarsh habitat within the estuary for roosting and foraging habitat for migratory shorebirds. The key objectives of the saltmarsh monitoring program were to assess the success of created saltmarsh habitat, including its ecological function. Monitoring was undertaken within a BACI framework that compared planted saltmarsh to natural saltmarsh habitat within Botany Bay as well as other constructed saltmarsh habitats. Total area of saltmarsh habitat within the Penrhyn Estuary is estimated at over 40, 000 m2, representing a 76% increase in habitat following enhancement works. Saltmarsh species diversity and abundance generally increased following the enhancement works and saltmarsh vegetation was generally in better condition compared to pre-enhancment. Importantly, the distribution and abundance of newly planted saltmarsh vegetation along the northern and southern shorelines continued to grow during the 2014 surveys, with Sporobolus virginicus increasing in all treatments, while Suaeda australis decreased slightly, consistent with selective removal. It appeared that areas that were recipients of transplanted saltmarsh did not increase in cover or diversity, although these areas appeared to maintain these vegetative indictors since baseline data was collected. Data indicate that epifaunal assemblages are recolonising areas that have been disturbed during the rehabilitation works and have recruited into newly planted areas of saltmarsh vegetation at levels comparable to reference habitats. A few mangrove seedlings were detected during monitoring, suggesting that mangrove management will be an ongoing requirement to prevent the re-establishment of mangrove habitat. Overall, the majority of saltmarsh habitat investigated to date has responded favourably to the rehabilitation works following the expansion of the port, although a number of treatments have not responded as well as expected. These include areas that were transplanted with saltmarsh vegetation prior to enhancement works and areas that were cleared of mangroves and weeds. Notwithstand- ing this, both treatments generally maintained values similar to their baseline values and overall saltmarsh planting has been successful.

51 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Recovering the loss of shellfish reefs, from coastal ecosystems and human memory

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mrs. Heidi Alleway1, Prof. Sean Connell1, Prof. Xiaoxu Li2, Prof. Bronwyn Gillanders1 1University of Adelaide, 2South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

Oyster reefs form over extensive areas and the diversity and productivity of sheltered coasts depend on them. Due to the relatively recent population growth of coastal settlements in Australia we evaluated the collapse and extirpation of native oyster reefs (Ostrea angasi) over the course of a commercial fishery. This decline was evaluated against the contemporary ecological and policy status of O. angasi and oyster reefs, and extended to consider their future desired state. Historical records were used to quantify commercial catch of O. angasi in South Australia from European colonization, around 1836, to some of the last recorded catches in 1944 and estimates of catch and effort to map their past distribution and assess oyster abundance over 180 years. Historically oyster reefs extended across more than 1, 500 km of coastline, but this characterisation of near shore areas appears not to be known because there is no contemporary consideration of their ecological and economic value. This contemporary state reflects a collective intergenerational amnesia; a shifted baseline. Loss has resulted in lower yield, from O. angasi and reef associated fishes including commercially and recreationally important species, reduced capacity for natural filtration of coastal waters, and poor expectations for the productivity of South Australian coastlines. Knowledge of the historical baseline, and a desire to see a greater abundance and distribution of O. angasi and shellfish reefs in South Australia, means this loss is now being reconciled with a range of opportunities for recovery and restoration. The costs versus benefits of each are being investigated, as well as an understanding of the factors that might affect recovery and limit the success of investment. Recovery includes communication and education of the shifted baseline. Restoration includes the development of a trial oyster reef restoration project using a range of substrates and approaches, building on ecological and historical data including quantitative estimates of historical oyster densities. Increased aquaculture for O. angasi presents a novel opportunity to recover protein production and nutrient mitigation. Support for complementary objectives is also being pursued through this work, including seagrass restoration, recreational fishing opportunities and ensuring biodiversity, within and outside marine parks.

52 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Changes in primary productivity in Sydney Harbour following a storm event: using cell-size as a descriptor

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Marco Alvarez Rodriguez1, Mr. Richard Carney1, Dr. Katherine Dafforn2, Prof. Emma Johnston3, Ms. Vivian Sim2, Mr. Wills Brassil2, Dr. Ana Bugnot2, Ms. Charlotte Robinson1, Ms. Ann-Marie Rohlfs1, Dr. Allison McInnes1, Dr. Martina Doblin1 1University of Technology Sydney, 2University of New South Wales, 33. UNSW, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Evolution & Ecology Research Centre

Estuaries are highly valued ecosystems where land-sea interactions cause significant variation in physicochemical characteristics. Seasonal inputs of freshwater (high in nutrients) can trigger phytoplankton blooms – the base of the foodweb in these environments. Estuarine ecosystems are also often heavily urbanised with a legacy of contaminants and ongoing stressor inputs. Human pressure in estuaries has been shown to alter interactions between the biological and physicochemical components, with increased intensity and reduced frequency of rain events likely exacerbating these effects. In this study, we investigated how anthropogenic inputs from stormwater runoff could influence processes in anur- banised system with a legacy of heavy metal contamination. Size-fractionated (0. 2-3 µm, 3-10 µm, and >10 µm) primary productivity (PP) was measured in estuarine surface waters at increasing temporal intervals (~48 h, 8 d, 21 d, and 60 d post rainfall; PRF) following a rainfall event (>100 mm in 24 h) in Sydney Harbour. Four locations with large points of discharge into the estuary were sampled. To investigate whether the residence period for the stormwater runoff would influence biogeochemical processes we selected two locations that were poorly flushed embayments and two well-flushed channels. Samples were collected at distances of 0, 200 and 1, 000 m from the points of discharge. PP for the whole phytoplankton population showed no patterns associated with time or sampling distance. PP ranged between 115±3 to 1, 140±40 mg C m-3 d-1 (mean±SE) with the exception of one of the channel locations (2, 970±90 mg C m-3 d-1; Parramatta River, 48 h PRF). However, there was a consistent shift in the PP of size-classes following rainfall. PP increased by 40-80 % in the largest size-class 48h after the rain event, with the other size-classes showing a smaller contribution. Eights days PRF the inverse trend was observed, with the proportion of the large size-class being <20 % at all locations. These size- related shifts of carbon production can directly impact biogeochemical cycles and food webs. Chlorophyll a, light and nutrient data will also be presented to further explain how strongly size-class shifts in production can be related to environmental changes (physicochemical and/or biological interactions).

53 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Untangling the Octopus vulgaris species complex using a combined morphological and genomic approach

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Mr. Michael Amor1, Dr. Mark Norman2, Dr. Jan Strugnell3 11 Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne. 2 Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, Melbourne., 2Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, Melbourne., 3Latrobe University

Despite their commercial value of $US1/2 billion per annum, the benthic octo- puses of the family Octopodidae suffer from extensive unresolved taxonomies that impede the management of this global fisheries resource. The type species of the genus Octopus, Octopus vulgaris, has historically been considered a cosmopolitan species inhabiting Australasia, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Amer- icas. However, recent discoveries suggest populations previously treated as O. vulgaris may represent a complex of morphologically similar yet genetically distinct vulgaris-like species (the “Octopus vulgaris complex”). We employed a global scale sampling strategy to investigate the true taxonomic diversity within the O. vulgaris species complex using unprecedented levels of morphological and genomic data, resulting in the most comprehensive investigation into Octopus vulgaris taxonomy to date. Discrete differences in morphology (based on upto 33 traits) were useful in delimiting the Mediterranean/NE Atlantic group from Asia, regardless of locality within each group or sex investigated. However, comparisons of Asian and South Brazilian groups revealed delimiting power was restricted to males. South Brazilian and Mediterranean/NE Atlantic groups were unable to be distinguished, however comparisons of locations within each group revealed certain male localities were able to be delimited. In fact, all localities of the Mediterranean/NE Atlantic group differed significantly from each other, with up to 49. 8% of morphological variation being explained by the variation in environmental data (latitude, longitude, SST, SBT, salinity and depth), suggesting strong morphological plasticity within a single species, which may be driven by local abiotic factors. Furthermore, preliminary phylogenetic analyses of reduced representation genomic data (double digest RADseq) provide further evidence that the O. vulgaris species complex comprises several cryptic species, which are currently being mistreated under a single species name. The resulting multi-locus phylogeny provides new insights and species resolution, which existing mitochondrial based phylogenies are unable to provide.

54 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Assessing the impacts of water quality on seagrass extent using satellite time-series analysis

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Janet Anstee1, Dr. Klaus Joehnk2, Dr. Scott Wilkinson2, Dr. Fazlul Karim2, Mr. Zygmunt Lorenz3 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, 2CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, 3CSIRO L

Sediment and seagrass in coastal environments are closely linked, as seagrass beds help to stabilise sediments, cycle nutrients, provide valuable habitat and detrital material for estuarine food webs. Previous monitoring of seagrass in Western Port, Australia, over multiple decades has shown that a significant decline occurred in the 1970’s and 1980’s with a slight recovery in some regions in the late 1990’s. Regions where recovery did not occur were linked to poor water quality. A key issue related to the decline is erosion and sediment transport leading to a reduction of water clarity and light availability for seagrass. This research attempted to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of turbidity and sediment re-suspension dynamics within the bay with respect to trends in seagrass using archival satellite imagery. Time series of seagrass coverage and turbidity reconstructed from satellite imagery were compared with 14 years of observed turbidity data from rivers drain- ing to Western Port allowing a better understanding of the importance and persistence of the catchment to receiving water linkage. Based on the relationship between the satellite derived reflectance and the inherent optical properties of these optically complex waters, semi-empirical algorithms parameterised to provide estimates of bathymetry, substrate composition and water quality information. The application of these methods for multispec- tral satellite imagery analysis has several limitations, however, the benefit of the underlying hyperspectral models have been found to produce better results compared with more traditional spectral classification methods. Multi-temporal data when combined with the optical modelling approach enables consistent large scale spatio-temporal analysis of seagrass extent and of coastal water quality. These analyses are used in support of catchment sediment load analysis, hydrodynamic modelling and seagrass modelling activities.

55 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

From rear-view monitoring to early warning and proactive management

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Ken Anthony1 1Australian Institute of Marine Science

Monitoring programs provide a rear view of the status and trends of ecosystems, species and populations. What most ecological monitoring programs don’t do well, however, is to provide a windscreen view of the immediate horizon - the early warning function. For ecosystems under pressure from local, regional and global factors, the early warning function will become an increasingly important tool for proactive environmental management. In this talk I present the case that monitoring programs need stronger integration with environmental and ecological modelling to inform proactive management. Fur- ther, I show that monitoring and modelling need to be integrated with strategic process studies to discern complex causal linkages between pressures and ecosystem responses, and to reduce uncertainty around risk assessments. I use the Great Barrier Reef as a case study. Specifically, I illustrate by examples how the integration of monitoring, modelling and management within a drivers/pressures/state/impact/response (DPSIR) framework via smart indicators can better support adaptive management compared to the business as usual. Using a combination of qualitative and spatial numeric models, I show how monitoring of key indicators (environmental, ecological and biological) in combination with modelling and scenario exploration can enable monitoring programs to become a more operational tool for proactive marine risk assessments and management planning.

56 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Is a changing landscape leading to a changed Great Barrier Reef?

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Paul Groves1, Ms. Donna-Marie Audas1 1Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

The Outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is not good. Over the last century much of the adjacent Great Barrier Reef catchment has been modified, and the impacts this is having on the Reef are reflected by declining water quality. But how exactly has the catchment changed, how are we using the catchment and what do these changes really mean for the Reef? Through spatial analysis of coastal ecosystems and land use data we can get a picture of where coastal development has impacted on the catchment and subsequently on the ecological processes it provides for the Great Barrier Reef. Through a series of case studies we explored parts of the catchment to identify what are the key issues and how are they impacting upon key ecological services? Like the climate, impacts vary across the 344, 000km2 Great Barrier Reef catchment with wide ranging changes to physical, biological and biogeochemical processes are occurring in many areas. It is now a changed landscape and the strategies we need to use to restore key processes will need to consider both the changed landscape and the receiving waters and habitats.

57 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Assessing the smallest by one of the biggest: Australian sea lions as investigators of primary production in the Great Australian Bight

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Frederic Bailleul1, Prof. Simon Goldsworthy1, Dr. Paul van Ruth1, Prof. Robert Harcourt2, Dr. Clive McMahon3 1South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), 2Macquarie University, 3Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania

The deployment of animal-borne electronic tags is revolutionising our understanding of how marine predators respond to their environment by providing oceanographic information. Most studies have been undertaken on animals inhabiting oceanic habitats. In contrast few studies have focused on the ner- itic zones where the physics is mainly investigated by the conventional oceanographic methods. However, as many predators spend their life in coastal waters, they can potentially provide additional platforms for obtaining oceanographic observations on these ecosystems. The Great Australian Bight (GAB) represents a complex oceanographic system affected by the circulation of diverse water masses. It is generally considered to be an area of limited biological productivity, however, the eastern GAB is characterized by seasonal coastal upwelling that underpins Australia’s largest volume fisheries and diverse apex predator communities. Although the importance of this upwelling system to the productivity of the region is recognised, lack of in-situ data measurements have resulted in many unresolved questions, especially on its seasonal contribution to the local primary production (PP). The eastern GAB is home to Australia’s largest population of Australian sea lions, which forage benthically in these waters year-round. As platforms for instrumentation, they provide an unprecedented opportunity to gather data on the oceanographic environment at a high spatio-temporal resolution. Since 2007, sea lions have been equipped with Argos-Conductivity-Temperature- Depth recorders collecting cross-shelf profiles over a 1, 000 km of s helf. More recently, individuals have been equipped with a new generation of tags that include both fluorescence a nd i rradiance s ensors. T hese m easurements have been used to estimate changes in water column PP (biomass) over 4 (2014) and 5 months (2015) periods. Our results provide evidence that the system tends to be less productive in winter with, for instance, a maximum initially measured around 1600 mg. C. m-2 at 50 m depth in April and reaching 1200 mg. C. m-2 in July in near surface waters south to Kangaroo Island. As witnesses and in-situ investigators of change in these systems, sea lions are now playing a critical role in better understanding the oceanography of the region, and its importance to fishery production and communities of marine predators that depend on it.

58 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

An integrating observational and modelling systems for the management of the Great Barrier Reef

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Mark Baird1, Dr. Mathieu Mongin1, Dr. Emlyn Jones1 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

The many values of the Great Barrier Reef, combined with the increasing impact of coastal development and climate change, demands that the reef is managed with the best available scientific information. Observational and modelling systems provide two sources of knowledge that must be combined to provide a more complete view than either observations or models alone can provide. Here we describe the eReefs coupled hydrodynamic, sediment and biogeochemical model, and the multiple observations that are used to constrain the model. Two contrasting examples of model - observational integration are highlighted. First we explore the carbon chemistry of the waters above the reef, for which observations are accurate, but expensive and therefore sparse, while model behaviour is highly skilful. For carbon chemistry, observations are used to constrain model parame- terisation and quantify model error, with the model output itself providing the most useable knowledge for management purposes. In contrast, ocean colour provides inaccurate, but cheap and spatially and temporally extensive observations. Thus ocean colour observations are best combined with the model in a data assimilating framework, where a custom-designed optical model has been developed for the purposes of incorporating ocean colour observations. Thus future management of GBR water quality will be based on an integration of observing and modelling systems, providing the most robust information available.

59 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Size and species diversity of fish utilising a created mangrove

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Mr. Majid Bakhtiyari1, Prof. Shing Yip Lee1, Ms. Shafagh Kamal1 1Griffith University, Australian Rivers Institute

Among estuarine habitats, mangroves are widely considered valuable to both fish and human beings due to their ecosystem services, e. g. acting as nursery site to juvenile fish. Accordingly, much resource has been invested in rehabilitating damaged or planting new mangrove forests. The aim of this study was to assess whether fin fish utilise a completely artificial and protected mangrove habitat. Three inter-tidal mangrove forests dominated by Avicennia marina were selected in southeast Queensland, Australia, for this study: a) a natural site under high human pressures (e. g. road, boating, fishing, residential area); b)a conservation park under low pressure (e. g. tourism); and c) a young man- made protected site under low pressure. Fish species utilising the forests and their size were observed by using underwater cameras. The Shannon index was used to determine species-size diversity (SSDI). The ranges of fish size (min- max) were 1-30, 1-20 and 1-35 (cm) in sites a, b and c, respectively. The SSDI in both natural sites were almost the same ( 1. 4) while it was the highest (1. 8) in the man-made site. The results clearly indicate that fish recruitment is feasible in created mangroves provided that protection is adopted.

60 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Macrobenthic species traits and ecological functioning in an estuary recovering from environmental stress

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Mr. Ryan Baring1, Prof. Sabine Dittmann1 1School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide

Reduced freshwater flows and severe drought conditions in the Murray River in the 2000s created multiple stressors along the entire length of the system. The Murray River flows into the Coorong lagoon and Murray Mouth estuary, which is connected to the Southern Ocean. In drought years, reduced freshwater flushing into the estuary and lagoon dramatically changed the environmental conditions from estuarine to hypersaline. There were large concerns for the over- wintering, migrating birds, and commercially and recreationally important fish in the Coorong during the drought period. In 2010, a flood event occurred followed by continuous freshwater release over the barrages, which provided much needed flushing and potential for ecosystem recovery. Benthic macroinvertebrates were monitored throughout the drought and water release period as they are an important food resource for birds and fish. Biological trait analysis of key macroinvertebrate species, considering aspects of their life history, feeding, sediment mediated interactions and other ecological functions, identified processes through the recovery time. Macroinvertebrate species traits were a useful tool for better understanding of ecosystem functions throughout the recovery period, rather than just standard monitoring of macroinvertebrates. More importantly, the information obtained can inform on resilience and ecosystem functioning of the Coorong under future climate scenarios.

61 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Risk and reward for invasive seastar feeding aggregations at Victorian shellfish farms

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. Luke Barrett1, Dr. Steve Swearer1, Dr. Tim Dempster1 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne

Invasive species often benefit from impacts of human activities. Coastal aquaculture may be one such example, where spilled feed or dead animals can provide a significant local food subsidy for any wild animals that are willing to utilise this novel resource. In Port Phillip Bay, the invasive northern Pacific seastar Aster- ias amurensis and the larger native eleven-arm seastar Coscinasterias muricata co-occur at piers and shellfish aquaculture fisheries reserves (AFRs) where they feed on mussels and other prey species. If per capita food availability is high and predation events are rare, then these artificial structures are likely to act as population sources for Asterias. However, if Asterias are attracted to these sites but then suffer high predation rates or severe competition for food, the benefit of these artificial structures for invasive species will be lessened and may even be reversed, potentially forming an ‘ecological trap’ or attractive population sink. The function of such a trap might even be improved by harvesting Aster- ias at these sites of high density, or preventing seastars from accessing the food resource, which would have the added benefit of opening up the seabed for scallop farming by reducing seastar predation on scallops. This project examines seastar population density, body condition and reproductive investment at two mussel farms (Clifton Springs and Grassy Point) in Port Phillip Bay to assess the likely role of a novel habitat in the maintenance of an invasive seastar population. Findings to date reveal that both seastar species were several times more abundant under shellfish farms relative to comparable ‘natural’ habitats during the spawning season. Individuals of both species were also significantly larger on average within the farm boundaries (observations of predation by larger seastars inside the farm boundaries and may explain this trend), and in equal or better condition in terms of pyloric caeca and gonad development. Together, these findings indicate that farms attract large densities of seastars of both species, and that the food availability is high enough to maintain breeding condition in both species, although predation makes this a risky resource for Asterias.

62 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Marine invasive species management in Australia – past history and future challenges

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Simon Barry1 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship

Australia lead the world in the 1990’s in identifying the extent and potential dan- gers of marine organism translocation. New research questions arose and funding was made available to address them. Significant scientific activity occurred documenting impacts, designing various risk assessment frameworks, developing monitoring protocols and methods to support incursion responses. This fed directly into an active policy environment which developed the National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions. While much was achieved in this period a number of areas have remained unresolved. This talk will reflect on my experiences as a scientist in this process. I will discuss the history of the National System and reflect upon the challenges of converting science into this policy domain. I will discuss the lessons I per- sonally learnt in this process and my views about possible policy options in the future. I will conclude the talk by considering the future science challenges to effectively manage marine invasive species risk.

63 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Insights into Victorian estuaries from the Index of Estuary Condition implementation trial

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Dr. Jan Barton1, Dr. Adam Pope1, Prof. Gerry Quinn1, Mr. Paul Wilson2 1Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 2Department of Environment Land Water and Planning VIC

Arundel et al. (2009), after extensive consultation and expert panel workshops, recommended six themes (physical form, hydrology, water quality, sediment, flora, and fauna), and 18 measures for a Victorian Index of Estuary Condition (IEC). All measures were conceptually linked to estuary condition. The overall IEC score is used to rate an estuary using categorical condition bands (excellent, good, moderate, poor, and very poor), and was developed for the spatial comparisons of estuary condition across the state. These assessments are planned to be repeated every eight years for prioritisation and resource allocation for natural resource management. The IEC implementation trial tested if the measure methods from Arundel et al. (2009) were applicable state-wide. It also defined baselines, scoring methods and score confidence metrics using existing and new data. This represents over four years of effort in collating and interpreting data, three intensive summer field seasons across the Victorian coastline, and a number of measure-specific pilot studies. This presentation outlines the approach used in determining baselines, scoring and score confidence, aggregation of scores within and between physical themes, and presents some insights into the current condition of Victorian estuaries. One hundred and one estuary mouths, current and natural heads, and fluvial and estuarine catchments have been spatially defined. Field sampling in 55 estuaries, and their subestuaries, allowed the definition of the upper, middle and lower estuarine zones, as well as the collection of depositional sediment size and water depths. It also allowed the comparison of water clarity in 55; surface dissolved oxygen in 51; diurnal oxygen sags in 45; bank erosion in 48; microphytobenthos biomass in 41; and phytoplankton biomass in 44 estuaries. Data collected and collated as part of the trial allow the comparison of modification of estuary extent and freshwater flow in 101, sediment load in 56, and marine exchange in 85 estuaries. Thirteen measures across the six themes have been recommended for the first formal IEC program. At least four themes out of the possible six themes are needed to be able to score an estuary, including water quality and at least one biological theme of flora or fauna.

64 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

What is the status Australia’s Marine Environment – developing SOE 2016

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Nic Bax1 1CSIRO

The State of Environment (SoE) Report for 2011 was written by an independent committee of experts, and was considered to have provided a comprehensive review of the state and trends of the Australian environment at that time. For the first time in national environmental reporting, SoE 2011 went beyond ade- scriptive summary of evidence to include graded ‘report-card’ style assessments of environment condition and trends, pressures and management effectiveness. This approach was seen as essential for raising awareness and supporting more informed environmental management decisions among the public and decision- makers. The approach addressed what was seen as a major failure of earlier SoE reports – the lack of information on past trends and forecasting of future trends. Much of the information in SoE 2011 was derived from expert opinion collected in workshops engaging a variety of scientific disciplines across Australia, however the workshops were not designed to capture statistical trends or estimates of uncertainty, and interpretation was sometimes challenging. In response to reviewer’s comments, the chapter author, Dr Trevor Ward, noted that: “eventually SoE reporting will have to move beyond use of some available surrogates and crudely measured indicators developed for other purposes… to provide a more informed and specific set of assessments on the state of the marine environment. It would probably be best to start with a small set of measurable national key marine indicators, for which agreement and resources can be secured.” As part of EPBC Act requirements to provide an update to the SoE every 5 years, efforts on SoE 2016 have begun and will include updating the broadly accepted SoE 2011 delivery with quantitative data. But where to start? Any choice of indicators both reflects our current perceptions of the environment and influences our future knowledge. In this talk, we will present someof the available time series data that could contribute to SoE 2016, describe the longer term marine indicator development – led for Commonwealth waters by the marine blueprint and Essential Environmental Measures Program – and give you the opportunity to identify any informative time series data that we may be overlooking.

65 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Zooplankton as indicators of changing dominance of water masses in Storm Bay, Tasmania: comparing the 1970s to now

Tuesday, 7th July 17.10 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Jason Beard1, Dr. Christine Crawford2, Dr. Ruth Eriksen2, Ms. Paige Kelly2, Dr. Kerrie Swadling2 1Institute for Marine and Antarctic Science, 2Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Zooplankton are useful indicators of environmental change. Their physiology is strongly coupled to temperature, they exhibit short life cycles and they are generally safe from the pressures associated with commercial fishing. In Storm Bay, Tasmania, salps, copepods and krill are abundant in the zooplankton, with seasonal dominance of species driven by temperature and salinity. Storm Bay is a region of dynamic oceanography that is influenced by (i) warm, low nutrient waters from the East Australian Current (EAC) in the summer, (ii) cooler, nutrient-rich subantarctic waters in the winter, (iii) the Leeuwin (Zeehan) Cur- rent flowing along the west coast and (iv) flows from the Derwent Estuary. The relative influence of these water masses is changing; for example, theEACis now extending further along the east and south coasts of Tasmania and persists for longer, bringing warm, nutrient-poor water into Storm Bay for extended periods. We’ve examined zooplankton distribution on a monthly basis in Storm Bay since 2009 and have observed changes that relate to the persistence of the water masses. A study of the zooplankton in Storm Bay in the early 1970s showed that the oceanic influence from the EAC was strongest in January and February, while subantarctic species were common from August to October. Our study of Storm Bay has shown that the zooplankton biodiversity of Storm Bay has changed to reflect a stronger EAC influence and possibly a weakening of the subantarctic current. Subantarctic indicator species, such as Neocalanus tonsus and Racovitzanus sp., are rarely observed, while species associated with subtropical waters are often dominant and/or persist for several months (Jan- May). These include the copepod Temora turbinata, the salps Salpa fusiformis and Thalia democratica and cyclopoid copepods in the genera Sapphirina and Corycaeus. We will discuss these changes in biodiversity and relate them to changes in oceanography since the 1970’s, in particular the dominance of the EAC and the Leeuwin Current. Changes in the biodiversity may have important implications for energy transfer up the food chain.

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Participation by Australia in the second International Indian Ocean Expedition (2016-2020)

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1, Mrs. Louise Wicks2 1Murdoch University, 2Perth Program Office in support of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

Australia made a significant contribution to the first International Indian Ocean Expedition. Five decades on, both the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Com- mission and the Scientific Committee for Oceanic Research have motivated for a modern phase of co-ordinated international research in the Indian Ocean, namely, a second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2: 2016-2020). The planned research is ambitious and concentrates on six themes. These are human impacts on the Indian Ocean; boundary current dynamics and upwelling; monsoon variability and ecosystem response; circulation, climate variability and change; extreme events and associated ecosystem responses and impacts; and discovery of unique physical, geological, biogeochemical and ecological features of the Indian Ocean. The planned research will provide a rich framework of data, process understanding and input to oceanographic, climate, bio-geochemical and ecosystem modelling through open ocean science. There will also be strong links to continental shelf and coastal systems and coupled climatic phenomena affecting society. The IOC Assembly of 147 Member States is formally considering the science and complementary plans for the expedition, as well as governance and timeframes for implementation, through an international IIOE-2 Planning Committee. Australia has formed a National Committee to lead participation in Indian Ocean research over the next five years. With the new Marine National Facility RV Investigator now commissioned and the Integrated Marine Observ- ing System well–developed, various initiatives and planning are now underway for Australia to contribute to the second international Indian Ocean Expedition.

67 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Marine Protected Volumes: Incorporating oceanographic processes into the Commonwealth Marine Reserves in bioregions off Western Australia

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1 1Murdoch University

Protected area planning emphasises conserving pattern and, indeed, the Com- monwealth Marine Reserves (CMR) aim to protect biodiversity in bio-regions around Australia. However, recent approaches to systematic conservation planning, particularly in pelagic areas, have highlighted the importance of accommodating oceanographic processes and thus, resultant bio-geochemical and biological responses. The Leeuwin Current (LC) is the dominant oceanographic feature off Western Australia (WA) and, despite pervasive downwelling, upwelling does occur, particularly at the shelf- edge and in canyons. Retention areas are important as the southward LC flow can rapidly transport larvae away from their natal areas. The LC also causes the shedding of eddies and these result in considerable cross-shelf transport. The current Kimberley CMR is commended as it captures shelf-edge upwelling and is adjacent to the marine parks in WA state waters. The Gascoyne CMR is adjacent to the existing Ningaloo Marine Park but, in view of the importance of upwelling, eddies and cross-shelf transport in this oligotrophic region, it would be prudent to extend the Category 2 zone eastward. The Abrolhos CMR is a strangely-shaped protected area that includes the Houtman Canyon (Category 2). The occurrence of the persistent Abrolhos Front with strong shoreward currents implicated in recruitment of rock lobsters indicates that it would be prudent to expand the Category 2 zone. The Perth Canyon is a remarkable bathymetric feature where LC eddies form and lead to cross-shelf transport and mixing. The diversity of krill in the canyon is very high and they constitute the diet of migrating endangered blue whales. Although the Perth Canyon is protected by a CMR, the critical eastern part of the canyon requires more protection and it is recommended that the entire eastern part be zoned as Category 2. Habitat modelling of endangered sperm whales has highlightes the limited protection along the shelf-edge offered by the South-West Corner CMR as most of the Category 2 zone is located over the abyss. Widening of the Category 2 area near the Albany canyons is recommended to improve protection of the habitat for sperm whales which are still recovering from Australian commercial hunting.

68 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Benchmarking human use of the new Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park prior to zoning

Thursday, 9th July 16.50 - Costa Hall

Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1, Dr. Claire Smallwood2, Dr. Emily Fisher2 1Murdoch University, 2WA Department of Fisheries

Human use of the coast between Broome and Port Hedland in north-western Australia was examined by undertaking monthly aerial surveys (November 2012 to October 2013) using a Cessna 210 aircraft and two observers equipped with digital cameras and a GPS logger. Digital photographs were analysed using Aerial Survey Assistant software. Results with respect to the number of people on the shore and number of boats in adjacent coastal waters showed that there was much higher usage in the dry season (May to October) than the wet season (November to April). Areas with highest densities of people were near 80 Mile Beach Caravan Park, Cape Keraudren and Barn Hill and, to a lesser extent, Port Smith and Bidyadanga. Of the people recorded, 46% were fishing from the shore and 33% were walking along the beach. Fishing was particularly popular near Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park with anglers and their associated four- wheel drive vehicles spread along about 30 km of coastline. Camping along the coast during the dry season was largely within the confines of the large caravan parks at Eighty Mile Beach and Port Smith but there were also nodes of camping at Barn Hill Station and Cape Keraudren. Boating activity occurred mainly in the northern part around Port Smith and to a lesser extent near Cape Keraudren. These boats were engaged in recreational fishing or motoring and pearling vessels were also recorded between Port Smith and Barn Hill. The distribution of human use was also examined relative to the proposed sanctuary zones of the new Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park. This study provides spatially explicit data on coastal recreational activities that can be used by managers as a benchmark of use prior to the implementation of the management plan for the new marine park.

69 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Restoration of effluent-affected intertidal rocky shores: what have we learnt and where to from here?

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Alecia Bellgrove1, Ms. Hayley Cameron2, Dr. Jacqui Pocklington3, Dr. Prudence McKenzie1, Dr. Jessica McKenzie4 1Deakin University, 2Monash University, 3Tohoku University, 4GSK

As coastal population growth increases globally, effective waste management practices are required to protect coastal biodiversity. Water authorities are under increasing pressure to reduce the impact of sewage effluent discharged into the coastal environment and restore disturbed ecosystems. Fucoid (brown) algae often dominate intertidal rocky shores providing habitat and modifying ecosystem resources for other species, but are susceptible to discharge of sewage effluent. The losses of fucoid habitats have led to significantly altered assemblages on effluent-affected shores. Effluent remediation efforts that focuson restoration of fucoid algae should result in effective restoration of rocky intertidal ecosystems. But what are the barriers to restoration of fucoid algae on effluent-affected shores? Focusing on the Australasian intertidal fucoid, Hor- mosira banksii, we present a conceptual model to guide research efforts that may inform coastal managers and water authorities. We present data that support a model of alternative community states between H. banksii dominated canopy on rocky substrata vs. C. officinalis turf that switch in response to sewage- effluent disposal. Moreover we present experimental results that show recovery of Hormosira banksii populations is susceptible to a) persistent unfavourable water quality, b) lack of a conspecific canopy at effluent-affected sites andc) competitive exclusion by coralline turfs. Finally we present research priority areas leading forward to maximise the potential for successful restoration of remediated rocky shores.

70 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Comparison of marine macrophytes for their contributions to blue carbon sequestration

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Stacey Trevathan-Tackett1, Mr. Jeffrey Kelleway1, Dr. Peter MacReadie2, Prof. John Beardall3, Prof. Peter Ralph1, Dr. Alecia Bellgrove4 1University of Technology Sydney, 2University of Technology Sydney / Deakin University, 3Monash University, 4Deakin University

Many marine ecosystems have the capacity for long-term storage of organic carbon (C) in what are termed ‘blue-carbon’ systems. While blue carbon systems (saltmarsh, mangrove and seagrass) are efficient at long-term sequestration of organic carbon (C), much of their sequestered C may originate from other (allochthonous) habitats. Macroalgae, due to their high rates of production, fragmentation and ability to be transported, would also appear to be able to make a significant contribution as C donors to blue C habitats. In order toas- sess the stability of macroalgal tissues and their likely contribution to long-term pools of C, we applied thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to 14 taxa of marine macroalgae and coastal vascular plants. We assessed the structural complexity of multiple lineages of plant and tissue types with differing cell-wall structures and found that decomposition dynamics varied significantly according to differences in cell wall structure and composition among taxonomic groups and tissue function (photosynthetic v attachment). Vascular plant tissues generally exhibited greater stability with a greater proportion of mass loss at temperatures >300°C (peak mass loss ~320°C) than macroalgae (peak mass loss between 175 –300 °C), consistent with the lignocellulose matrix of vascular plants. Greater variation in thermogravimetic signatures within and among macroalgal taxa, relative to vascular plants, was also consistent with the diversity of cell wall structure and composition amongst groups. Significant degradation above 600°C for some macroalgae, as well as some below-ground seagrass tissues is likely due to the presence of taxon-specific compounds. The results of this study highlight the importance of the lignocellulose matrix to the stability of vascular plant sources and the potentially significant role of refractory, taxon-specific compounds (carbonates, long-chain lipids, alginates, xylans and sulphated polysaccharides) from macroalgae and seagrasses for their long-term sedimentary C storage. This study shows that marine macroalgae do contain refractory compounds and thus may be more valuable to long-term carbon sequestration than we previously have considered.

71 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

A comparison of morphological and DNA metabarcoding analysis of diets in exploited marine fishes

Tuesday, 7th July 17.10 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Oliver Berry1, Dr. Cathy Bulman2, Dr. Michael Bunce3, Dr. Megan Coghlan3, Mr. Dáithí Murray4, Dr. Robert Ward2 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, PMB 5, Wembley, Western Australia, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, 3Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 4Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia

Ecosystem-based management (EBM) is a cutting-edge framework for managing marine resources. EBM strategies can be evaluated in silico with ecosystem models that represent functional components of ecosystems, including anthropogenic factors. Foodwebs are at the core of ecosystem models, but because dietary data can be difficult to obtain, they are often only coarsely characterised in models. High-throughput DNA sequencing (HTS) of dietary items is a relatively rapid way to more accurately parameterise foodwebs at enhanced taxonomic resolution, and in doing so, to potentially optimise functioning of ecosystem models and best-practice EBM. Here, we evaluate the relative merits of conventional microscopic analysis and HTS analysis of the diets of eight fish species harvested in Australia’s most intensively fished fishery; the south east trawl fishery. We compare the taxonomic resolution and phylogenetic breadth of diets yielded by these methods, and include a comparison of three alternative DNA barcoding markers (mtDNA COX1, mtDNA 16S, nDNA 18S). Using paired individual gut samples (n = 151), we demonstrate that HTS typically identified similar taxon richness but with significantly higher taxonomic resolution than microscopic assessment. However, DNA barcode selection had a large effect on both the resolution and phylogenetic breadth of estimated diets. Both COX1 and 16S markers provided significantly higher taxonomic resolution than morphological analysis, but the resolution varied between taxonomic groups primarily due to current availabilities of reference data. However, neither COX1 nor 16S recovered the full dietary spectrum revealed by the 18S barcode. HTS also revealed the presence of dietary items not previously recorded for target species, as well as a diverse assemblage of parasites. We conclude that the enhanced breadth and depth of dietary analysis yielded by HTS has the potential to improve and optimise both structure and function of ecosystem models and consequently, best-practice ecosystem based management.

72 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

25 years on, have Sydney’s deepwater ocean outfalls created problems in adjacent sediment?

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. Colin Besley1, Dr. Peter Tate1, Ms. Cheryl Marvell1, Ms. 1 Adrienne Gatt 1Sydney Water

Approximately 80% of Sydney’s sewage receives primary treatment at the North Head, Bondi and Malabar wastewater treatment plants. Since 1990-91 treated wastewater has been released through three deepwater outfalls located 2 to 4 km offshore at depths of 60 to 80 m. Wastewater is discharged through small jets, situated along diffuser arrays, ensuring wastewater mixes rapidly with the coastal offshore waters. Over the 1999 to 2014 period Sydney Water monitored ocean sediments under a NSW EPA design. This design addresses two questions. Have chronic impacts occurred, and is any impact spreading south? Soft bottom sediment samples were collected from: each deepwater outfall location; three reference locations; and three gradient locations. Gradient locations were situated 3 km, 5 km and 7 km to the south of the Malabar deepwater outfall in the direction of the predominant current. In every third year a suite of chemicals were assessed and benthic invertebrates were identified to the family level and counted. Over the 16 years of sediment monitoring there is no evidence of accumulation of total organic carbon or fine sediment (particles <0. 063mm) from the outfalls. This suggests wastewater discharges have not been a major source of organic enrichment or toxic metal build-up in the ocean sediments around the outfalls. Corresponding analyses of benthic community samples from outfall and reference locations found no measureable impact. That is, no temporally consistent chronic impact was detected. There was also no pattern to imply a measureable impact was spreading south of the Malabar outfall. Rather benthic invertebrate communities at each location were shown to be highly variable through time and a broad change in community structure from the most northern reference location to the most southern reference location was recorded. These sediment indicator results are supported by ongoing oceanographic modelling. Modelling indicated that the diffuser arrays operate better than the original design criteria. Particles present in the wastewater disperse and sink to the sea floor within 5 km in most years. In some years they spread over10 km. Considering all the evidence, 25 years of deepwater outfall operation has not created measurable problems in ocean sediments.

73 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Heavy metals and organic enrichment affect greenhouse gas production pathways in sediment microbial communities

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Simone Birrer1, Dr. Katherine Dafforn1, Ms. Melanie Sun1, Dr. Rohan Williams2, Mr. Jaimie Potts3, Dr. Peter Scanes3, Dr. Brendan Kelaher4, Dr. Stuart Simpson5, Prof. Staffan Kjelleberg1, Prof. Sanjay Swarup6, Prof. Peter Steinberg1, Prof. Emma Johnston1 1University of New South Wales, 2The Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, 3NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 4Southern Cross University, 5CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 6National University of Singapore

Estuaries, ports and harbours are being subjected to increasing anthropogenic pressure from industrial, urban, and agricultural run-off, a nd s hipping and leisure activities. Contaminants entering these waterways bind to particles in the water and eventually settle into the sediments, where they have the potential to affect the microbial and benthic invertebrate communities. The microbial communities play an important role in the regulation of the climate through biogeochemical cycles which control the production of several greenhouse gases. It is therefore of global importance to understand the impact of contaminants on the gas production in affected sediments. Our knowledge so far is based on measures of overall physicochemical sediment output, over quite limited locations and sediment strata types. However, metatranscriptomic surveys can provide a measure of the whole community function at a specific time point using measurements of mRNA levels. We have used metatranscriptomics to measure the gene-level response of a sediment microbial community to varying levels of heavy metal contamination and nutrient enrichment, with a focus on nitrogen, sulphur, methane and carbon metabolisms. In this designed ecological experiment, nutrient enrichment affected all gas production metabolisms that we investigated. Generally, the changes to gene expression in gas production pathways imply that enrichment would result in a greater production of green house gases such as nitrous oxide (N20), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and methane (CH4). In addition, nutrient enrichment effects on gene expression would likely result in the accumulation of toxic intermediate products. Heavy metal contamination only affected a small number of genes. Therefore, the impact on the gas production genes was not very clear. However, we found that heavy metal contamination generally led to increased CH4 production. Overall, our results further understanding of the changes in greenhouse gas production from sediment communities in the presence of contaminants. Our findings carry implications for climate change models and for ecosystem management since microorganisms are key players in biogeochemical cycles and have the potential to regulate a substantial part of the global greenhouse gas production. The metatranscriptomic methods enable the acquiring of rapid information for making predictions over large spatial scales and ranges of sediment strata type.

74 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Fundamental species traits across a latitudinal gradient: does the competition-colonization trade-off hold true?

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Costa Hall

Ms. Sally Bracewell1, Prof. Emma Johnston1, Dr. Graeme Clark1 1University of New South Wales

One of the most common explanations for species coexistence is that trade- offs in species traits prevent any one species from excluding all others. The competition-colonization trade-off is a classic example, whereby species canspa- tially coexist if there is an inverse relationship between colonizing and competitive abilities. The strength of the trade-off is predicted to vary with latitude due to environmental and evolutionary gradients. In sessile invertebrates, patch size can be used as a tool to measure the strength of trade-off. This is because smaller patches are more difficult targets for larvae so are usually dominated by good colonizing species with high fecundity, whereas good competitors with lower fecundity can more easily find larger patches where they can grow and dominate. We measured the strength of trade-offs across 20 degrees of latitude by deploying patches of various sizes in the field. There was clear evidence for the trade-off, and the strength varied with latitude. Latitudinal variation was likely due to variation in the rate of ecological processes, particularly resource acquisition and competitive exclusion. Trade-offs were most evident at locations where resource limitation had been reached, indicating that the strength of the trade-off is mediated by resource availability.

75 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Conserving and restoring Australia’s Great Southern Seascapes

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Mr. Simon Branigan1 1The Nature Conservancy

Conserving and restoring Australia’s ‘Great Southern Seascapes’ Simon Branigan1*, Chris Gillies1, James Fitzsimons1, Lynne Hale1, Boze Han- cock1

(1) The Nature Conservancy, Suite 2-01, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

(2) • Presenting author Emails: simon. branigan@tnc. org; chris. gillies@tnc. org; jfitzsimons@tnc. org;

Based on the recommendation of a 2012 expert workshop on Conservation and Restoration of Temperate Australian Marine and Coastal Habitats, The Na- ture Conservancy (Australia Program) is starting work with a wide range of partners—from government, the private sector and the vast number of Aus- tralians who rely on the ocean for both their livelihoods and recreation—to accelerate and scale the conservation and restoration of coastal habitats in bays and estuaries across southern Australia. The Great Southern Seascapes program is built around a ‘two-track’ approach: an in-depth focus on ‘in-water’ restoration; complemented by work at the state and national scale to leverage results and funding. Initial focal bays are Port Philip Bay and Western Port Bay where the program has launched a collaborative pilot project to trial how to restore shellfish reefs in Port Phillip Bay. Other pilot projects that are in the early stages of planning include blue carbon sequestration and shoreline protection focusing on a mix of saltmarsh, mangrove and shellfish reef habitats. These pilot projects will develop good practice models through collaborative, partner driven projects that improve ecological function, provide services to coastal communities and have potential for replication.

76 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Planning for coastal and estuarine landscape values

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Tom Brewer1 1Charles Darwin and Australian Institute of Marine Science

Balancing multiple landscape values (e. g. economic, biodiversity, aesthetic, spiritual), in the management of populated coastal and estuarine landscapes, is a challenge for coastal- and marine-use planning. Many such values, despite having high perceived importance to residents in the services they provide, can be overlooked in planning because (1) their worth has not been revealed to the market, (2) many values are not confined to discrete spaces, and (3) they arenot explicitly included in legislation that guides coastal planning, creating tension between different values. This tension is explored in Darwin, a tropical portcity on the shore of an expansive harbour and estuarine system in northern Australia that is managed by a functional regulatory system and threatened by industrial, commercial and residential development. To explore conflict among a range of landscape values, and between the current land-use plan and landscape values, a mail survey was sent to 2000 randomly selected households within the harbour catchment. The survey contained 1) questions on respondent engagement with the harbour and foreshore, 2) socio-demographics, and 3) a mapping exercised based on an established landscape values method that allowed respondents to identify what they value, and where, in the harbour and along the foreshore. 7. 5 % of households responded. Analyses were conducted to determine spatial correlation among landscape values and understand what types of people, based on socio-demographic profiles, prioritise different landscape values atdif- ferent locations in and around Darwin Harbour. Preliminary results suggest that respondent age, place of residence, and years living in Darwin explained differences in spatial distribution of, and preference for, specific landscape values. Further, conflict is observed between some aspects of the current regional land- use plan and resident values; particularly relating to controversial industrial development. Long-term wellbeing of people residing in coastal and estuarine landscapes would likely be improved if residents perceived landscape values were explicitly incorporated into coastal and marine planning.

77 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Two new species of brittle-stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from an anchialine cave in Cozumel Island, Mexico

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Guadalupe Bribiesca Contreras1, Dr. Tim O’Hara2, Dr. Heroen Verbruggen1, Mrs. Tania Pineda Enriquez3 1University of Melbourne, 2Museum Victoria, 3University of Florida

Cozumel Island is a Caribbean island with a karstic topography dating from the Pleistocene (~122, 000 years old) ( Wilhelm & Ewing, 1972), which has promoted the formation of sinkholes (cenotes), including anchialine caves (a sinkhole with a connection to the sea). Many marine taxa have been reported living in anchialine caves, but echinoderms were first reported in 2007 (Mejia- Ortiz et al., 2007) for the anchialine cave ‘Aerolito de Paraiso’, Cozumel Island. Up to 2013, 26 species have been reported from this cave. The existence of several new species was suggested by the analysis of mitochondrial DNA but further analyses are required to determine the species boundaries more accurately. We focused on two brittle-stars found in the anchialine system. Material from several major collections was examined and Ophionereis sp. records were restricted to this cave, in which it is very abundant throughout the entire system. Ophi- olepis sp. specimens were found occurring in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Morphological diagnostic external characters were easily identified for the later species, whereas the external morphology of Ophionereis sp. closely resembles that of O. reticulata (Say, 1825), except for colouration patterns and arm length –disc diameter ratio. Moreover, several colouration patterns were identified within the cave, but COI data suggests all these to be the same species. A multi-locus approach is being developed as it is known that single gene trees may not be representative of the species phylogeny.

78 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

O2 and pH microdynamics around the rhizome and roots of seagrasses determined via novel optical nanoparticle-based sensors

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Kasper Elgetti Brodersen1, Dr. Klaus Koren2, Prof. Michael Kühl2 1University of Technology Sydney, 2University of Copenhagen

Seagrasses provide important eco-engineering services in coastal environments but have over the past century been declining with alarming rates mainly due to anthropogenic activity. Seagrasses are constantly challenged to aerate their belowground tissue and the surrounding sediment to prevent intrusion of reduced phytotoxic compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and to ensure aerobic metabolism. In present study, we developed a novel bioimaging approach to determine O2 and pH microdynamics and distributions around the belowground tissue of Zostera marina L. and Zostera muelleri spp. capricorni by means of optical nanoparticle-based O2 and pH sensors incorporated into transparent, artificial sediments consisting of a deoxygenated, pH-buffered, sulphidic seawater/agar matrix. Seagrass growth and photosynthetic activity did not seem affected by the experimental setup based on root growth rates (~5 mmd-1) and photosynthetic quantum yields (~0. 7), which both were comparable to healthy seagrasses growing in their natural habitat. Oxygen release and the pH heterogeneity were visualised and analysed on a whole rhizosphere level, which is a substantial improvement to existing methods such as via microsen- sors and/or planar optodes. Our images determined higher oxygen release from the belowground tissue in light as compared to darkness and that water column hypoxia leads to reduced oxygen levels around the rhizome and roots. We found pronounced spatial pH microheterogeneity within the immediate rhizosphere of Z. marina L. Light exposure of the leaf canopy and elevated temperature resulted in higher rhizoplane pH levels (rhizome/roots surface pH of up to 0. 9 pH units). Low rhizosphere pH microenvironments (pH levels down to ~4) appeared to correlate with the plant-mediated oxic microniches, although the rhizoplane/tissue surface pH levels overall were much higher than the pH of the surrounding sediment (~0. 4 pH units higher; based on averaged measurements in selected regions of interest (ROIs)). Seagrass plants thus alters the pH levels of their immediate rhizosphere, an important chemical defence mechanism that further alleviates the H2S toxicity in the rhizoplane through geochemical speciation shift towards non-tissue-permeable HS- ions, as well as the plant-derived low pH microenvironments leads to nutrient mobilization, which then becomes available for plant assimilation.

79 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

How overfishing can improve fishery production

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Christopher Brown1, Dr. Rowan Trebilco2 1Griffith University, Australian Rivers Institute, 2Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre

Overfishing is generally believed to drive collapses of ecosystems and fisheries. However, overfishing can unintentionally cultivate ecosystems to improve the productivity of some species, even while ecosystems are degraded. We reviewed known cases of unintended cultivation to identify common causes and consequences for fisheries. We found two common ecological drivers of cultivation: trophic release of prey species by overfishing of predators, and habitat change. Several ecological, economic and social conditions have to align for unintended cultivation to occur. These conditions include, strong top-down control of predators by prey, high value prey species and the capacity of fisheries to switch target species. In the short-term, restoration of ecosystems toward their ‘pristine’ or historical state may threaten fisheries that depend on high value ‘cultivated’ species. Thus, unintended cultivation may create conflicts between fisheries and efforts to restore ecosystems toward their past states. However, inthe long-term, restoring ecosystems may benefit fisheries by providing diverse and stable harvest opportunities. Greater appreciation and identification of cultivation effects is necessary for ecosystem management to find compatible goalsfor fisheries and conservation.

80 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Urban sprawl in marine systems: impacts, consequences and mitigation options

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Dr. Mariana Mayer Pinto1, Dr. Ana Bugnot1, Prof. Laura Airoldi2, Dr. Tim Glasby3, Prof. Emma Johnston1, Dr. Katherine Dafforn1 1University of New South Wales, 2University of Bologna, 3New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

The loss and modification of coastal habitats due to urbanization is aglobal issue gaining mometum, due to the need for improved coastal defences in consequence of climatic changes. Marine artificial structures such as breakwaters, seawalls and pilings, are replacing natural structures and are, therefore, often associated with habitat and diversity loss. They also support novel ecosystems unlike any that exist in natural structures. In order to design artificial structures with increased contributions to ecosystem services, we need to understand how these novel systems function. We have, therefore, evaluated the functioning properties of the kelp Ecklonia radiata, an important habitat-forming species in temperate Australia, in artificial and natural habitats in Sydney Harbour. Pilings and rocky shores were surveyed two locations in the inner Harbour and two locations in the outer part of Sydney Harbour. We measured the growth and erosion rates of E. radiata, as well as their photosynthetic efficiency, using the traditional hole-punch method and a diving PAM, respectively. Abundance of kelp and the major herbivores present in the area (e. g. sea urchins), as well as the structure of epifaunal assemblages, were also measured. We also surveyed the abundance and composition of fish in each type of habitat at each location, using unbaited GoPro cameras. We found no significant differences in the photosynthetic efficiency or the growth-rates of kelps between habitats, but erosion was greater on natural rocky shores than on pilings. These results have important implications in the productivity of these systems, given that kelp detritus, generated mainly by erosion and dislodgement, is likely to support different types of consumers and is considered a key vector of trophic connectivity in many coastal systems. Results of this work can be used as baseline on how to ecologically engineer artificial structures so they minimise adverse ecological impacts and incorporate other functions, e. g. maintenance and/or restoration of local and regional diversity, water quality improvement, food production, educational and recreational opportunities.

81 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Recovery of benthic communities following the installation of Environmentally Friendly Moorings

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Dana Burfeind1, Mr. Brandon Meteyard1, Dr. Ian Tibbetts1 1University of Queensland

Scouring form moorings can cause large-scale seagrass loss and changes in the benthic community. As a result, there has been a push to design moorings that will minimize impact to the benthic community. In Moreton Bay the Environ- mentally Friendly Mooring Program (EFM) began in 2009. The objective of the program was to replace traditional block and chain moorings with EFMs to minimize the damage to marine habitats and promote the recovery of marine habitats in areas once damaged by scouring from traditional block and chain moorings. The objectives of this study were to quantify the recovery of the benthic community following the installation of EFMs. We found that EFMs had an average scour of 1. 1m (±0. 2) diameter; an area significantly smaller than the estimated average EFM recovery area of 19. 2m (± 2. 5) diameter. There was overall good recovery of vegetation within 1-2 years of EFM installation, averaging 40-60% vegetated cover. However, the species that did colonize the EFM recovery sites tended to be the faster growing pioneering species, with just two species dominating each study site. Fast growing species recovered to shoot densities and biomasses similar to positive control sites; whereas the slower growing species, Zostera muelleri and Cymodocea serrulata, had significantly lower biomass and shoot density than positive control sites. Overall, the installation has promoted seagrass and macroalgal recovery in Moreton Bay. However, the recovery is dominated by pioneering species that are unlikely to have the same ecosystem services as well larger, slower going climax species. Therefore, it may be several years until the recovery sites reach their full functional recovery.

82 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Fluxes of nutrients and suspended solids at the marine boundary of a tropical macrotidal estuary, Darwin Harbour – observations and modelling

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Edward Butler1, Mr. David Williams1, Ms. Ruth Patterson2, Mr. Jonathan Windsor1, Ms. Kirsty McAllister1 1Australian Institute of Marine Science, 2Australian Institute of Marine Science and Aquatic Health Unit, NT Department of Land Resource Management

Many Australian estuaries characterised as slightly or moderately disturbed ecosystems have macronutrient (N & P) budgets that are dominated by exchanges at the marine boundary. This ensues from a continental landscape that is generally impoverished in these nutrients. Although Darwin Harbour, as a tropical macrotidal estuary, is a type of system that is not well represented in Australian studies, previous semi-quantitative analyses have suggested that the same nutrient regime prevails. In a late wet-season study (Feb – Apr 2015), a set of observations were made in Darwin Harbour under spring-tide conditions to resolve definitively the fluxes of macronutrients and suspended solids at the marine boundary. Water-quality measurements were made hourly over a full tidal cycle, as an enhancement of a regular sampling of the IMOS National Reference Station in outer Darwin Har- bour. Results from four depths in the water column show that concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients were directly correlated with the oscillation in tidal amplitude: nitrate + nitrite, 5. 9–14. 0 µg/L; dissolved reactive P, 1. 3–2. 7 µg/L; dissolved reactive Si, 118–138 µg/L — with a lag of about 2 h. Dissolved organic forms of N and P (29. 4–64. 4 µg/L and <0. 3–2. 5 µg/L, respectively) did not show a clear pattern. Whereas, suspended solids, particulate organic C and particulate N (5. 3–50. 9 mg/L; 142–1170 µg/L; 23. 0–123 µg/L, respectively) were at peak concentrations in the water column during maximum tidal currents at ebb and flow. ADCP currents at key cross-sections in Darwin Harbour have also been obtained under like tidal conditions. These results reveal the spectrum of tidal currents and the volume exchanges in the estuary over a spring tidal cycle. Early modelling results indicate that the harbour equilibrates with the boundary conditions and that increases in nutrient concentrations in the inner harbour arise from either or both of localised inputs and evapo-concentration.

83 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Determining aluminium speciation in seawater from a subtropical estuarine port

Wednesday, 8th July 12.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Edward Butler1, Dr. Jeffrey Tsang1, Prof. David Parry2 1Australian Institute of Marine Science, 2Rio Tinto Alcan

The toxicity of aluminium (Al) in aquatic environments is intimately linked to the forms (or species) present and their respective concentrations, rather than the total Al concentration. Reflecting this in water quality guidelines isa difficult exercise because of the diversity of species that exist—differentiated on physical (particulate, colloidal and truly soluble) and chemical grounds (simple ionic, polymeric, organically complexed, etc. ). In this study, we adopted a two-step approach. First, we characterised the physical speciation, using nominal cut-offs for filtration of 0. 45 µm to separate particulate from dissolved, and a further differentiation of the dissolved fraction into colloidal and soluble using <10-kDa ultra-filter (~0. 003-µm pore size). Alu- minium concentrations in port seawaters for each size fraction were determined by ICP-MS. Results for estuarine water samples, from a remote, undeveloped estuary in the same region had the same characteristics, with the aluminium concentration in the order: particulate >> soluble > colloidal. Dilution experiments with freshwater of aged (~ 1 month) samples close to seawater salinity revealed no change in this distribution over varying timescales of 30 min, 7 d and 35 d, nor was it influenced by temperatures of 18, 24 and 28°C (reflecting the seasonal cycle for the port seawaters). The second stage of the work featured analytical procedures to quantify speciation on a chemical basis using chromatographic separation followed by selective detection. An example is provided by the complexation of labile Al with the flu- orophore lumogallion, which is subsequently separated from matrix components including other refractory Al species by reversed-phase chromatography and quantitation by fluorimetry. Early results indicate that the chromatographic method with fluorimetric detection of the Al-lumogallion complex yields concentrations in the range 50–80% of the dissolved (<0. 45 µm) Al concentration originally determined by ICP-MS.

84 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Developing biomarkers to assess desalination brine effects on seagrass

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Marion Cambridge1, Ms. Andrea Zavala-Perez2, Prof. Gary Kendrick3, Dr. Julie Mondon4 1The University of Western Australia, 2School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009 WA, Australia, 3The University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, 4Deakin University

A large desalination plant using reverse osmosis of seawater has been built on the Western Australian coast 200 km south of Perth, following predictions of a drying climate with a 30% reduction in rainfall. Hypersaline wastewater is discharged into the wave-exposed nearshore environment approx. 10 m deep where seagrasses, rock pavement and sand form a shifting mosaic. Impacts are difficult to define in situ in such environments. We therefore carried outaseries of mesocosm experiments on seagrass with the aim of developing biomarkers appropriate to testing the effects of brine discharge on temperate seagrass occurring widely on the southern half of Australia. We examined the effect of raised salinity (46 and 54 psu) compared to seawater controls (37 psu) over 4 weeks on the seagrass species, Posidonia australis. Salinity had a significant inhibitory effect on maximum quantum yield of PSII (chlorophyll a fluorescence emissions on dark adapted leaves). Plants avoided dehydration by decreasing their leaf water potential (Ψw) and osmotic potential (Ψ ) while maintaining turgor pressure (Ψp) as salinity increased. Cellular ion concentrations changed with increasing salinity (increase in Na, Cl, decrease in K, Ca) whereas concentrations of some sugars (mainly sucrose) and some amino acids indicated the formation of compatible solutes in the osmoregulatory process. These experiments indicated that the seagrass tolerated brief exposures to very high salinity, corresponding to the highest salinity of brine released from the desalination plant outfall into the ocean. Biomarkers showing responses to raised salinity include photosynthesis, water relations, ion concentrations, sugar and amino acid concentrations.

85 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Non-indigenous marine species – not all created equal

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Jan Carey1 1School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne

Introduced species have been recognised as a great threat to marine biodiversity. Fortunately, only a fraction of species introduced will go on to become pests. The detrimental effects of some of those recognised pest species are well known, but for other species, their effects on native species or habitats are unknown or poorly understood. Here, I consider the range of ‘pestiness’ of introduced species in Port Phillip Bay and the implications of that range for management of the marine environment.

86 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Reporting on the condition of Victoria’s Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Jan Carey1, Dr. Steffan Howe2, Dr. Paul Carnell3, Dr. Jacqui Pocklington4, Mr. Mark Rodrigue5, Dr. Prue Addison6 1School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, 2Knowledge and Management Effectiveness Branch, Parks Victoria, Level 9 / 535 Bourke St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, 3Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, VIC 3280, 4Laboratory of Marine Plant Ecology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 981-8555, 5Conservation Programs Branch, Parks Victoria, Level 9 / 535 Bourke St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, 6Australian Institute of Marine Science

The ecological condition of Victoria’s Marine National Parks and Marine Sanc- tuaries is the subject of a series of new report cards which assess condition in a consistent, logical and systematic way. Each report card identifies conservation objectives for focal ecosystems within the park, along with the key ecological attributes (KEAs) of each ecosystem and threat objectives for key threats to KEAs.. Indicators have been selected according to a set of nine criteria with emphasis on a clear link to the attribute in question, the level of disturbance required to collect data on the indicator, the precision with which the indicator can be measured, and the benefit gained for the sampling effort required. The report cards use quantitative and qualitative monitoring data, information from spatial analyses, expert opinion and information from Parks Victoria’s State of the Parks evaluation process to provide timely, accurate, and reliable information on the condition of natural assets, level of threats, trends and level of confidence in assessments. Recognising the importance of having outcome-based performance indicators, ecologically sensible and relevant limits of acceptable change for the various indicators have been set, with the expecta- tion that these may be refined in future iterations of the report cards asmore data become available. Report cards will be compared for a data-poor park, a sanctuary with dedicated monitoring program in one ecosystem, and a park that has a dedicated monitoring program and also lies within a region where numerous scientific studies have been undertaken.

87 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Population structure and long-term decline in three species of heart urchins (Abatus spp.) in the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica.

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. Cecilia Carrea1, Dr. Christopher P. Burridge1, Dr. Catherine K. King2, Dr. Karen J. Miller3 1University of Tasmania, 2Australian Antarctic Division, 3Australian Institute of Marine Science

Understanding the patterns of population genetic structure in benthic species is essential to preserve marine diversity in Antarctica. Genetic structuring of populations can show signals of historic processes (such as refugial populations in ice-free areas during Pleistocene glaciations), or microevolutionary processes (e. g. gene flow, selection, drift). In addition, potential impacts of human pollutants in wastewaters discharged to coastal waters adjacent to Antarctic stations can produce changes in the magnitude and distribution of genetic diversity (e. g. by selection of tolerant genotypes or diversity loss associated with increased mortality). We used seven microsatellite markers to examine genetic variation in populations of three sympatric Antarctic sea urchin species from the order Spatangoida (Abatus ingens, A. shackletoni and A. philippii), all with brooding life history strategies. Samples were collected from sites at varying distances from the outfall of wastewater discharge from Davis Station. We found genetic evidence of a long-term population decline in all three species, but the estimated timing at the decline precedes any anthropogenic activities. Two genetic clusters inferred in A. ingens and A. shackletoni suggest secondary contact after population differentiation in glacial refugia. Life history is not a good predictor of fine-scale population structure in these species, with gene flow possible at distances of 5km. There was no evidence for an effect of pollution from Davis Station on genetic variation, however, potential limitations to detect such an impact are discussed. The reduced effective population size observed for these Antarctic benthic species highlights their fragility and the need for conservation concern.

88 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Potential impacts of marine seismic surveys on fish & invertebrates

Thursday, 9th July 11.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Rachel Przeslawski1, Dr. Andrew Carroll1 1Geoscience Australia

The extent to which low-frequency sound from marine seismic surveys impacts marine fauna is a subject of growing concern. The predominant frequency range of seismic airgun emissions is within the hearing range of cetaceans, reptiles, and fishes, and it can also elicit a neurological response in some invertebrates. Off- shore seismic surveys have long been considered to be disruptive to fisheries, but comparatively few studies target commercially important species in realistic exposure scenarios. One of the main challenges in underwater sound impact studies is the meaningful translation of laboratory results to the field. Underwa- ter sound properties are affected by the sound source, as well as characteristics of the water column, substrate, and biological communities. The experimental set-up is also critical to accurate response measurement, and design features of holding tanks can lead to misinterpretation of results, particularly related to behaviour. It may be tempting to simplify laboratory results to show effect or no effect, where results should instead be interpreted in the context of realistic exposure scenarios and field conditions. The current project was developed in response to stakeholder concerns from the fisheries industry about an April seismic survey in the Gippsland Basin, inad- dition to a broader need to acquire baseline data that may be used to quantify potential impacts of seismic operations on marine organisms. The study involves six components: 1) sound modelling, 2) sound monitoring using moored hydrophones, 3) benthic community assessment using an AUV, 4) bivalve assessment using dredging 5) fish avoidance behaviour using acoustic tagging, and 6) analysis of fisheries catch data as related to seismic surveys. In this presentation, we describe these components and critically review our current understanding of low-frequency sound impact on marine fish and invertebrates.

89 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Developing thresholds and indicators of seagrass meadow condition using long-term monitoring data

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Alex Carter1, Mrs. Catherine Bryant1, Dr. Jessie Jarvis1, Dr. Paul York1, Dr. Michael Rasheed1 1TropWATER, James Cook University

The use of appropriate indicators to evaluate condition is particularly important for habitats like seagrass meadows where dramatic changes in distribution and species composition can occur. We used annual long-term monitoring data (2002-2014) to develop a report card of seagrass condition for 15 seagrass meadows at Gladstone as part of the Gladstone Healthy Harbours Partnership. The process used expert opinion to determine the best indicators of seagrass condition (above-ground biomass, meadow area, species composition), trialled four approaches to determine baseline condition of each indicator (a running long- term average, a 10-year fixed average, and two 5-year fixed average periods), and defined five threshold levels (very good, good, fair, poor, very poor) to grade each meadow relative to the baseline. Threshold levels for each condition category were adjusted based on the historical stability (variability) in each meadow’s biomass and area. The 10-year fixed average was the most appropriate baseline against which to evaluate changes in seagrass biomass and meadow area because this timeframe incorporated the greatest range of environmental conditions known to affect seagrass. Baselines set at 5-year fixed average periods were biased by either El Nino or La Nina conditions, resulting in report card grades being either overly conservative or optimistic. The approach developed for Gladstone was successfully implemented in 2014/15 for Weipa, Karumba, Cairns, Mourilyan, Townsville and Abbot Point where annual long-term monitoring of seagrass occurs. The report card approach allows for the presentation of a large amount of spatial information for each port, including the location, condition, and the reason for each meadow’s grade, to be presented within a single map. This allows for rapid comparison of seagrass condition across the range of meadows within a port, and at a broader regional scale. Planned future modifications to the program include applying statistical approaches to threshold levels and weighting meadows to give a “whole of port” grade.

90 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Temperature as a significant determining factor of petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity in marine spills

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Rhys Cartlidge1, Dr. Cybele Heddle2, Prof. Dayanthi Nugegoda1 1RMIT University, 2Ehs-support

The relationship between temperature and petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity to marine invertebrate is not well documented in the current literature. A complex relationship exists wherein higher temperatures can both increase bioavailabil- ity to a marine organism yet at the same time increase hydrocarbon volatilisa- tion and degradation thus reducing the aqueous concentration. Five petroleum hydrocarbons commonly found in light crude oil and refined petroleum were analysed for toxicity at two different temperatures using the amphipod Allorch- estes compressa. The concentration that killed 50 percent of the A. compressa test population (LC50) was determined (USEPA, 2010) for each of the hydrocarbons at 16°C and 22°C for exposures of up to 96 h. Results showed that the low molecular weight, highly volatile hydrocarbons were more toxic at 16°C whereas the higher molecular weight, poorly soluble hydrocarbons were significantly more toxic at 22°C. Chemical analysis was performed to determine the exact concentration pre and post testing for each experiment. The results illustrate the importance of taking temperature into account when performing an environmental risk analysis.

91 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Predicting climate warming effects on green turtle hatchling viability and dispersal performance

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Catherine Cavallo1, Dr. Tim Dempster2, Dr. Michael Kearney3, Ms. Ella Kelly3, Dr. David Booth4, Ms. Kate Hadden5, Dr. Tim Jessop3 1Monash University, 2School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 3University of Melbourne, 4University of Queensland, 5Tiwi Land Council

Ectotherms are considered highly sensitive to rapid climate warming because environmental temperature profoundly governs their performance, fitness and life history. To protect vulnerable species, it is imperative we understand the nature and extent of these effects. Yet, while several modelling approaches currently predict thermal effects on some aspects of life history and demography, none consider how temperature simultaneously affects developmental success and offspring phenotypic performance, two key attributes that are needed to comprehensively understand species responses to climate warming. We developed a stepwise, individual-level modelling approach linking biophysical and developmental models with empirically derived performance functions to predict the effects of temperature-induced changes to offspring viability, phenotype and performance, using green sea turtle hatchlings as an ectotherm model. In endangered sea turtles, successful development and dispersal away from natal beaches are determinants of early life-cycle survival, and key to overall population dynamics. Under conservative and extreme warming, our model predicted large effects on performance attributes key to dispersal, as well as notable reductions in offspring viability. Forecast sand temperatures produced smaller, weaker hatchlings, which were up to 40% slower than at present, albeit with increased energy stores. Conversely, increases in sea surface temperatures mod- estly aided swimming performance. These results show that climate warming has the potential to significantly affect ectotherm traits in ways that disrupt key life history stages. Our exploratory study highlights the need for further development of integrative individual based modeling frameworks to better understand the complex outcomes of climate change for ectotherm species. Such advances could better serve ecologists to highlight the most vulnerable species and populations, encouraging prioritization of conservation effort to the most threatened systems.

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Choosing spatially explicit conservation actions in estuarine and coastal ecosystems

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Costa Hall

Ms. Debbie Chamberlain1, Prof. Hugh Possingham1, Prof. Stuart Phinn1 1University of Queensland

In the design of marine protected areas we need to not only incorporate both the influence of connectivity and climate change, but also the effect ofclimate change on connectivity. We use a structured decision-making approach to determine suitable development and management options to safeguard a productive near shore fishery while accommodating climate change and the associated human responses. Most ectothermic marine species are operating at or near their thermal limits. Ontogenetic ecosystem connectivity has important consequences for reef and coastal organisms that have nursery habitats detached from reproductive populations. Increased ocean temperatures are expected to accelerate larval development, potentially leading to reduced pelagic durations and earlier settlement behaviour. The spatial scale of connectivity for planktivorous larval movement is predicted to be reduced leading to a convergence in dispersal distances. To develop robust plans for conservation, species-specific analyses explicitly defining responses to environmental change are incorporated into prioritization. Candidate areas are identified and by applying complementarity, areas are selected among the candidates. By incorporating demography and dispersal, mechanistic modelling and time-series analysis in remote sensing, we are developing a spatially coherent network for species dispersal and persistence under changed climatic conditions by maximizing the conservation benefit for the lowest cost. We use the Zonation spatial prioritization software framework and apply our plan to the Mackay/Whitsunday NRM Region of North Queensland employing feature specific connectivity. Parametisation is with environmental and physiological data using the iconic species Lates calcarifer an economically important species in near shore tropical regions.

93 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Genetic diversity and population connectivity of the eastern blue spot goby Pseudogobius sp. in south-east Australia

Wednesday, 8th July 17.10 - Costa Hall

Ms. Sherrie Chambers1, Dr. Kathryn Hassell1, Dr. Melissa Carew2, Dr. Vincent Pettigrove1 1The University of Melbourne (Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management), 2The University of Melbourne (Bio21 Institute)

The eastern blue spot goby Pseudogobius sp. is a small benthic fish species that is widespread in estuaries throughout south-east Australia. Due to its small size and limited swimming ability, this species is thought to be highly site-attached with reduced opportunity for larval dispersal. As a result, populations may have become geographically isolated within estuaries across their range. Once thought to be the species Pseudogobius olorum, found in estuaries across the entire south and west coast of Australia, fish found in south-east Australia are now recognised as a separate species. However, the eastern blue spot goby has not been formally described and is potentially part of a species complex. This work examines genetic diversity and population structure of the eastern blue spot goby Pseudogobius sp. in south-east Australia and explores connectivity and dispersal potential. A total of 215 individuals were collected from 27 estuaries along the Victorian coast over a two-year period using seine nets. Mitochondrial DNA from the COI region was sequenced, revealing a high level of diversity in the population although no evidence of speciation. A prominent regional barrier to gene flow was detected in western Victoria (east of, and including the Otway ranges), with a lesser divide east of Western Port. This work is important for the use of Pseudogobius sp. in future biomonitoring studies, as genetic variation between estuaries and between regions should be considered when evaluating response to pollutants. It provides a baseline for understanding geographical barriers and gene flow in the population anda platform for future work on adaptive markers.

94 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Population demographics and seasonal variation of the Burrunan Dolphin (Tursiops australis) in the Gippsland Lakes

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Angus Henderson1, Prof. John Arnould2, Dr. Kate Charlton-Robb1 1Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation, 2Deakin University

Coastal ecosystems are under increasing threat as encroachment from human populations continues to put pressure on top order predators such as marine mammals. The recently described Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis), endemic to south-eastern Australia is characterised by small geographically and genetically isolated coastal populations with low genetic diversity. The only two known resident populations of Burrunan occur adjacent to a large urban (Port Phillip Bay) and agricultural (Gippsland Lakes) centre and are reported to be negatively effected by accumulation of heavy metals and tourism. At present, the Burrunan is listed as ‘Threatened’ under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guaran- tee Act 1988, however further classification is prevented due to data deficiency. A series of boat-based surveys were conducted in the Gippsland Lakes to provide the first direct abundance estimate for the Burrunan dolphin worldwide. The most recently developed abundance modelling technique (Mark-resight Robust Design) was used, based on the rigorously refined photographic identification capture-recapture methodology. It was found that a maternally based resident population of 65 (64; 95%CI 41–97, 66; 95%CI 54–81) individuals occupy the Gippsland Lakes, across multiple seasons and multiple years. A unique winter calving is facilitated by multiple waves of transient animals enter the system in winter (112; 95%CI 101–124) and early spring (128; 95%CI 98–166). Transient animals are thought to migrate to Tasmania possibly facilitating both winter and summer breeding between two populations >300km apart. Confirmation from historical data shows that not only are some transient animals returning to the Lakes annually, others have switched between resident and transient behaviour possibly relating to maturity. The influx of transient animals coincides with a dramatic shift in the spatial habitat use within the Lakes, and may reflect changes in prey availability, sexual competition, and/or the avoidance of boat traffic. Although the Burrunan species are not yet considered forIUCN Red Listing, we recommended that the very small (<250 mature individuals) Gippsland Lakes population be listed as ‘Endangered’.

95 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Mixed species assemblages: What do Burrunan dolphins, common dolphins and Australian fur seals have in common?

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Kate Charlton-Robb1, Ms. Christine Moodie1 1Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation

Mixed species assemblages (MSAs), noted as two or more species interacting and forming one interspecific group, can vary between closely related species to those from differing Orders. Marine mammal MSAs have been documented to provide foraging, social and reproductive advantages and can assist in protection against predators. MSAs are not necessarily mutually beneficial with aggressive and harassing behaviour also noted. Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, hosts a small resident population of Burrunan dolphins (Tursiops australis), a small community of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and provides numerous haul out sites for the Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus (AFS)). For the first time we report on delphinid and ottorid heterospecific interactions in Port Phillip Bay. We assessed sightings data collected from 39 surveys across 2006-2008. Twenty of the 77 sightings recorded were MSAs; 30% of those were between all three species, the remainder being between two species (10 Bur- runan/AFS; 3 Burrunan/common). In assessing the behaviours observed during MSAs, 70% were related to foraging activities, which may be indicative of local enhancement and/or a foraging advantage. Seals were often observed surface feeding and/or ‘tracking’ Burrunan foraging at greater depths. Aggressive behaviour was only noted between Burrunan and common dolphin MSAs. Further investigation is required to assess the correlation of MSAs with environmental variables, prey choice and other predator interactions known to utilise local enhancement techniques when foraging, such as Australasian gannets. Assessing MSAs will assist in identifying areas of significance for Port Phillip Bay’s iconic marine mammal species.

96 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Growing Deep – How to succeed as a deepwater seagrass

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Katie Chartrand1, Prof. Peter Ralph2, Dr. Michael Rasheed1 1TropWATER, James Cook University, 2University of Technology Sydney

What are the major drivers of deepwater (>10m) seagrasses and how best can this resource be managed to curb coastal development impacts such as dredge plumes? To address this question, we constructed a multidimensional research program to detail seasonal dynamics and growth strategies of Halophila spp. in deep water at three locations along the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. We mapped seasonal abundance, reproductive effort, seed bank status, productivity and environmental parameters over three years. While all Halophila spp. thrived under relatively low light, the extent of the growing period and whether plants were present or absent depended on the species and latitudinal position. The light climate and growing phases at field sites guided customised light and temperature treatments for H. decipiens and H. spinulosa during laboratory experiments into tolerances and thresholds to maintain seagrass condition. Overall, H. decipiens and H. spinulosa maintained their condition in aquaria at light levels as low as 3. 2 mol photons m-2 d-1, in line with observed seasonal germination and production at field sites. A 66% reduction in light from ambient led to decreased shoot density for H. decipiens and H. spinulosa after two and four weeks respectively. Remarkably, temperature did not measurably affect shoot density or respiration of either species. Differences in sexual reproductive effort between the two species indicate disparate life history strategies to cope with impacts. H. decipiens relies heavily on fruit and seed dispersal into local sediments, whereas H. spinulosa preserves a standing crop from which it can proliferate when conditions improve. Overall, small reductions in light over relatively short timeframes can quickly exhaust a deepwater seagrass population. Ensuring an annual seed bank is established should be a management priority prior to impacts to the light climate, as caused by dredging, to ensure subsequent annual germination and recruitment. Designing a light threshold for managing deepwater seagrasses must therefore collectively address their monocarpic life history strategies to be an effective management tool in mitigating light-driven loss.

97 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Spatial and temporal effects of wastewater discharges on benthic marine ecology

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. Scott Chidgey1 1CEE Consultants

Treated municipal wastewater from many coastal populations is discharged at the shoreline or to nearshore waters. The extent of effect of a range discharges on hard seabed communities has been established using methods that recognize effluent exposure gradients at a number of discharges in Victoria and Tasma- nia. Longer-term programs using these methods have shown changes in the extent and nature of effect resulting from changes in treatment and discharge arrangements over time. This presentation presents an overview of the nature of changes that have occurred and the positive and negative ecological indicator species that have been identified.

98 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Assessing the effectiveness of removals of Undaria pinnatifida at Point eCook Marine Sanctuary

Tuesday, 7th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. Andrew Christie1 1Melbourne Polytechnic/Marine Care Point Cooke

Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary, on the north western shores of Port Phillip Bay, supports a considerable population of the Japanese kelp or Wakame, Undaria pinnatifida, which has been identified as being one of the highest priority invasive marine pest species to have reached the Australian marine environment. This project is aimed at investigating and quantifying the densities and size frequency distribution of the population within the marine sanctuary (with the use of quadrats and transect line surveys), and aims to determine the effectiveness of removals of this macroalgae. Undaria is a seasonal species, and exhibits rapid growth from winter through to spring (July to September), but then dies back rapidly during the summer months (December to February), to the extent that the sporophyte (blade) of the plant is either dilapidated or is no longer present (Campbell et al. 1999). Investigations conducted between September 2014 and April 2015 (involving the removal of 323 plants) have revealed a paucity of mature adult plants that had died back and had started regenerating, suggesting that adult plants may suffer high mortality after the shedding of gametes, and may not regenerate as actively as once thought. The population appears to be composed largely of immature individuals of minimal size (average 156 mm in total length and less than nine grams total wet weight), with 56% of the surveyed plants lacking sporophylls (the main reproductive organ). It therefore seems that at this particular location, the key survival strategy of this plant is to procreate rather than regenerate, with recruitment of juveniles at densities of less than one plant per square metre the norm, though as many as four or five plants are often found clustered together. This project is ongoing and is due for completion in June 2016, and has been funded by grant monies from the “Communities for Nature” program established by the Victorian State Government, and is being run in association with Parks Victoria, Marine Care Point Cooke (a friends group composed of volunteers) and Melbourne Polytechnic.

99 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Applications of hydrodynamic modelling in Western Port Bay

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Kathy Cinque1, Dr. Peter Yeates2 1Melbourne Water, 2Hydronumerics

Western Port Bay (WPB) is a large, shallow and complex embayment in southern Victoria that opens into Bass Straight via narrow passages either side of Phillip Island. The hydrodynamic behaviour of WPB is a complex amalgam of meteorological, oceanographic and catchment processes operating at a range of scales from meters to kilometres. The objective has been to develop a hydrodynamic and water quality modelling platform that has the capacity to simulate the effects of these processes at sufficient resolution to allow a better understanding of the fate and transport of allochthonous and autochthonous agents throughout the bay. Initially the model was applied to assess two very different processes. The first assessed the fate and transport of dissolved chemical agents supplied to the bay via the northern creeks that are fed by fringing agricultural catchments. Model tracers were used to demonstrate a 3-log reduction in concentrations of chemicals (using conservative assumptions about their in-situ chemical reactivity) in the northern tidal flats where flushing is slowed bya ‘squeeze-box’ effect generated by the dual tidal passages around Phillip Island. In the well-flushed southern passages there was a far greater decrease incon- centration. In a second assessment, Lagrangian particle dynamics were used to predict the fate and transport of mangrove seeds. The results were used to identify the littoral regions that received a significant supply of seeds and provided favourable conditions for seed establishment. Currently, a third and more comprehensive study is underway to simulate nutrient and sediment dynamics and the impact these have on the health of seagrass. Through a flexible java-based software platform the study will integrate model and data streams from system to seagrass-bed scales. At the system scale, the model design will accommodate ocean boundary conditions that are derived from regional oceanographic models and observations. At the small scale, algorithms that describe the physiology of seagrass growth will be developed and tested in the context of the dynamic bay environment provided by the system-scale model. The platform will enable a seamless process for land-use, climate change and management scenario modelling that links oceanographic, estuarine and ecosystems scales.

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Effects of a desalination outfall on marine invertebrate recruitment: impacts and recovery

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Graeme Clark1, Dr. Nathan Knott2, Dr. Shinjiro Ushiama2, Dr. Brendan Kelaher3, Dr. Melinda Coleman4, Prof. Emma Johnston1 1University of New South Wales, 2The University of New South Wales, 3Southern Cross University, 4NSW Department of Primary Industries

Desalination plants are becoming increasingly common worldwide, but their ecological impacts are poorly understood. Many desalination plants draw in large volumes of seawater, extract salt to obtain freshwater, then pump hypersaline effluent containing excess salt out to sea. There are numerous impact pathways through which the effluent might affect marine biota, including salinity toxicity, change in other water quality parameters (e. g. pH), contaminants, change in hydrodynamics, and indirect effects. Here we report a 6-year study testing for impacts of a desalination outfall on the recruitment of offshore marine invertebrates, and subsequent recovery from impacts. We measured both recruitment and salinity in a multiple-before-after-control-impact (MBACI) design, sampling at replicate times and locations before, during, and after plant operation. Within this we also conducted a predator exclusion study to separate direct effects of the effluent from indirect predator-mediated effects. This study provides a powerful test for impacts at various distances from the outfall, and offers rare insight into the impact pathways of a growing form ofhuman disturbance.

101 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Australian Aquaculture: Novel Innovations and Approaches to Drive Future Growth

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Steven Clarke1, Prof. Xiaoxu Li2, Dr. David Stone3 1South Australian Research and Development Institute, 2South, 3South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

The further development of aquaculture in Australia is highly desirable for increasing the production of fresh, healthy and safe seafood, as well as creating economic wealth and employment, particularly in regional areas, through the farm to market value supply chain and the further growth of associated service industries. Despite the latest 2011-12 national aquaculture production figures indicating a growth in value of 9% to $1, 054 million, as compared to 8% the year before, a closer examination of the figures indicates a general plateauing of the economic value of most sectors, other than the expanding Tasmanian salmon industry. Why has aquaculture production in general levelled off and what can be done to turn this around so that a ‘high growth phase’ can be achieved? How do we, as marine scientists with our recognised responsibilities in communication, innovation and integrity, address this challenge to support industry to enhance production without causing more environmental harm? One logical and practical approach is to identify, distil and synthesise the diverse experiences of the entrepreneurs, famers and scientists involved in the Australian aquaculture and aquatic biotechnology sectors. The focus should be on identifying common ‘bottlenecks’ and unifying ‘strategic directions’, as well as working collaboratively to develop and implement ‘solutions’. This presentation will overview the present status of the Australian aquaculture industry, identify some of its key issues, and highlight the authors views as to the science behind the solutions to enhancing the sustainable development of this industry. Aspects that will be discussed include the need for greater cohesiveness between traditional aquaculturists and aquatic biotechnologists to create new opportunities; optimising the balance and type of science support provided to further enhance leading industry sectors, encourage their diversification and develop new sectors; demonstrating the use of alternative and potentially more sustainable aquaculture systems; and further establishing and promoting the Australian aquacultures industry’s social license to operate.

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Catalysing research and adoption on the Great Barrier Reef

Tuesday, 7th July 17.10 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Sonia Claus1, Prof. Eva Abal1, Dr. Emily Saeck1, Ms. Melissa Rodgers1, Prof. Paul Greenfield1, Ms. Claire Hanratty1 1Great Barrier Reef Foundation

The resilience of the Great Barrier Reef to a changing climate is predicted to vary greatly across the 344, 400 km2 and 2, 900 individual reefs that make up the world heritage site. This variability presents significant challenges for managing the Reef into the future. Effective conservation planning for the Reef will require indicators and tools that can identify resilient reefs and monitor and report on shifts in reef resilience over time. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation with strong links to Australian business, philanthropy, government, and coral reef research and management agencies. To address the challenge of managing the Great Barrier Reef, the Foundation leverages the expertise of its diverse network to catalyse research, develop frameworks, fund projects and facilitate adoption to address a research vision of ‘a resilient Reef’. New and innovative monitoring methods are being applied, including state-of- the-art techniques like bioinformatics, metabolomics, autonomous vehicles, image recognition software, and mass spectrometry. As a whole, the science of resilience has increasingly become the focus for measuring and managing reef health. The Foundation funds research that underpins the development of a range of adaptation options to address the ever increasing effects of warming waters, more acidic oceans and organisms that are struggling to adapt. Finally, and most importantly, the research aims to equip reef managers, users and policymakers with decision-making tools that may help determine where, when and how to deploy these options.

103 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Providing high quality chlorophyll–a data streams from moored observing systems over broad spatial and temporal scales – part II

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Lesley Clementson1, Dr. Tim Lynch2 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, 2CSIRO

Chlorophyll-fluorescence is known to vary on diel, regional and seasonal scales and is often used to reflect trends, rather than concentration in phytoplankton biomass. Australian coastal waters range from tropical to temperate waters, so a one fits all relationship between fluorescence and measured chlorophyll isnot possible. Since 2009, IMOS has deployed moored temperature, salinity, fluorescence and turbidity sensors at multiple sites within Australian coastal waters. Originally there were 9 sites, where in situ samples were collected regularly to aid in the calibration of the sensors. In 2013 two sites which were logistically difficult to sample were removed from the network, leaving 7 sites – Maria Island (Tas), Port Hacking (NSW), North Stradbroke Island (SE Qld), Yongala (N Qld), Rottnest Island (WA), Kangaroo Island (SA) and Darwin (NT). At AMSA 2014, preliminary results based on data from just one site – North Stradbroke Island was presented. In 2015, the relationship between the data stream from the sensors with the coincident HPLC – Chl-a value determined from an in situ sample for the period 2009 – 2014 will be presented for each site. How these relationships can be used to adjust the fluorescence signal so that a more reliable chl-a concentration can be determined, at each site, on a greater temporal scale than is currently possible will be discussed together with an analysis of the different relationships determined between tropical and temperate waters.

104 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Developing methods for oyster reef repair in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria

Wednesday, 8th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. Ben Cleveland1, Dr. John Ford1, Dr. Paul Hamer2 1University of Melbourne, 2Fisheries Victoria

Oyster reefs were once a dominant structural and ecological component of estuaries around the globe. Studies in bay and estuarine systems worldwide have indicated that shellfish reefs provide important structural habitats for a variety of invertebrate and fish taxa. Producing reef habitat for entire ecosystems, oysters act as ecosystem engineers, whilst providing a vast number of ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, water filtration, sediment stabilization and carbon sequestration. Through centuries of intensive destructive fishing and more recently coastal degradation, these critically important ecosystems in many areas are now ecologically extinct. The major declines and ongoing threats to this habitat have stimulated projects aimed at their protection, enhancement and restoration. We are developing best practice methodology for shellfish restoration in Aus- tralia. We are asking, how do we best construct these reefs to provide greatest opportunity for survival/success? Across two sites in Port Phillip Bay, we are utilising hatchery reared Ostrea angasi spat to ‘kick start’ natural reef redevelopment in Port Phillip Bay. We have deployed experimental plots designed to compare survival and growth of oysters deployed on different substrate and at different outplant ages. We will also compare natural shellfish settlement rates, predator densities, community biodiversity and biomass amongst treatments. Through this process we aim to identify limitations to restoration success in Port Phillip Bay including predation, water quality, sedimentation and natural seed availability. There is a long road ahead and in answering this question, we aim to create a best practice system for future restoration efforts.

105 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Shifting climate change research into Sydney Harbour – predictions for native and introduced species

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Victoria Cole1, Dr. Laura Parker2, Mr. John Wright1, Mr. Elliot Scanes1, Prof. Pauline Ross1 1University of Western Sydney, 2The University of Sydney

As the climate warms and oceans are absorbing greater levels of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the estuarine environment is changing. It is predicted that ecological interactions between non-native and native species will be affected by future climate change. The native hairy mussel, Trichomya hirsuta, is common on many intertidal rocky shores in Sydney Harbour. The introduced mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, is present in the harbour but its distribution and abundance is spatially and temporally patchy. Along with the mussels, species living within mussel beds will also be faced with an increasingly stressful environment. Using novel mesocosm experiments, manipulating temperature and CO2, this research investigated how native and introduced mussels, and the invertebrates colonising mussel beds will respond to future climate change. Pre- liminary findings have shown that clearance rates, subsequent rates of growth of mussels, and egg size were influenced by ocean acidification, temperature, and the presence of the other mussel species. The effect of CO2 was contingent on the species of mussel under investigation. For example, the introduced mussel, M. galloprovincialis showed little response to CO2. The native mussel, T. hirsuta, had increased clearance rates and produced larger eggs under elevated CO2, except when in tanks with M. galloprovincialis. These results are consistent with previous studies on ocean acidification, and suggest that the native mussel is able to give greater provisions to its offspring to survive in a stressful environment. The presence of the non-native species does, however, inhibit the ability for reproductive provisioning by T. hirsuta. Colonisation of native and non-native mussel beds occurred under all combinations of temperature and CO2. Findings will be discussed in terms of how future climate change and the presence of non-native species will influence native biodiversity in Sydney Harbour.

106 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Dispersion of seagrass propagules and connectivity among meadows in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Queensland, Australia

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Rob Coles1, Dr. Alana Grech2, Dr. Michael Rasheed1, Mr. Len McKenzie1, Ms. Samantha Tol1, Dr. Brad Congdon3, Dr. Jessie Jarvis1 1TropWATER, James Cook University, 2Macquarie University, 3College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University

Recent severe storms and floods in north- eastern Australia damaged orde- stroyed seagrass meadows along hundreds of kilometres of coastline. The subsequent deaths of turtles and dugong have led to the very status of our iconic Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area being questioned. How and when will these meadows recover and should on-ground interventions such as re planting be considered? We examined how meadows may re-establish from the dispersion of propagules floating in the water or moved by feeding herbivores. We conducted a study based around Townsville and Abbot Point in North Queensland using a 2 dimensional numeric model developed for studying water movement. We used a decision rule approach releasing propagules in the model between August and November 2011 with actual wind data. Model results suggest connectivity between offshore meadows and inshore meadows is likely to be low, limiting their ability to provide a reservoir of propagules. Time of year, location of release and the location of the propagule (surface or sub-surface) influenced propagule movement. Over 8 weeks propagule movement in excess of 400 kilometres was common. An initial analysis of “fragility” identified hotspots where propagules from many source meadows accumulate and re-establishment would be more likely. We report on the value of this exercise and management implications.

107 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Interactive temperature and ocean acidification effects on tropical seagrasses

Monday, 6th July 12.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Catherine Collier1, Mr. Lucas Langlois1, Ms. Manuela Giammusso2, Dr. Charlotte Johansson2, Dr. Matthew Adams3, Dr. Kate O’Brien3, Ms. Yan Ow4, Dr. Sven Uthicke2 1TropWATER, James Cook University, 2Australian Institute of Marine Science, 3University of Queensland, 4James cook University

The effects of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) on the marine environment are two-fold. Firstly, increased seawater pCO2 lowers pH (Ocean Acidification, OA) and secondly, water temperature is set to rise. BothOA and rising temperature will affect coastal and reef ecosystems over the course of this century, but combined effects of OA and increases in temperature on seagrasses are not fully understood. Therefore, we tested the interactive effects of OA and temperature on the photoacclimation, metabolism (photosynthesis (P) and respiration (R)), growth and abundance of three tropical species of seagrass (Cymodocea serrulata, Halodule uninervis and Zostera muelleri). Each species was exposed to four temperatures (20°C, 25°C, 30°C and 35°C) and three pCO2 levels (400ppm, 1000ppm, 1600ppm) for seven weeks in a computer- controlled climate-dosing facility. Temperature, in particular, had strong effects on each of the species studied. Photosynthesis-irradiance curves demonstrated photoacclimatory responses to treatments including maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax) and compensation irradiance (Ic) but responses to temperature and pCO2 varied among species. The metabolic balances of seagrasses (net primary production) were also strongly affected by temperature and OA. Net production and leaf growth increased with temperature from 20-30°C (being 3 times faster at 30°C compared to 20°C for H. uninervis and C. serrulata) but declined sharply at 35°C. Surprisingly, Z. muelleri, a species found in cooler subtropical and temperate water maintained growing shoots at 35°C after seven weeks albeit at reduced density, compared to cooler temperatures. Overall, this study has demonstrated that temperature strongly affects seagrass productivity and growth, and there are interacting effects of pCO2 and temperature.

108 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Measuring the effectiveness of report cards in the age of information

Wednesday, 8th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Mr. David Collins1, Dr. Randall Lee1 1Environment Protection Authority Victoria

Environmental report cards are commonly used worldwide as assessment and communications products that synthesize data from scientists and volunteers and convert it into an image-rich format. They can have an important role in Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting programs, particularly when accessible community reporting is a desired outcome. A successful report card depends on many factors including having clear goals and ways to measure performance against those goals. These goals should not only include environmental outcomes that the report card shows but also refer to the effectiveness in communicating desired messages. With many report cards now available online, a range of novel options exist to measure how successful they are at achieving their goals. These include the use of web analytics data, online surveys, user experience testing and tracking application downloads. De- spite these options being available, few programs take full use of the opportunity to clearly measure the effectiveness of their report cards. The Port Phillip Bay and catchments report card program fell into this category. It had clear goals that included providing clear information on environmental water quality, accessibility to a wide audience, accepted methodology and transperancy to users. While the goals were clear, the measures of success for this report card tended to be ad-hoc and qualitative (like getting positive feedback from users). However, a combination of web analytics and user experience testing undertaken since May 2014 have helped drive improvements to this report card. Online surveys are now also being used. It’s hoped that by putting in place a range of ways to measure success, we can use the ensuing findings to make report cards more effective reporting tools.

109 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Review of techniques for monitoring impacts of dredging on seagrass: a case study from north Queensland

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Carol Conacher1, Ms. Claire Gronow2, Dr. John Thorogood1, Dr. Craig Chargulaf1 1frc environmental, 2Ashgrove Environmental

Measuring impacts to seagrass in tropical ecosystems is confounded by high short and long-term variation in the distribution and composition of these communities: few monitoring programs run for long enough to adequately account for this, or to establish the methodologies that are most suitable. While BACI designs can assist, it is often difficult to find suitable control locations, andthe scale of ‘natural’ temporal change is commonly underestimated. This paper reviews techniques used for seagrass monitoring and references a relatively long-term monitoring program in north Queensland. Construction of the Port of Airlie involved the excavation and handling of approximately 1, 000, 000 m3 of material within an enclosed area of Boathaven Bay at Airlie Beach, north Queensland, and dredging of approximately 120, 000 m3 to construct a navigation channel. Four different techniques were used to assess potential impacts: • mapping the distribution and community composition of seagrass • monitoring changes in the depth range of the dominant species, Zostera muelleri • monitoring changes in biomass along predicted impact gradients, and • videoing seagrass communities. Seagrass was monitored for two years prior to construction (2004 & 2005), during construction (2007 & 2008), and after dredging was completed (2012 & 2014). Fortuitously, seagrass depth range in Boathaven and nearby bays had also been monitored for approximately 10 years prior to construction. With the exception of the video transects, all of the techniques provide useful information to measure change, and assess likely impact. Mapping seagrass communities and depth range transects have indicted substantial variation in seagrass distribution, with the greatest depth range recorded 6 years post- construction. Impact gradient assessment indicates that near-field impacts can be less than previously predicted. While mapping seagrass distribution provides valuable insights into the means of impact, where in-water visibility is poor, it can be very time consuming. In contrast, depth range and impact gradient transects are a relatively rapid form of assessment. We compare the assessment techniques used at Port of Airlie to a range of other commonly used techniques.

110 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Sharing is caring - Real-time reports of pollution, fish deaths and algal blooms in the Port Phillip Bay catchment, Victoria

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Darren Cottam1, Mr. David Collins1 1Environment Protection Authority Victoria

The Victorian Government website, Cleaner Yarra and Bay was launched in December 2013 as a single point of reference for the community to access up to date information on the water quality of Port Phillip Bay and its catchments. This included website and Twitter reporting of real time reports of pollution, fish deaths and algal blooms visible to the public or that could be a risk to human health. Victoria is the only State in Australia doing this type of reporting, and the benefits are starting to show. There has been a positive response to the water quality alerts, increasing media and community group awareness of water quality issues, especially when alerts are issued for popular recreational areas or repeatedly for a local waterway under threat from a significant spill. In the 16 months since the start ofthese alerts, over 50% of alerts issued are for pollution in small creeks from sewer spills or other pollution transported through stormwater drains, highlighting the dominance of diffuse pollution issues in this region. Timely demand for alerts has driven improvements in communication between the Environment Protection Authority, water authorities and councils. It has also motivated the use of other innovative sources of data, such as real time water quality data tracked daily through the bay by the Spirit of Tasmania 1 to trigger response and alerting of potential algal bloom risk. Although the introduction of this type of reporting has seen some immediate results, their effectiveness and success will also be evaluated through their effect on increasing web and Twitter traffic. Further opportunities will emerge as the delivery of alerts becomes more efficient and automated, and stakeholders and government collaborate further to broaden alerting. With these further enhancements, water quality alerts could contribute to ensure more Victorians are well informed about their environment and water quality posing a risk to human and environmental health.

111 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Coastal and oceanographic influences on the Queensland (Australia) east coast saucer scallop (Amusium balloti) fishery

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Tony Courtney1, Dr. Claire Spillman2 1Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, GPO Box 267, Brisbane , QLD 4001 AUSTRALIA, 2Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research (CAWCR), Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289, Melbourne, VIC 3001

A benthic trawl fishery for saucer scallops (Amusium balloti) has been operating on the southern Queensland east coast (22-27 degrees S) since the 1970s. Dur- ing this period annual landings have varied between ~300 t and 2000 t (meat weight). In order to explain this variation and develop catch forecasting tools, we examined relationships between annual indices of scallop abundance, based on logbook catch rates in November from 1988-2013 (~26 years), and coastal and physical oceanographic parameters [freshwater flow, sea water temperature, sea level height, eddy kinetic energy (EKE), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and the South- ern Oscillation Index (SOI)]. The fishery is located west of and adjacent tothe mesoscale cyclonic lee eddy, the Capricorn Eddy, which is the dominant physical oceanographic feature of the region. Estimates of sea water temperature, sea level height and EKE were derived from the numerical hindcast Bluelink ReAnalysis (BRAN 3. 5) dataset which is based on the Bluelink ocean model covering the period 1993-2012. Chl-a data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology eReefs Data Access-Thredds data server for 2002 to 2013. The Chl-a data were obtained via the MODIS Aqua satellite and have been adjusted using an inversion algorithm which gives much more accurate measures for coastal regions. Simple Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were used to examine relationships between scallop catch rates and the coastal and oceanographic variables. Lags of zero to 24 months were applied to each variable. The largest significant correlation of 0. 85 was found between November catch rates and Chl-a concentration five months prior (in June). Scallop catch rates double as Chl-a increases from about 3 to 5 mg per cubic m. A number of significant correlations were obtained with physical properties of the Eddy, including a marked decline in catch rates with increasing bottom water temperature anomaly at the Eddy three months prior (in August). No significant correlations were obtained with the SOI. Although the biological mechanisms underlying the correlations remain speculative, the relationships may help explain variation in landings and are now being incorporated in stock assessment models of the fishery.

112 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ecological effects of coastal armouring

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Mr. Lincoln Critchley1, Dr. Melanie Bishop1 1Macquarie University

The coastal zone has long been the focal point of major human settlements and, in Australia supports approximately 85% of the population. Coastal settlements are increasingly under threat from sea-level rise and storm surge and coastal structures, such as seawalls, are being used to protect property, infrastructure and public amenity of the coastal zone. Seawalls, which are static structures that impede natural migration of the shoreline, produce a number of physicochemical and morphological changes to the coastal environment. Most studies have focused on the habitat seawalls provide to fouling organisms, and how their design may be modified to enhance the extent to which their habitat mimics that of natural rocky shores. Nevertheless, seawalls built in sedimentary environments can also modify sediment-dwelling organisms through direct and indirect effects. Seawalls may act as barriers to the transfer ofmate- rials between the land and sea and disrupt replenishment of the coastline by re- stricting the natural movement of sediments and organic material. Seawalls can reduce intertidal area and therefore beach and foraging area for shorebirds and other coastal predators. They may also shade adjacent sediments and through altering patterns of reflection change sediment grain size. The ecological effects of seawalls may be tempered by the habitat towhich the seawall is introduced, characteristics of the local environment, the tidal elevation of seawall placement, and small-scale morphological features of the seawall. However, there are relatively few comparative studies examining how environmental context influences seawall impacts. This study investigates ecological consequences of seawalls constructed in sedimentary environments, at wave-exposed and sheltered estuarine locations. At five sites within Brisbane Waters, NSW, Australia, three wave-exposed andtwo sheltered locations, benthic invertebrates, sediment characteristics, and substrate cover are compared between adjacent stretches of shoreline with and without seawalls. By understanding the ecological consequences of seawalls in different environments, better management practices can emerge leading to more sustainable development and maintenance of local biodiversity. This will assist developers and managers in their efforts to maintain ecosystem services when planning for future population growth.

113 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

A long term understanding of both water quality and biological indicators is essential for quantifying the impacts of wastewater discharge

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. Peter Crockett1, Mr. Scott Chidgey2 1CEE Consultants, 2CEE Consulting

Environmental protection policies in all Australian states specify environmental values associated with particular ecosystem types. Water quality objectives are comparatively more specific and easily assessed by monitoring programs than biological or ecosystem quality objectives. Despite the known difficulties in quantifying ecological or biological impacts, the Australian and New Zealand Water Quality Guidelines recognize the importance of direct biological assessments where the ecosystem is a specified environmental value. Case studies of three submarine wastewater outfall monitoring programs will be presented to illustrate how long-term monitoring programs that integrate both water quality and biological monitoring provide an accurate picture of the nature, intensity and extent of ecological impacts. The case studies show that it is only through long-term knowledge of patterns in both water quality and benthic ecology that managers and regulators can fully understand the impacts of wastewater discharge.

114 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Testing the waters: impacts of contaminants on ecosystem structure and function in urban waterways

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Dr. Katherine Dafforn1, Prof. Peter Steinberg1, Dr. Stuart Simpson2, Mr. Jaimie Potts3, Dr. Peter Scanes3, Ms. Simone Birrer1, Mr. Michael Sutherland1, Ms. Vivian Sim4, Dr. Tim Lachnit5, Prof. Sanjay Swarup6, Prof. Staffan Kjelleberg1, Dr. Martina Doblin7, Prof. Gavin Birch8, Dr. Paul Gribben1, Dr. Peter Freewater9, Prof. Emma Johnston1 1University of New South Wales, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 3NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 4University of Ne, 5University of Kiel, 6National University of Singapore, 7University of Technology Sydney, 8University of Sydney, 9Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority

Estuaries are diverse and productive ecosystems that are subject to high levels of disturbance from multiple human stressors. These ecosystems are exposed to multiple stressors such as legacy contaminants in sediments and ongoing inputs of nutrients and metals via stormwater. Such anthropogenic modifications are likely to impact both ecosystem structure and function. However, most assessments of waterways only measure ecosystem structure and we are not yet able to predict anthropogenic effects on ecosystem function. We surveyed sediment communities at four locations with large stormwater drains in Sydney Harbour, Australia. Locations were either embayments and were poorly flushed or were open channels and were well flushed. Sediment was collected monthly for 6 months from 3 sites within each location at increasing distance from the stormwater drain (0, 200 and 1000 m). Next-generation sequencing was used to characterize the sediment microbial community together with traditional morphological identification of infauna. Sediment was subsampled for a rangeof sediment characteristics including metals, total organic carbon, total nitrogen and phosphate, and chlorophyll-a. Sediment cores were also collected to measure biogeochemical processes. Sediment microbial communities differed significantly between channels and embayments and shifted significantly with distance from drains, but only in channels. Community respiration rates decreased away from storm drains and lowest rates of primary production occurred during base flows (<5mm rainfall/day). Rarely have observations been collected ofboth structure and function in conjunction with ecological processes. The results have implications for future management practices in estuaries and increase our understanding of the relative impacts on benthic estuarine communities of stormwater run-off and contamination from industrial practices.

115 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Planning for adequate marine sanctuaries through integration of climate change resilience features

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Ms. Harriet Davies1, Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1, Dr. Halina Kobryn1 1Murdoch University

A quantitative and systematic approach to marine protected area (MPA) design is now common practice world-wide, yet many pre-existing MPAs have been developed without explicit goals and are likely to require incremental refinement as new knowledge is gained. In particular, there is a growing needto consider the effects of climate change. However, there has been limited research addressing the incremental incorporation of climate change resilience features into MPA design. This study used MARXAN conservation planning software with fine-scale, remotely-sensed, shallow water (<20m) bathymetry and habitat maps, empirical benthic community data from deeper water, and comprehensive socio-economic information from Ningaloo Marine Park. It assessed the representation of benthic habitats within the current marine park zones, identified priority areas of high resilience for inclusion within sanctuary zonesand examined if any iterative refinements to the current sanctuary zones are necessary. Of the 65 habitat classes, 16 were less than ideally represented within the current sanctuary zones; most of these habitat classes were in deeper offshore waters. These deeper areas also demonstrated the highest resilience values and, as such, MARXAN outputs suggested minor increases to the current sanctuary zones in the deeper offshore areas. Incorporation of the recent data and asys- tematic approach for the new Ningaloo Marine Park management plan for the next decade can refine representative marine park zones. In addition, the study also demonstrated that inclusion of climate change resilience factors within the design process for MPAs is feasible and can be applied to future marine conservation planning practices on a global scale.

116 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Uncovering habitats using video-based, cost-effective habitat mapping

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Mr. Tom Davis1, Dr. David Harasti2, Dr. Brendan Kelaher1, Prof. Steve Smith1 1Southern Cross University, 2NSW Department of Primary Industries

Effective estuarine management requires a detailed understanding of habitats; however, data on the extent and diversity of habitats are often limited. Here, we demonstrate how a cost-effective towed-video technique can be used to generate a detailed map of deep structure-forming benthic habitats within a large estuarine embayment (Port Stephens), and to develop a new estuarine habitat classification system. Towed video transects with a combined length of 130 km were conducted, to depths of 40 m, using a boat based deployment system. Transects were analysed to produce a habitat classification system based on the National Intertidal Subtidal Benthic Habitat Classification Scheme, and to produce a map covering an area of more than 50 square kilometers. We determined that ten distinct habitat types occurred within the embayment: three habitats dominated by seagrass species; two habitats dominated by filter feeders; three habitats dominated by macroalgae; and two habitats with minimal benthic cover. Extensive previously undocumented areas of macroalgal and sponge dominated habitats were identified. In addition, valuable information was obtained on changes in the distribution of the rare Dendronephthya australis soft coral habitat, which is only known to occur in high abundance within Port Stephens. Overall, our study demonstrated that detailed mapping of deeper estuarine habitats can be done in a very cost-effective manner using towed video. The methodology developed during the study generated much-needed, robust data on habitat types and their extent, and will directly inform the review of Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park’s zoning arrangements. It clearly has potential for wider application in similar estuarine systems elsewhere.

117 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

1H-NMR-based metabolite profiling of abalone digestive gland in response to short-term starvation

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. John Sheedy1, Mr. Sebastien Lachambre2, Prof. David Gardiner1, Dr. Rob Day1 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 2Université de Bretagne Occidentale

The effect of a short-term feeding and starvation experiment on juvenile abalone (Haliotis rubra x H. laevigata) was investigated. Artificial feed was supplied ad libitum to the fed group and no feed was supplied to the starved group. A modified metabolite extraction protocol using deuterated solvents was developed for 1H-NMR based metabolite profiling of digestive gland in response to the short- term feeding/starvation experiment, to avoid lyophilization prior to biochemical analysis. PLS-DA revealed fed and starved abalone are metabolically distinct from each other after 28 and 56 days. After 28 days, the fed group was defined by an increase in arginine, glucose, glutamate, glycine, inosine and uracil (P<0. 05) and the starved group defined by an increase in N, N-dimethylglycine. Af- ter 56 days, the fed group still displayed increased glucose (P<0. 05), while N, N-dimethylglycine remained elevated in the starved group (P<0. 05). Arginine and glycogen were all higher at 28 days compared to 56 days, suggesting decreased anaerobic energy production at the later time point. Only glucose and N, N-dimethylglycine were significantly different between the fed and starved groups after 56 days, suggesting that abalone had not acclimatized to the starvation treatment after 28 days. These results infer N, N-dimethylglycine is a robust marker for short-term starvation in abalone. 1H-NMR was also conducted on the artificial feed and starved abalone fecal matter, revealing the biochemical differences between them and digestive gland tissue. These methodology and results will facilitate a deeper understanding of the nutritional and physiological requirements of abalone in an aquaculture setting.

118 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Mismatching host and parasite environments reduces encounter rates and prevents infestation of farmed salmon by sea lice

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Tim Dempster1, Ms. Samantha Bui2, Dr. Lars Stien3, Dr. Frode Oppedal3 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 2Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory – Temperate and Tropical (SALTT), School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, 3010 Victoria, 3Institute of Marine Research, NO-5984 Matredal

Farming animals can fundamentally alter host-parasite dynamics, tipping the balance in favour of parasites and driving outbreaks. High-density fish farming creates ideal conditions for outbreaks, as hosts cannot typically avoid parasite encounters. Based on knowledge of behaviours of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and the ecto-parasitic salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis), we hypothesized that areas of high infection risk existed on farms and could be avoided through technological modifications to farming structures. The free-swimming louse stage is phototactic and concentrates at the surface, which maximizes encounters with salmon, which often swim, feed and jump in surface waters. By placing a barrier in fish farm cages to hold salmon away from the surface layer, we reduced louse infestations by 76% compared to control cages without manipulation. Salmon accessed surface waters and exhibited their full behavioral repertoire through a central chamber that was impermeable to parasites. Our results demonstrate that farm design can create spatial mismatches within farms that limit host-parasite encounters, without compromising the behavioural requirements of the fish. Our results should drive technological innovation of current fish farming systems to increase fish welfare, improve production efficiency, reduce chemical biocide use and limit the population-level impacts of parasites on wild fish.

119 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Carbon sequestration in southern temperate saltmarshes – local insight and global comparison

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Prof. Sabine Dittmann1, Prof. Erick Bestland2, Ms. Erinne Stirling1 1School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, 2Flinders University, School of the Environment

Carbon capture and storage in coastal wetlands constitutes a highly valuable ecosystem service and can provide incentives for their conservation. Saltmarshes in particular can have much higher carbon sequestration rates than other wetlands or vegetated ecosystems. ‘Blue Carbon’ initiatives have led to intensification in research efforts, yet most studies of carbon capture in saltmarshes still come from northern hemisphere where saltmarshes are dominated by grasses. We will present findings from a study into carbon sequestration in saltmarshes in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia, where soils are mineral dominated. We compared the carbon stocks and burial rates from a relatively pristine, a degraded, and a restored saltmarsh site through analyses of bulk density, carbon elemental analyses, and sediment accretion determined using 210Pb and 14C soil dating methods. The total carbon stock was higher in the pristine saltmarsh than in the restored and degraded saltmarshes, which contained more organic than inorganic C. Carbon sequestration rate at the pristine saltmarsh site was 223 g C m-2 y-1., comparable to a global average for saltmarshes. There are significant and predictable variations in local, regional and global carbon stocks and sequestration rates from saltmarshes and tidal wetlands, which are compared to our South Australian examples. The value of southern temperate saltmarshes on carbon markets will be addressed, with implications for conservation and restoration.

120 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Controlling outbreaks of the Crown-of-thorns Starfish

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Peter Doherty1 1Australian Institute of Marine Science

The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) is not an alien species but it is a native marine pest that needs either effective containment or eradication. Over the last 30 years, this starfish has been responsible for almost half of a significant decline in coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef. In 2012, the fourth cycle of starfish outbreaks since the 1960’s emerged on the northern GBR andthe tourism industry responded with an aggressive program of diver-based eradication of starfish hotspots informed by a comprehensive surveillance program. AIMS has analysed abundance data from the surveillance program and other sources to estimate the size of the target confronting the control program. In 2013, outbreaks were common on mid-shelf reefs along more than two degrees of coast between Lizard Island and Cairns but were more frequent and more intense north of 16 degrees South. Our estimate is that reefs north of this latitude were holding 4. 7 million starfish (confidence limits 3. 2, 9. 7) compared with 0. 8 million (CL 0. 5, 2. 0) on reefs from a similar area south of this latitude. This is the strongest evidence to date that primary outbreaks, which are precursors to major outbreak cycles, build up between Lizard Island and Cape Tribulation. At current levels of abundance, where many millions of starfish are distributed over more than 2, 000 km perimeter of reef slopes, hand control can do little more than defend local assets (high-value tourism sites, key reservoirs of coral brood stock) while this cycle of outbreaks runs a natural course. The lesson from this episode is that regional surveillance of ground zero (the area with primary outbreaks) should begin when the starfish is again rare following the self-destruction of its food base. This is the only time when reactive control has a realistic chance to contain local populations and prevent the inflation- ary expansion of the meta-population that follows spawning in flood years. If this strategy of containment proves ineffective, then it may be time to consider options for eradication.

121 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

High resolution Fastloc-GPS tracks reveal the complexity of sea turtle migrations

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Antoine Dujon1, Dr. Fredrik Christiansen2, Dr. Gail Schofield1, Prof. Graeme Hays1 1Deakin University, 2Murdoch University

The emergence of Fastloc-GPS technology has enhanced animal tracking accuracy via Argos, allowing the investigation of detailed movement patterns. To illustrate Fastloc-GPS usefulness and determine its typical accuracy, we conducted a comprehensive fixed trial, (i. e. units transmitting from asingle location, and obtained 40 000 locations, each associated with a known position- ing error. Fastloc-GPS tags linked to the Argos system were then deployed on migrating sea turtles in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, from which we computed simple measurements, such as heading and speed of travel over intervals of only a few hours. The fixed trials showed that the GPS accuracy was ten to hundred times better than Argos locations, with our tracking results showing the complexity of sea movements during migration. This complexity included repeated small-scale course corrections, fine-tune goal targeting, uses of the sea bed to re-set compass heading and downwind final approaches of islands suggesting the use of air-borne orientation cues. On the foraging grounds, Fastloc-GPS revealed a mosaic of discrete resting and feeding areas and complex heterogeneity in environmental use. The rich dataset provided by Fastloc-GPS opens new opportunities for understanding marine animal movements.

122 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

A network analysis of habitat connectivity for reef-associated fish to evaluate marine reserve placement

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Sarah Engelhard1, Dr. Chantal Huijbers1, Dr. Ben Stewart-Koster1, Dr. Andrew Olds2, Prof. Thomas Schlacher2, Prof. Rod Connolly3 1Griffith University, School of ENV, Australian Rivers Institute, 2University of the Sunshine Coast, 3Griffith

Movements by fish make important connections among habitat patches in coastal seascapes. Identification of movement patterns can help incorporate connectivity into conservation management. For this strategy to be successful, however, we first need to develop reliable methods for determining key components of connectivity in seascapes. We evaluated the placement of reserves in Moreton Bay Marine Park, Queensland, in the context of habitat connectivity for fish associated with coral reefs. We used network analysis to identify key habitat mosaics and connections amongst mosaics, and to quantify how many are currently protected in reserves. Our analysis accounted for two scales of connectivity: 1. the spatial configuration of habitats within mosaics (reef-seagrass-mangrove habitats), an important aspect of diel fish movements, and 2. inter-mosaic movements by fish over longer periods. To represent awide variety of mobility capabilities of fishes, we used the movement behaviours of the commercially and recreationally important fish species yellowfin bream (Acanthopagrus australis) and estuary cod (Epinephelus coioides). This multi-scale habitat connectivity analysis identified areas and connections that are likely to contribute most to habitat connectivity for fish. Sensitivity analyses showed that the model outputs were robust to assumptions about the frequency of movements over different distances among mosaics. And validity of the model was high – predicting fish diversity (abundance and richness) with a good fit. Of 29 mosaics, the ten most important accounted for 86% ofthe network. Only three of these ten mosaics are within reserves, and each of these three mosaics is only partly protected (< 50% by area in each case). Of the ten most important connections between mosaics (out of 406 possible connections), just one lies within a reserve. Fish connectivity is not well protected by the current reserves in Moreton Bay Marine Park. Habitat connectivity is one of a number of conservation criteria for managers; the approach used here provides valuable information for incorporating spatial and fish behavioural data into a multi-objective conservation plan.

123 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Using plankton data from the National Reference Stations in the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System

Monday, 6th July 12.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Ruth Eriksen1, Ms. Pru Bonham2, Mr. Frank Coman3, Ms. Claire H. Davies4, Ms. Felicity McEnnulty2, Mr. James McLaughlin5, Ms. Anita Slotwinski3, Mr. Mark Tonks3, Mr. Julian Uribe-Palomino3, Dr. Anthony Richardson6 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia. And Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia., 2CSIRO Ocean and Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia, 3CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia., 4CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia., 5CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia., 6CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia and Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics (CARM), School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 407

The IMOS National Reference Station network provides unprecedented and open access to species-level phytoplankton and zooplankton data for researchers, managers and policy makers interested in resource condition, and detecting and understanding the magnitude and time-scales of change in our marine environment. We describe how to access plankton data, including abundance, biomass and biovolume estimates, collected from seven monitoring stations around the Australian coastline since 2009. Details on the rationale for site locations, sampling methodologies and laboratory analysis protocols are provided to assist with use of the data, and design of complimentary investigations. Importantly, information on taxonomic entities reported in the plankton database, and changes in nomenclature and other issues that may affect data interpretation are provided. Data is freely available and we encourage uptake and use of this continental-scale dataset, providing summaries of data currently available and some practical applications.

124 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The role of genetic diversity in the conservation of rapidly declining seagrass meadows

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Ms. Suzanna Evans1, Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair2, Prof. Alistair Poore1, Dr. Adriana Vergés1 1University of New South Wales, 2University of Western Australia

All available evidence suggests that having higher genetic diversity within a species enhances population performance. Investigating these effects is integral to understanding mechanisms behind differences in productivity, resilience and rehabilitation success. For predominantly clonal organisms, this relationship is particularly important, as the absence of sexual reproduction may result in very low genetic diversity. Here I focus on the diversity and performance of a predominantly clonal, threatened seagrass species, Posidonia australis, which is considered endangered along much of its distribution on the east coast of Aus- tralia. Using aerial imagery I confirmed that populations of P. australis along the southeast coast are currently under significant threat from anthropogenic activities and are prime candidates for restoration. I quantified genetic diversity and phenotypic variation within and among 12 meadows across their full distribution on the east coast. Using a series of field experiments, I show that increased genetic diversity of P. australis meadows can increase the likelihood of resilience to short-term stress and significantly improve restoration efforts.

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Blue carbon hotspots: Distribution and abundance of blue carbon in Victoria

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Carolyn Ewers1, Dr. Paul Carnell1, Ms. Ellen Rochelmeyer1, Mr. Richard Zavalas2, Mr. Bruce Hawke3, Dr. Daniel Ierodiaconou2, Dr. Jonathan Sanderman3, Dr. Peter MacReadie1 1Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 2School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, 3CSIRO

The recent discovery of the ability of ‘blue carbon habitats’– mangroves, saltmarsh, and seagrass – to bury carbon at rates over 40 times faster than their terrestrial counterparts has shed new light on opportunities to reduce greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Importantly, it has also revealed another critical ecosystem function of these habitats that may be lost when disturbed. While we are gaining a better understanding of the capacity of blue carbon habitats globally, we still lack an understanding of how carbon stocks vary spatially, particularly in southern Australia. This study aimed to quantify sediment blue carbon stocks across the five Victorian coastal catchment regions to answer the following questions: 1) How much carbon is stored in blue carbon sinks in Vic- toria? 2) How do carbon stocks vary across habitats and locations? 3) Where are carbon ‘hot spots’ and are they under threat? Sediment cores were collected at over 100 blue carbon habitat locations along the entire Victorian coast. The sampling distribution covered over 2, 000km of coastline, all major estuaries, and many remote locations. Sediments were dried and weighed to calculate dry bulk density, and analyzed for organic carbon. Car- bon density measurements, in conjunction with state-wide habitat mapping of saltmarsh and mangroves, and regional seagrass mapping, were used to estimate total blue carbon sediment stocks in Victoria. Based on an estimated 76, 000 hectares of blue carbon habitat in Victoria, we calculated over three million tonnes of organic carbon in the top 30cm of the sediment. Saltmarsh habitat consistently had the highest carbon stocks, followed by mangroves, then seagrass. Carbon stocks varied among locations, and appear to be higher in upstream locations within an estuary than those further downstream. The West Gippsland catchment region had the highest total carbon stocks, followed by the Port Phillip and Westernport catchment region. Carbon hotspots were classified by carbon density and habitat patch size, and identified through geospatial modelling. We suggest blue carbon stocks be incorporated into evaluations of ecosystem services so the value of these habitats as carbon sinks can be considered when prioritizing areas for conservation.

126 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Freshening of the Indonesian Throughflow and the Leeuwin Current during the 2010-11 La Niña/Ningaloo Niño

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Ming Feng1, Dr. Jessica Benthuysen2, Ms. Ningning Zhang1, Mr. Dirk Slawinski1 1CSIRO, 2AIMS

During the 2010-11 La Niña/Ningaloo Niño, excessive precipitations in the Mar- itime continent and Indonesian-Australia Basin have caused a 0. 3 psu freshening of the surface waters in the southeast Indian Ocean. The freshening anomalies are carried westward by the Indonesian Throughflow and the South Equatorial Current, and carried southward along the Western Australia coast by the poleward flowing eastern boundary current, the Leeuwin Current. Salinity anomalies contribute to more than 20% of the anomalous increase of the southward Leeuwin Current transport at the peak of the 2010-11 Ningaloo Niño, resulting unprecedented warming of the coast of Western Australia. Episodically freshening of the Leeuwin Current has been observed at a coastal reference station of Western Australia during extended La Nina conditions over the past several decades.

127 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ocean circulation, larval retention, and connectivity among coral populations on the Northwest Shelf of Australia

Tuesday, 7th July 12.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Ming Feng1, Dr. Frank Colberg1, Mr. Dirk Slawinski1, Dr. Oliver Berry1, Dr. Russ Babcock1 1CSIRO

The Northwest Shelf of Australia is one of the source regions of the Leeuwin Current, a poleward flowing eastern boundary current in the south-east Indian Ocean. The region also features a number of significant marine reserves and fisheries resources closely juxtaposed with an increasing number of oil andgas facilities as well as growing shipping traffic servicing onshore mining facilities. The shelf circulation on the Northwest Shelf is dominated by the southward flowing Holloway Current that feeds into the Leeuwin Current during the austral autumn and winter; and by the Australian monsoonal wind-driven currents during the austral summer. Tidal currents, tropical cyclones, and Madden- Julian Oscillation are also important factors in driving horizontal and vertical mixing processes on the shelf and in the nearshore environment. In this study, we use the Rutgers version of the Regional Ocean Modelling System, a 3-dimensional, hydrostatic, primitive equations model, to simulate the shelf circulation of the north-west shelf at 1 km resolution. The model is initialized with temperature and salinity values from the Ocean Forecasting Australia Model and forced by OFAM 3-hourly meteorological forcing and open boundary condition and delivers hourly model outputs during 2003-2010. The tidal currents generated in the model has been assessed by comparison with current measurements from the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) shelf moorings in the region. The model outputs are used to assess the seasonal variations of shelf currents, their interactions with coastal and island features, and the regional connectivity among coral reefs along the coast.

128 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Evaluating thermal performance reactions norms as a predictor of vagrant tropical fish success in temperate waters

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Will Figueira1, Dr. Riccardo Cannas2 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, 2Universitá Politecnica delle Marche

The recruitment of tropical fishes to temperate waters during warm summer months is a common occurrence where western boundary currents provide a larval transport mechanism. While survival and growth during the summer months is often quite high, survival over the winter period is low, thus creating a significant hurdle to the range expansion of tropical fishes into temperate habitats. Previous work has highlighted the interactive roles of thermal physiology and ecology in this overwinter survival barrier and in particular, the important role which thermal performance reaction norms can play in predicting outcomes of ecological interactions in variable thermal environments. Here we generate thermal reaction norms across 8°C for metabolic rates (resting and active oxygen consumption) and burst swimming performance for three tropical and two temperate reef fish species found in the temperate waters of Sydney Australia. We evaluate the ability of these curves to reflect the life history and predict the relative establishment success of these tropical species. Overall we found reaction norms accurately reflected the life history of the species but were much broader than anticipated. We also found general support for the prediction that the more commonly occurring tropical species exhibited generally greater performance across the thermal range of the study. While it will also be important to consider processes such as acclimation and adaption to these novel environments, this work highlights the utility of establishing thermal performance reaction norms as a means to evaluate the relative likelihood and possibly speed with which tropical fish species may permanently establish themselves in temperate habitats as global ocean temperatures continue to increase.

129 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) as an effective and accurate indicator of coastal trace metal pollution

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Annett Finger1, Dr. Jennifer L. Lavers2, Dr. Peter Dann3, Prof. Dayanthi Nugegoda4, Dr. Bruce Robertson5, Dr. Carol Scarpaci6, Prof. John Orbell1 1Institue for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University, 2Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, 3Phillip Island Nature Parks, 4RMIT University, 5Latrobe University, 6Victoria University

A better understanding of the toxicology of the St Kilda Little Penguin (Eudyp- tula minor) population is important for the management and conservation of the species while also providing valuable insights into the health of Port Phillip Bay - a semi-enclosed ecosystem impacted by industrial run-offs, dredge works and commercial fishing. We conducted a comprehensive, non-destructive sampling program over three years (blood, feathers and faeces) to determine the trace metal body burden of this resident urban top predator, as well as of conspecifics at less industrialised settings, and investigated the factors determining long- and short-term variation in trace metal concentrations. Colony location had the most significant effect on trace metal concentrations in the blood and feathers of adult Little Penguins. In particular, the non-essential metals arsenic, mercury and lead followed a distinct pollution gradient. While we found significant differences between sexes for some trace metals at some locations andover some sampling periods; overall, sex had no significant multivariate effect on penguin trace metal concentrations. Blood mercury levels showed an increasing annual trend at St Kilda, while decreasing at Phillip Island over the same time period. Trace metal concentrations in feathers were largely within safe limits. As this is the first study of trace metals in the blood of any penguin species, and few adverse-effect-levels have been established for metals in other seabirds, the potential impacts on a population level are yet to be established. To date there is no evidence of any colony-level deleterious effects of the increased contaminant load at St Kilda. However, in light of the patterns detected by this study, we recommend more detailed coordinated monitoring of the St Kilda and Phillip Island populations. Based on this research, we advocate that the Little Penguin may be utilised as an effective and accurate indicator of coastal trace metal pollution, which will also aid the management and conservation of this iconic species at St Kilda in particular.

130 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Biofouling and marine aquaculture: risks, management and control

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Isla Fitridge1 1Biofouling Solutions

Marine aquaculture is exposed to a diverse array of biofouling organisms, some of which can adversely impact both target culture species and farm infrastructure and result in significant production impacts and costs. In mussel aquaculture, biofouling causes physical damage to stock, mechanical interference, biological competition and environmental modification. Biofouling control can be achieved through the avoidance of natural recruitment, physical removal and topical treatments. However, with the global expansion of marine aquaculture, additional innovative biofouling management strategies will be increasingly necessary. Key challenges include preventing ‘pollution’ of the surrounding marine environment through the unintentional spread of biofouling species, including Invasive Marine Species (IMS), due to farming methods. Mussel growers have traditionally attempted to minimise biofouling through strategies such as freshwater dips or water blasting, but these techniques do not always ensure biofouling mortality and can facilitate the spread of viable biofouling organisms, including IMS, to the wider environment. A range of ‘eco-friendly’ treatments exist, but their effect on widespread, common biofoulers is poorly known. Through experimental manipulations we found that treatment options involving heated seawater, acetic and citric acid, and combinations of both proved variably successful against a range of biofouling species, including some IMS. The hydroid Ectopleura crocea was highly susceptible to all treatments, whilst the ascidians Ciona intestinalis and Styela clava were moderately susceptible and relatively resistant, respectively. We identified treatments that cause high mortality of biofouling species but have minimal effects on mussel stock, providing some hope for growers in the battle against biofouling. However, such treatments may never be 100% effective. The Aquaculture industry is particularly vulnerable to IMS introductions and severe economic impacts have been documented, in some cases leading to the shutdown of aquaculture operations. There is a need for a critical assessment of the risks associated with biofouling management throughout the aquaculture industry. Future developments are likely to focus on the biosecurity risks posed by biofouling and effective mitigation via new technologies that effectively capture all biofouling debris.

131 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

High-Resolution GigaPan remote camera photography for the quantification of angler metrics and coastal area use

Tuesday, 7th July 17.10 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. David Flynn1, Dr. Tim Lynch2, Dr. Neville Barrett3, Ms. Carlie Devine4 1Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, 2CSIRO, 3University of Tasmania; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), 4CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

The importance of attaining accurate quantitative data on marine coastal area utilisation in a country such as Australia cannot be overemphasized. Despite management efforts in recent years, Australia’s fisheries have suffered fromsub- stantial increases in recreational fishing participation, increases in their dispos- able income and the general disproportionate ratio between Australia’s coastal inhabitants and inland populations. With an ever growing need for accurate, spatially explicit data from area use managers and their ever tightening budgets, cost-effective replacements for direct field observations, such as remote sensing are becoming more sought after. My project seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of using remote gigapixel mosaic imagery to quantify coastal area use and groups therein along with recreational angler metrics across two site locations: Southern Tasmania and Northern Sydney. The GigaPan camera technology, analogous to high-powered binocular counts, utilises a robotic camera mount to systematically shoot and stitch a wide camera field of view with a pixel density typically associated with cosmological simulations. Established methods of direct angler observation via interviews and the ‘bus-route’ method are compared and contrasted with this novel camera technique. Preliminary results, though currently unavailable, are expected to show correlations between traditional approaches (counting and interviews) and Gigapan camera methods. Systematic biases ingrained within the procedures of both methods will be assessed and reported on, along with a practical guideline for this novel technique, should GigaPan results show significant correlations.

132 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Implications of disperser phenotype on vertical migration and dispersal outcomes of a temperate reef fish

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Emily Fobert1, Dr. Eric Treml1, Dr. Stephen Swearer1 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne

Larval dispersal is a key process in determining population connectivity, community structure, and biodiversity. It has recently been established that the environment encountered by dispersing larvae can contribute to differences in the quality of dispersers (disperser phenotype), and can lead to carry-over effects such as post-settlement survival and/or decreased fitness in subsequent life- stages. Although recent research has focused on quantifying the environmental determinants of dispersal outcomes, very little is known about how individual variability (e. g. size, growth rate) influences this process. We investigate what factors affect this dispersal experience for an individual larval fish by assessing the influence of disperser phenotype on the vertical distribution throughout the water column. Using a series of 24-hour depth-stratified ichthyoplankton sampling periods and a 3-dimensional bio-physical larval dispersal model, we quantified disperser phenotypes (based on larval condition indices and otolith growth history), their vertical distribution patterns (sampling depth), and potential dispersal outcomes (dispersal model) for the southern hulafish, Trachinops caudimaculatus, in Port Phillip Bay, Australia. Analyses to date reveal patterns in the depth distribution of hulafish larvae, with the majority of larvae found inthe bottom two depth strata, and depth distribution varies with larval size. Under- standing the influence of larval phenotype on dispersal outcomes will contribute to our understanding of marine population connectivity and persistence.

133 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Using local knowledge to understand seagrass decline in Corner Inlet, Victoria

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. John Ford1, Dr. Rob Day1 1University of Melbourne

The knowledge of local communities that work with and depend upon natural systems can provide unique insights into ecological processes and their relationships with human activities. Local knowledge can provide information for management that may be difficult or cost-prohibitive to obtain using scientific monitoring methods, such as creating environmental histories, documenting ecosystem-wide change and understanding natural ecological variability. Such information can alert managers of problems, spatially guide management initiatives or improve scientific studies investigating the causes of environmental degradation. We used local knowledge of commercial fishers to better understand the estuarine ecosystem of Corner Inlet, Victoria, where ecosystem health and fisheries productivity are strongly influenced by external sources suchas land based activities and climate. Specifically, we documented seagrass cover change over the last few decades and related this to other major ecosystem changes identified by fishers. Contrary to previous work identifying Posidonia australis in major decline, we identified instead cover of Zostera nigracaulis at the smallest extent in memory of local fishers. Filamentous algal blooms were identified as a key threat to seagrass, where local knowledge enabled themap- ping of extent and frequency of blooms. These results will be used to inform management priorities in arresting the seagrass decline in Corner Inlet.

134 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Bioregional distributions and assemblage composition of fish populations with high endemism in south-western Australia: examining the range and scale of influence of physical and biological environmental factors

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Mr. Ronen Galaiduk1, Dr. Ben Radford2, Dr. Andrew Halford3, Prof. Euan Harvey1 1Curtin University, 2AIMS, 3DEPAW

Aim This study combined large-scale fish abundance surveys with detailed habitat models that combine multibeam and towed video surveys to identify a constraining subset of environmental predictors that influence on patterns of bioregional fish distributions and assemblage composition. We used a range of contemporary habitat modelling and spatial analyses techniques to elicit these patterns. Location South-west region of Western Australia Methods The relative abundance of demersal fish along 1, 600 km of continental shelf in Western Australia was analysed using a multivariate regression trees. Initially, 49 environmental variables were considered in the analyses. The key indicator species were identified and the spatial structure of the assemblage composition of the terminal leaves of the tree was then presented on a bioregional scale. Results The final multivariate regression tree was constrained by six environmental factors of which occurrence of macroalgae was the most important. In addition, distance along shore, aspects of habitat availability and cover of biota were found to be important drivers of patterns in assemblage composition. Struc- turally complex habitats with vegetative cover were found to support higher endemic species richness, whereas sub-tropical reef habitats typically had high species richness, but low numbers of endemic species. Main conclusions The relatively stable and biodiverse ecosystem of the south- western Australia may be under threat from predicted tropicalisation of this region, habitat loss and extreme climatic events as a result of global climate change. This may cause dramatic changes to fish assemblage composition and affect resilience to environmental and anthropogenic stresses for the local, endemic species reach, fish c ommunities. The scale of influence of various environmental processes on the assemblage composition of marine species varied between tens of metres to hundreds of kilometres. Thus further emphasising the importance of understanding the scale of species-habitat relationships in or-der to successfully implement ecosystem-scale management efforts and protect vulnerable marine resources.

135 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Particulate organic matter deposition and sediment flux in and around seagrass meadows along the Bellarine Bank in Port Phillip Bay

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Jennita Gay1, Dr. Angus Ferguson2, Ms. Renee Gruber3, Prof. Mick Keough4, Dr. Peter Scanes2 1University of Melbourne, 2NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 3University of Western Australia, 4The University of Melbourne

Large-scale historical contraction and expansion of seagrass meadows in Port Phillip Bay (PPB) has been well documented. Although theories outlining potential drivers have been posited, no definitive mechanism has been described despite the importance of seagrass meadows to the health of the PPB ecosystem. This study formed part of a larger study into causes of seagrass meadow contraction and mechanisms supporting resilience. We hypothesised that; i) in nutrient poor environments, trapping of particulate organic matter (POM) by seagrass would constitute a significant mechanism for increasing resilience through nutrient capture, and ii) seagrass burial can be a significant mechanism for reduction in cover in medium and high energy environments. We investigated the influence of seagrass patch size and position on current attenuation, POM trapping and sediment flux rates (deposition minus resuspension) along the Bellarine Bank. We also measured seagrass community productivity rates, and temporal variation in seagrass cover at these sites. At Clifton Springs in off shore seagrass meadows (2-2. 5m depth), the presence of seagrass patches increased average vertical current attenuation and POM delivery compared to bare sand sites. Variation in patch size did not influence either current attenuation or POM capture rates. POM deposition rates equate to estimated nitrogen loading rates which were more than sufficient to support measured seagrass community productivity rates. Sediment nitrogen and carbon stable isotope signatures indicated that the predominant input of POM to seagrass patches was phytoplankton detritus. Sediment flux was overall depositional within seagrass patches and erosional at bare sand sites. Large-scale seagrass burial was not evident, instead seagrass patches waxed and waned over annual timescales within troughs between sand ridges and seagrasses migrated with ridges at a rate of 4 -5 m. y-1. In a near shore seagrass meadow (0. 1–1. 5m depth) at Point Richards, POM deposition rates were tied to sediment deposition rates, which were high due to imported sediment loads associated with strong easterly currents. These high rates of sediment deposition appear to have caused recent loss of seagrass meadows due to burial, and possibly also through raising seagrass meadows up to a higher wave energy zone at shallower depths.

136 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Does zoning affect the distribution and abundance of sponge growth forms on corals reefs of the Great Barrier Reef?

Thursday, 9th July 16.50 - Costa Hall

Dr. Anita George1, Dr. Angela Capper1, Dr. James Daniell1, Ms. Michelle Jonker2 1James cook University, 2AIMS

Sponges are the simplest metazoans and these efficient filter-feeders are found in most marine environments, including coral reefs. Identifying sponges to species is difficult and time consuming requiring tedious microscopic identification techniques. The use of growth form features however, can help to identify some important characteristics of their environment. Sponge structure, abundance and distribution are determined by various biophysical factors including: water flow, depth, temperature, light, sedimentation, competition, currents, larval dispersal and recruitment patterns, substrate and habitat type and various physical forces. However we question, “Does zonation and protected area status affect the abundance and distribution of sponges in relation to these biophysical factors?” This study aimed to improve the classification of sponges to growth forms by reanalysing images of sponges from a long-term dataset on the rezon- ing of coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. We also examined whether protected area status of a reef affected the abundance and distribution of sponges on the Great Barrier Reef. The most abundant growth forms were encrusting forms, followed by upright and cup-like forms. Geographical Infor- mation Systems (GIS) were used to analyse how abundance and distribution of sponge growth forms varied across spatial scales with biophysical parameters such as temperature, currents, chlorophyll a, and marine park zoning.

137 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Erosion of compensatory processes and the loss of resistance to climate variability

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Giulia Ghedini1, Prof. Sean Connell1, Prof. Bayden Russell2 1The University of Adelaide, 2The University of Hong Kong

Communities persist via processes that counter (resistance) or recover from disturbance (resilience). Where communities resist disturbance, compensatory mechanisms can absorb the effects of disturbance so that no overall structural change occurs. Whilst compensatory processes increase in strength to counter the net effects of multiple disturbances, we have limited understanding ofhow compensatory processes may respond to extreme short-term disturbance events. Using a model kelp forest system, we assess the strength of compensatory responses to heatwaves under both contemporary and near-future ocean warming and acidification. In this system, gastropod grazers compensated for increased expansion of algal turfs under accumulating disturbances, except under heatwaves in a warmer ocean. These latter conditions stimulated the greatest rates of expansion of turfs, but strongly suppressed consumption so that herbivores were unable to counter the ecological effects of the extreme event. Whilst communities show some degree of resistance to future disturbance, extreme events may erode compensation where the pace and size of environmental change is greater than what compensatory processes can absorb. Such abrupt failure of compensation may account for the surprisingly rapid shifts of communities to contrasting states.

138 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Nature needs people: an overview of The Nature Conservancy’s programs, research and decision-making tools for marine ecosystem services

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Chris Gillies1, Mr. Simon Branigan1, Dr. James Fitzsimons1, Ms. Lynne Hale1, Dr. Boze Hancock1 1The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organisation working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. Working in over 35 countries and across 200 marine projects, TNC com- municates the importance of its work by demonstrating the value of nature and its services to the livelihoods and wellbeing of people. Central to this work is TNC’s Mapping Ocean Wealth project which aims to calculate and describe—in quantitative and spatial terms—all that the ocean does for us today by moving from broad global averages of habitat science to specific local details relevant to engineers, coastal managers and developers. Our global marine research concentrates on quantifying the role coastal habitats such as mangrove forests, shellfish reefs, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes play in fish production, shoreline protection and water filtration. This science is used to support the business case to increase restoration and conservation of marine habitats and developed into practical decision-support tools such as Coastal Resilience App.; a web-based mapping tool designed to help communities understand their vulnerability from coastal hazards, reduce their risk and determine the value of nature-based solutions.

139 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Mixed fortunes: contrasting status, trends in abundance and management issues for South Australian pinnipeds

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Prof. Simon Goldsworthy1, Dr. Peter Shaughnessy2, Dr. Alice MacKay1, Dr. Frederic Bailleul3 1South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), 2South Australian Museum, 3South Australian Research and Development Institute

Pinnipeds in southern Australia were subject to unrestricted sealing in the early 1800s from which they have yet to recover. Censuses of pup abundance have recently been undertaken throughout South Australia (SA) for long-nosed and Australian fur seals, and for Australian sea lions. Results from these, in conjunction with data from long-term monitoring sites, indicate that pup production in the long-nosed fur seal has increased 3. 5 fold over the last 24 years and now numbers ~20, 400. Australian fur seals have recently colonised SA, with breeding first recognised in 2007. Pup production has increased steadily and was estimated to be 85 in 2014, with the species now recorded to breed at four sites in SA. Australian sea lions are unusual for having a non-annual (~18 month) breeding interval and an asynchronous breeding habit. Pup production per breeding cycle is estimated to number ~2, 500 in SA. Based on several monitored sites, it has declined by >50% over the last 37 years. Continued interactions with human activities and differences in life-history traits appear to account for the contrasting status and management issues for fur seal and sea lion populations in SA. For fur seals, there is now growing concern from the seafood (wild fisheries, finfish aquaculture) and some ecotourism (little penguins, giant cuttlefish) industries that populations are overabundant and that their impacts need to be managed. To address these perceptions, projects are currently underway to investigate the importance of commercial fish and finfish aquaculture species in fur seal diet, and develop trophic models to assess the impact of consumption on current and future seafood production. For sea lions, there is now strong evidence that fisheries bycatch mortality, especially in the shark gillnet fishery, has impacted the recovery of the species, and resulted in recent declines observed in some colonies. Management measures to mitigate bycatch have been introduced into the fishery since 2010 and include observer programs, fishery closures, bycatch trigger limits and incentives to switch to alternative fishing methods. These measures will hopefully be sufficient toen- able populations to recover, but given the life history of the species, may take decades to detect.

140 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ecosystem Services and Net Environmental Benefit Analysis for Offshore Decommissioning: Partial versus Complete Removal

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Paul Goldsworthy1, Mr. Joseph Nicolette2, Mr. Mikkel Benthien3 1ENVIRON Australia, 2ENVIRON International Corporation, 3Ramboll

Some of the oldest offshore oil and gas production platforms and associated infrastructure in Australian waters are at or nearing the end-of-life and are being proposed for decommissioning. Traditional approaches for offshore decommissioning involves complete removal of all infrastructure regardless of potential environmental impact yet an emerging focus is on the assessment of ecosystem services provided by established subsea structures. Within recent and developing guidelines for decommissioning, sustainable development is an obligation incorporated into alternative decision-making. This obligation focuses on balancing the economic, environmental and social factors associated with the selected decommissioning alternatives. A net environmental benefit analysis (NEBA) approach, developed to balance the risks, benefits and tradeoffs associated with competing alternatives that focuses on the environmental, economic and social factors inherent within the potential alternatives, is presented from a decommissioning perspective. The approach provides a non-arbitrary, transparent, and quantitative approach to compare between alternative actions using litigation-tested technical and scientific methodologies. The approach helps stakeholders to manage costs while managing site risks, creating environmental, social and economic value, and providing a demonstrable net benefit to the public (e. g., documenting environmental sustainability and stewardship). This paper presents a framework for incorporating NEBA within the offshore decommissioning process as well as presenting recent supporting evidence for the comparatively high ecosystem services value of many offshore marine structures.

141 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Understanding Water Quality in Raglan Harbour

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Dougal Greer1, Mr. Rhys McIntosh2, Mr. Shawn Harrison2, Dr. David Phillips3 1eCoast, Raglan, New Zealand, 2University of Waikato, 3Unitec

Raglan Harbour is located on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island and is bordered by the Raglan township. Seven major river sub-catchments and a number of smaller streams drain to the harbour. Land use in the watershed is dominated by dairy farming and forestry, which impact harbour water quality. A waste water outfall is located at the harbour mouth and is licensed to release from 30 minutes before high tide until 1 hour before low tide. Raglan is a popular holiday destination. During summer, the population nearly triples, adding significant pressure to the waste water system. Over the years, there have been a number of reported spills and unlicensed releases from the treatment facility into the harbour leading to temporary health warnings, and impacted recreation and food gathering in the harbour. However, there is little context of the scale of the operation, and of the spills, against contaminant levels from inflowing rivers which are strongly affected by land use practices. We present a numerical model to assess water quality in Raglan Harbour which includes inflow from 13 rivers, the waste water outfall and waste water spills. The model has two parts: a calibrated hydrodynamic model to simulate the water movement within the model domain and a water quality model which uses the results from the hydrodynamic model to track the release, movement and decay of contaminants. The water quality model uses releases based on relationships developed from water quality monitoring. Results from year long modelling indicate strong seasonality in pollutant concentrations and are used to map the spatial variability in concentration. The model has helped to establish the relative impacts of the different sources of pollution, specifically the waste water outfall and riverine inputs. It is alsobeing used to identify high impact areas, and the sources responsible for each area of increased concentration. The project is supported by the local council, and the model is currently being extended so that it can be used as a management tool to better understand and predict water quality in recreational areas.

142 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Biomonitoring disturbed urbanised estuaries with fine-resolution species distribution models driven by seabed photo data

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Kingsley Griffin1, Dr. Luke Hedge1, Prof. Emma Johnston1 1University of New South Wales

Species distribution modelling has been utilised to great success in terrestrial systems, often to interrogate the influence of climatic or environmental disturbance on a species range. In marine systems, ecologists are confined by a paucity of biological data, and a highly dynamic, hetereogeneous system. Habitat maps have often failed to represent this inherent variability due to small sets of low- detail point-data abstracted across broad spatial areas. Species distribution models predict distribution across space based on point data, but respond to a suite of environmental factors. This study used data from images collected with the Catlin Seaview Survey and classified with SCRIPPS CoralNET machine learning software to build fine-scale species distribution models for key marine habitats in Sydney Harbour, Australia. Model predictions were informed by a range of environmental variables including human use and seabed backscatter collected with a Reson 7125 multi-beam echo-sounder. Although Sydney Har- bour is relatively iconic, and central to Australia’s largest city, this study will provide a uniquely detailed assessment of the distribution and condition of rocky reef habitat. The outcomes from this project are an example of improvements in our ability to assess and monitor the distribution and condition of marine habitats at a fine scale, given recent technological developments.

143 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The Ecological Process Calculator: a tool for prioritising ecological processes important to the Great Barrier Reef

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Paul Groves1 1Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

In 2009, the Outlook for the Great Barrier Reef identified water quality and coastal development as two of the three main threats to the Great Barrier Reef. The publication Informing the Outlook for Great Barrier Reef Coastal Ecosys- tems (published in 2012) showed that widespread modifications have occurred in much of the Great Barrier Reef catchment. What is not known is what, if any, impact these changes are having on the Reef and what are the levels of acceptable change? Ecological processes provided by catchment coastal ecosystems are critical for the long term health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Ecological processes include biological, biogeochemical and physical processes. For example coastal ecosystems such as wetlands trap water allowing biofilms and aquatic algae to grow and assimilate heavy metals, they allow sediments to settle and nutrients to be cycled. Wetlands also slow overland flows allowing greater groundwater recharge and more residual time for ecological processes to occur. They are also important habitats and refugia with species connected to the Reef. The Ecological Processes Calculator is a general tool for assessing the changes to ecological processes provided by catchment ecosystems that support the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. The calculator compares the capacity of pre-European (pre-clear) coastal ecosystem ecological processes to those of a present day (2009) catchment made up of natural and modified ecosystems. The calculator can also be used to determine the impacts of improved practices (current best practice) on the ecological processes provided at a general scale and, when used with ‘blue maps’ as a tool for functional restoration planning.

144 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Drivers behind the fatty acid composition in mammals

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Alicia Guerrero1, Prof. Tracey Rogers1 1University of New South Wales

The adipose tissue of mammals is the main storage site for fatty acids and plays an important role as energy reserve, buoyancy control (in marine animals), and thermal insulation. This study focuses on the last function: adipose tissue as a thermal insulator. Studies of adipose tissues in mammals suggest that when the animal is exposed to cold their fatty acids become more and more unsaturated. Nevertheless, there are other mechanisms through which animals protect themselves from extreme temperatures. Furry animals, for instance, rely on their fur to bear with the cold, so their adipose tissue might not change with temperature variations. On the other hand, bare-skinned mammals, such as whales, rely only on their blubber to keep their body warm. Other factors affecting the way the animals cope with environmental conditions could be body size, body fineness, and environment (aquatic or terrestrial). Are small and large animals affected by cold/heat in the same way? Do adipose tissue fatty acids change according to the environment (aquatic/terrestrial) where the animals live? The aim of our study was to determine what drives the fatty acid composition among mammals. Are the saturation of fatty acids in mammals driven by their 1) Fur density, 2) Body size, 3) Fineness or 3) Environment? We applied a model selection approach to identify which of these four models had the highest support to explain the differences in fatty acid unsaturation among 31 species of mammals. Over- all, fur density was the model with the highest support, which means animals with fur do not need to increase the unsaturation of their fatty acids and they rely mostly on fur, rather than adipose tissue, as an insulator. Bared-skinned animals, on the other hand, need to cool their superficial tissues, which reduces heat loss through vasoconstriction. This strategy implies that adipose tissues must be able to resist colder temperatures than the rest of the body, which can be accomplished by increasing the level of unsaturation of fatty acids. Al- though the animals with highest levels of unsaturation were those without fur, they were also the animals living in the coldest climates.

145 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Rebuilding shellfish populations: critical ecological features of our bays and estuaries – under-appreciated, lost and under threat

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Paul Hamer1, Dr. John Ford2, Dr. Chris Gillies3, Mr. Ben Cleveland2 1Fisheries Victoria, 2Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, 3The Nature Conservancy

Shellfish reefs or ‘beds’ were once dominant ecological features of bays andes- tuaries around southern and eastern Australia, providing habitat and food for many species, binding sediments, filtering algae and transferring nutrients into benthic production. Similar to many other regions of the world, the historic lack of appreciation of these functions (shellfish are more than just a food), along with the poor treatment of estuaries in general, has allowed the large-scale decline of shellfish populations. Over the last couple of decades, particularly inthe U. S., recognition of the ecological role of shellfish reefs, their major historic declines and the ongoing threats and limitations to these habitats has stimulated a number of major community/government/industry based partnership programs aimed at their protection, enhancement and restoration. Shellfish reefs have now been defined as essential fish habitats in the U.S. In Australia, progress in recognising the past extent and ecological importance of shellfish in our bays and estuaries has been slower, but is now growing. Port Phillip Bay is a classic example of the historic demise of shellfish – in this case the native flat oyster (Ostrea angasi) and the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis galloprovincialis). Over the past century it is thought that over 90% of the shellfish beds and reefs that once existed in the bay have now been lost. While processes likely responsible for the demise, such as dredge fishing, chemical pollution and poor water quality have been removed or greatly improved – the shellfish have not recovered. This presentation provides some history ofPort Phillip Bay’s shellfish and their decline and how a new opportunity has arisento see if we can’t help them to return. What will it take to return the lost shellfish of Port Phillip Bay before they are lost from living memory?

146 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Climate variability and ecosystem response in the NE Pacific: a case study using otoliths of Pacific Ocean perch (Sebastes alutus)

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mrs. Vicki Hamilton1, Ms. Rachel Zuercher2, Dr. Bryan Black3, Dr. Christopher Underwood4, Mr. Robert Donahue5, Dr. Christopher Gentry6, Dr. Thomas Helser7, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Matta7, Ms. Kelley Savage3, Dr. Tommy Wils8 1Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 2University of California Santa Cruz, 3University of Texas at Austin, 4Lincoln Memorial University, 5Indiana State University, 6Austin Peay State University, 7Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

Temporally long datasets in the marine environment are an important tool for climate reconstruction and investigating the effects of environmental variability on marine species. Such time series are often lacking due to the substantial time and financial inputs required for data collection. Dendrochronology (tree ring science) techniques applied to annual increments deposited in otoliths of Pacific Ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) collected from the Bering Sea wereused to produce multi-decadal growth and luminance (a measure of the optical density of increments) measurement time series. A chronology spanning 60 years was generated for Pacific Ocean perch in the Bering Sea, far exceeding previous biological time series of any kind for this region. Significant (p<0. 01) correlations between growth increment and luminance chronologies and climate data (sea surface temperature, the Multivariate ENSO Index, and sea ice extent) were observed. Correlations with climate were particularly strong for the width chronology, although comparisons with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation Index indicate the luminance chronologies track low-frequency variability including the 1976/77 and 1988/89 regime shifts. These results reaffirm the potential for hard structures in marine species to provide long-term archives of climate influences on growth and illustrate the importance of climate variability to upper-trophic processes.

147 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Haul-outs and halos: assessing the effect of fur seal aggregations on temperate reefs

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Natasha Hardy1, Dr. Brendan Kelaher2, Dr. Renata Ferrari1, Dr. Melinda Coleman3, Ms. Georgina Wood1, Mr. Gwenael Cadiou4, Prof. Simon Goldsworthy5, Prof. Bronwyn Gillanders6, Prof. Sean Connell7, Dr. Will Figueira1 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, 2Southern Cross University, 3NSW Department of Primary Industries, 4School of Environment, University of Technology, Sydney NSW 2007, 5South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), 6School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, 7The University of Adelaide

Understanding the role of predators in shaping the dynamics of biological communities is paramount to improved conservation planning. Large predators have high metabolic and spatial needs, thereby having complex, cascading impacts on multiple trophic levels and entire ecosystems. In the case of central-place foragers, predators can deplete prey resources close to the colony termed a ‘halo effect’. Despite this the design of marine protected areas all too oftentryto incorporate aggregation sites of protected predator species whilst also trying to create havens for the recovery of target species from fishing activities. The effectiveness of such a silver bullet approach to marine conservation and resource management remains largely unknown. On the south coast of NSW, populations of Australian and long-nosed fur seals are growing rapidly, due to protection enabling a recovery from past overexploitation, and establishing breeding colonies and haul-out sites that are currently incorporated into important marine protected areas. We therefore aim to evaluate whether a recent increase in localised fur seal activity impacts benthic community and fish species assemblages compared to areas not used for hauling out by fur seals. We applied an asymmetrical experimental design (1 impact site vs. 3 control sites) incorporating two established fur seal haul-out sites each contrasted with 3 reference sites along the northern and southern ocean coast of Jervis Bay, NSW. We assessed benthic community assemblages, fish species assemblages, fish species richness andfish species biomass using underwater visual census and benthic imaging on SCUBA across all impact and control sites. Although complex, the results indicated the potential for localised effects of fur seal aggregation sites on temperate coastal reefs. Consequently, this research has important applications in marine reserve design and management, particularly for the management of expectations of reserves with regard to complex trophic interactions, a characteristic of rich and healthy ecosystems.

148 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Phytoplankton class selectivity of oligotrophic phytoplankton assemblages under nutrient enrichment

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Daniel Harrison1 1Univeristy of Sydney

It has been speculated in the literature that “… urea enrichment would preferentially lead to the enhanced production of cyanobacteria, picoeukaryotes, and dinoflagellates, rather than diatoms.” (Glibert et al. 2010). Urea is the most manufactured chemical in the world (160 M tonnes p. a. ) and the majority likely eventually finds its way into the marine environment, potentially contributing an annual nitrogen loading equivalent to 5% of New Primary Production (N), important global ramifications are to be expected if the above hypothesis is correct. The hypothesis was tested by enriching oligotrophic water samples collected from the Port Hacking IMOS National Reference Station, Australia with urea and nitrate in repeated experiments over an annual cycle during 2013. Biomass increased in all experiments, and had a higher incidence of diatoms to dinoflagellates in all experiments, with no significant difference between treatments for diatom cell count. In two instances dinoflagellate cell counts were significantly higher in nitrate treatments than in urea treatments, with no significant difference for the remaining experiments. The evidence does not support the hypothesis that urea preferentially leads to the production of dinoflagellates rather than diatoms when compared with nitrate enrichment, under these experimental conditions. In this presentation I will examine and compare the effects of nitrate and urea enrichment on natural oligotrophic assembledges of phytoplankton, under laboratory conditions.

149 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Demonstration of a Likelihood Framework for light-based geolocation

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Jason Hartog1, Dr. Mark Bravington2, Dr. Marinelle Basson1, Dr. Toby Patterson1 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 2CSIRO Digital Productivity

For many marine fish, light-based geolocation using twilight data from archival or pop-up tags is still the only way to estimate location. It is an inherently imprecise exercise because of short-term fluctuations in incident light, and the resulting uncertainty in location is big enough to need accounting for when re- constructing tracks and making inferences about habitat use. The key ingredient for any reliable geolocation-based statistical model of movement or habitat selection, whether Bayesian or “classical”, is a valid likelihood function for each set of twilight data (i. e. a way to compute the relative probability of the observed data for any assumed location). However, the complex autocorrelations and non- Gaussian errors make it very difficult to devise and compute such a likelihood directly. Instead, we use data from moored tags to obtain an experimentally derived likelihood with correct confidence interval properties. This likelihood can then be computed directly from real tag data for use in state-space models which can construct a movement track with appropriate uncertainty. These methods are built in to a cohesive package as part of a wider program of electronic tagging related tools and to demonstrate the general nature of the system, examples of geolocation using light data obtained from a variety of species, some with corresponding GPS tracks are presented.

150 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Healthcheck for Australian Fisheries

Tuesday, 7th July 17.10 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Jason Hartog1, Dr. Alistair Hobday1, Dr. Emily Ogier2, Dr. Linda Thomas1, Dr. Aysha Fleming3, Dr. Ilona Stobutzki4 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 2University of Tasmania; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), 3CSIRO Land & Water, 4Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)

In general, Australian fisheries are seen as world leading with regard to research and management, yet many Australians lack information to judge aspects of fishery performance they value. Recent events have shown that information about fishery performance with regard to target species is no longer sufficient. Increasing attention in the media and society-at-large is now given to a broader range of concerns. Thus, for Australian fisheries, it is no longer just about catching fish - it is about a sustainable industry and management of abroader range of factors. We must develop a framework for transparently, independently and comprehensively reporting on these broader issues. We describe the results from the Healthcheck project – a national strategic FRDC project to develop an approach to evaluate the sustainability of Australian fisheries - consistently, comprehensively and transparently. The evaluation includes social, economic and governance factors not consistently included in fishery assessments to-date, alongside the usual biological considerations, such as stock status. This comprehensive assessment tool will support the transparent and efficient recording of fishery data, such as species by-catch or economic performance andworkin tandem with the Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) report as the ‘go to’ source of overview information about individual fisheries. A prototype online evaluation tool provides a clear and independent view of the sustainability strengths and challenges for Australian fisheries.

151 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Emerging contaminant concerns in Victorian bays and estuaries, and impacts assessment using biological monitoring

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Kathryn Hassell1 1University of Melbourne

Across the state of Victoria’s 2000 km of coastline, marine and estuarine ecosystems provide recreation and amenity to a population of more than 1 million people and have a combined commercial value in excess of $9 billion dollars to the Victorian economy from industries such as tourism, fishing and ports operations. Against this background, contamination is a major factor that threatens the long term productivity and value of marine and estuarine resources in Victoria. Urban contaminants reach our bays and estuaries through stormwater runoff, whilst waste water effluents and activities occurring further up in the catchment introduce a diverse array of contaminants that may cause toxicity, adversely affect ecosystem functions or make seafood unsafe for human consumption. In this presentation I will outline some of the major sources and types of contamination affecting Victorian marine and estuarine areas, with a focus on emerging contaminants of concern including endocrine disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. I will also discuss some of the biological monitoring research that our group in the Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identifi- cation and Management (CAPIM) have been doing to address these issues. For example, we have been using physiological, biochemical and histological techniques in two goboid fishes, the native blue spot goby (Pseudogobius sp. )and the exotic yellowfin goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus) to identify particular estuaries of concern for fish health across the Victorian coastline. Additionally, we have conducted laboratory exposures on fish eggs and larvae, to determine what concentrations of specific chemicals cause lethal and sub-lethal developmental impacts in these sensitive life stages. This research is on-going and through the combination of contaminant measurements in water and sediments, along with biological monitoring of resident fauna and laboratory-based ecotoxicology, we are greatly increasing our understanding of how contaminants are affecting coastal waterways throughout Victoria.

152 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Making sense of connectivity studies using a biophysical modelling approach - a systematic review

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Steven Hawes1, Dr. Will Figueira1 1University of Sydney

With the advent of technology, connectivity studies, harnessing a biophysical modelling approach, are becoming prevalent in the literature. Researchers are publishing increasingly sophisticated studies using advanced hydrodynamic models coupled with often complex biological behaviour. However, a structured framework that allows for comparisons of results between these biophysical connectivity studies allow for comparisons, is absent. As a result, comparing these studies is complicated. Thus, the purpose of this meta-review was to identify a framework for presenting and reproducing results of these connectivity studies. Our systematic review conducted for all identifiable connectivity studies since 2010 found over 20 different response variables for measuring connectivity. Quantifiable comparisons between these studies proved difficult due to disparate methods of publishing the model parameters and limits the reproducibility of the research. Consequently, a method for presenting results and a core set of response variables that facilitates measured comparisons of connectivity between studies is proposed. Biophysical modelling connectivity studies have moved from a niche modelling technique to an accepted estimation of connectivity and this review provides a framework for the presentation of reproducible & coherent results in order to facilitate comparisons across studies and enable generalisation of research outcomes.

153 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Quantifying recreational intensity in complex urban waterways

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Luke Hedge1, Prof. Emma Johnston1, Dr. David Warton1 1The University of New South Wales

Ports and harbours are a heterogeneous mosaic of natural habitat and complex infrastructure that can sit within vast urbanised catchments. They are heavily utilised for both commerce and recreation. These urban waterways are often overlooked in spatial management plans, perhaps due to the difficulty of quantifying this human ‘use’, or the lack of spatially explicit species and diversity data. It is critical, however, to provide policymakers with the right tools to elucidate both ’human use’ and habitat distributions at a scale relevant to management actions. Here we describe a Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) technique to predict the fine scale distribution of on-water recreation within one of the worlds busiest ports, Sydney Harbour, Australia. We predict several hotspots of recreational intensity, in some parts of the harbour reaching almost 3-4 recreational users per metre. These models are both trained and tested using data from one of the most comprehensive stratified surveys of this type ever undertaken inthe region. Using this data we can examine the spatial overlap of recreational activities and new habitat models being constructed using advanced underwater photogrammetry as part of the Sydney Harbour Research Project.

154 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Reflecting on a decade of collaborations to improve monitoring, evaluation and reporting on marine ecosystem health in offshore waters

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Paul Hedge1 1University of Tasmania, Institute for Antarctic and Marine Studies, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia

Reporting on the status and trends of marine ecosystem health is an intuitively attractive ambition shared by many marine scientists and if done effectively would provide benefits for Australians; but this is not a trivial short-term task as there are many interests, skills and resources that need to align to develop it cost-effectively and maintain it over the long term. The Australian Government is seeking to improve monitoring, evaluation and reporting on ecosystem health in the marine environment for its five bioregional planning areas. For almost a decade, policy makers and scientists have collaborated to steadily build capacity to make the improvements. Efforts have been directed to prioritising monitoring interests, indicator identification, capacity to collect data, analysis of existing time series data and linking with existing environmental reporting mechanisms. This presentation will summarise the achievements of these collaborative efforts and demonstrate how they are moving us toward a marine monitoring blueprint to meet the Australian Government’s needs to report on the status and trends of marine ecosystem health in offshore waters. Lessons learnt from this experience will be distilled including: the essential importance of governance in transition- ing from research to sustained monitoring; the necessity of agreeing on clear priorities to drive the required national collaboration; and the importance of developing and using national standards for data collection analysis and reporting to empower many data gatherers. The methods of knowledge brokering in identifying champions and maintaining the relevance and sustained effort in the face of changing policy and funding environments will be explained and the next steps for the continuing collaboration will be outlined.

155 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Top-down control is significantly important in structuring sub-tropical seagrass fish communities

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Mr. Christopher Henderson1, Dr. Tim Stevens1, Mr. Ben Gilby2, Dr. Paul Maxwell3, Dr. Andrew Olds2, Prof. Shing Yip Lee1 1Griffith University, School of ENV, Australian Rivers Institute, 2University of the Sunshine Coast, 3Healthy Waterways Ltd

Seagrass are globally distributed and provide numerous valued ecosystem services, not limited to the fueling of primary production and carbon sequestration. Fish communities within these systems have historically thought to be driven predominantly by the same bottom-up processes that are predominantly thought to structure the seagrass itself. Top-down control (predation and herbivory) on food webs in seagrass habitats is an important ecosystem process, which remains relatively unknown in this system. Marine reserves have been identified as being one of the most successful ways of rehabilitating habitats, re-establishing ecosystem processes and allowing for the recovery of fish communities (i. e. fish abundance and diversity). Areas of Moreton Bay, Queensland, experience periods of poor water quality (low benthic salinity, low Secchi disk depth and high total nitrogen) due to estuarine input, having a direct impact on site-specific seagrass characteristics. We used predation and grazing assays, combined with baited cameras and a range of habitat metrics, replicated over three different time periods, to assess the strength of top-down vs. bottom-up processes in a range of reserve and fished areas across Moreton Bay. Top-down control was found to be influential in driving the variability in fish communities, as opposed to bottom-up processes such as water quality and seagrass morphology. While there was no marine reserve effect to be found, appropriate management in the future suggest that increased protection of high trophic level species will be highly influential in structuring health fish assemblages within these estuarine habitats. This study highlights the importance of understanding the impact of top-down controls, particularly within seagrass habitats, in re-establishing healthy ecosystem processes and fish communities, and subsequently has important implications for the management of these habitats.

156 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Changing coastal landscapes: Where are mangroves going?

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Costa Hall

Ms. Sharyn Hickey1 1University of Western Australia

Mangroves and saltmarsh are vital to many valuable ecosystem services, such as their capacity to sequester carbon dioxide and mitigate climate change effects. Whilst, the organic carbon sequestered within these ecosystems is comparable to terrestrial forests, they have been subjected to large global declines and degradation, which in turn can contribute to increasing CO2 emissions due to the loss, and subsequent erosion or conversion of carbon soil deposits. In fact, across Australia 50% of mangroves and saltmarsh have been lost or significantly degraded. With 80% of the population residing in the coastal zone, much of this can be contributed to anthropogenic change. This study utilised remote sensing to quantify the areal change of mangroves and saltmarsh over a 23 year period across land use categories at various sites within Australia that encompass low to high anthropogenic influences. In doing so, this study was able to illustrate the changing estuarine environment and determine the land use categories that are expanding onto former mangrove and saltmarsh areas, thereby helping elucidate the drivers of their decline. Whilst many studies have mapped mangroves and vegetation at sites across Australia, this study is able to provide key data in analysing the change between land use categories temporally. This is vital for their continued conservation amid a growing population and climate change scenarios that are predicted to largely impact this zone. Further this study discusses the change in mangrove and saltmarsh area in relation to the drivers of change (e. g., anthropogenic, climatic) which will enable the behaviour of mangroves to ascertained pressures (e. g., post reclamation recovery, tidal restrictions, conversion to parkland) to be employed to determine the historic and future influence on the ecosystem services they provide.

157 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Modelling the biogeochemical drivers of water quality degradation in the Swan-Canning estuary

Wednesday, 8th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Matt Hipsey1, Dr. Kieryn Kilminster2 1The University of Western Australia, 2Department of Water

The Swan-Canning estuary in Western Australia has been the focus of intense management efforts for the past several decades since it has undergone major changes due to the impacts of excessive nutrient and pollutant loads whilst simultaneously experiencing a significant reduction in freshwater inflows. In this presentation we outline application of a 3D finite-volume hydrodynamic- biogeochemical model that is being used to explore the controls on the emergence of hypoxia and algal bloom risk. The model was configured to simulate oxygen, nutrients, organic matter, sediment, the seagrass Halophila sp, and phytoplankton biomass (including a nuisance dinoflagellate group), and applied at two different scales of operation to accommodate the different time-scales of questions being assessed. In particular, the validation approach is highlighted and used to demonstrate the fine numerical resolution that is required tore- solve upstream migration of the salt-wedge during low-flow conditions when water quality problems become the most significant. Scenarios exploring the effectiveness of management interventions including artificial oxygenation and nutrient reduction within urban drains are assessed and being used to guide their ongoing implementation.

158 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Range expansion of Asterias amurensis along the east coast of Victoria via larval dispersal

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Alastair Hirst1, Dr. Nathan Bott2, Dr. Randall Lee3, Mr. Mark Richardson1, Dr. Craig Sherman1 1Deakin University, 2RMIT University, 3Environment Protection Authority Victoria

The Northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis) is an introduced marine pest, native to the NW Pacific, and likely to have been first introduced to SE Tasma- nia from Japan via ballast water in the 1980s, and subsequently to Port Phillip Bay from Tasmania in the mid-1990s. Populations of A. amurensis have subsequently been recorded along the east coast of Victoria at Andersons Inlet in 2003, San Remo (Western Port) in 2011, and at Tidal River (Wilsons Promon- tory) in 2012. It is unclear whether these outbreaks represent a natural range expansion of the population within Victorian waters, facilitated by planktonic larval dispersal, or are the product of physical translocation of larval and adult seastars by anthropogenic vectors. This study used a combination of plankton surveys and hydrodynamic modelling to examine the distribution of A. amurenis larvae in coastal waters between Port Phillip Bay and Port Welshpool in eastern Victoria. The source of A. amurensis populations at Tidal River and San Remo was identified using polymorphic microsatellite markers collected from potential source populations in Port Phillip Bay, SE Tasmania and Japan. A. amurensis larvae were detected in coastal waters between Port Phillip Bay and Wilsons Promontory. This finding is supported by hydrodynamic modelling of buoyant particles simulating the behaviour of larvae exported from the bay, and the influence of the prevailing currents in Bass Strait. Populations atTidal River were most closely related to A. amurensis populations in the southern part of Port Phillip Bay consistent with the hypothesis that new populations of A. amurensis originated from larvae exported from the bay, by tidal flushing, and subsequently dispersed eastwards along the coast. The pattern of A. amurensis incursions along the east coast of Victoria is therefore entirely consistent with natural range expansion via larval dispersal; with Port Phillip Bay as the main source of larvae in the region.

159 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Improved Sampling of Rock Lobster populations in Merri Marine Sanctuary and the role of habitat in MPA assessments

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Daniel Ierodiaconou1, Mr. Lachlan Hulands1, Dr. Mary Young1, Dr. Alexandre Schimel1, Dr. Sean Blake1, Dr. Steffan Howe2, Dr. Matt Edmunds3, Mr. Nick Alexeyeff2 1Deakin University, 2Parks Victoria, 3Australian Marine Ecology

Parks Victoria has an extensive monitoring program across the system of Marine Protected Areas, which provides a stronger evidence base to better inform management decisions. Rock lobster have been identified as one important indicator of the health of subtidal reefs and the effect of poaching in the Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries. Rock lobster are surveyed as part of the Subtidal Reef Monitoring Program (SRMP), however it has been difficult to accurately sample rock lobster populations as part of this program as monitoring sites often don’t overlap with rock lobster habitat. A pilot project was established to trial the use of standardised fisheries methods for sampling southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) (SRL) in the Merri Marine Sanctuary, with a subsequent study to establish the relationship with seafloor characteristics or biological assemblages and SRL populations. This study integrated ultra-high resolution multibeam echo sounder data, videography and scientific fishing data to assess SRL populations within Merri Marine Sanctuary (MMS) and surrounding waters. Study results indicate that the MMS supports a higher abundance of both under-size and legal-size lobster, with larger mean size and biomass. The association with seafloor characteristics, biological habitat and distance from MPA was tested using GLM models. The results indicated that the MMS has a significant effect on local SRL population size, including with variations in depth, slope, rugosity and distance from park taken into consideration. Additionally, more SRL were captured closer to the park suggesting the potential of a spill-over of SRL biomass into surrounding waters. This research informed on the effects of protection, seafloor characteristics and biological habitat on a localised SRL population. It was demonstrated that remotely sensed techniques, combined with scientific fishing approaches, can be used to evaluate: the effectiveness of MPA management; the role these MPAs might play as reference sites for fisheries management; and potential secondary benefits of MPAs to the rock lobster fishery.

160 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Quantifying the effect of seagrass productivity on growth and survival of foraminifera Marginopora vertebralis

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Victoria Hrebien1, Dr. Catherine Collier1, Ms. Yan Ow1, Dr. Sven Uthicke2 1College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, 2Australian Institute of Marine Science

Large benthic foraminifera (LBF) contribute significantly to sediments on coral reefs and sandy cays. Like most calcifying organisms, LBF are vulnerable to ocean acidification (OA). Some species such as Marginopora vertebralis live predominantly within seagrass meadows or on algae as epiphytes. Seagrass habitats provide refuge from OA as the photosynthetic uptake of dissolved inorganic carbon of seagrass can increase pH and carbonate saturation. This study aims to determine whether a seagrass habitat can function as a refuge under OA (increased pCO2) conditions by quantifying the effects of seagrass productivity on growth and calcification of M. vertebralis. In a 5 week experiment, M. vertebralis growth, survival, and photochemistry (using PAM fluorometry) were investigated for 4 different habitat treatments (glass tank, sand only, seagrass and sand, and artificial grass and sand). Initial results from the first 4weeks showed greater M. vertebralis mortality ( 20%) in treatments without seagrass Cymodocea rotundata than in treatments containing the seagrass (11. 8%). Short-term incubations ( 24 hours) under controlled laboratory conditions investigated differences in productivity and calcification of M. vertebralis with and without C. rotundata. As a literature search presented inconsistent results on pCO2 effects on LBF, a range of pCO2 concentrations (300-3000µatm) were tested to determine under which condition M. vertebralis becomes adversely affected. Incubations were then repeated using seagrass treatments to determine whether the seagrass counteracted the negative effect of increasing pCO2. These preliminary results indicate that there may be some benefit to living amongst seagrass, although calcification and productivity may or may not be affected significantly by this relationship. Pending data and analysis from short and long-term experiments will be presented to determine whether such organisms may have mechanisms to persist under OA scenarios. This will allow us to refine estimates and indicate whether community structures will change as drastically as predicted.

161 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Integrated microfluidic technology for sub-lethal and behavioral marine ecotoxicity biotests

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Yushi Huang1, Dr. Constantino Carlos Reyes-Aldasoro2, Prof. Guido Persoone3, Prof. Donald Wlodkowic1 1RMIT University, 2City University London, 3Gent University

Changes in behavioral traits exhibited by small aquatic invertebrates are increasingly postulated as ethically acceptable and more sensitive endpoints for detection of water-born ecotoxicity than conventional mortality assays. Despite importance of such behavioral biotests, their implementation is profoundly limited by the lack of appropriate biocompatible automation, integrated optoelec- tronic sensors, and the associated electronics and analysis algorithms. This work outlines development of a proof-of-concept miniaturized Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) platform for rapid water toxicity tests based on changes in swimming patterns exhibited by Artemia franciscana (Artoxkit M™) nauplii. In contrast to conventionally performed end-point analysis based on counting numbers of dead/immobile specimens we performed a time-resolved video data analysis to dynamically assess impact of a reference toxicant on swimming pattern of A. franciscana. Our system design combined: (i) innovative microfluidic device keeping free swimming Artemia sp. nauplii under continuous microperfusion as a mean of toxin delivery; (ii) mechatronic interface for user-friendly fluidic actu- ation of the chip; and (iii) miniaturized video acquisition for movement analysis of test specimens. The system was capable of performing fully programmable time-lapse and video-microscopy of multiple samples for rapid ecotoxicity analysis. It enabled development of a user-friendly and inexpensive test protocol to dynamically detect sub-lethal behavioral end-points such as changes in speed of movement or distance traveled by each animal.

162 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The influence of temporally heterogeneous copper stress on mothers and their offspring

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Rebecca Hull1, Prof. Mick Keough1 1The University of Melbourne

Environmental stresses are common, but their effects can be complex and depend on the nature of the stress. While individuals may experience multiple stresses during their lifetime, the impact of each exposure to stress may vary with its timing (relative to the life-history stage of the organism), duration (i. e. the total length of exposure), intensity (i. e. the relative strength) and frequency (i. e. the recurrence of stress, including the interval between bouts of stress). The pollutant copper was used to stress Watersipora subtorquata, a common bryozoan, in the field. Its timing, duration and frequency were manipulated and the growth, reproduction and quality of resultant offspring of Watersipora colonies were assessed. When the timing of a short exposure (1 wk) was varied, colonies exposed to copper grew less than unexposed colonies, regardless of the timing of the exposure. While no effect of copper was observed on the size of larvae, itwas latently manifested as the reduced settlement success of larvae. Exposure to copper only at the earliest time interval influenced whether any larvae would be released (‘spawned’) and the number of larvae; copper stressed colonies were less likely to release any larvae and those that did spawn larvae, released fewer than unstressed colonies. When colonies were exposed to stress that varied in duration and frequency, an interval of no stress between bouts of stress was important. Individuals stressed for one or two weeks with no opportunity to subsequently recover were less likely to spawn and released fewer larvae. Furthermore, colonies stressed for two weeks continuously produced larvae that were smaller in size and had reduced settlement success. Individuals exposed to stress for the longest duration (3 wk) released the fewest larvae, with each colony only releasing one larva. Exposure to copper adversely affected colonies and depended on the temporal nature of the stress. When stressed, colony growth and/or reproduction were affected in an integrated way, influencing the number, size and viability of larvae produced. This is likely due to the partitioning of finite energy in the face of stress.

163 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Seagrass rehabilitation in South Australia: a story of loss, action, failure, and success

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Andrew Irving1, Dr. Jason Tanner2 1Central Queensland University, 2South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

More than 5, 200 ha of seagrass habitat were lost from the metropolitan coast of Adelaide, South Australia, between ~ 1940 and 2002, primarily due to excessive nutrient pollution that promoted the overgrowth and smothering of seagrasses by epiphytic algae. In the years since, improved wastewater management has seen nitrogen inputs reduced by 75 %, coinciding with a small amount of natural seagrass recovery (4 %) at the most severely impacted sites. In an attempt to facilitate faster recovery, traditional seagrass rehabilitation methods of transplants and seedling propagation were tested and largely failed due to relatively strong hydrodynamic forces in the region. Under threat of discontinuation of funding, a fortuitous and novel combination of simple engineering and a biological peculiarity produced encouraging results, whereby fibrous hessian bags were used to entangle the ‘grappling hook’ possessed by seedlings of the seagrass Amphibolis antarctica. By retaining seedlings in the local area instead of being washed ashore, this method allowed seedlings to establish roots and grow. While initially promising, the hessian proved 100 % biodegradable, which meant that seedlings were sometimes unable to establish in time and were ultimately lost. Over several years, numerous experiments tested potential improvements to the hessian bag technique to overcome such limitations, with the method now refined to the point that a fully-funded large scale (1 ha) rehabilitation project is underway (June 2014). The most recent data show that experimentally rehabilitated patches are coalescing, and that some biological parameters of rehabilitated seagrass are matching or exceeding nearby natural meadows (e. g. stem density). This hard-won success in the face of continued threats to funding, changing personnel, and some unique environmental challenges, was ultimately built on the integration of natural history, creative engineering, en- thusiasm, and a decade of trial and error to produce a reliable yet cost-effective tool for seagrass rehabilitation.

164 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Influences of fasting on stable isotope ratios in male southern elephant seals

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Sarah Iwanoczko1, Dr. David Slip2, Prof. Tracey Rogers1, Dr. Tasmin O’Connell3 1University of New South Wales, 2Taronga Conservation Society, 3University of Cambridge

Stable isotope signatures are used as biomarkers to investigate dietary behaviour in ecology, anthropology and archaeology. As naturally occurring stable isotopes fractionate between predator and their prey (i. e the relative proportions of different isotopes of the same element change predictably), stable isotope signatures are used to predict the trophic level within a food web at which a predator is feeding. However, it has been proposed that the predictable change in stable isotopes between a consumer and their diet may not hold true when animals are undergoing extreme physiological and biochemical processes (the 15N enrichment by fasting theory). Fasting animals are naturally adapted to use higher levels of lipid stores than protein stores, though little is known about how this affects their stable isotope ratios. We used male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) as a model to determine whether stable isotopes are still indicative of diet while animals fast over their breeding season. These animals experience one of the most prolonged periods of food deprivation of any species. Nitrogen stable isotopes were measured in whole blood and serum from fasting male elephant seals at King George Island throughout the breeding season.

165 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

How well equipped is Australia to reverse the trend of declining seagrass habitat through restoration?

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Emma Jackson1 1Central Queensland University

“Seagrass beds are an important coastal habitat providing many ecosystem services” is a sentence that has adorned the first line of manuscripts regarding these habitats for decades. Their ability to influence ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services is widely evidenced. However, in a group statement issued by the IUCN Seagrass Species Specialist Group in November 2014, seagrasses were identified as one of the most rapidly declining ecosystems onEarth. In Australia seagrasses previously able to recover naturally have been pushed to the point where intervention is required and this is occurring against a back- drop of rapid industrialisation, catchment inputs and climate variability. This presentation examines over 40 years of seagrass restoration and creation history in Australia, identifying what drives seagrass restoration, summarising lessons learnt, addressing issues still faced and discussing research gaps. With an aim to promoting discussion within the restoration session, the review highlights the current geographical imbalance of seagrass restoration science, problems with policy drivers, new tools and techniques and how the motivation for restoration does and should influence the approach taken. Tropical seagrass restoration science currently lags behind temperate research. Recent efforts to build the science base for tropical seagrass restoration are presented using Port Curtis and Rodd’s bay (Central Queensland) as a case study.

166 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Topographic and climatic descriptors determining the distribution of temperate benthic invertebrates in a commercial fishery

Thursday, 9th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ali Jalali1, Dr. Daniel Ierodiaconou1, Dr. Harry Gorfine2, Dr. Mary Young1, Dr. Zhi Huang3, Dr. Scott Nichol3 1Deakin University, 2Fisheries Victoria, 3Geoscience Australia

Under climate change scenarios, rises in ocean temperature are likely to impact the range and spatial scale of species distributions. The rate of warming in south-east Australia is several times faster than global averages and therefore, we are likely to see a tropicalisation of temperate ocean systems through range expansions. Abalone are high value fisheries species in south-east Australia and Australia’s commercial fishery contributes to over 50% of global abalone wild catch production. Abalone stocks are under threat through a range of factors including disease, changes in habitat and overexploitation that has resulted in some localized extinctions. In the state of Victoria, the stock is particularly under pressure following an outbreak of a herpes-like virus during 2006-2007 that resulted in mass mortality in the western zone of the fishery. Whilst in the east, strengthening of the Eastern Australian Current and southward extension and intensification of warmer ocean flows has resulted in a shift in the distribution of marine species such as the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii competing with abalone especially for food. Overgrazing of macroalgae communities by sea urchins and subsequent formation of urchin barrens has implications for productivity of the abalone fishery. Knowledge of existing distributions and patterns in abundance relative to seafloor structure and oceanographic variables are critical to understanding how a species may respond to multiple stressors and give an indication to the resilience of a species to climate change. In this study we integrate diver survey records from 121 sites characterising the habitat and abundance of blacklip abalone Haliotis rubra and urchin species Centrostephanus rodgersii and Heliocidaris erythrogramma with bathymetric LiDAR-derived seafloor surrogates and satellite-derived oceanographic parameters (sea surface temperature [SST] and chlorophyll-a) to develop predictive models of species distribution and abundance over 4000 km2 in Victorian coastal waters, south-east Australia. Assessing the relative importance of the model predictors indicated the role of SST and seafloor complexity in the description of the species distribution patterns. We also explore predicted climate scenarios to assess the potential conflict between urchin range expansion and abalone fishing grounds and discuss implications for ecosystem based fisheries management.

167 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Closing the life history loop on a fish species with embayment, coastal and oceanic life phases

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Prof. Greg Jenkins1, Dr. Paul Hamer2, Dr. Jodie Kemp3, Ms. Julia Kent4, Dr. Tony Fowler5 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 2Fisheries Victoria, 3WA Department of Fisheries, 4Deakin University, 5South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

The King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctatus, is a key fishery species in southern Australia that has a long larval duration and potentially extensive larval dispersal from coastal spawning grounds to juvenile nursery areas in embayments with seagrass. Currently the connectivity between populations in different States in south-eastern Australia (Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania) is poorly understood, creating difficulties with cross-jurisdictional management. To date the only confirmed spawning area is in Investigator Strait, South Aus- tralia. We are using otolith chemistry and microstructure to examine whether post-larvae collected from nursery areas in Victoria and South Australia come from the same or different spawning areas, whether juveniles remain in theem- bayment they settled in for their early life or move between embayments, and whether sub-adults leaving Victorian embayments migrate back to the known spawning area in South Australia. Results from larval otolith chemistry and daily increment widths provide support for the hypothesis that different spawning sources may contribute to post-larval recruitment in South Australia and Vic- toria. Differences in otolith chemistry between States and sampling years were mainly driven by Magnesium, and the differences were reflected in early larval growth rates determined from otolith microstructure, indicating that chemical differences were physiologically based. We have also found differences inchem- istry at the edge of otoliths from post-larvae and 3 year old sub-adults from nursery embayments that are consistent with ambient water chemistry effects. Evidence to date suggests that sub-adults in Victorian embayments do not migrate to the Investigator Strait spawning area in South Australia. Finally, we now have evidence for a second spawning area in north-western Tasmania that is consistent with earlier modelling studies suggesting that is could be a potential spawning area for post-larvae settling in Victorian embayments. This project is nearing completion and the presentation will give an overview of the project outcomes to date.

168 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Oceanographic synopsis of the Southern Bluefin Tuna spawning ground in the Eastern Indian Ocean

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Shona Jennings1, Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1 1Murdoch University

The only known spawning ground of the Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus mac- coyii) occurs in the Eastern Indian Ocean between north-west Australia and In- donesia. This study examined environmental features of this spawning ground using remote sensing and in-situ archived oceanographic data relative to the habitat requirements of the Southern Bluefin Tuna. Environmental data (sea surface temperature, sea level height anomaly, surface chlorophyll a and XBT sections) were extracted from the IMOS portal and used to establish a spatial and temporal oceanographic synopsis of the area. In addition, CSIRO Atlas of Regional Seas data (CARS; temperature, salinity, oxygen, silicate, nitrate and phosphate) and ARGO data (temperature and salinity) were extracted to sup- plement the remotely-sensed data. The SST data show significant upwelling (4 degrees Celsius less than the surrounding ocean) along the coastline of Java and Sumatra during the monsoon, about two months before the summer Southern Bluefin Tuna spawning season. This upwelling drives biogeochemical processes that support the pelagic ecosystem in the region. Southern Bluefin Tuna are fast growing; juveniles are voracious predators on macro-zooplankton and small nekton and migrate southwards in the Leeuwin Current to their cool temperate habitat in the Southern Ocean. These fish form the basis of the Port Lincoln tuna ranching industry in South Australia and the longline tuna fishery off New South Wales. It is anticipated that the understanding of the oceanographic features of the spawning ground will provide an important link into the year class strength for this extremely valuable, yet severely depleted, apex fish species.

169 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ephemeral biological production in the oligotrophic North West Shelf, Western Australia

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Katherine Jones1, Dr. Peter Strutton2, Dr. Nicole Jones3, Dr. Christine Pequignet3, Prof. Ryan Lowe3, Dr. Jeff Book4, Dr. Helen MacDonald3, Dr. Miles Furnas5 1University of Tasmania; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), 2Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 3University of Western Australia, 4Naval Research Laboratory, 5Australian Institute of Marine Science

The North West Shelf (NWS) of Australia is an oligotrophic coastal system with generally low phytoplankton biomass (chl-a) and production caused by limited surface nutrient availability and persistent downwelling conditions. Elevated biomass is observed seasonally during the annual Austral winter bloom (May – July), and also at depth with a characteristic deep cholorophyll maximum (DCM) around 40-70 m. However, recent observations of biological activity following ephemeral events such as tropical cyclones, wind-driven upwelling, and internal waves indicate the potential for enhanced biological production outside of the primary bloom period. In order to better understand the processes controlling these sub-seasonal trends, high temporal and spatial resolution observations were used in conjunction with shipboard data. Biological and physical instrumentation deployed on Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) moorings monitored chlorophyll fluorescence, temperature, salinity, turbidity, and water current velocities. Combined SeaW- iFS and MODIS remote sensing observations provided 15 years data for the determination of seasonal patterns and comparison between shelf and continental slope dynamics at different areas along the coast. Mooring observations of chl-a obtained from the mixed layer and in the DCM showed evidence of stratification w ith i ncidence o f s urface e phemeral peaks during the spring and summer months. Some of the timings of these peaks matched the incidence of short duration upwelling events that were identified using coastal upwelling indices along with cross-shelf transport velocities. Win- ter chl-a were less variable but exhibited better agreement between surface and depth measurements, which coincided with the seasonal deepening of the mixed layer and the onset of the winter bloom. These observations indicated the importance of the vertical transport of nitrate from below the mixed layer in enhancing surface biological production. Regional distinctions in the depths and locations of the nitracline and DCM suggest the importance of physical fea-tures such as bathymetry, shelf width, and influence by internal waves and tidal processes in controlling sub-seasonal phytoplankton dynamics. These previously understudied ephemeral processes are important to better understanding annual biogeochemical cycles and ecological processes in the NWS.

170 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Lessons from Tasmania’s Monitoring and Reporting System for National Parks and Reserves

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Glenys Jones1 1Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania

Over the past twenty years, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service has made considerable progress in developing robust yet practical systems for evaluating the effectiveness of management for its terrestrial national parks and World Heritage Areas. The culmination of this effort is the state-wide (jurisdictional) Monitoring and Reporting System for Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves which is progressively being built and implemented. Key features of the system are that it is outcomes-focused, evidence-based, operationally practical, and transparent to all interested parties. Elements of potential interest to marine estate managers include: the adaptive management cycle; the process of developing the evaluation framework; and examples of the different types of evaluation reports generated by the system.

171 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Recent advances in the mapping and monitoring of marine habitats that aim to improve management effectiveness

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Alan Jordan1 1Marine Ecosystems Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag 1, Nelson Bay, NSW, 2315

The increased number of marine mapping and monitoring programs around the world in recent years has resulted in a considerable amount of spatially defined bio-physical data in intertidal habitats out to the deep ocean. These programs often aim to monitor trends in ecological components (or indicators), generally in response to management changes, such as spatial closures. Such monitoring provides a more direct indication of condition than just measuring the related human pressures and their resulting stressors, but due to the complex bio-physical structure of marine habitats it is important to first understand both the spatial structuring and scales of biotic variation in order to adequately design assessments of change using indicators. Usually this requires data sampled across a range of appropriate temporal and spatial scales. A wide range of optical and acoustic remote sensing tools and physical samplers are used to survey these habitats, all of which vary in their capacity to resolve the structure and biotic composition of the seabed. Recent studies have identified the importance of understanding the underlying assumptions, characteristics and uncertainties associated with data availability and quality when choosing and applying habitat mapping approaches or species distribution models. The extent to which these issues can be reduced will largely depend on the availability of time and gear, logistics, expertise and availability of pre-survey data. It is clear that how these issues affect resultant habitat maps and predictions of species distributions warrants further discussion. Whether a representative sample of habitats that occurs within a study locality has been obtained, and whether any species/habitats have been overlooked or under-sampled are several key issues. This talk will aim to examine the role habitat mapping and species distribution modelling play in the management of marine resources, and the issues associated with using these to develop monitoring programs and interpret ecological indicators. This will include a discussion of new and emerging remote sensing tools for surveying bio-physical characteristics, and survey requirements to improve statistical approaches for habitat, community and single species predictions.

172 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Spencer Gulf versus Coffin Bay: A comparison between inverse estuaries of vastly different sizes

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Jochen Kaempf1 1School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide

This presentation describes and compares the dynamics and flushing behaviors of two inverse estuaries in South Australia of vastly different sizes - Spencer Gulf and Coffin Bay. Being subject to similar climatic conditions, Spencer Gulf is ~300 km long, up to 150 km wide and has depths >20 m, whereas Coffin Bay is much smaller (25 km long, up to 10 km wide, water depths ~2. 5 m). Despite this vast difference in size, both estuaries develop similar hypersaline conditions in their upper reaches. A hydrodynamic model is applied to both systems to explore their individual dynamical characteristics. Based on the findings, Spencer Gulf can be dynamically separated into two different flow regimes. Lower Spencer Gulf is flushed via a density-driven exchange flow during austral winter months on a seasonal basis, while the upper reaches of Spencer Gulf are flushed only via quasi-diffusive exchange with waters from the Lower Spencer Gulf. Tidal currents are irrelevant in this flushing. As a consequence, upper Spencer Gulf becomes hypersaline year-round with salinities exceeding 40 g/l and the relative water age of Upper Spencer Gulf exceeds 1 year. In contrast, Coffin Bay is diffusively flushed under the action of tides. Giventhe specific geometry of Coffin Bay, which consists of a series of sub-bays, theinner bays become hypersaline with salinities >45 g/l in late summer. Winter rainfall tends to remove these salinity anomalies in winter months. Nevertheless, the relative water age of the inner bays of Coffin Bay exceeds 100 days year-round, which is symptomatic of slow flushing. Both the Upper Spencer Gulf and the inner bays of Coffin Bay are slowly flushed regions, for different dynamic reasons, that are most vulnerable to pollution. Special management efforts are required to protect such regions.

173 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Evidence of an upwelling centre on the western shelf of Tasmania

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Jochen Kaempf1 1School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide

Satellite-derived chlorophyll-a data using standard ocean-colour algorithms (OC3 and OC4) are strongly biased by coloured dissolved organic matter and suspended sediment of river discharges, which is a particular problem for the western Tasmanian shelf. This work reconstructs phytoplankton blooms in the study region using a quadratic regression between ocean-colour data and chlorophyll fluorescence based on the fluorescence line height (FLH) data. This regression is derived from satellite data of the nearby Bonney upwelling region, which is devoid of river influences. To this end, analyses of 10 years of MODIS-aqua satellite data reveal the existence of a highly productive ecosystem on the western Tasmanian shelf. The region normally experiences two phytoplankton blooms per annum. The first bloom occurs during late austral summer months as a consequence of upwelling-favourable coastal winds. Hence, the western Tasmanian shelf forms another, previously unknown upwelling centre of the regional upwelling system, known as Great South Australian Coastal Upwelling System. The second phytoplankton bloom is a classical spring bloom also developing in the adjacent Tasman Sea. The author postulates that this region forms another important biological” hot spot” for the regional marine ecosystem.

174 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

A closer look at the effect of aerial root spatial complexity on fish distribution in mangroves

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Ms. Shafagh Kamal1, Prof. Shing Yip Lee1, Dr. Jan Warnken1 1Griffith University, School of ENV, Australian Rivers Institute

One of the central challenges to field ecologists is to relate structural habitat complexity to the distribution and activity of animals. Predator avoidance is a benefit that juvenile fish can derive from the high spatial complexity ofman- groves. In this study we quantitatively assess the structural complexity of mangroves roots (pneumatophores of Avicennia marina) in southeast Queensland, Australia, using a simple, low-cost, and effective approach based on RGB-D scans (Kinect sensor) and free or readily accessible software. Concomitantly, the distribution and size of fish among roots of the mangrove habitats was captured by underwater cameras. Although structural complexity of the pneumatophores does not have a significant effect on fish distribution, unlike predatory species, the average size of the prey species was slightly higher in more complex root patches. Meanwhile„ prey species spent marginally more time in more complex structures. These results indicate that protection from predators provided by spatial complexity of aerial roots is one of the factors determining the distribution of juvenile fish utilising mangroves as nursery sites.

175 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Palaeoecological and biogeochemical analyses of sediments indicates long term changes associated with pearl oyster aquaculture

Thursday, 9th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. John Keesing1, Prof. Dongyan Liu2, Ms. Yajun Peng2 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 2Chinese Academy of Sciences

This study employs palaeoecological and biogeochemical methods to infer historical changes in water quality from sediment cores taken in coastal waters in the Kimberley. At each of the sites sampled we have attempted to compare gradients of human use or natural environmental variability in addition to looking for long term environmental changes. These sites are Cygnet Bay (comparison of pearl farm/non pearl farm sites), King George River (comparison of embayments with high/low riverine input), and Roebuck Bay (comparison of sites near/far from Broome’s anthropogenic inputs. In Cygnet Bay, pearl oyster aquaculture, with a 50-year history, has been regarded as an anthropogenic activity with low environmental risk, however we found that small disturbances accumulated over a long period can be detected. Our cores reflected an 80- year record of environmental processes and with knowledge of the changes in farm practices over 50 years we were able to reconstruct a time series of change in biogeochemical parameters which can be related to changes in water quality. Sediment cores taken inside and outside a pearl farm displayed contrasting characteristics after the start of farming in the 1960s. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen, biogenic silica, and fine-grained sediment inside the farm increased significantly over time. The ranges of C/N, 13C and 15N discriminated thatthe origin of increased organic matter were from autochthonous sources rather than allochthonous input. Our analysis detected significant changes responding to the development of pearl farming rather than variations in rainfall and temperature. Modern long line pearl culture since the late 1980s was presumed to be a dominant driver of the changes we observed, accelerating the increase of organic matter in the sediments by reducing water flow, altering sediment grain size and increasing nutrient flux. Geochemical ratios between the two sites showed pearl farming on decadal time scales, even at low density, can cause environmental change with a two to four-fold increase in organic matter, although consistent with environmental studies on surface sediments at the same sites, there is no suggestion that any environmental damage or ecological changes have occurred.

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Heat stress of two tropical seagrass species during low tides–net photosynthesis, dark respiration and diel in situ internal aeration

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Prof. Ole Pedersen1, Prof. Gary Kendrick2, Prof. Jens Borum1, Ms. Andrea Zavala-Perez2, Prof. Tim Colmer3 1Freshwater Biological Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009 WA, Australia, 3School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009 WA, Australia

The tropical seagrasses Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides in the Sun- day Island Group, Kimberley, WA survive and grow on perched intertidal platforms that are daily exposed to a macrotidal regime that varies from 3 m in neap tides and 10 m during spring tides. Low water volume and flows over the seagrasses at daytime low tides result in elevated temperatures and at night- time low tides lead to critically low O2 concentrations. We measured internal tissue aeration in the seagrasses along with key environmental parameters on Jaalan (Talon) Island during neap tides. In the laboratory we tested how temperature influenced underwater net photosynthesis (PN) and dark respiration (RD) of leaves of T. hemprichii and E. acoroides. During the day, the shallow water was characterised by high pO2, pH and temperature affecting PN and RD; PN declined due to heat stress and dissolved CO2 approached zero so that ‘bicarbonate use’ would have predominated, whilst RD increased in the warm water. During the night, in contrast, dissolved O2 declined to hypoxic levels resulting in hours of shoot base anoxia in both T. hemprichii and E. acoroides. However, tissue anoxia was sometimes alleviated by incoming tide carrying O2 rich oceanic water fuelling aerobic RD of the seagrasses. We showed that PN and RD of both species fully recovered during the night after exposure to 40 °C in 4 h the day before, whereas heat stress at 45 °C resulted in more permanent tissue damage. In conclusion, both species displayed heat tolerance, were able to access CO2 from bicarbonate, and tolerated the anoxic periods; being adapted to this dynamic environment.

177 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Genetic analyses show high levels of connectivity for King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctatus) across two states

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Julia Kent1, Prof. Greg Jenkins2, Dr. Craig Sherman1, Dr. Paul Hamer3, Dr. Tony Fowler4 1Deakin University, 2University of Mel, 3Fisheries Victoria, 4South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctatus, is an important commercial and recreational fish species in southern Australia. This species has a complicated life history, involving a number of habitat shifts at different developmental stages. Their extended larval phase (up to 160 days) means there is potential for widespread dispersal before settlement, which occurs in seagrass habitats of sheltered bays and inlets across South Australia and Victoria. The number of distinct spawning grounds and the patterns of connectivity and dispersal between populations is currently poorly understood. To date only one spawning location for this species has been identified in South Australia, and it is remains unclear to what the extent Victorian stocks are dependent on these for recruits for maintaining populations. Understanding patterns of genetic connectivity and population structure will therefore provide important information for management regarding whether King George whiting in southeastern Australian waters should be managed as a single stock, or as multiple populations. Genetic analysis of population structure of post-larvae collected in bays across South Australia and Victoria using both microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has shown no significant genetic differentiation between states or regions. These high levels of connectivity suggest that King George whiting in South Australia and Victoria are part of a single large panmictic stock.

178 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

What do seagrass experience? Snapshot versus time-integrated measures of sediment-sulfide exposure

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Kieryn Kilminster1, Dr. Vanessa Forbes1, Dr. William Bennett2, Dr. David Welsh2, Prof. Marianne Holmer3 1WA Department of Water, 2Griffith University, School of Environment, 3University of Southern Denmark

Seagrasses are routinely exposed to sulfides associated with anoxic sediment, whether in pristine or highly eutrophic environments. Sulfide is a phytotoxin, but seagrasses have the capacity to reoxidize the sulfide and ameliorate the negative effect. The health of seagrass has been monitored in the Swan-Canning estuary since 2011/12, using a suite of indicators one of which informs on sediment sulfide-stress. Sub-lethal reductions in seagrass growth were associated with increased uptake of sediment-sulfide in a study conducted in 2011/12 (published in Ecological Indicators 2014) and the current study (2014) aims to further understand the temporal variability in sulfide exposure and plant responses. At six sites, we report on seagrass growth, and snapshot and integrated measures of seagrass sulfide exposure (diffusive thin gradient (DGT) and d34S in seagrass tissues respectively). Snapshot porewater sulfide concentrations were greater in seagrass-vegetated sediment (max 19-121 uM) than in unvegetated sediment (max 4-23 uM). Maximum porewater sulfide was positively correlated with seagrass growth at the time of sampling (R>0. 8, p<0. 001). Consistent with the relationships reported in 2011/12, integrated metrics of sediment-stress were negatively correlated with metrics of seagrass growth (R = -0. 59 to -0. 67, p<0. 01). It is intriguing that the snapshot measures of porewater sulfide show a positive relationship with seagrass production, while the integrated measures of sulfide exposure ( e. g . Fsulfide) show a negative relationship with growth. These seemingly contradictory results suggest that high seagrass production favours sulfate-reducing bacteria (possibly due to plant exudation of DOC during photosynthesis), which then increases porewater sulfide concentrations. However, while DGT provides a snapshot of potential sulfide exposure at a given time, they do not account for the potential for seagrass to simultaneously counter exposure by oxidising the sulfide either within the rhizosphere or within the root tissues, as both root DOC and oxygen release are coupled to photosynthesis. In contrast, Fsulfide provides a time-integrated measure of when this oxidizing potential is overcome by the supply of sulfide and growth becomes compromised. This disconnect between exposure and effect on plant health highlights the challenges with measuring porewater sulfide pools in either bare or vegetated sediment to inform on how sediment influences seagrass.

179 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Unravelling complexity in seagrass systems for management

Wednesday, 8th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Kieryn Kilminster1, Dr. Kathryn McMahon2, Prof. Michelle Waycott3, Prof. Gary Kendrick4, Dr. Peter Scanes5, Mr. Len McKenzie6, Dr. Kate O’Brien7, Dr. Mitchell Lyons8, Dr. Angus Ferguson5, Dr. Paul Maxwell9, Dr. Tim Glasby10, Dr. James Udy9 1WA Department of Water, 2Edith Cowan University, 3The University of Adelaide, 4The University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, 5NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 6TropWATER, James Cook University, 7University of Queensland, 8University of New South Wales, 9Healthy Waterways Ltd, 10New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

Managers are often time poor and need access to synthesised assessments, commonly referred to as narratives. However, there is no single narrative for management of seagrass habitats in Australia, due to the diversity of seagrass meadows and environmental pressures. To assist the manager, we developed a classification structure based on attributes of seagrass life history, habitat and meadow form. Seagrass communities are formed from species whose life history strategies can be described as colonising, opportunistic or persistent. They occupy habitats defined by the range and variability of their abiotic environment. This results in seagrass meadows that are either transitory or enduring. Transitory meadows may come and go and are able to re-establish from complete loss through sexual reproduction. Enduring meadows may fluctuate in biomass but maintain a presence by resisting pressures across multiple scales. This contrast reflects the interaction between the spatial and temporal aspects of species life history and habitat variability. Most management and monitoring strategies in place today favour enduring seagrasses. We adopt a functional classification of seagrass habitats based on modes of resilience to inform management for all seagrass communities. We synthesise various aspects of seagrass ecology to aid environmental decision-making, management and policy and use the diversity of seagrass habitats in Australia to demonstrate that knowledge from a range of specializations is required to understand seagrass condition and resilience. These concepts have world-wide relevance as the Australian case-studies have many analogues throughout the world.

180 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Marine Sciences for Melbourne Schools: the Docklands Ocean Education Project

Monday, 6th July 16.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Marie Kinsey1, Mr. Chris Lougheed2, Dr. Peter Harris2, Dr. Rob Day3 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 2Tall Ships Victoria, 3University of Melbourne

The Docklands Ocean Education Centre involves collaboration between Tall Ships Victoria, who are renovating the 3 masted schooner Alma Doepel at the docklands, and the University of Melbourne. We are developing a program module for Melbourne schools on ‘Human uses of Port Phillip Bay’. The first focus will be on the way the bay processes nutrients from human and farming wastes via river outflow. After a presentation to explain how algae take upthe nutrients, and then are the base of a food chain of animals in the bay, students will engage in an interactive exercise to discover which animals eat what, using a water table with live animals and a range of potential food items. Other aspects of the school module will cover fishing from the bay (abalone, mussels and fish) and transportation and cargo imports via docks and its history.

181 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Marine Protected Areas and Coastal Management in Australia

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Hugh Kirkman1 1Private Consultant

A bioregionalisation plan was established under the Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia (IMCRA). There are 60 bioregions which is a spatial framework for classifying Australia’s marine environment ecologically and at a scale useful for regional planning and establishing Marine Protected Areas. These bioregions are the basis for the development of a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) and were used in some states. It is suggested that 14 IUCN biophysical design principles be used to obtain a representative system of MPAs. Once these MPAs are decided upon they should be zoned to manage specific activities and uses. Marine Sanctuary Zones or no-take zones are the most contentious mainly opposed by recreational and commercial fishers. Six more principles are introduced for selection ofMSZs and the precautionary principle is considered. Coastal management requires integration of all coastal stakeholders. Marine Spatial Management is non-existent in Australia and the system and process for environmental impact assessment is flawed and differs between states. There is no carrying capacity policy and activities are carried out on a case by case basis. The states have different policies and have jurisdiction for 5. 5 km out tosea when Federal jurisdiction extends to 200 nautical miles. Adaptive management of coastal areas requires on-going monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Monitoring requires baseline data including maps, an inventory of flora and fauna and a knowledge of the threats to which the coast isliable. Particular questions to ask are: what does legislation tell you to do? What is the main objective— to inform management, to extend research or understanding or conserve biodiversity? How do you present your results? Who does what? (i. e. other agencies, research institutions, community). What is the nature of partnerships? (i. e. contracts, formal agreements, research grants). Monitoring is done for assessment of State of the Environment reporting, integrated coastal zone management, pollution control of land and sea-based activities, detection of marine-based pollution, marine and coastal biodiversity assessment.

182 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

An 18-year time series of Australian fur seal diet in Bass Strait

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Kimberley Kliska1, Dr. Rebecca McIntosh2, Dr. Peter Dann2, Dr. Roger Kirkwood3, Dr. Ian Jonsen1, Prof. Robert Harcourt1 1Macquarie University, 2Phillip Island Nature Parks, 3IMARES, Wageningen University

Systematically monitoring the diet of large marine predators may be an effective approach to detecting changes within an ecosystem. The Bass Strait marine ecosystem is predicted to be most vulnerable to long term environmental change as it is a hotspot for warming coastal waters. We investigate the diet composition of Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks in central Bass Strait over the past eighteen years. Through hard part analysis of 6805 scat and regurgitate samples, 67 prey species were identified and their frequency of occurrence determined on an annual basis. Prey size was estimated by measuring 2084 intact, non-degraded otoliths (fish ear bones). The diet composition of prey species varied over the course of the time series with individual species varying in presence and predominance. A generalised additive model will be used to investigate the influence of environmental variation on the frequency of occurrence ofprey species and any variation in prey size. Ultimately this will improve predictions in response to likely future changes facing large marine predators within the Bass Strait marine ecosystem.

183 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Dive behaviour of male Australian fur seals: evidence of individual specialisation

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Travis Knox1, Dr. Alastair Baylis1, Prof. John Arnould1 1Deakin University

Predicting how apex predators will adapt to increased environmental variability is a critical component underpinning effective ecosystem management. However, it first requires a thorough understanding of the foraging strategies of speciesat both the population and individual levels. Australian fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus, have long been considered a species comprising of ‘generalist’ individuals, making populations susceptible to environmental variability. Inves- tigation into the diving behaviour of 16 adult males tagged at Kanowna Island in south-eastern Australia over a two year period (2013-14), have revealed that the foraging ecology of the species may be far more complex than initially described. Analysis of over 75, 000 dives suggests that males, like their female conspecifics, employ a predominantly benthic foraging strategy (mean max depth 69. 0 ± 0. 1 m; max = 87. 5 m) within the continental shelf. However, further examination provides evidence for individual specialisations (for example, temporal and seasonal differences in foraging effort). This variability in foraging behaviour observed between male individuals are likely a direct result of intra-specific competition. Furthermore, it is expected that these behavioural specialisations may lead to further resource partitioning, within other aspects of their foraging ecology (e. g. dietary niche). Understanding such specialisations within the foraging ecology of male Australian fur seals, can provide insight into the potential for the species to adapt to environmental change, at both an individual and population level. Consequently, while some individuals may succumb, the Aus- tralian fur seal as a species, may be less vulnerable to environmental variability than previously thought.

184 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Mapping the Ningaloo world heritage area to monitor impacts of tourism

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Halina Kobryn1, Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1 1Murdoch University

Monitoring and management of popular coastal destinations requires accurate benchmark data on access nodes, travel networks as well as detailed information on landscapes and seascapes. We investigated the 300 km long coastal strip along Ningaloo Reef using hyperspectral remote sensing techniques combined with extensive fieldwork. We mapped bathymetry and marine habitats at high resolution to a depth of 20 m covering 762 km2 of the reef. We mapped land cover including vegetation along the coast for an area of 988 km2. We also compiled a database of the track and road network up to 2 km inland from the coast and characterised the dominant sediment and vegetation cover along track buffers. Many of the areas with the highest density of tracks were adjacent to sanctuary areas in the marine park with easy access to the reef from the beach. Land tenure is important in managing the coastal area and the highest track densities have been found in areas managed as pastoral stations while the lowest are in areas managed as national park. Track buffers contained a lot of vegetation and with track expansion this may be destroyed. With the proposed changes to the pastoral leases expected to result in changes in tenure, and it is vital that comprehensive and cost-effective monitoring is developed and implemented to protect the coastal area and adjacent reef. Remote sensing offers a range of quantitative, repetitive and operational methods suitable for creating benchmark data sets and follow up studies for monitoring. It is also cost effective for large areas where access and logistics for management arevery challenging.

185 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ecological traps in the marine environment: downsides to artificial reef deployment

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mrs. Valeriya Komyakova1, Dr. Stephen Swearer1, Prof. Geoffrey Jones2 1University of Melbourne, 2James cook University

Humans are altering coastal ecosystems at an unprecedented rate. One such change is the proliferation of artificial reefs (ARs), which have become acom- mon management tool for stock enhancement of recreational fisheries and habitat restoration. The benefits of ARs, however, depend on their suitability as habitat for marine species. ARs could result in the provision of seemingly suitable habitat that provides lower fitness advantages. If animals preferentially colonize such structures, this could result in an ecological trap. Here we investigate whether ARs can act as ecological traps for fish populations, through fish community and habitat quality comparisons between a common artificial reef type (Reef Balls) and adjacent natural reefs at three study locations in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. We use quantitative assessment of fish recruitment, mortality rates, and fitness measures to establish whether ARs can act as ecological traps for several fish species. We found natural reefs displayed higher recruitment, abundance and survival for several fish species in comparison to the Reef Balls, indicating the artificial reefs likely do not effectively mimic the complexity of natural reefs. However, these results were dependent on whether adjacent natural reef was of a particularly good quality or a low laying, low complexity boulder reef. These results provide evidence that deployment of artificial reefs may not be effective management tools as they can act as ecological traps for some fish species in certain environments.. Understanding the effects ofan- thropogenic habitat modifications on marine ecosystems is vital for developing successful conservation and management strategies.

186 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Drift-kelp suppresses sea urchin appetite for destruction

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mrs. Nina Kriegisch1, Dr. Scott Ling1, Mr. Simon Reeves1, Dr. Stephen Swearer2, Prof. Craig Johnson1 1Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, 2University of Melbourne

Sea urchins can cause widespread overgrazing of kelp habitat leading to an impoverished ‘urchin barren’ state. The transition to urchin barrens is significant, in part because it can be very difficult to rehabilitate back to the seaweed- dominated state. Thus, it is vital to understand the mechanisms leading to overgrazing in order to prevent it. We conducted several experiments in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia to understand the circumstances that instigate urchin overgrazing. Time-lapse photography revealed that in both barrens and kelp bed habitats the barren forming urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma moved actively towards kelp, but when drift algae was present there was less movement regardless of the habitat. A further experiment showed that, in barrens habitat, grazing rates were high on both drift and attached kelp, while in the kelp bed only drift kelp was consumed at high rates and there was virtually no grazing of attached algae. Our results provide strong support for the notion that destructive overgrazing of standing kelp beds only occurs once the subsidy of drift kelp becomes in short supply.

187 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Is Hydroides brachyacanthus (Serpulidae, Annelida) a widely distributed species?

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Ms. Yanan Sun1, Ms. Eunice Wong1, Dr. Mariana Tovar-Hernández2, Prof. Jane Williamson3, Dr. Elena Kupriyanova1 1Australian Museum, 2El Colegio de Sinaloa, 3Macquarie University

Hydroides brachyacanthus Rioja, 1941 (Serpulidae, Annelida), an important fouling species originally described from Southern Gulf of California, Mexico, has been reported from Mexican Pacific and numerous other tropical and subtropical localities. However, a recent description of H. amrii Sun et al., 2015, a species from southern Australia (NSW to SA) that was historically misiden- tified as H. brachyacanthus, suggested that the widely distributed nominal H. brachyacanthus is a complex of morphologically similar species. We compared fragments of 18S, ITS2, and cyt b DNA sequences of H. brachyacanthus sensu stricto from the type locality in Mexico with those of H. amrii from Australia. Our molecular data supported the morphology-based hypothesis of H. amrii and H. brachyacanthus sensu stricto as distinct species. However, the morphos- pecies H. amrii was represented by two well supported clades not recovered as sister taxa, one of which was instead closely related to tropical congeneric H. tuberculatus, but found only in St Vincent Gulf, South Australia. Whether the distribution of these two clades is a result of the combined effects of oceanic currents in southern Australia, human-driven introduction, or both, remains unknown. This study highlights the need for a global integrative approach when dealing with potentially invasive species easily translocated by human activities and calls for a revision of the entire H. brachyacanthus complex.

188 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

IMOS Observations for Coasts and Extremes

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Ana Lara1, Mr. Tim Moltmann1 1Integrated Marine Observing System, University of Tasmania

The IMOS observing strategy for continent shelf and coastal processes is to provide an extensive national backbone around the shelf with intensive observations in regions of socio-economic and ecological significance. The national backbone comprises a network of National Reference Station Moorings, access to Satellite remote sensing products and the electronic Marine Information Infrastructure (eMII). The more intensive, region-specific observations include a combination of Shelf Moorings, Ocean Gliders, Ocean Radar, Autonomous Underwater Ve- hicles and Wireless Sensor Networks (Great Barrier Reef). Integration between the observing system and relevant modelling frameworks is particularly important in this context - for validation and model development, data assimilation, and observing system design. In most IMOS Nodes there is now co-evolution of the regional observing systems with regional modelling efforts: • In Darwin Harbour the IMOS NRS, and second mooring in Beagle Gulf co- invested by Darwin Ports Corporation, has been very valuable where data are used in real time to run models and help with port operations. • In SA, collaboration between IMOS and the SAROM regional modelling activity is being leveraged into the SA Gulfs to create a new, co-invested partnership. A new SA/Vic/TAS ROMS model is also being set up to move to data assimilation. • In NSW, the SEAROMS modelling activity will be further developed under a new ARC project including moving to data assimilation. • OzROMS is a modelling effort (out of WA) where shelf-ocean exchanges for alongshore and across shore transport in Australian are estimated and use models validated with IMOS observations with plans to adopt the model to predict extreme water levels around Australia. • eReefs, the latest and most sophisticated hydrodynamic model of the GBR region designed to become a real-time forecasting system where modelling of reflectance is a new development for its biogeochemical component. Additionally the Australian Marine Virtual Laboratory (MARVL) has been established as a web-based open source application that provides a number of model choices and search and recovery of relevant observations. This tool has been applied successfully in a number of case studies around Australia ranging in scale from locally confined estuaries to the Tasman Sea.

189 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Cheating the locals: invasive mussels ‘steal’ the cooling effect of indigenous mussels

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Justin Lathlean1, Prof. Laurent Seuront2, Prof. Christopher McQuaid1, Dr. Terence Ng3, Dr. Katy Nicastro4, Dr. Gerardo Zardi1 1Rhodes University, 2Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 3The University of Hong Kong, 4Universidade do Algarve

Rocky intertidal communities on the south coast of South Africa are dominated by two intertidal mussels with different thermoregulatory behaviours, the indigenous species Perna perna and the invasive mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Whilst both species form dense aggregations, P. perna also gapes during periods of aerial heat-stress. This behaviour is linked to maintaining aerobic respiration and has no effect on the body temperatures of isolated individuals, butwhen surrounded by conspecifics, beneficial cooling effects of gaping emerge. Itisun- certain, however, whether the increasing presence of M. galloprovincialis limits the ability of P. perna for collective thermoregulation. In this context, we investigated how naturally occurring and manipulated varying relative densities of P. perna and M. galloprovincialis may influences the thermal properties of mussel beds during emersion under various conditions of heat-stress. A combination of infrared (IR) thermography, temperature data loggers and thermocouples was used to measure temporal and spatial variability in heat-stress of both natural and artificial mussel beds. Body and shell surface temperatures of P.perna within mixed artificial beds increased faster and reached higher temperatures than for individuals placed within conspecific beds, indicating that the presence of M. galloprovincialis limits the thermoregulatory effects of gaping. In contrast, body and surface temperatures of M. galloprovincialis within mixed artificial mussel beds increased slower and exhibited lower temperatures than for individuals in beds comprised entirely of M. galloprovincialis. Irrespective of species composition, habitat temperatures and heating rates were greater in artificial beds comprising small individuals than those comprising large individuals. Noticeably, the small-scale patterns of thermal stress detected within manipulated beds were not observed within naturally occurring mixed mussel beds during any of the eight sampling events. We propose that small-scale differences in topography, size-structure and mussel bed size may mask the effects of gaping behaviour within natural mussel beds. The results from our manipulative experiment nevertheless represent the first report of the behaviour of one ectothermic species influencing the body temperatures in another. This may have significant implications for predicting how the co-existence of these two species may change as global temperatures continue to rise.

190 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Geographic variability in the utilisation of biogenic habitat: a South African perspective

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Justin Lathlean1, Prof. Christopher McQuaid1 1Rhodes University

Ecological engineers have important effects on biodiversity for two reasons: they increase habitat complexity and they moderate environmental conditions, implying that the influence of biogenic habitats on associated fauna will vary across gradients of environmental stress. Mussel beds increase biodiversity on rocky intertidal shores and play an integral role in the proper functioning of coastal ecosystems. We investigated the positive effects of mussel beds on rocky intertidal benthic communities around the entire South African coastline (~3500 km) during both summer and winter. We hypothesised that benthic communities would show stronger responses to the presence of mussel beds under thermally stressful conditions. Solitary mussels experienced significantly greater daily maximum temperatures than mussels within beds across all locations. How- ever, this difference was generally greater during the summer months andon the warm temperate east coast than on the cool temperate west coast, confirm- ing that the thermal buffering properties of mussel beds vary between seasons and among biogeographic regions that reflect a gradient of temperature stress. Differences in the abundance, diversity and community structure of molluscan invertebrates within and outside of mussel beds also showed similar biogeographic and seasonal variability. Molluscan diversity and abundance were consistently greater within mussel beds across all locations within each of the three biogeographic regions. However, these differences were greatest during summer and on the east coast of South Africa. The results support the prediction that benthic communities show greater affinity to mussel beds within biogeographic regions that experience greater heat-stress and under warmer conditions. This research highlights that the ecological value of biogenic habitat is largely dependent on geographic context and environmental conditions.

191 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Seagrass Blue Carbon – what is it made of and how well is it sequestered?

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Prof. Paul Lavery1, Mr. Mohammad Rozaimi2, Dr. Oscar Serrano1, Dr. Ronald Smernik3 1Edith Cowan University, 2School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 3The University of Adelaide

The high organic carbon (OC) stores in seagrass meadows have led to their recognition as significant Blue Carbon sinks, though the biogeochemical processes that allow the preservation of OC in seagrass sediments remain unclear. Nor is it clear whether this stored sediment is likely to be re-mineralised following disturbance of seagrass sediments. In this study, we sampled sediments of a Posidonia australis meadow in Oyster Harbour (Western Australia) to investigate the preservation of sedimentary OC. We then exposed the sediments to oxygenated conditions to determine potential rate so remineralisation. A 133 cm long sediment core was taken from the meadow and radiocarbon dated. The organic matter from 10 discreet depths was characterised using solid state CP/MAS 13C NMR to examine the preservation of organic matter down the sediment profile (i. e. with age). There were minimal changes in organic composition over 1900 years of accumulation, indicating the consistent dominance of seagrasses at the site and the long-term preservation of the buried organic matter. Seagrass-derived organic matter (i. e. lignin, carbohydrate and a black carbon-like matter) constituted 70-83% of total sedimentary organic matter, the remainder being mostly proteins. The depth profiles of the dominant types of OC indicate different types of preservation mechanisms: selective preservation for the black carbon-like matter and non-selective preservation for carbohydrates and lignin. The findings demonstrate the exceptional preservation of seagrass- derived OC, leading to its long-term storage in the seagrass soils. There was no detectable loss of organic carbon following exposure of the deep sediments to air for 9 months. This indicates that even following disturbance, the OC stored preserved by seagrass meadows may remain recalcitrant and therefore a permanent sink of atmospheric CO2.

192 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Genetic connectivity of the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the Kimberley and Pilbara, Western Australia

Wednesday, 8th July 12.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Udhi Hernawan1, Dr. Kathryn McMahon2, Prof. Gary Kendrick3, Dr. Kor-Jent van Dijk4, Prof. Paul Lavery2, Dr. Oliver Berry5, Dr. Mike Travers6, Dr. Jim Underwood7 1Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science, Edith Cowan University, 2Edith Cowan University, 3The University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, 4The University of Adelaide, 5CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 6WA Department of Fisheries, 7Australian Institute of Marine Science

The seagrass Thalassia hemprichii is a foundation species and widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. It inhabits intertidal and subtidal areas along the tropical coast of Western Australia, from the Muiron Islands in the Pilbara to the Kim- berley in the north, and is a key food source for dugongs and green turtles. Due to its buoyant fruits, it has the potential to disperse over 100’s of km. This study aims to investigate the population connectivity in the Kimberley, provide insight into their resilience and contribute to the design and spatial management of seagrass in the region. We collected seagrass samples from 13 meadows in the Kimberley and 3 meadows in the Pilbara. Genetic variability, population structure and gene flow were analysed based on 16 polymorphic microsatellite loci. We presented our preliminary results here. There was little evidence of connection between the Pilbara and Kimberley populations; these formed two distinct clusters, suggesting that the Pilbara and the Kimberley are discrete management units. We also detected three significant sub-populations clusters within the Kimberley. However, the clustering pattern did not coincide well with the meadows’ geographical situation, in which two meadows separated only 8km were found in different clusters. This pattern was in conjunction with the very low levels of gene flow detected between these meadows. Connectiv- ity within the Kimberley was characterized by a predominantly north-to-south direction of gene flow that is in contrast with the south-to-north direction of gene flow among meadows within the Pilbara. Hydrodynamic factors mightbe responsible in determining the pattern of connectivity in this region. We also found clones (identical individuals = multi locus genotypes) that were shared among populations. This finding indicated that the seagrass connectivity was also facilitated potentially by vegetative dispersal and clonal growth.

193 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Fin Identification of the Burrunan Dolphin (Tursiops australis) in Port Phillip Bay: Bridging the Gap to Current Population Assessments

Tuesday, 7th July 14.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Dominic Lawler1, Dr. Kate Charlton-Robb1, Prof. John Arnould2 1Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation, 2Deakin University

The longevity of marine mammal species worldwide is of significant concern, with 36% already listed as ‘Threatened’. Resident populations adjacent to human centers are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, particularly high trophic level predators. The newly described Burrunan dolphin, Tursiops australis, is endemic to southern Australia and is characterised by small and isolated populations. There are currently only two known resident populations, Port Phillip Bay (PPB) and the Gippsland Lakes. PPB has an estimated population size of 80 to 100 animals and has an effective population size of 80. Given their low abundance, limited home range, and low genetic diversity, the Bur- runan has been listed as ‘Threatened’ under Victoria’s FFG Act 1988, however the conservation status of the Burrunan is yet to be addressed internationally. Opportunistic photo-identification data was collected over 38 boat-based surveys in PPB across multiple years (2006 - 2011). All data was pooled and a total of 82 individuals were identified based on markings along the trailing edge of the dorsal fin, of which 68% (n = 56) were sighted 2 or more times across all sampling occasions. The discovery curve plateaued in 2008, with no new identifications across 4 sampling occasions, followed by a spike in 2011 with11 new individuals identified across 2 sampling occasions. Results indicate that the population was not saturated across the multiple sampling years. In 2015, we will use photo-identification and capture-recapture methods to assess the current population demographics of the Burrunan dolphin in PPB. Historical data will be used as a baseline to identify variations in population size, and to assess calving rates, site fidelity, and seasonal migration patterns. Population modeling will be applied to data collected in 2015 to produce robust estimates for abundance required to assess the conservation status of the Burrunan dolphin against the IUCN Red List and EPBC Act 1999. Using this information we can address the current data deficiencies and make recommendations regarding future management and conservation of the Burrunan dolphin.

194 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Transforming environmental protection with integrated model observing systems

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Randall Lee1, Dr. Mark Baird2, Mr. John Andrewartha2, Mr. Sebastien Mancini3 1Environment Protection Authority Victoria, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 3Integrated Marine Observing System, University of Tasmania

The Victorian Environment Protection Authority has a legacy of over thirty years monitoring in the state’s most stressed marine systems through a traditional monthly water sampling regime to track their environmental condition. This program has resolved big changes in these systems as a result of the introduction of unleaded petrol, improvements in sewage treatment and the impacts of severe droughts. With a majority of industrial pollution sources, capable of effecting at a basin scales, now well contained, there is greater focus onre- solving hotspots and extreme events that occur in these systems. Stakeholders also demand timely delivery of this information to support operational decision making, and that this information is expanded to cover all of the state’s marine systems. The challenge for the Authority has been to transform its programs to meet these needs with dedicated internal resources. The solution has been to engage with national initiatives such as Integrated Marine Observing System, and build partnerships with CSIRO’s environmental modelling team. This approach has supported ships of opportunity monitoring off Spirit of Tasmania 1 since 2008, to track the condition of Port Phillip Bay and adjacent Bass Strait waters. More recently this has been delivered in real-time which has improved data capture, provided now-time assessments of environmental condition and forecasts of risk. In 2014 the Authority engaged CSIRO to develop a statewide marine operational model to enable operational and forecasting capabilities. In its first year, this tool has been employed to assess oil spill sources andsinks, define the potential footprint of marine pest larvae, track algal bloom expansion, communicate likelihood of dredge spoil impact on high value assets and identify risk of illegal ballast discharges. This information has augmented decision making within the Authority across business areas of license assessment, investigations, and emergency operations.

195 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

North or South? Biogeographic origins of shorebirds with variable mating systems

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. Natalie Dos Remedios1, Dr. Patricia Lee2, Prof. Terry Burke1, Prof. Tamás Székely3, Dr. Clemens Küpper1 1University of Sheffield, 2Deakin University, 3University of Bath

Shorebirds are integral to coastal and estuarine biodiversity. However, many species are exposed to anthropogenic impacts because of their ground-nesting habit. In Australia, while the Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) is a widespread shorebird, the endangered Hooded Plover (Thinornis cucullatus; for- merly Thinornis rubricollis) is vulnerable to human disturbance because it lays eggs on beaches during the peak tourist season. In addition to conservation concern, plovers in general exhibit great diversity in mating systems and plumage colouration, and our aim is to establish a phylogenetic framework to help understand the selective forces that have shaped these traits over evolutionary time. The small plovers, genus Charadrius, are cosmopolitan shorebirds, distributed across all continents except Antarctica. Here we present a global, species-level molecular phylogeny of this group based on a Bayesian multispecies coalescent analysis of four nuclear (ADH5, FIB7, MYO2 and RAG1) and two mitochondrial (COI and ND3) genes, and use the phylogeny to examine the biogeographic origin of the genus. In contrast to earlier work, ancestral area analyses supported an origin of the Charadrius plovers in the Northern hemisphere. Also, a number of species of other genera (including the Hooded Plover T. cucullatus, which is endemic to Australia) proved to be within the Charadrius clade. We propose that major radiations in this group were associated with shifts in the range of ancestral plover species, leading to colonisation of the Southern hemisphere and the Australian continent.

196 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Australian Thraustochytrids: potential production of biofuels and long-chain omega-3 oils using industrial wastes

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Kim Lee Chang1, Dr. Peter D. Nichols2, Dr. Susan Blackburn3 1CSIRO Intelligent Processing Transformational Capability Platform (IP TCP), CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, 3Australian National Algal Culture Collection, CSIRO National facilities and Collections

Cultivation of heterotrophic microalgae as a feedstock for biofuels production may provide a solution to the limited availability of biomass feedstock that is expected to restrict industry uptake of transportation biofuels. Thraustochytrids are heterotrophic protists, which are characterised by their capacity to produce omega-3 long-chain ( C20) polyunsaturated fatty acids ( 3 LC-PUFA), including 22: 6 3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). Due to their fast growth rate and high lipid content, thraustochytrids have potential for producing a feedstock for high value long-chain 3 oils and also the shorter chain ( C18) fatty acids suitable for biodiesel. The formation of high-value lipids during biofuel production is desirable both from a diversified product perspective and to add greater value to the production process and to improve process economics. We demonstrated the potential green house gas impact of this cultivation system using these Aus- tralian thraustochytrids for production of biodiesel with a life-cycle assessment (LCA). In addition, we examined cultivation of thraustochytrids using industrial wastes such as crude glycerol, soy pulp and protein meals, as carbon and nitrogen sources. The crude glycerol was not pre-treated prior to addition to the culture medium, with an overall aim of avoiding or minimizing unnecessary processing costs. Our initial results showed that impurities in the crude glycerol hindered growth of thraustochytrids, with a maximum yield of 9 g/L dry cell weight and 48% DHA of total fatty acids achieved at 4-days under the shake- flask conditions used. Heterotrophic cultivation of thraustochytrids in industrial wastes offers considerable potential for commercial production of biofuels and other high-value lipids, with future efforts needing to enhance biomass yield.

197 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Geoscience Australia’s support in the search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Anna Potter1, Dr. Adam Lewis2 1Geoscience Australia, 2Geoscience Australia MH370 Team

In May 2014, Geoscience Australia was called on to provide specialist knowledge and capability in support of the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. As the Australian Government’s national geoscience agency, Geo- science Australia provided support and marine scientific advice to lead search agencies, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau during 2014-15. From analysis of the last satellite communications with MH370, the lead search agencies defined a broad search area of 1 million km² of seabed in water depths of approximately 600 - 6, 500 m in the remote south-eastern Indian Ocean, including areas of the Wharton Basin and the Australian-Antarctic Basin. Prior to the search, bathymetric data resolution in the search area was 1, 500 m allowing only large geographic features such as Broken Ridge to be resolved. It was decided that more accurate bathymetric data was required to safely undertake near-seabed ROV/AUV searches to identify plane debris. Vessel based bathymetric data acquisition commenced in June 2014 and continued until December 2014, with up to 5 vessels acquiring over 200, 000 km² of data at resolutions varying from 40 to 110 m. Acoustic data, including multibeam backscatter, was processed by Geoscience Australia and seabed hardness and elevation information was reviewed to identify potential targets and areas of interest for the underwater search. The water depths, remote location and complex geology of the search area presented a range of scientific and technical challenges for mapping and target identification. While the search for MH370 continues, and the primary use of the data is to find evidence of the missing plane, the search has also resulted in the successful acquisition of a unique deep ocean scientific dataset which will be made available to the public and research community in due course. It is expected that this new information will contribute to better understanding of the formation of the Australian continent and regional environmental systems in the Indian Ocean.

198 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Biofouling, shipping and invasive marine species: What are the risks?

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. John Lewis1 1ES Link Services Pty Ltd

The introduction of non-indigenous marine species (NIMS) into Australian waters associated with shipping is documented from the late 19th century, and potentially dates back to European colonisation and possibly to earlier voyages of discovery. However, concerns on non-indigenous marine species, and more particularly those with invasive traits, heightened during the 1990s with the arrival and spread of invasive species including Asterias amurensis, Undaria pinnatifida and Sabella spallanzanii. In response, the development of The National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions was initiated and the refinement and implementation of this system continues. Biofouling on ships continues to be considered the culprit responsible for most NIMS introductions, but dry ballast, ballast water, aquaculture and the aquarium trade are also recognised as significant vectors. The impact of biofouling on ship operation and performance has led to a long history of studies on the composition of biofouling and methods for its prevention, and this is now supplemented by recent studies to assess the associated risk of invasive species translocation. These studies suggest that the biofouling community is primarily one of opportunistic species that, when introduced to new environments, predominantly establish and persist only on artificial structures or in otherwise modified or disturbed environments. Against this background, this talk will discuss the impacts of biofouling NIMS and the role of shipping, and of different types of shipping and shipping movements, on the introduction and spread of environmentally and economically harmful marine species.

199 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Fishing and loss of connectivity interact to threaten persistence of a migratory population in Australia

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Mr. Hsien-Yung Lin1, Dr. Christopher Brown2, Dr. Ross Dwyer1, Dr. Richard Fuller1, Dr. Simon Linke2, Prof. Hugh Possingham3 1The university of Queensland, 2Griffith University, Australian Rivers Institute, 3University of Queensland

Migratory animals depend on connected habitats and appropriate migratory cues to complete their life-cycles. Diadromous fish exemplify the migratory life-cycles by moving between connected fresh and saltwater habitats. Migra- tion increases exposure of diadromous fish to disturbances and it is critical that managers incorporate impacts to populations and connections between habitats into species management. However, how the interaction between direct impacts like fishing pressure and connectivity loss like river flow modification affect population has seldom been addressed. Here, we assess alternative management actions for diadromous fish by developing a spatio-temporal population model informed by animal telemetry data to simulate population dynamics under multiple disturbances to the life cycle of Australian Bass (Percalates novemaculeata), a diadromous fish. Results indicated that the benefits of seasonal closure depended on the interactions between how fishing pressure was limited (catch or fishing effort), the response of anglers to fishery regulations and riverflow regimes. Seasonal closures could be ineffective if displacement of fishing pressure occurred. In addition, shifting from spawning ground closure to feeding ground might maintain higher population abundances in low flow event under fishing effort control while the effectiveness among different seasonal closure schemes stayed relatively stable with limited catch amount. This highlights a need for flexible management strategies that respond to variation in river flow regimes and the responses of anglers to efforts that limit their activities in certain locations. Efficient management planning depends on understanding the dynamic distributions of both the fish population and human disturbances.

200 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Causes and consequences of the world’s largest macroalgal blooms in the Yellow Sea, China

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Prof. Dongyan Liu1, Dr. John Keesing2 1Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

The world’s largest trans-regional macroalgal blooms during 2008 to the current time have occurred in the Yellow Sea, China. This paper addresses the causes, development and future challenges in this unique case. Satellite imagery and field observations showed that the macroalgal blooms in the Yellow Sea originated from the coast of Jiangsu province and that favourable geographic and oceanographic conditions brought the green macroalgae from the coast offshore. Optimal temperature, light, nutrients and wind contributed to the formation and transport of the massive bloom north into the Yellow Sea and its deposition onshore along the coast of Shandong province. Morphological and genetic evidence demonstrated that the species involved was Ulva prolifera, a fouling green commonly found growing on structures provided by facilities of Porphyra aquaculture. Large scale Porphyra aquaculture (covering >20, 000 ha) along the Jiangsu coast thus hypothetically provided a nursery bed for the original biomass of U. prolifera. Porphyra growers remove U. prolifera from the maricul- ture rafts, and the cleaning releases about 5000 wet weight tonnes of green algae into the water column along the coast of Jiangsu province; the biomass then is dispersed by hydrographic forcing, and takes advantage of rather high nutrient supply and suitable temperatures to grow to impressive levels. Certain biological traits of U. prolifera - efficient photosynthesis, rapid growth rates, high capacity for nutrient uptake, and diverse reproductive systems allowed growth of the original 5000 tonnes of U. prolifera biomass into more than one million tonnes of biomass in just two months. The proliferation of U. prolifera in the Yellow Sea resulted from a complex contingency of circumstances, including human activity (eutrophication by release of nutrients from wastewater, agriculture, and aquaculture), natural geographic and hydrodynamic conditions (current, wind) and the key organism’s biological attributes. Better understanding of the complex biological/chemical/physical interactions in coastal ecosystems and the development of an effective integrated coastal zone management with consideration of scientific, social and political implications are critical to solving the conflicts between human activity and nature.

201 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ecology of relic marine assemblages in unique marine-groundwater influenced lake habitats

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Kiran Liversage1 1Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources SA

A rare estuarine habitat occurs where parts of inland lakes are fed by marine groundwater. Stable influx of seawater can provide salinities suitable for littoral marine species, which often have persisted in such lakes since times when they were directly open to the sea. These relic populations live in conditions of much greater physical stability relative to almost all other habitats where they occur normally, allowing observation of ecological structure in uniquely sheltered conditions. For example, the interface between benthic rocks and the underlying sediment has previously been suggested as an important habitat feature, but testing benthic species associations to this feature is difficult when rocks and sediment are regularly disturbed. In this study of a marine lake in South Australia, it was measured on the extremely stable boulders how species are associated with the boulder/sediment interface at fine-scales. Also tested was a previously described correlation of Peracaridan (Crustacea) densities with different sized boulders, possibly occurring in exposed habitats due to variable disturbance related to boulder size/stability. The results showed that a common anemone, Isanemonia australis, was strongly associated with the boulder/sediment interface, highlighting the importance of this habitat feature. Similar to previous findings, the correlation between densities of Peracaridans (in this case the isopod Zuzara venosa) and boulder size was significant. As this correlation occurred in a sheltered lake, this suggests that disturbance is unlikely a cause for this pattern that has been described widely for other similar species. Physical aspects of boulders themselves are likely responsible. Overall, this study highlights the potential for novel ecological tests using this unique estuarine habitat.

202 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Short-term nitrogen pulses have no measurable impact on the health or microbiome of a common marine sponge

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Heidi Luter1, Prof. Karen Gibb1, Dr. Nicole Webster2 1Charles Darwin University, 2Australian Institute of Marine Science

Levels of nitrogen in coastal areas have been rapidly increasing due to accumu- lative inputs of sewage and terrigenous sediments carrying fertilizers. Due to their immense filtering capacity, sponges may be directly impacted (positively or negatively) by elevated concentrations of nitrogen. While sponges are known to host a wide diversity of microbes involved in nitrogen metabolism, little is known about the effects of nitrogen loading on these symbiotic partnerships. Manipulative experiments were undertaken to examine the potential effects of excess nitrogen (up to 240 M) on microbial symbiosis in the abundant sponge species Cymbastela stipitata. Microbial composition and activity were examined using 454-pyrotag sequencing of DNA- and RNA-derived samples. Despite the high levels of nitrogen exposure (up to 124-fold above ambient), sponges appeared visibly unaffected at all treatment concentrations. At the phylum level, the microbial community was consistent between all sponge samples regardless of nitrogen treatment, with Cyanobacteria and Thaumarchaeota being the dominant taxa. Higher microbial diversity was measured at the operational taxonomic units (OTU) level (97% sequence similarity), with only 40% of OTUs shared between samples from all treatments. However, a single cyanobacterial OTU dominated the community of all individuals (average 73. 5%) and this OTU did not vary with nitrogen treatment. The conserved microbial community in all sponges irrespective of nitrogen treatment highlights the stability of the sponge-microbe relationship and indicates that the holobiont is resistant to short pulses of nitrogen at levels mimicking sewage effluent.

203 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

IMOS National Reference Stations: a continental-wide physical, chemical and biological coastal observing system

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Tim Lynch1 1CSIRO

Sustained observations allow for the tracking of change in oceanography and ecosystems, however, these are rare, particularly for the Southern Hemisphere. To address this in part, the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) implemented a network of nine National Reference Stations (NRS). The network builds on one long-term location, where monthly water sampling has been sustained since the 1940s and two others which commenced in the 1950s. In-situ continuously moored sensors and an enhanced monthly water sampling regime, now collect more than 50 data streams. Building on sampling for temperature, salinity and nutrients, the network now observes dissolved oxygen, carbon, turbidity, currents, chlorophyll a and both phytoplankton and zooplankton. Additional parameters for studies of ocean acidification and bio-optics are collected at a sub-set of sites and all data is made freely and publically available. Our preliminary results demonstrate increased utility to observe extreme events, such as marine heat waves and coastal flooding; rare events, such as plankton blooms; and have for the first time, allowed for consistent continental scale sampling and analysis of coastal zooplankton and phytoplankton communities. Independent water sampling allows for cross validation of the deployed sensors for quality control of data that now continuously tracks daily, seasonal and annual variation. The NRS will provide multi-decadal time series, against which more spatially replicated short-term studies can be referenced, models and remote sensing products validated, and improvements made to our understanding of how large-scale, long-term change and variability in the global ocean are affecting Australia’s coastal seas and ecosystems. The NRS network provides an example of how a continental scaled observing systems can be developed to collect observations that integrate across physics, chemistry and biology. This conference proceeding will present a subset of the data and updated information provided in the open access publication: Lynch TP et al (2014). PLoS ONE 9(12): e113652. doi: 10. 1371/journal. pone. 0113652.

204 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

New sampling highlights undescribed diversity in the deep Great Australian Bight

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Dr. Hugh MacIntosh1, Dr. Anna McCallum1, Dr. Kelly Merrin1, Dr. Tim O’Hara1, Mr. Mark O’Loughlin1, Dr. Genefor Walker-Smith1, Dr. Alan Williams2, Dr. Robin Wilson1 1Museum Victoria, 2CSIRO

In the face of increasing economic exploration of the deep sea, characterizing benthic diversity is key to monitoring impacts but for much of southern Australia there is little data to draw upon. To aid management decisions in the deep Great Australian Bight (GAB), a wide-ranging quantitative and taxonomic survey of benthic macrofauna was undertaken to establish base-line biodiversity data for the region. Benthic sampling was conducted along five transects spanning depths from 200 to 2000 m in the central GAB. A KC6 multicorer was used to collect environmental and sediment cores. Sediment core samples produced 371 specimens of macrofaunal invertebrates across 8 major groups, with 129 unique species, of which 67 (52%), were undescribed. The majority of species were rare, known only from single individuals. Across the entire study, 73% of species were recorded only from single sites, with 84% from one or two sites. A rarefaction curve showed steady accumulation of species with continued sampling and little evidence of any asymptote – indicating the rate of macrofaunal species accumulation will remain high in any further sampling of deep GAB sediments. There was little species overlap between taxa found in the GAB and those found at comparable depths in other areas of temperate Australia. This suggests the deep waters of southern Australia host an invertebrate fauna that is regionally endemic, but still incompletely known.

205 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Hot spots and hot moments in seagrass ‘blue carbon’ science

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Peter MacReadie1, Dr. Paul York2, Dr. Michael Rasheed2, Mrs. Catherine Bryant3, Ms. Aurora Ricart4, Dr. Daniel Nielsen1, Dr. Maria Fontes1, Dr. Trisha Atwood1, Prof. Justin Seymour1, Dr. Katherina Petrou1, Mr. Jeffrey Kelleway1, Ms. Alexandra Thomson1, Ms. Stacey Trevathan-Tackett1, Prof. Rod Connolly5, Prof. Peter Ralph1 1University of Technology Sydney, 2TropWATER, James Cook University, 3James cook University, 4University of Barcelona, 5Griffith

When seagrass meadows are destroyed, what happens to the ‘blue carbon’ stored within their sediments; does it stay in the ground, or is it released into the atmosphere? Is it possible to manage seagrass ecosystems so that they sequester more blue carbon? With seagrasses now recognised as globally-significant carbon sinks, the answers to these questions have important consequences for nature- based climate change mitigation and adaptation (i. e. ‘biosequestration’). We make the case that microbes fundamentally control the fate of sequestered blue carbon within seagrass, and, therefore, management efforts aimed at bolstering blue carbon opportunities within seagrass ecosystems need to target processes that influence (directly or indirectly) microbial remineralisation of blue carbon. New data will be presented showing that blue carbon occurs in hotspots and changes in the geochemistry of seagrass sediments – such as those caused by disturbance - can create hot moments, whereby organic carbon within sediments undergoes rapid and substantial microbial remineralisation. In order to better manage seagrass ecosystems for blue carbon benefits, we outline three recommendations: reducing anthropogenic nutrient inputs, reinstating top-down control of bioturbator populations, and restoring hydrology. These processes are amenable to management control, they promote microbial dormancy and limit microbial priming, and offer ecosystem benefits beyond carbon sequestration.

206 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Where next with Earth Observation of coastal water quality?

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Tim Malthus1 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

Earth observation (EO) data have a key, cost-effective, role to play in assisting coastal monitoring and management around the Australian continent, helping to overcome the paucity of bio-physical data across otherwise remote and inacces- sible areas. Physics-based water quality retrieval over the GBR World Heritage area using satellite remote sensing has allowed more frequent and accurate large- scale water quality estimates from space than was previously possible. Growing archives of EO data allow for the long-term observation of trends and changes in key biophysical parameters to inform on wider biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Future extension of this work could include 1) extension to other regions of the Australian coastline and to inland waters, 2) algal bloom monitoring, 3) extension to new sensors, including higher spatial resolution observations closer to the coastline and 4) extension of methods to develop new products. These developments are not without their challenges as little is known of the general optical properties in many regions around the Australian coastline (knowledge required for improved algorithm performance) and where considerable differences in optical conditions exists between wet and dry seasons. For bloom monitoring, new hyper-spectral sensors and observations from geostationary or- biting sensors will be also need to be integrated. Higher resolution products nearer to the coast will need to cope with increased optical complexity where algal biomass is only a small fraction of the optical budget. Adapting the approach for recent and future new Earth observation sensor data should see new algorithms with improved uncertainty estimates, and products with greater accuracy and greater frequency, all to provide insight into regional limitations. Further integration of remotely sensed data into biogeochemical models will assist in providing powerful new forecasting tools. In all aspects, translation of the results to address management requirements in the marine environment will need to be paramount. We will present a review on recent advances in water quality monitoring using EO data, and, to stimulate discussion, propose a range of options and challenges for extending such coverage to other regions and sensors including the definition of new applications and products.

207 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Temporal changes in the genetic capacity of the Port Phillip Bay sediment microbiome to remove nitrogen

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Alexis Marshall1, Mr. Andrew Longmore2, Dr. Lori Phillips3, Dr. Pauline Mele3 1Latrobe University, 2The University of Melbourne, 3Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resource

The external nitrogen load in Port Phillip Bay is estimated between 6000 and 9000 t N year-1. In the mid-1990s the Port Phillip Bay Environmental study identified that the majority of nitrogen compounds entering the bay areremoved by the sediment microbiome through the process of denitrification. The study identified that if microbial denitrification was compromised excessive nutrient loading could lead to eutrophic conditions. Within the sediment microbiome nitrogen compounds are transformed by enzymes transcribed from conserved functional genes. This study measured the temporal variation in the relative abundance of functional genes involved in nitrification (ammonia monooxyge- nase), denitrification (nitrate and nitrite reductase), anaerobic ammonium ox- idation (16S rRNA specific for Anammox Bacteria) and nitrogen fixation (ni- trogenase) at three sites in Port Phillip Bay (Centre of the Bay, Hobsons Bay and Long Reef). Changes in the relative abundance of functional genes was compared to changes in the environment. Environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll- fluorescence) were collected in situ from the overlying water column. Functional gene markers for denitrification were dominated at all three sites by cytochrome cd1- containing nitrite reductase (nirS) and not the copper-containing nitrite reductase (nirK). No seasonal change was identified in the abundance of nirS/K at Hobsons Bay orinthe centre of the Bay. However, an increase in nirS was identified at Long Reef between January and December. The relative abundance of both archaeal ammonia oxidisers (AOA) and bacterial ammonia oxidisers (AOB) at the sediment water interface were negatively correlated with water temperature in Hobsons Bay and in the centre of the Bay. For example, the highest relative abundance of AOA was observed in August coinciding with the lowest water temperatures. This study identified that the proportion of the sediment microbiome involved in nitrification (converts ammonium to nitrate/nitrite), but not denitrification (converts nitrate/nitrite to gas), changes seasonally at two sites in Port Phillip Bay. Microbiomes respond to changes in their environment. Identifying the environmental drivers influencing nitrogen transformations within Port Phillip Bay will inform future management and monitoring programs.

208 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

A systematic review of coastal and marine cultural ecosystem services: current status and future research

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Carol Martin1, Prof. Natalie Moltschaniwskyj1, Dr. Salim Momtaz1 1University of Newcastle

A semi-quantitative systematic review was performed on coastal and marine cultural ecosystem services (CES) to identify: geographic distribution of research undertaken; effective methods for assessing CES; specific habitats/ecosystems that supply CES; subcategories addressed; and knowledge gaps. CES are the non-material benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to human wellbeing, which are often under-represented in research due to difficulties identifying and valuing their intangible, subjective attributes. Consequently, this risks a lack of understanding and consideration of CES by decision makers. CES is a rapidly expanding research area; however, most studies have focused on terrestrial systems and little attention has been given to CES derived from coastal and marine ecosystems. Results of this review revealed little information exists on coastal and marine CES, and there is a disparity in the distribution of research; with most studies conducted in Europe and North America. There is a dearth of information on CES derived from specific habitats/ecosystems within coastal and marine areas, denoting a poor understanding of the different mean- ings and values people assign to these areas. Recreation was the most frequently addressed subcategory, highlighting the importance of recreational opportunities in coastal and marine settings; however, this should not minimise other less tangible CES that provide equally important benefits to human well-being that require further investigations. These include knowledge systems and social relations, which were under-represented in this review. Participatory approaches, using qualitative methods and stakeholder input were very effective in identifying and eliciting CES, as well as in revealing emergent CES benefits/values not included in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework. Further research is required using qualitative methods, and exploring alternative tools such as those used in cultural landscape research, to advance our understanding of CES. Coastal areas are often densely populated and sustainable management of coastal and marine systems is crucial. This requires an integrated ecosystem- based approach that involves trade-offs between ecosystem services, and it is important decision-makers are fully informed about the total value of ecosystem services, both monetary and non-monetary values, to facilitate improved outcomes in decision making that reflect community preferences.

209 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Restoration of underwater forests

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Ezequiel Marzinelli1, Dr. Alexandra Campbell1, Dr. Adriana Vergés1, Dr. Mariana Mayer Pinto1, Dr. Brendan Kelaher2, Dr. Melinda Coleman3, Prof. Peter Steinberg1 1University of New South Wales, 2Southern Cross University, 3NSW Department of Primary Industries

Seaweeds are major habitat-forming organisms that support diverse communities and underpin a wide range of ecosystem functions and services in temperate coastlines around the world. Key species of seaweeds are, however, declining and while conservation in a preventative sense is a partial solution to the challenge of habitat degradation, the status of many of the world’s ecosystems clearly demonstrates that it is not sufficient by itself. The fucoid seaweed Phyllospora comosa forms extensive beds that provide habitat and other resources, supporting diverse assemblages, including economically important species. Phyllospora was once common on shallow subtidal reefs around Sydney, but disappeared in the 1980’s, coincident with peaks in heavy sewage outfall discharges. Com- parisons of biodiversity associated with this alga and other key habitat-forming algae demonstrated that Phyllospora is not functionally redundant and thus motivated the need for restoration of this species. Transplanted Phyllospora onto Sydney’s reefs generally survive, grow and reproduce similarly to those in reference populations. In some ‘restored’ locations, these populations are beginning to self-sustain. Because the ultimate goal is not only to restore Phyllospora but also the biodiversity it supports, we have been quantifying several components of associated biodiversity in replicate ‘restored’, reference and control (non-restored) locations several times before and after the restoration efforts. Preliminary results on some of these components (e. g. epifauna) suggest that restoring associated biodiversity can be a complex and long-term process. Our research also shows that improving environmental conditions does not necessarily lead to the recovery of lost species. In the context of “green engineering” in urbanized coastlines, this suggests that clever engineering may need to be coupled with active restoration of key (habitat-forming) species to successfully recover degraded systems.

210 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Can oysters provide a refuge for coastal biodiversity in a changing world?

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Mr. Dominic McAfee1, Dr. Melanie Bishop1 1Macquarie University

Intertidal organisms are highly susceptible to climate warming as many already live close to their thermal limits. Ecosystem engineers, such as oysters, that provide shading and trap moisture during aerial exposure may provide a refuge to intertidal invertebrates in a changing climate. However, this will depend on the ability of the oysters themselves to persist under warmer conditions. This study assessed: 1) the ability of the Sydney Rock Oyster, Saccostrea glomerata, to persist and form three-dimensional habitat under warmer conditions; and 2) whether there are particular oyster genotypes that display greater thermal tolerance, and could benefit restoration projects targeting climate change adaptation. Juvenile S. glomerata that had either been selectively bred for rapid growth and disease resistance or that were wild-type were exposed to a temperature gradient by attaching them to white, grey and black pavers that reached high temperatures of 36oC, 47oC and 60oC during summer low-tides, respectively. Each type of oyster displayed greater mortality and reduced growth rates on the black than the grey or white plates. Selectively bred oysters showed higher mortality than wild-type oysters on white and black pavers, while no significant difference between the two groups on grey pavers. By 12 months there was complete mortality of selectively bred oysters on black pavers. Although selectively bred oysters grew significantly faster than wild type oysters onthe white pavers this advantage was lost at higher temperatures, with no significant difference in growth rates of the two oyster types on the grey orblack pavers. The greater survivorship of wild-type oysters resulted in their greater habitat provision than selectively bred oysters on white and black pavers. Over- all temperatures were cooler on all plates with than without oysters, but cooler microclimates were recorded among wild-type than selectively bred oysters on grey and black pavers, presumably due to increased habitat cover. Invertebrate recruitment was greater on all oyster tiles than bare control pavers, while no significant differences were recorded between oyster genotypes. Potentially, selection for fast growth and disease resistance has come at the cost of tolerance of oysters to extreme temperatures.

211 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Seagrass Abundance and Condition: Insights for Dredging Management

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Costa Hall

Ms. Roisin McCallum1, Dr. Kathryn McMahon1, Prof. Paul Lavery1, Dr. Mat Vanderklift2, Mr. Mick Haywood2, Dr. Douglas Bearham2, Mr. James McLaughlin2, Dr. Hector Lozano-Montes2 1Edith Cowan University, 2CSIRO

High levels of infrastructure development for mineral exports occur in NW West- ern Australia, resulting in many dredging activities with large volumes of material being dredged. Dredging impacts primary producers, including seagrasses, through reduced light availability and burial under deposited sediments. In the NW of WA, seagrass meadows are important habitats that provide nurseries and feeding grounds for prawns and juvenile fish, many of which are commercially fished and also sustain larger marine animals such as the dugongand green turtle. Despite the value of seagrasses, little is known on the distribution, abundance, phenology and condition of seagrasses in this region. This information is important to be able to effectively predict the impacts of dredging and manage these large-scale projects. The aim of this collaborative study, was to assess the spatial and temporal patterns in seagrass composition, abundance and condition at locations across a water quality gradient in NW WA. Three locations were monitored, ranging from very turbid in-shore waters in the Ex- mouth Gulf to clear offshore waters in the Muiron Islands. At each location, there were two replicate sites which were monitored 7 times, over three monthly intervals, Aug 2013 – Feb 2015. Seagrass cover, species composition, abundance, flowering and nutrient content were assessed. The composition of species varied with location. Halophila ovalis was found at all sites, Thalassia hemprichii only at the offshore island location and location and Cymodocea, Syringodium and Halophila spinulosa at the turbid location. There was significant spatial variability in abundance of seagrass. Cover was low to moderate, less than 5% at the offshore island site and up to 50% in the turbid location. There were no consistent temporal patterns in seagrass abundance across locations, though two locations peaked across the summer months (Feb). Flowering was observed only from November to February. This information is providing insights into the dynamic nature of these NW WA seagrass meadows. To minimise impacts to seagrass, we would recommend minimizing stress during flowering and leading up to the peak growth period.

212 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

An angle to address benthic-trawl impacts

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Costa Hall

Mr. Matthew McHugh1, Dr. Matt Broadhurst2, Dr. Greg Skilleter1, Dr. David Sterling3 1University of Queensland, 2NSW Department of Primary Industries, 3Sterling Trawl Gear Services

Benthic trawls are spread by rectangular hydro-vanes (called ‘otter boards’) which are heavy (up to 75% of the total system weight) and leave discernible marks on the substrate. Lowering the otter-board base-plate angle of attack (AOA; conventionally between 30 and 40o) is one mechanism for potentially reducing habitat impacts among demersal trawls, and with concomitant drag (and fuel) benefits, but there are few quantitative assessments. To address this information deficit, we assessed a novel prawn-trawling otter board, termed the ‘batwing’ (rigged with a base plate at 0o AOA) against a conventional flat- rectangular design (base plate at 35o AOA) for relative drag, catchability and habitat impacts. The batwing maintained spreading force with no significant effects on catches, but had up to 18% less drag and mobilised significantly less benthic material (empty shells, Anadara trapezia and Spisula trigonella and tim- ber fragments) at rates closely correlated to the reduction in base-plate bottom contact (by 87%). Further, of the shells that were displaced, the batwing damaged proportionally fewer. The latter results have encouraging implications for habitat preservation. Specifically, if a typical Australian prawn trawler towing two trawls had its four conventional otter boards (i. e. each with a length of 2. 13 m at 35o AOA) replaced with batwings, then the bottom contact of heavy steel (>250 kg being dragged obliquely) would be reduced by 19 ha (>10 times the ANZ Stadium oval) over one fishing night (8-hours trawling). If only 110 vessels ( 10% of the national prawn trawling fleet) used the batwings for 120 nights, the total reduction in bottom contact would amount to an area greater than the Australian Capital Territory (2, 358 km2). The associated fuel savings (up to 18%) would also be considerable, considering that a prawn trawler can use in excess of 60 l per hour while fishing. While further refinements are required, reducing otter-board AOA via designs like the batwing demonstrates the utility of simple modifications to prawn-trawling systems for holistically addressing environmental inefficiencies.

213 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Trends in at-sea tracking statistics of the Little Penguin from 2005 to 2012

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Rebecca McIntosh1, Dr. Roger Kirkwood2, Ms. Leanne Renwick1, Ms. Paula Wasiak1, Dr. Peter Dann1 1Phillip Island Nature Parks, 2IMARES, Wageningen University

Much of what we see penguins doing on land, including their breeding success, relates to their fishing success at sea. Environmental conditions can affect where prey species are located, which in turn affects the distance penguins may have to travel to find food. Current knowledge of the foraging ecology of the Little Penguins at Cullen Cove on Phillip Island shows that they routinely forage to the south and south-west of the island. Individual trips extend 25 to 30 km from the colony during guard phase, when birds alternate between feeding and guarding young chicks. The distance travelled increases as chicks grow and the breeding season progresses into post-guard, when both parents go to sea each day. Using satellite tracking, we investigated 246 foraging tracks of adult Little Penguins during the guard and post-guard phase of breeding for seven years. Bayesian statistics, in particular Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, were used to model the trends in the trip statistics for the time series and investigate the differences between the two phases of tracking. The maximum distance from the colony and the trip duration varied over the time period, with greater values between 2008 and 2010. The 2008 breeding season was also a time of low fledging success for little penguins on Phillip Island, further supporting the link between foraging success and breeding success. Environmental variables were used to investigate their influence on the maximum distance and duration of the Little Penguins’ foraging trips. Also, the effect of trip statistics on breeding success was examined. Such relationships between foraging ecology, breeding statistics and environmental variables improve our understanding of how Little Penguins will respond in the future to environmental variations such as climate change.

214 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Reaping the benefits (and costs) of monitoring seagrass in Queensland Ports

Thursday, 9th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Skye McKenna1, Dr. Michael Rasheed1, Dr. Rob Coles1, Ms. Alex Carter1, Dr. Jessie Jarvis1, Dr. Paul York1, Ms. Jaclyn Davies1, Mrs. Catherine Bryant1 1TropWATER, James Cook University

The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area includes one of the world’s largest areas of seagrass (35, 000 km2) including 20% of the world’s species. Mitigating natural and anthropogenic threats to this biodiverse region requires quantifying the resource for its’ effective management. The Queensland Ports Seagrass Monitoring Program conducts long-term seagrass mapping and monitoring in the majority of Queensland’s commercial ports. Monitoring focuses on seagrass habitat that is most “at risk” from the various threats that seagrasses face, providing port managers and regulators with key information to plan and implement port development and maintenance programs that will have minimal impact on seagrasses. The program has been successful in changing coastal development and ports and shipping industry practices, and has improved the ability of managers to protect marine habitats. As a by-product of the program a range of seagrass research projects have been established including developing tools to rapidly assess the health of seagrasses and to implement management triggers and thresholds; investigating seagrass resilience and recovery; quantifying productivity of tropical seagrass systems; and deciphering the role climate plays in shaping tropical seagrass communities. One of the limitations of the program is a sampling bias towards shallow coastal seagrasses within developed regions. This bias creates a problem if using monitoring data for building species and habitat maps. The data produced from the program results in a patchwork distribution of data sets that do not cover the entire ranges of seagrass habitats of the GBR and do not effectively represent relevant spatio-temporal changes making it difficult to produce broad-scale species and habitat maps toaidin management. The Queensland Ports Association is working alongside the Sea- grass Ecology Group to try and fill these gaps in knowledge.

215 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The spatial influence of treated effluent in Tilligerry Creek, NSW: 15N & 13C stable isotopes in estuarine bioindicators

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Louise McKenzie1, Mr. Daniel Kousbroek2, Mr. Richard Connor2, Dr. Troy Gaston2 1Hunter Water Corporation, 2University of Newcastle

Tilligerry Creek, NSW, is an estuary within a marine park that receives treated effluent discharged via infiltration ponds into ground water. This project uses stable isotope analysis (SIA) of estuarine bioindicators to elucidate the spatial influence of carbon and nitrogen derived from treated effluent. Estuarine organisms Avicennia marina (grey mangroves), Zostera capricorni (eelgrass & ribbonweed), epiphytic organisms (algae & protozoans), Saccostrea glomerata (Sydney rock oyster) and particulate organic matter (POM) were used as biological indicators along the banks and tidal mud flats of Tilligerry Creek estuary. The influence of treated effluent was evident within the mid-section of Tilligerry Creek at sites in close proximity to the discharge interface, with the spatial influence spanning 5-6 km in length. 15N was found to be an effective indicator for effluent, more so than 13C. SIA, especially when combined with a geographic information system, proved to be an effective tool for determining the spatial influence of discharged treated effluent. This information will contribute toa long term effluent management strategy and future environmental impact assessments undertaken for the treatment plant.

216 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Life-history movements of black and spot-tail bass in Papua New Guinea

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Ian McLeod1, Dr. Ronald Baker1, Dr. Katya Abrantes1, Dr. Adam Barnett1, Dr. Marcus Sheaves2 1TropWATER; Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research and College of Marine and Environmental Science, 2James cook University

The black (Lutjanus goldiei) and spot-tail (L. fuscescens) bass support highly valuable sport fisheries in remote parts of Papua New Guinea. Despite their economic value and conservation significance, very little is known about the ecology of these fish. Comparing otolith chemistry profiles of black and spot-tail bass from the rivers of West New Britain with those of freshwater and marine- resident species provides clues as to the life-history movements and possible spawning locations in this region. Preliminary results suggest that black bass recruit to estuaries and rivers from high-salinity waters. They appear to spend the first few years of life in either freshwater or brackish parts of upper estuaries before moving into estuaries and making periodic migrations into high salinity waters. The coastal seascape context of West New Britain (small rivers, short estuaries, coral reefs and deep water very close to river mouths) differs markedly from that elsewhere in the species’ ranges, such as the black bass stronghold in the Gulf of Papua. Testing the models developed in West New Britain with samples of these fish from other regions will clarify their life-history movements, identify key habitats and connectivities, and determine the consistency of their ecology throughout their ranges.

217 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Estuary Repair in North Queensland

Wednesday, 8th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Ian McLeod1, Dr. Ronald Baker1, Dr. Marcus Sheaves1 1James cook University

The idea of ‘Estuary Repair’ summarises the massive opportunities to enhance food security, provide alternative livelihoods and increase human and environmental health by undertaking cost-effective actions to improve the condition and resilience of damaged estuaries, coastal wetlands and other nearshore coastal environments. Estuary Repair is underway in North Queensland with repair projects aimed improving the condition of coastal wetlands to jointly reduce the breeding habitat of disease-vector mosquitoes while increasing fish nursery value. Also underway are consortium projects collaborating with local indigenous groups to remediate weed-infested coastal wetlands, evaluating the status of coastal bivalve reefs and the potential for their remediation, evaluating fish and prawn productivity as a basis for tracking the outcomes of repair actions, and many others. I this presentation I will outline some of relevant initiatives being undertaken in North Queensland, discuss what has been achieved so far and some of the challenges faced, and describe our plans for the future.

218 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

IMOS: Seals are changing the way we monitor the Southern Ocean

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Clive McMahon1 1Sydney Institute of Marine Science

IMOS (Integrated Marine Observing System) operates a wide range of ocean observing equipment throughout Australia’s coastal waters and also the open oceans. These observations are freely accessible to the global scientific and research communities. This fully integrated, national system, covers physical, chemical and biological ocean sciences and forms the basis for robust and informed study of the worlds oceans that are a critical component of managing the World’s energy budgets. Of particular interest in understanding global climate processes is the Southern Ocean (SO), but, studying this remote region is difficult and most observations are collected during the short ice-free summer when the region is accessible by ship or when buoys and moorings can be deployed. For much of the year it is extremely difficult to collect biophysical ocean information in this region and consequently there is a real urgency in collecting information from the Southern Ocean especially given this is the home of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the largest current system in the world, which connects water masses from the global ocean basins. IMOS through the Australian Animal Tracking and Monitoring System (AATAMS) has made important inroads into collecting otherwise hard to obtain observations from the SO by using acoustic technology, CTD satellite trackers and bio-loggers to monitor coastal and oceanic movements of marine animals from the Australian mainland to the sub-Antarctic islands and as far south as the Antarctic continent. In particular Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) equipped with satellite-linked CTD tags have provided unique temporal and spatial coverage of the Southern Ocean. This includes extensive data from the Antarctic continental slope and shelf regions during the winter months, which is outside the conventional areas of Argo autonomous floats and ship-based studies. This landmark dataset of around 75, 000 temperature and salinity profiles from 20–140 °E, between the Kerguelen archipelago and Prydz Bay Antarctica, continues to grow through the coordinated efforts of French and Australian marine research teams. These data offer invaluable new insights into the water masses, oceanographic processes and provides a vital tool for oceanographers seeking to advance our understanding of this key component of the global ocean climate. Here I will present an overview of the IMOS database of hydrographic (i. e. temperature and salinity) profiles obtained by instrumented seals in the Southern Ocean. This database along with the MEOP- CTD database (Marine Mammals Exploring the Oceans Pole to Pole) currently includes more than 200,000 seal-derived hydrographic profiles with near circumpolar distribution and continues to grow.

219 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Using complex systems vulnerability models to synthesise environmental windows for dredging: a seagrass case study

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Paul Wu1, Prof. Kerrie Mengersen1, Dr. Kathryn McMahon2, Prof. Gary Kendrick3, Dr. M. Julian Caley4 1Queensland University of Technology, 2Edith Cowan University, 3University of Western Australia, 4Australian Institute of Marine Science

Environmental windows, periods during which dredging is allowed, are a management tool used to help reduce the impact of dredging and ensure that critical environmental and ecological thresholds are not exceeded. However, evaluating the long-term impact of dredging on ecosystem health and resilience is challenging due to uncertainty in data, knowledge, and the emergence of system dynamics from cumulative interactions and their interdependencies. A complex systems model can be used to integrate information to capture the connections between different factors of the system, their interactions, and ultimately the impact of disturbances such as dredging. This paper presents a vulnerability based framework and case study application of a complex systems model to the analysis of environmental windows for seagrass meadows. Risk, the confluence between uncertainty (some probability) and consequence (a loss), is a powerful approach to modelling such problems. However, it is also necessary to incorporate recovery in order to capture resilience and thus the trajectory of the ecosystem over time following a disturbance. Thus, by considering the net effects of loss and recovery and their associated probabilities, it is possible to derive a quantitative framework to capture vulnerability. Specifically, the vulnerability of the ecosystem atthe current time is a function of the predicted cumulative effect of loss and recovery at some future time under a range of scenarios. Although there has been substantial work on ecosystem resilience and vulnerability and its constituent factors, a quantitative framework linking the ecological and mathematical domains of the problem remains a challenge. Here, a proposed vulnerability framework is presented for seagrass meadows under dredging disturbances using a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) model. The DBN provides a visual and mathematical representation of the factors and their relationships, linking biological, environmental and ecological factors in a whole- of-systems model whose boundaries are determined by the specific vulnerability based management objectives of maintenance dredging. It integrates available information including expert knowledge, domain knowledge and data. Due to the dynamic and probabilistic nature of the model, it can then be used to evaluate cumulative impacts to ascertain the distribution of potential outcomes and their probability.

220 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Assessing risk from current and future pressures on seagrass habitat – a nation-wide spatially explicit approach

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Kathryn McMahon1, Dr. Kieryn Kilminster2, Dr. Robert Franklin Canto3, Dr. Chris Roelfsema3, Dr. Mitchell Lyons4, Prof. Gary Kendrick5, Prof. Michelle Waycott6, Dr. Peter Scanes7, Dr. James Udy8 1Edith Cowan University, 2WA Department of Water, 3University of Queensland, 4University of New South Wales, 5The University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, 6The University of Adelaide, 7NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 8Healthy Waterways Ltd

Seagrass habitat provides many significant ecosystem services such as primary production and carbon storage. Yet, it is threatened due to human activities and globally is declining. Highlighting hotspots of risk for seagrass habitat is an important and useful tool for management, as it supports decision making on where and what threats to focus the management effort on. This project assessed risk to seagrass habitat at a nation-wide scale, using Australia as a case-study. Firstly, we generated an Australia wide potential seagrass habitat map (10 x 10 km grid size) by combining as many different sources of habitat data as possible. Then we identified 12 threats due to current human activities and 3 due tofuture climate change predictions. We attempted to collate spatially explicit layers for each threat, and were successful in generating 7/12 current and 3 future threats. Finding appropriate variables to reflect the threat at the national scale was challenging. In some cases, we combined a number of variables from different sources to generate the risk layers. For each threat, we categorized the risk into low, moderate and high, and in some cases were able to assign a spatially explicit level of certainty. We then weighted each risk and ran a cumulative risk-analysis for both current, and future threats. Under current conditions, there are hotspots of cumulative high risk in all coastal states and territories of Australia. When assessing future risk, southern Queensland and NSW, as well as the Gulf of Carpentaria in NT were the hotspots of high risk. With this information, we can prioritise management on a national scale to help make decisions on the most effective way to manage seagrass habitat. This approach and risk layers can also be translated to other habitats if the nation-wide habitat maps exist.

221 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Understanding impacts of dredging on the light climate – insights for impact prediction and threshold development in seagrass habitat

Thursday, 9th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Kathryn McMahon1, Prof. Paul Lavery1, Ms. Roisin McCallum1, Mr. Udhi Hernawan1 1Edith Cowan University

Management of seagrass habitat requires understanding of the pressures that they are exposed to as well as their tolerance and resilience to these pressures. One pressure that is of crucial importance to the survival and health of seagrass habitat is benthic light. Seagrasses have high light requirements, so any reductions in light have direct impacts, and many human activities result in reduced light such as dredging and eutrophication, often leading to loss and a reduction in condition. In highly variable and turbid environments the effects of human induced changes in light are poorly understood. Recent large-scale dredging operations in NW WA have collected extensive data on the light environment prior to (~ 12 months) and during (~ 18 months) dredging events. This study used the industry data to provide insight into the environmental drivers of benthic daily environment and how dredging effects the magnitude, duration and frequency of light reduction. We found that in the NW of WA the benthic daily light was highly variable over daily, weekly and monthly cycles. Benthic daily light was greatest from September to June, and lowest from June to August. The main environmental drivers of light were day-length, wind speed and the interaction between wind speed and wind direction and day-length and wind direction. Dredging significantly reduced daily benthic light and the effect declined with distance from dredge. Within 1 km of the dredge light on average reduced by 65% compared to background conditions, and this occurred for up to a maximum of 185 consecutive days. At 10 km from the dredge light reduction was reduced by 29% relative to background conditions, and this occurred for up to a maximum of 78 consecutive days. There was also a temporal aspect to the magnitude of the decline, with greater reductions from October – December. The duration and magnitude of duration is of a level that is likely to impact seagrass habitat, even 10 km from the dredge site.

222 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Challenges for developing policy indicators in a climate of macroecological change

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Abigail McQuatters-Gollop1 1Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science

Unprecedented basin-scale ecological changes are occurring in our seas, presenting new challenges for marine management as we are only just beginning to understand the ecological manifestations of these climate alterations. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires all European Member States, both individually and coherently throughout each regional sea, to achieve Good Environ- mental Status (GES) in their seas by 2020; this means management toward GES will take place against a background of climate-driven macroecological change. Indicators and environmental targets must be developed to achieve GES; however, in order to do so an understanding of large-scale ecological change in the marine ecosystem is also necessary. Time-series datasets, such as that from the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey, indicate that North Atlantic and North Sea pelagic dynamics are responding to both climate and human-induced changes, presenting challenges to the development of plankton indicators and targets for achievement of GES in European Seas. The preservation of existing time-series, particularly those which are multi-decadal, is key to the separation of the climate change signal from that occurring due to manageable human pressures. Apportionment of drivers behind ecosystem changes is needed in order to most efficiently manage our resources and construct a realistic vision ofGES.

223 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Genetic patchiness among recruits of Girella elevata: spatial and temporal variation in genetic composition

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Russell McWilliam1, Dr. Todd Minchinton1, Prof. David Ayre2 1University of Wollongong, 2Universtiy of Wollongong

Understanding the magnitude and pattern of connections among populations and the temporal variation in these patterns are essential for the design, implementation and administration of fisheries stock management and conservation strategies. Investigating the intra and inter year genetic variation of recruitment will increase our understanding of the repercussions of variation in recruitment success and yield important spatial and mechanistic insights into patterns of larval dispersal. To explore this, we examined the spatial and temporal variation in population genetic structure of adult and recently settled juvenile populations (from 3 years) of Girella elevata using microsatellite markers. Girella elevata, is a large (up to 76cm) long-lived species that has a range between 27°S and 39°S on the east coast of Australia which experiences considerable recreational fishing pressure throughout this geographical range and has recently been shown to have high levels of residency. The proportion of the total genetic variation at- tributable to differences between regions and locations (~800km) for the adults was effectively zero (Fst = 0. 008). In contrast, the juveniles showed significant heterogeneity in allele frequencies among years and in some cases reduced genetic diversity when compared to the adult populations indicative of sweepstakes recruitment. This result suggests that the adults, with several year-classes, are capable of maintaining a panmictic population over large spatial scales despite the genetic distinctiveness of individual year-classes at fine spatial scales. This result has implications for the management of marine populations as temporal variability in recruitment may act to promote long term stability of populations, it is therefore essential that management strategies account for this variability.

224 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Spatial distribution and aggregation of marine debris in a complex, urbanized estuary: Sydney Harbour

Thursday, 9th July 15.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Jessica Merrett1 1University of New South Wales

Marine debris is a ubiquitous contaminant in the world’s oceans, and yet there exists a paucity of data on the distribution of debris in the world’s urbanized estuaries. The aim of this project is to complete a survey of debris on beaches in Sydney Harbour, examining debris types, spatial distributions and pathways. Using novel photogrammetry techniques unique to this field, data will be collected using point locations from georeferenced photograph transects. The outcomes of this project will include a model of the distribution and aggregation of marine debris and insights into the pathways of marine debris. These outcomes will clearly outline how marine debris poses a threat within Sydney Harbour and will assist with the sustainable management of this estuary.

225 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Lessons from attempted video tagging of humpback whales

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Jan-Olaf Meynecke1 1Griffith Centre for Coastal Management and Humpbacks & High-Rises Inc.

Humpback whales are well known for their acrobatic displays and complex behaviour. They are widely distributed throughout the northern and southern hemisphere. Albeit numerous studies on humpback whales their behaviour still remains largely unknown. Spending most of their life under water many of the behaviours are not easy to observe. A number of bio-tags are available to shed light on animal behaviour such as travel speed, preferred salinity and temperature range. Most of these bio-tags are designed to determine where an animal spends its time in both vertical (e. g. time depth recorders) and horizontal space (acoustic, radio, and satellite telemetry) and the environmental conditions in those areas. Animal-borne videos allow for direct under water observation of behavior and are particularly useful for inter and intra species interaction observations. Animal borne videos are suitable for larger animals without interference or impacts on the animals and have been used successfully on cetaceans, pinnipeds, chelonioideas and elasmobranches. Here I present an overview of animal borne video applications used in behavioural studies on marine megafauna and showcase benefits and limitations of this technology. I undertook a pilot study on the Gold Coast, Australia in 2011 to test the feasibility and possible success rate of video tag deployments on humpback whales. National Geographic’s Crittercam was chosen for deployments during 8 days at sea. Outcomes showed that resources need to be carefully considered and limitations of animal borne video understood before commencement of tagging.

226 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Seascape genetics and genomics refute long-standing assumptions of recruitment patterns in a commercially important mollusc

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. Adam Miller1, Mr. Anthony van Rooyen2, Dr. Daniel Ierodiaconou3, Dr. Harry Gorfine4, Dr. Gordana Rašić1, Ms. Caroline Wong1, Dr. Rob Day5, Prof. Ary Hoffmann1, Dr. Andrew Weeks1 1The University of Melbourne, 2cesar, 3Dea, 4Fisheries Victoria, 5day

Genetic markers provide an effective way of assessing the stock structure and spatial patterns of recruitment of commercial fisheries, assisting in their management and long term sustainability. Current management of the economically important blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, in Australia assumes that stock viability is dictated by local recruitment, but genetic data supporting this assumption are lacking for most regions where this species is harvested. We investigated patterns of gene flow and local genetic structure across the Victorian coastline using microsatellite and genome-wide SNP markers, and a replicated hierarchical sampling regime guided by high definition LIDAR bathymetric imagery. Results indicate high levels of gene flow and no significant genetic structure across 1868 km of the coastline, in contrast to patterns local genetic structure in Tasmanian fisheries. These findings refute previous ecological and genetic studies that indicate larval dispersal is limited and a major reason for trends of slow recovery in depleted fisheries. Our results point to spatially variable patterns of larval supply in this fishery with implications for recruitment essential for long-term recovery from stock depletion. We discuss potential physical and ecological factors that may influence the extent of larval movement and establishment in the fishery, and the implications of our findings with respect to future fisheries management

227 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

GOOS Biology and Ecosystems Panel – The challenge of identifying ecological essential ocean variables

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Patricia Miloslavich1, Dr. Nic Bax2, Dr. Samantha Simmons3, Dr. Albert Fischer4 1Australian Institute of Marine Science, 2CSIRO, 3Marine Mammal Commission, 4IOC-UNESCO

There is no single model that describes how marine biodiversity and ecosystems are fairing or predict how they will change in the future under increasing anthropogenic pressures. Thus there is no unique set of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) for biological components of the ecosystem that will satisfy the scientific understanding needed to support and monitor management actions. Yet there is a need to come to international agreement on a set of variables that can be developed globally to support advanced and advancing countries and international conventions in understanding and managing the marine environment. The DPSIR framework is a commonly accepted framework used to identify the information needs to understand and manage human impacts on the environment and provides one high level model that can guide the process to identify EOVs. It is a complex space with many existing initiatives that we need to integrate with and build on. In this talk we are seeking input and feedback on our early progress in filling in this framework: D what are the societal questions, sectoral trends, national and international obligations and that Drive the need to monitor marine biodiversity and ecosystem health P what are the human Pressures affecting the environment that are or will impact marine biodiversity and ecosystem health S what are the existing initiatives that could be built on to measure the State of the marine environment I what are the priority Impacts on the marine environment that need to be monitored and how well do existing initiatives address those needs – what are the key gaps R which monitoring information is most likely to be used to help society Respond to identified impacts The GOOS BEP is in this process todefine the major societal challenges and scientific questions requiring sustained global observations of ocean biological and ecosystem variables envisioning a healthy ocean for prosperity and sustainability while considering the requirements and impacts of human activities on three key ecosystem attributes: productivity, biodiversity, and services.

228 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Possible effects of changes in sea level on coral communities, and the abundance and distribution of territorial reef fish

Monday, 6th July 12.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mrs. Ekaterina Mirskaya1 1University of Queensland

Reef flats are among those habitats which are most susceptible to climate change. Climate change is predicted to impact coral reef flats by changing various characteristics including sea levels. This research investigated the effects on reef fish assemblages of these changes by using the hydrodynamic effects of engineering works as a surrogate for the effects of future climate change. Data were collected around Heron Island situated on the leeward side of the western end of Heron Reef platform. Due to engineering works related to reef rim blasting and creation of the channel to improve access to the island, the area around the channel was first affected by a decrease in sea level. Following two-stage construction of the bund walls to reduce the low-tide run-off through the channel caused the local sea level rise that were analogous to changes predicted as a consequence of climate change. This research provides the analysis of the influence of changes in the characteristics of coral reef environment oncoral cover, and the abundance and distribution of reef fish to detect the response of teleost reef fish to the changes in coral cover conditions likely to result fromsea level rise. Pomacentridae and Chaetodontidae families were selected as target species for the fish survey as the indicators of the state of corals due totheir strong associations with coral colonies and territoriality. The results confirmed the influence of the hydrodynamic effects of engineering works (channel andthe bundwalls) as a surrogate for the effects of future climate change on coral conditions. The complexity of coral-reef habitats was considered in terms of live coral and a structural complexity. The response of teleost reef fish was not related to the changes in sea level directly but was strongly related to coral conditions. The results demonstrated a positive correlation between the percent area of live corals and target fish abundance. This research can provide the basis for future investigations for better understanding the processes and effects analysed in this research.

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Emergency response to an incursion of Northern Pacific Seastar at Tidal River - applied science on the run

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Steffan Howe1, Mr. Brett Mitchell1, Mr. John Barker2 1Parks Victoria, 2Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

On 16 May 2012, the Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis) was first recorded in Tidal River in Wilsons Promontory National Park, adjacent to Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park. Marine pests have been identified as one of the biggest threats to natural values in Victoria’s MPAs,while Asterias is considered one of the ten most damaging marine pests in Australia, based on overall environmental and economic impacts. The Asterias incursion was treated as a marine pest emergency triggering the establishment of an Incident Management Team (IMT) and initiation of a targeted science program designed to inform the response and control effort. The science program involved a large number of partnerships with various government departments and agencies, and Deakin and Melbourne Universities, as well as expert consultants. The collective results of several separate science projects were evaluated and integrated into management options by a Technical Advisory Group, which was established when the IMT was scaled down as the response transitioned to a longer term management issue for Parks Victoria. The science program included a range of approaches and methods to help determine the extent of the infestation, target monitoring and improve detection rates, assess the effectiveness of management interventions and to help identify the possible source of the infestation. The program included 1) water quality monitoring and sidescan sonar mapping to determine potential Asterias habitat, 2) seastar surveys using a range of methods targeting various stages of the life cycle to assess the extent of the infestation and effectiveness of the removal program, 3) assessment of seastar detection rates and modelling of numbers remaining in Tidal River, and 4) plankton tow surveys, hydrodynamic modelling and genetic analysis of seastars to help determine the possible source population. Ultimately the science program formed the basis of a comprehensive evidence based approach to management of the Asterias outbreak in Tidal River. The practical applied science which was used in the response achieved several “firsts” for Victoria in terms of marine pest management.

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Striking a balance between carrots and sticks for fisheries management: lessons from Bangladesh

Thursday, 9th July 11.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Essam Yassin Mohammed1 1International Institute for Environment and Development

Fisheries provide millions of people with a source of livelihood. Yet across the world, these resources are fast diminishing because of pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, natural disasters, and climate changes. Traditional approaches to halt this decline focus on regulating against destructive practices, but to little effect. A more effective strategy could be to establish adirect economic incentive mechanism such as payments or compensation schemes, or to incorporate such payments into existing regulatory mechanisms. Examples from terrestrial environments, and a few from aquatic environments, suggest that economic incentive-based mechanisms can work to protect both livelihoods and environments. A scheme offering payments for hilsa conservation in Bangladesh offers arare example of a direct economic incentive mechanism being used for sustainable fisheries management. Hilsa is one of the most important single-species fisheries in the Bay of Bengal. More than half a million people depend on it for their livelihood and 250 million Bengali people depend on it for nutrition. But in the face of over-exploitation—the exploitation rate increased from 0. 33 to 0. 66 between 1990 and 2002— both scientists and policymakers fear a collapse of the fish stock in the near future. This has led the Bangladeshi government todeclare five sites in the fishing grounds as ‘hilsa sanctuaries’, where fishing isbanned during the breeding season. To compensate for lost earnings, the government provides ‘affected’ fisher communities, which total 186, 000 households, with food and alternative income-generating activities. Despite some challenges such as freeriding, mistargeting, limited capacity to police and enforce the ban period; it is believed that the scheme has had positive impacts both on hilsa population and the livelihoods of thousands of fishers. What makes this initiative unique is the fact that it is funded by the Government of Bangladesh without any external assistance. In this presentation we will answer the following questions: 1- What does it take to complement regulatory fisheries regimes with economic incentives; 2- How to ensure effective targeting so that the poor do not lose out; 3- Getting the science right; why is it important to understand the complex biophysical and human systems of the fishery.

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Adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Fergus Molloy1 1Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

In response to increasing pressures triggered by proposed port expansions, and declining ecosystem condition, comprehensive Strategic Assessments of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) and the adjacent coastal strip were undertaken. The findings of these assessments and the 2014 Outlook Report led to a re-evaluation of management and the development of a plan to draw existing and new reef management approaches together to ensure greater coordination, efficiency and effectiveness across government, industries and communities. Over the next 35 years, this framework is intended to provide for the adaptive management of cumulative impacts. The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef2050 Plan) is built around an outcomes framework linking actions to targets, objectives, outcomes and a vision for the GBRWHA. It considers, biophysical, social, economic and heritage values and the factors that influence them. The plan applies to the whole Great Barrier Reef and coastal areas that are connected to and influence the health of the reef, and is to be scaled from GBR–wide to regional and local scales. Translating the plan to smaller scales will be achieved through the Reef Recovery program which will link actions in the WHA to catchment actions including Water Quality Improvement Plans. Critical to the success of the Reef2050 Plan are targets which allow progress to be measured and effectiveness of management actions assessed. Desired states for values and conditions required to maintain these values including thresholds of ecosystem health are being developed and will further refine targets already in the plan. An integrated monitoring and reporting program will track progress towards Reef2050 Plan targets and objectives. This program will inform reporting, review and evaluation of the plan every five years through the Outlook Report. Future outlook reports will report on management effectiveness in a more quantitative way to inform adaptive management of cumulative impacts.

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Sewage effluent as an ecological service provider?

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Liz Morris1, Dr. David Petch2, Dr. William Steele3 1CAPIM, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 2GHD, 3Melbourne Water

Reducing nutrient inputs to aquatic environments has become a priority concern for regulating agencies worldwide and point source inputs such as sewage treatment plants have received attention as part of these initiatives. Organic inputs such as sewage effluent can be important in structuring the invertebrate assemblages that are an important resource to higher trophic levels such as fish and birds. Improvement to wastewater treatment has raised the question as to how the birdlife dependent on the often highly productive invertebrate assemblages might be affected. The Western Treatment Plant (WTP), owned and operated by Melbourne Water, occupies an area of 10, 500 hectares and is located on the western shores of Port Phillip Bay. The WTP first received flows in 1897 and has discharged treated effluent into Port Phillip Bay ever since. There have been numerous studies documenting the effects of the WTP discharges on the nearshore environment including the intertidal infaunal assemblages and clear links to the role of the effluent in stimulating productivity. During 1982 the WTP was included as a component in the Port Phillip Bay (Western shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site, because of the numerous bird populations there, (including migratory shorebirds that use the intertidal area as a feeding ground). As in other parts of the world, there has been concern that, as water quality discharging from the WTP improves, the reduction in nutrients will negatively impact these shorebird populations through reducing the diversity and biomass of their invertebrate prey assemblages. We present results from a monitoring program that aims to identify changes in assemblage structure and / or populations of intertidal organisms that may reduce prey abundance, biomass and diversity for internationally significant migratory shorebird populations using the site as a key foraging ground. We will discuss these results in the context of other drivers of change in the invertebrate assemblages and future management directions.

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Additive and synergistic impacts of fishing and warming on the growth of a temperate marine fish

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. John Morrongiello1 1Univ of Melbourne,

Fishing activity and environmental variation can both have profound impacts on the trajectory and variability of marine populations. Fishing can alter the demographic structure and functioning of populations and exert non-random genetic selection, whilst changes in physical conditions such as temperature can directly affect aquatic animal physiological performance or indirectly affect fitness through alterations to interspecific and trophic interactions. Despite the wealth of work undertaken in marine environments on the causes of biological change, there remains a tendency to treat natural and anthropogenic drivers of marine systems in isolation or just additively. This approach overlooks the potential for synergistic or antagonistic interactions to occur. Indeed, it is increasingly becoming acknowledged that the direction and magnitude of biological responses to natural environmental variation and climate change can be mediated by other anthropogenic disturbances such as fishing, and vice versa. Somatic growth is an ideal candidate with which to explore additive and synergistic impacts of fishing and environmental variability due to its strong biological relevance and its heightened sensitivity to natural and anthropogenic drivers. I developed 19-year growth biochronologies (1980-1999) for three south-east Aus- tralian populations (southerly range limit) of a site-attached temperate reef fish, purple wrasse (Notolabrus fucicola) using individual-based growth information naturally archived in otoliths. The south-east Australian purple wrasse commercial fishery began in the early 1990s; before this there was negligible recreational or commercial fishing. The growth of older fish was proportionally higher and that of the youngest fish proportionally lower after the onset of commercial fishing; 2-year olds grew 7. 4% slower, but 5-year-olds grew 10. 3% and 10-year-olds 26% faster in the latter period. These results are consistent with a density dependent response to harvesting. Average growth rates across all ages increased by 6. 6%. oC-1, reflecting either a direct or indirect temperature effect. Finally, the distribution of individual thermal reaction norms significantly changed post fishing, showing that fishing and temperature can have a synergetic impacton marine populations. Understanding the relative importance of, and interaction between, natural and anthropogenic drivers in shaping marine systems provides valuable ecological and evolutionary context that is essential to sound fisheries management and species conservation.

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The effect of a climatically-induced wet phase on the meiofaunal community of the St Lucia Estuary, South Africa

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Leesa Naidoo1, Dr. Sarah Bownes1, Prof. Renzo Perissinotto2 1University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Following a decade long drought with hypersaline conditions, the St Lucia Es- tuary moved into a two year wet phase. The wet phase began with higher than average rainfall that lowered salinities throughout the system. Environ- mental data and meiofauna samples were collected from five representative sites along the estuary during quarterly surveys conducted in each season. Diversity indices suggest that 2011 experienced a generally greater meiofaunal density, taxon richness and diversity, when compared to 2012. Community analyses revealed that meiofaunal communities differed between sites and seasons asa result of the estuarine gradient and seasonal variation in environmental parameters. The initial meiofaunal communities showed no distinction based on spatial or temporal differences. However, the increase in similarity of communities in 2012 is indicative of a distinction between sites that was generally absent in 2011. Sites along the estuary tended to increase in similarity over time with a greater level of homogeneity in 2012, suggesting that communities are becoming more established within this phase. The transitional state in which these communities were studied suggests the possibility of a lag time for any change to become evident and may be the result of the drastic change that the system experienced, as the lakes filled and the system was once again connected. The overall meiofaunal dynamics during the two year wet phase were variable, but appear to show potential long term improvement

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How much data is enough? 1 name, 5 nuclear clades, 6 mitochondria: resolving the Ophionereis schayeri complex

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Dr. Kate Naughton1, Dr. Tim O’Hara1, Dr. Andrew Hugall1 1Museum Victoria

Cryptic species complexes are certainly not uncommon among the Aus- tralian marine inverterbrates, but the widely-distributed banded brittle star Ophionereis schayeri has exceeded expectations. This species enjoys a distribution in excess of seven thousand kilometres coastal distance along the southern coast of Australia, being found from Geraldton in Western Australia to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, around the coast of Tasmania and more recently from the Kermadec Islands in the South Pacific, as well as a reported depth range of 0-200m. Initial low-resolution investigations involving mitochondrial DNA (partial COI sequences) and portions of the nuclear ribosomal array (28S ribosomal RNA and internal transcribed spacer-2: ITS-2) revealed four very clear and distinct species-level clades: one located among the Kermadec Islands, one at greater depths, one shallow-water clade restricted to New South Wales occurring in sympatry with its sister species, and finally, one shallow-water clade extending across the entire Australian range in shallow water. The latter clade is further subdivided into three additional clades exhibiting COI divergences of 4-8%, values normally indicating that a clade should be considered a separate species. However, one of these lineages is only distinct in mitochondrial DNA and is indistinguishable according to the ribosomal array data, while another is only 4% divergent from the most abundant clade. The question of which might be a separate taxon or a case of mitochondrial introgression was difficult to answer with the initial data. Additional sequencing of 16S rRNA excluded the possibility of one clade being represented by a pseudogene. However, nuclear introgression of the ribosomal array could not be ruled out with the extant data. Finally, a subset of individuals from each clade were added to an exon-capture analysis. Successful analysis of 1500 exons in 400 genes confirmed the original patterns of divergence and cyto-nuclear discordance. The wide distribution of Ophionereis schayeri and the locations of the clades within the complex has significant implications for our understanding of lineage generation on the southern coast of Australia.

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The vital planktonic-benthic link in estuarine ecology – with particular reference to the Calanoida and estuarine fishes

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Gina Newton1 1Past President Australian Marine Sciences Association

Ecological investigation in a classic salt-wedge estuary on the southern Aus- tralian coast (south-west Victoria) tested and supported the hypothesis that hydrological cycles (i. e. annual and tidal) are a major determinant of estuarine ecology – including the adaptive responses and behaviours of various zooplankters and fish. The annual hydrological cycle was found to comprise of three main phases of salt-wedge dynamics which directly influenced ecology and the link between the plankton and benthos: reduction/absence, emplacement and presence. Importantly, the seasonal succession of the calanoid copepod assemblage, dominated by the estuarine endemic Gipplslandia estuarina, closely followed these phases. During the physically extreme and unstable phases of salt-wedge dynamics, physical environmental factors exerted the greatest influence on the ecology of the estuarine Calanoida and the spawning of dominant pelagic fish species. Conversely, biological interactions appeared to be ofin- creased importance during the more stable phase of salt-wedge presence, as did spawning of benthic estuarine fishes. In addition, a variety of behaviourally mediated strategies were identified among the calanoids as mechanisms of population retention and position maintenance in the face of tidal and river flows – including during the extreme disturbance of annual scouring floods. These included the presence of dormant life history stages (e. g. dormant eggs in sediments, a first-time report for the estuarine Calanoida), and refuge in littoral vegetation (e. g. Gladioferens pectinatus). Thus traditional ‘plankton’ dwellers were linked to both the littoral-phytal and benthic habitats as a means of coping with environmental stress. It is recommended that future studies of estuarine zooplankton and larval fish ecology consider:

1) all habitat components – planktonic (pelagic), benthic and littoral, and 2) the use of estuarine endemic species as indicators of hydrological conditions.

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Progress towards Innovative and Sustainable Supplies of the Health-benefitting Long-chain Omega-3 Oils for Aquaculture

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Peter D. Nichols1, Dr. James Petrie2, Dr. Surinder Singh2 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, 2CSIRO

The omega-3 long-chain (LC, C20) polyunsaturated fatty acids - EPA & DHA - have key roles in human health and development; many studies show that deficiencies in these fatty acids increase the risk or severity of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases in particular. These health-benefitting fatty acids are presently predominantly sourced from marine (fish & krill) and to a lesser extent algal oils. The increasing demand for these LC omega-3 oils, particularly in aquaculture and a range of human health applications, means that there is a requirement for alternative and sustainable sources of EPA and DHA. In the case of aquaculture, the markedly changed diets in use over the past 5 years now see many farmed seafood products containing lower LC omega-3 content and also more omega-6 than omega-3 oils. We have therefore focused on maximising the production of LC omega-3 oils in oilseed, including with initial emphasis on DHA. Our team has transitioned DHA production in seed from the model species Arabidopsis through to Camelina, Brassica juncea and the target crop Brassica napus (canola). DHA levels that now exceed the amount typically found in bulk fish oil have been achieved in all these species. This presentation will describe aspects of the gene selection, the transgenic plants, and seed oil fatty acid profiles, and will also discuss the characteristics of this new oilinthe context of potential downstream applications.

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Assessing risks to marine ecosystems: the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Emily Nicholson1, Prof. David Keith2, Prof. Jon Paul Rodriguez3, Dr. Rebecca Lester1 1Deakin University, 2University of New South Wales, 3IVIC (Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas)

Ecosystem-level management is increasingly the focus of governments, NGOs and scientists, across fisheries, natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. Effective management relies on understanding the risks tobio- diversity at the ecosystem-level. The Red List of Ecosystems was developed over the last decade to provide a set of transparent, repeatable and quantitative rules for assessing the risk of ecosystem collapse. This inclusive and scientific process included development of risk criteria, and their application to a wide range of ecosystems, and culminated in their formal adoption by the IUCN (In- ternational Union for the Conservation of Nature) in May 2014. The criteria assess (A) change in distribution, (B) restricted distribution, (C) change in abiotic processes, (D) change in biotic function, and (E) quantitative risk analysis through process-based modelling. Based on quantitative thresholds within each criterion, ecosystems can be placed in threat categories that mirror the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species threat classes: Collapsed (analogous to Extinct for species), Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened or Least Concern, or, if data are insufficient to allow an assessment, Data De- ficient. In this presentation, I will give an overview of the IUCN RedListof Ecosystems, and how the criteria can be applied, focussing on risk assessment of marine ecosystems. I will present several marine case studies, demonstrating the applicability to the criteria beyond terrestrial ecosystems (where most work has been done), including: the Coorong Lagoon, South Australia; coral reefs; and kelp forest ecosystems. I will discuss future directions and applications of the Red List of Ecosystems, including its integration with ecosystems services, plans for global assessments, and future research needs. The aim of the presentation is to gain feedback on the criteria in the context of marine ecosystems, and to seek further collaboration and input from marine scientists to expand robust assessments of marine ecosystems, to improve methods for tracking biodiversity change and focussing management efforts.

239 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The potential for biodiversity offsetting in the marine environment

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Holly Niner1, Dr. Craig Styan1, Dr. Peter Jones1 1UCL

The marine environment faces increasing anthropogenic pressure and declining trends in biodiversity, in many cases caused by changes in land-use and urbanisation. Such activities normally require environmental impacts to be addressed with an aim to conserving biodiversity - yet biodiversity losses are still occurring, in turn, suggesting that existing environmental consenting frameworks are not functioning efficiently. Most planning frameworks embed the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, mitigate, compensate) as a key process by which impacts are managed. While it should be a last resort, compensation has proven difficult to implement and regulate, to the point where compensation is sometimes seen as little more than justification for environmentally damaging action. Conse- quently, biodiversity offsetting has been developed as an approach to strengthen compensatory action with an explicit aim of achieving ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity. However, the approach has also provoked much controversy and questions about its feasibility and underlying ethics. While offsetting has predominantly been developed in the terrestrial environment there is evidence of its application in marine and coastal estates, although not always in line with standards necessary to achieve the aim of ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity. Indeed, it is not clear whether it is possible to achieve the ‘no net loss’ aim of biodiversity offsetting in the complex marine environment, particularly where there is often great uncertainty in ecosystem functioning and impact pathways. The need to seek equivalence between loss and offset will require a valuation metric operational at a range of scales and accounting for a vast array of stakeholders. Using case studies I outline the methods by which offsets have been implemented in the marine environment and present an analysis of the challenges and opportunities for achieving ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity.

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Microbeads From Personal Care Products Facilitate Transfer of Adsorbed Pollutants to Fish

Thursday, 9th July 15.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Peter Wardrop1, Dr. Jeff Shimeta1, Prof. Dayanthi Nugegoda1, Ms. Ana Miranda1, Mr. Paul Morrison1, Dr. Min Tang2, Dr. Bradley Clarke1 1RMIT University, 2Hainan University

The contamination of the natural environment with plastic debris is an increasingly high-prioritised concern among regulators, scientists and citizens. Aside from negative impacts on natural aesthetics, plastic debris causes a range of ecological harm from entanglement to starvation when mistakenly ingested by animals Plastic adsorbs and concentrates pollution from the surrounding environment but the role that plastic debris plays in the movement of chemical pollution and contamination of food chains is largely unknown. Recent studies show that plastics facilitate the bioaccumulation of pollution to a variety of exposed organisms. Here we show for the first time that fish fed small mi- croplastic particles (s-MPPS), isolated from a commercial facial cleanser and contaminated with the persistent organic pollutants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), bioaccumulated PBDEs in their tissues.

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Relative timescales of resistance and recovery control resilience in seagrass ecosystems

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Kate O’Brien1, Dr. Paul Maxwell2, Prof. Michelle Waycott3, Prof. Gary Kendrick4, Dr. Angus Ferguson5, Dr. Matthew Adams1, Mr. Len McKenzie6, Ms. Jimena Samper-Villarreal1, Dr. Kieryn Kilminster7, Dr. Kathryn McMahon8, Prof. Peter J. Mumby9, Dr. Peter Scanes5, Dr. James Udy2 1University of Queensland, 2Healthy Waterways Ltd, 3The University of Adelaide, 4The University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, 5NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 6TropWATER, James Cook University, 7WA Department of Water, 8Edith Cowan University, 9Marine Spatial Ecology Lab and School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland

Ecosystem degradation is difficult and expensive to reverse. Regime change associated with degradation is important to avoid but hard to predict due to the inherent complexity of ecosystems, therefore enhancing resilience is a key plank of ecosystem conservation. However this presents a paradox: ecosystems are complex, therefore we should aim to enhance resilience rather than predict trajectory, but it’s actually difficult to manage for resilience, because ecosystem complexity makes trajectory and hence resilience difficult to predict. We propose that seagrass degradation typically falls into one of three categories: 1) reversible (spontaneous recovery once the disturbance had passed), 2) hysteretic (threshold for recovery different from threshold for decline, and intervention is required for recovery to proceed), and 3) recalcitrant (conditions are unsuitable for recovery). Interactions between processes of different spatial and temporal scales determine which of these three trajectories is followed, because these cross-scale interactions affect both resistance to and recovery from disturbance. Comparing the timescales of seagrass resistance and recovery to timescales of disturbance duration and recurrence provides a useful framework to identify the ecological mechanisms controlling resilience. Resistance is particularly important for persistent species, while recoverability underpins resilience of colonising species.:

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Western Port: a marine biodiversity assessment

Wednesday, 8th July 17.10 - Costa Hall

Dr. Allyson O’Brien1, Dr. David Kennedy2, Dr. Hugh MacIntosh3, Dr. Robin Wilson3 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 2School of Geography, University of Melbourne, 3Melbourne Museum

Western Port and Port Philip Bay are large estuarine basins formed within a tectonic depression. Both estuaries were flooded at a similar time, atthe end of the last glacial period as sea level submerged Bass Strait. Western Port however supports higher species diversity and contains faunal elements not present in nearby Port Phillip Bay – a surprising result given both bays have been estuarine for the same period of time and contain a similar range of habitats. The current marine invertebrate diversity of Western Port remains poorly known; the best data derived from a 1975 study was incompletely analysed. The question arises as to whether the biological differences are a result of incomplete data or whether the temporal stability of the habitats within each basin has driven speciation. Our project addresses these questions, using archived museum collections, recent field invertebrate sampling and sediment coring. Preliminary radiocarbon dating results indicate that the Western Port sediment flats are not recent feature but have been intertidal for the duration of the Holocene highstand and are 7, 000 years old. Our study has also highlighted disparities in sampling effort and taxonomic identification between surveys over the last 40 years, which has restricted conclusions relating to changing patterns in Western Port invertebrate diversity. However, using some well-studied polychaete groups it seems possible that species diversity in Western Port is not unusually high but rather supports a unique composition of species. Future directions for our research will include other coastal embayments along the southeast Australian coast to understand the relative influence of geological history versus more recent, anthropogenic stressors on patterns of marine biodiversity.

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Contamination in estuaries: new approaches to measuring ecological impacts

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Allyson O’Brien1, Ms. Josephine Woods1, Dr. Liz Morris1, Prof. Mick Keough1 1CAPIM, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne

Estuaries are considered some of the most degraded aquatic habitats worldwide and in Victoria the majority are affected by human activities to some degree. Contamination from urban sources is a common cause of degradation yet there are few validated techniques and ‘tools’ available to assess the ecological impacts of contaminants in Australian estuaries. The overall goal of our research is to combine different approaches (both field and laboratory experiments measuring a range of responses) as a suite of tools to assess the ecological impacts of contamination in any estuary. We will present results from field experiments using in situ mesocosms and sediment dosing laboratory experiments. Promising results from the first multiple-estuary trial of a field mesocosm approach demonstrated that the mesocosms could be used to identify macroinvertebrate community responses to sediments from estuaries with different background levels of contamination. We will highlight key results that show community patterns that occur over multiple spatial and temporal scales. Our recent laboratory experiments focused on individual responses to copper-dosed sediments, using the amphipod Gammaropsis sp. as a model species and investigated concentrations of copper that affect amphipod behaviour and survival. We also assessed theef- fects of copper concentration on chlorophyll biomass and a measure of microbial functional diversity and possible connections with amphipod responses. Future directions for our research include expanding the range of endpoints measured in laboratory experiments and using mesocosms with sediments dosed with copper and other contaminants to identify specific relationships between contaminants and biological communities. We expect the combination of results from similar contaminant-dosing experiments in the field and laboratory will progress understanding of how such experiments are relevant to real environmental conditions.

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There’s no smell like home: how sensory ontogeny plays a role in the early life histoy of estuarine-dependent fishes

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Jack O’Connor1, Prof. David J. Booth1, Dr. Jeffrey M. Leis2, Dr. Stewart Fielder3 1University of Technology Sydney, 2Australian Museum, 3NSW Department of Primary Industries

The spatial distribution and connectivity of marine organisms and their populations are largely determined by biophysical and behavioural factors affecting dispersal during the larval phase. While biophysical modelling is shedding new light on larval processes, the question of how larval behaviour interacts with biophysical factors needs more investigation, particularly outside of warm-water marine species. Understanding what abilities fish larvae have and when these develop is critical to effective modelling and management of fish populations, andwhile most studies to date have focused on settlement-stage responses little is known about pre-settlement behaviours. Here, we studied the ontogeny of olfactory responses to habitat cues in larvae of two temperate estuarine-dependant species reared at Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, NSW. Since the critical period of movement from coastal waters to estuary areas was of interest we compared olfactory cues from the coastal zone with those from the upper estuary to test preference behaviour. Our results show a dynamic sensory ontogeny in the early life history of these species. While larvae did not respond to different chemical cues at flexion both species developed a preference for coastal water from ca. 7mm SL. While this preference persisted in Mulloway with further growth, Australian Bass larvae experienced a significant shift in preference towards estuary cues from ca. 8mm SL. Subsequent trials indicate that the presence of chemicals cues from organic matter such as seagrass drive the dynamics in behavioural changes observed more so than different levels of pH or salinity. This research into pre-settlement behaviour of early-stage temperate fishes supports the hypothesis that sensory ecology plays a role in larval transport from ocean to estuary.

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Trace determination of ammonia nitrogen in marine waters using a flow analysis method with flow manipulation

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Lenka O’Connor Sraj1, Mr. Spas Kolev1, Mr. Ian McKelvie1, Ms. Maria Ines Almeida1 1The University of Melbourne

A very sensitive and simple gas-diffusion flow method for the determination of ammonia nitrogen in marine waters has been developed. This method is completely continuous, requiring no manual sample introduction. The reagents used are non-toxic, show good stability over long periods of time, and their preparation is very simple. The method has a wide dynamic range and is one of the most sensitive colorimetric methods developed so far. The simplicity and automation of this method make it particularly suitable for long-term shipboard ammonia measurements. The method developed is a modified stop-flow method, whereby the donor stream is continuously delivering a large sample volume to a gas-diffusion unit for a given period of time, during which the acceptor solution is oscillating 10 L backwards and forwards in the acceptor channel of the gas-diffusion unit. This flow manipulation has improved the efficiency of analyte accumulation inthe gas-diffusion unit by enhancing mixing of the saturated surface layer ofthe75 µL acceptor solution in contact with the Teflon membrane separating the two streams. The system is characterised by an LOD of 0. 11 µmol/L, linear range between 0. 55 – 55 µmol/L, and repeatability of 0. 49% (41. 6 mol/L, n = 10) and 4. 25% (0. 14 mol/L, n = 10), and sample throughput of 15 per hour.

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Penrhyn Estuary Habitat Enhancement Plan: Overview and Synthesis of Results

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Peggy O’Donnell1 1Cardno (NSW/ACT) Pty Ltd

The Penrhyn Estuary Habitat Enhancement Plan is an ambitious project undertaken to increase the quantity and quality of roosting and feeding grounds for migratory shorebirds. Undertaken to compensate for habitat loss due to the expansion of Port Botany, the project saw the most recent reshaping of the foreshore along the northern section of Botany Bay, which has undergone significant change since the 1940s. Shorebird habitat has decreased due to airport development and subsequent expansion and Foreshore Beach is currently a fraction of its previous length. Penrhyn Estuary, created between 1975 and 1978 has a legacy of pollution and supports a variety of bird predators but is nonetheless the only remaining shorebird roosting and feeding habitat of significant size along the northern shoreline of Botany Bay. The main aim of the habitat enhancement plan was to sustainably expand and protect available roosting and feeding grounds for migratory shorebirds protected under international agreements. Key design features included levelling of foreshore sand dunes to create saltmarsh habitat, with sand used to fill deeper parts of the estuary to expand existing intertidal sand flats. Saltmarsh species planted were optimal for use as roosting habitat and extensive weed removal and maintenance has been undertaken. Sound barriers, lighting and fencing around the estuary and port structure were designed to maximise use by shorebirds and deter predators. A flushing channel was designed to ensure adequate tidal exchange in the estuary and to provide habitat suitable for seagrass beds. The monitoring plans undertaken included surveys of shorebirds, benthic infaunal communities, planted and transplanted saltmarsh, remnant and transplanted seagrasses off Foreshore Beach and water quality within and outside of Penrhyn Estuary. Surveys were done within the estuary and at reference locations within a BACI framework. This paper integrates the results of monitoring of all components before and after habitat enhancement to examine overall success of the project to date. It compares the status of saltmarsh and benthic communities with numbers of shorebirds to date. Issues considered include adequacy of indicators chosen, criteria for success of individual components, their inherent variability and selection of effective indicators of long-term ecosystem sustainability.

247 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Penrhyn Estuary Habitat Enhancement Plan: Results of Monitoring Created Intertidal Benthic Habitats

Tuesday, 7th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Peggy O’Donnell1, Ms. Kate Reeds1 1Cardno (NSW/ACT) Pty Ltd

Habitat enhancement at Penrhyn Estuary incorporated levelling of sand fore- dunes, creation and planting of intertidal saltmarsh habitat and extension and augmentation of intertidal sand flats to provide roosting habitats and invertebrate prey for shorebirds. A key aim for this ambitious project was to increase quality and extent of roosting and feeding grounds for migratory shorebirds. The monitoring plan included surveys of benthic infaunal communities within the estuary and at reference locations within a BACI framework. This paper compares baseline data for estuarine sediments and invertebrate assemblages at Penrhyn Estuary and reference locations to conditions four years after completion of enhancement. Criteria for the success of habitat enhancement were derived from a) comparison to target values derived from three pre-enhancement surveys in inner Penrhyn Estuary that were heavily utilised by shorebirds and b) comparison of rates of change at Penrhyn Estuary to those at reference locations. Physical indicators were median grain size and % composition of fine sediment (% clay and silt fractions) with target ranges of 0. 31 – 0. 34 mm and 2 – 4% respectively. Biological indicators were invertebrate abundance and biomass with target values of greater than 37 individuals per sample and 0. 7 g/sample (or 89 g/m2) respectively. After enhancement the target for biomass in Penrhyn Estuary was exceeded, but was not significantly different at reference locations. Invertebrate abundance in Penrhyn Estuary reached only 61% of the target value and decreases were consistent with those in reference locations. Median grain size and percentage fines in created sand habitats were similar to pre-enhancement levels. Sediment characteristics, invertebrate abundance and biomass in sediments that received augmentation with seagrass wrack and river mud differed little from unaugmented areas 15 months after enhancement, indicating estuary-wide mixing of surface sediments. Taxonomic composition of benthic assemblages shifted post enhancement. Poly- chaetes were characteristic of the assemblage before enhancement while gas- tropods and bivalve molluscs drove assemblage patterns after enhancement. Polychaetes declined from 76% of all invertebrates before enhancement to 47% after, while molluscs increased from 16% before to 49% after. Data also indicate smaller variation among taxonomic groups between sampling events after habitat enhancement compared to before.

248 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Penrhyn Estuary Habitat Enhancement Plan: Results of Seagrass Monitoring

Tuesday, 7th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Craig Blount1, Dr. Brendan Alderson1, Dr. Peggy O’Donnell1 1Cardno (NSW/ACT) Pty Ltd

As part of the Port Botany Expansion Project, land reclamation, boat ramp construction and dredging works altered seagrass habitat in Penrhyn Estuary such that approximately 317 sq. m of seagrass were lost. Prior to construction, seagrass in these areas had undergone a significant natural decline from the 47, 100 sq. m (of mainly Zostera capricorni) measured in 2006. The remaining seagrass was monitored during and after construction in parts of Foreshore Beach not directly affected by the works and in a Rehabilitated Area of Penrhyn Estuary that included the flushing channel and lower reaches of the estuary. Theaim of the monitoring was to determine if changes to seagrass area were consistent with those predicted. The findings of three post–construction monitoring surveys indicate there isa narrow, large bed of Halophila spp. containing small patches of Zostera capricorni and Posidonia australis that extends off Foreshore Beach in 2-3 m water depth. Small isolated patches of remnant P. australis and Z. capricorni persist at Foreshore Beach and post-construction conditions are suitable for the survival of these species. Hence, larger beds of these species may be able to re-establish in the future given normal processes of succession. Although numerous patches of the colonising seagrass Halophila spp. and Z. capricorni have been reported at times in the Rehabilitated Area of Penrhyn Estuary, typically these did not persist. Turbidity may be limiting light penetration to the deeper parts of the flushing channel and offshore movement of mobile sediments may be smothering seagrasses in the shallower areas of the Rehabilitation Area before they can fully establish. Beds of P. australis located within the dredging footprint were also removed and transplanted to Quibray Bay prior to the works. Transplanting showed early signs of success but in the most recent survey (November 2013), decreases in shoot densities of P. australis in the main planting areas suggest these areas, which were initially unvegetated, may not have been the most appropriate sites for transplantation. Investigations into the various methods of transplantation have shown that transplanting whole or trimmed plants was the best way to transplant P. australis.

249 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The ophiuroid project: a global biogeography and phylogeny of a class of marine invertebrates

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. Tim O’Hara1 1Sciences department, Museum Victoria

A comprehensive biogeography of the sea requires an understanding of the ecological and historical factors that govern species distributions. We use ophiuroids (brittle-stars) as model organisms to study marine biogeography at large scales because they are an abundant component of the benthic fauna on both hard and soft sediment habitats, from the shore to the deepest trenches, from the equator to the poles, and have a diverse set of trophic and life history strategies. To date we have accumulated 160, 000 distribution records by syn- thesising available literature and the registration catalogues of many museums, which has been sufficient to map global assemblage structure and species richness of ophiuroids for the continental shelf, slope and abyss. We have also now sequenced 1550 exons (275, 000 bp) from over 700 samples, derived from both transcriptome (RNA) and exon-capture (DNA) technologies, to construct a robust phylogeny of the class. Here I will show how we are combining the phylogenetic and biogeographic data to investigate the origins and relationships of regional and bathymetric faunas.

250 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Monitoring marine reserves – a management perspective

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Amanda Parr1 1Parks Australia

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a good management program must be in want of a monitoring regime. There are as many different management objectives, performance indicators and ways of reporting as there are scientific methods of obtaining data to inform them. The field of formulating policy and managing resources is one withmany different views and inputs, so how does science fit into the picture? This presentation will briefly present some of the key concepts and processes in monitoring, evaluating and reporting on performance of marine reserves from a management perspective, with the aim of helping scientists understand the context in which their work may be used and how to tailor their research to help maximise its uptake by managers. Case studies will be provided to illustrate some of the factors that can influence measurement of meaningful performance indicators that are useful for reporting and adapting management practices. Finding the right fit between the science underpinning monitoring, evaluation and reporting and its end use in management can be a delicate and ongoing process. One of the keys to success is for both managers and scientists to continually engage with each other and further their understanding of the other field. This presentation is designed to stimulate thought and discussion, irrespective of area or level of experience, in the many challenges and benefits to linking good management with good science in monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

251 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Decadal decline in demersal fish biomass coincident with a prolonged drought and introduction of an exotic starfish

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Greg Parry1, Dr. Alastair Hirst2 1Monash University and Marine Ecological Solutions, 2Deakin University

Between 1990 and 2011, Port Phillip Bay in southern Australia, experienced two major ecological disturbances: a prolonged drought from 1997–2010; and the introduction of an invasive starfish, Asterias amurensis. The drought reduced nitrogen inputs by 64%, and the biomass of A. amurensis in the deep centre of the bay peaked at 56% of the resident fish biomass in 2000. The impact of these disturbances was examined using a demersal trawl time-series spanning two decades (1990–2011). The timing and spatial extent of changes to fish biomass were analysed using ANCOVA and Bayesian change point analysis. During the drought, fish biomass declined by 69% in the deep centre ofthe bay, while increasing slightly around the shallow fringes. This spatial pattern is consistent with hydrodynamic modelling that suggests that, during the drought, a greater proportion of the (lower) nitrogen input was retained near the coastal fringe. Most of the decline in fish biomass was attributed to the cumulative effects of reduced productivity during the 12 year drought. However, declines in three species in the deep region were attributed to competition with A. amurensis. Each of these species exhibited high dietary overlap with A. amurensis and displayed sharp declines in biomass coinciding with the peak abundance of A. amurensis in 2000.

252 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Modelling made easy - The Marine Virtual Laboratory

Monday, 6th July 12.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Roger Proctor1, Dr. Peter Oke2, Mr. Uwe Rosebrock2, Mr. Brendan Davey3, Mr. Gary Carroll2, Dr. Xiao Ming Fu3, Dr. Peter Blain1, Dr. Benedicte Pasquer1, Dr. Simon Pigot2 1Integrated Marine Observing System, University of Tasmania, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 3Tasmanian Partnership for Advanced Computing, University of Tasmania

In all modelling studies of realistic scenarios, a researcher has to go through a number of steps to set up a model in order to produce a model simulation of value. The steps are generally the same, independent of the modelling system chosen. These steps include determining the time and space scales and processes of the required simulation; obtaining data for the initial set up and for input during the simulation time; obtaining observation data for validation or data assimilation; implementing scripts to run the simulation(s); and running utilities or custom-built software to extract results. These steps are time consuming and resource hungry, and have to be done every time irrespective of the simulation – the more complex the processes, the more effort is required to set upthe simulation. The Australian Marine Virtual Laboratory (MARVL) is a new development in modelling frameworks for researchers in Australia. MARVL uses a java-based control system that allows a non-specialist modeller to configure and run a model, to automate many of the modelling preparation steps needed to bring the researcher faster to the stage of simulation and analysis. The tool is seen as enhancing the efficiency of researchers and marine managers, and is being considered as an educational aid in teaching. Currently MARVL is configured for 3 different hydrodynamic models (MOM4, ROMS, SHOC) and 2 wave models (WaveWatch3, SWAN) and offers initial and boundary conditions from 2 or 3 ocean and atmospheric models. Current execution options are a) download the assembled configuration and packaged data to run on any other system of the user’s choice and b) run the assembled configuration in a cloud computing environment. MARVL has been applied in a number of case studies around Australia ranging in scale from locally confined estuaries to the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. The underlying infrastructure will be described and a step-by-step example of its use will be given.

253 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Picoplankton community structure and virioplankton abundance in offshore waters of the central Great Australian Bight

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Nicole Patten1, Dr. Paul van Ruth1 1South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

The Great Australian Bight (GAB) was once thought to be an area with low biological activity due to a perceived lack of nutrient enrichment processes. Coastal upwelling processes in the eastern GAB are now known to promote elevated chlorophyll concentrations and support pelagic ecosystem productivity. How- ever, limited information is available on the lower food web dynamics underpinning these ecosystem processes. The objective of this study was to document picoplankton and virioplankton community structure in the offshore eastern and central GAB. Picoplankton and virioplankton were investigated across five shelf to offshore transects in April 2013. Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes were all resolved using flow cytometry. Prochlorococcus numer- ically dominated picophytoplankton (up to 1. 8 × 10ˆ5) at all stations, exceeding Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes by up to 2 and 3 orders of magnitude respectively. Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes showed a clear shelf to offshore trend with highest abundances occurring close to the shelf. Bacterioplankton (4. 8 × 10ˆ5 – 10. 9 × 10ˆ5) and virioplankton (6. 6 x 10ˆ6 – 21. 9 × 10ˆ6) exhibited a patchier distribution over the study region. Regionally, highest picophytoplankton biomass (up to 19. 2 g C l-1) occurred close to the shelf. Here, picoeukaryotes accounted for up to 65% of picophytoplankton, with approximately equal C biomass derived from Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus. Bacterioplankton C biomass accounted for a further 9. 4 g C l-1. The percentage contribution of bacterioplankton to overall picoplankton biomass changed significantly from shelf (averaging 40%) to offshore (averaging 70%). Viral derived C was negligible compared to picoplankton derived C, however significant positive relationships between virioplankton, Prochlorococcus and bacterioplankton suggest virioplankton are important agents of microbial mortality and subsequent nutrient recycling in the GAB pelagic ecosystem. Multivariate analyses showed microbial community structure to be driven by nutrient status of the water column. The relatively higher picophytoplankton biomass occurring near the shelf, with values comparable to global estimates of picoplankton derived C, indicate the important contribution of picophytoplankton to productivity and ecosystem function in the GAB. This study was in part funded by the Great Aus- tralian Bight Research Program, a collaboration between BP, CSIRO, SARDI, the University of Adelaide and Flinders University.

254 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

You never, never know - if you never, never… integrate your monitoring and research needs

Tuesday, 7th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Dr. Keith Ferdinands1, Dr. Simon Townsend1, Ms. Ruth Patterson1, Ms. Julia Fortune1 1Northern Territory Department of Land Resource Management

Darwin Harbour has long been recognised and continues to be one of the least- disturbed working harbours in Australia and across the Asia Pacific Region. This reflects both good management to date, and the low level of pressures ona harbour-wide perspective. These pressures are expected to increase in the future. An integrated monitoring and research program is being developed between industry, government agencies, and researchers to provide monitoring and other information for the management of Darwin Harbour to ensure the continued health of Darwin Harbour‘s ecosystem. The pressures on the Darwin Harbour environment are multiple, with no single dominant pressure, and a wide range of environments and biota potentially affected. Moreover, monitoring needs to address incremental, slow and spatially diverse impacts, and provide early detection of environmental degradation. Prevention, rather than restoration, will be applied as an overarching approach owing to the relatively healthy current condition of the Harbour. A Pressure-Stressor-(ecological) Response framework will underpin the monitoring program to link health to pressures, because it is the pressures which can in be modified by management actions. Research efforts will be directed to improving the scientific credibility of monitoring and to improve our understanding of the harbour’s ecosystem in order to better predict and prevent unacceptable impacts. The implementation of an integrated monitoring and research program will be challenging, resource considerations aside, but to never, never implement the program is not an option to maintain the relatively health current state of the Darwin Harbour.

255 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Is what you see really what you get? A new method of monitoring sediment dynamics in a macro-tidal, monsoon climate

Tuesday, 7th July 17.10 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Ruth Patterson1, Ms. Madeline Goddard2, Prof. Lindsay Hutley2, Mr. David Williams3 1Northern Territory Department of Land Resource Management, 2Charles Darwin University, 3Australian Institute of Marine Science

Darwin is Australia’s most northern capital city with a population of 130, 000 people. Highly turbid coastal waters have been observed by locals from the coastline during the wet season for years. Although the link between high turbidity and wet season weather appears obvious to observers, in most cases it has led to a variety of unverified opinions being accepted as true and correct. A reliance on observations rather than field data is unsurprising given accessibility constraints during the wet season and a diurnal tidal pattern with a maximum range of 7. 9 m. With increasing industrial development, an evidence based theory on sediment dynamics in estuarine Darwin Harbour has become increasingly important. The central question to be addressed is: Are the effects of anthropogenic development on turbidity in Darwin Harbour significantly different from baseline turbidity levels, which are known to vary seasonally? To improve harbour management, the natural environment must be described while it is still in a relatively pristine state. The Australian Institute of Marine Sci- ence Darwin, Charles Darwin University and the Aquatic Health Unit of the N. T. Department of Land Resource Management have collaborated on a novel pilot study to collect facts about sediment dynamics in Darwin Harbour. We measured, for the first time in Darwin Harbour, relative suspended sediment and localised surface elevation change using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter and Rod Surface Elevation Tables (RSETs) respectively. The results show that it is possible to relate the increase in turbidity in the intertidal zone to localised erosion during in the presence of monsoonal rainfall and runoff events. It has highlighted the utility of time series data as a robust method of monitoring a naturally variable water quality parameter. This research has cleared the water for local scientists to work towards developing evidence based knowledge on sediment dynamics in Darwin Harbour. The results from this study have direct application to the existing Darwin Harbour monitoring and research program.

256 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Determining the impact of future climate change on ecologically important macroalgae

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mrs. Charlie M. Phelps1, Dr. Mary C. Boyce1, Dr. Megan J. Huggett1 1Edith Cowan University

Macroalgae are a valuable commodity to the marine ecosystem as they are primary producers, provide a three dimensional habitat for small herbivores and are a sink for atmospheric CO2. Water acidification and ocean warming caused by anthropogenic activities are proving detrimental to many marine flora and fauna. Many studies have focused on the effect of ocean acidification and warming on calcifying organisms such as corals. However, little is known about the effect these environmental changes will have on the physical and chemical traits of fleshy macroalgae, and the subsequent impact on the feeding preferences of associated mesograzers. In this study, the impact of projected climate change on two algae: a brown Sargassum sp. and the kelp Ecklonia radiata were assessed. This was achieved by investigating the combined effects of increased temperature (+5°C), increased pCO2 and decreased pH (-0. 5 pH units) on the nutrient content, frond toughness, growth and photosynthetic rates of the two algae species over a two week period. Additionally, the algae was presented to marine mesograzers for a period of 24 hours to determine whether the treatments altered the palatability of the algal food. The Sargassum sp. displayed substantial bleaching when exposed to higher water temperatures. This bleaching significantly impacted the algae’s photosynthetic rate as demonstrated by a lower dark-adapted Fv/Fm in the warmer treatments. However, at elevated pCO2 the Sargassum sp. exhibited lower levels of bleaching and higher dark-adapted Fv/Fm, but not an increased growth rate which is often associated with increased CO2 concentrations. Bleaching was minimal in the kelp species and the photosynthetic rates were not altered by changes in pCO2 or temperature. Interestingly, there were no significant results in the feeding assays and growth for both algae species, showing a somewhat tolerance in both algae species to ocean acidification and temperature. This study reflects the importance of finding the thresholds of stress that ecologically important macroalgae and their associated mesograzers have to the changing environment.

257 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Long term movement of Green Turtles Chelonia mydas in Gladstone Harbour: advantages of acoustic telemetry

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Richard Pillans1, Dr. Russ Babcock1, Mr. Gary Fry1, Dr. Toby Patterson1, Mr. Mick Haywood1, Dr. Elisabetta Morello2 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship

Juvenile, sub-adult and adult green turtles were tagged with acoustic tags within two arrays of acoustic receivers in Gladstone Harbour. At Pelican Banks, 33 animals (5 juveniles, 7 sub-adults and 21 adults) were tagged while at Wiggins Island 16 juveniles were tagged. Between May 2013 and September 2014, over 1. 4 million detections of tagged turtles were recorded by 44 acoustic receivers within Gladstone Harbour. Individual turtles were detected up to 240 000 times with the median number of detections greater than 17000. The average detection span for all turtles was 273 (± 19) days with turtles at Wiggins Island having a greater detection span (337 ± 34 days) than turtles at Pelican Bank (242 ± 31 days). The average number of days turtles were detected on was 218 (± 20) with turtles at Wiggins Island being detected on more days (295 ± 34 days) than turtles at Pelican Bank (181 ± 25 days). Home range estimates (50 and 95 % KUD) were calculated for those individuals that were detected for more than 30 days on two or more receivers (n = 42). Green Turtles at Gladstone had small home ranges which persist for months. The average 50 and 95 % KUD of animals at Pelican Banks was 1. 4 ± 0. 2 km2 and 6. 7 ± 0. 9 km2, respectively which was significantly greater than animals at Wiggins Island (0. 7 ± 0. 1 km2 and 3. 8 ± 0. 4 km2), however, like many animals where long term data are now becoming available, a large proportion move away from previously established home range and set up a home range tens to hundreds of kilometres away. In Gladstone, after 1 year of monitoring nearly 20 % of turtles at Wiggins Island and 53 % of turtles at Pelican Banks had moved outside the array of receivers within Gladstone Harbour. Implications for management with respect to ship strike and food resources in Gladstone are discussed.

258 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Can structurally simple algal leaves provide a refuge for phytal animals when complex fronds are lost to disturbance?

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Jacqui Pocklington1, Dr. Alecia Bellgrove2, Prof. Associate Professor Masakazu Aoki1 1Tohoku University, 2Deakin University

The fucoid alga Sargassum confusum C. Agardh, common to the shallow subtidal reefs of many Asian waters, provides habitat for phytal animals. Sargassum confusum occurs along the Tohoku coast of Japan, and consists of perennial basal laterals with annual upper laterals that die off in late summer and grow back in late winter. Phytal animals e. g. crustaceans, are abundant on both these sections of the alga, though sessile species are more abundant on the persistent basal laterals. In this study we examined: whether phytal communities differ between the upper and basal laterals; and whether the basal laterals can function as a refuge habitat for the mobile invertebrate epifauna if the upper laterals are lost due to disturbance.

259 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Increasing benthic community respiration rates inevitably leads to net heterotrophy and large inorganic nutrient effluxes to the water column regardless of good light climate in photic estuarine sediments

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Jaimie Potts1, Dr. Angus Ferguson1, Dr. Peter Scanes1, Prof. William Maher2 1NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 2University of Canberra

Benthic microalgae (BMA) are important controls over the biogeochemical function of euphotic benthic estuarine habitats. Due to typically high rates of areal productivity, nutrient uptake by BMA can constitute a significant nutrient store and dominate over other potential fates for remineralised nutrients in the sediments (BMA uptake > efflux to the water column + denitrification; the ‘BMAfil- ter’). We undertook a meta-analysis of over 1000 individual benthic metabolism core incubations collected within the photic zones of over 20 estuaries throughout temperate and sub-tropical Australia. We compared benthic community respiration rates with their respective photosynthesis: respiration ratios (P: R) and found that maximum P: R rates decreased with increasing BCR and were always net heterotrophic when BCR exceeded approximately 2000 O2-µmol m- 2 hr-1 regardless of high BMA productivity. Net heterotrophic sediments with BCR rates greater than 2000 O2-µmol m-2 hr-1 were also net sources of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus to the water column. This threshold corresponds to the point where denitrification is shut down, and may also correspond to spatial limitation of the BMA ‘filter’, and/or toxicity due to the build up of metabolic products. We discuss the implications of the analysis in developing a better conceptual understanding of how shallow estuarine systems can shift from benthic to pelagic dominated systems under increasing organic and nutrient loadings even when good water clarity is maintained.

260 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Sponge biodiversity patterns and their application to the management of a tropical marine reserve

Thursday, 9th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Dr. Rachel Przeslawski1, Dr. Belinda Alvarez2 1Geoscience Australia, 2Lund University

Marine reserves are an important management strategy for marine resources, but we have little baseline information for most marine environments. In this study, we focus on the Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) in northern Australia, particularly the carbonate banks and terraces of the Sahul Shelf and Van Diemen Rise which have been designated a Key Ecological Fea- ture (KEF). We use a species-level inventory compiled from three marine surveys to the CMR to address several questions relevant to marine management: 1) Are carbonate banks and other raised geomorphic features associated with biodiversity hotspots? 2) Are there environmental or biogeographic variables that can help explain local and regional differences in community structure? 3) How do sponge communities differ between individual banks? Approximately 750 sponge specimens were collected and assigned to 348 species, of which only 18% included taxonomically described species. A species accumulation curve estimated almost 900 species, almost double the number of sponge species estimated for the Ningaloo region, thereby supporting the listing of the carbonate bank system as a KEF. Between the eastern and western CMR, there was no difference between sponge species richness or assemblages on raised geomorphic features. Within individual raised geomorphic features, sponge assemblages were significantly different, but species richness was not. There were no environmental factors related to sponge species richness, although sponge assemblages were weakly but significantly related to several environmental variables (mean depth, mean backscatter, mean slope). These patterns of sponge diversity are considered in the context of marine reserve management in order to explore how such information may help support the future management of this region at multiple spatial scales.

261 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Waves At The Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) Site

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Henrique Rapizo1, Prof. Alexander Babanin1, Dr. Eric Schulz2, Mr. Peter Jansen3 1Swinburne University of Technology, 2Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 3CSIRO

The Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) aims to provide information of bio- chemistry and ocean physics in the extreme Southern Ocean environment. As part of the SOTS program, the Southern Ocean Flux Station (SOFS) is responsible for the wave measurements, among other physical parameters, and have been deployed 5 times (with fifth deployment currently at sea). a Motion Reference Unit (MRU) and a TriAxys directional wave sensor were installed to record acceleration and gyros from the buoy motion, from which it is possible to retrieve relevant wave information as significant wave height (Hs), wave peak period (Tp) and mean direction (D0). We here present the methodology applied on the data analysis as well as the main statistics and distribution of the wave parameters observed from the previous deployments, revealing the main Southern Ocean wave patterns. The most extreme events in terms of Hs found for each deployment are also investigated. We conclude that the main wave parameters present a very consistent distribution and statistics for the 3 deployments analysed. The predominance of wave propagation from Southwest is clear which reflects the westerly winds pattern. Hs, Tp and D0 mean and standard deviation was highly similar for all deployments. The highest events occurred during autumn and spring respectively and were closely related for the first 2 deployments. The last deployment however had a considerably lower extreme event, also occurring on autumn. Beside the wave parameters analysis we also characterised the wave spectra by their number of peaks. The occurrence of multi-peaks reveals the presence of different and coexisting wave system. The most common type of spectrum measured was uni-modal (~71 %), followed by double-peaked (~26 %) and 3 peaks spectrum (~3 %). By identifying the wind- sea peak, we conclude that most of the spectra were swell-dominated (~90%).

262 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Predictability of South Australian sardine habitat distribution

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Mark Doubell1, Dr. Ana Redondo Rodriguez1, Dr. Charles James1, Dr. Jonathan Carrol1, Mr. Paul Watson2, Dr. Timothy Ward1 1South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), 2South Australian Sardine Industry Association

Sardines play a key ecological role in many marine food webs by transferring energy from plankton through to higher trophic levels. For example, sardines are known to be an important food source for a variety of predatory animals such as squid, seabirds and marine mammals. The southern Australian sardine stock constitutes the largest component of the Australian sardine population and the South Australian Sardine Fishery (SASF) is Australia’s largest commercial fishery. However, over recent years, there have been reductions in thesize and age of sardines caught from this region. To understand the ecology of sardines and hence provide better strategies for management of this fishery, it is important to understand the environmental conditions that shape sardine habitat distributions. In this study, we use generalized additive models (GAMs) to examine the relationships between environmental variables and the spatial distributions of spawning and juvenile sardines. We used seven years of daily egg production method (DEPM) surveys and measures of fish size obtained from commercial catch samples during the period 2004 to 2013. We examined six predictor variables: sea surface temperature, surface salinity, surface chlorophyll- a, depth of maximum chlorophyll, mixed layer depth and bottom depth. The resulting statistical models showed a good capability for predicting the potential habitat of juvenile and spawning sardines. Values of sea surface temperature, depth and chlorophyll concentration are sufficient to provide habitat predictions with a skill of up to 81% for eggs and 85% for adults: adding values of surface salinity and the depth of maximum chlorophyll provided smaller yet significant improvements to the model. The predictive ability of the developed model could be applied to optimize commercial harvest strategies and stock management areas as well as to further understand seasonal and climatic scale shifts in sardine habitats and their inferences for regional tropho-dynamic relationships.

263 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Coastal fronts and upwelling areas utilised by migrating humpback whales, Megaptera Novaeanglia, on the Gold Coast, Australia

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Joshua Reinke1, Dr. Jan Olaf Meynecke2, Prof. Charles Lemckert3 1Griffith School of Engineering and Humpbacks and Highrises, 2Griffith Centre for Coastal Management and Humpbacks and Highrises, 3Griffith School of Engineering

Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, take part in the largest annual migration of any mammal, from polar feeding grounds in summer to tropical breeding grounds in winter. Large scale migration patterns are quite well known; however, small scale distribution patterns and relationships with environmental conditions have received less attention. Protection from a range of threats, as well as predicting the effects of climate change, requires knowledge of preferred habitat and the reasons behind the preferences. East Australian humpback whales travel from the Southern Ocean, along the East Coast of Australia, to the Great Barrier Reef (or further) to breed. The East Australian coastal environment is dominated by the East Australian Cur- rent, the western boundary current of the South Pacific Ocean, carrying warm water poleward from the tropics. This current, as well as strong northerly winds, is responsible for generating upwelling conditions on the coast and providing the majority of nutrients available for primary production. Sharp temperature changes (fronts) are experienced at the border of the warm current and the cooler coastal and upwelled waters. This study investigates relationships between humpback whale distribution and environmental conditions on the Gold Coast, Australia. This area is used during both the northern and southern migration, and provides a rest stop for mothers and calves on the return journey. Whale distribution was recorded during boat based and land based surveys. Environmental parameters included bathymetry and remotely sensed sea surface temperature, as well as their gradients. Conduc- tivity and temperature profiles were recorded at the locations of 27 pods. The conditions observed at the whales’ locations were compared with the average across the study area using paired sample t-tests. Initial outcomes of the study suggest a preference for cooler waters and in areas with a strong temperature gradient. The higher productivity in cooler upwelled water and fronts may provide the whales with a chance of opportunistic feeding, a rare occurrence on their prolonged journey. Following particular hydrodynamic features such as these, which generally run parallel to the shore, may also serve as a tool for navigation.

264 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Early calving of East Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) outside of historic calving grounds

Monday, 6th July 16.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Joshua Reinke1, Mrs. Laura Torre-Williams2, Dr. Jan Olaf Meynecke3 1Griffith School of Engineering and Humpbacks and Highrises, 2Coastal-Marine Research Group, Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, and Griffith Centre for Coastal Management, 3Griffith Centre for Coastal Management and Humpbacks and Highrises

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) undertake an annual migration from polar feeding areas to tropical and subtropical areas to calve and breed. It is believed that the purpose of this migration is to increase the survival and growth of calves by relieving them from the energetic demands of thermoregulation in a polar environment. Calving grounds of humpback whale populations around the world share similar characteristics. Warm water appears to be an important factor determining suitable calving areas, with consistent temperatures of at least 21°C. Shallow, sheltered inshore waters are also desirable traits of a calving area, to provide the calves with protection from predators and rough conditions through their most vulnerable period of development. Significant shifts have been recorded in ocean circulation patterns in recent years, with changes observed in the strength and location of currents and other hydrodynamic features, and these trends are predicted to continue. It is likely that these altered environmental conditions will result in a shift in the distribution of humpback whale habitats, as they move to areas with more desirable conditions for feeding and calving. The locations of Southern Ocean fronts, where dense concentrations of krill can be found, are predicted to shift poleward as a result of climate change, forcing cetaceans to migrate further to reach these important feeding grounds. However, impacts on energy budgets could be avoided if warming subtropical waters allow for calving at higher latitudes. This presentation documents the observations of a number of young calves (neonates) off the Gold Coast, Australia, born while on the northern migration, prior to arriving on the traditional calving grounds (located in the Great Barrier Reef region and further to the north). Identification photos were taken onboard commercial whale watching vessels in July and August 2013 and 2014, with a total of 30 neonates observed travelling north in over these periods. Sur- veys will be repeated in 2015. It is predicted that the number of calves born in the Gold Coast bay and to the south will increase as waters continue to warm, resulting in the expansion of the calving grounds of this population.

265 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Priorities for management of Chondrichthyans

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Marcelo Reis1, Dr. Will Figueira1 1University of Sydney

The maintenance of biodiversity is a fundamental priority in wildlife conservation. Analysis of key threats can help to identify priority areas for management. Chondrichthyans have their highest biodiversity in the Indo-West Pacific and endemism is particularly high for this group in Australia with almost 50% of the species being found mostly within Australia’s EEZ. According to IUCN Red Lists, of the 322 Chondrichthyans described in Australian waters, over a hundred species are reported as Near Threatened or in Threatened categories and 84 species are not properly assessed yet, and thus described as Data Deficient or Not Evaluated. The catch for 23 of these families is recorded as undifferen- tiated by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (2013), and includes 187 species found in Australian waters of which 120 are in the IUCN’s Near Threatened, Threatened, Data Deficient or Not Evaluated groups. This group also accounted for circa 40 tons of retained catch in the 2002 to 2012 period. In this study we evaluate species distribution data and fishery catch and effort maps of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) to identify areas of strong overlap and groups of priority. Through the integration of fuzzy logic, geographical information systems, catch data and stock status we propose a set of priority areas for management of Chondrichthyans in fishing grounds of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. Multivariate analysis results showed groupings with several degrees of relations between endemic and non-endemic species and the fishing effort. Moreover, the weighted overlap between fisheries and species distribution presented patterns that can serveas tools to define priorities to conservation to fisheries management.

266 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Plankton 2015: an assessment of Australia’s oceans using plankton as ecosystem indicators

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Anthony Richardson1, Dr. Wayne Rochester2, Dr. Ruth Eriksen3 1EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics (CARM), School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Queensland 4072, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 3CSIRO Ocean and Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia;3Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia

Plankton 2015 is an assessment of the state of the oceans around Australia using plankton as indicators of ecosystem change. It is based primarily on plankton data from the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) and supplemented by data from other historical and current plankton studies. The assessment provides ecosystem indicators for climate change, ocean acidification, productivity supporting fisheries, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. Wefind that there have been substantial changes in plankton communities in response to climate change: the distribution of phytoplankton on the east coast of Australia has shifted ~300 km south since the 1950s, and in temperate regions warm- water species are taking over from cool-water species. These changes are likely to lower ecosystem productivity, as warmer-water species are generally smaller and less nutritious for fish to eat. There is less information on impacts of ocean acidification on plankton species, but there is some limited evidence of potential thinning and increased porosity of shells of pteropods in northern Australia over past 30 yrs with increased acidity. We describe a general decline in copepod biodiversity from tropical Australia to the Antarctic ice sheet; this will provide a baseline to assess future changes in biodiversity. There have also been widespread blooms of harmful algae and jellyfish in recent years, but short time series preclude assessment of whether this is unusual. It is hoped that the data underpinning Plankton 2015 will be useful in marine reporting and inform policy makers, marine managers, scientists and the public of changes at the base of the marine food web and their potential implications for higher trophic levels and ourselves.

267 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

(Comparative phylogeography)ˆ200 Emergent patterns of genetic diversity across the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Cynthia Riginos1, Dr. Eric Crandall2, Dr. Michelle Gaither3, Dr. Libby Liggins4, Prof. Sean R. Connolly5, Dr. Christopher Bird6 1University of Queensland, 2University of Hawaii, 3Durham University, 4Massey University, 5James cook University, 6Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

The tropical Indian and Pacific oceans form the world’s largest and most speciose marine biogeographic region: the Indo-Pacific. Due to its size and political complexity, the Indo-Pacific is rarely studied as a whole, yet comprehensive studies of the region promise to teach us much about marine biogeography. Molecu- lar methods can provide substantial insights into the processes that create and maintain biodiversity in the region. Although many research groups have independently amassed considerable genetic data, there have been few coordinated efforts across the entire region that could reveal general principles regarding spatial patterns of genetic biodiversity or predictable differences among species. The Diversity in the Indo Pacific Network (indopacificnetwork. wikispaces. com) seeks to promote open data exchange and collaboration among genetic researchers working in the Indo-Pacific region; to this end, we have assembled the most extensive database of georeferenced mitochondrial DNA genotypes for any biogeographic region comprising over 30, 000 individual genotypes and 200 species. Drawing upon this unprecedented wealth of genetic data, I will describe emergent spatial patterns of genetic diversity, identify locations of high and low connectivity, and show how patterns differ among species.

268 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Great Barrier Reef Common ‘Live’ Habitat Map: A New Project

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Chris Roelfsema1, Prof. Stuart Phinn2, Dr. Eva Kovacs2, Prof. Peter J. Mumby3, Dr. Sarah Hamylton4, Dr. Magnus Wettle5, Mr. Mike Ronan6, Dr. Dave Callaghan7 1Biophysical Remote Sensing Group, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, 2Biophysical Remote Sensing Group School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management The University of Queensland, 3Marine Spatial Ecology Lab and School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, 4School of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Wollongong, 5EOMAP, 6Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, 7Civil Engineering The University of Queensland

The coral reefs of the GBR are a globally unique and essential national resource for Australia; however, no single map exists showing its extent, depth and habitat composition. Baseline mapping of the composition of an environment is accepted as essential information for management of terrestrial environments, in the public and private sectors. This has not been done for the GBR due to the large extent and cost of mapping its extensive and mostly submerged reefs. This presentation introduces a new method planned to map geomorphic and coral community zonation for the “shallow offshore reefs” of the Capricorn Bunker Group, and validate the results. For the purpose of this study “shallow offshore reefs” are defined as coral reefs that are visible in optical remote sensing imagery depths above 20 m. The proposed mapping and modelling of geomorphic and coral community zones combines existing and new data sets using established mapping techniques and novel spatial modelling approaches. The data to be used includes: subsurface and seafloor reflectance data and bathymetry data derived from most recent Landsat satellite imagery (30 m x 30 m pixel resolution), cyclone track data, wind and wave models, and coral community models. Mapping techniques will be based on object based image analysis for the geomorphic mapping, and benthic community mapping and modelling based on relationships between coral communities, water depth, exposure, wind, and cyclones history. The approach will adopt existing Queensland Coastal and Marine Integrated Classification F ramework. Validation of the maps will be based on detailed field survey data collected from 2001-2014 across the Capri- corn Bunker Group. The mapping and validation methods are being developed for future application to the whole of GBR. These approaches will use existing field data collection programs (e. g. AIMS Long Time Monitoring Program) and citizen science groups (e. g. Reef Check, Eye on the Reef) and crowd sourcing (e. g. GeoWiki). The resulting methods and digital maps will represent a significant advance in our capability to map, monitor and manage coral reefs in Australia, supporting management and science in the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

269 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

When mammals returned to the sea: the ecological implications of re-adaption to marine life in a rapidly changing world

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Tracey Rogers1 1Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, 2052, Australia

Our understanding of ecological patterns across mammals has been limited as research has focused on terrestrial mammals alone. Ecological patterns have been examined in marine and terrestrial mammals in isolation and without considering phylogenetic information. Marine mammals appeared over the last 65 million years. This was an experiment run several times (at least 7 that we know of) and across different mammalian groups. While many of these lines disappeared, today there are five extant groups, the cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), sirenians (dugong and manatees), pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walrus), sea otters and polar bear. Alongside the obvious anatomical and physiological changes in marine mammals, moving back into the marine environment was accompanied by changes to ecological patterns. Through comparative studies we have found that marine mammals have larger home ranges for their body size, they use different foraging strategies and different communication patterns compared to terrestrial mammals. Through empirical studies we examine how different mammal models, and from different systems (Antarctic pack ice, Southern Oceans, Tasmanian forests), are responding to recent environmental change. Our studies of foraging behaviour of Antarctic pack ice seals have found that within the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), where local warming is causing some of the greatest environmental shifts on the planet, the top predators show a dramatic trophic downshift. We follow behaviour change in the world’s largest animal, the blue whales, over the past two decades. Combining comparative approaches, to understand large-scale patterns across ecological and evolutionary time, along with contemporary studies aids our understanding of species vulnerability to changing environments.

270 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Quantifying native and invasive oyster distributions in the iconic urbanised Port Jackson estuary

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. Elliot Scanes1, Prof. Pauline Ross1, Prof. Emma Johnston2, Dr. Wayne O’Connor3, Dr. Laura Parker4 1University of Western Sydney, 2University of New South Wales, 3NSW Department of Primary Industries, 4The University of Sydney

Many of the world’s major cities are on the coast or in large estuaries. Such urbanisation results in the pollution of estuaries with a suite of toxicants. In- creased marine traffic and foreshore alterations in urbanised estuaries allcon- tribute to a significant loss of biodiversity and provide opportunities for invasion by non-indigenous species. The establishment of baselines and monitoring key biogenic habitat forming organisms is essential to retaining the biodiversity in estuaries. This study assessed the along shore distribution and species composition of the ecological keystone oyster populations in Port Jackson. Port Jackson (Sydney, Australia) is among the most heavily urbanised estuaries in the world, however the current state of oyster populations remains unknown. We tested hypotheses that 1) the size, abundance and relative proportion of the oysters Crassostrea gigas and Saccostrea glomerata would differ dependent on the location in the estuary; and 2) habitat type; natural or artificial. To test these hypotheses, 16 locations were selected throughout the estuary, encompassing both natural and artificial habitats. Abundance and distribution of oysters was sampled at each site using random quadrats, and individuals were collected to determine their identity and size. A lysosomal destabilisation assay was conducted on oysters from six locations (three impacted, three control) to confirm the presence of bio-available toxicants. It was found that the abundance of oysters was significantly different among locations and sites. Oysters were more abundant, but smaller in the eastern reaches of the estuary, while in the west, oysters were less abundant but larger. The invasive C. gigas was found to be more prevalent than previously recorded in all other NSW estuaries, and larger than the native S. glomerata. Populations of C. gigas displayed a patchy distribution. In some cases at highly contaminated sites (confirmed by high levels of lysosomal destabilisation), C. gigas comprised the majority of the assemblage. This study is the first to identify and quantify the extent of the invasive C. gigas in Port Jackson and provides a solid base for gauging any changes in Port Jackson oyster populations as a result of further urbanisation.

271 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Small copepods add zooplankton to their diet: consequences for pelagic functioning, trophic webs and carbon fluxes

Tuesday, 7th July 12.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Alvaro Roura1, Dr. Jan Strugnell1, Prof. Angel Guerra2, Dr. Angel F Gonzalez2 1Latrobe University, 2Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM, CSIC)

Small copepods (<2 mm) are the most abundant metazoans in the world’s oceans, a keystone in pelagic food webs. Small copepods are considered to be omnivorous, feeding on unicellular protists and phytoplankton, with carnivo- rous feeding –i. e. preying on zooplankton- restricted to larger copepods and cyclopoid copepods. We developed a PCR based technique that detected a diverse range of zooplankton species (eight families of decapods, bivalves, fish and also other copepods) within the digestive tract of copepods traditionally considered to be “herbivorous”. This finding provides evidences that a significant component of copepod diets has been overlooked owed to the methodologies traditionally been carried out –visual inspection and pigments analysis. Such predatory behaviour extends the trophic role of small copepods in upwelling food webs, affecting the mesozooplankton communities through intraguild predation. Furthermore, this study helps to explain the discrepancies found between quantified phyto/microzooplankton ingestion and metabolic demands of copepods. In order to infer the consequences of this overlooked predatory behaviour to the flux of Carbon in the whole pelagic ecosystem, we screened the literature to obtain an estimate of weight specific ingestion rates (WSIR) based on their averaged weight for adult calanoid (n = 121) and cyclopoid copepods (n = 41), in the field (n = 125) and under laboratory conditions (n = 37). By multiply- ing the estimated WSIR by the standing stock of adult copepods in the upper 100 m of the ocean -assuming that i) copepods are approximately 80% of the total zooplankton biomass ii) only 50% are adults and iii) calanoids comprise between 30 to 40% of total copepods (the rest being cyclopoid copepods) - our carbon budget estimates show that on a global scale, copepods process, between 3. 41 - 3. 70 up to 20. 75 - 21. 87 gigaton (Gt) C yr-1 through zooplankton predation based on field and laboratory measured WSIR, respectively. This conservative field estimate reveals that copepods are channelling 31. 28 -33.95% more carbon towards upper trophic levels than previous estimates focused on phytoplankton and microzooplankton consumption (10. 9 Gt C yr-1). Hence, copepod intraguild predation should definitely be considered in oceanic biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem models.

272 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Diel patterns in a Posidonia meadow: measuring molecules to macrophytes

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. John Runcie1 1Aquation Pty Ltd

Posidonia oceanica is an important habitat forming seagrass in European waters. Understanding how P. oceanica copes with environmental change provides an important baseline for future management of these meadows. Of the natural environmental variables, diel changes in light intensity plays a major role in meadow photosynthetic or respiratory performance. Similarly, seasonal changes also strongly influencing net productivity or respiration. The attenuation oflight with depth also plays an important role on Posidonia performance. Seagrasses more suited to low light environments are potentially better able to achieve net photosynthesis even when daylength is short. We examined a range of protein and genetic attributes of Posidonia oceanica samples collected at various times of day and different depths with accompanying physiological measurements including gas exchange and fluorescence-based measurements. Direct comparisons of genes representing specific physiological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration provided clear patterns where some genes were switched on under high light environments and others only at night. The direct comparison of molecular and traditional physiology methods provides an important link between these two approaches, enabling researchers to infer likely patterns in one area of measurement to indicate the other.

273 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Terrestrial and marine protected areas as a management tool for wide-ranging marine fauna

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Marcus Salton1, Mr. Matthew Carr2, Ms. Max Tarjan3, Dr. Justin Clarke4, Dr. Roger Kirkwood5, Dr. David Slip6, Prof. Robert Harcourt1 1Macquarie University, 2Department of Primary Industries, Jervis Bay Marine Park, 3University of California Santa Cruz, 4Wildlife and Veterinary Ecology Services (WaVES), 5IMARES, Wageningen University, 6Taronga Conservation Society

How to manage the recovery of large vertebrates into areas with established human populations is an increasingly vexing issue for conservation practice. This has been particularly difficult for wide-ranging marine fauna due to limitations in quantifying habitat use, life-history requirements and population growth. We quantify spatial and seasonal patterns in fine-scale spatial use by GPS tracking adult males of two fur seal species (New Zealand fur seals and Australian fur seals) at the “frontline” of their species’ range expansion. This approach may determine where these frontline individuals are seeded from and identify whether current spatial management tools (i. e. protected areas) can effectively mitigate human-seal interactions. Both species range widely at sea, yet inshore terrestrial and marine habitats also prove to be important. It appears that both terrestrial and marine protected areas may play a role in mitigating human- seal interactions. Seasonal variation in habitat use suggests greater potential for human-seal interactions during the Austral winter, when there are more prominent range incursions into areas close to highly populated coastal cities. In spring and summer, the seals traversed state and international borders and utilised numerous breeding colonies, suggesting individuals on the frontline of these species’ range expansion are seeded from multiple breeding colonies. Fur- ther, they may play an important role in linking dispersed populations. Our approach emphasises the relevance of inshore habitat for these seals, the possibility for improved zoning within current protected areas, and the need for national and international collaboration to manage wide-ranging marine fauna.

274 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Blue gems: carbon storage in seagrass meadows is determined by spatial and temporal variability in environmental and biological conditions

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Mrs. Jimena Samper-Villarreal1, Prof. Catherine E. Lovelock2, Dr. Megan Saunders3, Dr. Chris Roelfsema4, Prof. Peter J. Mumby5 1Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of Queensland, 2School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, 3Marine Spatial Ecology Lab and Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, 4Biophysical Remote Sensing Group, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, 5Marine Spatial Ecology Lab and School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland

Seagrass meadows are one of three habitats that serve as marine carbon sinks, with a veneer of living tissue preserving up to thousands of years of carbon stored in their sediments. However, seagrass meadows are also highly threatened and are continuing to decline worldwide. Seagrass management and conservation initiatives require adequate understanding of the ecological factors determining carbon content in seagrass meadows, which is currently limited. This project aimed to identify how varying environmental and biological conditions influence spatial and temporal variability of carbon storage in subtropical seagrass meadows. Seagrass biomass and shallow sediment cores were collected at multiple seasons from various locations across a water quality gradient and within an area of high water quality in Moreton Bay, Australia. Sediment carbon content and seagrass structural complexity were determined for each location. Environmen- tal variables were determined from field data (water quality) and modeled data (wave height). There was clear spatial variability in sediment carbon across the study area, mainly influenced by seagrass canopy complexity, water turbidity, depth and wave energy. Seasonal variability was limited and overshadowed by spatial variability. The highest carbon stocks were found in riverine seagrass meadows, while there was lower carbon in meadows at oceanic conditions and riverine areas of seagrass loss. Understanding the physical and biological conditions for seagrasses to thrive and most importantly for the maximum amount of carbon to be stored is of key importance to conservation and management initiatives, for which it is paramount to not only focus on carbon storage but encompass the multitude of ecosystems services that seagrass provide.

275 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Pumping the coastal carbon cycle: Porewater exchange from tidal rivers to the continental shelf

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Prof. Isaac Santos1 1National Marine Science Centre

Porewater and groundwater flows are ubiquitous in coastal environments. These flows significantly increase the surface area of substrates available for biogeochemical cycling. A common transformation is the conversion of particulate organic carbon into dissolved organic (DOC) and inorganic (DIC) carbon. As a result, porewater and groundwater often have extremely high concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, alkalinity, DIC and DOC that may eventually be released to surface waters. By combining high resolution observations of carbon parameters, stable isotopes and natural radioactive tracers, we revealed that groundwater and porewater are major drivers of carbon cycling in a wide range of coastal ecosystems. These observations challenge the conventional view that estuarine carbon dioxide outgassing is driven primarily by the incineration of riverine DOC. Submarine groundwater discharge and porewater exchange function as both sources and facilitators of carbon cycling, potentially accounting for much of the estuarine carbon dioxide and methane outgassing to the atmosphere, and closing unbalanced carbon budgets in several coastal systems.

276 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Human impacts on connectivity in marine and freshwater ecosystems assessed using graph theory: a review

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Megan Saunders1, Dr. Christopher Brown2, Dr. Melissa Foley3, Dr. Catherine Febria4, Dr. Rebecca Albright5, Dr. Molly Mehling6, Dr. Maria Kavanaugh7, Dr. Dana Burfeind8 1Marine Spatial Ecology Lab and Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, 2Griffith University, Australian Rivers Institute, 3Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, 4Freshwater Ecology Research Group, University of Canterbury, 5Australian Institute of Marine Science, 6Falk School of Sustainability, Chatham University, 7Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 8University of

Human activities are altering the processes that connect organisms within and amongst habitats in aquatic ecosystems. Little is known about whether impacts to connectivity are similar across marine and freshwater systems, and across different species and ecosystems. To identify generalities in human impacts on connectivity, we conducted a review of studies which modelled functional connectivity using graph theory. Graph theory is a general framework that allows cross-system comparisons. In graph theory habitats or populations are represented by “nodes” and dispersal is represented by “links.” We assessed the 42 studies and where human impacts to connectivity were assessed they were grouped into four categories: (1) habitat alteration, (2) human movements causing species introductions, (3) overharvesting, and (4) climate change and ocean acidification. Habitat alteration was the most commonly studied stressor in freshwater systems, whereas, overharvesting, in terms of larval dispersal among protected areas, was most commonly addressed in marine systems. Few studies have directly assessed effects of climate change, suggesting an important area of future research. Graph representations of connectivity revealed similarities across different impacts and systems, for instance climate change, habitat loss and overharvesting can all remove nodes, suggesting they may have similar effects on functional connectivity. Comparable impacts of different human activities on connectivity suggest common conservation strategies for the conservation of aquatic species.

277 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Why did Nadgee Lake estuary change state from benthic to pelagic dominance?

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Peter Scanes1, Mr. Leo Lymburner2, Mr. Norman Mueller2 1NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 2National Earth and Marine Observation Group, Geoscience Australia

Extensive historical (anecdotal) information covering the past 3 decades indicated that the remote and pristine Nadgee lake estuary in southern NSW had a benthic dominated ecology. All descriptions indicated that it had oligotrophic waters with dense cover of benthic macropyhtes and associated avifauna. When we arrived at Nadgee in late 2008 for the first scientific aquatic survey (ever) it looked nothing like this. The lake was dominated by an intense microalgal bloom and no macrophytes were present. Why? Entrance opening and closure are the major disturbances in an intermittent estuary like Nadgee, but there are no records of past entrance behaviour for such a remote site. This paper describes the use of Geoscience Australia’s recent compilation and rectification of Landsat images (the “Datacube”), along with the application of a consistent water detection tool for all pixels in that compilation, to determine opening and closing regimes. The output of the analyses provides an indication of whether a pixel was wet or dry (or not able to be determined) for all images over the entire 27 year’s worth of data. Water level records measured by OEH since 2009 were used to ground-truth the remote sensed data. We can now determine when, over the past 27 years, the Lake opened and how long the water level remained low. From this record, it appears the lake opened in late 2006, resulting in very low water levels. This opening, however, occurred during summer in the millennium drought and the lake did not re-fill for a long time. This information, along with an understanding of the ecology of the primary macrophytes has been used to provide some possible models that explain when and why the fundamental shift from benthic to pelagic may have occurred.

278 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Estuary Health Assessment and Reporting in NSW

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Peter Scanes1 1NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

NSW has a rigorous estuary health assessment program. It consists of 4 elements: • Indicator development and testing • State-wide monitoring program • Report-card grade calculation • Results dissemination All methods are documented in a standard format and implementation is via a mixture of state-wide Agency sampling (which provides a minimal but consistent framework) supplemented by additional sampling funded by local government, using standard indicators, methods for data collection and data analysis. Local Government sampling is often more spatially and temporally intensive than the state-wide program and may include additional indicators of local relevance. Data collection is stratified by estuary type and catchment disturbance and data are currently available for 160 of the state’s 184 estuaries. The primary indicators are chlorophyll, turbidity and DO, supported by context data such as salinity, temperature, CDOM and nutrient concentrations. The indicators are the same as the outputs of predictive models (e. g. CERAT http: //www. ozcoasts. gov. au/nrm_rpt/cerat/index. jsp ) allowing seamless testing of model outputs and appropriate data for model inputs. Data from undisturbed estuaries have been used to derive specific reference values using ANZECC protocols. Grade calculations account for both frequency and magnitude of exceedances of trigger values. Validity of indicators (responsiveness, variability and repeatability) and grade calculations has been tested by comparing results against the independently derived catchment disturbance gradient and this shows that they perform as predicted. The use of a standard data collection and analysis protocol provides intercomparability across the state. Local government are using the grade scores for report cards and there has been strong acceptance by their residents.

279 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Designing a validation ground truth dataset for habitat mapping using Multibeam sonar data, Object-Based Image Analysis and AUV video

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Alexandre Schimel1, Dr. Daniel Ierodiaconou1, Dr. Mary Young1, Dr. Markus Diesing2, Mrs. Anna Downie2, Dr. Matt Edmunds3, Dr. Sean Blake4, Mr. Brett Mitchell5, Ms. Grace Gaylard4 1Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 2Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, 3Australian Marine Ecology, 4Deakin University, 5Parks Victoria

Effective marine environment monitoring programs require accurate high- resolution maps of benthic habitats. The past decade has witnessed tremen- dous improvements in the remote-sensing technologies and data processing methodologies used in this purpose. Multibeam echosounders (MBES) are now routinely used to provide the high-resolution, full-coverage datasets characterising the seafloor depth and structure while Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) fitted with high-resolution video cameras provide the ground-truth data to accurately identify and locate benthic habitats and organisms. A large number of methodologies to process these datasets and integrate them into a benthic habitat map are now available. However, despite these advances, the accuracy of the final map and hence its suitability for monitoring and management purposes remains highly dependent on the ground-truth data used for model validation: it needs to (1) cover all habitats present, (2) target each habitat type in a number of instances that is large enough to overcome the stochastic variability in the MBES data and (3) samples need to be spread wide enough from one another to overcome spatial autocorrelation and ensure statistic independence. Using MBES and AUV video datasets acquired in 2013 in Refuge Cove, in the Wilsons Promontory Marine Park (Victoria, Australia), we developed a methodology to create a validation ground-truth sampling design that satisfies these conditions. The AUV survey was designed based on prior knowledge, observations and expertise of the site’s habitats. Benthic habitat classes were defined from this video dataset. The minimum distance between samples to ensure spatial independence was calculated using Moran’s I. An Object-Based Image Analysis was run on the MBES data products and followed by a clustering algorithm to map the broad spatial variability of the seafloor s tructure. This process resulted in a sampling scheme composed of locations from the original AUV video data and complementary locations that were later sampled with a drop video camera survey. The ground-truthing dataset thus obtained was used for validation of a habitat map obtained from integrating MBES and AUV data into a supervised QUEST decision tree, resulting in an overall accuracy of 78%.

280 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Comparative analysis of movement patterns of marine vertebrates

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Ana Sequeira1, Mr. Jorge Rodriguez2, Dr. Victor Eguíluz2, Dr. Juan Fernández-Gracia3, Dr. Mark Meekan4, Prof. Carlos Duarte5, Dr. Frederic Bailleul6, Dr. Alastair Baylis7, Dr. M. Julian Caley8, Prof. Daniel Costa9, Dr. Luke Einoder10, Ms. Luciana Ferreira11, Prof. Simon Goldsworthy12, Dr. John Gunn4, Mr. Derek Hamer13, Dr. Mike Hammill14, Prof. Robert Harcourt15, Prof. Graeme Hays7, Dr. Michelle Heupel4, Prof. Mark Hindell16, Dr. Ian Jonsen15, Dr. Maryanne Lea17, Dr. Andrew Lowther18, Dr. Jane McKenzie19, Mr. Lachlan McLeay20, Dr. Clive McMahon21, Dr. Brad Page22, Dr. Annelise Wiebkin19, Dr. Michele Thums4 1uwa, 2Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos (IFISC), CSIC - University of the Balearic Islands, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 3Harvard T.H. School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Department of Epidemiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA, 4Australian Institute of Marine Science, 5King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Red Sea Research Centre (RSRC), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 6South Australian Research and Development Institute, 7Deakin University, 8Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia, 9University of California, Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Lab, Santa Cruz, California, USA, 10Department of Land Resource Management (DLRM), Darwin, Northern Territory, 11IOMRC and The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia, 12South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), 13DBMS Global Oceans, 3/40 Valley St, West Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, 14Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Mont Joli, Quebec, Canada, 15Macquarie University, 16Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 17University of Tasmania, Institute for Antarctic and Marine Studies, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia, 18Norwegian Polar Institute, 9296, Tromsø, Norway, 19Department of Environment Water & Natural Resources, GPO Box 1047, ADELAIDE SA 5001, 20South Australian Research and Development Institute, PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA 5022, 21Integrated Marine Observing System, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 19 Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, 2088, 22Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, South Australia

Movement through space is a fundamental aspect of the behaviour of many animals and it is driven by their need to feed, mate, reproduce and disperse

281 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference among populations. Consequently, movement influences the dynamics and the long-term viability of their populations at both ecological and evolutionary time scales. However, we still lack a general mechanistic explanation for the movement patterns observed. Here, we analyse the movement trajectories of a wide range of marine vertebrates (including pinnipeds, birds, cetaceans, turtles, sirenians, fish and sharks) using satellite telemetry data spanning more thantwo decades (1993 – 2014). We derive the resulting probability density function of each species’ trajectories and their turning angles. We then repeated each analysis across a range of spatial and temporal scales to assess whether the same function can be used to describe behaviour at different scales. This statistical approach, with no a priori assumption for foraging strategy, means that the resulting patterns can be used to classify movement among taxa. The probability density functions describing step lengths for each species were varied, and included a power law, exponential, Gaussian, lognormal and bimodal distributions. We found that these functions could describe behaviour at different scales for most species considered, and that the relationship between the average displacement with time is exponential with exponent between 0. 5 (random diffusion) and 1 (ballistic motion). We categorise the different patterns found with respect to taxonomy, morphology, physiology, life history strategies, habitat, and ecology of each species, with the aim of developing a general theory for the movement behaviour of marine vertebrates.

282 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Comparing Effectiveness of Aquatic Reserves in the Hawkesbury shelf bioregion, NSW

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Yasmina Shah Esmaeili1, Mr. John Turnbull2, Dr. Will Figueira1, Ms. Renata Ferrari Legorreta3 1The University of Sydney, 2Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 3University of Sydney

The Hawkesbury shelf is the only coastal bioregion in New South Wales (NSW) without a Marine Park. The NSW government established 12 small aquatic reserves in the Sydney area (part of the Hawkesbury shelf) over a decade ago, each with a different policy and aim to protect specific habitat types and associated marine life. Despite protection these aquatic reserves and surrounding areas are threatened by urbanization, pollution, over-fishing and climate change, to name a few. Thus, the NSW government is currently considering the implementation of a Marine Park in this bioregion, implying a higher level of protection, however there is little information available to support the government’s decision. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of aquatic reserves in the Hawkesbury shelf bioregion. We investigated the biodiversity and abundance of fish and mobile invertebrate assemblages across aquatic reserves with different protection levels and compared these to unprotected sites. We used Reef Life Survey (RLS) data collected in late summer of 2015 on shallow reefs (3 – 10 m) in 18 sites. The RLS method uses underwater visual census (UVC) along 50 m x 10 m transects, where fish are counted and size classed. Along the same transect, RLS method also uses UVC within a 1m range of the transect tape to quantify abundance of benthic mobile macro-invertebrates and size and abundance of cryptic fish. The differences between sites and protection levels on community assemblage and composition were analysed using a Permutational Analyses of Variance in PRIMER. We found significantly higher diversity and abundance inside aquatic reserves with the highest level of protection where no spear or line-fishing is allowed. The other reserves, with lower levels of protection and lack of enforcement, however, did not differ significantly in diversity or abundance compared to sites outside reserves. We conclude that only high levels of protection and enforcement have significant results on fish and benthic assemblages and are effective forms of protection. These results can inform the Hawkesbury shelf bioregion spatial assessment, and will help identify sites of high ecological importance.

283 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Tidal influences on foraging strategies of resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Jervis Bay, NSW

Tuesday, 7th July 14.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Scott Sheehan1, Dr. Michelle Blewitt2 1Marine Mammal Research Unit, Marine Explorer, 2Marine Mammal Research Unit, Marine Environmental Research Consultants

Observations of tidal influences on foraging strategies of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) resident in Jervis Bay, New South Wales are discussed. Currambene Creek is an outlet, located on the western edge of Jervis Bay, with high vessel traffic site associated with commercial fishing, ecotourism operators and recreational boat users. The area of Jervis Bay is a multiple use marine park, which also accommodates active training with the Royal Australian Navy. Resident inshore bottlenose dolphins inhabit Jervis Bay, associated with rocky reefs, coastal fringes, estuaries and creek systems. Shallow protected habitats around Jervis Bay provide a consistent food supply for the dolphins, with rocky reefs or seagrass meadows recognised as preferred foraging grounds. Ob- servations have highlighted the importance of estuaries as preferred habitats for foraging activities, engaged by recognised individuals and/or small groups of 2-3 resident dolphins, showing a degree of site fidelity, displaying these foraging strategies. Targeting scattered prey that congregate around the Currambene Creek inlet, particularly during the changing tides when the creek is flushed in and out on a mid- to high-tide. Foraging dolphins have been documented, engaged in active pursuit against the tide, makes them seem stationary as the unknowing prey is flushed inward and capture and consumption by the awaiting dolphins. Information gathered from research efforts will provide critical data to help inform on future management decisions associated with urban development on inshore dolphins in Jervis Bay.

284 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Genetic architecture and evolutionary change in the invasive Northern Pacific sea star

Tuesday, 7th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Craig Sherman1, Mr. Mark Richardson2 1Deakin University, 2Deakin

Invasive species provide valuable study systems to evaluate evolutionary and ecological processes occurring during the colonization of new habitats. Ex- posure to novel environmental conditions experienced upon introduction can generate strong selective pressures, eliciting rapid evolutionary change in morphological, physiological and life history traits. While considerable research has documented the ecological aspect of biological invasions, we still know relatively little about the underlying genetic basis of these often observed adaptive changes and how physiological responses and associated underlying genetic mechanisms facilitate environmental adaptation and invasion success. Using a combination of microsatellite and transcriptomic genetic data, we explore patterns of divergence between native and invasive Asterias amurensis populations. Our results suggest that the source of the Australian introduction is likely to have occurred from Tokyo Bay, Japan, which resulted in the loss of neutral genetic diversity within the invasive range. However, our comparative RNA-Seq experiment shows substantial gene expression divergence between native and invasive populations for a number of important genes with putative roles in immune function and the response to environmental stress. These patterns of divergence may reflect selection for alleles in invasive populations that perform better innovel environmental conditions and may indicate rapid local adaptation during the invasion into Australia.

285 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The South American seagrass Zostera chiliensis: endangered or invasive?

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Craig Sherman1, Dr. Tim Smith1, Dr. Martin Thiel2, Dr. Bernardo Broitman2, Prof. Graeme Hays1, Dr. Erik Sebille3, Dr. Nathan Putman4, Dr. Peter MacReadie1, Dr. Paul York5 1Deakin University, 2CEAZA, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, 3University of New South Wales, 4Oregon State University, 5TropWATER, James Cook University

The seagrass Zostera chilensis was recently described following taxonomic separation of Heterozostera tasmanica into four new species. With only three known populations occurring along the coast of central Chile it is classified as an endangered species under the IUCN redlist. Recent molecular work has revealed no distinction between Z. chiliensis and the Australian seagrass Z. nigricaulis, suggesting a recent introduction to Chile. Successful amplification of seagrass samples from Chile using species-specific microsatellite markers developed for Z. nigricaulis support the idea that Chilean populations are derived from Australia. Using a combination of molecular data, historical shipping records, fragment viability data and oceanic modeling, we explore the possibility of a trans-oceanic dispersal event spanning several thousands of kilometers, versus a human mediated introduction event via shipping. Levels of genotypic diversity and patterns of connectivity among the three isolated populations along the Chilean coast are also explored. The results from this study have important implications for understand how potentially rare (but important) trans-oceanic dispersal events can lead to establishment of new populations.

286 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Installation and Operational Effects of a HVDC Marine Cable: Basslink, SE Australia

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. John Sherwood1, Mr. Scott Chidgey2, Dr. Peter Crockett2, Dr. David Gwyther3, Mr. Percival Ho2, Dr. David Strong4, Dr. Robert Whitely5, Dr. Alan Williams6 1Deakin University, 2CEE Consulting, 3Picton Group Pty Ltd, 4DSA Consulting, 5Coffey Natural Systems Pty Ltd, 6Marine Research, CSIRO

Despite the many submarine telecommunications and power cables laid worldwide there are fewer than ten published studies of their environmental effects in the refereed literature. This paper describes an investigation into the effects of laying and operating the Basslink High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable and its associated metallic return cable across Bass Strait in South East Aus- tralia. Over more than 95% of its length the cable was directly laid into a wet jetted trench given the predominantly soft sediments encountered. Underwater remote video investigations found that within one year all evidence of the cable and trench was gone at over a third of the 6 deep water sites (32 – 72m deep). At other deep water sites the residual trench trapped drift material providing habitat for the generally sparsely distributed benthic community. Diver surveys at both of the near shore sites (<15m deep) on the northern side of the Strait also found the cable route was undetectable after a year. On the southern side, where the cable traversed hard basalt rock near shore, it was encased in a protective cast iron half shell. Ecological studies by divers over 3 years demonstrated the colonization of the hard shell by the same species occupying hard substrates elsewhere on the basalt reef. Magnetic fields associated with the operating cable were found to be similar to those predicted from theory with effects dropping rapidly with distance from the cable. Beyond 20m thefieldwas indistinguishable from background. These results should allay some community concerns about the environmental effects of HVDC cables

287 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Long-term, indirect consequences of herbicide treatment to control the invasive saltmarsh grass, Spartina anglica

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Jeff Shimeta1, Ms. Lynnette Saint1, Ms. Emily Verspaandonk1, Prof. Dayanthi Nugegoda1, Dr. Steffan Howe2 1RMIT University, 2Parks Victoria

Invasive plants acting as habitat modifiers or ecosystem engineers in coastal wetlands can have extensive impacts on local species assemblages, food-web dynamics, geomorphology, and biogeochemistry. Control of these invasive plants often relies on herbicide use, although little is known about subsequent environmental impacts. Studying effects of herbicides on non-target species and long- term cascading consequences is crucial for the protection of biodiversity and informed management practices, and may yield insights into the ecology of invasive species by revealing direct and indirect interactions with native species. We conducted a long-term (>1. 5 years) field experiment measuring effects of treat- ing the invasive saltmarsh grass, Spartina anglica, with the herbicide Fusilade Forte® in temperate Australia. S. anglica is a problematic invasive species on several continents and is commonly managed with herbicides. No changes in sedimentary macrofaunal abundances or species richness, diversity, or assemblages were detected one or two months after spraying, despite known toxicity of Fusilade Forte® to fauna. This lack of impact may have been due to low exposure, since the herbicide was taken up primarily by the plant leaves, with the small amount that reached the sediment hydrolyzing rapidly. Six months after spraying, however, total macrofauna in treated plots was more than four times more abundant than in control plots, due to a fifteen-fold increase in annelids. This population growth correlated with increased organic matter content of the sediment in treated plots, most likely due to the decomposition of dead S. anglica leaves that served as a food source for annelids. After another year, no differences in macrofauna or organic matter remained between treated and control plots. The temporary, indirect effect on annelid populations from herbicide treatment could benefit management efforts by providing greater food resources for wading birds, in addition to improving birds’ access to sediments by reducing plant cover. This study reveals an ecologically significant interaction between an invasive grass and resident fauna that is mediated by herbicide usage and should be an important consideration in management practices for wetlands.

288 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ancient genetic signatures and long distance dispersal in a marine foundation species

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair1, Ms. Suzanna Evans2, Dr. Siegy Krauss3, Prof. Gary Kendrick4 1University of Western Australia, 2University of New South Wales, 3Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, 4The University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute

Sea levels fluctuate considerably between glacial and interglacial periods. As a result, coastal margins fluctuate between inundation in which intertidal and marine communities establish and exposed dry land where terrestrial communities prevail. Significant shoreline changes have occurred along the southern coastlines of Australia. At the peak of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), approximately 25, 000 years ago, an extensive land bridge connected Tasmania to the Australian mainland. We are interested in the role of the two Australian boundary currents, the East Australian Current (EAC) and the Zeehan Cur- rent (ZC), compared to inshore currents and prevailing wind forcing play in shaping population genetic structure for a marine foundation species, Posidonia australis within the Bass Strait following the LGM. We generated multilocus microsatellite DNA genotypes and assessed spatial patterns of genetic diversity and clonality. Overall, there was strong regional spatial genetic structuring among P. australis meadows in southeastern Australia, which was congruent with the three recognized marine biogeographic provinces (Flindersian, Maugean, and Peronian). The Bass Strait meadows show strong signals consistent with: (i) a significant historical genetic break between South Australian meadows, Bass Strait meadows and East Coast meadows; (ii) Wilson’s Promontory not being a barrier to dispersal; (iii) strong similarity between Deal Island and East Coast meadows (Peronian influence via the EAC); (iv) evidence of two zones ofad- mixture; (v) isolation through the LGM and dispersal within Bass Strait, and; (vi) evidence for rare or episodic dispersal (long distance dispersal via the ZC). The data strongly suggest that Bass Strait genotypes survived in isolation from South Australian meadows during the LGM and the location for two refugial populations are hypothesized.

289 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Seed size affects germination and seedling survival in the seagrass Zostera nigricaulis

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. Tim Smith1, Dr. Craig Sherman1, Ms. Erin Cumming1, Dr. Jessie Jarvis2, Dr. Paul York2 1Deakin University, 2TropWATER, James Cook University

The seagrass Zostera nigricaulis is a common nearshore seagrass in southern Australia yet little is known about its reproductive biology. In Port Phillip Bay seed morphology varies across the bay but is not linked to seed production. Con- sistently larger and heavier seeds were sampled at Blairgowrie than both Point Henry and Swan Bay while Edwards Point had intermediate sized seeds. The implications of varying seed size on seed viability, germination, energy stores and seedling success were investigated using an experimental approach. Germi- nation was greater and persisted longer at sites with larger and intermediate sized seeds (Blairgowrie, Edwards Point) than those with smaller seeds (Point Henry, Swan Bay). After germination, seedlings from sites with large seeds survived for longer than sites that had small seed. These results show seed size has a clear effect on germination success and survival. Variations in size across sites may affect the ability of seagrass to regenerate or represent adaptation to variations in environmental conditions across Port Phillip Bay.

290 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Modelling fish attraction to artificial reefs –not always a fatal attraction

Tuesday, 7th July 17.10 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. James Smith1, Dr. Michael Lowry2, Prof. Iain Suthers1 1University of New South Wales, 2New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

The debate on whether artificial reefs produce new fish or simply attract existing fish biomass continues, and there remains considerable doubt as to whether artificial reefs are a harmful form of habitat modification. The harm typically associated with fish attraction is that fish will be easier to exploit due tothe existing biomass aggregating at higher densities on an artificial reef. This outcome of fish attraction has never developed past an anecdotal form, however, and is always perceived as a harmful process. We present a numerical model that simulates the effect that a redistributed fish biomass, due to an artificial reef, has on fishing catch per unit effort (CPUE). This model can beusedto identify the scenarios (in terms of reef, fish and harvest characteristics) that pose the most risk of exploitation due to fish attraction. Simulations revealed that attraction is not always harmful, because it does not always cause increased fish density. Rather, attraction sometimes disperses existing fish biomass, making them harder to catch. Therefore some attraction can be ideal, with CPUE lowest when attraction leads to an equal distribution of biomass between natural and artificial reefs. Simulations also showed that the outcomes from attraction depend on the characteristics of the target fish species, such that transient or pelagic species run a higher overall risk of ‘concentration by attraction’ than resident species. Although great progress is being made on estimating fish production from artificial reefs, production remains avery uncertain metric, and models such as this can be used to highlight the most risky scenarios that should be avoided when knowledge of fish production is scarce. This study also highlights that the redistribution of fishing effort is as important as the redistribution of fish biomass for estimating the risk, effects, and impacts of artificial reefs.

291 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Eastern king prawn dispersal in eastern Australia: new information from particle tracking

Wednesday, 8th July 10.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Jason Everett1, Dr. James Smith1, Dr. Erik van Sebille2, Mr. Christopher Setio1, Dr. Matthew Taylor3, Prof. Iain Suthers1 1University of New South Wales, 2Imperial College London, 3NSW Department of Primary Industries

The eastern king prawn (EKP) is found from Queensland down to Gippsland Lakes in Victoria, and evidence of spawning females suggest that these individuals are largely supplied from Queensland. Lagrangian particle tracking experiments were undertaken using the OFES ocean model from 1980-2008 and have allowed us to explore the inter-annual variability in EKP transport and quantify the source populations of larval EKPs along the east coast of Australia. Larval EKPs were tracked from release through to settlement. Settlement time was based on growth-degree-days, and larvae were thinned according to negative exponential mortality. Both forward and backward simulations were done. For- ward simulations had release locations between Fraser Island and Port Stephens to assess dispersal and backward simulations had arrival locations between Clarence River and Gabo Island to quantify the origin of EKP from known adult populations. Modelling revealed EKP larvae typically settle after 19-21 days in the plankton, and will disperse at a rate of 36-55 km/d. Both forward and backward simulations showed that southern Queensland can supply EKP larvae for the entire NSW coast, but supply to southern NSW is highly variable due to variability in the strength and eddies of the EAC. This variability means that spawning sites in northern NSW are an important source of EKPs, as a higher proportion of larvae released at these sites reach southern NSW. Our modelling also showed that many larvae do not make it to coastal areas at all, with larvae a mean distance of 300 km from the coast at time of settlement. A comparison between simulated larval supply and fisheries landing data shows a correlation between larval supply and harvested EKP biomass. This research shows that NSW spawning of EKPs is important for dispersal of larvae to higher latitudes, and that recruitment and subsequent catch of this species at its southern extent is higher dependent on the variability of the EAC. This has implications for current stocking efforts of the EKP in NSW.

292 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Match My Whale: A crowdsourcing platform for cross-identification of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Monday, 6th July 16.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Stephanie Stack1, Mr. Jens Currie1, Mr. Mikaya Swabb1, Mr. Greg Kaufman1, Dr. Emmanuelle Martinez1 1Pacific Whale Foundation

The large size of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) photo-identification (ID) catalogs is both a strength and a challenge. Every year, researchers add hundreds of new flukes photographs to their catalogs, making the task of pair- wise matching all individuals exponentially more difficult. Large catalogs mean that cross-checking is prohibitively time consuming, and, furthermore, within a catalog more and more errors can accumulate during the matching process (specifically, “false negatives” from missed matches), which reduces the confidence in the data and statistical models (Stevick et al., 2001). These missed matches can result in overestimates in abundance and growth because previously sighted individuals are mis-categorized as new individuals (Hammond et al., 1990). A new website, “Match My Whale”, has been developed by Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) using their South Pacific humpback whale photo-ID catalog. MMW is aimed at harnessing the power of crowd-sourcing and testing the theory that an online citizen scientist fluke matching platform will be more effective than the current method(s) of individuals manually searching fora match, or relying on complicated computer software. PWF considers this to be a breakthrough method for comparisons across large photo-ID catalogs, and getting the most accurate data for sight-resight models. Crowdsourcing can offer the effort and redundancy needed for scientists to manage their current catalogs, and facilitate the integration of multiple catalogs from different organizations.

293 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Seagrass hypocotyl hair development: the role of fresh water in the marine environment

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Costa Hall

Mr. Richard Stafford-Bell1, Dr. Anthony Chariton2, Dr. Randall Robinson3 1Institue for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University. CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 3Institue for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University

Hypocotyl hairs, single celled structures that develop soon after seed germination, provide anchorage to sediments, initiate geotropism and may facilitate water uptake. The ability of germinating seedlings of marine angiosperms to produce these structures may significantly influence their ability to maintain populations within estuarine environments. Such physiological adaptations that allow for greater attachment to the substrate by germinating seedlings would provide a competitive advantage. The development of hypocotyl hairs on germinants of the intertidal seagrass Zostera muelleri Irmisch ex Asch. was examined under differing temperature, salinity and light regimes. Hypocotyl hairs developed across the majority of the convex surface of the hypocotyls and was significantly influenced by both temperature (F2, 33 = 12. 06, p =0.002) and salinity (F5, 30 = 28. 21, p = <0. 001). Seeds which germinated at 20°C in 24-h darkness had significantly more germinants developing hypocotyl hairs than all other treatments. Although the development of hypocotyl hairs was generally greater under higher salinity concentrations, germinants stored under lower salinity conditions had a greater likelihood of developing fully extended hypocotyl hairs, with greater extent than those stored at higher salinity concentrations. Considering that the requirements for ideal germination and hypocotyl hair development in Z. muelleri are somewhat constrained, the control of freshwater inputs may have a direct influence on the ability of Z. muelleri germinants to develop these structures which may ultimately influence their capacity to disperse. As such, the relationships between the physico-chemistry of the water column and hypocotyl hair development should be considered in the management of this ecologically important species.

294 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Persistence of ghost crabs in a highly urbanised estuary

Monday, 6th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Ms. Talia Stelling-Wood1, Dr. Graeme Clark1, Prof. Alistair Poore1 1University of New South Wales

The accelerating destruction of natural habitats by rapidly expanding human populations has caused impacts to ecosystems around the globe. Sandy beaches are no exception to this, with intense coastal development and increasing recreational use resulting in widespread modifications of these ecosystems. Beaches in urban areas are now trapped in a ‘coastal squeeze’ between the impacts from urbanisation on the terrestrial side and the manifestations of climate change on the ocean side. Ghost crabs from the genus Ocypode are important consumers on sandy beaches and have been found to be susceptible to human activities such as trampling and beach grooming. We surveyed 37 sandy beaches in a highly urbanised estuary, Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), to test the relative importance of biotic and abiotic variables, including human activities and management practices on the abundance of the ghost crab Ocypode cordimana. Abundances were highly variable among beaches within the harbour, but were not effectively predicted by abiotic variables of beach length, slope, and grain size and organic content of sediments. There were some effects of beach cleaning regimes, but no variation among beaches with differing degrees of habitat modification (seawalls and presence of coastal vegetation). Our results suggest ghost crab populations in Sydney Harbour are more robust to the impacts of urbanisation than originally thought and gives hope to the persistence of similar populations in increasingly urbanised environments.

295 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Penrhyn Estuary Habitat Enhancement Plan: Results of Shorebird Monitoring

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Mr. Phil Straw1, Ms. Chelsea Hankin1, Ms. Petra Hanke1 1Avifauna Research & Services

Penrhyn Estuary is the only significant shorebird habitat remaining on the northern side of Botany Bay today. The small estuary was created artificially during the reclamation of the Botany foreshore between 1975 and 1978, and has been utilised by a diverse group of migratory birds. When Port Botany was expanded adjacent to Penrhyn in 2008, Sydney Ports Corporation rehabilitated the estuary, enlarging the size of primary foraging habitat from 2. 5 ha to over 16 ha. To measure the success of habitat enhancement works, the abundance of key species is monitored and compared to target numbers derived from pre- construction data in 2006, as well as counts at reference sites. Six key species were selected to indicate the success of the rehabilitation project: Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Stint, Double-banded Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Red Knot and Pacific Golden Plover. In this paper, we will discuss our findings from eight years of monitoring, including three years during and three years post construction. The 2013-2014 peak period, September 2013 to March 2014, marked the first season during which, for the first time since pre-construction records, all sixkey species were observed in Penrhyn Estuary. However, numbers have dropped in the current peak season, with only four of six key species observed in the 2014- 2015 peak period, September 2014 to March 2015. The diversity of migratory species has increased in post-construction years, approaching pre-construction conditions. Some species have met their target count indicating a positive result, while others remain below target or absent from the estuary. Nocturnal surveys have revealed higher numbers of some species, such as the Bar-tailed Godwit, compared to diurnal counts, raising questions about the role of artificial illumination in foraging behaviour and habitat selection. Future research will look at implications for species falling below the target count, and constraints of constructed habitats of this nature.

296 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The influence of spectral light quality on growth and reproduction in the seagrass Halophila ovalis

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Simone Strydom1, Dr. Kathryn McMahon1, Prof. Paul Lavery1, Prof. Gary Kendrick2, Dr. John Statton3 1Edith Cowan University, 2The University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, 3School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009 WA, Australia

Seagrass meadows provide crucial ecosystem services but are globally threatened. Much of the seagrass loss to date has been due to activities such as dredging, flooding and eutrophication, which alter both the quantity and quality oflight reaching seagrasses. Although there is a significant body of work on the effects of reduced light quantity, there is a poor understanding of how altered light quality affects seagrasses. Terrestrial angiosperms are sensitive to changes inlight quality but seagrasses have received little attention in this area, even though dredging is known to shift light quality towards the less-photosynthetically useful wavelengths (yellow-green). Aquarium-based experiments were conducted to determine whether seagrasses respond to shifts in light quality. Adult Halophila ovalis ramets were grown under monochromatic light treatments (blue, green, yellow and red) with a control of full spectrum light. All treatments received the same quantity of light. Photosynthetic characteristics, pigment content, carbohydrate reserves, biomass and growth measures were used to assess their response. There were no significant differences (P>0. 05) in the leaf pigment compliment across treatments, possibly due to the high variability of the pigment concentrations. There was a significant effect of light quality on flowering. While there were no statistically significant differences in total flowering intensity across treatments, the sex ratio was affected in green treatments, with 60% more male flowers compared to controls. Furthermore, the highest proportion of flowers to nodes were present in the red light treatments. New shoot production per day declined 50% in the blue, yellow and green treatments compared to control light, and plants grown under red light were no different to the controls. These results indicate that this seagrass may be well-suited to growing and reproducing in full spectrum and/or red dominated light, conditions likely to dominate in the shallow estuarine habitat which they were collected from, and that dredging-induced changes in light quality have the potential to affect seagrass flowering.

297 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Identifying and tracking resilience to ocean warming in marine ecological communities using the Community Temperature Index

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Rick Stuart-Smith1, Prof. Graham Edgar1, Dr. Neville Barrett1, Dr. Stuart Kininmonth2, Dr. Amanda Bates3 1University of Tasmania, 2Stockholm University, 3University of Southampton

The community temperature index (CTI) summarises the average thermal niche of the species and individuals present in a local community. It has been shown to increase with long-term warming in birds and butterflies and in global fisheries catches, and offers a theoretically-specific indicator for warming-driven biodiversity change. There has been no empirical evaluation of whether it responds linearly with temperature/warming, however, nor any evaluation of broad spatial trends in CTI of whole ecological communities in the marine environment. Using the Reef Life Survey dataset, we undertook a global analysis relating the CTI to local sea surface temperatures (SST), and identified considerable non- linearities – steps where the CTI jumps disproportionately with small changes in SST. These steps have interesting underlying ecological, biogeographic and physiological causes, but also substantial implications for predictions of warming impacts on marine biodiversity and associated management options. Our results confirm the utility and importance of CTI as a biodiversity indicator relevant at local and global scales, when interpreted in light of the non-linearity (and reduced scope for change in tropical locations). It allows the magnitude of warming-related change to be reported to the public and policy-makers in an easily interpretable manner. The CTI should be a critical inclusion in monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER) for marine protected areas, and evaluation of other marine management (e. g. fisheries), providing a unique means to assess indirect ecological effects which improve resilience to warming-related biodiversity change. Tracking CTI not only provides managers with an additional layer of detail on which to base evaluation of management effectiveness, but with standardised monitoring over broad spatial and temporal scales, commonalities can be drawn which can guide future management aimed at more broadly addressing multiple threats to marine biodiversity.

298 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Occurrence of Labyrinthula spp. in seagrass species of New South Wales, Australia

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Ms. Brooke Sullivan1, Dr. Osu Lilje2, Dr. Katie Robinson2, Ms. Stacey Trevathan-Tackett3, Dr. Erna Lilje2, Dr. Frank Gleason2 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 2University of Sydney, 3University of Technology Sydney

Seagrasses provide numerous ecosystem services and functions, thus seagrass ecosystems are a critical component of nearshore ecosystems worldwide (Table 1). Unfortunately, seagrass meadows are rapidly being lost in Australia and around the world (Waycott et al. 2009, Orth et al. 2006). Labyrinthula is a well-known endobiotic and epibiotic parasite found in association with seagrasses globally (Vergeer and den Hartog 1994), and is a putative causative agent of emerging infectious disease in seagrass ecosystems world-wide (Muehlstein et al. 1991). Under increasing stress from the impacts of global climate change, prevalence of disease epidemics in marine species is generally expected to rise in the future (Harvell et al. 2002). Existing studies of Labyrinthula infection, prevalence and pathogenicity have largely focused on species of Zostera and to some extent Thallassia spp. located in Japan, Europe, and the United States (Sullivan et al. 2013). A few isolated studies have confirmed the presence of Labyrinthula in Queensland and Western Australia (Seddon et al. 2000, Kirkman 1978), though specific observations, descriptions of culture methods and documentary photographs are lacking. A more detailed study of Labyrinthula was completed in New Zealand, where cultures confirmed multiple instances of infection and disease symptoms in seagrass beds in both Aukland and Christchurch seagrass meadows (Armiger 1964). Our study provides the first sampling of Labyrinthula in seagrass species of New South Wales, Australia, where we have positively confirmed the presence of Labyrinthula. A discussion of pathogenicity, DNA sampling and photographic imaging is included.

299 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Trophodynamics of krill and its potential role in blue whale feeding in the Perth Canyon, south-east Indian Ocean

Monday, 6th July 16.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Alicia Sutton1, Dr. Patti Virtue2, Dr. Peter D. Nichols3, Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1, Mr. K. Curt S. Jenner4, Mrs. Micheline-Nicole M. Jenner4 1Murdoch University, 2Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies; Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, 3CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Food, Nutrition and Bioproducts Flagship, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, 4Centre for Whale Research

Migrating blue whales along the Western Australian coast exhibit feeding behaviour within the Perth Canyon, which is an area of high krill abundance, particularly for Euphausia recurva. The importance of krill in marine food webs has led to a number of trophodynamic studies investigating their fatty acid and stable isotope compositions. In the south-east Indian Ocean, the suppression of upwelling by the dominant Leeuwin Current results in relatively oligotrophic waters, particularly during autumn and winter. Oligotrophic waters tend to be dominated by small autotrophic flagellates (i. e. dinoflagellates) and cyanobacteria. We relate biochemical data obtained for E. recurva, as well as Stylocheiron carinatum and Pseudeuphausia latifrons with their potential food source, phytoplankton, and one of their potential predators, the endangered pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) sampled in the Perth Canyon. Fatty acids of all three krill species were dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; ~50%) largely comprised of omega-3 PUFA, which is typical for krill. The high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio reflects a dinoflagellate, rather than a diatom diet, and the high oleic acid (18: 1 9) to vaccenic acid (18: 1 7) ratio is indicative of an omnivorous diet. Stable isotope analysis positions E. recurva as a first, possibly second order consumer (5. 8 - 8. 4 15N) and phytoplankton as the likely source of carbon (-18 to -24 13C). The fatty acid composition of krill did not match that of the surface phytoplankton sampled, which was low in PUFA and more reflective of degraded and detrital material. This suggests that krill are not feeding at the surface, and may feed closer to the deep chlorophyll maximum. The outer blubber layer sampled from the pygmy blue whale was high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA, 58%) rather than PUFA, and did not reflect the krill fatty acid composition. However, the high DHA to EPA ratio in the blubber indicated a diet originating from dinoflagellates, as found for krill. Stratification of fatty acids across blubber layers is common for marine mammals and the outer blubber layer for some species has been found to not accurately reflect the diet of the animal.

300 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Basin-wide oceanographic drivers of krill zoogeography in the Indian Ocean

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Costa Hall

Alicia Sutton1, Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1 1Murdoch University

Krill are holo-planktonic crustaceans that are wide-spread across the ocean basins of the world. The 86 known species fulfil an important role in pelagic food webs. The first basin-wide investigation of krill zoogeography was conducted during the International Indian Ocean Expedition (1962 - 1965). Together with subsequent plankton and micro-nekton studies conducted over the past five decades, all available krill distribution information for the 57 krill species occurring throughout the Indian Ocean has been collated to produce spatially-explicit data on species richness and taxonomic distinctness. The number of krill species was highest throughout the tropical and subtropical areas, and within the southward flowing Agulhas and Leeuwin Currents, each of which, had 34 species of krill. Average taxonomic distinctness (Δ+) is a measure of biodiversity that can be applied to presence/absence data and is robust to differences in sampling effort, which allows historical data sets to be included. Most areas of the Indian Ocean were comparable in Δ+ values, which reflects the high connectivity across the basin and, in turn, holo-planktonic krill. Areas with lower Δ+ included the Red Sea and the north-west coast of India, whilst, somewhat surprisingly, areas of higher Δ+ were found in the middle of the Bay of Bengal. Although only 10 species were recorded from this region, these species were spread across six different genera, including Bentheuphausia amblyops, from the monotypic family Bentheuphausiidae, and Pseudeuphausia latifrons, which is the only species of this genus found in the Indian Ocean. All values of Δ+ fell within the 95% probability limits of the expected mean for Δ+, indicating that, for each 2° x 3° grid cell spanning the Indian Ocean, the krill species sampled were representative of the Indian Ocean species pool. Basin-scale environmental data sets and ocean climatology reveal patterns in environmental drivers such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a across decadal time series. Using generalised additive models, these environmental factors have been correlated with krill zoogeography to establish basin-wide relationships across the Indian Ocean.

301 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The impact of a century of industrial pollution on the current condition of the lower Hunter River estuary

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. Rebecca Swanson1, Dr. Peter Scanes1 1NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

Newcastle has been a large industrial centre since early last century with BHP Steelworks operating from 1915 – 1999, and the region supporting a wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary industries involved with agriculture, mining, manufacture and transport. Regulation of industrial waste was non-existent for most of last century and it was common practise to discharge untreated industrial waste laden with acids, phenols, ammonia, cyanide and metals directly to the Hunter River. The Port of Newcastle is now the world’s largest coal export port, exporting 159 million tonnes of coal in 2014. NSW Office of Environ- ment (OEH) have completed a technical assessment of historical and current environmental and monitoring data collected in the Hunter estuary to inform on the current ecological health, and to address community concerns regarding the cluster of heavy industries having a significant cumulative impact on the estuary. Historical data revealed the extent of contamination of the estuary and riverbed sediments. Levels of ammonia, nitrates and phosphates in the estuary were up to 50 times above ANZECC guidelines in data collected during the 1970s to 1990s. Estuaries are efficient sinks for industrial contaminants such as heavy metals and hydrocarbon compounds which bind to sediment particles. Sediments in un-dredged areas of the harbour and port can be enriched with heavy metals at levels 3 times above background along with alarming levels of organic contaminants like chlordane, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and total petroleum hydrocarbons. Today, industrial waste discharges to the estuary are tightly regulated by the NSW Environment Protection Authority who also has powers under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 to enforce pol- luters to clean-up contaminated sites. BHP-B carried out the Hunter River Remediation Project to clean-up heavily contaminated sediments adjacent to the former Steelworks site. Recent water quality data collected by OEH suggests that the health of the Hunter River estuary has improved considerably since 2000 although nutrient levels are often above ANZECC guidelines. The data provide a baseline against which environmental impacts of future developments can be assessed which will be critical for the effective management of the health of the Hunter River.

302 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Realising connectivity- the influence of early life history on the dynamics of marine metapopulations

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Steve Swearer1, Dr. John Ford1, Ms. Emily Fobert1, Dr. Eric Treml1 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne

The replenishment of benthic marine populations is the culmination of many processes that influence the production, dispersal, settlement and survival of larvae to maturity. Although there have been recent advances in our understanding of dispersal and its importance to population connectivity, to date no study has attempted to evaluate all early life-history processes to assess their relevance to the maintenance of marine metapopulations. Using a model temperate reef fish species, the southern hulafish (Trachinops caudimaculatus), we present data on larval vertical distributions, larval settlement behaviour from choice experiments, and spatial population structure and integrate these empirical results into a coupled biophysical connectivity framework. We then compare modelled estimates of connectivity to larval dispersal patterns from otolith microchem- istry. Our findings reveal that realistic estimates of connectivity depend ona high degree of biological complexity, highlighting the importance of empirical validation of biophysical models of larval dispersal.

303 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Seagrass rehabilitation using Posidonia seedlings in South Australia

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Jason Tanner1 1South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

More than 5, 200 ha of seagrass were lost off Adelaide between ~ 1940 and 2002, primarily due to nutrient inputs. Improved wastewater management since has reduced nitrogen inputs from 2, 400 to 600 tonnes p. a., leading to some natural recovery (~ 4 %). To improve recovery, traditional seagrass rehabilitation methods of transplants and seedling propagation were tested and largely failed due to relatively strong hydrodynamic forces and extensive bioturbation. A fortuitous and novel combination of simple engineering and a biological peculiarity, however, produced encouraging results, whereby hessian bags were used to entangle the ‘grappling hook’ apparatus possessed by seedlings of the seagrass Amphibolis antarctica. While highly successful at small scales, this technique is not currently applicable to a broad range of other seagrass species. Initial trials implanting Posidonia seedlings into the bags have, however, also proved successful. Seedling survival over 2 ½ years ranged from 15-60% depending on fill type for bags seeded in early 2012, and after 3 years it was no longer possible to distinguish individual plants, which had spread through the production of rhizomes. Over this time period, plants grew to ~25-30 cm in height. Bags filled with 100% sand were the least successful, with a 50: 50 mix ofclayand sand the most successful. A repeat of this experiment in 2013 showed poorer survival (15-40%), but still good growth. Again the 50: 50 mix appeared best, although not significantly so, and this time the worst mix was 70% sand30% clay. Additional experiments showed little influence of organic matter addition (dried seagrass) on survival, although low rates (0 or 300 g per bag) produced the best growth. Large seeds showed the best survival, although seed size influences on growth were inconsistent. Finally, intermediate seedling densities resulted in the highest survival, but low seed densities produced the best growth. While successful, the major disadvantage of this technique for species such as Posidonia is that it requires divers to plant the newly sprouted seedlings into bags, which is time consuming. It remains to be determined if bags can be pre-seeded prior to deployment, which would remove the need for divers.

304 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Predicting the future by observing the past: Precipitation and phytoplankton

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Peter Thompson1, Mr. Todd O’Brien2, Prof. Hans Paerl3, Mr. Benjamin Peierls3, Prof. Paul Harrison4, Mr. Malcolm Robb5 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, 2NOAA, 3University of North Carolina, 4University of British Columbia, 5West Australia, Department of Water

Climatic changes are shaping our planet’s ecosystems yet our capacity to predict the consequences and prepare for the future remains rudimentary. Changes to the hydrological cycle mean that large regions of the planet are experiencing changes in precipitation. Responses by phytoplankton were assessed in three regions: 1) globally, 2) in regions that are wet and getting wetter, 3) in regions that are dry and getting drier. Using long-term time-series data the temporal variation in precipitation was compared with variation in chlorophyll a, diatoms, dinoflagellates, chlorophytes, chrysophytes and euglenophytes from 106 sites worldwide. The results demonstrate that phytoplankton responses to precipitation depend upon the season and region. In general phytoplankton responded more positively to increased precipitation during summer rather than winter. Increased precipitation during winter was likely to reduce chlorophyll a, diatoms and chrysophytes, whereas increasing precipitation in summer was likely to increase chlorophyll a and favor chlorophytes. Within regions that are wet and getting wetter chlorophyll a increased and dinoflagellate abundances were reduced in wet autumns; while diatom abundances were reduced in wet springs. In dry and drying ecosystems the abundances of chlorophytes decreased during dry springs and summers. The existence of these widespread patterns of phytoplankton abundance associated with inter annual variability in precipitation improves our capacity to predict the future composition of phytoplankton communities in estuarine and coastal water bodies.

305 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

In situ comparisons of glider bio-optical measurements to CTD water properties

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Paul Thomson1, Dr. Alessandra Mantovanelli1, Dr. Simon Wright2, Prof. Chari Pattiaratchi1 1Australian National Facility for Ocean Gliders, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering and The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth WA 6007, Australia, 2Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Hwy, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia

ANFOG has completed over 175 glider missions, making sustained oceanographic observations around Australia. While conductivity, temperature, depth (CTD) data from gliders are highly accurate and readily interpreted, there is a great need to improve our understanding of seawater bio-optical properties and to validate bio-optical sensor measurements. Despite their importance, direct in situ comparisons between bio-optical instruments (such as the glider Ecopuck) and water sample measurements are rare. We aimed to increase our understanding of bio-optical data by comparing Ecopuck data (such as fluorescence and backscatter) from the Slocum glider with water samples collected simultaneously by Niskin bottle. In January 2015 we attached a Slocum gilder to a Seabird CTD rosette and made 19 casts on a cruise between Exmouth and Darwin. Seawater was sampled at the surface, the bottom and at the chlorophyll maximum and analysed for photosynthetic pigments, particulate suspended matter and phytoplankton community composition as determined by CHEMTAX. The glider simultaneously measured CTD and bio-optical parameters (fluorescence, backscatter, irradiance and CDOM). Phytoplankton communities were remarkably similar across the sampling area, with most chlorophyll biomass occurring as deep chlorophyll maxima at the ther- mocline. Prasinophytes, haptophytes and cyanobacteria (e. g. Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus) dominated inshore (the Montebello Islands) and mid shelf regions that included a tidal front west of Karratha and a cyclonic eddy north of Broome. Diatoms dominated the communities only at 3 sites west of Broome. Otherwise diatoms, dinoflagellates, and cryptophytes were minor components of the community. Niskin bottle chlorophyll concentrations were generally less than 1 mg m-3. However, biomass reached values of 1 - 2 mg m-3 where diatoms were abundant. Chlorophyll a estimates by the Ecopuck correlated well with bottle chlorophyll (r2 = 0. 81), but relationships between Ecopuck backscatter and organic and inorganic suspended matter were poor.

Bio-optical instruments are now widely deployed on gliders, moorings and Bio- Argo floats around the world, and it is critical we improve our understanding of these bio-optical data. Our study provides useful biological insights into bio- optical data and ocean productivity and provides empirical data for modellers. We recommend similar studies be incorporated into transit voyages around Australia.

306 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Bioturbators: Friend or foe to seagrass carbon stocks?

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Alexandra Thomson1, Prof. Peter Ralph1, Dr. Daniel Nielsen1, Dr. Peter MacReadie1 1University of Technology Sydney

Seagrass is one of the most proficient carbon sequestration ecosystems in the world. Their ability to capture and store carbon for long periods of time is largely due to a constant supply of organic matter, and maintained benthic anoxia. The process of estimating carbon stocks takes these factors into consideration, but generally these systems are treated as static, and the carbon stock is only reassessed after a disturbance (i. e. a storm or dredging event). However, there are natural and persistent disturbances ubiquitously found in seagrass ecosystems; bioturbators. We performed a mesocosm experiment comparing the susceptibility of surface seagrass sediment (young, highly labile) with deep (ancient, highly bound to minerals) sediment, to determine the stability of its carbon stock against bioturbation by Callianassid shrimp. Over 2 months, bioturbation reduced surface carbon stocks by 35%, while deep stocks appeared to be stable. We assessed the microbial density as well as sediment oxygenation, and determined that the reduction in surface carbon stock was likely due to be a function of both factors – increased microbial density (and activity), as well as increased sediment oxygen penetration and concentration. It appears that through bioturbation, chemical and microbial processes within the surface sediment are altered, fueling an increase in carbon remineralisation. The stability of deep sediment carbon stocks against bioturbation was a likely result of this carbon being highly bound to minerals, and therefore difficult to remineralise. This result has implications for continued seagrass carbon stock potential, with a reduction in surface carbon putting at risk the persistence of carbon stock through time. This has further implications on a wider ecosystem scale; if bioturbators populations increase in density, we may predict their further negative impact on future coastal seagrass carbon stocks.

307 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Tidal fronts and complex, submerged topography define movements of flatback sea turtles (Natator depressus)

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Michele Thums1, Dr. David Waayers2, Prof. Chari Pattiaratchi3, Dr. Mark Meekan1 1Australian Institute of Marine Science, 2Imbricata Environmental, 3University of Western Australia

Sea turtles migrate between nesting beaches and foraging grounds, but the cues that these animals use to direct these migrations are not well known. Here, we used satellite telemetry to follow the movements of 11 flatback sea turtles (Natator depressus) after nesting in the waters off the coast and continental shelf of the Kimberley region of northern Australia. State-space models were used to objectively define nesting, migration and foraging behaviour during the 327 ± 315 days that the turtles were tracked. These animals migrated along the coast in water depths averaging 64 ± 5 m to foraging grounds on the raised carbonate bank and terrace systems of the mid-Sahul Shelf in the Timor Sea in average water depths of 74 ± 12 m. The turtles spent >75% of the time they were tracked in these foraging grounds, which were 135 ± 35 km from shore. During migrations, the animals appeared to follow tidal fronts along the Kimberley Coast, which are boundaries between the turbid and well-mixed inshore waters and the clearer, stratified shelf waters. Once on the foraging grounds they focussed their movement at the outside boundary of the tidal fronts, in stratified waters. Oceanic frontal zones of all types are associated with high primary productivity and as a result are the focus of feeding for many species of higher trophic levels. We suggest that the combination of high productivity in the vicinity of tidal fronts and complex topography of the mid Sahul Shelf provide a productive foraging ground for flatback sea turtles and other turtle species within the region. Our study identified both critical habitats for this species and a possible bio-physical cue that these animals may use to navigate while migrating between nesting and foraging grounds. This information is essential to aid spatial planning of conservation for this data- deficient species that is endemic to northern Australia.

308 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

New approach for determination of Fe in presence of high concentrations of natural organic matter (NOM) by the modified ferrozine method

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Hanieh Tohidi Farid1, Dr. Dirk Erler1, Prof. Kai Schulz1, Dr. Peter Kraal2, Prof. Andrew Rose1 1Southern Cross University, 2Utrecht

The analysis of iron in natural waters is difficult due to the low concentration of Fe coupled with its high affinity to form colloids complexes with organic matter. The complexities of measuring Fe in presence of natural organic matter (NOM) mainly result from their competitive role for Fe acquisition coupled with their dual behavior acting as both a reductant and an oxidant. For these reason, the commonly used methods have been mostly relied on determination of total dissolved iron. Although these methods are efficient under different conditions, they have been always associated with some uncertainties. Here, we have developed a new approach by combining a modified ferrozine method (FZ), semi-flow injection analysis and spectrophotometry with Liquid waveguide capillary cell to determine total dissolved Fe at nM level in water samples containing high concentrations of NOM. To achieve this aim, we exclusively measured the duration required for complete Fe dissociation from desferrioxamine B (DFB), reduction of Fe(III) by Na2SO3 and complexation between FZ and Fe. Our results indicate that storage of the samples at a very low pH (close to1) for 10 days can result in fully dissociation of Fe in presence of 50µM of DFB. Moreover, the results show that addition of FZ shortly after reduction step (15min) and considering a mixing time of at least 24h for ferrozine can dramatically stabilized coloured- complex (FeII-FZ) over time and accordingly improve the reliability of method. This approach was also successfully applied to natural samples collected from Trichodesmium erythraeum cultures and coastal waters.

309 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Seagrass seed dispersal by marine mega-herbivores: Dugongs (Dugong dugon) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Wednesday, 8th July 12.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Samantha Tol1, Dr. Rob Coles2, Dr. Jessie Jarvis1, Dr. Paul York1, Dr. Brad Congdon3 1TropWATER, James Cook University, 2James Cook Uni, 3College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University

Marine mega-herbivores, such as dugong (Dugong dugon) and sea-turtles (Ch- elonia mydas), are known to move 100s of kilometres within short time frames and are almost obligate seagrass consumers. Consequently, they may be an important long distance disperser of seagrass seeds, contributing significantly to meadow connectivity and re-establishment after loss. If so, it is important to quantify the role they play in facilitating seed dispersal. This is only true if they consume significant numbers of seeds and these seeds remain viable after passing through their gut. Therefore, we studied the potential role of two different mega-herbivore species in seagrass seed dispersal by examining seed viability after gut passage. Dugong faecal samples were collected from three intertidal seagrass meadows within the northern Great Barrier Reef (Whitsundays to Townsville) during the peak period of seagrass reproduction from September to December 2014. Sea-turtle scats were also collected from two individuals held in a rehabilitation centre that had been fed seagrass seeds of a single species. Seeds of four seagrass species were found to traverse the digestive tract in dugongs. The single species of seagrass seeds fed to turtles also passed though their digestive tract with minimal damage. Tetrazolium staining of the seeds recovered from dugong faecal matter showed that close to 10 percent of seeds passed were found to be viable. A small number of seagrass seeds had also begun to germi- nate within the dugong faecal matter before staining. Our results demonstrate that biologically significant numbers of viable seeds can be transported and dispersed by marine mega-herbivores; suggesting that this mode of dispersal needs to be considered when trying to understand the processes determining seagrass population stability and re-establishment dynamics.

310 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Size-based insights into fish community structure: a kelp forest case study and Southern Ocean applications

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Rowan Trebilco1, Prof. Nick Dulvy2, Dr. Anne Salomon2, Dr. Jess Melbourne-Thomas1, Dr. Andrew Constable1, Dr. Dirk Welsford3, Prof. Mark Hindell4 1Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, 2Simon Fraser University, 3Australian Antarctic Division, 4Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania

Reducing uncertainty in ecosystem management and conservation is a great challenge, particularly if community structure and the processes that drive it are poorly understood. Size-based analyses and modelling offer new opportunities for simplifying and resolving key uncertainties in the structure and function of food webs, and how they might be affected by indirect effects arising from perturbations. We provide an overview of results from a rocky reef kelp forest fish community at a remote island chain off the north-western coast of British Columbia, Canada. In this system, visual surveys and stable isotope analyses indicated a strongly positive biomass spectrum slope (i. e. a trend for more biomass at large vs. size-classes – an inverted biomass pyramid) and a predator- to-prey mass ratio (PPMR) in the order of 1650. These results present a paradox, because size spectra theory predicts that bottom-heavy biomass pyramids or ‘stacks’ should predominate in real world communities if trophic-level increases with body-size (mean PPMR >1). We hypothesise that this mismatch could arise from energetic subsidies in the form of movement of mobile consumers across habitats, and from seasonal pulsed production inputs at small body-sizes. Such discontinuities between empirical pattern and expectations from ecological processes provide a measure of the magnitude of cross-boundary subsidies. Such size-based insights into the structure of marine communities can be applied more broadly. In the Southern Ocean, mesopelagic fish and squid play a key role transferring energy from zooplankton to higher predators, and several species of fish are of commercial importance. However, the sensitivities of mesopelagic fish and squid to the combined impacts of fishing and climate change arepoorly understood. Model representations of these groups – which will inform our understanding of their current status and potential future trends – are currently lacking. We provide an overview of a new program of research that will use size- based models related to pelagic habitat variables to advance our understanding of the role of mesopelagic species in Southern Ocean ecosystems and inform the development of indicators for ecological change.

311 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Is the microbial priming effect a potential threat to seagrass blue carbon storage?

Wednesday, 8th July 12.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Stacey Trevathan-Tackett1, Prof. Peter Ralph1, Dr. Peter MacReadie1 1University of Technology Sydney

Blue carbon habitats are systems that naturally sequester organic carbon into their sediments at faster rates than many terrestrial systems. By locking away this sediment organic carbon, blue carbon habitats act CO2 sinks. However, there are some processes that can potentially threaten to turn these sinks into sources such as enhanced microbial remineralisation of organic carbon via the microbial priming effect (MPE). MPE is a phenomenon in which access tofresh, labile organic carbon (LOC) ‘kick-starts’ sediment microbes to co-metabolise refractory organic carbon (ROC) that could not have been otherwise utilised. MPE has been studied in terrestrial ecosystems, however, little is known about how or if this mechanism occurs in coastal habitats. LOC in coastal environment may include autochthonous sources like algae and plant detritus as well as allochthonous sources from nearby streams or run-off from land. Seagrass meadows, a blue carbon habitat, have the potential to store ROC on millennial timescales but may frequently be the site of LOC input due to algae blooms under nutrient-loading conditions. Furthermore, physical disturbances like dredging or anchoring or propeller scars may expose deeply buried ROC to the surface and in contact with LOC. As a consequence, these LOC additions could potentially trigger MPE and threaten the ability of seagrass meadows to act as hotspots for capturing and sequestering ROC. This study aims to better understand the MPE mechanism in seagrass sediments using two LOC sources: microalgae to simulate an algae bloom and seagrass detritus to simulate a common LOC input. Both LOC sources were enriched with natural 13C isotopes before adding to sediments from 3 depths, 0-1 cm, 4-5 cm and 29-30 cm, which represent recent to 1, 800-year-old ROC deposits. MPE was assessed by quantifying the captured CO2 produced as a byproduct of microbial metabolism. Mixing models applied to -13C stable isotope analysis were used to assess the proportion of LOC vs. ROC remineralised by the microbial population. Based on these results, we will discuss the implications of MPE in blue carbon habitats.

312 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Composition and distribution of tintinnids in Australian marine waters

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Costa Hall

Mr. Julian Uribe-Palomino1, Ms. Claire H. Davies2, Mr. Frank Coman1, Dr. Ruth Eriksen3, Mr. Mark Tonks1, Ms. Anita Slotwinski1, Ms. Felicity McEnnulty4, Mr. James McLaughlin5, Dr. Wayne Rochester1, Dr. Anthony Richardson6 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia., 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia., 3CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia., 4CSIRO Ocean and Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia, 5CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia., 6CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia. And Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics (CARM), School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 40

Tintinnids are planktonic marine ciliates with a worldwide distribution. This group is an important link between nanoplankton and higher trophic levels. However, little is known about them in Australian marine waters. Data from the National Reference Stations (NRS) and the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey were analysed to establish the composition, distribution and relative abundance of these organisms. A total of 26 genera of tintinnids have been recorded from NRS samples and 19 genera from the CPR survey. In CPR samples, Codonellopsis, Cyttarocylis and Dictyocysta were the most frequently recorded and abundant (1. 2 x 105 ind. /m3 – 1. 7 x 106 ind. /m3) genera. In NRS samples, Salpingella, Eutintinnus, Rhabdonella, Dadayiella and Tintinnopsis were common and abundant (1. 05 x 106 ind. /m3 - 1. 63 x 106 ind. /m3). The genera Cymatocylis, Epiplocylis and Favella were found only along the eastern coast of Australia. Cymatocylis extended from tropical to temperate waters, Epiplocylis was recorded only in subtropical to temperate waters, whereas Favella was limited to temperate waters. There was insufficient data to identify seasonal patterns of distribution of tintinnids. A multivariate analysis of tintinnid data highlighted different communities around Australia. More research is required to understand the relationship of tintinnids with environmental variables and the impact of this planktonic community in the transference of energy to different levels of the trophic web.

313 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Multi-decadal changes in the fish fauna of an extensively modified estuary

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Costa Hall

Dr. Fiona Valesini1, Dr. Chris Hallett1, Mr. Alan Cottingham1 1Murdoch University

This presentation outlines multi-decadal change in the fish fauna of an extensively modified, microtidal estuary in response to the interactive effects of steady population growth and climate change. Drawing on an extensive and extremely rare data set collated from 1979-2009, we examine multiple aspects of the fish fauna including community composition, an integrated fish-based index of estuarine health and (from 1993-2009) the growth and productivity of a key estuarine species (Black Bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri) to determine their collective ‘signals’ of inter-annual change. Our findings demonstrate prominent but differing inter-period shifts in each of the above aspects of the fish fauna, and highlight the need to take a multifaceted approach to examining ecological indicators of ecosystem health. Whereas fish species composition in the shallows of particularly the lower to middle estuary has changed markedly from earlier to later periods (reflecting increases in several marine-affiliated species and also Black Bream, but declines in others linked with fresher conditions), that in the deeper waters of the middle to upper estuary has shown comparatively little change (though did reflect declines in some species including Black Bream). Incon- trast, the fish-based index of estuarine health has decreased consistently over time from a ‘report card’ grade of C (fair) to D (poor) in the late 2000s in the deeper waters, but the health of the shallows has remained fair and even increased slightly in recent periods. Moreover, while far greater numbers and biomass of Black Bream now occur in the shallows, apparently reflecting (at least in part) their emigration from the deeper waters, their growth and body condition has declined dramatically since the early 1990s. We then explore the relationships between these biotic responses and a suite of environmental attributes to unravel the key drivers of change. We conclude by considering some potential future scenarios for the fish fauna of this system given current projections of population growth and climate.

314 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Accounting for and valuing ecosystem services in Victoria’s parks

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mr. Tony Varcoe1, Ms. Helen Betts O’Shea2, Dr. Zaida Contreras2 1Parks Victoria, 2Department of Environment Land Water and Planning VIC

Victoria’s parks contain significant natural and other capital that provide awide range of services and benefits to the community, many of which are currently un- dervalued in decision making and resource allocation. Recognising and building on the work undertaken internationally in environmental ecosystem accounting and valuation, we have established an accounting and valuation framework to quantify, account and value the ecosystem services provided by Victoria’s parks together with the first indicative assessment of the current benefits of arangeof ecosystem services from Victoria’s parks and a set of pilot ecosystem accounts, including marine and coastal assets. We have also identified key knowledge gaps to improve the quality of ecosystem service assessments. The application of international accounting and valuation frameworks to the Victorian parks network will support park planning, investment, management and evaluation decisions as well as inform policy and funding models to maintain parks’ natural capital and maximise their value to the society. Our work provides the foundation for a new direction in recognising, quantifying, valuing and reporting on the contribution of Victoria’s parks to Victoria’s environment, economy and wellbeing using best international practice.

315 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The ecology of surf-zone fishes on ocean shores: a review

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Elena Vargas-Fonseca1, Dr. Andrew Olds1, Prof. Thomas Schlacher1 1University of the Sunshine Coast

Surf-zones are recognized to perform many important ecological functions for fish, which warrant more attention from research in the disciplines ofecology, fish biology and conservation. Some surf-zone fish species support intense commercial and recreational fisheries and, therefore, possibly suffer from thepoor attention these ecosystems are afforded in conservation planning exercises. This review synthesizes published material on the ecology of surf-zone fish from ocean beaches (134 studies), provides an overview of the current state of knowledge, and identifies key priorities for future research. It addresses the following questions: (1) Which thematic areas has research on surf-zone fish covered?; (2) What is the taxonomic composition of fish assemblages in surf-zones?; (3) Which are the most commonly identified environmental drivers thought to structure surf-zone fish communities?; (4) What are the main functions of surf-zone habitats for fishes?; (5) What are the paradigms that govern surf-zone fish ecology research?; and (6) How can future research integrate advanced ecological concepts that are being applied in other marine ecosystems? Surf zones fish communities are dominated by few species and are subject to high temporal variability. However, a surprisingly large number of fish species and families utilize this habitat as an interface between estuaries and offshore ecosystems, or as a spawning, nursery or feeding ground. To date, research has focused on a narrow range of topics with a limited geographic distribution of research effort, and has been restricted by four key limitations: (1) sampling gear restrictions; (2) limited knowledge of fish life-history strategies and the importance of connectivity with other habitats; (3) poor integration of modern frameworks in spatial ecology; and (4) little adoption of innovative research techniques from other disciplines. It is time to overcome the limitations and ensconced paradigms that have hampered the field to improve our ability to manage surf-zone ecosystems.

316 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Validation of Hydrodynamic Ocean Models Using Empirical Data For The Purpose of Larval Dispersal Modelling

Monday, 6th July 12.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Roxana Vasile1, Dr. Klaas Hartmann2, Dr. Sean Tracey2, Dr. Eric Oliver2, Dr. Alistair Hobday3 1EMBC, 2Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 3CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research

Larval dispersal modelling and many other applications of hydrodynamic models require extensive time series of accurate high-resolution simulations of the ocean state, particularly current velocities and seawater temperature. Ocean current velocities drive the dispersal of planktonic organisms and other passive drifters, while seawater temperature is a key parameter in the survival of propagules. In this study we propose a method to assess the accuracy of hydrodynamic ocean models by using empirical data. The ocean models we tested are HYCOM (Hy- brid Coordinate Ocean Model) developed by the Centre for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS), and BRAN (Bluelink ReANalysis) and RIBBON models developed by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organi- sation (CSIRO). BRAN is a global model that runs on a z-level grid, with coarse coastal horizontal resolution of 0. 1°. HYCOM is a global ocean model that uses a hybrid grid for improved coastal simulations and has a 0. 08° horizontal resolution. RIBBON is a regional model on a curvilinear -level grid, covering the entire Australian continental shelf at a horizontal resolution between 0. 01° and 0. 1°. We validated the predictions of these hydrodynamic models for seawater temperature, u and v components of current velocity in the ocean coastal domain of Australia against in situ measurements from the Australian Network of National Moorings (ANMN). This method provides a spatially explicit test of model accuracy at single points in space.

317 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Natal elemental signatures in the otoliths of Lipophrys pholis (Pisces: Blenniidae)

Wednesday, 8th July 12.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Roxana Vasile1, Dr. Nicole Barbee2, Prof. Alberto Correia3, Dr. Steve Swearer4, Prof. Henrique Queiroga5 1Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 2Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, 3Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, 4School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 5Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro; Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM)

Larval dispersal is a fundamental form of connectivity in the marine environment but in spite of its importance to biogeography, population dynamics and resilience, it is little studied and poorly estimated due to the complexity and variability of the multitude of processes involved. One important gap in our knowledge is caused by our inability to track the multitude of microscopic larvae from a spawning site to a recruitment site. Recent advances in the use of natural tags show great promise in identifying the place of origin of dispersing larvae. Calcified structures such as otoliths have capacity to reflect in theirchem- istry the physiochemical properties of the surrounding seawater at the time they were formed. In this study we show that embryonic otoliths of the blennid fish Lipohrys pholis retain natal geochemical signatures that can be used to identify the potential source populations of dispersing larvae. Using laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we measured the concentration of 12 elements (Li, B, Mg, P, S, K, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, Pb) in the embryonic otoliths of L. pholis from 20 sites within 3 regions of the Portuguese coast. We found significant spatial variation in otolith geochemical signatures and show that these elemental fingerprints can be used to discriminate witha high degree of confidence between sites separated by 10s to 100s of km.The atlas of natal geochemical signatures in the otoliths of L. pholis generated in this study will be used in the construction of empirical connectivity matrices by assigning the recruits of this species to their correspondent natal populations based on the match of their otolith core signatures to the embryonic otolith signatures.

318 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Effects of Herbicide Treatments on Spartina anglica and Invertebrates in an Australian Saltmarsh

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Ms. Emily Verspaandonk1, Ms. Linda Kleinhenz1, Prof. Dayanthi Nugegoda1, Dr. Steffan Howe2, Dr. Jeff Shimeta1 1RMIT University, 2Parks Victoria

The spread of the European cordgrass Spartina anglica is of worldwide concern. The effectiveness and indirect effects of 2 herbicide treatments were testedina Victorian estuary over 6 months. Fifteen plots were established on the North coast of Anderson Inlet. Five replicate plots were sprayed with Fusilade Forte, 5 with a mixture of Fusilade Forte® and the adjuvant HASTEN®, and 5 were left as controls. Fusilade Forte® has been shown to have moderate toxicity to some aquatic invertebrates but almost nothing is known of its toxicity to saltmarsh invertebrates in field studies. Both Fusilade Forte® and the HASTEN® mixture were equally effective in reducing Spartina cover. There was a significant reduction in cover from 95% to 64% in both the Fusilade Forte® and mixture plots at 2 months post spraying, while Spartina cover in the controls remained high. Sediment cores were taken before and 2 months after herbicide spraying to determine effects in macrofaunal abundance and diversity. Results from replicates examined to date suggest that total macrofauna, Annelid and Oligochaete abundances declined over time in all plots, including controls. This result may be due to seasonal variation. There were no significant differences in abundance between treatments and controls at 2 months post-spraying. Crus- tacean diversity in the treatment plots was seen to differ significantly from the controls before spraying but at 2 months after spraying this difference no longer existed. The disappearance of significance seems to be caused by a slight (though not significant) increase in control diversity while the mixture plots diversity decreased slightly. Laboratory ecotoxicology tests were performed on 3 of 4 common species from the field site. Results showed increasing sensitivity from Molluscs to Oligochaetes to Polychaetes and finally Crustaceans. Three of the four species were more sensitive to the Fusilade Forte® and HASTEN® mixture rather than Fusilade Forte® alone. Using herbicide controls are effective, and early results suggest little to no impact of the herbicide or mixture on the invertebrate inhabitants of the saltmarsh. Final conclusions from the completed samples will be presented.

319 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Population structure in the highly dispersed southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Ms. Cecilia Villacorta-Rath1, Ms. Irina Ilyushkina2, Dr. Jan Strugnell3, Dr. Bridget Green1, Dr. Nick Murphy4, Dr. James Bell2, Mr. Stephen Doyle4, Mr. Andrew Robinson4 1University of Tasmania, 2Victoria University of Wellington, 3Latrobe University, 4LaTrobe University, Melbourne

The southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, is a species of economic importance in Australia and New Zealand. Due to the extended pelagic larval stage of J. edwardsii, there are predictions of extensive gene flow between sub-populations throughout its geographical distribution. Understanding the degree of gene flow and population structure is essential in determining population boundaries, as well as sources and sinks of larvae and will ultimately help in making managerial decisions about fishing effort. The aim of this study was to investigate population structure of J. edwardsii between Australia and New Zealand, using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Lobsters were sampled from four locations in Australia (Victoria, West Tasmania, South Tasmania and East Tasmania) and four locations in New Zealand (Auckland, Tonga Island, Chatham Islands and Stewart Island). Baited pots were deployed at each site and left overnight. Pots were collected the following day and lobsters were removed manually from them. Carapace length of all lobsters was measured and either a pleopod clip or a leg was taken and preserved in ethanol. DNA was extracted from a total of 103 individuals and was subject to double-digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq). Libraries were sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. De novo assembly of the reads yielded a panel of 99 SNPs, from which 68 putatively neutral and 31 adaptive SNPs were identified. Genetic structure between populations was investigated using both SNP panels, but only the outlier SNP panel showed significant differentiation between populations (FST = 0. 036, P<0. 001). These results, together with complimentary Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components, which also demonstrated population-specific clustering, are consistent with local adaptation and therefore population structure between the two countries. These results show the utility of low cost next generation sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform for detecting population structure between subpopulations in Australia and New Zealand.

320 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Understanding the effectiveness of Marine Parks in South Australia

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Mrs. Alison Wright1, Mrs. Patricia Von Baumgarten2, Prof. Michelle Waycott1, Mr. Glen Scholz3, Dr. Brad Page1, Dr. Simon Bryars1, Mr. Danny Brock1, Mr. David Miller1 1Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, South Australia, 2Department of Environment of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, South Australia, 3Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources

The South Australia’s network of 19 multiple use marine parks came into full effect in October 2014. The establishment of a state-wide network simultaneously has enabled a strategic approach to prioritising management strategies to achieve the goals for the objects of the Act. The marine park management plans being implemented include specific zoning arrangements and management strategies, and are required to be reviewed within 10 years. A Monitoring, Eval- uation and Reporting Program has been established to evaluate the effectiveness of these plans and to support their review. This talk presents the elements of the Program, which aims to assess whether the marine parks management plans are effective in delivering the benefits they are expected to deliver. Some of the key elements to be discussed are the program logic and key evaluation questions. These questions inform the development of the monitoring program which includes ecological, social, economic and management themes, and provide the basis for the review of the management plans. The current activities of the ongoing monitoring program, including national collaborations, government capabilities and citizen science all of which provide information and data required to answer the key evaluation questions will also be highlighted. The talk will conclude with a discussion of existing and future research projects, and opportunities for research partnerships. Our approach is to seek projects that fill knowledge gaps, as well as contribute knowledge towards social, economic and environmental evaluation. The research program will further test assumptions that underpin the expected outcomes of the marine parks as well as, potentially, offering new and improved techniques for monitoring.

321 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Interacting effects of habitat forming species on key processes maintaining community structure

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Costa Hall

Ms. Maria Vozzo1, Dr. Melanie Bishop1 1Macquarie University

The appropriate design of restoration projects is contingent upon an understanding of the processes that influence and maintain biodiversity and key ecosystem functions. Along the east coast of Australia, there is growing interest in restoration of lost shellfish reefs, but our understanding of how oysters interact with other habitat forming species to influence biodiversity and key ecosystem functions remains poor. In mangrove forests, Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata, may co-occur with the fucalean alga, Hormosira banksii. The alga may have positive, negative or neutral affects on the ability of the oyster to successfully recruit and protect invertebrates from predation and desiccation stress. Using fully factorial field and lab experiments, we assessed how thetwo habitat forming species interact to influence oyster recruitment and survival, as well as predator-prey interactions. We also assessed the density dependence of their interacting effects. By studying oyster recruitment and survival, and predator-prey interactions, this study addresses the mechanisms by which oyster restoration is likely to enhance biodiversity and the dependency of these effects on the presence or absence of a second habitat forming species, H. banksii.

322 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Hydrocarbon contamination from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affects long- and short-term oyster recruitment and succession

Thursday, 9th July 10.00 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Maria Vozzo1, Dr. Kenneth Brown2, Ms. Laura Brown3, Ms. Jenessa Kay2, Ms. Bridget Rogers2, Dr. Jerome La Peyre4 1Macquarie University, 2Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 3Estuary Technical Group, Institute for Applied Ecology, 4Veterinary Sciences Unit, School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

We studied how the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill affected oysters (Cras- sostrea virginica) in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Four study sites within the bay were selected: two control and two oiled, with a low- and high-salinity location. Three approaches were used to determine long- and short-term effects of the oil spill. First, cement substrates were placed at each site in 2012, and retrieved after 6, 12, and 18 months to measure oyster reef succession. Oysters were smaller at oiled sites, and mussels (Ischadium recurvum), which only recruited to the low salinity sites, occurred at higher densities at the control site. Cement board tiles were placed at each site in 2012 and 2013 and oyster recruitment quantified monthly. In 2012, recruitment varied more with salinity thanoil contamination, but in 2013 early summer salinity was lower, and recruitment only occurred at the control sites. Finally, tiles exposed to light crude oil were used to study the short-term effects of oil on oyster and barnacle recruitment in 2013. Recruitment was lower on oiled tiles but there was no difference in oyster size between treatments; there was a slight tendency for oil to increase barnacle (Balanus eburneus) recruitment. In general, our results suggest oil contamination may affect the density or size distribution of estuarine bivalves, and interact with other stressors like low salinity to lower oyster recruitment over the long- term. Thus, cleanup efforts immediately following an oil spill, and continuous monitoring efforts are necessary to maintain healthy oyster populations.

323 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

New crustaceans from the deep waters of the Great Australian Bight and their rapid documentation using the Scratchpad platform

Thursday, 9th July 11.40 - Costa Hall

Dr. Genefor Walker-Smith1, Dr. Hugh MacIntosh1, Dr. Kelly Merrin1, Dr. Robin Wilson1 1Museum Victoria

A collection of benthic infauna from the deep waters of the Great Australian Bight (5 multi-core samples taken at each of 200, 400, 1000, 1500 and 2000 m depths) revealed a highly endemic and undescribed crustacean fauna. Ninety- two percent of the amphipod species and 94% of the isopod species, identified from this material, were undescribed and new to science. There have been relatively few surveys of deep-water crustaceans in Australia, but the proportion of undescribed species in the deep GAB was consistent with similar depths along the Western Australian shelf (Poore et al. 2014). We created a Scratchpad website (http: //gab. myspecies. info) as a way of rapidly communicating our taxonomic data, basic descriptions, images and illustrations to the scientific community. Scratchpad pages are not intended to replace formal, peer-reviewed and published taxonomic descriptions. Rather, they provide an efficient way to highlight the biodiversity of a particular area and most importantly, they make the material visible to taxonomists around the world, who we hope, will include taxa from these collections in any future revisionary studies. This work was completed by taxonomists from Museum Victoria as part of activities within the Great Australian Bight Research Program. This program is a collaboration between BP, CSIRO, the South Australian Research and Devel- opment Institute (SARDI), the University of Adelaide, and Flinders University.

324 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ocean Outfalls – the Inside View

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Dr. Ian Wallis1 1Consulting Environment Engineers

Ocean outfalls are a component of wastewater management systems in coastal regions the world over – even those with high levels of water recycling. Well- designed ocean outfalls, coupled with effective source regulation and wastewater treatment, can avoid adverse environmental effects. Ocean outfalls can provide the most cost effective and environmentally sustainable path for management of water from large urban areas. There have been three long term environmental monitoring programs on large outfalls in Australia and this talk will summarise what was learnt and the risks that are emerging. The talk will introduce the wide range of social, environmental, economic and engineering challenges for designing and operating ocean outfalls in the 21st Century.

325 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Integrated and cost-effective monitoring

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Terry Walshe1 1AIMS

Why do we monitor? Among other things, we may be interested in the status and trend of key values, state-dependent decision-making, or learning more about system dynamics. These are all entirely reasonable motivations for allo- cating substantial resources to monitoring. But any such allocation forgoes the opportunity to spend those same resources on direct management intervention. Here we outline how managers can think through the adequacy of their investment in monitoring, with emphasis on the integration of models and data, and the cost-effectiveness of data acquisition.

326 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Stable isotopes in mangrove leaves and gastropod snails reflect exposure to treated sewage effluent in a tropical macro-tidal ecosystem (Buffalo Creek, Darwin, Australia)

Thursday, 9th July 11.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mrs. Kanchana Niwanthi Warnakulasooriya1, Dr. Niels Munksgaard1, Prof. Karen Gibb1 1Charles Darwin University

In order to assess suitable bio-indicators of spatial and temporal patterns of treated sewage effluent in a tropical macro-tidal mangrove ecosystem, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures together with carbon and nitrogen concentrations were measured in leaves of Avicenia marina mangroves and foot muscle of two gastropod snails Telescopium telescopium and Terebralia semis- triata sampled over a one year period. The 15N values of mangrove leaves and snails were significantly enriched in the receiving creek compared to the reference creek (p<0. 001). We observed a systematic decrease in 15N values and N concentration in mangrove leaves with increasing distance from the treatment ponds outfall towards the creek mouth indicating uptake by trees of a diminishing proportion of sewage-derived N from mangrove soil. The 13C values of mangrove leaves were not reliable indicators of sewage-derived inputs. In the receiving creek, both snail species showed elevated and nearly constant 15N values from the outfall to the creek mouth where values abruptly decreased and approached the values recorded in the reference creek. The 13C values in snails indicated that benthic microalgae containing sewage-derived nutrients were a partial food source for the snails in the upper reaches of the receiving creek. In conclusion, 15N values in mangrove leaves and gastropod snails proved to be a reliable tool to trace the dispersion and uptake of nutrient inputs from sewage effluent, while 13C values in snails were more indicative of the relative contributions of different food sources in their diet. The 15N and 13C values of mangrove leaves and snails did not vary significantly through the year. Key words: Treated sewage effluent, tropical macro-tidal estuaries, stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, bio-indicators

327 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Stable isotope otolith fingerprint signatures: A mass marking technique for farmed salmon

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Fletcher Warren-Myers1, Dr. Tim Dempster1, Dr. Steve Swearer1 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne

Understanding the ecological and genetic effects of fish escapees from aquaculture facilities on wild fish stocks requires the ability to trace escapees. This is currently difficult due to the lack of a cost effective, mass marking technique that differentiates wild from farmed fish and traces escaped fish backtothe farm of origin. We investigated three stable isotope otolith fingerprint mark delivery techniques for mass marking farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to determine if they could achieve unambiguous marks with 100% accuracy. Otolith fingerprint signatures created with enriched barium and strontium isotopes were delivered via: 1) Maternal transfer: where an isotope marker is injected into broodstock, and thus in turn passed on to the offspring; 2) Egg immersion: where fertilised eggs are left to swell in a solution containing an isotope marker; and 3) Vaccination: where the isotope marker is combined with a vaccine and injected into fish. Analyses of otolith signatures were carried out on a Varian Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) fitted with a HelEx (Laurin Technic and the Australian National University) laser ablation (LA) system constructed around a Compex 110 (Lambda Physik) ex- cimer laser. 100% marking success was achieved with all three techniques at specific marker concentrations and all techniques are capable of creating marks that cannot be confused with marks in wild fish. Mark success was dependent on type, concentration, and combination of isotope markers used. In addition, no measurable side effects of stable isotope marking on fish growth, condition, or mortality were observed. Each technique can produce multiple fingerprint signatures for as little as 0. 2 US cents per fish. We conclude that mass marking farmed Atlantic salmon with stable isotope otolith fingerprint signatures is a viable method to identify and trace farmed fish escapees.

328 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Nitrogen loads influence trophic organization of estuarine fish assemblages

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Ms. Fiona Warry1, Dr. Paul Reich2, Prof. Perran Cook1, Prof. Ralp MacNally3, Dr. James Thomson2, Dr. Ryan Woodland1 1Monash University, 2Department of Environment Land Water and Planning VIC, 3University of Canberra

Increased nutrient inputs to aquatic ecosystems can disrupt ecological processes (e. g. primary production, nutrient cycling, energy transfer), which, in turn, can alter trophic organization and the trophic niche of consumers. Isotopic niches have been used increasingly to infer trophic niches because the stable isotope composition of consumer tissues provides a cumulative signal of assimilated diet. We sampled stable isotope compositions of nitrogen and carbon ( 15N and 13C) in muscle tissues of fish collected from 14 estuaries spanning a gradient of nutrient loadings to determine if the trophic niches of fish assemblages depended on local nutrient conditions. Isotope values were used to calculate isotopic niche indices and we used a novel standardization approach to correct for ecosystem- specific differences in isotope conditions at the bases of each food web.Model selection was used to relate isotopic niche indices of fish assemblages to nitrogen and phosphorous loading and to biotic (predation potential) and abiotic (hydrological flushing) characteristics of estuaries. Inorganic nitrogen loading to estuaries increased trophic diversity and decreased trophic redundancy within fish assemblages. Understanding and predicting the effects of nitrogen loading on coastal ecosystems is important for environmental researchers and managers and our results underscore the value of assessing functional as well as structural responses of estuarine communities to environmental disturbances.

329 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

The influence of biofilm-associated ciliates on the settlement of Galeolaria caespitosa

Monday, 6th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Matthew Watson1, Dr. Liliana Zalizniak1, Dr. Andrew Scardino2, Dr. Jeff Shimeta1 1RMIT University, 2Maritime Division, Defence Science and Technology Organisation

The settlement and metamorphosis of many marine invertebrates is strongly influenced by physical and chemical cues associated with microbial biofilms. Pro- tozoa, a ubiquitous component of microbial biofilms, are able to rapidly colonise new substrata and over a short period of time reach high abundances within biofilms, yet their potential to influence invertebrate settlement remains largely unknown. We conducted still-water, no-choice settlement assays to determine the effects of marine biofilm-dwelling ciliates on settlement of the polychaete worm Galeolaria caespitosa. Settlement was compared among three biofilm conditions: a purely mono-species bacterial biofilm (Pseudoalteromonas luteovi- olacea), the bacterial biofilm with a ciliate species present and the bacterial biofilm with filtrate from said ciliate culture. In response to the presence of common biofilm associated ciliates Euplotes, Uronema and Amphisiella, G.caespitosa showed a significant 36-45% reduction in settlement over 72 hours compared to that on the purely bacterial biofilm treatments. Settlement rates in the filtrate treatments were at no point significantly different from the controls. Settlement was only significantly inhibited in the physical presence of ciliates implicating a direct mechanism of influence. Through video analysis it was determined that the presence of Euplotes minuta elicits significant behavioural changes in the surface exploration of G. caespitosa larvae. In the absence of ciliates larvae follow a natural behavioural progression concluding with settlement and final metamorphosis, however, making direct contact with a ciliate caused this progression to reverse. This analysis successfully demonstrated a mechanism of influence that could explain the settlement inhibition observed in the settlement assays, and represents the first time that a behavioural response of invertebrate larvae caused by the presence of ciliates has been reported. The results of this study support the hypothesis that biofilm-dwelling ciliates are an important factor influencing the variability of invertebrate recruitment and ultimately the structure and dynamics of natural invertebrate assemblages.

330 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Connectivity of seagrass populations through gene flow along eastern Australia

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Costa Hall

Prof. Michelle Waycott1, Dr. Kor-Jent van Dijk2, Dr. Catherine Collier3, Mr. Len McKenzie4, Dr. Jane Mellors4, Ms. Katherine Ticli2, Dr. Kathryn McMahon5 1The University of Adelaide, 2University of Adelaide, 3James cook University, 4TropWATER, James Cook University, 5Edith Cowan University

Connectivity as able to be evaluated using novel genetic markers were developed for three seagrass species–Halophila ovalis, Thalassia hemprichii, Zostera muelleri. These markers provided sufficient resolution to determine clonality i. e. we are able to detect individual plants. We evaluated population structure and connectivity gradients of these species on the eastern coast of Australia. These species exhibit three different levels of population isolation that reflect the species resilience strategies. Thalassia hemprichii (turtlegrass), reaches its southern limit in the central GBR, has populations that are increasingly clonal towards the southern limit of its distribution, the most southern site achieving uni-clonality. Zostera muelleri reaches its northern distributional limit in the Torres Strait and populations there were found to be highly clonal. Connectivity was unexpectedly low and we must infer at the sampled scale (Torres Strait to southern GBR) they are regionally isolated. Sites with small numbers of individuals (i. e. larger clones) are at greater risk from stressors, due to low genetic diversity. Due to the relatively limited regional scale of gene flow detected we need to evaluate smaller scales of population connectivity to assess the adaptability of species to changing environmental conditions. Increasing temperature from southern to northern GBR has contributed to latitudinal variation in species composition and genetic diversity. Future warming will lead to changes in species ranges and their genetic diversity.

331 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Cryptic kelp: Identifying the processes driving divergence within an ecologically important Australian kelp species, Durvillaea potatorum

Wednesday, 8th July 17.10 - Costa Hall

Ms. Xénia Weber1, Dr. Sam Banks1, Prof. Graham Edgar2, Dr. Ceridwen Fraser1 1ANU, 2University of Tasmania

Speciation in marine ecosystems can be driven by allopatric and/or ecological divergence. Identifying which processes have underpinned speciation events provides insight into patterns of marine dispersal, connectivity and diversity. Southern bull kelp, Durvillaea potatorum, is an ideal model organism to study the relative influences of historic geographic isolation or ecological divergence on diversification. D. potatorum is an important ecosystem engineer endemic toex- posed rocky shores in southeastern Australia. Previous genetic investigation has indicated the presence of cryptic species within D. potatorum. The divergence, and subsequent speciation, between the ‘eastern’ and ‘western’ lineages may be linked to ecological processes or historic geographical separation. My Honours research uses an integrated approach combining molecular, ecological, morphological and histological techniques to investigate and describe cryptic species within D. potatorum and to determine the underlying processes that have resulted in speciation. In February this year, 228 individuals were collected from seven sites around Tasmania’s eastern and western coasts. Sites were selected to provide a range of wave, depth and latitudinal gradients, to cover the range of morphological variability and to include locations where lineages are found sym- patrically or independently. For every individual morphological characteristics, such as stipe length, were measured, the depth and exposure level recorded and thallus tissue samples taken for genetic and histology analyses of reproductive structures. Genetic sequencing of mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (28S) markers will be used to identify which samples belong to each lineage, assess whether hybridisation has occurred, and measure intraspecific variation. Morphological and ecological character differences, and any correlation with the spatial distribution both within and across sites, between the two lineages will be analysed by a range of techniques including non-metric multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarities. This research will resolve taxonomic uncertainty within an ecologically and economically important macroalga, and shed light on the drivers of speciation in coastal marine ecosystems of southeastern Australia.

332 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Unique sequence of events triggers manta ray feeding frenzy in the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Tuesday, 7th July 10.20 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Scarla Weeks1, Ms. Marites Canto1, Dr. Fabrice Jaine1, Dr. Jon Brodie2, Dr. Anthony Richardson3 1University of Queensland, 2TropWATER, James Cook University, 3CSIRO; University of Queensland

Manta rays are classified as Vulnerable to Extinction on the IUCN RedList for Threatened Species. In Australia, a key aggregation site for reef manta rays is Lady Elliot Island (LEI) on the Great Barrier Reef, ~7km from the shelf edge. Here, we investigate the environmental processes that triggered the largest manta ray feeding aggregation yet observed in Australia, in early 2013. Further- more, for the first time, we show reef manta rays exploiting an oceanographic front. We use MODIS sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a concentration and photic depth data, together with in situ data, to show anomalous river discharges led to high chlorophyll (anomalies: 10-15 mg. m-3), turbid (photic depth anomalies: -15m) river plumes extended out to LEI, and then entrained offshore around the periphery of an active cyclonic eddy. Eddy dynamics led to cold bottom intrusions along the shelf edge (6oC temperature decrease), and at LEI (5oC temperature decrease). Strongest SST gradients (> 1oC. km-1) occurred at the convergent frontal zone between the shelf and eddy-influenced waters, directly overlying LEI. Here, the front intensified on the spring ebb tide to attract and shape the aggregation pattern of foraging manta rays. Future research will focus on mapping the probability, persistence and spatio-temporal variability of these ecologically significant frontal zones via remote sensing to aid the management and conservation of marine species in Australia.

333 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Macro-zooplankton availability for foraging seabirds and the influence of meso-scale oceanographic features

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Mr. Max Wellington1, Prof. Lynnath E. Beckley1, Dr. M. Pilar Olivar2 1Murdoch University, 2* Institut de Ciènces del Mar (CSIC)

The Houtman Abrolhos Islands (28°-29°S, 114°E) are the most significant seabird breeding sites in the south-east Indian Ocean for large populations of lesser noddy (Anous tenuirostris), brown noddy (A. stolidus), sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscata) and wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) during the spring/summer period. The availability of neustonic fishes and squid for prey is pivotal in seabird breeding success and juvenile survival. A large set of surface macro-zooplankton samples collected in August/September 2011 across three transects radiating out 300 km from the Abrolhos, as well as strategically targeted stations in meso-scale oceanographic features was available for study. The potential prey field was examined by distance from the island colonies and oceanographic features (e. g, Leeuwin Current, warm-core and cold-core eddies) which were present throughout the duration of sampling. CTD profiles and IMOS sea-surface temperature imagery indicated strong Leeuwin Current (>20°C) activity near the shelf-edge and cooler, more saline, Sub-Tropical Surface Water (<17. 5°C) in the south of the study area in which a complex eddy field was present. Settled volumes of macro-zooplankton obtained using a surface net with 1 mm mesh ranged from 40 – 377 ml/1000 m3. In total, 248 phyllosoma larvae of the Western Rock Lobster, 36 squid larvae and 1, 175 larval and post larval fishes were collected. The Myctophid Hygophum hygomii was dominant in the samples and contributed approximately 9% of all fishes caught. Most of the phyllosoma larvae were stages 7 and 8, and the greatest numbers were found in warm-core eddies. This study indicated that areas of higher prey concentrations were within the foraging range of the seabirds. However, warm-core eddies could be targeted by the seabirds as they appear to have more available surface prey than the surrounding ocean.

334 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Big, Bold and Blue: an assessment of Australia's MPAs

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Assoc Prof. Geoff Wescott1, Dr. James Fitzsimons2 1Deakin University, 2 The Nature Conservancy

Australia has often been lauded at home and internationally as a world leader in the declaration and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - beginning with the declaration of the first sections of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in the mid-1970s through to the massive off shore MPAs declared in the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in mid-2012. In order to document this history and to aid other nations, as well as Australia, in further progressing MPAs the authors of this presentation are editing a new book, to be published early next year by CSIRO Publishing titled: “Big, Bold and Blue: lessons from Australia’s marine park expansion”. This presentation will describe the challenges and lessons to be learned from Australia’s development of MPAs. The presentation will be divided into several sections reflecting the outline of the book and include:

- International and national historical and current context for MPAs, - Descriptions of Australia’s MPA system including specifically the Commonwealth MPA System, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Antarctica and the “High Seas”, - A state by state (and territory) description of the MPA systems inside state coastal waters, - Differing Perspectives on Australian MPAs through a series of reviews including the economic case for MPAs, the science of MPA identification and declaration MPA, legislation covering MPAs, MPAs from an Indigenous Sea Country and marine IPAs perspective, recreational and commercial fishing and fishers perspective, as well as: - Essays on marine bioregional planning and oceans policy, public perceptions of MPAs and marine conservation and reflections on case studies on successful campaigns to establish MPAs. The presentation will conclude with analysis of future challenges confronting Australian MPAs including what gaps still remain in the system and the ongoing policy and management challenges.

335 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Shifting the quality of a trophic subsidy: Does increased use of high omega-6 feeds in aquaculture impact on ecology of marine food webs?

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Camille White1, Dr. Tim Dempster1, Dr. Peter D. Nichols2, Dr. Giovanni Turchini3, Dr. Jeff Ross4, Dr. Symon Dworjanyn5, Dr. Raymond Bannister6 1School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, 3Deakin University, 4University of Tasmania, 5Southern Cross University, 6Institute of Marine Research

The expanding aquaculture industry provides an increasing trophic subsidy to coastal and estuarine ecosystems worldwide through waste feed, faecal material and nitrogenous wastes. Over the past decade there has been a switch away from feeds high in omega-3 fatty acids based on fish oil, to feeds high in omega- 6 fatty acids comprised mainly of terrestrial plant oils and animal fats. This has led to a shift in the composition and quality of the trophic subsidy provided to marine consumers. By using fatty acids common in terrestrial plant oils combined with stable isotopes as tracers, we were able to demonstrate that the trophic subsidy provided by aquaculture is widely consumed by organisms in both benthic and planktonic systems. We subsequently investigated health and reproductive consequences of consumption of this waste on several key groups of organisms. Single and multi-generational experiments were conducted on common, rapid production, fouling organisms, such as caprellid and corophiid amphipods. We also investigated health and reproductive outcomes on several sea urchin species, which have the potential to be ecosystem drivers in many coastal and estuarine systems worldwide. We found that urchins consuming aquafeed had enhanced gonad indices compared to those consuming a natural diet. However, this didn’t necessarily translate into larval success, with larvae of adults consuming the natural diet surviving at significantly higher rates.

336 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Multiple stressors, estuarine ecosystem condition and management response

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Sam Whitehead1 1Derwent Estuary

The Derwent estuary in Tasmania has experienced environmental degradation and it’s health is currently monitored through the sampling of water quality. Like many estuaries, it has zones that range from well flushed to poorly flushed, from freshwater throughout the water column, to stratified then to well mixed saltwater at the mouth. While the lower reaches have relatively good water quality, in the upper estuary where critical seagrass meadows and wetlands occur, in the underlying salt wedge a low dissolved oxygen zone persists during summer and autumn, the denitrification link has been uncoupled, ammonia far exceeds guideline concentrations and the concentration of nutrients has been significantly increasing over the last ten years. Also, recently in the upper estuary, fish kills and algal blooms which blanket the intertidal and shallow subtidal in late summer have occurred. The Derwent Estuary Program is assessing the merits of various potential indicators of ecosystem condition to be incorporated into our monitoring program but the real challenge will be deriving management response from the data. This presentation will provide a summary of key findings and request input from attendees on:

1. Practical biological indicators of ecosystem condition 2. Examples where management action has been linked to water quality and ecosystem condition data.

337 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Determining the sustainability of restored soft-sediment mussel beds in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Mr. Mark Wilcox1, Dr. Andrew Jeffs1, Dr. Shane Kelly1 1University of Auckland

Green-lipped mussel beds (Perna canaliculus) once covered vast areas of soft- sediment sea floor throughout the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, until their near extirpation, largely due to dredge fishing. Since the closure of the fishery in1969, there has been little evidence of recovery in these populations, spurring efforts to restore these productive habitats and the many ecosystem services they once provided. With the creation of four experimental mussel beds, we attempted to determine if mussel beds could be sustainable within the current environment in the Hauraki Gulf. We monitored settlement, growth, and population size across these restored beds to assess sustainability and identify particular stressors to establishing sustainable beds. Each mussel bed contained on average 20550 mussels at the initial survey and covered an average area of 33. 5 metres squared. Settlement was found to occur year round within the mussel beds, however only a small amount of recruitment (average of 3 individuals per metres squared) was observed on the most recent survey at one year. Across all beds, mussels showed evidence of individual growth while the population as a whole declined over each of the surveys to an average of 39%. With one year into the study, although larval supply is present and recruitment occurring, it is currently of insufficient magnitude to balance the natural mortality within these beds.Ifwe are to develop restoration strategies that will be sustainable, we will require a greater understanding of recruitment and survival of mussels in this system, and factors such as the influence of predator intensity and larval sources onthese processes.

338 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Fine-scale nutrient observations confirm simulated biogeochemical variability in estuarine, coastal and shelf systems

Monday, 6th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Dr. Karen Wild-Allen1, Mr. Mark Rayner1, Dr. Mark Baird1 1CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

Fine-scale (<100m) biogeochemical models demonstrate that coastal waters, and in particular estuaries, have strong spatial gradients in water quality and high temporal variability. Diurnal and tidal fluctuations in biogeochemical properties are difficult to resolve using traditional bottle sampling techniques, and resulting data sets are often aliased by local variation which confounds interpretation. Whilst continuous temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, turbidity and oxygen sensors based on electrical and optical properties have been deployed for some time, continuous nutrient sensors are still relatively novel. In this paper we present data from 3 continuous nutrient observing systems deployed in an estuary, on a coastal glider and on a shelf mooring. Nitrate and phosphate data collected in the Derwent and Huon Estuaries with fine spatial and temporal (<100m; <1 hour) resolution characterise the natural variability in estuarine nutrient concentrations and identify surface nutrient plumes associated with point source discharge. Glider data provide a cross section of nitrate concentration and capture a nutrient enrichment event resulting from the passage of an ex-cyclone at Heron Island. Moored time series of optically determined nitrate were used to determine water mass nutrient relationships and identify cryptic upwelling events off the Queensland shelf. These data sets offer unique insights into the biogeochemical dynamics of these regions, and allow for the first time, a rigorous assessment of the spatial and temporal variability in the nutrient dynamics simulated by the CSIRO Environmental Modelling Suite (EMS) biogeochemical model.

339 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Investigation of native southern Australian seaweeds with potential for use in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture

Tuesday, 7th July 13.20 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Ms. Kathryn Wiltshire1, Dr. Fred Gurgel2, Dr. Marty Deveney1, Dr. Jason Tanner1 1South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), 2The University of Adelaide

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is gaining attention worldwide as a system by which multi-species aquaculture can be conducted to yield environmental and economic benefit. IMTA is of interest in South Australia (SA) where two species of finfish are cultured and stocking levels are regulated to ensure nutrient outputs are within the carrying capacity of the environment. Co-culture of seaweeds in these areas has the potential to ensure environmental impacts of aquaculture are minimized while producing an additional crop, but seaweed farming in Australia is yet to be commercialized, and few native species have been farmed. Seaweed species used in IMTA should be native to the area, have commercial value, and grow large and fast enough to be commercially viable and remove sufficient nutrients. Native species with desirable characteristics, i. e. large potential size and commercial value, were identified by a literature review, and their growth rates and nitrogen content investigated in laboratory and field experiments. Four Rhodophyta including two agaro- phytes (Gelidiales), a carageenophyte (Solieriaceae), and Plocamium angustum, a desirable feed for abalone, were grown in laboratory experiments at nutrient levels expected in aquaculture zones; these and four Phaeophyceae that are potential sources of alginates, fucoidan and bioactive metabolites (three Fucales and the common kelp Ecklonia radiata) were also grown in the field to compare their performance and investigate seasonal changes. Growth rates and nitrogen content were used to estimate the nitrogen removal potential of each species. Re- productive techniques and temperature and light responses of selected species were also investigated, and the best performing species used in a seaweed aquaculture trial around yellowtail kingfish farms in Port Lincoln. This presentation will summarise the results of these studies and discuss the next steps towards developing IMTA in Australia.

340 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Future directions for the detection of marine pests

Tuesday, 7th July 15.00 - Lecture Theatre D2.212

Ms. Kathryn Wiltshire1, Dr. Andrew Oxley1, Dr. Marty Deveney1 1South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

Marine pests cause ecological and economic harm through loss of biodiversity, reduction in revenue from aquaculture and fisheries, damage to infrastructure, loss of amenity and, in some instances, human health impacts. Managing impacts of established pest species requires ongoing measures, leading to a significant economic burden, and early detection is required to facilitate successful eradication. Australia’s National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions requires regular surveys of specified ports around Australia to detect new incursions and range expansions of priority pest species. Surveillance data will also inform decisions about proposed domestic ballast water arrangements, and policy on marine pest management. Traditional surveys are labour intensive, expensive, and require access to taxonomic expertise. Molecular surveys can be rapid, and are less expensive than traditional surveys. A molecular survey of Port Adelaide detected all pests known to occur in the area for which assays were available, including one not detected by simultaneous traditional surveys. Additional validation is needed, however, before molecular methods can be more widely used. Issues with molecular methods applied to environmental samples can include inhibition of assays leading to unreliable detection, or cross-amplification of non-target species. There is a lack of understanding of how DNA concentration relates to the population size of pest species, and of effective detection limits in environmental samples. Molecular methods are currently available for eight priority pest species, including Undaria pinnatifida, Asterias amurensis and Sabella spallanzanii, but there are no tests yet for the majority of the 55 priority pests. This presentation will discuss the work currently underway to address these issues and to validate molecular methods for use around Australia, and examine future directions for detecting marine pests using genetic techniques, including next generation sequencing.

341 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Assessing the distribution and habitat preference of spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) for development of new artificial spawning habitat

Tuesday, 7th July 17.10 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. Lincoln Wong1, Dr. Jeffrey Wright1, Dr. Neville Barrett1, Dr. Tim Lynch2 1University of Tasmania; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

The spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) is a critically endangered benthic anglerfish species endemic to south-east Tasmania. Despite the necessity to conserve the species, the current understanding of B. hirsutus population and its biology is limited. This project aimed to 1) provide updated status on B. hirsutus population; 2) assess the relationship between B. hirsutus distribution and the benthic habitat; and 3) synthesise present and past population data to aid site selection and development process for new artificial spawning habitat (ASH) for B. hirsutus spawning facilitation. This study will be the first broad scale B. hirsutus survey utilising the georeferenced underwater visual census (UVC) technique, previously demonstrated to be more effective in surveying B. hirsutus population. Surveys will be conducted in multiple sites (n = 11) across the Derwent Estuary and D’entrecasteaux channel with previous B. hirsutus sighting. Health and current status of surveyed B. hirsutus population will be determined by the estimated density and parametric data. Benthic habitat with B. hirsutus distribution will be assessed through remote sensing and sediment collection to construct a comprehensive profile on sediment geomorphology and community structure of both epifauna and infauna within the region. In particular this project will focus on species with high impact on B. hirsutus life history including stalked ascidians, Sycozoa sp. (critical spawning habitat); northern Pacific seastar, Asterias amurensis (threats to B. hirsutus); and sediment infauna (potential food sources). All preliminary data collected in this study will be used for deployment of ASH arrays prior to upcoming spawning season and devising new monitoring program for assessing B. hirsutus population health.

342 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Shoreline shutterbugs: assessing human use of coastal environments with panoramic camera systems

Tuesday, 7th July 15.50 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Georgina Wood1, Dr. Tim Lynch2, Ms. Carlie Devine3, Ms. Krystle Keller4, Dr. Will Figueira1 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, 2CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, 3CSIRO, 4School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052

Worldwide, human activities have left no area unaffected by anthropogenic influence and this is particularly so for densely populated coastlines. The sustainable management of coastal areas depends on the implementation of strategies that address anthropogenic activities to reduce their negative impacts. In Australia, recreationalists represent a large and influential proportion of people within coastal areas, yet information on actual patterns of use is limited. The development of cost-effective techniques to monitor patterns of use at management- relevant scales and timeframes is needed. Here we aim to investigate patterns of human use which occur on Sydney’s densely populated coastline. We tested the novel application of an “off-the-shelf” panoramic camera system to assess awide range of extractive and non-extractive activities occurring at Sydney’s aquatic reserve and non-reserve sites, and at the Offshore Artificial Reef near Syd- ney’s South Head. The remotely-deployable system produces high-resolution, zoomable panoramas over a spatial extent up to 4 km, enabling assessment of use at various scales. Comparison of thousands of user observations from time-series data produced using the panoramic camera system and traditional survey techniques revealed that the novel system produces reliable estimates for a diverse range of activities, however the set up (lens size, field of view, rate of sampling), design and analysis strategy needed to be specifically configured for each application. The data produced can be used to answer pertinent management questions such as general use of Marine Protected Areas or to calculate specific metrics such as party size for fishing effort. While thesystem is marginally more expensive than other cameras currently in use, our studies suggest that this technology has the potential to greatly enhance evidence-based sustainable management of the coast.

343 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Broad scale population connectivity of the Eastern Rock Lobster, Sagmariasus verreauxi

Wednesday, 8th July 13.20 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Laura Woodings1, Dr. Nick Murphy1, Dr. Geoff Liggins2, Dr. Bridget Green3, Dr. Jan Strugnell1 1Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, 2NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, 3University of Tasmania

The commercially important Eastern Rock Lobster, Sagmariasus verreauxi, has a disjunct distribution along the coastal areas of NZ and NSW, and is also occa- sionally found in the waters off Tasmania. A long planktonic larval phase, which in S. verreauxi spans 8-12 months, has traditionally been thought to facilitate long-range dispersal via ocean currents creating a high level of gene flow and connectivity across the geographic range of the species. However several recent studies on rock lobster species with similar pelagic larval phases have been found to exhibit fine scale genetic structure and self-recruitment illustrating that population structure cannot always be predicted based on pelagic larval durations. Population structure and the connectivity of S. verreauxi throughout its range is yet to be clearly understood, however there is preliminary evidence that suggests a genetic break could occur between NSW and NZ populations. As such the S. verreauxi fishery is currently managed as two single, genetically independent stocks in NSW and NZ. This study used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to investigate the genetic structure and population connectivity of 90 S. verreauxi individuals collected throughout its range (NSW, NZ and Tasmania). DNA was sequenced with the reduced representation genomic approach of double digest Restriction Associated DNA Sequencing (ddRAD-seq). 417 million reads were obtained from 2 lanes of a HiSeq run with an average of 4 million reads per individual. SNP data was obtained using a maximum likelihood statistical model through the program STACKS. Outlier loci were identified with Lositan and removed from the dataset. The resulting SNP data was analysed for population subdivision with both a Bayesian clustering method (Structure) and a Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC), with genetic connectivity being assessed via assignment testing. Levels of population connectivity determined for S. verreauxi between NSW, NZ and Tasmania will be presented and placed in the context of our current understanding of hydrodynamics within the study area.

344 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Community response to metal pollutants; a field spiking experiment on an estuarine mudflat

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

Ms. Josephine Woods1, Dr. Allyson O’Brien1, Prof. Mick Keough1 1CAPIM, The University of Melbourne

Benthic intertidal habitats of estuaries are complex environments and are subjected to pollution from a variety of upstream sources. Determining the impact of a specific pollutant on the structure and function of the benthic macroinvertebrate community is problematic due to the changing conditions (such as salinity and temperature) of the natural environment. Field experiments using sediments spiked with pollutants provide the opportunity to understand the effects of specific pollutants under naturally variable environmental factors, while investigating broader ecological impacts; especially factors such as competition, predation and avoidance behaviour. In order to determine if an increase in the concentration of metals within the sediment alters the structure of the intertidal benthic community, direct manipulation of sediments in the field was undertaken. Sediment from Little River estuary (Port Phillip Bay, Victoria) was spiked with copper or zinc chloride at concentrations below levels considered to have deleterious effects (Zn <150ppm, Cu<50ppm), and returned tothe field. Macronivertebrates were allowed to migrate/recolonise the sediment over a month before being sampled. Variable metal concentrations were returned from the sediment at the end of the experiment, possibly due to resuspension and deposition of muds. Nevertheless, more species were present in the control or ambient sediment than in those spiked with metals. Total number of individuals was found to be higher in copper spiked sediments compared to control or ambient sediment. Paracorophium spp were also found in greater abundance in sediments spiked with copper or zinc, and this species was the main contributor to the increase in the total number of individuals. These results raise the question as to whether Paracorophium spp are more tolerant to metal pollutants, or are quicker at establishing and flourishing in the absence of competition. Our results indicate that an increase in a single pollutant below what is considered a toxic concentration can cause change to an ecological community.

345 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Energy export drives unique global patterns of deep-sea biodiversity

Wednesday, 8th July 15.50 - Costa Hall

Mr. Skipton Woolley1, Dr. Tim O’Hara2, Dr. Brendan Wintle1 1The University of Melbourne, 2Museum Victoria

The deep ocean is both the largest and least explored ecosystem on Earth, and a uniquely energy-poor environment. While originally presumed lifeless due to its great depth and lack of sunlight, it has since revealed surprising diversity. However, global patterns of seafloor biodiversity, as well as their drivers and origins, are poorly understood due to the vast scale, extreme conditions, and limited accessibility of this ecosystem. Here we analyse a global database of 165, 044 distribution records of Ophiuroidea (brittle and basket stars), a dominant component of seafloor fauna, to show that both global patterns and environmental predictors of deep-water (2000-6500 m) species richness fundamentally differ from those found on coastal (0-20 m), continental shelf (20-200 m),and upper slope waters (200-2000 m). Continental shelf to lower limit of upper slope water richness peaked consistently in the tropical Indo-West Pacific and Caribbean (0-30° latitude), and was well explained by global variation in ambient water temperature. In contrast, deep-sea species showed maximum diversity at higher latitudes (30-50°), concentrated in areas of high carbon export flux and close to continental margins. These findings support the species-energy hypothesis to explain gradients in seafloor species richness, but demonstrate that while kinetic (thermal) energy predicts shallow-water assemblages, chemical energy (export productivity) and proximity to slope habitats drives deep-sea diversity. Our results show that deep-sea ecosystems show a unique biodiversity pattern that conforms to neither shallow-water nor terrestrial paradigms, with significant implications for conservation planning in light of mounting impacts of deep-sea mining, fishing, and other industrial uses.

346 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Ocean acidification alters the predator-prey relationship between the oyster Crassostrea gigas and the whelk Morula marginalba

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Mr. John Wright1, Dr. Laura Parker2, Dr. Wayne O’Connor3, Prof. Pauline Ross1 1University of Western Sydney, 2The University of Sydney, 3NSW Department of Primary Industries

It is predicted that ocean acidification will alter predator-prey relationships of molluscs. Some molluscs, including oysters, have the ability to respond to predation risk by increasing their shell size. Also in the presence of predators, molluscs have been found to reduce their metabolism to avoid detection. In an acidifying ocean, where shell calcification is predicted to decrease and energy demand to increase, these defensive mechanisms may be impaired. This study set out to investigate whether defences of the Pacific oyster, Cras- sostrea gigas to the predatory whelk Morula marginalba were altered under elevated CO2. Juvenile C. gigas and wild M. marginalba were simultaneously exposed to elevated (1000 ppm) or ambient (395 ppm) CO2 for eight weeks. Following this acclimation predation risk was manipulated. Whelks exposed to elevated and ambient CO2 were placed in tanks with oysters at elevated and ambient CO2 using a fully orthogonal design. Shell size and standard metabolic rate (SMR) of oysters with and without whelks was then measured over 17 days. The consumption of oysters and SMR of whelks was also measured. In the absence of the whelk there was no significant difference in size or SMR of C. gigas at elevated or ambient CO2. In the presence of the whelk there was a significant decrease in size and SMR of C. gigas at ambient compared to elevated CO2. When whelks are present and CO2 is at ambient levels, C. gigas may have the ability to enter a state of low metabolic activity and reduce the output of metabolites to prevent being detected by whelks. When whelks are absent, the metabolic rate of C. gigas was maintained to meet the energy demand required to sustain homeostasis. Further, when M. marginalba were exposed to elevated CO2 they initially increased their consumption of C. gigas and their SMR. This response of whelks may exacerbate the vulnerability of oysters in a climate changed ocean.

347 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Are all seagrasses created equal? Quantifying the relative value of ecosystem services on the Great Barrier Reef

Thursday, 9th July 11.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Dr. Paul York1, Dr. Peter MacReadie2, Dr. Michael Rasheed1, Dr. Rob Coles3, Mrs. Catherine Bryant4 1TropWATER, James Cook University, 2University of Technology Sydney, 3James Cook Uni, 4James cook University

Seagrasses are recognized as one of the most productive ecosystems on earth. They provide a wide array of ecosystem services including particle trapping that improves water quality, stabilization of sediments, provision of food for dugong and turtles, carbon sequestration, and the creation of habitat for animals thereby facilitating biodiversity. Alarmingly, however, global coverage of seagrass ecosystems is declining rapidly, with habitat loss estimated at 110 sq. km / year and accelerating. Approximately 30% of the world’s seagrasses have disappeared since World War II. In response, seagrass habitats in Aus- tralia have been protected through legislative efforts. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) contains approximately 35, 000 sq. km of seagrass representing 6-12% of the world’s known seagrass area. Within the GBR 90% of seagrasses are found in deep-water (>15 m) habitats, placing them among the most extensive populations on Earth. At present, information is lacking on how the ecosystem services provided by seagrasses growing in deep-water environments compare to those documented in shallow habitats. Deep-water seagrasses on the GBR are characterised by ephemeral or seasonal populations dominated by sparse coverage of low biomass Halophila species and may not provide the same level of services as the more permanent, densely populated multi-species meadows that are characteristic of shallow water habitats. This presentation combines data from recent surveys of carbon storage capacity in deep versus shallow water meadows in the GBR with a review of the capacity of the two habitats to contribute to other major ecosystem services to make the case that deep-water seagrasses are not as” valuable” as their shallow water counterparts. Estimat- ing the relative magnitude of the contributions of ecosystem services in different seagrass habitats will provide the best result for protecting and managing these important natural resources.

348 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Forests of the sea: Predictive habitat modelling to assess the abundance of canopy forming kelp forests on temperate reefs

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Lecture Theatre D2.211

Dr. Mary Young1, Dr. Daniel Ierodiaconou1, Mr. Timothy Wormersley2 1Deakin University, 2DHI Water and Environment Pty Ltd

Large brown seaweeds (kelps) form forests in temperate and boreal marine systems that serve as foundations to the structure and dynamics of communities. Mapping the distributions of these species is important to understanding the ecology of coastal environments, predicting consequences of climate change and the potential for carbon production. We demonstrate how advancements in seafloor mapping technology, models of wave energy and modeling approaches can be used to map the distribution and relative abundance of seaweed forests of Ecklonia radiata and provide complete coverage over 100s of kilometers at comparable resolutions to those typically used in terrestrial studies. Using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), we associated observations of E. radiata abundance from video transects with environmental variables. These relationships were then used to predict the distribution of E. radiata across our 756. 1 km2 study area off the coast of Victoria, Australia. A reserved dataset was used to test the accuracy of these predictions. We found that the abundance distribution of E. radiata is strongly associated with depth, presence of rocky reef, complexity of the reef topography, and wave exposure. In addition, the GLMM methodology allowed us to adequately account for spatial autocorrelation in our sampling methods. The predictive distribution map created from the best GLMM accurately predicted the abundance of E. radiata with an accuracy of 69% (Figure 1). Our results indicate that the abundance distribution of E. radiata is strongly associated with multiple environmental variables and these associations can be used to accurately predict its distribution across broad scales. Structure-forming macroalgae are foundational species in many coastal zones around the world but their broad scale distributions are often unknown. Using methods like those presented in this study, we can accurately map the distribution of these species, which will give insight into ecological communities, biodiversity distribution, carbon uptake, and potential sequestration.

349 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Abundance, site fidelity and residency of the Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis) in Adelaide’s coastal waters

Monday, 6th July 10.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Ms. Nikki Zanardo1, Dr. Guido Parra1, Prof. Luciana Moller1 1Cetacean, Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University

The Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis) is a recently described dolphin species that is likely endemic to southern Australian coastal waters. Little is known about their ecology and behaviour throughout their range, including in Adelaide’s coastal waters. This hinders assessment of the status of populations and any decision-making concerning the conservation and management of this species, which is particularly important due to increasing anthropogenic threats in coastal waters. This study applied mark-recapture methods following Pollock’s Robust Design to estimate abundance and demographic parameters of Burrunan dolphins in Adelaide’s coastal waters. Boat-based photo identification surveys were conducted from December 2012 to August 2014 along a pre-determined transect line, covering the austral seasons of summer, autumn and winter. A total of 83 boat surveys were completed, in which 346 dolphin groups were encountered and 243 marked individuals identified. The best fitting model showed a population with time varying survival and capture probabilities. Abundance estimates varied from a low of 164 individuals (± 46. 32) in winter 2013 to a high of 244 (± 17. 99) in summer 2014. Survival and capture probabilities were low, ranging from 0. 32 (± 0. 09) to 0. 98 (± 0. 11), and from 0. 01 (± 0. 01) to 0. 33 (± 0. 04), respectively. Residency status was measured using an agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis that categorised individuals into three groups: transients, seasonal visitors and residents. Variation in the number of animals present between seasons indicates movements in and out of the area, and low survival and capture probabilities suggest that individuals range over a larger area than the current study site. This study provides essential information on the abundance and demographic parameters of Burrunan dolphins in Adelaide’s coastal waters, which is expected to assist with the conservation and management of this species within this fast developing urban environment.

350 The 52nd Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference

Surfing it together – the new wave of Marine Biotechnology

Thursday, 9th July 13.40 - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

Prof. Wei Zhang1, Prof. Christopher Battershill2, Prof. Joe Baker3, Dr. Peter D. Nichols4, Prof. Shirley Sorokin5, Ms. Libby Evans-Illidge6, Dr. Ken Lee7, Dr. Michele Prinsep2, Mr. Raymond Tham1, Mr. Samuel McCormack2, Ms. Qi Yang1, Mr. Yadollah Bahrami1 1Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development, Flinders University, 2University of Waikato, 3Canberra, 4CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, 5Flinders University, 6Australian Institute of Marine Science, 7CSIRO

The commercial potential of bioproducts and bioprocesses from marine biodiversity is continually expanding, as technology evolves. New frontiers lie in the areas of functional foods, seafood co-products, pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, tools for environmental bioremediation and biofuels. As marine biotechnology advances in Australia and New Zealand, it will deliver health, food, fuel and environmental benefits through the development of new bio-products, sustainable technologies and industries. Examples of commercialisation of marine biotech- nologies include, Nuseed-CSIRO-GRDC Long-chain Omega-3 oils project; a South Australian-based major partnership with a Chinese seaweed company and a discovery project targeting a solution for NZ Kiwi fruit PSA-v pathogen from marine sources, amongst others. A new Society, a companion to AMSA and NZMSS, has been formed with the aim to advance the capacity of marine biotechnology in Australia and New Zealand. The Australia-New Zealand Ma- rine Biotechnology Society Inc. (incorporated in October, 2014) is addressing the opportunities and challenges of building strong, sustainable bio-industries, based on marine biota and dependent on the best science, the best technologies and the best industrial structures. This presentation officially launches this Society, provides marine biotechnology examples, our key priorities, issues, challenges and opportunities.

351 Baring, R. 61 Blount, C. 249 Author Index Barker, J. 230 Bonham, P. 124 Barnett, A. 217 Book, J. 170 Abal, E. 103 Barrett, L. 62 Booth, D. 92, 245 Abrantes, K. 217 Barrett, N. 132, 298, 342 Borum, J. 177 Adams, M. 49, 108, 242 Barry, S. 63 Bott, N. 159 Addison, P. 50, 87 Barton, J. 64 Bownes, S. 235 Airoldi, L. 81 Basson, M. 150 Boyce, M. 257 Albright, R. 277 Bates, A. 298 Bracewell, S. 75 Alderson, B. 51, 249 Battershill, C. 351 Branigan, S. 76, 139 Alexeyeff, N. 160 Bax, N. 65, 228 Brassil, W. 53 Alleway, H. 52 Baylis, A. 184, 281 Bravington, M. 150 Almeida, M. 246 Beard, J. 66 Brewer, T. 77 Alvarez 53 Rodriguez, M. Beardall, J. 71 Bribiesca 78 Alvarez, B. 261 Bearham, D. 212 Contreras, G. Broadhurst, M. 213 Amor, M. 54 Beckley, L. 67, 68, 69, 116, 169, 185, 300, Brock, D. 321 Andrewartha, J. 195 301, 334 Bell, J. 320 Brodersen, K. 79 Anstee, J. 55 Bellgrove, A. 70, 71, 259 Brodie, J. 333 Anthony, K. 56 Bennett, W. 179 Broitman, B. 286 Aoki, A. 259 Benthien, M. 141 Brown, C. 80, 200, 277 Arnould, J. 95, 184, 194 Benthuysen, J. 127 Brown, K. 323 Atwood, T. 206 Berry, O. 72, 128, 193 Brown, L. 323 Audas, D. 57 Besley, C. 73 Bryant, C. 90, 206, 215, 348 Ayre, D. 224 Bestland, E. 120 Bryars, S. 321 Babanin, A. 262 Betts O’Shea, H. 315 Bugnot, A. 53, 81 Babcock, R. 128, 258 Birch, G. 115 Bui, S. 119 Bahrami, Y. 351 Bird, C. 268 Bulman, C. 72 Bailleul, F. 58, 140, 281 Birrer, S. 74, 115 Bunce, M. 72 Baird, M. 49, 59, 195, 339 Bishop, M. 113, 211, 322 Burfeind, D. 82, 277 Baker, J. 351 Black, B. 147 Burke, T. 196 Baker, R. 217, 218 Blackburn, S. 197 Burridge, C. 88 Bakhtiyari, M. 60 Blain, P. 253 Butler, E. 83, 84 Banks, S. 332 Blake, S. 160, 280 Cadiou, G. 148 Bannister, R. 336 Blewitt, M. 284 Caley, M. 220, 281 Barbee, N. 318 352

Callaghan, D. 269 Coghlan, M. 72 Day, R. 118, 134, 181, 227 Cambridge, M. 85 Colberg, F. 128 Dempster, T. 62, 92, 119, 328, 336 Cameron, H. 70 Cole, V. 106 Deveney, M. 340, 341 Campbell, A. 210 Coleman, M. 101, 148, 210 Devine, C. 132, 343 Cannas, R. 129 Coles, R. 107, 215, 310, 348 Diesing, M. 280 Canto, M. 333 Collier, C. 49, 108, 161, 331 Dittmann, S. 61, 120 Canto, R. 221 Collins, D. 109, 111 Doblin, M. 53, 115 Capper, A. 137 Colmer, T. 177 Doherty, P. 121 Carew, M. 94 Coman, F. 124, 313 Donahue, R. 147 Carey, J. 86, 87 Conacher, C. 110 Dos Remedios, N. 196 Carnell, P. 87, 126 Congdon, B. 107, 310 Doubell, M. 263 Carney, R. 53 Connell, S. 52, 138, 148 Downie, A. 280 Carr, M. 274 Connolly, R. 123, 206 Doyle, S. 320 Carrea, C. 88 Connolly, S. 268 Duarte, C. 281 Carrol, J. 263 Connor, R. 216 Dujon, A. 122 Carroll, A. 89 Constable, A. 311 Dulvy, N. 311 Carroll, G. 253 Contreras, Z. 315 Dworjanyn, S. 336 Carter, A. 90, 215 Cook, P. 329 Dwyer, R. 200 Cartlidge, R. 91 Correia, A. 318 Edgar, G. 298, 332 Cavallo, C. 92 Costa, D. 281 Edmunds, M. 160, 280 Chamberlain, D. 93 Cottam, D. 111 Eguíluz, V. 281 Chambers, S. 94 Cottingham, A. 314 Einoder, L. 281 Chargulaf, C. 110 Courtney, T. 112 Engelhard, S. 123 Chariton, A. 294 Crandall, E. 268 Eriksen, R. 66, 124, 267, 313 Charlton-Robb, K. 95, 96, 194 Crawford, C. 66 Erler, D. 309 Chartrand, K. 97 Critchley, L. 113 Evans, S. 125, 289 Chidgey, S. 98, 114, 287 Crockett, P. 114, 287 Evans-Illidge, L. 351 Christiansen, F. 122 Cumming, E. 290 Everett, J. 292 Christie, A. 99 Currie, J. 293 Ewers, C. 126 Cinque, K. 100 Dafforn, K. 53, 74, 81, 115 Febria, C. 277 Clark, G. 75, 101, 295 Daniell, J. 137 Feng, M. 127, 128 Clarke, B. 241 Dann, P. 130, 183, 214 Ferdinands, K. 255 Clarke, J. 274 Davey, B. 253 Ferguson, A. 49, 136, 180, 242, 260 Clarke, S. 102 Davies, C. 124, 313 Fernández- 281 Claus, S. 103 Davies, H. 116 Gracia, J. Clementson, L. 104 Davies, J. 215 Ferrari Legorreta, 283 R. Cleveland, B. 105, 146 Davis, T. 117 Ferrari, R. 148 353

Ferreira, L. 281 Gillies, C. 139, 146 Hardy, N. 148 Fielder, S. 245 Glasby, T. 81, 180 Harris, P. 181 Figueira, W. 129, 148, 153, 266, 283, 343 Gleason, F. 299 Harrison, D. 149 Finger, A. 130 Goddard, M. 256 Harrison, P. 305 Fischer, A. 228 Goldsworthy, P. 141 Harrison, S. 142 Fisher, E. 69 Goldsworthy, S. 58, 140, 148, 281 Hartmann, K. 317 Fitridge, I. 131 Gonzalez, A. 272 Hartog, J. 150, 151 Fitzsimons, J. 139 Gorfine, H. 167, 227 Harvey, E. 135 Fleming, A. 151 Grech, A. 107 Hassell, K. 94, 152 Flynn, D. 132 Green, B. 320, 344 Hawes, S. 153 Fobert, E. 133, 303 Greenfield, P. 103 Hawke, B. 126 Foley, M. 277 Greer, D. 142 Hays, G. 122, 281, 286 Fontes, M. 206 Gribben, P. 115 Haywood, M. 212, 258 Forbes, V. 179 Griffin, K. 143 Heddle, C. 91 Ford, J. 105, 134, 146, 303 Gronow, C. 110 Hedge, L. 143, 154 Fortune, J. 255 Groves, P. 57, 144 Hedge, P. 155 Fowler, T. 168, 178 Gruber, R. 49, 136 Helser, T. 147 Fraser, C. 332 Guerra, A. 272 Henderson, A. 95 Freewater, P. 115 Guerrero, A. 145 Henderson, C. 156 Fry, G. 258 Gunn, J. 281 Hernawan, U. 193, 222 Fu, X. 253 Gurgel, F. 340 Heupel, M. 281 Fuller, R. 200 Gwyther, D. 287 Hickey, S. 157 Furnas, M. 170 Hadden, K. 92 Hindell, M. 281, 311 Gaither, M. 268 Hale, L. 139 Hipsey, M. 158 Galaiduk, R. 135 Halford, A. 135 Hirst, A. 159, 252 Gardiner, D. 118 Hallett, C. 314 Ho, P. 287 Gaston, T. 216 Hamer, D. 281 Hobday, A. 151, 317 Gatt, A. 73 Hamer, P. 105, 146, 168, 178 Hoffmann, A. 227 Gay, J. 136 Hamilton, V. 147 Holmer, M. 179 Gaylard, G. 280 Hammill, M. 281 Howe, S. 87, 160, 230, 288, 319 Gentry, C. 147 Hamylton, S. 269 Hrebien, V. 161 George, A. 137 Hancock, B. 139 Huang, Y. 162 Ghedini, G. 138 Hanke, P. 296 Huang, Z. 167 Giammusso, M. 108 Hankin, C. 296 Hugall, A. 236 Gibb, K. 203, 327 Hanratty, C. 103 Huggett, M. 257 Gilby, B. 156 Harasti, D. 117 Huijbers, C. 123 Gillanders, B. 52, 148 Harcourt, R. 58, 183, 274, 281 Hulands, L. 160

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Hull, R. 163 Kearney, M. 92 Küpper, C. 196 Hutley, L. 256 Keesing, J. 176, 201 La Peyre, J. 323 Ierodiaconou, D. 126, 160, 167, 227, 280, 349 Keith, D. 239 Lachambre, S. 118 Ilyushkina, I. 320 Kelaher, B. 74, 101, 117, 148, 210 Lachnit, T. 115 Irving, A. 164 Keller, K. 343 Langlois, L. 108 Iwanoczko, S. 165 Kelleway, J. 71, 206 Lara, A. 189 Jackson, E. 166 Kelly, E. 92 Lathlean, J. 190, 191 Jaine, F. 333 Kelly, P. 66 Lavers, J. 130 Jalali, A. 167 Kelly, S. 338 Lavery, P. 192, 193, 212, 222, 297 James, C. 263 Kemp, J. 168 Lawler, D. 194 Jansen, P. 262 Kendrick, G. 85, 177, 180, 193, 220, 221, 242, Lawson, B. 49 Jarvis, J. 90, 107, 215, 290, 310 289, 297 Lea, M. 281 Jeffs, A. 338 Kennedy, D. 243 Lee Chang, K. 197 Jenkins, G. 168, 178 Kent, J. 168, 178 Lee, K. 351 Jenner, K. 300 Keough, M. 136, 163, 244, 345 Lee, P. 196 Jenner, M. 300 Kilminster, K. 158, 179, 180, 221, 242 Lee, R. 109, 159, 195 Jennings, S. 169 King, C. 88 Lee, S. 60, 156, 175 Jessop, T. 92 Kininmonth, S. 298 Leis, J. 245 Joehnk, K. 55 Kinsey, M. 181 Lemckert, C. 264 Johansson, C. 108 Kirkman, H. 182 Lester, R. 239 Johnson, C. 187 Kirkwood, R. 183, 214, 274 Lewis, A. 198 Johnston, E. 53, 74, 75, 81, 101, 115, 143, 154, Kjelleberg, S. 74, 115 Lewis, J. 199 271 Kleinhenz, L. 319 Li, X. 52, 102 Jones, E. 59 Kliska, K. 183 Liggins, G. 344 Jones, G. 171, 186 Knott, N. 101 Liggins, L. 268 Jones, K. 170 Knox, T. 184 Lilje, E. 299 Jones, N. 170 Kobryn, H. 116, 185 Lilje, O. 299 Jones, P. 240 Kolev, S. 246 Lin, H. 200 Jonker, M. 137 Komyakova, V. 186 Ling, S. 187 Jonsen, I. 183, 281 Koren, K. 79 Linke, S. 200 Jordan, A. 172 Kousbroek, D. 216 Liu, D. 176, 201 Kaempf, J. 173, 174 Kovacs, E. 269 Liversage, K. 202 Kamal, S. 60, 175 Kraal, P. 309 Longmore, A. 208 Karim, F. 55 Krauss, S. 289 Lorenz, Z. 55 Kaufman, G. 293 Kriegisch, N. 187 Lougheed, C. 181 Kavanaugh, M. 277 Kupriyanova, E. 188 Lovelock, C. 275 Kay, J. 323 Kühl, M. 79 Lowe, R. 170

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Lowry, M. 291 McKenzie, L. 107, 180, 216, 242, 331 Mondon, J. 85 Lowther, A. 281 McKenzie, P. 70 Mongin, M. 59 Lozano-Montes, 212 McLaughlin, J. 124, 212, 313 Moodie, C. 96 H. McLeay, L. 281 Morello, E. 258 Luter, H. 203 McLeod, I. 217, 218 Morris, L. 233, 244 Lymburner, L. 278 McMahon, C. 58, 219, 281 Morrison, P. 241 Lynch, T. 104, 132, 204, 342, 343 McMahon, K. 180, 193, 212, 220, 221, 222, Morrongiello, J. 234 Lyons, M. 180, 221 242, 297, 331 Mueller, N. 278 MacDonald, H. 170 McQuaid, C. 190, 191 Mumby, P. 242, 269, 275 MacIntosh, H. 205, 243, 324 McQuatters- 223 Munksgaard, N. 327 MacKay, A. 140 Gollop, A. McWilliam, R. 224 Murphy, N. 320, 344 MacNally, R. 329 Murray, D. 72 MacReadie, P. 71, 126, 206, 286, 307, 312, 348 Meekan, M. 281, 308 Mehling, M. 277 Naidoo, L. 235 Maher, W. 260 Naughton, K. 236 Malthus, T. 207 Melbourne- 311 Thomas, J. Newton, G. 237 Mancini, S. 195 Mele, P. 208 Ng, T. 190 Mantovanelli, A. 306 Mellors, J. 331 Nicastro, A. 51 Marshall, A. 208 Mengersen, K. 220 Nicastro, K. 190 Martin, C. 209 Merrett, J. 225 Nichol, S. 167 Martinez, E. 293 Merrin, K. 205, 324 Nichols, P. 197, 238, 300, 336, 351 Marvell, C. 73 Meteyard, B. 82 Nicholson, E. 239 Marzinelli, E. 210 Meynecke, J. 226, 264, 265 Nicolette, J. 141 Matta, M. 147 Miller, A. 227 Nielsen, D. 206, 307 Maxwell, P. 49, 156, 180, 242 Miller, D. 321 Niner, H. 240 Mayer Pinto, M. 81, 210 Miller, K. 88 Norman, M. 54 McAfee, D. 211 Miloslavich, P. 228 Nugegoda, D. 91, 130, 241, 288, 319 McAllister, K. 83 Minchinton, T. 224 O’Brien, A. 243, 244, 345 McCallum, A. 205 Miranda, A. 241 O’Brien, K. 49, 108, 180, 242 McCallum, R. 212, 222 Mirskaya, E. 229 O’Brien, T. 305 McCormack, S. 351 Mitchell, B. 230, 280 O’Connell, T. 165 McEnnulty, F. 124, 313 Mohammed, E. 231 O’Connor Sraj, L. 246 McHugh, M. 213 Moller, L. 350 O’Connor, J. 245 McInnes, A. 53 Molloy, F. 232 O’Connor, W. 271, 347 McIntosh, R. 142, 183, 214 Moltmann, T. 189 O’Donnell, P. 51, 247, 248, 249 McKelvie, I. 246 Moltschaniwskyj, 209 O’Hara, T. 78, 205, 236, 250, 346 McKenna, S. 215 N. O’Loughlin, M. 205 McKenzie, J. 70, 281 Momtaz, S. 209 Ogier, E. 151

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Oke, P. 253 T. Robinson, R. 294 Olds, A. 123, 156, 316 Pocklington, J. 70, 87, 259 Rochelmeyer, E. 126 Olivar, M. 334 Poore, A. 125, 295 Rochester, W. 267, 313 Oliver, E. 317 Pope, A. 64 Rodgers, M. 103 Oppedal, F. 119 Possingham, H. 93, 200 Rodrigue, M. 87 Orbell, J. 130 Potter, A. 198 Rodriguez, J. 239, 281 Ow, Y. 108, 161 Potts, J. 74, 115, 260 Roelfsema, C. 221, 269, 275 Oxley, A. 341 Prinsep, M. 351 Rogers, B. 323 Paerl, H. 305 Proctor, R. 253 Rogers, T. 145, 165, 270 Page, B. 281, 321 Przeslawski, R. 89, 261 Rohlfs, A. 53 Parker, L. 106, 271, 347 Putman, N. 286 Ronan, M. 269 Parr, A. 251 Queiroga, H. 318 Rose, A. 309 Parra, G. 350 Quinn, G. 64 Rosebrock, U. 253 Parry, D. 84 Radford, B. 135 Ross, J. 336 Parry, G. 252 Ralph, P. 71, 97, 206, 307, 312 Ross, P. 106, 271, 347 Pasquer, B. 253 Rapizo, H. 262 Roura, A. 272 Patten, N. 254 Rasheed, M. 90, 97, 107, 206, 215, 348 Rozaimi, M. 192 Patterson, R. 83, 255, 256 Rayner, M. 339 Runcie, J. 273 Patterson, T. 150, 258 Rašić, G. 227 Russell, B. 138 Pattiaratchi, C. 306, 308 Redondo 263 Saeck, E. 103 Pedersen, O. 177 Rodriguez, A. Saint, L. 288 Peierls, B. 305 Reeds, K. 248 Salomon, A. 311 Peng, Y. 176 Reeves, S. 187 Salton, M. 274 Pequignet, C. 170 Reich, P. 329 Samper- 49, 242, 275 Perissinotto, R. 235 Reinke, J. 264, 265 Villarreal, J. Persoone, G. 162 Reis, M. 266 Sanderman, J. 126 Petch, D. 233 Renwick, L. 214 Santos, I. 276 Petrie, J. 238 Reyes-Aldasoro, 162 Saunders, M. 275, 277 C. Savage, K. 147 Petrou, K. 206 Ricart, A. 206 Pettigrove, V. 94 Scanes, E. 106, 271 Richardson, A. 124, 267, 313, 333 Schimel, A. 160, 280 Phelps, C. 257 Richardson, M. 159, 285 Phillips, D. 142 Schlacher, T. 123, 316 Riginos, C. 268 Schofield, G. 122 Phillips, L. 208 Robb, M. 305 Phinn, S. 93, 269 Scholz, G. 321 Robertson, B. 130 Schulz, E. 262 Pigot, S. 253 Robinson, A. 320 Pillans, R. 258 Schulz, K. 309 Robinson, C. 53 Sebille, E. 286 Pineda Enriquez, 78 Robinson, K. 299 357

Sequeira, A. 281 Tate, P. 73 Stevens, T. 156 Serrano, O. 192 Taylor, M. 292 Stewart-Koster, 123 Setio, C. 292 Tham, R. 351 B. Seuront, L. 190 Thiel, M. 286 Stien, L. 119 Seymour, J. 206 Thomas, L. 151 Stirling, E. 120 Shah Esmaeili, Y. 283 Thompson, P. 305 Stobutzki, I. 151 Shaughnessy, P. 140 Thomson, A. 206, 307 Stone, D. 102 Sheaves, M. 217, 218 Thomson, J. 329 Straw, P. 296 Sheedy, J. 118 Thomson, P. 306 Strong, D. 287 Sheehan, S. 284 Thorogood, J. 110 Strugnell, J. 54, 272, 320, 344 Sherman, C. 159, 178, 285, 286, 290 Thums, M. 281, 308 Strutton, P. 170 Sherwood, J. 287 Tibbetts, I. 82 Strydom, S. 297 Shimeta, J. 241, 288, 319, 330 Ticli, K. 331 Stuart-Smith, R. 298 Sim, V. 53, 115 Tohidi Farid, H. 309 Styan, C. 240 Simmons, S. 228 Tol, S. 107, 310 Sullivan, B. 299 Simpson, S. 74, 115 Tonks, M. 124, 313 Sun, M. 74 Sinclair, E. 125, 289 Torre-Williams, 265 Sun, Y. 188 Singh, S. 238 L. Sutherland, M. 115 Skilleter, G. 213 Tovar- 188 Suthers, I. 291, 292 Hernández, M. Sutton, A. 300, 301 Slawinski, D. 127, 128 Townsend, S. 255 Slip, D. 165, 274 Swabb, M. 293 Tracey, S. 317 Swadling, K. 66 Slotwinski, A. 124, 313 Travers, M. 193 Smallwood, C. 69 Swanson, R. 302 Trebilco, R. 80, 311 Swarup, S. 74, 115 Smernik, R. 192 Treml, E. 133, 303 Smith, J. 291, 292 Swearer, S. 62, 133, 186, 187, 303, 318, 328 Trevathan- 71, 206, 299, 312 Székely, T. 196 Smith, S. 117 Tackett, S. Smith, T. 286, 290 Tsang, J. 84 Tang, M. 241 Sorokin, S. 351 Turchini, G. 336 Tanner, J. 164, 304, 340 Spillman, C. 112 Turnbull, J. 283 Tarjan, M. 274 Stack, S. 293 Udy, J. 180, 221, 242 Uthicke, S. 108, 161 Stafford-Bell, R. 294 Underwood, C. 147 Valesini, F. 314 Statton, J. 297 Underwood, J. 193 van Dijk, K. 193, 331 Steele, W. 233 Uribe-Palomino, 124, 313 van Rooyen, A. 227 Steinberg, P. 74, 115, 210 J. van Ruth, P. 58, 254 Scanes, P. 7.41E+28 Ushiama, S. 101 van Sebille, E. 292 Scardino, A. 330 Stelling-Wood, T. 295 Vanderklift, M. 212 Scarpaci, C. 130 Sterling, D. 213 Varcoe, T. 315

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Vargas-Fonseca, 316 Waycott, M. 180, 221, 242, 321, 331 Wlodkowic, D. 162 E. Weber, X. 332 Wong, C. 227 Vasile, R. 317, 318 Webster, N. 203 Wong, E. 188 Verbruggen, H. 78 Weeks, A. 227 Wong, L. 342 Vergés, A. 125, 210 Weeks, S. 333 Wood, G. 148, 343 Verspaandonk, E. 288, 319 Wellington, M. 334 Woodings, L. 344 Villacorta-Rath, C. 320 Welsford, D. 311 Woodland, R. 329 Virtue, P. 300 Welsh, D. 179 Woods, J. 244, 345 Von Baumgarten, 321 Wettle, M. 269 Woolley, S. 346 P. Vozzo, M. 322, 323 White, C. 336 Wormersley, T. 349 Waayers, D. 308 Whitehead, S. 337 Wright, A. 321 Walker-Smith, G. 205, 324 Whitely, R. 287 Wright, J. 106, 342, 347 Wallis, I. 325 Wicks, L. 67 Wright, S. 306 Walshe, T. 326 Wiebkin, A. 281 Wu, P. 220 Ward, R. 72 Wilcox, M. 338 Yang, Q. 351 Ward, T. 263 Wild-Allen, K. 339 Yeates, P. 100 Wardrop, P. 241 Wilkinson, S. 55 York, P. 90, 206, 215, 286, 290, 310, Williams, A. 205, 287 348 Warnakulasooriy 327 Young, M. 160, 167, 280, 349 a, K. Williams, D. 83, 256 Warnken, J. 175 Williams, R. 74 Zalizniak, L. 330 Warren-Myers, 328 Williamson, J. 188 Zanardo, N. 350 F. Wils, T. 147 Zardi, G. 190 Warry, F. 329 Wilson, P. 64 Zavala-Perez, A. 85, 177 Warton, D. 154 Wilson, R. 205, 243, 324 Zavalas, R. 126 Wasiak, P. 214 Wiltshire, K. 340, 341 Zhang, N. 127 Watson, M. 330 Windsor, J. 83 Zhang, W. 351 Watson, P. 263 Wintle, B. 346 Zuercher, R. 147

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List of Delegates Delegate Name Organisation Email Presentation Dr Matthew Adams University of Queensland [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Prue Addison Australian Institute of Marine Science [email protected] 15.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Brendan Alderson Cardno (NSW/ACT) Pty Ltd [email protected] 15.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Mr Nick Alexeyeff Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - Mrs Heidi Alleway University of Adelaide [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Mr Marco Alvarez University of Technology Sydney [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Rodriguez Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe Mr Michael Amor [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall University, Victoria; Sciences Department, Museum Victoria Ms Janet Anstee CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Ken Anthony Australian Institute of Marine Science [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ms Donna-Marie Audas Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Lynda Avery [email protected] - Delegate - South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Dr Frederic Bailleul [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Sciences) Dr Mark Baird CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Joe Baker [email protected] - Delegate - Mr Majid Bakhtiyari Griffith University, Australian Rivers Institute [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Mr Ryan Baring School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Mr Luke Barrett School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Simon Barry CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Dr Jan Barton [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Sciences, Deakin University Dr Nic Bax CSIRO [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Jason Beard Institute for Marine and Antarctic Science [email protected] 17.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Prof Lynnath E. Beckley Murdoch University [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall 16.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Alecia Bellgrove Deakin University [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Penny Berents [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Oliver Berry CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Western Australia [email protected] 17.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Mr Colin Besley Sydney Water [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212

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Ms Simone Birrer University of New South Wales [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Marine Mammal Research Unit, Marine Environmental Dr Michelle Blewitt [email protected] - Delegate - Research Consultants Mr Robert Bone EstuaryWatch [email protected] - Exhibitor - Helene Boulloche-Sabine [email protected] - Delegate - Anthony Boxshall [email protected] - Delegate - Ms Sally Bracewell University of New South Wales [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Mr Simon Branigan The Nature Conservancy [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Dr Tom Brewer Charles Darwin and Australian Institute of Marine Science [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ms Guadalupe Bribiesca University of Melbourne [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Contreras Mr Kasper Elgetti University of Technology Sydney [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Brodersen Dr Christopher Brown Griffith University, Australian Rivers Institute [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Ana Bugnot University of New South Wales [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Dr Dana Burfeind University of Queensland [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Edward Butler Australian Institute of Marine Science [email protected] 12.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Prof Maria Byrne University of Sydney 9.10 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Dr Marion Cambridge The University of Western Australia [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Elodie Camprasse [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Robert Franklin Canto University of Queensland [email protected] - Delegate - 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Jan Carey School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Cecilia Carrea University of Tasmania [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Dr Andrew Carroll Geoscience Australia [email protected] 11.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Alex Carter TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Rhys Cartlidge RMIT University [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Catherine Cavallo Monash University [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Debbie Chamberlain University of Queensland [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall The University of Melbourne (Centre for Aquatic Pollution Ms Sherrie Chambers [email protected] 17.10 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Identification and Management) Dr Kate Charlton-Robb Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ms Katie Chartrand TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Mr Scott Chidgey Consulting Environmental Engineers [email protected] - Sponsor -

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andrewch- Mr Andrew Christie Melbourne Polytechnic/Marine Care Point Cooke 15.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 [email protected] Dr Kathy Cinque Melbourne Water [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Graeme Clark University of New South Wales [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Mr Steven Clarke South Australian Research and Development Institute [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Sonia Claus Great Barrier Reef Foundation [email protected] 17.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ms Lesley Clementson CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Mr Ben Cleveland University of Melbourne [email protected] 15.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Tim Coggan [email protected] - Delegate - Frank Colberg [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Victoria Cole University of Western Sydney [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Melinda Coleman [email protected] - Delegate - 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Dr Rob Coles TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] D2.194 Dr Catherine Collier TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] 12.00 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Mr David Collins Environment Protection Authority Victoria [email protected] 15.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Ms Carol Conacher frc environmental [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Prof Rod Connolly Griffith University [email protected] - Delegate - Amanda Cornish [email protected] - Delegate - Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National Prof Robert Costanza 9.05 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall University 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Darren Cottam Environment Protection Authority Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - Dr Tony Courtney Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Christine Crawford [email protected] - Delegate - Mr Lincoln Critchley Macquarie University [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Mr Peter Crockett Consulting Environmental Engineers [email protected] - Sponsor - Dr Katherine Dafforn University of New South Wales [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Miss Naomi Dart EstuaryWatch [email protected] - Exhibitor - Ms Harriet Davies Murdoch University [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Mr Tom Davis Southern Cross University [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Dr Rob Day School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Deanne de Zeeuw [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Tim Dempster School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Ms Carlie Devine CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere [email protected] - Delegate - 362

School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, South Prof Sabine Dittmann [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Australia Dr Peter Doherty Australian Institute of Marine Science [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Simon Drummond [email protected] - Delegate - Mr Antoine Dujon Deakin University [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Ms Sarah Engelhard Griffith University, School of ENV, Australian Rivers Institute [email protected] D2.194 CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Tasmania ; Institute Dr Ruth Eriksen [email protected] 12.00 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Tasmania Ms Suzanna Evans University of New South Wales [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Ms Carolyn Ewers [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Sciences, Deakin University 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Ming Feng CSIRO [email protected] 12.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Dr Will Figueira [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Wales Annett Finger Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Isla Fitridge Biofouling Solutions [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Mr David Flynn Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies [email protected] 17.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Adrian Flynn Fathom Pacific Pty Ltd [email protected] - Delegate - 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Ms Emily Fobert School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] D2.194 John Ford University of Melbourne [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Jessica French University of Melbourne, [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Beth Fulton CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship 9.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Mr Ronen Galaiduk Curtin University [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Guillaume Galibert [email protected] - Delegate - Chris Garland [email protected] - Delegate - Adrienne Gatt [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Jennita Gay University of Melbourne [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Dr Anita George James Cook University [email protected] 16.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall GPO BOX 378 Canberra ACR 2601 Australia Geoscience Australia [email protected] - Exhibitor - General Enquiries: 1800 800 173 Ms Giulia Ghedini The University of Adelaide [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Chris Gillies The Nature Conservancy [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Prof Simon Goldsworthy [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Sciences)

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Paul Goldsworthy ENVIRON Australia [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Dougal Greer eCoast, Raglan, New Zealand [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Mr Kingsley Griffin University of New South Wales [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Mr Paul Groves Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ms Alicia Guerrero University of New South Wales [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Paul Hamer Fisheries Victoria [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Mrs Vicki Hamilton [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Tasmania School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Ms Natasha Hardy [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Wales Mr Daniel Harrison University of Sydney [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Jason Hartog CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere [email protected] 17.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Ms Jude Hassall Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning [email protected] - Sponsor - Dr Kathryn Hassell University of Melbourne [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Mr Steven Hawes University of Sydney [email protected] D2.194 Dr Luke Hedge The University of New South Wales [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall University of Tasmania, Institute for Antarctic and Marine Mr Paul Hedge [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Studies, Tasmania Christopher Henderson Griffith University, School of ENV, Australian Rivers Institute [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Mr Angus Henderson Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation [email protected] - Delegate - Miss Rose Herben EstuaryWatch [email protected] - Exhibitor - Sharyn Hickey University of Western Australia [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Matt Hipsey The University of Western Australia [email protected] 15.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Alastair Hirst Deakin University [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Daniel Hitchcock The University of Oslo [email protected] - Delegate - Mr Percival Ho Consulting Environmental Engineers [email protected] - Sponsor - Ms Bernadette Hoare Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - Carolyn Hocking [email protected] - Delegate - Jacqui Hope [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Steffan Howe Parks Victoria [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook Victoria Hrebien [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 University Mr Yushi Huang RMIT University [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Rebecca Hull The University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194

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Tom Hurst [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Daniel Ierodiaconou Deakin University [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Andrew Irving Central Queensland University [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Ms Sarah Iwanoczko University of New South Wales [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Emma Jackson Central Queensland University [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Ali Jalali Deakin University [email protected] 15.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Prof Greg Jenkins School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] D2.194 Ms Shona Jennings Murdoch University [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Roberta Johnson [email protected] - Delegate - Ms Natasha Johnson Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - Prof Emma Johnston Applied Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems Group 9.30 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall University of Tasmania; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Dr Katherine Jones [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Studies (IMAS) Ms Glenys Jones Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 College of Marine & Environmental Sciences and ARC Centre of Prof Geoffrey P Jones 9.45 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Marine Ecosystems Research, NSW Department of Primary Alan Jordan [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Industries, New South Wales 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Dr Jochen Kaempf School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Ms Shafagh Kamal Griffith University, School of ENV, Australian Rivers Institute [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall John Keesing CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere [email protected] 15.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Paige Kelly [email protected] - Delegate - Ms Alison Kemp Environment Protection Authority Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Prof Gary Kendrick [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Western Australia, Western Australia 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Ms Julia Kent Deakin University [email protected] D2.194 Mr Matt Khoury EstuaryWatch [email protected] - Exhibitor - 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Kieryn Kilminster Western Australia Department of Water [email protected] 15.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Ms Marie Kinsey School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 16.50 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Dr Hugh Kirkman Private Consultant [email protected] D2.194 Kimberley Kliska Macquarie University [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Travis Knox Deakin University [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Halina Kobryn Murdoch University [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 365

Mrs Valeriya Komyakova University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Mr Johnathon Kool Geoscience Australia [email protected] - Exhibitor - Mrs Nina Kriegisch Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Elena Kupriyanova Australian Museum [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Ana Lara Integrated Marine Observing System, University of Tasmania [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Val Latham [email protected] - Delegate - 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Justin Lathlean Rhodes University [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Prof Paul Lavery Edith Cowan University [email protected] 12.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Mr Dominic Lawler Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation [email protected] 14.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Randall Lee Environment Protection Authority Victoria [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Patricia Lee Deakin University [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Ken Lee CSIRO [email protected] - Sponsor - CSIRO Intelligent Processing Transformational Capability Dr Kim Lee Chang [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Platform (IP TCP), CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship Dr Adam Lewis Geoscience Australia MH370 Team [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Mr John Lewis ES Link Services Pty Ltd and IMarEST [email protected] - Exhibitor - Mr Hsien-Yung Lin The University of Queensland [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Dongyan Liu Chinese Academy of Sciences [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources South Kiran Liversage [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Australia Andy Longmore [email protected] - Delegate - Emilie Luna-Laurent [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Heidi Luter Charles Darwin University [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Tim Lynch CSIRO [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Hugh MacIntosh Museum Victoria [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Dr Peter MacReadie University of Technology Sydney [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Tim Malthus CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Natalie Manahan [email protected] - Delegate - Bojana Manojlovic [email protected] - Delegate - Ms Alexis Marshall La Trobe University [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Ms Carol Martin University of Newcastle [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ezequiel Marzinelli University of New South Wales [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212

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Mr Dominic McAfee Macquarie University [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Ms Roisin McCallum Edith Cowan University [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Mr Matthew McHugh University of Queensland [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Dr Rebecca McIntosh Phillip Island Nature Parks [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ms Skye McKenna TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] 15.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Louise McKenzie Hunter Water Corporation [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Mr Len McKenzie TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] - Delegate - TropWATER; Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Ian McLeod [email protected] Research and College of Marine and Environmental Science 15.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Clive McMahon Sydney Institute of Marine Science [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Kathryn McMahon Edith Cowan University [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 15.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Abigail McQuatters-Gollop Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Mr Russell McWilliam University of Wollongong [email protected] D2.194 Ms Jessica Merrett University of New South Wales [email protected] 15.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Griffith Centre for Coastal Management and Humpbacks & Dr Jan-Olaf Meynecke [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 High-Rises Inc. Adam Miller The University of Melbourne [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Dr Patricia Miloslavich Australian Institute of Marine Science [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ekaterina Mirskaya University of Queensland [email protected] 12.00 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Mr Brett Mitchell Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - Essam Yassin Mohammed International Institute for Environment and Development [email protected] 11.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Fergus Molloy Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Jacquomo Monk [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Liz Morris CAPIM, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr John Morrongiello University of Melbourne [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Ms Leesa Naidoo University of KwaZulu-Natal [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Kate Naughton Museum Victoria [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Dr Gina Newton Past President Australian Marine Sciences Association [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Food and Dr Peter D. Nichols [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Nutrition Flagship Dr Emily Nicholson Deakin University [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ms Holly Niner UCL [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193

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Prof Dayanthi Nugegoda RMIT University [email protected] 15.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Kate O'Brien University of Queensland [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 17.10 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Dr Allyson O'Brien School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Mr Jack O'Connor University of Technology Sydney [email protected] D2.194 Ms Lenka O'Connor Sraj The University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Dr Peggy O'Donnell Cardno (NSW/ACT) Pty Ltd [email protected] 15.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall 15.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Tim O'Hara Sciences Department, Museum Victoria [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall 13 1963 Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - www.parks.vic.gov.au Ms Amanda Parr Parks Australia [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Greg Parry Monash University and Marine Ecological Solutions [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Benedicte Pasquer Integrated Marine Observing System, University of Tasmania [email protected] 12.00 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Dr Nicole Patten [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Sciences) 15.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Ms Ruth Patterson Northern Territory Department of Land Resource Management [email protected] 17.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Shelley Paull [email protected] - Delegate - Mathieu Pernice [email protected] - Delegate - Merrilee Pettit [email protected] - Delegate - Mrs Charlie M. Phelps Edith Cowan University [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Richard Pillans CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Richard Piola IMarEST [email protected] - Exhibitor - Dr Jacqui Pocklington Tohoku University [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Adam Pope School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University [email protected] - Delegate - Mr Jaimie Potts NSW Office of Environment and Heritage [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Rachel Przeslawski Geoscience Australia [email protected] 15.50 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Sameer Punde [email protected] - Delegate - Mr Henrique Rapizo Swinburne University of Technology [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Michael Rasheed TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] - Delegate - South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Dr Ana Redondo Rodriguez [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Sciences) Griffith University, School of Engineering and Humpbacks and 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Joshua Reinke [email protected] Highrises 16.50 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 368

Mr Marcelo Reis University of Sydney [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 EcoSciences Precinct, Queensland; Centre for Applications in Dr Anthony Richardson Natural Resource Mathematics (CARM), School of [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland Cynthia Riginos University of Queensland [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Chris Roberts [email protected] - Delegate - Marlenne Rodriguez [email protected] - Delegate - Biophysical Remote Sensing Group, School of Geography, Dr Chris Roelfsema Planning and Environmental Management, University of [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Queensland Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Dr Tracey Rogers Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Wales Prof Pauline Ross University of Western Sydney [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Alvaro Roura La Trobe University [email protected] 12.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr John Runcie Aquation Pty Ltd [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Jason Ruszczyk [email protected] - Delegate - Linda Salleo [email protected] - Delegate - Frank Salleo [email protected] - Delegate - Mr Marcus Salton Macquarie University [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Jimena Samper-Villarreal Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of Queensland [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Mr Michael Sams Environment Protection Authority Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - Isaac Santos National Marine Science Centre [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Marine Spatial Ecology Lab and Global Change Institute, 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Dr Megan Saunders [email protected] University of Queensland D2.194 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Peter Scanes NSW Office of Environment and Heritage [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Elliot Scanes University of Western Sydney [email protected] - Delegate - Dr Peter Scanes NSW Office of Environment and Heritage [email protected] - Delegate - Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Dr Alexandre Schimel [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Sciences, Deakin University Ana Sequeira University of Western Australia [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Ms Yasmina Shah Esmaeili The University of Sydney [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Scott Sheehan Marine Mammal Research Unit, Marine Explorer [email protected] 14.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 15.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Craig Sherman Deakin University [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr John Sherwood Deakin University [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall 369

Dr Jeff Shimeta RMIT University [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Elizabeth Sinclair University of Western Australia [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Dr Tim Smith Deakin University [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall 17.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr James Smith University of New South Wales [email protected] 10.40 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Prof Shirley Sorokin Flinders University [email protected] - Delegate - Stephanie Stack Pacific Whale Foundation [email protected] 16.50 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University; Mr Richard Stafford-Bell [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Chantel Steele [email protected] - Delegate - Ms Talia Stelling-Wood University of New South Wales [email protected] 15.50 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Mr Jonathon Stevenson Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - Phil Straw Avifauna Research & Services [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Dr Jan Strugnell La Trobe University [email protected] - Delegate - Ms Simone Strydom Edith Cowan University [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Rick Stuart-Smith University of Tasmania [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Craig Styan UCL [email protected] - Delegate - Ms Brooke Sullivan School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Mr Gary Summers Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - 16.50 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Alicia Sutton Murdoch University [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Dr Rebecca Swanson NSW Office of Environment and Heritage [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Dr Steve Swearer School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] D2.194 South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Dr Jason Tanner [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Sciences) Dr Peter Thompson CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Australian National Facility for Ocean Gliders, School of Civil, Dr Paul Thomson Environmental and Mining Engineering; Oceans Institute, The [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 University of Western Australia Ms Alexandra Thomson Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Michele Thums Australian Institute of Marine Science [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Hanieh Tohidi Farid Southern Cross University [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 12.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Ms Samantha Tol TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] D2.194 Ms Maggie Tran Geoscience Australia [email protected] - Exhibitor -

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Rowan Trebilco Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Jamie Treleavan [email protected] - Delegate - Ms Stacey Trevathan- stacey.m.trevathan- University of Technology Sydney 12.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Tackett [email protected] Mr Steve Tuohy Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship; EcoSciences Precinct, Mr Julian Uribe-Palomino [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Queensland Dr Fiona Valesini Murdoch University [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Els van Burm [email protected] - Delegate - 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Tony Varcoe Parks Victoria [email protected] - Exhibitor - Ms Elena Vargas-Fonseca University of the Sunshine Coast [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 12.00 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Roxana Vasile EMBC [email protected] 12.00 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Emily Verspaandonk RMIT University [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Ms Cecilia Villacorta-Rath University of Tasmania [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Mrs Patricia Von Department of Environment of Environment, Water and [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Baumgarten Natural Resources, South Australia 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Costa Hall Ms Maria Vozzo Macquarie University [email protected] 10.00 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Dr Genefor Walker-Smith Museum Victoria [email protected] 11.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Costa Hall Ian Wallis Consulting Environment Engineers [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 Dr Terry Walshe AIMS [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mrs Kanchana Niwanthi Charles Darwin University [email protected] 11.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Warnakulasooriya Mr Fletcher Warren-Myers School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Ms Fiona Warry Monash University [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Costa Hall Mr Matthew Watson RMIT University [email protected] 15.00 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Maria Watson [email protected] - Delegate - Prof Michelle Waycott The University of Adelaide [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Ms Xénia Weber ANU [email protected] 17.10 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Dr Scarla Weeks University of Queensland [email protected] 10.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Mr Max Wellington Murdoch University [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Ms Camille White School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Dr Sam Whitehead Derwent Estuary [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Mr Mark Wilcox University of Auckland [email protected] 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 371

Karen Wild-Allen CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere [email protected] 13.20 - Monday, 6th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic 13.20 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Ms Kathryn Wiltshire [email protected] Sciences) 15.00 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.212 University of Tasmania; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Mr Lincoln Wong [email protected] 17.10 - Tuesday, 7th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Studies (IMAS) School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Ms Georgina Wood [email protected] 15.50 - Tuesday, 7th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Wales Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe 13.20 - Wednesday, 8th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre Ms Laura Woodings [email protected] University, Victoria D2.194 Ms Josephine Woods CAPIM, The University of Melbourne [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Little Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.194 Mr Skipton Woolley The University of Melbourne [email protected] 15.50 - Wednesday, 8th July - Costa Hall Mr John Wright University of Western Sydney [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Mrs Kate Wynn EstuaryWatch [email protected] - Exhibitor - Dr Paul York TropWATER, James Cook University [email protected] 11.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Dr Mary Young Deakin University [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Lecture Theatre D2.211 Cetacean, Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab, School of Nikki Zanardo [email protected] 10.40 - Monday, 6th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 Biological Sciences, Flinders University Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development, Flinders Prof Wei Zhang [email protected] 13.40 - Thursday, 9th July - Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre D2.193 University

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Notes

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WARRNAMBOOL CAMPUS Princes Highway Warrnambool Victoria

GEELONG WAURN PONDS CAMPUS Pigdons Road Waurn Ponds Victoria

GEELONG WATERFRONT CAMPUS 1 Gheringhap Street Geelong Victoria

MELBOURNE BURWOOD CAMPUS 221 Burwood Highway Burwood Victoria

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Published by Deakin University June, 2015

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