No images? Click here
Our largest field trial in coral restoration research!
Coral spawning provides a narrow window for scientists working to understand how reefs can resist and recover from disturbances, and how we can help. This year's spawning research brought many projects together to reach a major milestone - delivering 100k baby corals to the Great Barrier Reef.
Overcoming bottlenecks in coral aquaculture and scaling up efforts to support a system as huge as the Reef is a complex puzzle.
In our National Sea Simulator, we’ve boosted the number of coral larvae produced during spawning, encouraged larvae to settle quickly, and developed methods to increase the survival rates of young coral during their first year of life on the Reef.
|
|
|
|
Images: Marie Roman
This year, we’re trialling different ways to deploy the devices to compare how the young corals fare and which is best to deliver the most baby corals to the Reef. This is essential if we are to work at the scales we need and reach a future milestone – deliver millions of baby corals to the Reef.
This research is part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. It is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Helping adult corals handle more heat, at no cost to growth
New research has revealed that if you bolster the heat tolerance of a certain symbiont (the tiny algae that live within corals) and use them to treat an adult coral species that’s been bleached, the adult coral can better tolerate heat.
Seabird droppings may help reef recovery
A new study co-authored by Dr Shaun Wilson has found the presence of seabirds on island adjacent to coral reefs can more than double growth rates of table and branching corals.
Predicting strong currents off Western Australia
The Browse Basin north-west of Broome is an important area for industry. It also has strong water movements, which can lead to safety issues and damage infrastructure. We're collaborating with TIDE Research Hub to predict ocean currents.
Stay up to date this summer
Summer can be a challenging time for reefs.
We work with the Reef Authority (GBRMPA) and partners keeping an eye on reef conditions. Stay up to date with weekly reports issued by GBRMPA.
Our Long-Term Monitoring Program team are in the field surveying the Great Barrier Reef. We share data on coral cover, crown-of-thorns starfish numbers, and fish on the Reef dashboard and via their regular "Back from the Reef" newsletter.
The Western Australia (WA) Coral Bleaching Group meet monthly throughout spring and summer to discuss coral bleaching risks to WA reefs. The Group summarise forecasts, monitoring information and provide reef survey updates via a newsletter.
Welcoming the Queensland Indigenous Womens Ranger Network
Our Indigenous Partnerships team hosted an open day at our headquarters in Townsville to showcase the variety of work we do on sea Country. The 90 women represent ranger groups from different Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner groups along the entire length of the Reef; from Apudthama Northern Peninsula Area Rangers at the top of Cape York, to Butchulla Land & Sea Rangers from K’gari.
The open day provided an opportunity for cultural knowledge exchange, where AIMS’ staff could hear about their science through a cultural lens from Traditional Owners. This blending of two knowledge systems; western science and traditional ecological knowledge, allows for better science, environmental and social outcomes.
FOLLOW
- Follow AIMS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube
- Sign up for regular survey updates from AIMS' Great Barrier Reef Long-Term Monitoring team
AIMS in the spotlight
