Outstanding graduate student research at Ningaloo
1 April 2010
Climate change, whale sharks and the social impacts of climate change at Ningaloo were discussed at the Ningaloo Student Research Day this week.
Thirteen postgraduate students spoke about their research into marine species, the distribution of particles, coastal planning, the impact of camping at pastoral stations and the health of coral reefs.
The day was jointly led by the Department of Environment and Conservation, CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans Flagship’s Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster and the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI).
WAMSI provides funding for 10 graduate students carrying out research at Ningaloo as part of its educational program sponsoring 32 students. The remaining WAMSI students are working on different parts of the WA coastline. Two spoke at the symposium.
Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster leader, Professor Neil Loneragan, told the symposium that the value of students working on projects was enormous.
“Without you we could not accomplish what we have,” he said.
“The iconic Ningaloo Marine Park is the focus of substantial research activity, with scientists from many organisations investigating its biodiversity, ecological and physical processes and interaction with human use.”
He said the collaborative research effort sought to fill crucial information gaps needed to better understand and manage the park in the wake of any future proposed changes to its management plan, including extending and rezoning the marine park.
WAMSI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Steve Blake, said the research provided training, under the supervision of senior scientists, for young career researchers who would become tomorrow’s research leaders.
“This day is an outstanding showcase of what they have achieved,” he said.
WAMSI-funded researchers working at Ningaloo are Frazer McGregor, Janja Ceh, Cecile Rousseaux, Saskia Hinrichs, Soheila Taebi, Abbie McCartney, Ben Fitzpatrick, David Holliday, Deanna Wilson and Emily Twiggs. Their profiles and research results can be seen on http://www.wamsi.org.au/category/region/about-us-our-students
Students and supervisors pictured at the symposium were (from left) Dr Shaun Wilson (DEC, supervisor), Professor Neil Loneragan (Murdoch University, Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster), Dr Kelly Waples (DEC science coordinator, WAMSI Ningaloo projects), Joanna Tonge (Murdoch), Yuval Berger (AIMS), Cecile Rousseaux (UWA), Mark Langdon (Murdoch) Victoria Inman (UWA), Claudia McHarrie (UWA), Samantha Cadee (UWA), James Taylor (UWA), Anna Lewis(Curtin), Rebecca Roberts (Murdoch), Jade Herwig (UWA), Nadine Smith (Curtin), Soheila Taebi (UWA) and Martial Depczynski (AIMS supervisor).
Three researchers won awards for outstanding work. They were (from left) Cecile Rousseaux and Victoria Inman from UWA, and Joanna Tonge from Murdoch University.
Cecile spoke about the transport of particles in a current system near a fringing coral reef, Victoria about the comparison of methods and intensity of sampling species on intertidal platforms and Joanna about understanding the value campers attached to particular places. Joanna presented the work on behalf of the team comprising herself, James Taylor, Samantha Cadee and Claire McHarrie.