Research activities were directed by a Research Priorities Workshop and subsequent Node Science Plan which was designed to address key areas of uncertainty in our understanding of how dredging activities effect the marine environment.
The node is made up of nine integrated research themes delivered through a combination of reviews, field studies, laboratory experimentation and development of protocols and guidelines for impact prediction, monitoring and management.
Dredging Science Node Synthesis Report
Guideline on Dredge Plume Modelling for Environmental Impact Assessment
An information webinar on th Modelling Guideline was held on 11 December, 2020. The recording of this webcast is now available via the following link: https://webcast.csiro.au/#/videos/a3cc1634-95ca-402e-a639-daa63ab7cfc8
Click on the titles below to access a full list of outputs from each Theme.
Review and Consolidation of Data
Theme 1: Review and Consolidation of available environmental data collected for dredging projects.
Characterising and Predicting the Pressure Field
Theme 2: Predicting and measuring the characteristics of sediments generated by dredging
Theme 3: Characterisation and prediction of dredge-generated sediment plume dynamics and fate
Predicting the Ecological Response
Theme 4: Defining thresholds and indicators of Coral response to dredging-related pressures
Theme 5: Defining thresholds and indicators of Primary Producer response to dredging-related pressures
Theme 6: Defining thresholds and indicators of Filter Feeder responses to dredging-related pressures
Critical Windows of Environmental Sensitivity (CWES)
Theme 7: Effects of dredging-related pressures on critical ecological processes for Coral
Theme 8: Effects of dredging-related pressures on critical ecological processes for Finfish
Theme 9: Effects of dredging-related pressures on critical ecological processes for Other Organisms
The Node brought together 114 scientists from 26 collaborating research organisations.
Key researchers are listed below.
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Category 1 Review and Consolidation |
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Theme 1: Review and Consolidation of available environmental data collected for dredging projects.
Researchers Dr Ross Jones – AIMS Dr Ray Masini - Office of the Environmental Protection Authority Mr Kevin Crane - Office of the Environmental Protection Authority
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Theme |
Project No |
Sub-project Name |
Sub-project Leader |
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1 |
1 |
Review and Consolidation |
Node Leadership Team |
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Category 2 Pressure field prediction and characterization |
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Theme 2: Predicting and measuring the characteristics of sediments generated by dredging Researchers Dr Graham Symonds – CSIRO (Theme Leader) Dr Des Mills – Des Mills Marine Environmental Reviews Mr Hans Kemps – Office of the Environmental Protection Authority
Theme 3: Characterisation and prediction of dredge-generated sediment plume dynamics and fate Researchers Dr Chaojiao Sun – CSIRO (Theme Leader) Dr Peter Fearns – Curtin University Dr Ryan Lowe – University of Western Australia Dr Marco Ghisalberti - University of Western Australia Mr Paul Branson - CSIRO Mr Mark Broomhall – Curtin University PhD candidate Passang Dorji (Curtin University) |
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Theme |
Project No |
Sub-project Name |
Sub-project Leader |
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3 |
3 1.1 |
Review - Sediment Characteristics |
Des Mills |
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3 |
3 1.2 |
Review - Plume Characteristics |
Peter Fearns |
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3 |
3.1.3 |
Review - Transport processes |
Ryan Lowe |
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3 |
3.1.4 |
Review - Numerical Modelling |
Chaojiao Sun |
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3 |
3.2.1 |
Plume Characteristics (Field) |
Peter Fearns |
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3 |
3.2.2 |
Plume Characteristics (Lab) |
Peter Fearns |
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3 |
3.3 |
Transport Processes (Lab and Field) |
Ryan Lowe/Marco Ghisalberti |
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3 |
3.4 |
Numerical Modelling (Field) |
Graham Symonds |
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Category 3 Ecological Response Prediction |
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Theme 4: Defining thresholds and indicators of Coral response to dredging-related pressures
Researchers Dr Ross Jones – AIMS (Theme Leader) Dr Rebecca Fisher - AIMS Dr Russ Babcock - CSIRO Dr James Gilmour – AIMS Dr Alan Duckworth - AIMS Prof Peter Ridd - James Cook University Dr Andrew Negri - AIMS Dr James Whinney - James Cook University PhD candidate Pia- Bessell-Browne (University of Western Australia) PhD candidate Clair Stark (James Cook University)
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Theme |
Project No |
Sub-project Name |
Sub-project Leader |
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4 |
4.1 |
Review: Water Quality |
Rebecca Fisher |
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4 |
4.2 |
Review: Dredging and corals |
Ross Jones |
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4 |
4.3 |
Coral Biogeography |
Ross Jones |
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4 |
4.4 |
Sediment deposition modelling |
Peter Ridd |
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4 |
4.5 |
Deposition sensor development |
Peter Ridd |
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4 |
4.6 |
Pressure:Response relationships |
Ross Jones |
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4 |
4.7 |
Coral Demography |
Russ Babcock |
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Theme 5: Defining thresholds and indicators of Primary Producer response to dredging-related pressures
Researchers Prof Paul Lavery – Edith Cowan University (Theme Leader) Prof Gary Kendrick - University of Western Australia Dr Kathryn McMahon – Edith Cowan University Dr John Statton - University of Western Australia Dr Mat Vanderklift – CSIRO Dr Doug Bearham – CSIRO PhD candidate Simone Strydom (Edith Cowan University)
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Theme |
Project No |
Sub-project Name |
Sub-project Leader |
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5 |
5.1.1 |
Review: Dredging and seagrasses |
Kathryn McMahon |
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5 |
5.1.2 |
Review: Seagrass Biogeography |
Kathryn McMahon |
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5 |
5.2 |
Genetic Variability |
Kathryn McMahon |
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5 |
5.3 |
Natural dynamics |
Mat Vanderklift |
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5 |
5.4 |
Recovery Experiments |
Mat Vanderklift |
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5 |
5.5 |
Pressure:Response relationships |
John Statton |
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Theme 6: Defining thresholds and indicators of Filter Feeder responses to dredging-related pressures
Dr Muhammad Abdul Wahab - AIMS (Theme Leader) Dr Jane Fromont – Western Australian Museum Dr Alan Duckworth - AIMS Dr Nicole Webster – AIMS Dr Mari-Carmen Pineda - AIMS PhD candidate Brian-Strehlow (University of Western Australia)
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Theme |
Project No |
Sub-project Name |
Sub-project Leader |
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6 |
6.1 |
Review: Dredging and sponges |
C Schönberg |
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6 |
6.2 |
Sponge Biogeography |
Jane Fromont |
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6 |
6.3 |
Field surveys |
Muhammad Abdul Wahab |
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6 |
6.4 |
Pressure:Response relationships |
Nicole Webster |
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Category 4 Critical Ecological Process and Windows |
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Theme 7: Effects of dredging-related pressures on critical ecological processes for Coral
Researchers Dr Andrew Negri - AIMS (Theme Leader) Dr Ross Jones – AIMS Dr Russ Babcock - CSIRO Dr James Gilmour - AIMS Mr Craig Humphrey - AIMS PhD candidate Gerard Ricardo (University of Western Australia and AIMS)
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Theme |
Project No |
Sub-project Name |
Sub-project Leader |
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7 |
7.1 |
Review: Coral spawning in WA |
James Gilmour |
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7 |
7.2 |
Review: Reproductive cycle and dredging |
Ross Jones |
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7 |
7.3 |
Fertilization Studies |
Andew Negri |
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7 |
7.4 |
Development Studies |
Andew Negri |
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7 |
7.5 |
Settlement Studies |
Andew Negri |
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Theme 8: Effects of dredging-related pressures on critical ecological processes for Finfish
Researchers Prof Euan Harvey – Curtin University (Theme Leader) Dr Lynda Bellchambers – Department of Fisheries Dr Martial Depczynski AIMS Dr Shaun Wilson – Department of Parks and Wildlife Dr Dianne McLean - University of Western Australia Dr Ben Saunders - Curtin University Dr Jean- Paul Hobbs - Curtin University Dr Amelia Wenger (JCU)
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Theme |
Project No |
Sub-project Name |
Sub-project Leader |
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8 |
8.1 |
Review: Dredging and fish and windows |
Ben Saunders |
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8 |
8.2 |
Workshop 1 |
Euan Harvey |
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Theme 9: Effects of dredging-related pressures on critical ecological processes for Other Organisms
Researchers Prof Gary Kendrick - University of Western Australia (Theme Leader) Dr Julian Caley AIMS Dr John Huisman - Murdoch University Dr John Keesing - CSIRO Dr Dianne McLean - University of Western Australia
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Theme |
Project No |
Sub-project Name |
Sub-project Leader |
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9 |
9.1 |
Workshop 1 |
Gary Kendrick |
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9 |
9.2 |
Workshop 2 |
Gary Kendrick |
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