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Research at Moreton Bay Research Station

Moreton Bay Research Station is an important hub of research in the SE Queensland region. Since January of this year, over thirty discreet research projects have been conducted from MBRS. Projects have ranged in size and complexity from small aquarium based studies through to helicopter and satellite based techniques. Our laboratories are also being put through their paces, with techniques ranging from necropsies through to HPLC chromatography and mass spectrometry. Here is a highlight of just some of the research activities that have been conducted since June 2008.

Marine mammals

MBRS is fast becoming known as a centre for marine mammal research. School of Integrative Biological Sciences (SIBS)f student Kate Sprogis has been clocking up hundreds of boating hours investigating the small scale movements and habitat use of dugongs in relation to tidal cycles and vessel movements in Moreton Bay. With her small team, she has been spending up to 12 hours a day tracking the movement patterns of dugongs on and off the seagrass banks. While Liz Burgess from SIBS and the School of Vet Sciences is conducting a base line health study of the local dugong population.

Courtney Waugh and Ina Ansmann from the Environmental Ecotoxicology Centre have been collecting skin samples from humpback whales and dolphins, respectively. With their team of sharp shooters, the girls have been obtaining biopsy samples from the charismatic megafauna. The samples are being analysed for dioxins and persistent organic pollutants – carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds that biomagnify up the food chain.

Neurobiology

Jeremy Ullmann from The School of Biomedical Science– is beginning his analysis of the barramundi visual system.  Experiments include retinal wholemounts, microspectrophotometry, and growth and survival experiments.  Recently, Tom Gallagher, RA for Jeremy, has joined the barramundi project and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in aquaculture.  Both live full time on the island and at present they are setting up for an 8-week trial examining the affect of tank colours on the growth rates of barramundi fingerlings.

Colour is a commonly link between many of our researchers including Chris Talbot and Carolyn Forder from the Sensory Neurobiology Group who are investigating the visual capabilities of cephalopods. Chris is investigating a range of species native to Moreton Bay while Carolyn is concentrating on the Flamboyant Cuttlefish - the only cuttlefish known to contain toxic compounds – equal in toxicity to the Blue Ring Octopus.

Satellite oceanography

Scarla Weeks and Stuart Phinn, from the Centre for Marine Science and Geographical Science respectively, are satellite oceanographers and they are using colour to quantify oceanographic features such as SST and Chl A levels. Stuart is concentrating on shallow water environments such as Moreton Bay, while Scarla is researching broad scale patterns that cover the top of the GBR to northern NSW. Scarla, resident researcher based at MBRS, is also working closely with Kathy Townsend, Mike Bennett, Dr. Anthony Richardson and Lydie Couturier in helping to untangle the mysteries that surround the migration patterns of North Stradbroke Island’s manta ray population.

James Bond

Speaking of satellites, MBRS is an important site for Justin Marshall’s (Sensory Neurobiology Group) satellite monitoring project “Prawns in Space”. Justin and his team have been lending a “James Bond” feel to the research station, with helicopters, satellites, in-water data loggers and teams of boat based divers all surveying Moreton Bay simultaneously. In a similar vein of all things gadgety, is Umberto Cella who is currently working with CMS’s Ron Johnston developing a underwater sensor in which water quality data can be collected and then transmitted directly to satellite while the device is still under the water.

Terrestrial ecology

It must be highlighted, that it is not just marine based research that is being conducted from MBRS. David Bowen and Romaine Cristescu from the Centre for Land and Mine Rehabilitation have been working closely with the local sand mine operation Consolidated Rutile Limited. David’s area of interest in landscape rehabilitation after mining while Romaine’s is investigating the impact of mining operations on koala populations on North Stradbroke Island. She can often be seen performing necropsies on koala’s that had come to an untimely end.

As stated in the introduction, this is just a snap shot of the researchers who have been working out of MBRS in just the last few months. All of these projects are between one year and three years in duration, with MBRS being their main study location. With future updates, we will continue to highlight the world-class research that is being conducted from the busiest research station in Australia.

UQ Reef Fest 2008 – MBRS Open Day

On November 22, 2008, MBRS will be celebrating the ICRI declared International Year of the Reef at their annual Open Day. UQ Reef Fest 2008 will provide and insight into the rich diversity of coral reefs and their associated marine life that lives around North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Bay.

Up and coming research talks at MBRS

Our public research talks are powering ahead with a further five talks until the end of the year. This year, MBRS will have hosted 14 public research talks, with another 8 to be presented at UQ Reef Fest 2008. With all of these research presentations, surely we have one of the best-educated local communities in Australia!

Tues Oct, 15                              Richard Barnes (Cambridge University) —Fiddler Crabs

Friday Oct 17                             John Healy (Queensland Museum) – Assembling the Tree of Life Project

Wed Oct 22                                Kate Sprogis (SIBS) – Dugong movement and feeding behaviour

Thurs Nov 6                               Jeremy Ullmann (SBMS)– Feeding behaviour of Barramundi

Wed Dec 10                               Ryan Day (CMS) —Gar Fish morphology and ecology