About Australian Marine Ecology and Our Services

 

Vision

The primary objective of Australian Marine Ecology is to facilitate and advance the understanding and conservation of our marine natural heritage, including the structure and function of marine ecosystems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approach

Australian Marine Ecology strives towards this vision by providing scientific services to all members of the community, including governments, institutions, industry and the public. We are actively involved in the review of information, development of research strategies, development of research methods, implementation of scientific research projects, scientific communications and investigations for population, ecological and environmental management systems. Australian Marine Ecology also has its own research and development program.

 

We are committed to excellence and quality in the provision of services and information. Core principles applied to our work include:

  • achieve aims and objectives of each project through the use of proven and innovative scientific approaches;

  • provide robust and high quality information through attention to scientific integrity and objectivity;

  • ensure sound analysis and interpretation of findings by combining established knowledge, principles and philosophies with new and innovative concepts;

  • record and communicate findings using effective methods – including oral, written and multimedia forms of communication – to ensure understanding    and dissemination of knowledge across space and time; and

  • adhere to schedules and budgets by using practical and efficient methods as well as a team of knowledgeable and experienced scientists.

 

 

 

Services

Services provided by Australian Marine Ecology include:

  • project management;

  • information reviews;

  • project design and costing;

  • field and laboratory sampling and experimentation;

  • data management, statistical analysis and interpretation;

  • scientific editing and review; and

  • reporting and presentation.

 

Australian Marine Ecology has specialist expertise in implementing quantitative field investigations.  Much of its work involves investigations of seagrass, soft sediment and rocky reef habitats including the design and implementation of research, fieldwork, analysis, reporting and publication.  We have fully equipped laboratories, a scientific diving team, deep-water video survey apparatus and a variety of vessels available to access marine habitats – including glass bottom boats for seagrass mapping, specifically designed coastal diving boats and ocean going vessels.

 

Through a broad range of projects, Australian Marine Ecology personnel spend up to one hundred days in the field each year, including hundreds of hours underwater in a variety of environments and conditions. The scientific diving team is one of the most active in southern Australia, and is heavily involved in underwater surveys for fisheries, environmental impact assessment and ecological research.

 

 

 

Project Examples

Current and recently completed projects include:

  • monitoring and research of benthic marine plant biomass, growth and production;

  • ecological modelling and prediction;

  • deep habitat surveys of Bass Strait;

  • ecological assessment and long-term monitoring of marine protected areas;

  • description and identification of marine bioregions, biounits, habitats and communities;

  • mapping of marine habitats using diver, hydro-acoustic surveys, underwater video and ROV techniques;

  • quantitative assessments of deepwater communities and habitats;

  • environmental impact assessment of submarine cables, dredging and wastewater discharges;

  • population ecology studies of fishery and other coastal marine species;

  • assessment and monitoring of fishery stocks and by-catch;

  • contributions to fishery management plans;

  •  studies on the ecology of southern rock lobster;

  • development of ecologically sustainable management procedures and criteria;

  • underwater photography for natural history books and management publications;

  • underwater cinematography for natural history documentaries;

  • scientific manuscripts, editing and peer review;

  • specimen collections, taxonomic studies and development of field guides; and

  • studies on introduced marine pests, such as the Japanese kelp wakame and Northern Pacific seastar infestations.

 

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