NEWS / BLOG

BHP BMA: Scientists, Traditional Custodians and BHP come together on 'floating lab' for Great Barrier Reef coral spawning With Australian reefs facing ever growing pressures from a range of environmental and human-induced impacts, research to support innovative reef resilience, adaption and restoration is needed now more than ever. In November 2022, marine scientists gathered with Traditional Custodians on Woppaburra sea Country for an ambitious field event during the annual mass coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef. The expedition, led by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), advanced understanding of how to help fasttrack reef recovery and trained participants in coral aquaculture techniques to help them manage sea country in the future. Over 40 people were involved in the event at North Keppel Island (also known as Konomie by the Woppaburra people) near Yeppoon. The science team were based on a bespoke floating laboratory - a car barge turned into a science facility. The vessel holds research aquaria systems to support investigations on coral spawning and coral seeding. Land based activities were held at the Konomie Environmental Education Centre. Dr Carly Randall, AIMS ecologist and lead of the Woppaburra Coral Project said the expedition was an exciting [...]

Anglo American & FBA: eDNA trial supports biodiversity assessment in the Fitzroy Anglo American is working with the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) to improve the health of the Fitzroy Basin's waterways through trialling a new technology for biodiversity assessments called eDNA sampling. eDNA works by detecting microscopic amounts of DNA which animals leave behind in the water, like skin or faeces. Using this data, scientists can examine the types of animals which interact with the rivers and creeks without actually seeing them. Anglo American water specialist, Tim Kendrick, said the eDNA technology has advantages over some traditional methods of undertaking biodiversity studies. “eDNA is a safer, less intrusive and cost-effective approach to qualitatively determining the biodiversity in our local and regional waterways because we don't need to capture or sight the animals that inhabit an area – we can simply look at the DNA material that the different animals leave behind,” Tim said. “By targeting sampling programs on waterways it allows us to assess a broader area for a wider variety of species as these act as natural ‘funnels’ for DNA material so we can detect the presence of rare or hard-to-find species. eDNA has [...]

Origin Energy: Caring about our impact - Dukes Plain offset area Origin purchased Dukes Plain in 2013 to help meet the environmental conditions and offset requirements for the approval of the Australia Pacific LNG project. The offset area is located near Theodore in central Queensland and covers approximately 4,500 (ha). It is situated within an ecological corridor of significance as identified by the Queensland Government and provides an important biodiversity linkage between the Isla Gorge and Precipice National Parks. In 2017 the Shankeen Nature Refuge was extended over the entire offset area, delivering even greater protection for its biological diversity and cultural value. The offset area encompasses 14 regional ecosystems within nine broad vegetation groups, with almost two-thirds of the area containing ecosystems such as woodlands and open forest, vine thickets, and areas of pasture grasses which are valuable habitat for flora and fauna. Fauna such as the Yakka skink (Egernia rugosa), Dunmall’s snake (Furina dunmalli), Corben’s long-eared bat (Nyctophilus corbeni), and the Pale imperial hairstreak butterfly (Jalmenus eubulus) are supported within this habitat. Dukes Plain also supports commercial activities as part of an integrated land management approach and for the last 40 years has been a certified organic cattle [...]