This response is provided as an example of research projects, outputs and
extension in Batemans Marine Park
All items below have the BMP research scientist as PI, author or co-supervisor with significant
intellectual input. Projects are conducted entirely or partly within NSW marine parks.
1. Papers published and in prep related to zoning effectiveness, CAR and
resilience
Coleman MA, Chambers J, Knott N, Malcolm H, Harasti D, Jordan A and Kelaher BP (2011)
Connectivity within and among a network of temperate marine reserves. PLoS One 6(5):
e20168. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020168 A, IF=4.35, Top 13% Biology. Internal MPA
project.
Coleman MA, Roughan M, McDonald H, Connell SD, Gillanders BM, Kelaher BP and Steinberg
PD (2011) Variation in the strength of continental boundary currents determines patterns of
large-scale connectivity in kelp J. Ecol. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01822.x A, IF=4.69, Top
9% Ecology. Externally funded (Coleman Discovery Grant)
Coleman, MA, Feng M, Roughan M and Connell SD (in prep). Continental boundary currents
determine connectivity in a foundation species. Externally funded
Gladstone W, Lindfield S, Coleman MA and Kelaher BP (in prep) Optimising BRUV sampling
methodology for estuarine fishes. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. Internal MPA project
Tan M, Kelaher BP, Figueira W, Coleman MA (in prep). Influence of seal predation on marine
trophic cascades inside and outside marine reserves. From Honours student project 2010
Rees M, Davis A, Jordan A, Coleman MA (in prep). Seeking surrogates on temperate reefs:
Examination of fish and sessile invertebrate assemblages. From Honours student project
2009
Bolton D, Clarke G, Coleman MA and Johnston E. (in prep). Habitat-mediated predation effects
on sessile invertebrate communities. From PhD student project
Conference Presentations related to zoning effectiveness, CAR and resilience
Gladstone W, Lindfield S, Coleman MA, Kelaher BP.Optimal strategies for sampling fishes in
two estuarine habitats with baited remote underwater video stations. AMSA, Wollongong 2010
Jordan A, Malcolm H, Harasti D, Knott N, Kelaher BP and Coleman MA and Kelaher BP.
Assessing marine park zoning effects on intermediate depth subtidal rocky reef in NSW using
Baited Remote Underwater Video. AMSA, Wollongong 2010
Ryan L, Johnston EJ, Clarke G, Coleman MA, Knott N, McKinley A. Predation pressure on
sessile invertebrate communities in marine parks. AMSA, Wollongong 2010
Bolton D, Clarke G, Coleman MA. Caught between a rock and a hard place: predation pressure
in crevice communities AMSA, Perth 2011.
Connell S.D., Russell B.D., Coleman, M.A., Wernberg T. Generation of continental-scale
patterns of diversity: ocean-footprints through local-interactions. International Temperate Reef
Symposium Plymouth, UK, 2011 (Keynote)
Grants awarded related to zoning effectiveness, CAR and resilience
ARC Linkage. Gillanders BM, Kelaher BP, Connell SD, Figueira W, Coleman MA, Goldsworthy
S. (2011) Temperate trophic cascades: impacts of seal foraging on benthic community
dynamics. $331K
Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment marine research studies grant (2011).
Johnson C, Swearer S, Barrett N, Hamer P, Jenkins G, Byrne M, Connell S, Russell B, Sherman
C, Keough M, Coleman M. The reef ecosystem evaluation framework (REEF): managing for
resilience in temperate environments. $1.5M.
PADI Project Aware Grant (2009). Coleman M.A. Determining the effect of Seal Foraging on
Fish Abundances at Montague Island. $2,430
Caring for Country Community Coastcare (2008). Nature Coast Marine Group and Batemans
Marine Park. Transgenerational, educational approach to ensure long-term conservation of
marine biodiversity. $8,137
Internal MPA Research projects monitoring zoning effectiveness, CAR and resilience
BRUV statewide monitoring programme assessing changes in fish assemblages. 5 years of data
collected and ongoing.
Snorkel monitoring by volunteer stakeholder groups
4 years of data, twice a year. Detected significant range expansion of T. militaris in August 2011.
External monitoring projects - zoning effectiveness, CAR and resilience
UTAS Underwater Visual Census (Edgar G and Barrett N). 2005-2008 collected. Subset of sites
resampled in 2011 and returning 2012 for full surveying of sites.
Reef Life Survey. Most active members are residents within BMP and most data collected here.
Data to be explored in 2012.
Media and activities on zoning effectiveness, CAR and resilience
2009 – 2011 multiple interviews, Power FM, ABC Illawarra and other local stations
2009 – 2010 Regular segment ABC Southeast, “Creature Features”
April 2008 - Narooma news article – Sex in the Sea Pt I.
4/8/08 – ABC Southeast radio interview on Sex in the Sea
2/12/08 – ABC Southeast 1st “Ask Dr. Mel” segment
16/12/08 - ABC Southeast 2nd “Ask Dr. Mel” segment
21/11/08 - Media release on Turtle and marine debris
3/12/08 – Turtle article in Narooma News and Moruya Examiner
3/12/08 – ABC Illawarra Radio Interview on Turtles and debris
12/08 - ABC and 2EC interviews on Caring for Country Grant Success
Students working on zoning effectiveness, CAR and resilience
Matt Rees (Honours UOW 2009)
Claire Vahtra (Honours UOW 2010)
Melissa Tan (Honours USYD 2010)
Andrew Palmer (UNE MSc 2010)
Lauren Cole (UOW MSc 2011)
Jess Rugge (UOW MSc 2011)
Damon Bolton (UNSW 2010, part-time)
Hailey Durant (UTAS 2011)
2. Papers published or in prep on climate change
Wernberg T, Campbell A, Coleman MA, Connell SD, Kendrick GA, Moore PJ, Russell BD,
Smale D and Steinberg PD (2009) Macroalgae and temperate rocky reefs. In A Marine Climate
Change Impacts and Adaptation Report Card for Australia 2009 (Eds. E.S. Poloczanska, A.J.
Hobday and A.J. Richardson). Nominated for Eureka Prize for Advancement of Climate
Change Knowledge
Wernberg T, Russell BD, Moore PJ, Ling SD, Smale D, Campbell A, Coleman MA, Steinberg
PD, Kendrick GA, Connell SD (2010). Impacts of climate change in a global hotspot for
temperate coastal biodiversity and ocean warming. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 400:7-16. B, IF=2.1,
Top 19% Marine/Freshwater Biology.
Wernberg T & Coleman MA (in prep). Ocean warming: genetic diversity underpins ecological
resilience.
Grants awarded on Climate change
Environmental Trust Reserve Project. Coleman MA, Roughan M, Kelaher BP (2012)
Connectivity and climate change in a hotspot of ocean warming. $200K. Likely to be funded in
2012.
Internal MPA Research projects that can address Climate change issues
Snorkel monitoring by volunteer stakeholder groups. 4 years of data, twice a year.
BRUV (MPA statewide project). 5 years of data from BMP. To be analysed and written up in
2012. Long-term monitoring programme.
External monitoring projects addressing Climate change issues
UTAS Underwater Visual Census (Edgar G and Barrett N). 2005-2008 collected. Subset of sites
resampled in 2011 and returning 2012 for full surveying of sites.
Reef Life Survey. Most active members are residents within BMP and most data collected here.
Data to be explored in 2012.
Students working on Climate change
2010 Tamsin Peters (honours, UNSW)
2011 Tamsin Peters (PhD, UNSW)
2012 Jennifer Clarke (PhD, UTS)
3. Papers in prep on invasive species and disease
Grewe P, Ward D, Coleman MA and Glasby TM (in prep) Population genetics of Caulerpa
taxifolia in Australia: invasive populations not aquarium strain. Collaboration between MPA,
DPI and CSIRO. Funded by DPI and CSIRO.
Conference Presentations on invasive species and disease
Campbell, A.H, Marzinelli, E, Coleman, M.A. and Steinberg, P.D. Diseases affecting habitatforming seaweeds: complex environmental effects on pathogens and hosts. International
Temperate Reef Symposium 2011, Plymouth, UK
Campbell, A.H, Marzinelli, E, Coleman, M.A. and Steinberg, P.D. Diseases affecting habitatforming seaweeds: complex environmental effects on pathogens and hosts. AMSA, Perth 2011
Grants awarded on invasive species and disease
ARC Discovery (2009). Stress, virulence and bacterial disease in temperate marine seaweeds:
the rise of microbes. Steinberg PD, Kjelleberg S, Thomas T, Eagan S and Coleman MA.
$500,000
ARC Linkage (2010). Bishop MJ, Coleman MA, Glasby T, Kelaher BP. Management of coastal
lakes to minimise invasion. $125,000. Collaboration between BMP, DPI, SRCMA and SCMDC.
Internal MPA Research projects monitoring invasive species
Snorkel monitoring by volunteer stakeholder groups
4 years of data, twice a year. Detected significant range expansion of Turbo militaris in August
2011.
External monitoring projects that can detect invasive species
UTAS Underwater Visual Census (Edgar G and Barrett N). 2005-2008 collected. Subset of sites
resampled in 2011 and returning 2012 for full survey of sites.
Reef Life Survey. Most active members are residents within BMP and most data have been
collected here. Data to be explored in 2012.
Media and activities on invasive species and disease
2009 – Multiple radio interviews on invasive green crabs
28/6/08 – Narooma Oyster Farmers Association Pacific Oyster Cleanup
9/9/08 - Koori workcrew Oyster Cleanup in Buckenbora SZ
18/12/08 – Green Crab trapping training day for Koori workcrew
Students working on invasive species and disease
2010 Tamsin Peters (honours, UNSW)
2010 Melissa Vargas (honours, UNSW)
2010 Cliff Garside (PhD, MQ)
2011 Tamsin Peters (PhD, UNSW)
2011 Catorina (Honours, MQ)
Other significant findings
BMP research scientist detected spread of C. taxifolia in Durras Lake in summer 2009 while on
patrol. Reported to DPI Biosecurity and DPI Research staff in the Aquatic Ecosystems unit.
BMP compliance staff reported and sampled first ever recorded incident of mass-mortality of
European Green crabs in an ICOLL in summer 2009.
Highlights the importance of having local staff trained and aware of invasive species for early
detection.
4. Papers published on pollution and water quality
McKinley A, Ryan L, Coleman MA, Knott N, Clark G, Taylor M & Johnston EL. (2011) Putting
marine sanctuaries into context: A comparison of estuary fish assemblages over multiple levels
of protection and modification. Aquatic Conservation.
Conference Presentations on pollution and water quality
McKinley A, Taylor M, Knott N, Coleman MA, Johnston EJ. (July 2010). Impacts of contaminant
sources on marine fish assemblages: A review, meta-analysis and evidence from the field.
AMSA, Wollongong.
Coleman MA, McKinley A, Ryan L, Taylor M, Knott N, Johnston EJ. (2011). Putting marine
sanctuaries into context: a comparison of fish assemblages across multiple levels of protection
and modification. IMPACC2, Canada.
Johnston EL, Clark G, Simpson SL, Roach A, Edge K, McKinley A, Foster-Thorpe C, Sun M,
Ushiama S, Komyakova V, Marizenelli EM, Wong C, Miskiewicz T, Brown M, Coleman MA,
Kelaher BP, Knott NA, Dafforn KA. Ecological changes in highly modified estuaries: what to
measure? AMSA, Perth 2011.
Grants awarded on pollution and water quality
ARC Linkage (2009). Johnston EJ, Kelaher BP, Coleman MA. Assessing and understanding
ecological changes in highly disturbed estuaries: addressing the complexity of multiple stressors.
$1.1M