Updated: Jun 6
University of South Australia
Project: Ocean Beach Ecology and Threats - a Stakeholder Perspective
Timely and appropriate research, this project explores how people understand and feel about protecting beaches and their wildlife.
Ocean beaches are important areas that support a wide variety of life, including shorebirds and cockles, and face both natural changes and many human-related threats.
Threats affecting beaches include vehicles driving on sand, fishing for cockles, invasive animals and plants, pollution, beach erosion, and climate-related rising sea levels.
The project will gain an understanding of the benefits ocean beaches deliver to people and nature, and how different groups may experience conflict when using shared spaces from current human activities and future threats, including climate change.
“It is important to understand why people use the beaches and how their activities affect the environment,” says Craig.
As the project develops, his team will talk with user groups and people in the field, teaching them to use new technology, such as PPGIS, a map-based survey tool to capture key data.
By understanding how people see the value of beaches and can reduce conflicts between using them and protecting nature, local managers can decide where to focus monitoring, plan education efforts, and consider options like closing areas or beaches at certain times.
Updated: Jun 6
As the only part of the Murray-Darling Basin directly influenced by sea level rise, the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) region is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Declining river flows, deteriorating water quality, and rising seas pose significant challenges, highlighting the importance of continued, independent research.
The current marine algal bloom (Karenia mikimotoi) affecting the Fleurieu Peninsula and surrounding coastal areas is having real and immediate effects on local communities and the environment. While the CLLMM Research Centre is not investigating this specific bloom as an individual event, our focus remains on building long-term knowledge and understanding to help manage and adapt to these kinds of environmental changes over time.
Our work is deeply collaborative, bringing together community members, First Nations knowledge holders, managing agencies and scientists to shape and deliver research that supports real-world solutions.
This algal bloom is a stark reminder that environmental conditions may be shifting faster than expected, highlighting the urgent need for robust, evidence-based research. Through our work, a range of stakeholders, including community and decision makers, have access to timely, reliable information for informed decision-making and effective response to emerging challenges.
Several of our current projects are helping to address some of the very issues now being highlighted by the algal bloom. These include:
Ecological Response to Climatic Extremes
Ocean Beach Ecology and Threats
Community Adaptation to Worsening Floods and Droughts
Forecasting Impacts of Climate Change on Algal Communities in the Lower Lakes
We will continue to share updates as our research progresses. In the meantime, visit our website to find out more about specific projects.
Updated: May 2
Professor Sabine Dittmann and her team from Flinders University worked together with Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation, Leed Construction, DEW and the Limestone Coast Landscape Board on a local site being cleared for wetland restoration. This is a unique opportunity for field work by the blue and teal carbon research team to measure, weigh and 3D scan vegetation of different size and age for its carbon storage potential.
# blue carbon is carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems.
# teal carbon is carbon stored in freshwater and wetland ecosystems.
Two new Honours projects starting with the CLLMM Research Centre
We are committed to nurturing the next generation of researchers and have started two new Honours student projects:
‘Assessing the psychological benefits of community directed science engagement’
Student Andrew Persian (UniSA) is being supervised by Elissa Pearson (UniSA) and Bri Le Busque (UniSA)
‘Behaviour and habitat use of Rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster/ Native Water Rat),Goolwa’.
Student Hannah McKennall from Flinders University is being supervised by Ryan Baring (Flinders University), Gilad Bino (UNSW) and Tahneal Hawke (UNSW)