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Spatial conservation planning

The burgeoning needs of an expanding human population demand intelligent management of our coastal resources. On the land, incompatible human activities are usually separated, but the high connectivity in marine ecosystems complicates spatial management. 
Videography by Bodhi Connolly, Andrew Olds & Jean Davis

Project 1: Establishing the connections


We use advanced methods to identify key connections within and among coastal habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves. For example we determine cross-habitat food web dependencies using stable isotope tracing and migration pathways using underwater cameras.

 Project 2: Spatial conservation planning

The patterns of cross-habitat movement of animals and nutrients are placed into a conservation framework optimising biodiversity outcomes while sustaining coastal industries such as fishing and tourism.

Collaborators
These projects are collaborative with students and many colleagues, including: Russ Babcock (CSIRO), Ronnie Baker (JCU), Maria Beger (UQ), Chris Brown (GU), Ben Gilby (USC), Alastair Harborne (UQ), Greg Jenkins (U Melb), Peter Macreadie (Deakin), Ivan Nagelkerken (U Adel), Andrew Olds (USC/GU), David Rissik (NCCARF), David Schoeman (USC), Marcus Sheaves (JCU), Tim Stevens (GU), Nathan Waltham (JCU).

This work benefits from financial support from multiple sources including the Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Project, ARC Linkage Project) in partnership with the Queensland Government.

Picture
Key papers:
Quantifying the conservation value of seascape connectivity: a global synthesis
Olds AD, Connolly RM...et al.  2016. Global Ecology Biogeography

The seascape nursery: a novel spatial approach to identify and manage nurseries for coastal marine fauna 

Nagelkerken I, Sheaves M, Baker R, Connolly RM  2015. Fish and Fisheries

Setback distances as a conservation tool in wildlife human interactions: testing their efficacy for birds affected by vehicles on open-coast sandy beaches (2013) 
Schlacher TA, Weston MA, Lynn D, Connolly RM PLoS ONE 

Performance of non-native species within marine reserves 
Burfeind DD, Pitt KA, Connolly RM, Byers JE 2013. Biological Invasions

Habitat connectivity improves reserve performance 

Olds AD, Connolly RM, Pitt KA, Maxwell PS 2012. Conservation Letters

© 2022 Rod Connolly
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