Research Project
Researchers: Cleguer, Chris, Dr (Principal investigator) , Groom, Rachel, Dr (Principal investigator) , eAtlas Data Manager (Point of contact)
Brief description This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub study - Assessing dugong distribution and abundance in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. Aboriginal ranger groups, Traditional Owners of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria (sGoC), scientists, Queensland, Northern Territory and Commonwealth government representatives will co-design and implement a program that enables a contemporary cross-border understanding of dugong populations and other marine megafauna. The dugong program comprises three parts: 1) Dugong population genetics, 2) a standardised aerial survey in the sGoC, and 3) Indigenous-led drone surveys of marine megafauna hotspots. The collaborative approach will enable contemporary data on abundance, distribution and genetic population structuring to inform local and regional conservation management actions. In combination with other NESP investments in Qld and WA, this program will have applied consistent approaches to dugong population assessment across three states. This program directly responds to the national priorities of conserving, protecting and sustainably managing biodiversity through research and information management. Planned Outputs • dugong distribution & abundance [spatial dataset] • Final technical report with analysed data and a short summary of recommendations for policy makers of key findings [written]
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{Team members: Rachel Groom (CDU), Chris Cleguer (JCU)}
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National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub
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Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Australian Government
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In addition to NESP (DCCEEW) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.
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Purpose
- Engagement with communities across the sGoC in the co-design of a cross-jurisdictional dugong aerial survey and genetic sampling
- Aerial survey implementation and and assessment of trends in the abundance and distribution of dugongs in the sGoC.
- Dissemination of survey results across the communities and feedback
- Training members of the southern GoC communities on using small drones to establish long-term monitoring plots over high-density dugong and turtle foraging areas, which can be used as intermediate indicators of population health between broadscale aerial survey events. Genetic sampling training for rangers to be able to collect and manage samples. Samples will be acquired through the communities’ traditional use of dugongs.
Data time period: 2024-02-01 to 2026-12-11
(NESP Marine and Coastal Hub website)
uri :
https://nespmarinecoastal.edu.au/
(Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water NESP website)
uri :
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/science-research/nesp/hub-marine-coastal
- global : 718c5de5-6731-4c6e-88e2-8e6afb5d52ad