Mission

The overarching aim of the Biodiversity and Resources theme within the broader network is to better understand the adaptive capacity of marine biodiversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels in the overall context of vulnerability to climate change risks. This information is vital to enable us to usefully inform policy and management decision-making for the long-term conservation of Australia’s marine assets and to enhance the adaptive capacity of Australia’s marine based industries. There is also a clear need to develop adaptation strategies for industry stakeholders that optimise the socio-economic goods and services provided by Australia’s marine resources.

Australia’s ocean territory covers 14.7 million square kilometres and includes some 36,000 kilometres of coastline extending from the tropical north to the cool temperate south. Australia’s isolation as an island nation has resulted in a diverse and highly endemic marine fauna and flora and the biodiversity of Australia’s vast marine jurisdiction has been recognised as being globally significant. The total annual value of the goods and services of Australia’s marine areas has been estimated at $1,359.3 billion, with around two-thirds of this derived from our diverse coastal (mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, seagrass beds and beaches) and shelf areas. Our marine fisheries and aquaculture industries are worth around $2.18 billion annually (ABARE 2008). Australia has developed as a coastal population which has resulted in a large affinity with our coastal assets. We have a very high participation in recreational fishing and our iconic marine areas support extensive tourism and other recreational activities. Australians are increasingly valuing the environmental, economic and social benefits of marine biodiversity and the ecosystem services that a healthy marine environment provides.

There is growing awareness of climate change, and Government at all levels now has a strong focus on adaptation. However, our understanding of the current and potential impacts of climate change, particularly in the marine context, has not moved at the same rapid pace as increasing public awareness and acceptance of climate change as a major issue. With this in mind there will be an ongoing need to establish clear baselines, and to improve our understanding of impacts in our marine systems. This must be tackled with a view to developing the necessary understanding on which to base adaptation strategies and management plans, and on assessing the success of implemented management strategies. Investigating the causes for species or ecosystem shifts away from baselines will be important for improving the understanding needed to underpin adaptation strategies, and in turn evaluate the effectiveness of those strategies. For many of us this requires a shift in the perspective from which we conduct our research (see Figure 1); one of the goals of the Biodiversity and Resources theme of the marine adaptation network is to support this transition. 

The potential climate change impacts, degree of resilience and adaptive capacity of the vast majority of our marine species and ecosystems are still largely unknown. The Biodiversity and Resources theme aims to provide a central national location whereby researchers, governments and industry can enhance their knowledge of the latest scientific information that can inform adaptation options. To engage with the Biodiversity and Resources theme, please forward your contact details to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Meet the Biodiversity & Resources Team

Theme Leader
Dr Alistair Hobday is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research. His research spans a range of topics, including spatial management and migration of large pelagic species, environmental influences on marine species, and the impacts of climate change on marine resources. He leads the Marine Climate Impacts area within the CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, and has been co-editor of two recent reports on the impacts of climate change on (i) fisheries and aquaculture, and (ii) Australian marine life. He is interested in developing methods to enhance human and biological adaptation as a partial solution to climate change.

Co-theme Leader
A/Prof Stewart Frusher is the program leader of Sustainable Fisheries at the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute.  His research interests have lead him to explore new methods and techniques to estimate key fisheries parameters that can be used to ensure sustainability.  As co-theme leader for the Network he is fulfilling his interest in climate change impacts and adaptation on marine fisheries and ecosystems.

Partner Organisers
Dr John Keesing (Western Australian Marine Science Institution) has research interests centred around multidisciplinary approaches to whole-of-ecosystem research, Marine Ecology and Fisheries Science. 






Distinguished Professor Bob Pressey (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies) works on diverse issues relevant to conservation planning, ranging from theory and mathematical modelling to the social, economic and political aspects of implementing conservation action in the sea and on the ground.






A/Prof Graham Edgar (University of Tasmania - Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute) has a variety of research interests including developing an understanding of natural variability of reef-associated species (both spatially and temporally) and the processes responsible for this variability.






Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw is a population ecologist at the University of Adelaide and South Australian Research and Development Institute who specialises in applying mathematical models to large multi-species datasets to determine global-scale patterns of threat to biodiversity. His aim is to provide irrefutable evidence to influence government policy and private behaviour for the preservation of functioning ecosystems. The effects of a warming climate are already affecting Australia’s marine ecosystems, and so documenting and predicting these changes has become his priority.


Research Fellow
Dr Gretta Pecl is a Research Fellow leading several projects within the Climate Change Theme at the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute. Current research activity spans a range of topics including range extensions associated with climate change, evaluating adaptation options in socio-ecological systems, assessing physiological and population responses to climate change, and on using citizen science approaches for ecological monitoring (REDMAP). Gretta’s work as Research Fellow within the Network ties all these interests in to focus on adaptation to climate change in the marine biodiversity and resources sector.

PhD Student
Emily Shaw (UNSW) is undertaking a PhD funded by the Network. Her research involves characterising carbonate chemistry within the Great Barrier Reef and determining the vulnerability of this region to ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is occurring as a result of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and is a major threat to coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. Ocean acidification is already detectable, can only be controlled by a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and has long lasting effects. The Great Barrier Reef is of great socio-economic importance to Australia and this research will provide necessary information needed to adapt to ocean acidification.