As well as partnering through our research projects, since 2016 we have championed and sponsored annual Indigenous workshops at Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) conferences to raise the profile, share successes and identify pathways to meaningful research collaboration. Here is a collection of projects and publications relating to the Hub’s collaborative sea country research.
Future directions in the research and management of marine snakes
Abstract:
Marine snakes represent the most speciose group of marine reptiles and are a significant component of reef and coastal ecosystems in tropical oceans. Research on this group has historically been challenging due to the difficulty in capturing, handling, and keeping these animals for field- and lab-based research. Inexplicable declines in marine snake populations across global hotspots have highlighted the lack of basic information on this group and elevated multiple species as conservation priorities. With the increased interest in research on marine snakes, we conducted a systematic survey of experts to identify twenty key questions that can direct future research. These questions are framed across a wide array of scientific fields to produce much-needed information relevant to the conservation and management of marine snakes.
Spatial and temporal patterns in sea snake populations on the North West Shelf - Progress Report
Abstract:
This progress report provides details on fieldwork and analyses conducted for NESP Project A8 ‘Exploring the status of Western Australia’s sea snakes’ between the period of May 2017 – December 2017. Snorkel, research trawl and baited remote underwater video station (BRUVS) surveys were conducted by Hub researchers and collaborators between May and October 2017 that were combined with existing datasets to update occurrence records and conduct spatial and time-series analyses.
Data from BRUVS were used to assess sea snake assemblages in multiple locations within Australian Marine Parks (AMPs) and in locations where repeated sampling was conducted to construct species distribution models (SDMs) for all sea snake sightings and three priority species (Aipysurus apraefrontalis, A. foliosquama and A. fuscus).
Sea snakes are a national conservation priority given their declining numbers around Australia, and in particular Western Australia which once was a region of high seasnake abundance.
