Resources
The University of Queensland
05 May 2014
The discovery of musky rat-kangaroo fossils has prompted experts to call for better protection of tropical rainforests after new links show the tiny marsupial cannot survive outside that environment.
The findings come from a study by The University of Queensland and The University of New South Wales. Read more
News Mail
05 September 2013
QUEENSLAND research capabilities are under the international spotlight, with scientists DNA barcoding all 870 species of plants found in south-east Queensland rainforests.
Science and Innovation Minister Ian Walker said the ground breaking work will build a global reference database, while assisting to protect rare species and map our state's biodiversity. Read more
Goldcoast.com.au
08 October 2013
THE discovery of another species of rare frogs forced changes to the design of a Gold Coast light rail bridge, it can be revealed.
The green-thighed frog is the second rare amphibian found on the tram route after a colony of tusked frogs were discovered in Surfers Paradise and had to be relocated to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Read more
News.com.au
26 June 2013
Migaloo, the world-famous white humpback whale, has reportedly been spotted on the annual mass whale migration to the Great Barrier Reef.
The 14m-long albino male, previously the only documented white humpback whale on the planet, is a star feature of the 12,000km journey. Read more
CO2 Science
07 August 2013
In a paper published earlier this year in Nature Climate Change, Wiedenmann et al. (2013) note that mass coral bleaching "has been identified as the most severe threat to coral reef survival on a global scale," citing Hughes et al. (2003); but they indicate that regionally "nutrient enrichment of reef waters is often associated with a significant loss of coral cover and diversity," citing the work of Fabricius (2005). In addition, and citing Wooldridge (2009), they also state that more recently, "increased dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations have been linked to a reduction of the temperature threshold of coral bleaching." Read more
The Newsport Daily
17 January 2014
Scientists have gained new insight into the damage done to coral in The Southern Great Barrier Reef by river run-off caused by intense weather events like the 2011 floods.
Core samples obtained from corals around the Keppel Islands reveals the way flood plumes from Queensland's Fitzroy River catchment have impacted reefs as far as 50km from the mouth of the river. Read More
Sky News
25 October 2013
A decision on a controversial dredging project near the Great Barrier Reef may be delayed again.
The federal government expects to make a call on the project before the end of the year, but won't say whether it will meet the previous Labor government's November 9 deadline. Read More
Al Jazeera
24 July 2013
With the venomous Crown of Thorns starfish decimating Australia's Barrier Reef, hope comes from a surprising source.
Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef has lost half its coral since 1985 and around 40 percent of this is believed to be down to the venomous Crown of Thorns starfish.
Scientists believe that a combination of global warming and nitrogen-based fertilisers from on-shore agriculture may have created the perfect conditions for the coral munching starfish, which are breeding in massive numbers. Read more
ABC Radiio National
16 July 2013
The Great Barrier Reef may soon be assessed as a World Heritage site 'in danger' by UNESCO.
Water scientist at James Cook University, Jon Brody, thinks this listing should go ahead because, despite improvements in agricultural management, the threats to the reef are still there. Read more
