Pumice the key to solving seabird mass death mystery
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere
Published: 25 March 2021
CSIRO and QUT researchers solved a seabird mass death mystery, finding 3 million shearwaters starved before ingesting pumice from a 2012 eruption. The study shows how starvation, not pumice, drove mortality, with implications for climate and marine threats.
Keywords: seabird wreck, short-tailed shearwaters, pumice raft, starvation, plastic ingestion, marine pollution, CSIRO, QUT
Sea-lebrating coral restoration efforts
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere
Published: 12 April 2021
CSIRO, SCU, QUT, and AIMS trial coral larvae collection using drones, skimmers, floating ponds, and lab culturing to restore the Great Barrier Reef. Early trials show healthy juvenile corals, with plans to scale up restoration efforts.
Keywords: Great Barrier Reef, coral spawning, reef restoration, coral larvae, drones, aquaculture, CSIRO collaboration
A complete DNA barcode library to manage Australia’s environment
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere
Published: 19 April 2021
CSIRO is developing a national DNA barcode library to harness eDNA for biodiversity monitoring, biosecurity, and conservation. The technology enables fast, accurate species detection to protect Australia’s ecosystems by 2030.
Keywords: eDNA, DNA barcodes, biodiversity monitoring, biosecurity, CSIRO, genome skimming, conservation
