From a background researching coral and sponge ecophysiology on the
Great Barrier Reef, I then moved from Queensland to South Australia
where seagrass meadows form dominant benthic habitats in most of the
protected gulfs and bays. My research interested quickly focused on
seagrass habitat, and in particular, projects examining seagrass loss,
seabed instability and habitat rehabilitation.
My current research interests include the following areas:
Seagrass Rehabilitation
I am continuing a collaboration with the Environment and Ecology
team at SARDI
Aquatic Sciences and the Coastal
Protection Branch, [SA] Department for Environment & Heritage,
on a project I initiated looking at methodologies for seagrass rehabilitation
along the Adelaide metropolitan coast, where there has been considerable
seagrass loss. Methodologies include the use of traditional techniques,
such as cores and sprigs, but we are also investigating new techniques
to facilitate natural regeneration e.g. installing various hessian
treatments to enhance seedling capture, attachment and subsequent
survival.
(Left)
Setting up an experimental nursery at the South Australian Aquatic
Sciences Centre in Adelaide for cultivating seedlings to be used
for future plantings at rehabilitation sites along the Adelaide
metropolitan coast. (Right) A one year old Posidonia seeding growing
in a biodegradable Jiffy pot. Seagrass seeds are collected either
directly from seagrass beds or washed-up on the metropolitan beaches
and germinated in the nursery.
 |
Diver monitoring seagrass health
with a diving PAM fluorometer at one of the seagrass rehabilitation
sites
(photo Dave Miller, SARDI Aquatic Sciences). |
Recent research publications from this work:
Seddon S (2004). Going with the flow: facilitating seagrass
rehabilitation. Ecological
Management and Restoration 5(3):167-176.
Seddon S, Venema S, Miller D (2004). Seagrass rehabilitation
in metropolitan Adelaide: II. Donor bed independent methods progress
report. Progress Report to the Coast Protection Branch, Department
for Environment and Heritage. SARDI Aquatic Sciences, Adelaide.
Seddon S, Miller D, Venema S, Tanner J (2004). Seagrass rehabilitation
in metropolitan Adelaide: I. Donor bed dependent methods. Report
to the Coast Protection Branch, Department for Environment and Heritage.
SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. RD04/0038. SARDI Aquatic
Sciences, Adelaide.
Coastal Marine Impacts
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I have been involved in assessing and investigating the causes
of various cases of seagrass loss in temperate waters - often
these losses can be linked strongly to human activities such
as increased catchment runoff and coastal development. Case
studies include losses at Westernport Bay (Victoria), Spencer
Gulf (SA), metropolitan Adelaide (e.g. Adelaide Coastal Waters
Study) and the South-East of SA (e.g. Beachport).
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Deploying a temperature-salinity data logger |
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Arial photograph superimposed
on an image from a side-scan sonar of the sea floor showing
a trench from a sewage outfall and associated seagrass loss
and meadow fragmentation off the Adelaide metropolitan coast
(image from the Coastal Protection Brach, SA Department for
Environment & Heritage). |
Recent research publications from this work:
Seddon S, Miller D, Fotheringham D, Burgess S, McKechnie
J, (2003). Beachport seagrass loss and links to drain M in the Wattle
Range catchment. Prepared for the Coast Protection Board, Department
for Environment and Heritage and the Environment Protection Authority.
SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication
No. RD03/0190. SARDI Aquatic Sciences, Adelaide.
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