OCEAN CONNECT
Sea Slug Surveys
With support from the City of Gold Coast, Ocean Connect runs regular sea slug surveys. Surveys take place in the rock pools in Burleigh Heads or during shore or boat dives. Our sea slug data has contributed to the knowledge of sea slugs and nudibranch on the Gold Coast. All data is shared on the Atlas of Living Australia and new sea slug species are added to the existing species list each year. A team of avid divers and rock poolers join our surveys on a weekly basis.
Mangrove listening project
The Mangrove listening program is being delivered under the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation's Engaging Science grant. It aims to include Citizen scientists to collect acoustic data from selected Gold Coast estuaries to test the hypothesis that the diversity of soniferous (sound-producing) fauna and soundscape complexity are greater in healthier ecosystems. Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology and Ocean Connect, will train citizen scientists to use acoustic equipment and analyse recordings using open source software. The data will form a baseline assessment of the acoustic environments of the Gold Coast’s mangroves, which will provide useful information for management (e.g., presence of threatened species) and a framework for future monitoring.
Seagrass Surveys
Seagrasses provide a rapid response to changes in their environment, including climate change effects, pollution, turbidity, and invasive species. Therefore, playing a unique role in the equilibrium of coastal ecosystems, often being referred to as a key indicator of ecosystem health. Our seagrass citizen science program provides knowledge of the presence or absence of particular species (introduced or native) and the overall condition of seagrass meadows. This will assist in creating effective management strategies to target those particular factors effecting waterway health. In addition, creating awareness of seagrasses in coastal and marine environments, would encourage community members to participate in the protection and preservation of ecosystems traditionally neglected such as muddy intertidal regions and estuaries.
