https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index en-au 5 https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:48212 Wed 28 Jun 2023 20:19:32 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40517 Wed 19 Apr 2023 10:00:48 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:52457 Wed 11 Oct 2023 15:03:14 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:31428 3. These results suggest that structure from motion is a viable tool for ongoing monitoring of ecologically-significant coral reefs, especially to establish effects of disturbances, provided the measurement error is considered.]]> Wed 11 Apr 2018 10:45:16 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:34869 Cephaloscyllium laticeps) and the piked spurdog (Squalus megalops) in-situ using a remote-operated-vehicle and in a replicated experiment in controlled conditions. In total, 67 sharks were caught with demersal fish trawls and commercial longlines and subjected to different deck exposures and release environments. Tailbeat rates of deck-exposed sharks were significantly lower than the control sharks, but this effect differed between in-situ and experimental environments. Results indicate that capture has species-specific effects, that post-release effects may last longer than 5 min, and that controlled experiments may not be reliable indicators of post-release effects. Immediate post-release swimming was not a good predictor of post-release behaviour, suggesting capture and release fisheries may have significant sub-lethal effects on some species of shark, and that limiting capture or handling time may reduce post-release effects.]]> Wed 09 Jun 2021 13:51:11 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40212 Wed 06 Jul 2022 16:05:38 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:51156 90 ships per year). Shipping exposure significantly increased from 2018 despite the pandemic, including within marine parks.Conclusions: These results highlight the wide-scale footprint of commercial shipping on marine ecosystems that may be increasing in intensity over time.Implications: Consideration should be made for assessing and potentially limiting shipping impacts along migration routes and within marine parks.]]> Tue 29 Aug 2023 10:19:21 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:54490 Tue 27 Feb 2024 15:13:08 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:36499 D) and their embryos (7.0–42.3 cm W_D) and also yolks and histrotroph, to assess the potential implications for juvenile nutrition and habitat use. Irrespective of their development in the uterus, embryos had similar δ¹³C values in their muscle tissue as the mothers and both had greater values than in the histotroph. During gestation, δ¹³C values increased across all sample types. However, while embryo muscle tissue and the histotroph were associated with increasing ¹⁵N levels during embryonic development, this was depleted in the mothers’ muscle tissue and yolk. Although speculative, the observed variation in stable‐isotope ratios might imply a dietary shift among gravid females during their early gestation. Irrespective of the underlying mechanisms, the results indicate neonates will have relatively greater δ¹⁵N values than post‐partum females, which would probably confound juvenile foraging‐ecology estimates.]]> Tue 26 May 2020 13:53:17 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40533 Tue 20 Feb 2024 12:00:49 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40846 Tue 19 Jul 2022 11:15:17 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:50253 Tue 11 Jul 2023 16:29:13 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:52386 Tue 10 Oct 2023 14:45:57 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:39157 Tue 09 Aug 2022 14:06:40 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:34919 Hemiscyllium ocellatum) displayed sinusoidal movement patterns, while Blacktip Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) had more linear trajectories that were similar to those of a Lemon shark (Negaprion acutidens). Individual shark trajectory patterns and movement speeds were highly variable. Results indicate that Epaulette sharks may be more mobile during diurnal low tides than previously thought. The approach presented here allows the movements and behaviours of marine vertebrates to be analysed at resolutions not previously possible without complex and expensive acoustic arrays. This method would be useful to assess the habitat use and behaviours of sharks and rays in shallow water environments, where they are most likely to interact with humans.]]> Tue 03 Sep 2019 17:58:05 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:38530 Thu 28 Oct 2021 14:47:01 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:50494 40% contribution) for three resident and five transient species, including polychaetes, blue swimmer crabs, toadfish, luderick, leatherjackets, oyster gobies, and stingarees. Benthic organic matter from the oyster reef was found to be a primary resource for 12 residents and four transient species, including crabs, shrimps, gastropods, and fish. Oyster reefs are key foraging grounds in the estuarine seascape, and their restoration will enhance fisheries productivity by broadening the trophic resource base and contribute to the estuarine energy transfer to higher trophic levels.]]> Thu 27 Jul 2023 10:15:39 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:38302 Thu 26 Aug 2021 10:22:38 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:36709 4 saltmarsh plant Sporobolus virginicus had the greatest contribution to consumer diet among almost all sites and times (25–95%), though for prawns the presence of seagrass may be exerting some influence on this calculated contribution in the Clarence estuary. Particulate organic matter (POM; 30%) and fine benthic organic matter (FBOM; 39–41%) also contributed significantly to consumer diet. Mangroves and other C₃ sources generally had the lowest contribution to consumers (1–31%). While the exact contributions of each source are uncertain within our Bayesian framework, these results highlight the relatively large role of saltmarsh habitat as a contributor to fishery productivity, especially in estuaries with no seagrasses. Given the anthropogenic threats to saltmarsh habitat, there is potential for loss of fishery productivity with further loss of saltmarsh areal extent.]]> Thu 25 Jun 2020 16:03:41 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:42562 Thu 25 Aug 2022 11:05:19 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:52631 4). After lipid extraction, significant increases in δ15N values (0.5‰–1.4‰) were found in shark muscle and liver tissues. For pinniped skin samples, δ15N values were not significantly lower after lipid extraction (−0.4‰ to –0.1‰). Conclusions: Lipid extraction did not have a strong impact on δ34S values of shark muscle and pinniped skin (≤1‰). However, our results suggest it is essential to consider the effects of lipid extraction when interpreting results from δ34S values of shark liver tissue, as they significantly depleted values relative to bulk tissue (~5‰). This may reflect selective removal of sulfolipids and glutathione present in higher concentrations in the liver than in muscle and skin and requires further investigation.]]> Thu 19 Oct 2023 15:12:53 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:39643 Thu 16 Jun 2022 14:27:05 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:37768 Sphyrna mokarran are the largest member of Sphyrnidae, yet the roles of these large sharks in the food webs of coastal ecosystems are still poorly understood. Here we obtained samples of muscle, liver and vertebrae from large S. mokarran (234–383 cm total length; L_T) caught as by‐catch off eastern Australia and used stable‐isotope analyses of δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C and δ³⁴S to infer their resource use and any associated ontogenetic patterns. The results indicated large S. mokarran are apex predators primarily relying on other sharks and rays for their diet, with a preference for benthic resources such as Australian cownose rays Rhinoperon neglecta during the austral summer. Teleosts, cephalopods and crustaceans were not significant components of S. mokarran diets, though some conspecifics appeared to rely on more diverse resources over the austral summer. Ontogenetic shifts in resource use were detected but trajectories of the increases in trophic level varied among individuals. Most S. mokarran had non‐linear trajectories in ontogenetic resource‐use shifts implying size was not the main explanatory factor. Stable isotope values of δ¹³C and δ³⁴S in muscle suggest S. mokarran span coastal, pelagic and benthic food webs in eastern Australia.]]> Thu 15 Apr 2021 10:37:54 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:44452 Thu 13 Oct 2022 15:05:26 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:48851 Thu 13 Apr 2023 09:53:15 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:35112 Scyliorhinus torazame were studied with the aid of 117 specimens collected from the southern sea of Korea. S. torazame was mainly piscivorous, but also ingested polychaetes and small amounts of benthic crustaceans. This dietary composition led to an estimated trophic level of 3.9 for the species. The diets of S. torazame changed significantly with season, but not length or sex of the sharks. Graphical analysis indicated that S. torazame is a benthic generalist feeder that consumes a variety of prey, but also showed high individual diet specialization.]]> Thu 11 May 2023 10:27:08 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:39471 15N, δ¹³C and δ³⁴S) to stable isotope signatures in juvenile bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) up to 6.5 years post parturition. We found that maternal provisioning was detectable for up to 3.5 years after birth in muscle but only detectable in young-of-the-year for liver. Inclusion of sulphur revealed when maternal signatures disappeared from low-turnover tissue, while also identifying the spatial and trophic ecology patterns from fast-turnover tissue. These results reveal the importance of sampling fast turnover tissues to study the trophic ecology of juvenile elasmobranchs, and how the use of only δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C isotopes is likely to make maternal patterns more difficult to detect.]]> Thu 09 Jun 2022 09:43:28 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40296 Thu 07 Jul 2022 15:25:37 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:26183 Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:24:11 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:48199 Sat 11 Mar 2023 12:30:31 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:48196 Sat 11 Mar 2023 12:30:29 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:48176 Sat 11 Mar 2023 12:23:01 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:32832 intermedialis and was generally detected at levels an order of magnitude lower in the corpus calcareum,. In most species, zinc concentrations were higher pre-birth mark, indicating a high rate of pre-natal zinc deposition. These results suggest there are inter-specific differences in elemental deposition within vertebrae. Since the deposition of zinc is physiologically-driven, these differences suggest that the processes of growth and deposition are potentially different in the intermedialis and corpus calcareum, and that caution should be taken when extrapolating information such as annual growth bands from one structure to the other. Together these results suggest that the high inter-specific variation in vertebral zinc deposition and associated physiologies may explain the varying effectiveness of ageing methodologies applied to elasmobranch vertebrae.]]> Mon 23 Sep 2019 12:27:57 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:35377 Mon 22 Jul 2019 13:12:19 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:37325 Mon 12 Oct 2020 11:39:21 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:51569 Mon 11 Sep 2023 14:22:22 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:55445 Fri 31 May 2024 14:28:24 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40580 Fri 30 Jun 2023 10:30:28 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40554 Metapenaeus macleayi (School Prawn) and Penaeus plebejus (Eastern King Prawn) are two commercially and recreationally important species in New South Wales that utilise estuarine nurseries throughout their life history. In this study, stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur were used to determine the proportional contribution of primary producers to prawn nutrition in Brisbane Water (NSW). Both the saltmarsh grass Sporobolus virginicus and seagrass Zostera muelleri were found to support a high trophic contribution to prawns (up to 53% and 40%, respectively). The contributions of other primary producers such as mangroves, fine benthic organic matter (FBOM) and C3 saltmarsh plants were generally found to be much lower (0.7-15%). Such findings are generally consistent with patterns observed in other south-east Australian estuaries, however such a dominant role of saltmarsh in the presence of seagrass is a novel finding. These results highlight linkages between habitats of conservation concern and highly valuable fisheries species, and the benefit of using sulfur as an additional marker in Bayesian mixing models examining estuarine food webs.]]> Fri 22 Jul 2022 15:25:21 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40445 Sphyrna mokarran). Both methods indicated similar geographic ranges and suggested that S. mokarran recorded in south-eastern Australia are likely to be from more northern Australian waters. These approaches could be replicated in other areas where coastlines span predictable geographic gradients in isotope values and be used to determine the core population geography of highly mobile species to inform management decisions.]]> Fri 22 Jul 2022 14:37:03 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:42162 Fri 19 Aug 2022 09:14:12 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:39513 2 Heron Island Reef in Queensland, Australia. Ex situ bioturbation rates of the most abundant holothurian, Holothuria atra, were assessed during 24-h feeding experiments. Using density measurements of holothurians across reef flat zones in a 27,000 m² map produced from drone imagery, we extrapolated bioturbation across the reef using satellite remote sensing data. Individual H. atra were estimated to produce approximately 14 kg of bioturbated sediment per year. On a reef scale (excluding the reef lagoon) and accounting for varying densities of holothurians across different reef zones, total bioturbation from holothurians at Heron Reef was estimated at over 64,000 metric tonnes per year, slightly more than the mass of five Eiffel Towers. These results highlight the scale of structural and biochemical impacts that holothurians have on reef flats and their importance to ecosystem functioning and services. Management of these animals on reefs is imperative as overharvesting would likely cause substantial negative effects on sedimentary ecosystems and their biogeochemistry in corals reefs.]]> Fri 10 Jun 2022 15:42:34 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:44099 o and 50^o of latitude. Global-scale compilations of stable isotope data combined with biogeochemical modelling generate hypotheses regarding animal behaviours that can be tested with other methodological approaches.]]> Fri 07 Oct 2022 15:16:02 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:36782 Portunus armatus Milne‐Edwards and yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis Günther (by 64%). Irrespective of escape gaps, simply increasing the mesh size to 75 mm did not significantly affect catches of undersized P. armatus, although 87% fewer A. australis were retained. Traps with both 75‐mm mesh and escape gaps maintained reductions of A. australis, but had a clear cumulative effect on P. armatus selection, retaining 84% fewer undersized individuals across a larger size at retention. The results support using escape gaps in existing conventional traps, but illustrate the need to configure the minimum legal mesh size to approach the desired target size of P. armatus as a precursor to maximising trap selectivity. Larger‐meshed traps also require less material (i.e. plastic), which benefits their manufacture and, equally importantly, reduces environmental costs when lost.]]> Fri 03 Jul 2020 17:36:41 AEST ]]>