The EcoRRAP R&D Subprogram fills key knowledge gaps essential for the success and cost-effectiveness of reef restoration interventions.
An integrated field program, EcoRRAP provides data on region-, temperature- and species-specific coral life-histories.
It quantifies natural rates of recovery and adaptation in response to global and local changes, as well as rates of recovery in response to interventions.
The central objective is to optimise interventions by understanding the ‘how, where, and when’ of natural reef recovery. This foundational data will help inform assumptions and decisions across the whole of RRAP and enable the success and cost-effectiveness of intervention research and development.
Alongside subprogram management and coordination, this project is focused on the establishment and long-term monitoring of Reference Reef sites across the length and breadth of the Reef. The Reference Reef sites provide critical baseline data sets to support RRAP decision makers in determining the how, why, and where of intervention deployment.
This project aims to inform coral restoration planning by identifying agents of mortality for juvenile corals and how these vary in relation to environmental and ecological interactions, as well as defining the ideal size and density of adult corals to overcome reproduction bottlenecks and support larval production to optimise natural recovery.
This project will generate knowledge on the important traits driving natural recovery and adaptation to both disturbances like heat stress and to restoration interventions. The project will investigate the variation of these traits across space, time, environments, and species.
3D model of Davies Reef, produced using photogrammetry. This work is part of the Integrated Field Testing project and aims to map the growth, recovery and survival of corals over time, providing vital information to support restoration efforts. Credit: Renata Ferrari Legorreta
Pascal Craw
Research Scientist
CSIRO
Robert Mason
Research Scientist
CSIRO
Manuel Gonzalez-Rivero
Research Scientist
AIMS
John Luetchford
Oceanographic Technician
AIMS
Browyn Holmes
Research Assistant
CSIRO
Frank Coman
Research Assistant
CSIRO
Sam Noonan
Research Assistant
AIMS
Sophie Gordan
Research Assistant
AIMS
Morane Le Nohaic
PhD Candidate
UQ and CSIRO
Hannah Allan
PhD Candidate
UQ
Elizabeth Buccheri
PhD Candidate
UQ
Kelsey Webbe
PhD Candidate
JCU
Isabella Marrable
AIMS and Uni. of Sydney
Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program
The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program respects and recognises all Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef as First Nations Peoples holding the hopes, dreams, traditions and cultures of the Reef.
© Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. All rights reserved.
