Ecological Intelligence for Reef Restoration (EcoRRAP)

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. 

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Current projects

Integrated Field Testing

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.

Limits to Early Recovery

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.

Ecological and Genetic Adaptation

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 models 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

Subprogram leaders:

Project leaders:

Team members:

Project Manager
AIMS

Project Manager
CSIRO

Peter Mumby

Peter Mumby

Professor
UQ

Associate Professor
University of Sydney

Senior Research Fellow
UQ

Research Scientist
AIMS

Manuel Gonzalez-Rivero

Research Scientist
AIMS

John Luetchford

Oceanographic Technician
AIMS

Pascal Craw

Research Scientist
CSIRO

Robert Mason

Research Scientist
CSIRO

Frank Coman

Research Assistant
CSIRO

Sam Noonan

Research Assistant
AIMS

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
UQ

Browyn Holmes

Research Assistant
CSIRO

Morane Le Nohaic

PhD Candidate
UQ and CSIRO

Hannah Allan

PhD Candidate
UQ

Elizabeth Buccheri

PhD Candidate
UQ

Isabella Marrable

AIMS and Uni. of Sydney

Sophie Gordan

Research Assistant
AIMS

PhD Student
JCU

PhD Candidate
AIMS@JCU

Postdoctoral Fellow
UQ

Devin Rowell

Devin Rowell

PhD Candidate
UQ

Kelsey Webbe

PhD Candidate
JCU