Research

Our adventure diving tourism, and benefactor support, provide the funding to allow the permanent employment of marine scientists and to provide berth space, equipment and funding for external scientists onboard Undersea Explorer. Our research efforts are focused on projects which contribute to our understanding of reef ecology, biodiversity, conservation and minimising human impacts on our marine resources. Current projects are investigating dwarf minke whales, whitetip reef sharks, octopuses, nautilus, fluorescent corals, coral bleaching, water quality and more.

Undersea Explorer's frequent access to an easily monitored population of Reef sharks at Osprey Reef, and Tiger Sharks at Raine Island, gives us a unique opportunity for long term comprehensive study which investigates growth rates, breeding times and locations as well as behavioural patterns and movements.

Photographer David Wachenfeld

Photographer David Wachenfeld

A key element is the identification of individual animals, consistent monitoring of the population at monthly intervals, and recording of growth characteristics on an annual basis. Since this project began in June 1996 there have been 30 individuals identified with 10 sharks easily recognised by external markings. We have also implanted 28 sharks with microchip tags. 2003 has seen additional studies into the depth movements of sharks. Our efforts have also included lobbying to have Osprey Reef (and the shark population) protected.

Jürgen Freund's shark research photography

In 1995 Undersea Explorer contacted Dr Peter Arnold, Museum of Tropical Queensland regarding the development of a collaborative Dwarf Minke Whale research project. With the invaluable guidance of Dr Alistair Birtles, James Cook Uni, the project was formed. Since then Undersea Explorer has facilitated hundreds of hours of in-water and surface observations of Dwarf Minke Whales - resulting in detailed movement, behaviour and size estimation records of the whales.

Photographer John Rumney

We also obtained the first recorded vocalisation of this species, which has assisted in accoustic tracking of the minkes. During the expeditions, individual whales are identified by colour patterns on the body, scars and other unique features, and resightings of known animals have occurred from days apart to two years later. A CD Rom and Minke Whale information package has now been produced for use by other tourism dive operations which encounter Minke Whales.

Jürgen Freund's minke whale photography

The Nautilus of Osprey Reef, Nautilus pompilius spend their whole life cycle there, as they are "imprisoned' by the 1500 metre deep surrounding waters and their lack of a larval dispersal phase. For this reason, Osprey Reef is the ideal location for a research project into these amazing deep sea creatures.

During each expedition our researchers conduct deep water trapping at a variety of sites and depths to seek new deep sea animals and to search for the undiscovered juvenile nautilus habitat. With the expertise of the nautilus biologists the average capture rate of 14 nautilus per trapping sessions is consistent! Tagging and releasing the animals at night after a day of relaxation in cooled tanks onboard Undersea Explorer ensures their wellbeing. High recapture rates of animals up to 2 ½ years later shows the success of this method. Recapture data estimates a population of approximately 7,500 in the immediate area, and is producing excellent growth rate information. This is the most comprehensive live nautilus study ever conducted.
Jürgen Freund's cephalopod photography

Reef Check Australia is part of an international non-profit organisation involving the community in monitoring coral reef health. Coral reefs around the world are under enormous pressure from human activities and climate change. Although Australia's reefs are among the best managed in the world, they are not immune to these threats.

Undersea Explorer is a major supporter of Reef Check Australia's Great Barrier Reef Project. This project involves local recreational divers in monitoring the health of more than 30 key dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef and at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Reef Check volunteers monitor 6 of Undersea Explorer's dive sites each year. The project has been running since 2001 and has the support of more than 20 dive operators in Queensland.

The data collected by Reef Check volunteers are integrated into Reef Check Australia's national database (www.reefcheckaustralia.org ) where it is available for use by scientists and managers. It is also integrated into global reports through Reef Check (International) Headquarters
(see www.reefcheck.org  and www.gcrmn.org ).

Reef Check has received international environmental awards for its work, and is the United Nations' official community-based reef monitoring program.

For more information on Reef Check Australia go to www.reefcheckaustralia.org

Reef Check Australia's Executive Director Jos Hill doing a Reef Check survey at Clam Gardens

Climate change and stress resistance: This project focus' on identifying the capability of Great Barrier Reef corals to adapt rapidly to the warming of the oceans. It investigates the distribution and abundance of fluorescent corals on the Great Barrier Reef. Since fluorescent pigments are often invisible in daylight we are developing survey techniques using underwater UV-illumination. We are also investigating post-stress (elevated temperature, high light, UV) effects on cellular microstructure, physiology and reproductive capacity of fluorescent corals compared to non-fluorescent corals of the same species. This will enable predictions to be made whether there are large populations of stress-resistant corals, which can withstand global climate change. Jürgen Freund's fluro photography

Photographer David Wachenfeld

Undersea Explorer has been involved in testing water quality in the Northern Section of the Great Barrier Reef for 7 years. This research project is run by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Australian Institute of Marine Science. Undersea Explorer's scientific expertise, and our versatile itinerary, allows us to look at water quality trends from the coast to offshore reefs, and from the Port Douglas agricultural area north to Raine Island. Water quality is currently the biggest issue relating to the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Poor water quality and large amounts of fresh water are linked to increased algal blooms. Coral skeletons are weakened by nutrients, and further damaged by storms. Increased algal blooms also relate to increased populations of coral predator, the Crown of Thorns sea star.

The Nature Diary of the Northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea:
Undersea Explorer scientists record important observations at all dive sites on our itinerary. Due to our regular access throughout the entire year many important discoveries are possible. The data recorded includes weather, sea temperature, currents and tidal observations. It also includes presence of key reef animals, important due to their threatened/endangered status, diver interest, or as indicators of reef impacts. Observations such as spawning aggregations, coral bleaching events, manta ray feeding, pelagic action - can provide both scientific knowledge and fantastic diving opportunities.