Reef revival at full steam off Glenelg as eco-engineering oysters create marine hubs
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ThuThursday 11
FebFebruary 2021 at 9:33pm
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(Supplied: The Nature Conservancy)
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Stripped of marine life and ground up for bricks and mortar, South Australia s natural oyster reefs have been devastated since colonisation, but a newly built reef off Glenelg is demonstrating a speedy revival.
Key points:
Australia s natural oyster reefs are estimated to cover just 1 per cent of their pre-colonial extent
A major shellfish reef restoration project in South Australia is showing positive results
Satellite tracking supports whale survival
Extensive satellite tracking has revealed important new knowledge about the little known pygmy blue whale population of Southern Australia.
Marine biologists have extensively tracked the movements of foraging and migrating blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) along the Australian continental shelf on a journey towards breeding grounds in Indonesia as part of conservation efforts for the endangered species.
A team of researchers led by Flinders University Associate Professor Luciana Möller tracked the movements of 13 of the blue whale subspecies to determine important environmental habitats along foraging grounds and migratory routes in Southern and Western Australia, which incorporate major shipping and fishing routes, and areas targeted for oil and gas exploration - all activities known to negatively impact whale behaviour.