Peter Macreadie - Aquatic ecology research

Welcome to my home page!

I am a marine ecologist working as an Australian Research Council (ARC) DECRA Fellow within the Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3) at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in Australia.

My current research focuses on three areas:
(1) Understanding factors that mediate resilience in seagrass ecosystems
(2) Measuring impacts of human activities on coastal carbon sinks (particularly seagrasses)
(3) Assessing the ecological impacts of artificial reefs (particularly oil structures) on marine ecosystem function
Although I collaborate on projects outside these main areas (see 'Research' tab).

Background:
PhD - Marine Ecology, University of Melbourne (2010)
BSc(Honours) - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne (2006)

News

Talking seagrass with our PM Julia Gillard and former PM John Howard

On the evening of Thursday June 6 2013, the American Australian Association (AAA) held its 2013 Benefit Dinner at the Sydney Convention Centre to honour Andrew Liveris, President, Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company and Richard (Dick) Warburton AO LVO, Chairman of Westfield Retail Trust, Magellan Flagship Fund, Citigroup Pty Ltd and Manufacturing Australia.

Over 500 guests attended the dinner including dignitaries, leaders of the Sydney business and philanthropic community and performers who will salute the extraordinary achievements of both Andrew Liveris and Richard (Dick) Warburton AO LVO.

The event was hosted by television presenter and financial commentator David Koch and there were be tributes on the night to Andrew Liveris and Richard (Dick) Warburton AO LVO from Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Prime Minister John Howard OM AC.

Entertainment on the evening will be provided by Silvie Paladino and the Qantas Choir, alongside members of the Boston Children's Chorus. World renowned French artist Jean-Pierre Blanchard will attend the event to uniquely document the celebration.

And of course, there was an opportunity to talk about how awesome seagrass is! And especially great to have babysitters so my lovely wife could join the fun.

More information: http://www.americanaustralian.org.au/

Dow supports blue carbon research

Special thanks to Craig Arnold (Dow CEO, Australia) and Andrew Livers (Dow CEO, Global) for providing the opportunity (via the AAA Education Fund) for me to work with leading scientists in the USA on devising ways to maximise carbon storage in blue carbon ecosystems, and minimise carbon leakage. It's been a pleasure to contribute to Dow's 'Vision Zero'.

International Blue Carbon Working Group at UTS - 15-17th May 2013

The Blue Carbon Initiative is a global program working to mitigate climate change through the restoration and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems. The Initiative currently focuses on mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses. The Blue Carbon Initiative brings together governments, research institutions, non-governmental organizations and communities from around the world. The Initiative is coordinated by Conservation International (CI), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO).

More information: http://thebluecarboninitiative.org/category/about/the-initiative/

Photo by Marea Martlew

Blue carbon sequestration by seagrasses

PADI Foundation supports 'blue carbon' research

Congratulations to Stacey Trevathan-Tackett on being awarded the 2013 PADI FOUNDATION grant to investigate 'Dynamics of sedimentary carbon in seagrass meadows in Australia'.

With the rapid escalation of greenhouse gases, the need to reduce emissions has become paramount. Recently, seagrass meadows have been advocated as primary, natural, long-term carbon sinks. This project focuses on how a dominant Australian seagrass, Zostera muelleri, functions as a carbon sink.

Scholarships

Check out the 'Prospective students' tab for information on Honours, Masters, and PhD scholarships within C3.

Mid-year intake Honours students are eligible for a $6,000 scholarship.

Measuring seagrass productivity in Thailand

PhD student, Pemika Apichanangkool, is working in Thailand this week comparing oxygen fluxes in healthy and degraded seagrass meadows.

Razor clam research has a sharp edge

Read the press release here: http://newsroom.uts.edu.au/news/2013/04/razor-clam-research-has-a-sharp-edge

Also covered by:

VIDEO - Rocky reef snorkeling

The multi billion dollar cost of losing seagrass

Australia is losing massive amounts of seagrass and the effects of those losses could be counted in billions of dollars, say environmental experts.

See full article at: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2013/s3688556.htm
Audio link below

Failure to protect seagrasses may cost $45B

Links to print and radio coverage below

https://theconversation.edu.au/failure-to-protect-seagrass-may-cost-australia-45b-12110

Starts at 13:00

Nuclear fallout

By FRANCES RAND Feb. 6, 2013, 7:28 a.m.

IN the 1960s 11 holes were blown into one of the country’s largest seagrass meadows.
It was at Hole in the Wall in Booderee National Park, when seismic testing was used to check ground stability for a proposed nuclear testing facility.
Nearly 50 years later, the holes are clearly visible on Google Earth and aren’t expected to grow back for another 100 years.
This week marine ecologist Dr Peter Macreadie will be taking sediment cores from the damaged areas and measuring the carbon loss from the area.

Continued ...

See full article at: http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/1280601/nuclear-fallout/?cs=203

Prime time for Zostera nigracaulis

Microsatellite primers now completed for Zostera nigracaulis!

(This opens up new research opportunities to investigate genetic connectivity among seagrass populations)

Smith et al. (2013) Microsatellite primer development for the seagrass Zostera nigricaulis (Zosteraceae). Conservation Genetics Resources.

Too scared to eat

Which has greater influence in structuring marine food webs: predation, or the fear of being eaten? This growing area of research - termed 'The Ecology of Fear' - is being tackled by Nate Geraldi, Pete Peterson, and Pete Macreadie in oyster reefs of North Carolina, which are facing decline due to urbanisation and fishing pressures. It turns out that an unlikely hero is emerging in this story: oyster toadfish, a sit-and-wait ambush predator, could facilitate recovery of oyster reefs by scaring small crabs (mud and blue crabs) that eat juvenile oysters. Read more about their findings in the following peer reviewed papers:

VIDEO - Jervis Bay field trip (requires sound)

Nuclear testing in Jervis Bay
Next week (4-8 Feb) Pete and team will head to Jervis Bay to extract deep sediment cores (via vibrocorer) from a large seagrass meadow that was damaged due to seismic testing in the 1960s. Their goal is to measure release of carbon from the damaged seagrass meadows.

Check out some of the radio coverage in the 'Media' tab

Thank you:

Booderee National Park
Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community
Department of Primary Industries - Dr Nathan Knott
UTS - Marea Martlew
Australian Research Council
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

VIDEO - Seagrass is awesome! (requires sound)

10th International Seagrass Biology Workshop - Brazil

Pemika Apichanangkool and Peter Macreadie at the 10th International Seagrass Biology Workshop in Brazil

ARC DECRA success!

From sink to source: Does microbial priming of degraded seagrasses contribute to global warming?

Australian seagrasses are among the planet’s most effective natural systems for removing greenhouse gases; but if degraded, they could leak stored carbon and accelerate global warming. This project will test the emerging paradigm that microbes control carbon leakage; thereby providing information to ensure that seagrass carbon remains locked away.

In the Grass, On the Reef

World Research Tour

Rupert Murdoch and Peter Macreadie at the AAA Benefit Dinner in NYC

I am currently overseas (8 months) on a research tour of Europe and the USA.

I will be back in Sydney in mid-October 2012.

Thanks to the American Australian Association and Dow Chemical Company for supporting my research in the USA.