Research Reports
May
25
2013
Roebuck’s muddy bay teams with invertebrates
An amazing macro of an invertebrate snail in Roebuck Bay’s mudflats. © Peter Strain.
STANDING still on the tidal mudflats of Roebuck Bay is an amazing experience. The reason being, the soft, squishy mud under your feet is likely to be crawling with invertebrates that are either hunting for food or escaping the bills of hungry shorebirds.
Getting up close and personal with Roebuck Bay’s minuscule mud dwellers has been an enjoyable obsession for photographer Peter Strain, who has spent hundreds of hours taking their photos. Read the wonderful story here »
May
15
2013
Toxic Lyngbya
A UWA ecologist says most invertebrate populations in the mud of Roebuck Bay’s intertidal zone have decreased significantly after blooms of the toxic blue-green Lyngbya.
May
8
2013
Whale sharks in Broome
Want to learn about Whale sharks and how to be a local researcher?
Come along to Lotteries house in Broome tonight at 7.30pm. This project is sponsored by Inspiring Australia.
Apr
30
2013
Let’s Celebrate Roebuck Bay with a film
Here is the new film that captures the passion of the Broome community for Roebuck Bay, which is home to rare dolphins, thousands of migratory shorebirds, trillions of mud invertebrates, crocodiles, seagrass meadows, mangroves, lots of fish, dugongs, turtles and much more. The message is look after it and reduce run off from your property into Broome’s stormwater drains. It is currently running on Goolarri Television and was funded by Rangelands NRM.
Nov
26
2012
When do Roebuck Bay’s Invertebrates Reproduce?
This wonderful photo was taken by professional photographer/filmmaker Peter Strain. The mudflats in Roebuck Bay are a haven for birds because they teem with small invertebrates, like this snail. @ Peter Strain
Have you wondered when the 600 or more invertebrate species that live in the mudflats of Roebuck Bay reproduce? Monthly sampling over the last twelve years indicates great variability amongst species, so at any given time there is likely to be a lot of eggs and sperm being released into the water, which are hopefully fusing and then developing into larvae, then invertebrates, which are the food for thousands of migratory shorebirds, fish and more… Lots of good reasons to keep our drains clean of rubbish, fertilisers and garden waste during the wet season, as they can become food algal blooms of Lyngbya and impact the water quality which is not good for the wonderful marine life that exists in Roebuck Bay.
- Here are some easy tips to Keep Our Bay Clean this wet season »
- Here are some tips to Fertilise Wisely and Keep Our Bay Clean
Nov
21
2012
Tips to keep snubbies safe in the bay
Roebuck Bay is recognised as a hotspot for Australian snubfin dolphins.
Snubfin dolphins like the shallow waters in Roebuck Bay, so keep boat speed down to avoid injuries to these rare cetaceans. @ Dr Deb Thiele
Only discovered in 2006, Snubfins are Australia’s only endemic dolphin. They do however need our communities help to survive. Here are tips for boaters in Roebuck Bay:
- Maintain a stable course – no sudden direction change.
- Keep speed to less than five knots around creeks, mangroves, seagrass and shallow turbid waters.
- Be on the lookout for dolphins and slow down or idle engine until they are well clear of the boat.
- Minimise loss of monofilament line by not fishing against mangroves or other areas where line can be lost, and make sure you retrieve line and hooks.
Oct
19
2012
From farmer to Broome’s leading shorebird expert
RBWG member Chris Hassell is a great contributor to shorebird conservation. © Kandy Curran
Read and listen to an interview with Chris Hassell, who has been an active member of the Roebuck Bay Working Group since 2004, makjing an outstanding contribution toward the management and protection of Roebuck Bay. Chris’ passion for the migratory shorebirds that migrate to Roebuck Bay each year is truly inspirational. Here is the link to hear and read more »
Jun
20
2011
Migratory shorebird study results released
Read Chris Hassell’s latest report on his work with the Global Flyway Network on Migratory Shorebirds in Bohai Bay, Northern China during April May 2011. The GFN report of the field work in Bohai Bay, Northern China during April and May 2011 is now up on the Global Flyway Network site.
Peak scientific publication to use data from GFN study
There will also be a scientific paper published in the next volume of “Emu-Austral Ornithology” using the data from Chris Hassell’s 2009 visit and the data from Yan Hong Yan. This report highlights the pressures that the migratory birds are facing during their stopover periods in the Yellow Sea. It is rather depressing reading (but interesting I hope!) Read the report here »
