UQ Moreton Bay Research Station and Study Centre in Dunwich, Queensland | Higher education

UQ Moreton Bay Research Station and Study Centre

Locality: Dunwich, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 3409 9058

Address: Corner of Flinders Avenue and Fraser Street 4183 Dunwich, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.uq.edu.au/moreton-bay-research-station

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25.01.2022 Check out these amazing pygmy squids! Pygmy squids (Idiosepius hallami) are only 2 cm long. They are found in seagrass meadows across Moreton Bay where they feed mainly on small shrimps. Dr Wen-Sung Chung from the Queensland Brain Institute (University of Queensland) and his colleagues are studying their nervous system. Wen caught these little guys a few days ago on the seagrass in front of the Station. He found some eggs as well. You can see the embryo spinning inside the eggs, which is typical during early developmental stages. Videos and photos by Wen-Sung Chung.

25.01.2022 MBRS Christmas party! Today MBRS staff and students sailed across the Bay for our annual Christmas party! We headed to the sand bank in front of Amity Point for a lovely picnic and swim. Thanks to all who organised, drove their boats across and cooked a delicious meal. (Photos by Elisa Girola and Scott Wallace)

24.01.2022 Aileen Moreton-Robinson: 20th anniversary of Talkin up to the white woman Talkin up to the white woman by Professor Aileen Moreton-Robinson was first published 20 years ago. This timeless book analyses the power relations between Indigenous women and the feminist literature. It gives voice to Indigenous womens testimony and life stories and argues for the political importance of Indigenous self-representation. Professor Moreton-Robinson recently visited North Stradbroke Island, Quandamooka Coutry, for the launch of the anniversary edition of the book that was presented by long-time friend and academic associate, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, UQs Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement). https://atsis.uq.edu.au//landmark-book-%E2%80%98still-has-

24.01.2022 Its koalas love season! Koalas (dumbirrbi) breed between August and March. During this period, they are very active and are often spotted on the trees around the Station. This little guy caught our attention as it was producing the typical male mating call, called bellow. Bellows sound like donkey braying and are used to scare off rivals and attract females who will accept his mating advances or reject him with a screeching noise. The joeys are born after just a few weeks, however, it will be months before they emerge from their mums pouches. Video by Elisa Girola.

23.01.2022 It is National Science Week and we are taking you on an adventure to discover the underwater life of Moreton Bay. In this video, we explore some local reefs and check out the variety of species that depend on them. From corals, to sea stars, clown fish, Queensland groper, turtles, and sharks, we take you into the deep blue and show you the technology that we use to study life in the ocean. Grab your mask and snorkel and check out the amazing wildlife that lives so close to the city! Video by Cam Cotterell

22.01.2022 The MBRS team is wearing it purple! Happy ‘Wear It Purple Day’ from North Stradbroke Island, Quandamooka Country! Today we added some colour to our uniforms to show the LGBTQIA+ community that they are supported and loved. Wear It Purple Day began in 2010 following many stories of young people facing bullying and harassment because of a lack of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity. Each year, Wear it Purple Day is held on the last Friday of August, which this year is Friday 28th August. This year's theme is ‘We Are The Change’. For more information check the Wear it Purple website https://www.wearitpurple.org/donate Photos by Elisa Girola. #wearitpurpleuq

22.01.2022 Aileen Moreton-Robinson: 20th anniversary of Talkin’ up to the white woman Talkin’ up to the white woman by Professor Aileen Moreton-Robinson was first published 20 years ago. This timeless book analyses the power relations between Indigenous women and the feminist literature. It gives voice to Indigenous women’s testimony and life stories and argues for the political importance of Indigenous self-representation. Professor Moreton-Robinson recently visited North Stradbroke Island, Quandamooka Coutry, for the launch of the anniversary edition of the book that was presented by long-time friend and academic associate, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, UQ’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement). https://atsis.uq.edu.au//landmark-book-%E2%80%98still-has-

22.01.2022 MBRS Open Day Saturday 30th November 2019 Its less than 2 weeks until our Open Day! We want to remind people about the incredibly popular Discovery cruises, put on by our colleagues at Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre! https://moretoneec.eq.edu.au/ There will be three cruises on their purpose built boat, showing you the amazing marine life above and below the water out on the bay. The trips are free! However, you must register online and get yourself a ticket in advance (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/moreton-bay-research-statio). Book now so you dont miss out! Photo by Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre

22.01.2022 Witchs heart and devils eggs This weird looking fungus was found in front of the station back in February, following a period of heavy rain. The rad cage fungus (Clathrus ruber), also known as witchs heart, often grows on moist mulch and feeds on decaying organic matter. The immature fruit bodies used to be sold in markets as devils eggs, as they have a white ball shape, with a thin leathery membrane from which the red cage emerges. Photo by Martin Wynne.

22.01.2022 Wow, look at all the jellies! These little ones arent actually jellyfish (Cnidarians), they are ctenophores or comb jellies. They share a lot of similarities with jellyfish, but they are part of a different phylum (Ctenophora). Their name refers to the groups of cilia they use for swimming. These are arranged in rows that look like combs (ctene in Greek). When they move, the sunlight is refracted creating an iridescent wave along the length of the animal. Video by Cam Cotterell

22.01.2022 Our boating and diving officer found this big leopard whipray (Himantura leoparda) a few year ago maybe it was trying to stay still so he didnt get spotted All joke aside, these guys are super beautiful animals and to find them in our backyard is a treat. Video by Cam Cotterell

21.01.2022 Mantis shrimp how many colours can they see? Mantis shrimps have one of the most complex eye in the animal kingdom. They contain up to 20 different input channels, including 12 colour receptors (humans have only 3), 6 for linear polarisation and 2 for circular polarization. Justin Marshalls lab, at The Queensland Brain Institute, is studying these amazing creatures to understand how and what they see. This could improve optical sensors and cameras, with applications from cancer detection to navigation and satellite design. Photos by Roy Caldwell. Check out QBI website for more information on mantis shrimps https://ecovis.org.au/?page_id=2373

21.01.2022 The wrecks at Tangalooma, on Moorgumpin (Moreton Island), burst with life. They provide the ideal habitat for numerous species of fish that find shelter and food among the sunken ships. This footage was taken a few months ago by our Boating and Diving officer. Cam left his underwater camera on the sea bottom, between two of the wrecks, for just a few minutes. Look at all the fish! Can you name any of the species? Video by Cam Cotterell

20.01.2022 Who says worms are boring! This beautiful polychaete worm was found on one of the Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) deployed by the Marine Society UQ in Moreton Bay. ARMS consist of series of plates whose crevices and surfaces resemble the complex substrate of a typical reef. They are left in the ocean for periods of time to provide a habitat for a range of reef creatures. They can easily be retrieved without any damage to the local environment and are used to study larvae settlement and to monitor the stunning and diverse lifeforms that inhabit our reefs. Photos by Abbey Watson and Lucy Trippett taken under permit.

20.01.2022 Red tide Back in February, researcher from the CEAL lab went out in Moreton Bay looking for dolphins and found something unexpected instead. They came across what is known as a red tide, a large patch of ocean looking red due the high concentration of microscopic dinoflagellates. Photos by Kerri Smith and Maddie Castles

19.01.2022 Rescue turtle This little green turtle was handed in to the research station recently with a suspected propeller injury. He was promptly sent off with the QPWS duty rangers to a rehabilitation facility. We wish the little Champion a quick recovery. Photos by Cam Cotterell.

19.01.2022 Recent rains have brought a burst of life to the freshwater ecosystems on North Stradbroke Island. The temporary ponds around the Station are resonating with the sounds of the green treefrogs (Litoria caerulea). Green treefrogs breed in ponds and pools. During the breeding season, from November to February, the male call to attract the females. Listen to the low, monotonous crawk-crawk-crawk, especially when it is raining or about to rain. (Video by Elisa Girola)

19.01.2022 Calling all citizen scientists! Have you spotted these rare, blue eggs? #UQs Graham Fulton has been spying on 84,000 silver gulls on WAs Penguin Island. He...s seen thousands of eggs, but has only spotted these blue eggs just once. Where else are they? Help Graham crack the case, email - [email protected]. See more

19.01.2022 This little loggerhead hatchling was found on North Stradbroke Island by a local resident and brought to the Station. Our staff named the little turtle Squirt. Squirt stayed with us for a short period, until Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) could organize the transfer to Sea World for vet checks and rehabilitation. We wish Squirt best of luck for a quick recovery! Video by Cam Cotterell. To report strandings of sick, injured or dead turtles, dolphin, dugongs or whales call Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) on 1300 130 372. More information can be found here https://environment.des.qld.gov.au//cari/marine-strandings

18.01.2022 Monitoring the health of large marine animals can be a challenge, so we have to go to them. Jacob Linsky from the Cetacean Ecology and Acoustic Lab is doing a checkup on local humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) during their annual migration between feeding grounds in the Antarctic and breeding sites off the coast of Queensland. Data on energy stores and reproductive health will allow researchers to quickly recognize future changes, and ensure that the population stays healthy. Photos by Dana Cusano, video by Jacob Linsky (video and photos collected under permit).

18.01.2022 Calling all citizen scientists! Have you spotted these rare, blue eggs? #UQ's Graham Fulton has been spying on 84,000 silver gulls on WA’s Penguin Island. He...’s seen thousands of eggs, but has only spotted these blue eggs just once. Where else are they? Help Graham crack the case, email - [email protected]. See more

18.01.2022 Happy Valentines Day and blue swimmer crabs Think of the blue swimmer crab this Valentines Day! Not to eat, but to consider the courting behaviour of the males! During the reproductive season, male blue swimmer crabs (Portunus pelagicus) will catch a female and carry her around for up to 10 days. He will help her to molt (shed her carapace) during this time, and after mating he will carry her around for a few more days to protect her as her shell hardens again. After that they part ways, with the female spawning possibly up to 2 million eggs! However due to predation by fish and sea jellies, very few Casanovas will reach the shallow nursery areas to begin the cycle again. Yet for those who do Happy Valentines Day! (Photo by Lucy Trippett)

18.01.2022 Wow, if you werent paying attention you would think this stonefish was a rock. Stonefish, Synanceia horrida, are incredibly good at blending in where they can ambush their preys as they swim past. They have 13 dorsal spines that envenomate any attacke - or person stepping on them. So make sure youre wearing sturdy footwear if youre wondering around soft-bottom substrates near rocky or weedy areas! Video by Cam Cotterell

17.01.2022 Battles in the sky Mirriginpah, the white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), is often spotted along the shoreline of North Stradbroke Island. Sea eagles feed on a range of preys such as fish, turtles, snakes and birds, but also on carrions. They often harass smaller birds, to get them to drop the food that they are carrying. The individual in this video has been hanging around Bradbury’s Beach, just in front of the Station and is putting on quite a show! We managed to capture the eagle trying to steal fish from other birds that were feasting on discards from a local fisherman. Check out how fast it is. Video by Elisa Girola.

16.01.2022 Moreton Bay is a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. It hosts hundreds of species of birds, including these beautiful gull billed terns (Gelochelidon nilotica). While most terns feed on fish that they catch by diving into the ocean, gull billed terns eat invertebrates found on mudflats and marshes. Their common name is due to their bills, that are short, thick and black, and resemble those of gulls. Video by Elisa Girola.

16.01.2022 Last week, researchers from Dolphin Research Australia were at the Station to collect data on the dolphins of Moreton Bay. Check out this amazing video and listen to sounds that they recorded!

16.01.2022 MBRS Open Day Saturday 30th November 2019 Open Day is coming up and what better way to show your young ones the incredible marine life of Moreton Bay than with a visit to our fascinating touch tanks! Get up close and personal with sea stars, sea slugs and sea shells amongst many other cryptic sea creatures. Marine biologists will be on hand to tell you about amazing behaviour such as that of the innocent looking - but murderous - mulberry whelk, that uses a toothed radula to drill through the shells of its prey, release a powerful enzyme that dissolves the animal into a mollusc type milkshake that they then devour. We touch these whelks all the time and isnt it lucky they cant do this to us!

15.01.2022 MBRS Open Day Saturday 30th November 2019 Discover your inner Picasso at Open Day and help with recycling at the same time! Come to the Station this Saturday Nov 30th and join our art workshop. Our volunteers will help you creating amazing artworks out of discarded refuse, that would otherwise end up in landfill. If youre not feeling very arty on the day, well stop by the Wildlife Encounter team who will let you get right up close to some beautiful snakes! See you there! Photo Lucy Trippett

15.01.2022 It’s koala’s love season! Koalas (dumbirrbi) breed between August and March. During this period, they are very active and are often spotted on the trees around the Station. This little guy caught our attention as it was producing the typical male mating call, called ‘bellow’. Bellows sound like donkey braying and are used to scare off rivals and attract females who will accept his mating advances or reject him with a screeching noise. The joeys are born after just a few weeks, however, it will be months before they emerge from their mums’ pouches. Video by Elisa Girola.

14.01.2022 The rich tidal flats in Moreton Bay offer shelter and food to many shorebirds such as these beautiful pied oystercatchers (Haematopus longirostris). At low tide, oystercatchers use their long beaks to catch worms, molluscs and crabs hiding just beneath the surface of mud and sand flats. During high tide, they rest on protected beaches, such as Bradburys where this video was taken. Video by Elisa Girola.

14.01.2022 Welcome to the new CoralWatch Ambassadors! This week, the citizen science program CoralWatch held their annual workshop at the Station. CoralWatch provides the opportunity for passionate people, who care about corals and reef conservation, to learn about coral health monitoring, data collection, reefs health and how to deliver positive messages to inspire and educate audiences about the importance of reefs. The program welcomed sixteen new Ambassadors that will be volunteering for a range of events aimed at educating and reaching out to the public. Photos by Karen Johnson.

14.01.2022 Young scientists at work! These young scientists are studying Physical & Biological Oceanography at UQ as part of their undergraduate degree. The course focuses on understanding how our oceans work, and how the patterns and distribution of life are influenced by the physical characteristics of the marine environment. As part of their course, the students visited our Station for a three day field trip, during which they had the chance to look at a variety of marine organisms and practice the research techniques that scientists use to study the ocean. Check out the plankton sample that they collected! What a great range of different organisms. Photos by Elisa Girola. Video by Julian Uribe Palomino CSIRO IMOS

14.01.2022 MBRS Open Day Saturday 30th November 2019 Come over to MBRS for our annual Open Day! Join us on the Goompie trail to learn about Quandamooka traditions, explore the waters of Moreton Bay on one of our cruises, or check out our touch tanks and wildlife show. Photo Lucy Trippett

14.01.2022 Winter is the perfect time of year to visit North Stradbroke Island and catch a glimpse of the majestic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), known as Yalingbila to the islands traditional custodians. Each year, humpback whales travel from Antarctica, where they feed, to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef, where they mate and calve. Sometimes they travel in large groups, such as this one recorded by the Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program (SOPOPP) group from Griffith University. SOPOPP researchers are currently here, studying chemicals in humpback whales blubber. Some chemicals, such as Persistent Organic Pollutants, accumulate along the food chain, get stored in the whales tissues and can be used to assess pollutant levels in the Antarctic ecosystem. Video by Jasmin Gross

13.01.2022 Little black cormorants (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) are common around Moreton Bay. They have a black body and stunning blue-green eyes. They rest on beaches and sand banks where sometimes can be found in large flocks, such as this one that was seen at Polka Point. But check out what happens when it starts raining. It is worth getting wet to see such an amazing show! Videos by Elisa Girola.

13.01.2022 The MBRS team is wearing it purple! Happy Wear It Purple Day from North Stradbroke Island, Quandamooka Country! Today we added some colour to our uniforms to show the LGBTQIA+ community that they are supported and loved. Wear It Purple Day began in 2010 following many stories of young people facing bullying and harassment because of a lack of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity. Each year, Wear it Purple Day is held on the last Friday of August, which this year is Friday 28th August. This years theme is We Are The Change. For more information check the Wear it Purple website https://www.wearitpurple.org/donate Photos by Elisa Girola. #wearitpurpleuq

11.01.2022 Living on the edge Both mangroves and barnacles live their lives on the edge. In this case the edge is the intertidal zone separating land and sea. While mangroves come from terrestrial plants that evolved to survive having their feet in salty anoxic mud, barnacles are marine organisms adapted to withstand extended period of tidal emersion. These two species meet in the upper intertidal and spray zones. These are submerged only for brief periods, long enough to keep the barnacles alive, without damaging the mangrove leaves. Photos by Jack Hill (UQ - School of Biological Sciences).

10.01.2022 MBRS Open Day Saturday 30th November 2019 Go on the Goompi Trail on Open Day! Join Matt Burns on an illuminating tour of indigenous discovery around Polka Point Headland, as he teaches you how to throw a spear, shows you the amazing soap tree and edible plants, and demonstrates how to play the digeridoo. Or you might be the lucky one to have their face painted and dressed in traditional regalia! See you on the 30th of November! Photo Lucy Trippett

09.01.2022 R U OK? Today, Thursday 10th September, remember to celebrate R U OK? Day! R U OK? is a national campaign promoting conversations to support others who may not be OK and may be struggling with life. The MBRS and CEAL teams are celebrating R U OK? Day with a lovely morning tea. Remember to ask your family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours or maybe the random stranger that you see every day on the bus if they are ok? A small gesture of kindness will only take one minute of your day, but can make a big difference for someone struggling. For more information, check the R U OK? web page https://www.ruok.org.au/ Photo by Elisa Girola

08.01.2022 Happy Holidays from MBRS Happy Holidays from the Moreton Bay Research Station! We wish you All a lovely time with your family and friends during these holiday season. Photo by Elisa Girola.

07.01.2022 Check out this good-looking guy! Its a wobbegong shark (Orectolobus sp). Wobbegongs are commonly found in rocky areas in and around Moreton Bay. They are masters of camouflage and often sit amongst the rocks waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim by. Video by Cam Cotterell.

07.01.2022 What an exciting weekend! I was called up to inform me that a baby manta ray had washed up dead on the back beach of Straddie. It was brought into the research ...station so I could preform a necropsy to try and determine cause of death (thanks Patrick)! It turns out it was a fully grown Long Horned Pygmy Devil Ray (Mobula eregoodoo). The little female was just over a metre from wing tip to wing tip. Imagine my surprise, when trying to determine what possibly killed her, I extracted a close to full term male pup! Just over 30cm from wing tip to wing tip, he was wrapped up like a sushi roll inside. The necropsy did not show anything particularly wrong with her, although she did have some superficial bite marks from a shark on her underbelly. Perhaps she was chased into the shallows and got trapped on the falling tide? They are such beautiful creatures and so little is known about them. I feel honoured to have had an opportunity to learn more about them. See more

07.01.2022 Check out this Queensland groper, Epinephelus lanceolatus, look at the size of his mouth! This guy is big but nowhere near fully grown. Gropers often have a curios nature and we have seen them approach divers on numerous occasions. Qld groper are a no take species in Queensland which is great because they are such amazing creatures. Video by Cam Cotterell

06.01.2022 Last week, our boating and diving officer had an amazing encounter with some false killer whales when he went freediving on his days off. We stumbled across a pod of 40 or so false killer whales about 30km off the coast. I have been in the water with lots of different animals but this was a pretty special first for me Cam said. The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) is the third largest species in the Delphinidae family. They live in open oceans and deep-water, and are very vocal. If you listen to the video, you can clearly hear the echolocation clicks!!! Video by Cam Cotterell

06.01.2022 MBRS Open Day Saturday 30th November 2019 Open Day is nearly here and we would like to introduce you to the wonderful world of underwater ROV! Scientists are using this Remotely Operated Vehicle to view animal behaviour and habitat distribution in Moreton Bay. So, we are calling all young (or old) budding scientists to come to Open Day and have a go at driving it yourself! We will have expert operators there to give you some tips and then its all up to you. Photo Lucy Trippett

05.01.2022 MBRS Open Day - Saturday 30th November 2019 The final program is ready. Make sure you check it out! You will find the details for all our amazing activities. If you want to join us on a boat cruise, remember that they are free, but you need to register online and get yourself a ticket in advance (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/moreton-bay-research-statio). Photos by Lucy Trippett

05.01.2022 Stars and Stripes Pufferfish returns to the ocean! This charismatic Stars and Stripes Pufferfish (Arothron hispidus) was accidentally caught in Moreton Bay and brought into the station as a 2 cm long juvenile. It has lived for a time in our display tank and has become popular with both visitors and staff members, who nicknamed it Bob. This species eats algae, coral, molluscs and other invertebrates, but beware the creature who tries to eat him, as the skin and internal organs of the puffer contain a potentially lethal toxin (tetrodotoxin). Bob has grown much larger since it first arrived. A few days ago, it was returned to the Bay and it is now swimming freely in the ocean! Photo by Lucy Trippett.

04.01.2022 Keeping safe! Today, the MBRS team completed the annual CPR and Advance Resuscitation course. Everyone had a go at doing compressions, using the defibrillator and setting up the oxygen mask. Our awesome trainer Scotty created a bunch of different scenario for us to practice, including off course the snake bite! (Photo by Scotty Whenpey) # firstaidae

04.01.2022 How do human activities affect whales? Check out the latest publication from the Cetacean Ecology and Acoustic Laboratories (CEAL), available online at https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.624981. Seismic airgun noise from oil and gas explorations can affect humpback whale (yalingbila) migratory behaviour in terms of temporarily slowing down their travel speed. However, whether or not this has population-level effects is unknown. In this paper, Assoc. Prof. Rebecca Dunlop and colleagues calculate the energetic cost of migrating through a seismic survey to lactating females and their calves. These energetic costs were used to assess if there were likely to be a reduction in female fecundity and/or calf survival. Any changes in these parameters were then linked to changes in population growth rate. Photo by CEAL taken under permit.

02.01.2022 Thank you for coming to MBRS Open Day 2019! Last month, we hosted our annual Open Day event. We had a very exciting day with boat cruises, wildlife encounters, ROV demonstrations, art workshops, scientific lectures and cultural activities. Thank you everyone for coming and being part of an amazing day. We hope to see you again next year. Next Open Day will be on Saturday 28th November 2020. Dont forget to add it to your calendar! Photos by Lucy Trippett

01.01.2022 Mental Health Week (10-18th October) Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) is held every year and it aims at raising awareness about the importance of mental health and wellbeing at both the individual and community levels. This year’s theme is ‘Take time for mental health’. This includes taking time to: 1) get healthy, 2) keep learning, 3) show kindness, 4) connect, 5) take notice, 6) embrace nature. Research shows that taking time to do these six simple things can improve our moods, build resilience, and boost wellbeing. Today, I took the time to have morning tea on the beach in front of the Station. What are you taking time for? For more information and resources about mental health check out the QMHW website https://www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au/. Video by Elisa Girola

01.01.2022 How amazing is this! A group of white spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus ocellatus) swimming along. Our Boating and Diving Officer has been going through his old footage to show us some cool marine life while we are all at home being safe. Video by Cam Cotterell Does anyone know what we call a group of eagle rays? ... A group of eagle rays is called a fever of rays, how cool is that!