Good news, it seems, is hard to come by.  However, here’s a welcome snippet: with travel restrictions eased, bookings at Lizard Island Research Station are now picking up strongly, having averaged just 39% over 2021.  Marine scientists, including those based internationally, have increasing confidence to schedule their field work at Lizard.  For all of you who support our Foundation, and who care about preserving our precious reef environment, this is great news.

Last year we paused the award of new Fellowships.  We’re pleased to report this important program has been reinstated with 4 new Doctoral Fellowships and 3 new Postdoctoral Fellowships awarded for 2022.  As international borders were closed when applicants were called, fellowships were limited to Australian based scientists.  Most of the projects supported in this year’s round address the rapid changes to reefs that we are witnessing now.  Funding includes two fellowships involving archaeological work at Lizard, including a project to research the long-term Indigenous uses of the reef around the Lizard Island Group. 


A Barrier Reef Anemonefish in its host anemone. Photo: Valerio Tettamanti.

With coral reefs facing increasing threats, the Foundation has initiated (what we hope will be) an ongoing annual Lizard Island Critical Research Grant, reflecting the increased need for important and well-targeted research in areas where funding is not readily available.  The 2022 grant has been awarded to Prof. Andrew Baird of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University and colleagues from the Museum of Tropical Queensland and University of Hawai’i at Manoa.  The project, Taxonomy of the reef-building corals of Lizard Island, is timely and of fundamental importance to coral reef ecology. Coral taxonomy is currently based largely on morphology (form, shape) but it is becoming clear that there is much more genetic diversity – and species – among corals than is revealed by their appearance. This matters because different species interact with the environment in different ways. Knowing the number and identity of species is central to understanding ecologies and to managing and conserving natural resources.  Please read our post for more detail.

After several stop-starts, the long awaited 2020 educational study tour for select NSW Year 11 students (now first year Uni/college) is underway.  Fifteen of the original 18 participants are able to join and we hope this initiative will be an ongoing event, providing an opportunity to educate and inspire our future marine scientists.

And what news about bleaching around Lizard this summer?  Many of you may have read recent reports of mass bleaching viewed by aerial surveys conducted on more than 750 reefs by the government’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.  This is the fourth bleaching event since 2016 despite La Nina’s cooler conditions this summer.   Station co-directors Anne Hoggett and Lyle Vail report that low-level bleaching started at Lizard Island in February but it is not as severe as reported from other locations on the GBR.  Very hot, still conditions in March exacerbated it, however April brought cooler weather and they expect that most corals will recover.


Kelly Hannan (L) with her team heading out for field work. Kelly was awarded a Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship in 2019 for her study into the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on the physiology of fishes and was awarded her PhD in 2021.
 

It is with much sadness we report the death of three significant Foundation supporters.  Ken Coles, who died in January, was a LIRRF Trustee for 24 years (1991-2015) and Chair for 18 of those years (1994-2012).  The contributions Ken made to the Foundation and the Station were immense and current Trustee Charlie Shuetrim penned a lovely tribute to Ken outlining some of these achievements, which can be read here.  Bails Myer, who died last month, showed great interest in the work of the Station.  His family’s Yulgilbar Foundation funded 10 Fellowships as well as two boats, named Sarah and Sam, which continue to transport researchers to their study sites on the reef.  Finally, Neil Balnaves, a long term supporter of the Australian Museum as well as the LIRRF died in sad circumstances recently.  Each of these men contributed generously to many worthy causes and we extend our condolences to their families.

Helen Wellings has stood down as Trustee and we thank Helen for 13 years of dedicated support, including the sharing of her extensive media expertise.

Finally, we’d like to share some recent feedback from David Bellwood, ARC Laureate Fellow & Distinguished Professor of Marine Biology, JCU, who has mentored many up and coming marine scientists, including supervising a number of Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship recipients.   David writes:

“I would like to thank the LIRRF for their generous contribution to reef research. Without such funds independent reef research would be in peril. The LIRRF and LIRS stand as beacons of hope. The value of these LIRRF contributions goes far beyond the immediate benefits. They lay the foundations for thoughtful, quality, future science”.

We thank all of our supporters for your ongoing interest and generous support.  Without your funding this critical research could not continue.  We hope you enjoy the posts below.
Best wishes
 
Kate Hayward
LIRRF Chair