Sydney Institute of Marine Science

Spatial variability in seawater chemistry across an intertidal mangrove–coral reef boundary

Context Edge effects at habitat boundaries can generate strong physicochemical gradients that structure coastal ecosystems. Although environmental gradients within coexisting mangrove–coral habitats are well documented, spatial variability in seawater chemistry across intertidal...

Mapping spatiotemporal soil temperature using physics-informed neural networks with the heat transfer equation

Soil temperature (ST) plays a critical role in regulating biogeochemical processes in soils, yet its spatiotemporal mapping remains a challenge. Existing ST maps are largely derived from land-surface models and are typically available only at coarse spatial resolutions, limiting...

Will work for sardines: 20 years of animal-borne ocean observing by Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Animal Tagging Facility

The world’s ocean stores ~90% of the excess heat generated by anthropogenic global warming, making sustained ocean observations essential for understanding physical, biological and climate processes. Here, we describe how the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Animal Taggi...

Simulated marine heatwaves promote greater post-harvest Vibrio parahaemolyticus abundances in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) but not Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata)

Context Climate change is increasing the frequency of marine heatwaves (MHW), raising concerns about foodborne illness linked to marine pathogens such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Aims To determine whether simulated MHW conditions promote accumulation of V. parahaemolyticus in oys...

Pit stop off the humpback highway: multi agency response to a sub-adult humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae in Sydney Harbour, Australia

The east coast Australian humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae population continues to recover post-whaling and is now estimated to be at least 50,000 individuals. The combination of population growth and increased human activities within coastal environments means there is a hi...