Some of our current research projects

Click the projects below for more information

Slocum Glider Deployments

FAMER researchers have deployed 3 Slocum Gliders into the EAC and its associated eddies and filaments. The aim of these deployments is to measure oceanographic variables (light, temperature, salinity, fluorescence) within the EAC and an eddy. Read more about our Salp research.

Salp ecology

Tunicates (salps and a closely related class larvaceans) are the second most abundant class of zooplankton (the first being copepods). Dense salp swarms have often been observed off Sydney (Heron and Benham, 1984) and shown to drastically reduced phytoplankton abundance (Humprey, 1963). On recent research cruises off southeast Australia in September 2006 and October 2008 salps were the dominant plankton collected in all nets. Read more about our Salp research.

Cold Core Eddies

We have recently sampled cold core eddies while aboard the RV Southern Surveyor in October 2006 and October 2008. Click here to read more about what cold core eddies are and what the FAMER facility will be researching.
Photo courtesy of David Griffin at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research.

Mulloway Restocking

The FAMER Facility has been heavily involved in the Mulloway restocking inconjunction with the Dpeartment of Primary Industries - Fisheries and the Recreational Fishing Trust. Click here to read more about our research into mulloway.

Otolith Manuals

Professor Iain Suthers has worked extensively in understanding the condition, or health, of larval fish in the ocean. Using larval condition, one can objectively determine the significance of oceanic fronts and upwelling, and the role of nutrients. The survival of young fish is immensely important in determining the community composition of adult fish, and the annual fluctuations in year class strength. Otoliths help us to determine age, growth rates and larval condition of fish. Please click here to see some of the otolith work undertaken by Professor Suthers and his colleagues.