JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Adam Canning

About

My interests lie in investigating nature-based solutions to have a productive agricultural landscape within ecological healthy catchments that support high water security.

I have experience using networks to model the flow of nutrients through ecosystems, species distribution modelling, in sports fish and game bird management, and working at the interface between freshwater science and policy/planning.

Most recently, I have been working on how wetlands can be incorporated into our landscapes to increase food production, improve water quality or buffer against climate change.

Interests

Research

Freshwater ecosystem health
Agroecology and regenerative agricultural practices
Modelling nutrient flows through human and natural ecosystems
Agricultural spatial planning
The impact of water quality on freshwater ecosystems
Using wetlands to improve catchment water quality
Using wetlands (including mangroves) to sequester 'blue carbon'
The sustainability of food production throughout its lifecycle
Nature based solutions

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Davis M, Canning A, Midwinter A and Death R (2022) Nitrate enrichment does not affect enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in aquatic microcosms but may affect other strains present in aquatic habitats. PeerJ, 10.
Duke N, Mackenzie J, Canning A, Hutley L, Bourke A, Kovacs J, Cormier R, Staben G, Lymburner L and Ai E (2022) ENSO-driven extreme oscillations in mean sea level destabilise critical shoreline mangroves—An emerging threat. PLOS Climate, 1 (8).
Joy M, Rankin D, Wöhler L, Boyce P, Canning A, Foote K and McNie P (in press) The grey water footprint of milk due to nitrate leaching from dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management,
Canning A, Jarvis D, Costanza R, Hasan S, Smart J, Finisdore J, Lovelock C, Greenhalgh S, Marr H, Beck M, Gillies C and Waltham N (2021) Financial incentives for large-scale wetland restoration: beyond markets to common asset trusts. One Earth, 4 (7). pp. 937-950
Canning A, Joy M and Death R (2021) Nutrient criteria to achieve New Zealand’s riverine macroinvertebrate targets. PeerJ, 9.
Canning A and Waltham N (2021) Ecological impact assessment of climate change and habitat loss on wetland vertebrate assemblages of the Great Barrier Reef catchment and the influence of survey bias. Ecology and Evolution, 11 (10). pp. 5244-5254
Canning A and Death R (2021) The influence of nutrient enrichment on riverine food web function and stability. Ecology and Evolution, 11 (4). pp. 942-954
Joy M and Canning A (2021) Shifting baselines and political expediency in New Zealand's freshwater management. Marine and Freshwater Research, 72. pp. 456-461
Phiri B, Pita A, Hayman D, Biggs P, Davis M, Fayaz A, Canning A, French N and Death R (2020) Does land use affect pathogen presence in New Zealand drinking water supplies? Water Research, 185.
Canning A and Death R (2019) Food web structure but not robustness differ between rivers, lakes and estuaries. Oecologia Australis, 23 (1). pp. 112-126
Canning A, Death R and Gardner E (2019) Forest canopy affects stream macroinvertebrate assemblage structure but not trophic stability. Freshwater Science, 38 (1). pp. 40-52
Canning A and Death R (2018) Relative ascendency predicts food web robustness. Ecological Research, 33 (5). pp. 873-878

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 18+ research outputs authored by Dr Adam Canning from 2017 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Wellington Fish and Game Council - Contract Research

Advancing the science supporting New Zealand?s freshwater sports fisheries and game bird hunting.

Indicative Funding: $64,480 over 1 year
Summary: This project provides a package of scientific works to support the management of freshwater sports fisheries and game bird hunting in New Zealand. Scientific works will aim to inform several areas including, the interactions between sports fish and native fish, the climatic influences on sports fish populations, the effectiveness of ecological monitoring, and the drivers of mallard/?greylard? populations. The works will allow managers to better support and regulate freshwater fisheries and game birds to ensure populations remain healthy and available for fishers and hunters in the long term while reducing the impacts on native fauna.
Investigators: Adam Canning (TropWATER)
Keywords: Freshwater fisheries; Game bird; Salmo trutta (Salmonidae); Oncorhynchus mykiss (Salmonidae); Anas gracilis (Anatidae); Anas platyrhynchos (Anatidae)

Greening Australia Limited - Contract Research

Determining nitrogen removal from floodplain restoration with Melaleuca

Indicative Funding: $85,000 over 1 year
Summary: Tree swamps, such as those with Melaleuca, have the potential to remove nitrogen from agricultural runoff. This project aims to: (i) assess the effectiveness of a Melaleuca planting integrated within a Wet Tropics cane-dominated catchment to remove nitrogen from floodwaters before it flows to the Great Barrier Reef; and (ii) scope locations for future tree swamp integration across the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
Investigators: Adam Canning in collaboration with Nathan Waltham (TropWATER)
Keywords: Tree swamp; Nitrogen; Sustainable Agriculture; Restoration; Water Quality; Carbon

Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Contract Research

Coastal wetland restoration options investigation.

Indicative Funding: $118,388 over 1 year
Summary: Coastal restoration aims to improve and protect sensitive and important wetland areas. While restoration projects are underway most are small scale, and to achieve targets that will help government deliver on the Reef 2050 plan objectives we need to initiate large scale project sites. This project site is set to become the largest restoration site in north Queensland, and our team will be responsible for the collection of background science to support this project site. The data generated will be used to support the development of an options report outlining the full potential of restoration outcomes.
Investigators: Nathan Waltham and Adam Canning (TropWATER)
Keywords: Coastal Wetlands; Water quality; Blue Carbon; Fisheries; Restoration

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.