JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Alana Grech

About

I am the Assistant Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Program Leader of the Centre's Research Program 2: Ecosystem Dynamics: Past, Present and Future. Prior to my current position, I worked as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University (JCU), Townsville. I am an Associate Editor of Diversity and Distributions and Associate Dean Research Education at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies' JCU node. I am also a member of the JCU SAGE Athena Swan Gender Equity Action and Research (GEAR) team and a JCU Equity Contact Officer.

My research uses conservation biogeography theory and spatial technologies, such as geographic information systems (GIS), geostatistics, network analysis, biophysical models and reserve design software, to inform the conservation of Australia's coastal environment. Specifically, my research develops new methodologies for cumulative impact assessment (CIA), and explores the implications of CIA in environmental decision-making, policy and practice. Most of my research is conducted in remote coastal and marine areas of northern Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, and Gulf of Carpentaria.

The transfer of research to management action and policy is my highest priority, and I actively generate partnerships to deliver my research outputs directly to government and non-government agencies and communities. I communicate my knowledge via research papers, reports and presentations, workshops with stakeholders, and briefings to agencies, such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, NSW Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Fisheries, Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, and the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

Grech Curriculum Vitae

Interests

Research

Spatial predictions of coastal and marine features
Cumulative impact and risk assessments
Biophysical modelling of marine plant dispersal and connectivity
Spatial planning and coastal management

Experience

2017 to 2022 - Assistant Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Townsville)
2013 to 2016 - Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University (Sydney)
2010 to 2013 - Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Townsville)

Research Disciplines

Honours

Awards

2019 - Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadership, James Cook University
2018 - Queensland Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year, Australian Institute of Policy and Science

Fellowships

2015 - Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Asem Duo Fellowship
2012 - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Churchill Fellowship

Memberships

2019 - Australian Marine Sciences Association
2016 - Australian Coral Reef Society
2016 - International Coral Reef Society
2010 - World Seagrass Association
2008 - Society of Conservation Biology

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

Graham V, Geldmann J, Adams V, Grech A, Deinet S and Chang H (2021) Management resourcing and government transparency are key drivers of biodiversity outcomes in Southeast Asian protected areas. Biological Conservation, 253, Article: 108875, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108875.
Cockerell B, Pressey R, Grech A, Álvarez-Romero J, Ward T and Devillers R (2020) Representation does not necessarily reduce threats to biodiversity: Australia's Commonwealth marine protected area system, 2012–2018. Biological Conservation, 252, Article: 108813, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108813.
Devillers R, Pressey R, Ward T, Grech A, Kittinger J, Edgar G and Watson R (2020) Residual marine protected areas five years on: are we still favouring ease of establishment over need for protection? Aquatic Conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems, 30 (9), pp. 1758-1764, DOI:10.1002/aqc.3374.
Tulloch V, Grech A, Jonsen I, Pirotta V and Harcourt R (2020) Cost-effective mitigation strategies to reduce bycatch threats to cetaceans identified using return-on-investment analysis. Conservation Biology, 34 (1), pp. 138-179, DOI:10.1111/cobi.13418.
Tulloch V, Pirotta V, Grech A, Crocetti S, Double M, How J, Kemper C, Meager J, Palmer C, Peddemors V, Waples K, Watson M and Harcourt R (2020) Long-term trends and a risk analysis of cetacean entanglements and bycatch in fisheries gear in Australian waters. Biodiversity and Conservation, 29, pp. 251-282, DOI:10.1007/s10531-019-01881-x.
Bellwood D, Pratchett M, Morrison T, Gurney G, Hughes T, Álvarez-Romero J, Day J, Grantham R, Grech A, Hoey A, Jones G, Pandolfi J, Tebbett S, Techera E, Weeks R and Cumming G (2019) Coral reef conservation in the Anthropocene: confronting spatial mismatches and prioritizing functions. Biological Conservation, 236, pp. 604-615, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.05.056.
Critchell K, Hamann M, Wildermann N and Grech A (2019) Predicting the exposure of coastal species to plastic pollution in a complex island archipelago. Environmental Pollution, 252, Part B, pp. 982-991, DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.031.
Graham V, Baumgartner J, Beaumont L, Esperon-Rodriguez M and Grech A (2019) Prioritizing the protection of climate refugia: designing a climate-ready protected area network. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 62 (14), pp. 2588-2606, DOI:10.1080/09640568.2019.1573722.
Lillywhite H, Sheehy C, Sandfoss M, Crowe-Riddell J and Grech A (2019) Drinking by sea snakes from oceanic freshwater lenses at first rainfall ending seasonal drought. PLoS ONE, 14 (2), Article: e0212099, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0212099.
Pirotta V, Reynolds W, Ross G, Jonsen I, Grech A, Slip D and Harcourt R (2019) A citizen science approach to long-term monitoring of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Sydney, Australia. Marine Mammal Science, 36 (2), pp. 472-485, DOI:10.1111/mms.12651.
Pirrota V, Grech A, Jonsen I, Laurance W and Harcourt R (2019) Consequences of global shipping traffic for marine giants. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 17 (1), pp. 39-47, DOI:10.1002/fee.1987.

Book Chapters

Brodie J, Grech A, Pressey B, Day J, Dale A, Morrison T and Wenger A (2019) The future of the Great Barrier Reef: The water quality imperative. In: Coasts and estuaries: The future. Elsevier, Kidlington, Oxon, UK, pp. 477-499

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 70+ research outputs authored by Dr Alana Grech from 2006 onwards.

Current Funding

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

AIMS@JCU - Scholarship

3D mapping and monitoring coral reefs population and community dynamics: EcoRRAP PhD scholarship

Indicative Funding: $134,388 over 4 years
Summary: The aim of this project is to fill key knowledge gaps in natural rates of reef recovery and adaptation to climate change through upscaling spatial analysis and monitoring. The overreaching goal is to improve the spatial extent in monitoring techniques and workflows used to investigate drivers of coral reef recovery and adaptation to climate change, to better guide managers in the planning and design of coral reef protection and conservation programs, including restoration interventions. The project will involve fieldwork and require high level of programming and statistical skills.
Investigators: Alana Grech and Tiny Remmers Barry (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Coral Reef; 3D Mapping; Monitoring

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Contract Research

An assessment of the distribution and abundance of dugong and in-water large marine turtles along the Queensland coast from Cape York to Hinchinbrook Island

Indicative Funding: $422,516 over 4 years
Summary: This project will meet the requirements outlined in the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan to provide information to inform the management of dugongs in the Northern Great Barrier Reef region (NGBR) by continuing the time series of standardised aerial surveys conducted since the late 1980s. The project will provide an assessment of the distribution and abundance of dugongs and in-water large marine turtles in the NGBR and contribute to the 30 year time series for temporal comparisons using the latest advances in distribution and abundance analyses.
Investigators: Helene Marsh, Susan Sobtzick and Alana Grech (Division of Tropical Environments & Societies, TropWATER and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Dugong; Aerial Survey; Abundance; Marine Turtles; Distribution; Long-term Monitoring

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

3D mapping and Monitoring Coral Reefs Population and Community Dynamics (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
The Impact of Fisheries Interactions on the Foraging Behaviour of Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins (Sousa plumbea) along the Sindhudurg Coast of Maharashtra, India (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Understanding Recovery Processes of Tropical Seagrasses of the Great Barrier Reef (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Integrating Vegetative Coastal Ecosystems in coastal planning of the Great Barrier Reef (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

Using hydrodynamic models to understand the impacts and risks of plastic pollution (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Understanding the risk to flatback turtles (Natator depressus) from expanding industrial development in Western Australia (2017, PhD , Associate Advisor)
Opportunities for REDD+ to minimise forest carbon emissions and mitigate climate change in Southeast Asia (2017, Masters , Associate Advisor)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

Grech, A. (2017) Network metrics and spatial distribution of seagrass in the central Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University
Grech, A. (2017) Connectivity of seagrass meadows in the central Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University
Tol, S. (2016) Biotic tropical seagrass seed dispersal by dugong and green sea turtles in the Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University
Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugongs, turtles, cetaceans) Moreton Bay, December 2000. James Cook University
Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugong) Torres Strait, 2001. James Cook University
Marsh, H. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugong, cetacean, turtle) Torres Strait, November 2005. James Cook University
Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey Torres Strait, 1987. James Cook University
Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugong) Torres Strait, November 1996. James Cook University
Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerial survey (dugong, turtle) Torres Strait, December 1994. James Cook University
Grech, A. (2012) Dugong aerials surveys (dugongs, cetaceans, turtles) Torres Strait, November to December 1991. James Cook University

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.