About

Carlo is a coastal and estuarine ecologist with a broad spectrum of research interests and experiences, which include marine invertebrates, fish, and water quality dynamics. Carlo has spent 10+ years doing research on a wide range of aspects of coastal ecology, most recently he focused on how water quality dynamics influence fauna at different trophic levels and how this shapes their interactions with their environment.  Some of his most recent research investigated how connectivity and water quality influence the nursery ground value for some coastal fish. He aims to develop a better understanding of the processes that regulate ecological functions in coastal and estuarine systems to develop better management approaches. Additionally, most recently he started collaboration within JCU to develop artificial intelligence aimed at improving the way we collect and process data.

Research Disciplines
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.

Journal Articles
Current Funding

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

Ecological Society of Australia - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment

How are stingray communities distributed across tropical intertidal sandflats and which environmental factors influence their habitat use?

Indicative Funding
$6,375 over 3 years
Summary
Stingrays are important meso-predators in coastal habitats around the world that impact biotic communities and structure physical environments. However, broad spatial assessments of ray habitat use are lacking, resulting in poor understanding of their ecological value and how to implement effective management strategies. The project aims to assess how the composition of stingray communities varies across tropical intertidal sandflats and which environmental variables (including prey availability) influence their distribution patterns. This goal is divided into five research objectives whose outcomes will improve habitat use models for intertidal rays and investigate important aspects of ray foraging and movement behaviours.
Investigators
Jaelen Myers, Marcus Sheaves, Carlo Mattone, Michael Bradley and Kevin Crook (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Predator-prey; Habitat use; stingray; Intertidal sandflat; Animal distribution

WV Scott Charitable Trust - Research Grant

Addressing urgent welfare concerns for Blackspotted Croaker (Protonibea diacanthus) populations in Queensland

Indicative Funding
$50,000 over 3 years
Summary
The Blackspotted Croaker (also known as black jewfish) is targeted by commercial, recreational, indigenous and charter fishing groups. Since 2017 there has been a rapid increase in targeted commercial fishing effort for Blackspotteed Croaker in Queensland. Given the high value of Blackspotteed Croaker, their vulnerability as aggregating species and the absence of a stock assessment to inform how many populations need to be managed, updated biological/ecological information (Including stock structure) are needed for assessment and protection of Blackspotted Croaker stock(s) in Queensland. The study aims at identifying stock structure and connectivity (including aggregation time) in order to improve management of th species across Queensland.
Investigators
Marcus Sheaves, Adam Barnett, Carlo Mattone and Michael Bradley (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Population Genetic Structure; Fisheries Management; Epinephelus nigritus (Serranidae); Blackspotted Croaker

Fisheries Research & Development Corporation - Annual Competitive Round

Application of a machine learning approach for effective stock management of abalone

Indicative Funding
$115,649 over 2 years
Summary
Determining the number and size distribution of abalone present at various stages of production is critical information for effective stock management. Currently the Australian abalone aquaculture industry spends in the order of $25,000 per annum, per farm, gathering this information by hand. However, the resulting data is of mediocre quality, is limited in its scope, and collecting the data causes stress to the animals which can compromise growth and survival. Automated counting and measuring of abalone will increase farm efficiency and productivity in the short term and, in the longer term, will provide an advanced platform for further R&D improvements. Artificial intelligence and machine learning has now matured to a point that accurately counting and measuring abalone is possible using this approach. This project would involve the development, training and validation of a machine learning model to identify, segment and measure quantitative abalone traits in production systems, and render the product data to be accessible and applicable for farmers.
Investigators
Jan Strugnell, Marcus Sheaves, Carlo Mattone, Ickjai Lee, Joanne Lee, Jason Holdsworth and Art (Hemmaphan) Suwanwiwat (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Abalone (Haliotidae); Machine Learning

Australian Marine Conservation Society - Contract Research

Spatial evaluation of megafauna distribution and gill net fisheries on the GBR.

Indicative Funding
$6,750
Summary
The aims of the project is to assess how the distribution and important ecological regions for various species of megafauna in the GBR, overlap with current commercial gillnet activities. This will be done creating spatial maps that will also be used to highlight areas of data deficiency.
Investigators
Marcus Sheaves, Carlo Mattone, Caitlin Lennard and Michael Bradley (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Gillnets Fishery; Megafauna distribution; Fisheries management

Hinchinbrook Shire Council - Contract Research

Lower Herbert Drainage Concerns-Mangrove Expansion

Indicative Funding
$29,033 over 1 year
Summary
The Project aims at assessing the effect of removing overhanging mangrove trees that have grown over artificially made channels over the last few decades. The mangrove pose a threat to the water flow, causing the drain to overfill during periods of heavy rainfall and flood the surrounding areas.
Investigators
Marcus Sheaves, Nathan Waltham, Carlo Mattone and Michael Bradley (College of Science & Engineering and TropWATER)
Keywords
Mangrove Forest; Nursery Grounds; Clearance

World Wide Fund for Nature (US) - Contract Research

From Coastal Communities to Cloud Communities ? New Application and Artificial Intelligence to Monitor Fish Stocks Using Photos ? Application Development

Indicative Funding
$53,100 over 1 year
Summary
The Project aims at develop an artificial intelligence capable to autonomously identify fish species and number from images collected at fish markets in remote location, so that effective catch rate can be evaluated and management policies can be developed.
Investigators
Marcus Sheaves, Carlo Mattone, Michael Bradley, Joanne Lee, Jason Holdsworth, Art (Hemmaphan) Suwanwiwat and Ickjai Lee (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence; Phone App; Caught Fish; Catch Rate

WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development - Contract Research

Identification of benthic structure using machine learning

Indicative Funding
$36,200 (administered by Wa Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)
Summary
The Project aims at automating the classification of benthic structure and biota from images using machine learning
Investigators
Marcus Sheaves, Bronson Philippa, Carlo Mattone and Michael Bradley (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Benthic Assessment; Machine Learning

MAKO Tidal Turbines Pty Ltd - Contract Research

Barney Point Turbine Monitoring

Indicative Funding
$27,457
Summary
Monitoring surface video, underwater video, underwater acoustic and sidescan data streams using AI (January-April 2019) (including monthly regular reporting, final reporting and feasibility analysis), to assess whether the tidal turbine impacts fish and other aquatic organisms during its operations.
Investigators
Marcus Sheaves, Carlo Mattone and Dmitry Konovalov (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence; Impact Assessment; Tidal turbine monitoring

The World Wide Fund for Nature, Australia - Consultancy

Queensland Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery Electronic Observer

Indicative Funding
$6,000 over 1 year
Summary
To understand the value of a new technique for collecting critical fisheries information regarding target, bycatch and threatened species interactions in the coral reef fin fish fishery through electronic observation and machine learning.
Investigators
Marcus Sheaves and Carlo Mattone (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence; Fisheries Management; Line Fishers
Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a 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
  • Identifying Nursery Grounds and the Importance of Connectivity among Habitats for Commercially Important Fish Species (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • How are stingray communities distributed across tropical intertidal sandflats and which environmental factors influence their habit use? (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Enhanced Sustainable Livelihood Protection through Effective Marine Invasive Species Monitoring Measures (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

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Similar to me

  1. Prof Marcus Sheaves
    College of Science & Engineering
  2. Dr Janine Sheaves
    College of Science & Engineering
  3. Dr Dmitry Konovalov
    College of Science & Engineering
  4. Dr Art (Hemmaphan) Suwanwiwat
    College of Science & Engineering
  5. Dr Michael Bradley
    College of Science & Engineering