JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Michael Rasheed

About

Michael has been conducting research on topical marine habitats focusing on seagrass ecology for over 20 years. He has a BSc in Zoology & Ecology and an Honours degree from Flinders University and was awarded a PhD from JCU for research investigating recovery and succession in tropical seagrass communities. Michael's passion is finding science based solutions to apply in the management of marine habitats. He has built a team whose work focuses on coastal development and risk and has significantly impacted on the way seagrass and marine habitats are managed and protected. Results of his work not only lead to advances in the field of seagrass ecology, but have changed practices within coastal development, ports and shipping industries and improved the ability of regulators and managers to protect marine habitats.

Interests

Research

Ecosystem valuation of marine habitats
Novel oxygen sensing tools for monitoring the effects of dredging on Australian seagrass communities
Assessments of Dugong feeding activity
Seagrass assessment & monitoring in Queensland Ports– industry partnerships in high risk areas
Developing spatial tools to manage sensitive habitats at high risk from shipping in GBR and Torres Strait Shipping Lanes
Establishing the drivers of tropical seagrass change
Investigations of seagrass resilience and reproduction
Developing ecologically based triggers for the management of tropical seagrass communities
Community partnerships for seagrass research in the Torres Strait
Dynamics of deepwater seagrass communities
Developing sub-lethal tools for assessing seagrass stress
The effects of climate on tropical seagrass communities

Experience

1994 to 2012 - Principal Scientist, Queensland Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns)

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

Hays G, Alcoverro T, Christianen M, Duarte C, Hamann M, Macreadie P, Marsh H, Rasheed M, Thums M, Unsworth R, York P and Esteban N (2018) New tools to identify the location of seagrass meadows: marine grazers as habitat indicators. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5.
Schrameyer V, York P, Chartrand K, Ralph P, Kuhl M, Brodersen K and Rasheed M (2018) Contrasting impacts of light reduction on sediment biogeochemistry in deep- and shallow-water tropical seagrass assemblages (Green Island, Great Barrier Reef). Marine Environmental Research, 136. pp. 38-47
Scott A, York P, Duncan C, Macreadie P, Connolly R, Ellis M, Jarvis J, Jinks K, Marsh H and Rasheed M (2018) The role of herbivory in structuring tropical seagrass ecosystem service delivery. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9.
Wu P, McMahon K, Rasheed M, Kendrick G, York P, Chartrand K, Caley M and Mengersen K (2018) Managing seagrass resilience under cumulative dredging affecting light: predicting risk using dynamic Bayesian networks. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55 (3). pp. 1339-1350
Brodersen K, Hammer K, Schrameyer V, Floytrup A, Rasheed M, Ralph P, Kühl M and Pedersen O (2017) Sediment resuspension and deposition on seagrass leaves impedes internal plant aeration and promotes phytotoxic H2S intrusion. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8. pp. 1-13
Brodie J, Lewis S, Collier C, Wooldridge S, Bainbridge Z, Waterhouse J, Rasheed M, Honchin C, Holmes G and Fabricius K (2017) Setting ecologically relevant targets for river pollutant loads to meet marine water quality requirements for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: a preliminary methodology and analysis. Ocean & Coastal Management, 143. pp. 136-147
Clarke D, York P, Rasheed M and Northfield T (2017) Does biodiversity–ecosystem function literature neglect tropical ecosystems? . Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 32 (5). pp. 320-323
Fraser M, Short J, Kendrick G, McLean D, Keesing J, Byrne M, Caley M, Clarke D, Davis A, Erftemeijer P, Field S, Gustin-Craig S, Huisman J, Keough M, Lavery P, Masini R, McMahon K, Mengersen K, Rasheed M, Statton J, Stoddart J and Wu P (2017) Effects of dredging on critical ecological processes for marine invertebrates, seagrasses and macroalgae, and the potential for management with environmental windows using Western Australia as a case study. Ecological Indicators, 78. pp. 229-242

Book Chapters

Coles R, Rasheed M, Grech A and McKenzie L (in press) Seagrass meadows of northeastern Australia. In: The Wetland Book II: Distribution description and conservation. Springer, pp. 1-13

Conference Papers

Carter A, Davies J, Jarvis J, McCormack C and Rasheed M (2017) Development of a condition report card for variable and diverse seagrass meadows in ports. Proceedings of the Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference. In: Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference: working with nature, 21-23 June 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia
Carter A, Coles R, McKenna S and Rasheed M (2017) Spatial management tools for coastal seagrasses in Queensland, Australia. Proceedings of the Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference. 21-23 June 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia
Rasheed M, McKenna S, Coles R and Carter A (2017) Protection of Great Barrier Reef seagrasses through innovative port industry and science research partnerships. Proceedings of the Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference. In: Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference: working with nature, 21-23 June 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 188+ research outputs authored by Dr Michael Rasheed from 1992 onwards.

Current Funding

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

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation - Contract Research

NQBP & JCU Research & Monitoring Partnership - Seagrass and Coral Studies

Indicative Funding: $1,319,033 over 4 years
Summary: This project conducts long term assessments of seagrass and coral in the Ports of Mackay, Hay Point, Weipa and Abbot Point. The work forms part of a research and monitoring partnership between JCU and NQBP to monitor and assess marine environmental health within ports as well as support related research and education opportunities.
Investigators: Michael Rasheed, Skye McKenna, Tony Ayling and Alexandra Carter (TropWATER and Sea Research)
Keywords: Seagrass; Monitoring; Risk Assessment; Coral; Research

Ports North - Contract Research

Ports North Seagrass Monitoring Program

Indicative Funding: $537,953 over 4 years
Summary: The aim of this research is to monitor seagrass habitats in areas around Mourilyan, Karumba, Cairns and Thursday Island. The objectives include comparing results of previous monitoring and base line surveys and assessing any changes in seagrass distribution and abundance in relation to natural events or human induced activities, and establishing the capacity for recovery of key seagrass meadow types. Relationships between seagrass and environmental parameters, and the drivers of seagrass change will also be investigated.
Investigators: Michael Rasheed and Skye McKenna (TropWATER)
Keywords: Seagrass; Monitoring & Management; Dugong; Fish Habitats; Great Barrier Reef; Torres Strait

Port of Townsville Ltd - Contract Research

Port of Townsville Seagrass Program

Indicative Funding: $280,991 over 4 years
Summary: This project continues the established annual seagrass monitoring program to monitor the health of seagrass meadows, assess intra-annual changes, and provide an overall assessment of the marine environmental health of Cleveland Bay and the Port of Townsville.
Investigators: Michael Rasheed and Skye McKenna (TropWATER)
Keywords: Seagrass; Environmental Monitoring; Marine Monitoring; Dugong; Great Barrier Reef

Australian Research Council - Linkage - Projects

Ecological valuation tools to protect seagrass during coastal development

Indicative Funding: $490,000 over 4 years, in partnership with the Gladstone Ports Corporation Ltd ($450,000 over 3 yrs)
Summary: Seagrasses provide ecosystem services (fisheries, nutrient cycling, primary productivity) worth trillions of dollars, but this capacity is threatened by coastal development. In Australia, port developments are considered a major threat to seagrass ecosystems, but resource managers lack accurate information about their potential impacts and mitigation measures. Focussing on differences between shallow and deep seagrasses within the Great Barrier Reef, this project seeks to develop a world-first spatial valuation tool that will allow resource managers and policy makers to minimise impact of port development on seagrass ecosystems, thereby ensuring that Australia?s seagrasses continue to provide ecosystem services essential to our well-being.
Investigators: Michael Rasheed, Rod Connolly, Mark Hamann, Peter Macreadie, Helene Marsh and Marcus Sheaves in collaboration with Megan Ellis (TropWATER, Griffith University, College of Science & Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney and Gladstone Ports Corporation)
Keywords: Seagrass; Coastal Development; tropic fate; Ecosystem Services; ports

Reef Catchments Limited - Contract Research

Seagrass Assessment Southern Expansion of Mackay-Whitsunday Monitoring Program

Indicative Funding: $49,706 over 2 years
Summary: TropWATER will provide seagrass assessment to assist regional marine ambient monitoring program administered by Mackay Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership. These data will assist Mackay Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership with the preparation of a regional report card.
Investigators: Michael Rasheed in collaboration with Robert Coles and Alexandra Carter (TropWATER)
Keywords: Seagrass; Marine Ecosystems; Corals

QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Contract Research

Green Mussel Monitoring Proposal 2017 - Weipa Plankton Sampling and Sample Processing

Indicative Funding: $64,445 over 2 years
Summary: This project will sample plankton for the presence of AGM larval DNA at two locations; Weipa Harbour, and the Amrun project site to the south of Weipa. It will meet the initial requirements of the Weipa Asian Green Mussel Surveillance Strategy. The collection will follow protocols previously used in Cairns Harbour and will rely on expertise developed by TropWATER scientists to collect, process and transport DNA material for analysis and to report the results.
Investigators: Robert Coles, Michael Rasheed and Alysha Sozou in collaboration with Carissa Reason, Lloyd Shepherd and T Sankey (TropWATER)
Keywords: Asia Green Mussel; Plankton; Survey; Biosecurity; DNA

Equity Trustees - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment

The role of herbivores in structuring ecosystem service delivery in seagrass meadows

Indicative Funding: $4,725
Summary: Seagrasses provide a range of ecosystem services which benefit people worldwide. In the Great Barrier Reef there is a huge diversity of seagrass species and communities covering over 35, 000 km2. These seagrass beds are an important food source for a many different herbivores. My research investigates the impact herbivores are having on the seagrass communities in the GBR and the ecosystem services they provide. Currently we know little about how different ecosystem services interact with each other and with the food web, so the outcomes of my research will be important for managers seeking to maintain ecosystem function and understand potential trade offs in delivery of ecosystem services.
Investigators: Abigail Scott, Michael Rasheed, Paul York, Marcus Sheaves and Peter Macreadie (College of Science & Engineering, TropWATER and Deakin University)
Keywords: Seagrass; Herbivory; Megaherbivores; Fish; Mesograzers; Ecosystem services

QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Contract Research

The Value of Tidal Wetland Habitats in Sustaining Fisheries Production in Central Queensland

Indicative Funding: $50,000 over 2 years (administered by Griffith University)
Summary: This project uses stable isotopes as a chemical tracer to measure incorporation of organic matter from different plants into fish prey and ultimately into fish. It will determine the relative importance of seagrass, mangrove, saltmarsh and micro algae on the soft sediments to fish and particularly those of recreational and commercial importance in central Queensland.
Investigators: Michael Rasheed and Paul York (TropWATER)
Keywords: Fisheries; Food Webs; Fish; Stable Isotopes; Marine Habitats

QLD Department of Science, Information, Technology and Innovation - Advance Queensland Women's Academic Fund

McKenna Maternity Funding for Research Assistant

Indicative Funding: $23,000 over 2 years
Summary: Maternity funding to employ a research assistant to assist Senior Researcher whilst on maternity leave to maintain research progress.
Investigators: Skye McKenna and Michael Rasheed (TropWATER)
Keywords: Seagrass Research

Torres Strait Regional Authority - Contract Research

Torres Strait Seagrass Research

Indicative Funding: $189,632 over 3 years
Summary: This seagrass research program continues collaborations with TSRA LSLMU Rangers in the Dugong Sanctuary, and will conduct seagrass baseline surveys at Dungeness Reef. The baseline assessment will form the foundation for ongoing monitoring, and provide essential information to the TSRA, Australian and Queensland Governments for dugong and turtle management plans, complimenting dugong and turtle research studies in the region and building skills and capacity of Traditional Owners and Rangers.
Investigators: Alexandra Carter and Michael Rasheed (TropWATER)
Keywords: Seagrass; Turtle; Mapping; Dugong; Torres Strait

Fitzroy Basin Association - Contract Research

Gladstone Healthy Harbours Seagrass Condition Report Card

Indicative Funding: $84,140 over 3 years
Summary: Gladstone Healthy Harbours Partnership (GHHP) produces an annual report card on the condition of Gladstone Harbour. JCU TropWATER have been contracted to produce the seagrass component of the report card.
Investigators: Alexandra Carter, Michael Rasheed and Catherine Bryant (TropWATER)
Keywords: Seagrass; Gladstone Harbour; Port Curtis; Report Card

Gladstone Ports Corporation Ltd - Research Grant

Ecological valuation tools to protect seagrasses from coastal development

Indicative Funding: $450,000 over 3 years
Summary: Industry cash contribution fro ARC Linkage Grant application LP160100492. Seagrasses provide ecosystem services (fisheries, nutrient cycling, primary productivity) worth trillions of dollars, but this capacity is threatened by coastal development. In Australia, port developments are considered a major threat to seagrass ecosystems, but resource managers lack accurate information about their potential impacts and mitigation lmeasures. Focussing on differences between shallow and deep seagrasses within the Great Barrier Reef, this project seeks to develop a world-first spatial valuation tool that will allow resource managers and policy makers to minimise impact of port development on seagrass ecosystems, thereby ensuring that Australia's seagrasses continue to provide ecosystem services essential to our well-being.
Investigators: Michael Rasheed and Paul York (TropWATER)
Keywords: Seagrass; Dugong; Trophic; turtle; Food Web; stable isotope

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

Herbivores as ecosystem engineers in tropical seagrass meadows: Grazing impacts on meadow structure and ecosystem service delivery. (PhD , Primary Advisor)

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.