About

I have a deep interest in coastal landscape ecology and processes, in particular, urban ecology.  To achieve this requires cooperation and integration from a multidisciplinary team of scientists, managers and policy makers. 

My working career has focused on understanding fisheries sustainability, nutrient processes, landscape restoration, stormwater quality and quantity, geomorphic processes, erosion and sediment control, and contamination.

I believe that every opportunity to restore river systems should be taken, particularly those small actions which are often completed by community members: it is the accumulative impact of these which leads to the greatest achievements and success in protection and restoration. In doing this, I believe it is important to engage local partners (e.g. land holders, industry, indigenous groups, government agencies) to capture their values, build capacity/trust, and encourage community ownership of the project and to share in the success.

Teaching
  • MB3270: Coastal, Estuarine and Mangrove Ecosystems (Level 3; TSV)
  • MB5270: Coastal, Estuarine and Mangrove Ecosystems (Level 5; TSV)
Interests
Research
  • Aquatic ecology
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
Conference Papers
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 34+ research outputs authored by Dr Nathan Waltham from 2012 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Department of the Environment and Energy - National Environmental Science Program (NESP) - Tropical Water Quality Hub (TWQ Hub)

Evaluating the costs and benefits of agricultural land conversion to wetlands

Indicative Funding
$283,097 over 3 years
Summary
Government and private investors are increasingly interested in nitrogen reduction projects, particularly via conversion of land to wetlands. Investing in such projects requires understanding the environmental benefits to be accrued and cost-effectiveness. The best way to provide these data is to evaluate already constructed land-wetland conversion sites that resemble what future projects might look like. This project will collect data from previously completed land-wetland conversion sites, on construction and ongoing maintenance costs, and the water quality and biodiversity benefits. This project will generate explicit data for government and private investors to make informed decisions on future investments of this kind.
Investigators
Nathan Waltham in collaboration with Barry Butler, James Wallace, Christina Buelow, Jim Smart, Syezlin Hasan and Stephen Balcombe (TropWATER and Griffith University)
Keywords
Water Quality; Ecosystem Services; Wetlands; carbon marets; cane land; synthesis repair

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation - Contract Research

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

Indicative Funding
$1,929,594 over 4 years
Summary
This project conducts long term assessments of seagrass and coral in the Ports of Mackay, Hay Point, Weipa and Abbott 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
Nathan Waltham in collaboration with James Whinney, Peter Ridd, Barry Butler, Tony Squires and Glenn Morgan (TropWATER and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Marine Water Quality; Port Development; Research; Seagrass; Coral

Department of Environment and Heritage Protection - Tender

Denitrification bioreactor trial in the Russell catchment of the Wet Tropics

Indicative Funding
$235,087 over 4 years (administered by Jaragun Pty Ltd)
Summary
This project will establish the effectiveness of denitrification bioreactors as an on-farm technology for removing dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in waters draining the Babinda Swamp Drainage Area. The region has been identified as a hotspot for DIN in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. This will be the first trial of denitrification bioreactors in the Wet Tropics. Denitrifying bioreactors route water through a high-carbon substrate under anaerobic conditions to encourage denitrification (the conversion of DIN to atmospheric N2). Two bioreactor configurations will be tested at two sites, and the potential for broader adoption will be assessed.
Investigators
Paul Nelson, Alex Cheesman, HanShe Lim, Bithin Datta, Colin MacGregor, Ian Layden, Nathan Waltham, Bart Dryden and Mark Bayley (College of Science & Engineering, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, TropWATER, Terrain Natural Resource Management (Wet Tropics) and Australian Wetland Consulting)
Keywords
sugarcane; Water quality; nitrate; runoff; Wet Tropics; Great Barrier Reef

Department of the Environment and Energy - National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) - Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub

Defining metrics of success for feral animal management in northern Australia

Indicative Funding
$170,400 over 4 years (administered by CSIRO)
Summary
Feral animals cause significant damage to aquatic ecosystems across northern Australia, affecting biodiversity, ecosystem function and Indigenous cultural values. Funding for feral animal control often focuses on a particular species, ignoring the iterative and cumulative impact of the feral animals. This project will determine the impact of feral animals (pigs, horses, cattle) across aquatic ecosystems in the context of regional and local feral animal control, local aspirations and government priorities. The project will work closely with the Aak Puul Gnangtam and Kalan Aboriginal Development Groups as they continue implementing feral animal abatement strategies across the Archer River catchment.
Investigators
Justin Perry, Pethie Lyons, Catherine Robinson, Eric Vanderduys, Dan Metcalfe, Nathan Waltham, Damien Burrows, J Marshal and Jason Schaffer (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, TropWATER, QLD Department of Science and Information Technology and Innovation)
Keywords
Feral Animals; Wetlands; Water Quality; system repair; Freshwater Turtles

Torres Strait Regional Authority - Contract Research

Water Quality, eDNA and NRM Management Directions

Indicative Funding
$55,450 over 2 years
Summary
Water quality and the threat of invasive species continue to exist in the Torres Straits. This project will continue to provide research services to assist Torres Straits Regional Authority to track restoration and protection of freshwater and marine wetland habitats in the Torres Strait islands. A component of this project includes facilitating training and educational material for Land and Sea Ranger program.
Investigators
Nathan Waltham in collaboration with Christina Buelow and Cecilia Villacorta Rath (TropWATER)
Keywords
Torres Strait; Aquatic Habitat; Invasive Species; Environmental Monitoring; cane toads; eDNA

Department of the Environment and Energy - National Environmental Science Program (NESP) - Tropical Water Quality Hub (TWQ Hub)

Science evaluation of coastal wetland systems repair projects across GBR catchments

Indicative Funding
$371,932 over 3 years
Summary
There is a lack of scientific data to support and give surety that on-ground wetland repair investment achieve water quality and biodiversity returns in the GBR catchments. Most existing and future wetland improvement projects have the objective of reducing invasive aquatic weeks, improving water quality and increasing usable habitat and marine connectivity for aquatic species, however, scientific data evaluating the degree to which this actually happens is not available. This is particularly true for long-term impacts beyond the first few years of remedial management. Scientific data and long term evaluation methods are therefore particularly necessary to track the progress against broader program objectives, in particular those contained in a number of policies and planning documents.
Investigators
Nathan Waltham in collaboration with Ross Andrewartha, Laura Dunstan, David Sartori, Mike Ronan, Jacob Cassady, Bart Dryden, Fernanda Adame, Barry Butler, Buddy Cassady, James Wallace, Fazlul Karim, Brett Abbott, Michele Burford and Marcus Sheaves (TropWATER, Greening Australia, NQ Dry Tropics, Lower Burdekin Water, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Mungalla Aboriginal Business Corporation, Terrain Natural Resource Management (Wet Tropics), Griffith University, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Wetlands; Biodiversity; Water Quality; Ecosystem Services; Ecology; GBR catchments

QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Tenders

Identification and Restoration of Intertidal Fish Nursery Habitat in the Baffle Catchment

Indicative Funding
$266,456 over 2 years
Summary
This project aims to identify high intertidal fish nursery habitat pools in the Baffle Drainage Basin (BDB), assess their value to fish, evaluate the current state of their functionality, prioritise pools for restoration and identify viable restoration solutions. By involving local stakeholders, local government, regional NRM and State Government scientists and managers, a network of users will gain an understanding of how these habitats function and can be restored, based upon this baseline research.
Investigators
Marcus Sheaves, Nathan Waltham, Martha Brians, Maria Zann and Janine Sheaves (College of Science & Engineering and TropWATER)
Keywords
Estuary; Intertidal; Salt Marsh; Wetlands; Mangroves

Wet Tropics Management Authority - Student Research Grant Scheme

Dissolved oxygen as a constraint for fish utilising mangrove forests.

Indicative Funding
$3,750
Summary
This project focuses on understanding how dissolved oxygen (DO) impacts mangrove fish utilisation. In heavily vegetated habitats like mangroves, DO undergoes complex changes brought about by biogeochemical demand. The extent of DO depletion depends on many environmental parameters such as tide, time or day or human activities. Substantial DO depletion could limit the value of mangroves as habitats for fish. Consequently, I aim to: (i) develop an understanding of DO dynamics in mangrove forests; (ii) identify environmental parameters that drive these fluctuations; (iii) investigate how depressed DO impacts fish assemblages and behaviour; and (iv) establish DO thresholds for five fish species occupying mangroves.
Investigators
Alexia Dubuc, Marcus Sheaves, Nathan Waltham and Ronnie Baker (College of Science & Engineering and TropWATER)
Keywords
Mangrove; Dissolved Oxygen; Fish; Australia; New Caledonia; Hypoxia

FNQ NRM Ltd (Terrain Natural Resource Management) - Tender

Soil/landscape assessment and monitoring design for WTMIP `Catchment Repair and Treatment Systems Design Phase?

Indicative Funding
$35,511 (administered by Australian Wetlands Consulting Pty Ltd)
Summary
This project contributes to the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (WTMIP) in the Johnstone and Tully catchments. The `Catchment repair and treatment systems? activity area of the WTMIP aims to reduce nitrogen loads in runoff by installing and restoring wetlands and installing `denitrification bioreactors?. As part of the design phase of that activity we will assess soil and landscape features at the proposed sites and design the monitoring program to assess their effectiveness. This assessment and monitoring design will be done in collaboration with Australian Wetland Consulting and Alluvium, who will design the installations themselves.
Investigators
Paul Nelson, Alex Cheesman and Nathan Waltham (College of Science & Engineering and TropWATER)
Keywords
Sugarcane; Water Quality; Nitrate; Runoff; Wet Tropics; Great Barrier Reef

Reef Catchments Limited - Contract Research

Southern Expansion of Mackay-Whitsunday Ambient Marine Monitoring Program

Indicative Funding
$104,245 over 3 years
Summary
TropWATER will provide seagrass assessment and water quality logging/chemistry services 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
Nathan Waltham in collaboration with James Whinney and Peter Ridd (TropWATER and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Water Quality; Marine Ecosystems; Seagrass; Corals

Torres Strait Regional Authority - Contract Research

Torres Straits Wetlands, Mangroves and Invasive Species

Indicative Funding
$140,595 over 2 years
Summary
Coastal wetlands and mangrove habitat are important for aquatic communities in the Torres Straits. These water environments also provide important food and cultural values for locals. Torres Straits Regional Authority wishes to continue building Land and Sea Ranger capacity to monitor and evaluate condition of wetlands across the Straits. TropWATER will assist with water quality monitoring, invasive animal management, mangrove condition and health assessment, along with preparation of materials for rangers to continue these monitoring programs.
Investigators
Nathan Waltham in collaboration with Norman Duke, Jock Mackenzie and Emma Rooks (TropWATER)
Keywords
Torres Straits; Water Quality; Land and Sea Rangers; Mangroves; Tropical Wetlands

MMG Ltd - Contract Research

Dugald River Mine Pre-Baseline Limnology Assessment and Design

Indicative Funding
$1,529,301 over 7 years
Summary
This project covers completion of mine site recon and preliminary limnology assessment of local rivers within and adjacent to Dugald River mine site operation. The data collected during this pre-baseline assessment will be used in the design of a full baseline limnology survey, scheduled to be completed before mining operations commence. The full baseline survey will support the development of mine site closure targets.
Investigators
Nathan Waltham in collaboration with Barry Butler (TropWATER)
Keywords
Dugald River Mine; Freshwater Fish; Baseline; Limnology; Water and Sediment quality
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
  • Dissolved Oxygen as a Constraint for the Structure of Mangrove Fish Ossemblages Assemblages and Their Patterns of Mangrove Utilisation: A Comparison Between Natural and Disturbed Mangrove Ecosystems Through the Australian and Caledonian Coastlines. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Habitat Configuration and Utility of Tropical Estuaries Exposed to Different Extents of Human Development (PhD , Primary Advisor)
  • Assessing the ecological function and services provided by coastal wetlands to better inform strategies for restoration (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.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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Similar to me

  1. Dr Eric Wolanski
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  2. Prof Marcus Sheaves
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  3. Dr Janine Sheaves
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  4. Prof Damien Burrows
    TropWATER
  5. Dr Norman Duke
    TropWATER