JCU > Research Portfolio > Ms Skye McKenna

About

I completed a Bachelor of Science and gained an Honours degree in the field of Marine Biology and Zoology at James Cook University in 2003. I have since been conducting research on tropical marine habitats focussing on seagrass and benthic invertebrate communities most at risk from anthropogenic activities associated with coastal development. I have specifically been interested in relationships between seagrass and environmental factors, and implementing science based solutions to the management of these important marine habitats. In my current role as a senior member and project leader/manager of the team I am responsible for numerous state-wide seagrass habitat research, assessment and monitoring programs.

Research and monitoring programs that I am project leader and manager for include:

Port of Abbot Point Research and Monitoring Program 2008 - ongoing
Development of light thresholds for modelling impacts to seagrass from the Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project 2015
Ports North long-term seagrass monitoring and research programs in the ports of Karumba, Cairns & Mourilyan Harbour 2009 - ongoing
Ports North: Cairns Shipping Development project 2012 - ongoing
Port of Weipa long-term seagrass monitoring and research program 2009 - ongoing

Interests

Research

Seagrass assessment & monitoring in Queensland Ports– industry partnerships in high risk areas (various Port Authorities)
Investigating the drivers of tropical seagrass change
Investigating and establishing methods of recovery and resilience of deepwater and shallow water seagrasses
Developing seagrass light thresholds for implementation into models and environmental impact assessments

Teaching

Indigenous community engagement and training in the Torres Strait
Guest lecturing

Experience

2005 to 2012 - Project manager, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Cairns)
2003 to 2005 - Fisheries Technician, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Cairns)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Memberships

2003 to 2015 - Member of the Golden Key International Honours Society. Membership into Golden Key is by invitation only to the top 15% of college/university students in all fields of study, based solely on the criteria of their academic achievements.

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

Carter A, McKenna S, Rasheed M, Collier C, McKenzie L, Pitcher R and Coles R (2021) Synthesizing 35?years of seagrass spatial data from the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Queensland, Australia. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 6 (4). pp. 216-226
Jarvis J, McKenna S and Rasheed M (2021) Seagrass seed bank spatial structure and function following a large-scale decline. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 665. pp. 75-87
York P, Smith T, Coles R, McKenna S, Connolly R, Irving A, Jackson E, McMahon K, Runcie J, Sherman C, Sullivan B, Trevathan-Tackett S, Brodersen K, Carter A, Ewers C, Lavery P, Roelfsema C, Sinclair E, Strydom S, Tanner J, van Dijk K, Warry F, Waycott M and Whitehead S (2017) Identifying knowledge gaps in seagrass research and management: an Australian perspective . Marine Environmental Research, 127. pp. 163-172
Coles R, Rasheed M, McKenzie L, Grech A, York P, Sheaves M, McKenna S and Bryant C (2015) The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area seagrasses: managing this iconic Australian ecosystem resource for the future. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science , 153. pp. A1-A12
McKenna S, Jarvis J, Sankey T, Reason C, Coles R and Rasheed M (2015) Declines of seagrasses in a tropical harbour, North Queensland, Australia, are not the result of a single event. Journal of Biosciences, 40 (2). pp. 389-398
Petus C, Collier C, Devlin M, Rasheed M and McKenna S (2014) Using MODIS data for understanding changes in seagrass meadow health: a case study in the Great Barrier Reef (Australia). Marine Environmental Research, 98. pp. 68- 85
Rasheed M, McKenna S, Carter A and Coles R (2014) Contrasting recovery of shallow and deep water seagrass communities following climate associated losses in tropical north Queensland, Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 83. pp. 491-499
McKenna S, Betts D, Pong W, Govedich F and Barton D (2005) A redescription of the Australian leech Placobdelloides bancrofti with new records of its distribution. Journal of Parasitology, 91 (1). pp. 117-121

Conference Papers

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
Waltham N, York P, McKenna S, Petus C, Devlin M, Rasheed M, Campbell S, Whinney J and Kane K (2017) Long term ambient water quality monitoring to support port management in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Proceedings of the Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference. In: Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference: working with nature, 21-23 June 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia

Other research outputs

McKenna S, Van de Wetering C and Wilkinson J (2022) Port of Townsville Seagrass Monitoring Program: 2021, TropWATER Report 22/05. TropWATER Reports, 22/05. TropWATER, Cairns, QLD, Australia [Report]

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 88+ research outputs authored by Ms Skye McKenna from 2004 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 and JCU Research and Monitoring Partnership ? Seagrass and Coral Studies.

Indicative Funding: $2,391,178 over 5 years
Summary: This project conducts the long term annual monitoring of seagrasses and corals in Mackay, Hay Point Abbot Point/Bowen and Weipa. 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 for undergraduate and postgraduate students in seagrass and coral ecology and applied management in the ports industry.
Investigators: Michael Rasheed, Katie Chartrand and Skye McKenna in collaboration with Tony Ayling (TropWater and Sea Research)
Keywords: Seagrass; Coral; Marine Monitoring; Environmental assessment; Risk Assessment

Ports North - Contract Research

Ports North Seagrass Monitoring Program.

Indicative Funding: $2,023,546 over 9 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

Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Prescribed Body Corporate - GBRF Healing Country

Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Prescribed Body Corporate ? Healing Country Grant

Indicative Funding: $125,415 over 1 year
Summary: This project will adopt a collaborative partnership approach with TropWATER and the Reef Restoration Foundation to build the skills, knowledge and experiences of Gunggandji and Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples for mapping, monitoring and assessing Sea Country. This collaborative approach will incorporate an Indigenous Knowledge perspective with Western science to help ensure that Traditional Owners are empowered to lead Reef restoration work, and to make and contribute to informed decisions about managing their Sea Country. Through co-designed workshops and training?both on and off Country?rangers will learn species and habitat identification and survey methods, will undertake baseline.
Investigators: Skye McKenna, Katie Chartrand, Robert Coles, Paul Leeson, Lloyd Shepherd and Luke Hoffmann (TropWater)
Keywords: Seagrass; Network; Ranger; Traditional Owner; Capacity building

Advisian Pty Ltd - Advisian Pty Ltd

HPCT Berth 1 Upgrade ? Marine Benthic Habitat Assessment.

Indicative Funding: $26,480
Summary: Advisian have engaged TropWATER to undertake a survey to determine the presence/absence of marine plants within and adjacent to the extension proposed at HPCT Berth 1, located at the Port of Hay Point. Specifically, the survey requires assessment of marine plant distribution in the area proposed for expanded dredging.
Investigators: Skye McKenna and Michael Rasheed in collaboration with Luke Hoffmann and Paul Leeson (TropWater)
Keywords: Marine plants; Seagrass; Algae; Port

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - National Environmental Science Program 2 (NESP 2) - Marine and Coastal Hub (NESP MAC Hub)

Synthesizing Three Decades of Seagrass Spatial Data from Torres Strait and Gulf of Carpentaria

Indicative Funding: $41,837 over 1 year, in partnership with the Torres Strait Regional Authority ($10,000)
Summary: The Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait have globally significant seagrass habitat that provide food for threatened dugong and turtle, and habitat for commercially important fish and prawns. Key to understanding, managing, mitigating risk, and monitoring seagrass in this remote region is reliable data on seagrass distribution and species composition and how these changes through time. Data on seagrass has been collected in these areas since the 1980s, but data location and storage from these efforts remains disparate, in many cases not publicly available, and in some cases has already been lost. Our study will compile, validate and synthesize historical seagrass spatial data to create a publicly available database accessible on eAtlas. This product will provide end-users with a valuable spatial resource to assist management and monitoring of seagrass in the region.
Investigators: Alexandra Carter, Skye McKenna, Robert Coles and Michael Rasheed (TropWater)
Keywords: Seagrass; Torres Strait; Dugong; gulf of carpentaria; Green Turtle; spatial data

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation - Contract Research

Marine plant survey of the Half Tide Tug Harbour Hay Point

Indicative Funding: $16,576
Summary: North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) have engaged the TropWATER to undertake a survey to determine the presence/absence of marine plants within the Half Tide Tug Harbour, located at the Port of Hay Point. Specifically, the survey requires assessment of marine plant distribution in the area proposed for expanded maintenance dredging, as well as a contemporary survey of marine plants in the area currently approved for dredging.
Investigators: Paul York, Skye McKenna and Michael Rasheed in collaboration with Luke Hoffmann, Lloyd Shepherd and Paul Leeson (TropWater)
Keywords: Seagrass; Monitoring; Algae; Port

Advisian Pty Ltd - Advisian Pty Ltd

Hay Point Shiploader Upgrade: Benthic Habitat Assessments

Indicative Funding: $24,238 (administered by JCU)
Summary: Develop and implement a benthic habitat assessment program for Advisian to report on the benthic habitats in a specific area of the port to assist with berth upgrades.
Investigators: Skye McKenna, Michael Rasheed and Paul York (TropWater)
Keywords: Seagrass; Coastal Habitats; Benthic Habitats; Ports; Dredging; Hay Point

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation - Contract Research

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

Indicative Funding: $1,335,011 over 3 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

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

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.