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Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society

Author Archives: Geoff Edwards

Nearshore and Coastal Habitat Mapping

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Nearshore and Coastal Habitat Mapping

From 21 to 24 July 2021 onboard M/V Offshore Solution, a team from Ocean Infinity (Australia) Pty Ltd (formerly iXblue Pty Ltd), in partnership with other experts, conducted an aerial survey and a hydrographic survey as part of the Norfolk Island Nearshore and Coastal Habitat Mapping project. The team covered 108.6km2 of the Norfolk Shelf with a multibeam echosounder, a total of 44 locations of Baited Remote Underwater Videos in the north-east and south of the Island and a couple of sub-surface profiles with the Sub-Bottom Profiler. The coastal survey was conducted by Tellus4D Geoimaging in November 2021. The drone Mavic 2 was deployed from shore, to obtain high resolution photogrammetry at seven coastal sites: Captain Cook Lookout, Anson Bay, Puppy’s Point, Headstone Point, Slaughter Bay and Bumboras Beach, and Cemetery and Emily Bay, for a total of 14km2.

 

Prior to this project, Norfolk Island Marine Park dataset was limited to a terrestrial lidar survey from CSIRO and a nearshore seafloor classification from satellite bathymetry (EOMAP).

 

This seafloor mapping survey provides information about some of the coastal sites of the Island and its marine shelf condition (morphology, nature, fish communities…). The information will help to manage the park and guide further studies, such as additional bathymetric survey within sensitive areas, investigation on the coastline, protection of fish and other marine species programs and a ground-truthing campaign to challenge hypotheses on the seabed nature and habitats.

 

We thank Dr Kellie Pendoley for her persistence in obtaining permission to republish this benchmark report Norfolk Island Nearshore and Coastal Habitat Mapping.

 

Posted in Marine, Offshore Stacks, The Island |

EcoNorfolk

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EcoNorfolk Foundation was a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting ecologically sustainable development on Norfolk Island.

Founded by environmental activist Denise Quintal, the Foundation aimed to assist in advancing the science of sustainability with the wider international community to lead the way for sustainability in the South Pacific. Its role was to support the preservation of natural resources through education, publicity campaigns, scientific research and development, and merging this with the everyday activities and practices of the Norfolk Island people.

EcoNorfolk Foundation was involved in projects such as Footprinting and Experimental Prototype Communities, to foster awareness of the global context of local environmental issues. For example, the ‘Sustainable Islands Project’ focused on the training of skilled professionals from small remote islands, in the area of sustainable environmental and economic development.

EcoNorfolk at the date of writing (May 2024) is in recess.

Posted in Get Involved |

Morepork

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Latest on the Morepork

In 2019 scientist Flossy Sperring commenced a doctoral research project focusing on population genetics, ecology and conservation management of the Norfolk Island Morepork. This 1hr video is a recording of Flossy’s recent talk given to the community in January 2024. The first half summarises the key findings from her PhD studies. The second half focuses on the genetics of the current owl population and potential future steps the national park may take to protect this species.

Access the video file directly (678 MB).

Posted in Birds, Endemic Fauna |

Land snails – vital components of forest ecosystems

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Norfolk Island’s largest native land snail Advena campbellii is one of the three Critically Endangered species

Land snails are underappreciated but play essential roles in recycling nutrients in soils and as food for many animals. Around 60 unique land snail species call Norfolk and Phillip Islands home. They come in a remarkable variety of shapes and colours but are facing threats from predators like rats and flatworms, and habitat loss. Currently, two species have become extinct while three species are Critically Endangered. Following the footsteps of Australian Museum researchers, PhD candidate Junn Kitt Foon of Western Sydney University is undertaking a three-year project to study:
(1) How are the last populations of these threatened snails genetically connected to each other?
(2) What habitats are best for native snails?
(3) How much are these snails affected by non-native predators?
(4) How might climate change affect these snails?

Answering these questions will hopefully help secure the long-term survival of these unique Norfolk and Phillip Island species. If you are keen to volunteer in future fieldwork or if you are a landowner interested to know what land snails can be found in the scrub on your land, please contact Junn by email: 22078036 AT SYMBOL student.westernsydney.edu.au or Junn.Foon AT SYMBOL Australian.Museum

We thank Junn Toon for this account of this important research.

Posted in Snails |

Citizen Science and Great Southern Bioblitz 2023

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Citizen Science Conference was held from 20 – 24 November 2023 at the University of Sunshine Coast
ACSA Qld Events

See https://scienceqld.org/2023/08/05/citscioz23-proceedings/ after the event has closed to access the papers.

 

 

Bioblitz on Norfolk Island

The Great Southern BioBlitz 2023 was of special interest to Norfolk Islanders. It was an opportunity to focus the attention of Islanders in observing features of the natural environment around them. It also encouraged collaboration amongst like-minded people and allowed those who are simply curious to be supported by those with expert knowledge. See the flyer for details.

Posted in Get Involved |