Prue Francis1, Jasmine Bursic1, Jacqui Pocklington1, Paul Carnell2, Kaylah Gawne1, Cayne Layton3, Louise Cairney1, Lui Kennedy1
1Deakin University, Australia - 2RMIT University, Australia - 3Blue Conservation Services, Australia
Kelp forests are vital ecosystems that support biodiversity, provide ecosystem services, and sustain coastal livelihoods. However, temperate reefs across Australia have experienced significant kelp loss due to stressors such as climate change and overgrazing of urchins. Our team is tackling this decline by advancing restoration techniques for Ecklonia radiata, a key canopy-forming kelp, through a multi-faceted research approach.
This presentation will provide a broad overview of our approach to Ecklonia radiata restoration in Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay. We will share advancements in cultivation methods, including optimising environmental conditions to enhance E. radiata growth and exploring sustainable materials for outplanting. Additionally, we will highlight findings from a year-long study assessing seasonal and site-specific spore release patterns. By collecting seasonal reproductive sori tissue from two sites, we identified variability of reproductive output, which has informed strategies for reliable spore collection and restoration scalability. Finally, we will outline our approach to establishing an E. radiata seed bank for Victorian populations.
Biography
Dr. Prue Francis is a marine scientist with research expertise in seaweed ecology, biology, and sustainable cultivation, with a strong focus on the restoration and conservation of temperate marine ecosystems. Her work centers on the Great Southern Reef, where she is involved in state-wide initiatives to advance kelp forest restoration, including optimizing kelp cultivation techniques, developing kelp biobanks, and evaluating genetic connectivity between populations.