title: Identifying knowledge gaps in seagrass research and management: An Australian perspective.
abstract: Seagrass species form important marine and estuarine habitats providing valuable ecosystem services and functions. Coastal zones that are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic development have experienced substantial declines in seagrass abundance around the world. Australia, which has some of the world's largest seagrass meadows and is home to over half of the known species, is not immune to these losses. In 1999 a review of seagrass ecosystems knowledge was conducted in Australia and strategic research priorities were developed to provide research direction for future studies and management. Subsequent rapid evolution of seagrass research and scientific methods has led to more than 70% of peer reviewed seagrass literature being produced since that time. A workshop was held as part of the Australian Marine Sciences Association conference in July 2015 in Geelong, Victoria, to update and redefine strategic priorities in seagrass research. Participants identified 40 research questions from 10 research fields (taxonomy and systematics, physiology, population biology, sediment biogeochemistry and microbiology, ecosystem function, faunal habitats, threats, rehabilitation and restoration, mapping and monitoring, management tools) as priorities for future research on Australian seagrasses. Progress in research will rely on advances in areas such as remote sensing, genomic tools, microsensors, computer modeling, and statistical analyses. A more interdisciplinary approach will be needed to facilitate greater understanding of the complex interactions among seagrasses and their environment.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: paul.york@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: York
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Rob G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Coles
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Skye A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.affiliation: Australian Rivers Institute - Coast and Estuaries, School of Environment, Griffith University, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Rod M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.affiliation: School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.affiliation: School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Runcie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig D H
authors.initials: CDH
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.affiliation: School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Brooke K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Stacy M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Trevathan-Tackett
authors.affiliation: Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kasper E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Brodersen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Alex B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ewers
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lavery
authors.affiliation: Remote Sensing Research Center, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Roelfsema
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strydom
authors.affiliation: South Australian Research and Development Institute, SA, Australia; University of Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Kor-Jent
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Monash University, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Warry
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waycott
authors.affiliation: Derwent Estuary Program, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whitehead
mesh_terms: D035961:Alismatales; D001315:Australia; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*