AIMS is a strategy-led organisation with research aligned to the nation’s evolving science priorities to develop globally relevant and innovative research solutions. AIMS has been a key leader in the National Marine Science Committee since its inception, and is a strong contributor to Australia’s National Marine Science Plan.
AIMS is a leading authority on the impact of pollutants on tropical marine life. Our expert ecotoxicologists study the effects of contamination caused by population growth, urbanisation, trade, industrialisation and mining on aquatic species.
AIMS scientists have access to a dedicated ecotoxicology aquarium and testing laboratory. We specialise in the impact of pollutants on tropical marine ecosystems, which is poorly studied and understood compared to temperate ecosystems.
AIMS’ risk assessment processes use mechanistic toxicity modelling techniques that combine ecotoxicology and biological response information.
These include:
We continue to develop new statistical methods for deriving threshold and guideline values for risk assessment.
AIMS has developed a full suite of standardised, chronic tropical toxicity tests to study the impact of pollutants on groups including:
The AIMS research fleet provides access to all of Australia's tropical marine environments. Two large purpose-built ships, the Research Vessel (RV) Cape Ferguson and the RV Solander, and a number of smaller vessels take researchers to the diverse habitats that make up our tropical marine environment.
Since 1972, AIMS has built a strong networks of partnerships with research, industry and government. Collaboration is at our core. Our world-class people, facilities, knowledge and technology and our presence and experience across tropical Australia deliver excellent capabilities to all our partnerships.
If you are seeking science-based solutions in tropical marine environments, please contact us to see how we can work together.
To maintain and strengthen its position as a world-leader in marine science, Australia needs to build a pipeline of highly skilled marine scientists with expertise in relevant areas.
More broadly, it is widely recognised that to maintain Australia’s competitive edge and reach our potential for innovation, we need to increase our numbers of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM)-trained professionals. Also, women are under represented in STEM in Australia, currently making up only 13 per cent of those employed in STEM jobs.
Pacific Island communities rely on coral reefs for food, income and coastal protection, but these ecosystems face risk of collapse under the pressures of climate change.
Preventing further degradation of coral reefs depends on the availability of timely and accurate information about reef condition to determine regional trends and inform conservation and management decisions.
Along with sediments, nutrients and pesticides, other contaminants have also been detected in the inshore ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef.
In general, there is a lack of available monitoring data. Their presence, concentrations and potential effects are not yet well understood.
More than 50 land pesticides (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) have been detected in waters of the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments.
AIMS’ work helps determine the risk pesticides pose to tropical organisms and marine ecosystems. Our ecotoxicologists use laboratory studies to establish the concentration levels that can cause ‘ecologically relevant’ effects. This information contributes to water quality guideline values and informs ecological risk assessments.
