The University of Western Australia

Asst/Prof Paul Close

Research Assistant Professor
Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management

Contact details

Address

Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management
The University of Western Australia (M701)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

9842 0833

Fax

9842 8499

Email

paul.close@uwa.edu.au

Qualifications

BSc ANU, PhD W.Aust.

Biography

My research interests focus on tropical-temperate estuarine and freshwater fish ecology, and more particularly, habitat and hydrological requirements of native fishes. My research experience has addressed the role of aquatic habitats in structuring fish communities and the effect of threatening processes on fish populations including alterations to natural hydrological regimes, increased salinity and degradation of structural in-stream habitats. My pervious research has had particular focus on fish ecology of freshwater ecosystems ranging from wetlands, lowland rivers, tropical rivers and alpine streams. Throughout my research, I have maintained an interested in both adult and larval/juvenile stage ecology. More recently, my research interests have included similar ecological investigations in estuarine systems. My current research focus includes investigation of climate change impacts on estuarine fish (using acoustic telemetry) and the identification and management of climate and development related risks to aquatic systems in Northern Australia and in China. I coordinate and contribute guest lectures to a variety of undergraduate units and am actively involved in the supervision of honours, masters and PhD students.

Key research

Freshwater and estuarine fish ecology

Larval fish ecology

Environmental water requirements

River health and environmental flows

Environmental monitoring and assessment (aquatic)

Degradation processes (aquatic)

Publications

Peer reviewed papers and reports

12.Zhao, W., Wang, H., Wang, H. and Close, P.G. (2011). Environmental influence on macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Yellow River, China – the worlds largest sandy river. Submitted to International Journal of Sediment Research.

11.Smith, K.A., Hammond, M. and Close, P.G. (2010). A mass stranding of elongate sunfish (Ranzania laevis) (Pisces: Molidae) on the southern coast of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 93: 181–188, 2010

10.Close, P. G., Davies, P. M. and Trayler, K. (2010) Recruitment and growth of two small-bodied resident fish species (Gobiidae and Atherinidae) in oligohaline, seasonally open lagoons. Journal of Fish Biology 76, 1431–1453. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02573.x

9.Close, P.G. and Gouws, G. (2007). Allozyme markers identify cryptic larvae of four gobies (Pisces: Gobiidae) occurring sympatrically in south-western Australian coastal lagoons. Journal of Fish Biology 71 (Supp. B), 288-293.

8.Smith, K.A., Close, P.G., Ireland, S. (2005). Fish, Flows and the future for our South Coast Estuaries. Western Fisheries. September 2005.

7.Close P.G., Pusey B.J. & Arthington A.H. (2005) Larval description of the sympatric species, Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum stercusmuscarum (Pisces: Atherinidae) and Mogurnda adspersa (Pisces: Eleotridae) from tropical streams of northeast Queensland, Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 66, 1-17.

6.Close, P.G. (2002). The fish of Kororoit Creek: stressed relics and city slickers. Victorian Naturalist 119:4-13

5.Pusey, B.J., Close, P.G. and Arthington, A.H. (2002). Larval fishes of north-eastern Australian rainforest streams: patterns of abundance and microhabitat use. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 110, 27-46.

4.Close, P.G., Aland, G, Tennant, W. and Sheed, J. (2001). Providing fish passage in stream rehabilitation projects: a case study from the Broken River, Victoria. Proceedings of the Third Australian Technical Workshop on Fishways. Keller, R.J. and Peterken, C. (Eds.) 30th August- 1 Spetember 2001. Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Monash Print Services. pp. 189-197.

3.Close, P.G., Barlow, C.G. and Rodgers, L.J. (2001). Early ontogeny of coal grunter from hormone-induced spawnings and laboratory reared embryos and larvae. Journal of Fish Biology 58: 928-942.

2.Pusey, B.J., Arthington, A.H., Bird, J.R. and Close, P.G. (2001). Reproduction in three species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from rainforest streams in northern Queensland, Australia. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. 10, 75-87.

1.Dorrough J., Close P. & Williams L. (1995) Rediscovery of the striped legless lizard, Delma impar (Pygopodidae), on the Monaro Plains of NSW. Herpetofauna, 26, 52-53.

Other publications (post 2008)

Leigh, C., Xiaodong, Q., Yuan, Z., Hannington, P., Gippel, C., Catford, J., Close, P., Bunn, S. and Speed, R. (2011). ACEDP Project Report: Assessment of River Health in the Liao River Basin (Taizi Sub-Catchment). Prepared by the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science and the International WaterCentre. Australia-China Environment Development Partnership. River Health and Environmental Flow in China, Project Code: P0018. 103 pp.

Close, P.G., Cossart, R., Pettit, N. and Kennard, M. (2010). Fine Scale Assessment of High Value Aquatic Ecosystems in the Upper Fitzroy and Mitchell River Catchments of the Kimberley Region of Northern Australia. Summary of Workshop held in Kununurra (WA), 11-12 November 2010.

Pettit, N., Close, P.G. and Kennard, M. (2010). Fine Scale Assessment of High Value Aquatic Ecosystems and Ecological Thresholds in the Daly River, Northern Australia. Summary of Workshop held at Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 16th September 2010.

Dixon, I., Dobbs, R., Townsend, S., Close, P., Ligtermoet, E., Dostine, P., Duncan, R., Kennard, M. and Tunbridge, D. (2010) Field Trial of the Framework for the Assessment of River and Wetland Health (FARWH) in the Wet/Dry Tropics: Daly River and Fitzroy River Catchments. Unpublished report prepared for the National Water Commission. Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge Consortium. Charles Darwin University, Darwin. 286pp

Close, P.G., Tunbridge, D.J. and Davies, P.M. (2009). Salinity related movement dynamics of Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) in Wellstead Estuary. Non-technical summary report to the Fitzgerald Biosphere Group. November 2009. CENRM Report 096. 8pp.

Close, P.G., Tunbridge, D.J. and Davies, P.M. (2009). Incorporating ecological knowledge of Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) into the management of a national, commercial and recreational fishery: salinity related movement dynamics. Non-technical summary report. November 2009. CENRM Report 095. 19pp.

Dixon, I., Close, P.G., Townsend, S., Taylor, C., Tunbridge, D., Ligtermoet, E. and Dostine, P. (2009). Field Trial of the Framework for the Assessment of River and Wetland Health (FARWH) in the Wet/Dry Tropics: Daly River and Fitzroy River. Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge Research Report. 15pp.

Close, P.G., Dixon, I., Duncan, R. and Townsend, S. (2009). Recommendations and issues identified from desktop trial of the tropical wet/dry FARWH in: Darwin Harbour catchment (NT) and Ord River catchment WA. Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge Research Report. 18pp.

Dixon, I., Close, P.G., Duncan, R. Townsend, S., Drewry, J., Dostine, P. and Dobbs, R. (2009). Desktop trial of the Framework for the Assessment of River and Wetland Health (FARWH) in the wet/dry tropics: Darwin Harbour catchment (NT) and Ord River catchment WA. Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge Research Report. 91pp.

Close, P. G. (2008). Ecological Water Requirements for Wilson and Torbay Inlets. Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, The University of Western Australia. CENRM Report 061.

Close, P. G., Donohue, R. and Tunbridge D.J. (2008). Ecological Water Requirements for Denmark River. Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, The University of Western Australia. CENRM Report 060.

Close, P.G. Donohue, R. and Tunbridge, D. J. (2008). Ecological Water Requirements for Marbellup Brook. Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, The University of Western Australia. CENRM Report 059.

Roles, responsibilities and expertise

Research, teaching and project management
Fish identification
Fish sampling including electrofishing techniques and acoustic telemetry

Funding received

Current:
2011Davies, P.M. and Close, P.G., $1,200,000, Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment: Assessing the ecological impacts of climate change and development across northern Australia. National Water Commission.

2011 Dobbs, R.J., Cossart, R. and Close, P.G. $11,400, Development of a monitoring programme for lake Gregory, Paruku, Kimberley. Kimberley Land Council.

Past:
2010Close, P.G. and Dobbs, R.J. $12,000, Development of a training package for the National Water Commission project: Framework for the Assessment of River and Wetland health. Canberra University.

2010Close, P.G., Pettit, N. and Dobbs, R.J. $60,000, Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment – High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems: Final scale assessment of ecological assets in the Fitzroy River (Northern Western Australia) and Daly River catchments. TRaCK – Griffith University.

2008Close, P.G., Cook, B.A., Tunbridge, D.J. and Speldewinde, P. $32,000, UWA research equipment funds. The University of Western Australia.

2008Macgregor, C., Close, P.G., Davies, P.M. and Speldewinde, P. $65,359, River Action Planning in the Upper Collie River in the South West of WA. Western Australian Department of Water.

2006Davies, P.M. and Close, P.G., $100,000, Movement and recruitment dynamics of Black Bream in hypersaline estuaries. Jack Family Charitable Trust, Western Australian Departments of Water and Fisheries.

2005Close, P.G. and Davies, P.M., $383,669, Environmental Water Requirements in the South Coast Region. Western Australian Department of Water.

2005Close, P.G. and Davies, P.M. $7,500, A Review of Approaches to Establishing Ecological Water Requirements for the Hill and Moore River Estuaries. Waters & Rivers Commission.
2004Cook, B.A. and Close, P.G., $4,300, Biodiversity monitoring and assessment in Angove Creek. Water Corporation.

Memberships

Estuarine Research Federation
Australian Society of Fish Biology
Australian Society for Limnology
River Basin Management Society

South Coast NRM Water and Marine Reference Group
Albany Port Authority Dredging Reference Group

Teaching

ENVT3340 Waterways restoration and conservation
Master of Integrated Water Management (IWC) - various units

Current projects

7.Project Coordinator: Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment: Assessing the ecological impacts of climate change and development across northern Australia. National Water Commission. Current.

6Expert Team Member: Australia-China Environmental Development Program: River health Assessment and Environmental Flow Management in the Yellow, Pearl and Liao rivers, China. AusAide, Australia. Current.

5.Team Member: Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment – High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems: Final scale assessment of ecological assets in the Fitzroy River (Northern Western Australia) and Daly River catchments. National Water Commission. Current.

4.Research Leader: Framework for Assessing River and Wetland Health in the Wet/dry Topics of Australia. National Water Commission. Completed 2011.

3.Project Coordinator: Environmental water requirements of priority estuaries in the south coast region of south-western Australia. Western Australian Department of Water. Completed 2009.

2.Project Coordinator: Environmental water requirements of priority rivers on in the south coast region of south-western Australia. Western Australian Department of Water. Completed 2009.

1.Research Leader: Movement and recruitment dynamics of Black Bream in hypersaline estuaries. Western Australian Departments of Water and Fisheries, Jack Family Charitable Trust. Completed 2010.

Research profile

Research profile and publications