About

I am a seagrass and coastal ecosystems ecologist. My research facilitates the protection, conservation, biological diversity, rehabilitation, management and sustainable development of seagrass resources. I am particularly interested in the status and condition of seagrass resources across a range of scales (from local to global), understanding the role of disturbance, determining thresholds of concern and investigating resilience of seagrass ecosystems. I am also interested in the relationship between seagrass and associated fauna, the impacts of declining water quality and climate change.

Experience
  • 1998 to 2012 - Principal Scientist, QLD DAFF (Cairns)
  • 1992 to 1998 - Biologist, QLD DPI&F (Cairns)
  • 1990 to 1992 - Technical Officer, QLD DPI&F (Cairns)
  • 1986 to 1989 - Research Assistant, James Cook University (Townsville)
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 65+ research outputs authored by Mr Len McKenzie from 2007 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation - Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Program

Seagrass Monitoring in Wuthathi Sea Country

Indicative Funding
$132,555 over 2 years
Summary
Wuthathi land and sea country in far northern Cape York extends from Captain Billy landing south to Temple Bay and includes Shelburne Bay and Raine Island. JCU will work with Wuthathi rangers to continue to map coastal seagrass in Wuthathi and establish monitoring sites and methods. A range of techniques will be adopted, including airborne/spaceborne imagery (UAV drone and satellite) and transects for intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats and drop cameras in deeper subtidal waters. Wuthathi rangers will be trained in seagrass mapping and monitoring techniques to facilitate continued monitoring of seagrass habitats in Wuthathi sea country.
Investigators
Catherine Collier, Len McKenzie, Lucas Langlois, Hayley Brien and Louise Johns (TropWater)
Keywords
Seagrass; Wuthathi; Great Barrier Reef; Cape York; Monitoring; Shelburne Bay

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Contract Research

Spatial and temporal trends in the health and resilience of Great Barrier Reef inshore seagrass meadows in relation to water quality

Indicative Funding
$7,916,164 over 13 years
Summary
The aim of this research is to monitor the abundance and species composition of seagrass, and identify areas of seagrass that have been significantly impacted by flood plumes in areas important to major dugong populations in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Investigators
Len McKenzie in collaboration with Naomi Smith, R Yoshida, Catherine Collier and Lucas Langlois (TropWater)
Keywords
Seagrass habitats; Environmental Monitoring; Marine monitoring; Dugong populations; Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Contract Research

Seagrass thermal stress risk model for the inshore Great Barrier Reef.

Indicative Funding
$390,793 over 2 years
Summary
Seagrass meadows are at risk from decline caused by thermal stress, and this will impact the ecosystems and communities who depend on the goods and benefits they provide. There is currently no spatial and temporal product that indicates seagrass exposure to thermal stress. This proposal outlines a staged project that will deliver a model of thermal stress risk. Working in collaboration with First Nations rangers, temperature loggers will be deployed across thermal exposure gradients in the inshore Reef. These data will be used to calibrate and validate a seagrass thermal stress risk model for the inshore Reef.
Investigators
Catherine Collier, Len McKenzie and Lucas Langlois (TropWater)
Keywords
Thermal Stress; Climate Change; Seagrass; Inshore; First Nations; Monitoring

Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Traditional Owner Healing Country Grant

Seagrass Monitoring and Protection in Wuthathi Sea Country

Indicative Funding
$55,834 over 1 year (administered by Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation)
Summary
Wuthathi land and sea country in far northern Cape York extends from Captain Billy landing south to Temple Bay and includes Shelburne Bay and Raine Island. JCU will work with Wuthathi rangers to map coastal seagrass habitats in Wuthathi. A range of techniques will be adopted, including helicopter surveys and airborne/spaceborne imagery (UAV drone and satellite) for intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats and drop cameras in deeper subtidal waters. Wuthathi rangers will be trained in seagrass mapping and monitoring techniques to facilitate continued monitoring of seagrass habitats in Wuthathi sea country.
Investigators
Catherine Collier, Len McKenzie and Lucas Langlois (TropWater)
Keywords
Seagrass; Drone; Remote Sensing; First Nations; Cape York Frog; Great Barrier Reef
Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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