John Turnbull PhD
@johnwturnbull.bsky.social
Marine ecologist focusing on social-ecological systems, remote and protected areas; ROV, photogrammetry and UVC specialist; Reef Life Survey coordinator and Research Fellow at Uni of Sydney, www.marineexplorer.org
Environmental science
34%
Agriculture
27%
Bare Island July 2025
A short set of clips from today's dive; testing lighting and camera settings. Lots of planktivores about... but 15 C water temp was a bit cool
vimeo.com
A short set of clips from today's dive at Bare Island; testing lighting and camera settings. Lots of planktivores about... but 15 C water temp was a bit cool. 🦑 vimeo.com/1104838811
Nice to see substantial populations of Hippocampus whitei #seahorses on our surveys of two sites in #sydneyharbour today #marinescience #threatenedspecies 🧪🦑
In our final week of fieldwork at One Tree Island and we have almost completed surveys on 26 sites, with current loggers and microhabitat studies on many of them. A massive thanks to all concerned! 🧪🦑 #SAEF_ARC #SydneyUni #marineexplorer
Whilst there is more dead coral than live, there are signs of growth throughout; small patches of live coral on broken reef, live tips on dead branches. The challenge of course will be when the next heatwave comes. For close ups: www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer
Our latest paper highlights changes in the marine community at Shiprock in Sydney over half a century. #sydney_science #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑
Open access: doi.org/10.1071/MF24...
Open access: doi.org/10.1071/MF24...
Wonderful diversity of critters on our surveys today at the Labyrinth, #onetreeisland #sydneyuni #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑
Despite extensive damage from the recent cyclone and 2024 bleaching, there are some signs of recovery in the southern GBR #onetreeisland #universityofsydney #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑
The photogrammetry stage of our field trip is now well underway, capturing reef complexity and biodiversity in great detail #one_tree_island #sydney_science #marineexplorer #saef_arc 🧪🦑
Getting ready for a day in the field #SAEF_ARC #Universityofsydney ##marineexplorer #@OneTreeIslandRS 🧪🦑
Marine protected areas stage of establishment and level of protection are good predictors of their conservation outcomes
Global targets should track MPA quality and quantity. This is the first study using
a new science-based framework across 123 MPAs and tying levels of protection and stages
of establishment directly to...
www.cell.com
Highly protected, actively managed MPAs with evidence of monitoring and enforcement have more positive ecological outcomes.
Cell Reports Sustainability: Cell Reports Sustainability 🧪🦑 www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Cell Reports Sustainability: Cell Reports Sustainability 🧪🦑 www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Day 5 of our University of Sydney research trip to One Tree Island, and we have refined our methods and completed 8 biodiversity surveys. Tomorrow we put out flow meters to measure lagoon currents, then start our microhabitat study in earnest. #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
Ha ha yes, I wasn't sure how to direct the effort; perhaps "the big camouflaged animal" without actually calling out Cephalopods :)
Can you see the animal?
Jervis Bay RLS
flic.kr
Can you see the animal? flic.kr/p/2qRYAN7 🦑
Day 1 of #reeflifesurvey in JB; lovely warm, calm conditions for our first two sites 🦑 🧪
A few fishy faces (ok, two are invertebrates) from this morning's #reeflifesurvey at Camp Cove in #sydneyharbour. If you want to see the flathead (looks like just sand and paddleweed until you zoom in) see www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... 🦑 🧪
ah yes, sorry, can I add it now?
Several endangered White's #seahorses on the nets in #SydneyHarbour during our surveys last weekend... and more red cuttlefish (A. mestus) than we normally see #marinescience #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
As we cross from the Coral Sea back into the GBR we have favourable winds and a nice big incoming tide; smiles all around! A few more sites in the GBR over the next few days before we wrap up #reeflifesurvey #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
Day 12 of #reeflifesurvey in the GBR and Coral Sea, and we are at Marion reefs around 400 km offshore. Some terrific sea life today particularly on our big bommie site. #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
After 10 days of good weather we have completed #reeflifesurvey in the Capricorn Bunkers, Swains, Saumarez and Frederick reefs. The water is a beautiful blue in the Coral Sea but fish IDs are a challenge! Next: Marion reefs then back to GBR. Pics: www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
Day 3 and we've been surveying around the Keppel Islands. Conditions were calm last night for our transit to the Capricorn Bunker group. #reeflifesurvey #marineexplorer #marinescience 🦑 🧪
A few critters from today's #reeflifesurvey in the GBR, including a coral lobster and a couple of colourful nudis. www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
Day 1 of 3 weeks of #reeflifesurvey in the GBR and Coral Sea #marineexplorer
Baby Port Jackson shark drawing
Heterodontus portusjacksoni
flic.kr
Another #artwork attempt, this time stippling (pen dots... no solid lines) :) flic.kr/p/W8RwnH #shark #marineexplorer 🦑
Anglerfish antics.mp4
Watch as this young striate anglerfish (Antennarius striatus) goes fishing and generally turns on the charm for the camera.
vimeo.com
Hairy anglerfish (Antennarius striatus) angling, yawning and walking 🦑 vimeo.com/660839395