BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//eluceo/ical//2.0/EN VERSION:2.0 CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:de9fb6613e00cb6be0de3fb4c4cfabf7 DTSTAMP:20260829T112410Z SUMMARY:Public Thesis Defense of Douchan HANUISE DESCRIPTION:Public thesis defense of Douchan HANUISE"Informing tropical sea grass recovery in the Great Barrier Reef using a biophysical modelling app roach"03/09/2026 - 12:00Teams link >\;>\;>\;Jury members: \;Prof . Emmanuel HANERT (UCLouvain)\, SupervisorProf. Alana GRECH (James Cook Un iversity\, Australia)\, SupervisorProf. Marnik VANCLOOSTER (UCLouvain)\, C hairpersonDr. Jonathan LAMBRECHTS (UCLouvain)\, SecretaryDr. Severine CHOU KROUN (James Cook University\, Australia)Prof. Tom VAN DER STOCKEN (VUB\, Belgium)Dr. Eric TREML (Australian Institute of Marine Sciences\, Australi a)Dr. Michael RASHEED (James Cook University\, Australia)Abstract: \;S eagrasses provide essential services for human well-being\, including fish eries habitat\, water filtration\, coastal protection and carbon sequestra tion. Globally\, these coastal ecosystems have been declining due to the c umulative and interactive effects of coastal development\, pollution and c limate change. Coastal and catchment management and restoration projects h ave been implemented to mitigate the impact of these threatening processes . However\, the success rate of management interventions is highly variabl e. A comprehensive understanding of seagrass dynamics\, particularly tropi cal seagrasses\, is critical to protect and preserve these ecosystems. For example\, dispersal and connectivity of seagrasses supports the replenish ment and natural recovery of seagrasses. These processes can be assessed u sing biophysical models\, combining ocean circulation simulations with bio logical traits. Yet\, only few of them account for the interspecific and i nterannual variability inherent in tropical seagrass ecosystems\, suggesti ng opportunities to improve the predicted dispersal patterns. These disper sal processes have not been assessed comprehensively in one of the world ’s largest tropical seagrass ecosystems - the Great Barrier Reef World H eritage Area (GBRWHA) of Queensland\, Australia. By using a biophysical mo delling approach\, this thesis assessed dispersal and connectivity process es of GBRWHA seagrasses to inform their management. Overall\, this thesis underscores the importance of modelling parametrization and its impacts on seagrass dispersal predictions. It highlights the value of using robust b iophysical models\, built on well-considered assumptions including forcing choices\, that integrate species-specific traits to accurately capture co nnectivity. This thesis highlights the drivers of seagrass dispersal in th e GBRWHA\, that include strong seasonal variations\, complex coastal topog raphy influencing wind patterns\, and large dispersal variability between species. Broadly\, this thesis advances the capacity to model and interpre t connectivity in dynamic coastal ecosystems\, providing a transferable fr amework to improve ecological forecasting and guide management strategies.  \; URL:https://uclouvain.be/fr/calendar/elie DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260903T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260903T150000 LOCATION:Croix du Sud 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR