Dr. Amanda Reichelt-Brushett

BAppSc(UNE NR), MSc(JCU), PhD(SCU)

Research Summary

Amanda Reichelt-Brushett has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Coastal Management from the University of New England – Northern Rivers, a Master of Science in Marine Chemistry from James Cook University (North Queensland) and a PhD in Marine Ecotoxicology from Southern Cross University. Amanda is a senior lecturer and has published in many scientific journals, presented her research findings at national and international conferences and co-authored a book chapter. She has 20 years experience in investigating human impacts on the environment.

Her research focus is based on enhancing our understanding of the sources, fate and consequences of contaminants in our environment and includes several subthemes:

• ecotoxicology, bioindicators and holistic risk assessment approaches,
• sediment and water quality assessment and management,
• benthic community assessment,
• sustainable practice, rehabilitation and restoration.

She has developed early life stage toxicity tests for corals and is currently working on developing toxicity tests for other tropical marine species, of which very few test methods are available. She has acted as advisor to landholder groups in PNG by providing expertise the assessment of the potential impacts of deep sea mine tailings disposal in coastal regions of PNG.

Awards and Distinctions

Southern Cross University teaching and learning fellowship 2010 ($40 000) Enhancing the place of science education in our community and SCU through a cross fertilisation of science methods and practice and visual arts methods and practice. A. Reichelt-Brushett and J. Smith

Shortlisted for the 2011 SCU Excellence in Community Engagement Awards for 2 sections Academic Impact and Leadership. Dr Amanda Reichelt-Brushett, School of Environmental Science and Management. For providing expertise as a witness in the National Court of Papua New Guinea to speak for landowners in an attempt to stop the disposal of mine tailings into the ocean and the Coral Triangle - a biodiversity hot spot.

Committee, Council, Board Membership

Appointment by Federal Minister Garrett to the review panel for Caring for Country Grants where ~$10M was allocated to projects. October/November 2010.

Appointment by Federal Minister Garrett to the review panel for Coastcare Small Grant where $10M was allocated to projects. October/November 2008.

Appointment by the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for the Environment to the Cape Byron Marine Park Advisory Committee January 2003-December 2006.

Recent Grants

Co-Chief Investigator with Prof. Bradley Eyre in the successful ARC grant ($96 980) -Unravelling Pathways of nitrogen cycling in the sediments of shallow coastal systems using biomarkers, stable isotope tracer experiments and modelling.

Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority –Sustainable Marine Resource Management. 2005 ($10 000) Develop a community awareness and education program to communicate the findings of a water quality study of stormwater outfalls draining the catchment of Lennox Head to local resident.

Cape Byron Marine Park Authority 2005 ($6000) Storm water assessment at Lennox Head –inputs into a Sanctuary Zone.

Postgraduate Research Co-supervision (present and past)

Honours: past and current

2003 Greg Wilkinson - Pasture grass survival after flooding
2004 Robert Hughes - Ecotoxicology of rocky shore species
2005 Joanne Green - Bio-indicators of water quality
2005 Ross Fuller - Nutrient removal from prawn farm effluent
2005 Chris Wilson - Benthic communities around Cook Island
2006 Ben Finn - Oyster breeding for QX resistance
2007 Nick Stanning - Oyster tolerance to temperature
2007 Lachlan Stace - Causes of swimmers itch in Shaws Bay
2009 Pelli MacMahon - Ecotoxicology of treatment bauxol™
2010 David Preston - Crayfish biology for aquaculture consideration
2011 Tiago Freire - Isoelectric points of Bauxite Refinery Residue
2012 James Black - (current student) Marine ecotoxicology

Masters: past and current

Ruth Owler - Fine Scale Biodiversity of Lennox Head Moat (Graduated 2012)
Yuval Kulinsky - Enhancing energy production in algae (Graduated 2011)
Ross Clark - Tropical Marine Ecotoxicology (50% research MSc Graduated 2010)
Simona Trimarchi - TBT contamination of sediments and oysters (50% Research MSc Graduated 2007)
Lisa Roberts - Impacts on corals (Graduated 2003)

PhD: past and current

Darren Akhurst - bioassessment of contamination in a water supply (current)
Pelli Howe - Tropical Marine Ecotoxicology (current)
Joanne Green - Salt marsh rehabilitation and restoration. (Graduated 2010)

Co-supervisor

Kathryn Brown - Antarctic Ecotoxicology (current)
Shane McGrath - Fish responses to impacts from catch and release fishing (current)
Rumeaida Mat Piah - Ecology and suitability of pufferfish as biomonitors (Graduated 2012)

Publications

Journals

Howe, P., Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and Clark, M. (accepted) Aiptasia pulchella: A tropical cnidarians representative for laboratory ecotoxicological research. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. IF 2.809.

Akhurst, D. J., Jones, G., Clark, M., Reichelt-Brushett, A. (accepted) Short term fish biomanipulations in a eutrophic subtropical freshwater reservoir: an experimental assessment using enclosures. LR&M

Akhurst, D., Jones, G., Clark, M., and Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. (accepted) Experimental biomanipulations of fish biomass in a eutrophic subtropical Australian freshwater reservoir. Freshwater Biology. IF 3.290

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and Smith, J. (in press) Connecting Silos -inviting art and science interactions. Leonardo -Art, Science and Technology.

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. (in press) Risk assessment and ecotoxicology –limitations and recommendations in the case of ocean disposal of mine waste. Oceanography IF 2.986

Freire, T., Clark, M., Comarmond, J., Payne, T., Reichelt-Brushett, A., Thorogood, G. (in press) Electroacoustic Isoelectric Point Determinations of Bauxite Refinery Residues: Different Neutralisation Techniques and Minor Mineral Effects. Langmuir IF 4.186

Akhurst, D., Clark, M., Reichelt-Brushett, A., Jones, G. (2012) Elemental speciation and distribution in sediments of a eutrophied subtropical freshwater reservoir using post extraction normalization. Water Air and Soil Pollution. (currently on-line print pages TBA) IF 1.625

Howe, P, Clark, M.W, Reichelt-Brushett, A., Johnston, M. (2011) The ecotoxicology of Bauxite refinery residue liquors after various neutralization techniques. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Vol 30 (12): 2817-2824. IF 2.809

Akhurst, D., Clark, M., Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. Jones, G. (2011) Grain size normalization: A case for post extraction normalization and inclusion of selective extraction procedures. Limnology and Oceanography: methods. Vol 9: 215-231. IF 1.535

Green, J., Reichelt-Brushett, A., Brushett, D., Squires, P., Brooks, L. Jacobs, SWL.. (2010) An Investigation of Soil Algal Abundance Using Chlorophyll a in a Subtropical Saltmarsh after Surface Restoration. Wetlands. Vol 30: 87-98.

Hédouin, L., Reichelt-Brushett, A. And Gates, R. D. (2009) Assessment of metals and a metalloid in sediments from Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Vol 58: 1759-1765. IF 2.503

Green, J., Reichelt-Brushett, A. and Jacobs, SWL (2009). Investigating Gastropod Habitat Associations in Saltmarsh. Wetlands (Australia). Vol 25 (1): 25-37.IF 1.430

Green, J., Reichelt-Brushett, A. and Jacobs, SWL (2009) Re-establishing a saltmarsh vegetation structure in a changing climate. Ecological Management and Restoration. Vol 10 (1): 20-30.

Hughes, R., Reichelt-Brushett, A.J. and Newman, L. (2005) Identifying suitable invertebrate species from a unique habitat for ecotoxicological testing. Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology. 11: 85-92.

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and Harrison, P. L. (2005) The effect of selected trace metals on the fertilization success of several scleractinian corals species. Coral Reefs. 24: 524-534. IF 3.878

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and Michalek-Wagner, K. (2005) Effects of copper on the fertilization success of the soft coral Lobophytum compactum. Aquatic Toxicology. 74 (3) 280-284. IF 3.761

Maddocks, G., Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and Vangronsveld, J. (2005) An assessment of bioaccumulation in Eisenia fetida after exposure to metal loaded Bauxsol™. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 24 (3) 554-565. IF 2.809

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and Harrison, P. L. (2004) Development of a sub-lethal test to determine the effects of copper and lead on scleractinian coral larvae. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 47 (1) 40-55. IF 1.927

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and McOrist, G. (2003) Trace metals in the living and nonliving components of scleractinian corals. Marine Pollution Bulletin 46(12):1573-1582. IF 2.503

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and Harrison, P.L. (2000) The effect of copper on the settlement success of larvae from the scleractinian coral Acropora tenuis. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Vol. 41. pp 385-391. IF 2.503

Reichelt-Brushett, A.J. and Harrison, P.L. (1999) The effect of copper, zinc and cadmium on fertilization success of the scleractinian coral Goniastrea aspera. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Vol 38. pp182-187. IF 2.503

Reichelt, A.J. and Jones, G.B. (1994) Trace metals as tracers of dredging activities in Cleveland Bay -field and laboratory study. Aust. J. Mar. Freshwater Res. Vol 45. pp1237-1257 IF 1.595

Updated: 24 July 2012