Dr Christopher J Fulton

Chief Investigator

Lecturer (2006-present), Post-doctoral researcher, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, JCU (2005-2006). BSc (Hons) PhD James Cook University Member of: Australian Coral Reef Society, American Society of Limnology & Oceanography, International Coral Reef Society, Australian Society for Fish Biology (Exec Council). Research Interests Select Publications Chris's ANU website

Research Interests

• Biophysical coupling in coral reef ecosystems
• Reef fish behavioural ecology
• Ecophysiology of coral reef fish

I take a multidisciplinary approach to my research on biophysical coupling in coral reef ecosystems, which seeks to uncover causal linkages between the physical environment and patterns of coral reef biodiversity and ecosystem function.
Taking a community-wide view, I combine techniques from several diverse fields (e.g. biomechanics, physiology, behavioural ecology, oceanography) to demonstrate how and why groups of coral reef species change their morphology, behaviour and/or distribution patterns in response to variations in their physical environment (e.g. temperature, water motion).
I use this information to build analytical models that explain patterns of biodiversity across environmental gradients, and to help predict how coral reef communities will respond to environmental change.

 

Select Publications

Fulton, C. J. (in press) The role of swimming in reef fish ecology. In: Domenici P, Kapoor BG (eds) Fish swimming: an etho-ecological perspective. Chapter 12, Science Publishers, Enfield.

Bellwood, D.R., Fulton, C.J. 2008. Sediment-mediated suppression of herbivory on coral reefs: Decreasing resilience to rising sea levels and climate change? Limnology and Oceanography 53, 2695-2701.

Johansen, J.L., Bellwood, D.R., Fulton, C.J. 2008. Coral reef fishes exploit flow refuges in high-flow habitats. Marine Ecology Progress Series 360, 219-226.

Depczynski M, Fulton CJ, Marnane MJ, Bellwood DR 2007. Life history patterns shape energy allocation among fishes on coral reefs. Oecologia 153,111-120

Fulton CJ. 2007. Swimming speed performance in coral reef fishes: field validations reveal distinct functional groups. Coral Reefs 26, 217-228.

Johansen, J.L., Fulton, CJ, Bellwood, D.R. 2007. Avoiding the flow: refuges expand the swimming potential of coral reef fishes. Coral Reefs 26, 577-583.

Johansen JL, Fulton CJ, Bellwood DR. 2007. Estimating the sustained swimming ability of coral reef fishes. Marine and Freshwater Research 58, 233-239.

Bellwood DR, Wainwright PC, Fulton CJ, Hoey AS. 2006. Functional versatility supports coral reef biodiversity. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B   273, 101-107.

Fulton CJ, Bellwood DR. 2005. Wave-induced water motion and the functional implications for coral reef fish assemblages. Limnology & Oceanography 50, 255-264.

Fulton CJ, Bellwood DR, Wainwright PC. 2005. Wave energy and swimming performance shape coral reef fish assemblages. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 272, 827-832.

Fulton CJ, Bellwood DR. 2004. Wave exposure, swimming performance, and the structure of tropical and temperate reef fish assemblages. Marine Biology 144, 429-437.

Fulton CJ, Bellwood DR. 2002. Ontogenetic habitat use in labrid fishes: an ecomorphological perspective. Marine Ecology Progress Series 236, 255-262.

Bellwood, DR, Wainwright PC, Fulton CJ, Hoey AS. 2002. Assembly rules and functional groups at global biogeographical scales. Functional Ecology 16, 557-562.

Fulton CJ, Bellwood DR. 2002. Patterns of foraging in labrid fishes. Marine Ecology Progress Series 226, 135-142.

Fulton CJ, Bellwood DR, Wainwright PC. 2001. The relationship between swimming ability and habitat use in wrasses (Labridae). Marine Biology 139, 25-33.