1

People and ecosystems

Understanding of the links between coral reef ecosystems, the goods and services they provide to people, and the wellbeing of human societies.

2

Ecosystem dynamics: past, present and future

Examining the multi-scale dynamics of reefs, from population dynamics to macroevolution

3

Responding to a changing world

Advancing the fundamental understanding of the key processes underpinning reef resilience.

Coral Bleaching

Coral Bleaching

Coral Reef Studies

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia

Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au

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The ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies is seeking applications from exceptional students to enroll in a PhD under the supervision of leading researchers at its four nodes around Australia (James Cook University, the Australian National University, the University of Queensland and the University of Western Australia).

The scholarship cycle in Australia is on a calendar basis with closing dates for international and domestic applications between August and October; both with an expected starting date for successful applicants at the beginning of the following year. Suitable applicants will be required to go through a formal application at the relevant University and, if successful, will be awarded a scholarship and tuition waiver. Depending on the University and supervisor, there may be the possibility, in the case of outstanding applicants, for a top-up to their scholarship. To be competitive for a scholarship and fee waiver, applicants must have an Honours degree or Masters degree, preferably with a publication if you are international.

Many student applicants come with scholarships from another funding source such as granting agencies in their home country. We are happy to deal with these applications at any time of the year. Acceptance is dependent on the applicant meeting our academic criteria, has been accepted by a suitable supervisor and meets the language requirements.

The following leading researchers in the Centre have expressed an interest in recruiting new exceptional PhD students. Their email addresses and areas of interest for research projects are listed below. If you are interested, please contact one of the following to discuss opportunities.

Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics
Conservation Planning
Coral Reef Ecology
Coral Reef Oceanography
Ecological Modelling
Environmental Governance
Human Dimensions and Social-Ecological Systems
Coral Reef Ecology and Biology
Ocean Acidification and Climate Change
Reef Fish Ecology and Climate Change

Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics

Professor David Miller
Email: david.miller@jcu.edu.au

  • Molecular mechanisms of immunity and disease in corals
  • Coral – microbe interactions, particularly mechanisms by which corals manipulate associated bacteria
  • Developmental biology and metamorphosis in soft and hard corals
  • The molecular mechanisms of calcification in corals, octocorals and calcareous sponges
  • Comparative genomics of corals and other “lower” animals
  • Stress responses and epigenetics of hard and soft corals

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Conservation Planning

Professor Bob Pressey
Email: bob.pressey@jcu.edu.au

  • Design of marine protected areas and use-zones within them
  • Implementation requirements for turning conservation plans into conservation action: social, economic and political considerations
  • Testing the effectiveness of marine habitats as surrogates for species distributions
  • Planning to promote the persistence of ecological processes, including dispersal of larvae between reefs and patch dynamics of disturbance and resources
  • Integrated conservation planning for coastal catchments and near-shore marine areas
  • Improved ways of incorporating social and economic considerations into planning decisions
  • Explaining and predicting reserve management costs from internal and external drivers
  • Measuring the impact (difference made) by conservation reserves

Dr Alana Grech
Email: alana.grech@jcu.edu.au

  • Spatial planning and coastal management
  • Cumulative impact and risk assessments
  • Biophysical modelling of marine plant dispersal and connectivity

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Coral Reef Ecology

Professor David Bellwood
Email: david.bellwood@jcu.edu.au

  • Evolution and ecology of reef fishes.
  • The global biogeography of coral reef species
  • Developing new technologies for coral reef regeneration and recovery
  • Understanding the importance of biodiversity on coral reefs
  • Identifying critical ecosystem processes on coral reefs
  • Evaluating the role of herbivorous fishes in reef systems
  • Understanding direct human impacts and climate change on ecosystem processes
  • Using fossils and phylogenies to unravel the evolution of reef fishes

Dr Andrew Hoey
Email: andrew.hoey1@jcu.edu.au

  • Resilience and recovery of reef systems
  • The role of macroalgae and ecological feedbacks in reef dynamics
  • Anthropogenic and climate change effects on ecosystem function
  • Biology, ecology and role of herbivorous fishes on coral reefs
  • Effects of temperature on reef processes

Professor Peter Mumby
Email: p.j.mumby@uq.edu.au

  • Coral reef resilience
  • Marine reserve design
  • Management of reef fisheries and their productivity
  • Climate change impacts on ecosystem function
  • Mapping ecosystem services
  • Modelling coral reef futures with different management scenarios

Professor John Pandolfi
Email: j.pandolfi@uq.edu.au

  • Effects of climate change on tropical and sub-tropical coral reefs
  • Ecological dynamics of coral reef ecosystems over broad spatial and temporal scales
  • Uncovering shifting baselines to guide reef management actions
  • Historical ecology of fishing in Australia
  • The origins and evolutionary turnover of Indo-Pacific reef biodiversity

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Coral Reef Oceanography

Professor Ryan Lowe
Email: Ryan.Lowe@uwa.edu.au

My research focuses on how ocean dynamics shape coral reef systems, using a combination of field studies and numerical modelling. Students with quantitative backgrounds in oceanography, the geosciences, or related fields are especially encouraged to discuss research opportunities.

  • Hydrodynamics of coral reef systems
  • Process-based modelling studies of reef dynamics
  • Biophysical interactions within coral reefs
  • Coral reef carbonate budgets and response to environmental change
  • Mechanisms of coral reef connectivity
  • Tropical cyclone impacts on reefs
  • Downscaling ocean climate change to local reefs

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Ecological Modelling

Professor Peter Mumby

Email: p.j.mumby@uq.edu.au

  • Future dynamics of coral reefs under climate change and role of management interventions
  • Ecosystem function and ecosystem services
  • Coral reef resilience. Enquiries to Professor Mumby regarding a PhD scholarship are welcome

Professor Graeme Cumming
Email: graeme.cumming@jcu.edu.au

  • Ecosystem structure-process relationships, spatial resilience, and collapse

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Environmental Governance

Associate Professor Tiffany Morrison
Email: tiffany.morrison@jcu.edu.au

  • Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the political dynamics of large scale governance systems
  • Longitudinal transformation of large-scale governance systems in tropical, coastal and marine regions
  • The role of large organisations (public, private, non-profit) in transformative governance
  • Adaptation of governance to large-scale crisis

Dr. Michele Barnes
Email: Michele.barnes@jcu.edu.au

  • Social networks, social capital, and environmental outcomes
  • Social-ecological networks
  • Adaptation, transformation, and multi-level resilience
  • Inequality, power, and sociocultural diversity in coastal communities

Professor Graeme Cumming
Email: mailto:graeme.cumming@jcu.edu.au

  • Landscape ecology of institutions

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Human Dimensions and Social-Ecological Systems

Dr. Michele Barnes
Email: Michele.barnes@jcu.edu.au

  • Social networks, social capital, and environmental outcomes
  • Social-ecological networks
  • Adaptation, transformation, and multi-level resilience
  • Inequality, power, and sociocultural diversity in coastal communities

Professor Graeme Cumming
Email: graeme.cumming@jcu.edu.au

  • Modelling coral reef-associated social-ecological systems and their resilience
  • Quantitative analysis of social-ecological collapse

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Coral Biology and Ecology

Professor Andrew Baird
Email: andrew.baird@jcu.edu.au

  • Coral life histories
  • Coral systematics

Dr Mia Hoogenboom
Email: mia.hoogenboom1@jcu.edu.au

  • Impacts of climate change on corals and reefs
  • Ecological modelling: from individuals to ecosystems
  • Effects of pollution on reef organisms
  • Trait-based approaches to understanding coral communities
  • Ecosystem function of corals

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Ocean Acidification and Climate Change

Professor Malcolm McCulloch
Email: malcolm.mcCulloch@uwa.edu.au

My research program focusses on the response of corals to climate change and ocean acidification. Students with a background in geochemistry and biochemistry are especially encouraged to discuss research opportunities.

  • Quantifying biogenic controls on coral calcification in an acidifying ocean
  • Growth and survival of coral at their extreme limits
  • Long-term coral proxy records of climate change including ocean acidification, ocean warming and river runoff.
  • Role of local versus regional drivers on coral reef ecosystems

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Reef Fish Ecology and Climate Change

Professor Geoff Jones
Email: geoffrey.jones@jcu.edu.au

  • Connectivity of reef fish populations
  • Influence of habitat loss on threatened reef fishes
  • Behavioural ecology of coral reef fishes
  • Role of marine reserves in biodiversity conservation and fisheries
  • Coral reef conservation in the coral triangle

Professor Mark McCormick
Email: mark.mccormick@jcu.edu.au

  • Climate Change and the Demography of Reef Fish Assemblages

Professor Garry Russ
Email: garry.russ@jcu.edu.au

  • Fisheries on coral reefs

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Media Releases

More
13 Nov 2019
Healthy mangroves help coral reef fisheries under climate stress

A new study highlights how healthy mangroves can help some coral reef fish navigate the impacts of climate change. Co-author Professor Peter Mumby, from the ARC Centre of Excellence at the Universi
07 Nov 2019
Waterways of QLD and the Great Barrier Reef are suffering from pesticide management failure

Scientists say a failure of national management means excessive amounts of harmful chemicals—many now banned in other countries such as the EU, USA and Canada—are damaging the nation’s waterways
04 Nov 2019
Clear goals but murky path to sustainability

As biodiversity loss continues at an alarming rate across the globe a new study identifies what is needed to tackle the root causes of the problems. International sustainability policies set clear
01 Nov 2019
Coral study prompts rethink of classic scientific theory

A world-first study is challenging long-held assumptions about the role of sunlight in coral biodiversity. The research questions a classic theory that predicts coral biodiversity is highest in th

Seminars

More
21 Nov
Symbioses in the marine environment: analysis of the photosynthetic amoeba Paulinella and stony corals

Abstract:  I will talk about what we have learned from studying symbioses in algae and corals. Origin of the photosynthetic organelle in algae led to the major rewiring of host metabolic pathw
16 Oct
Demography and Resilience: Varied approaches to understanding their relationship in coral reef fish assemblages

Abstract: Because coastal fisheries have been a major provider of food and economic growth in modern human history, the inherent characteristics of fish populations have been studied by researchers f
03 Oct
The ‘Climate Vulnerability Index’ (CVI) – a scientific and repeatable method to rapidly assess climate threats to the world’s natural and cultural heritage

Abstract Climate change is the fastest-growing global threat to the world's natural and cultural heritage. No systematic approach to assess climate vulnerability of protected areas and their communit
24 Sep
Continuing collapse, prognosis and antidotes for Tasmania’s reef ecosystem

Abstract:  This presentation will provide an updated prognosis of the overgrazing collapse of kelp beds driven by the range-extending sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) and outline antidotes cur
05 Sep
Is the Barrier Reef still Great? Long Term Monitoring Program by AIMS

Abstract: Disturbances are fundamental to structuring many ecosystems, yet climate-driven alterations to disturbance regimes may prevent recovery in many biomes. Coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef
30 Aug
Modelling tools for the management of Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract: Outbreaks of the corallivorous Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris) have been responsible for 40% of the decline in coral cover on the GBR over the last 35 years. With
29 Aug
A social-ecological network approach reveals how interdependencies mediate adaptive action and cooperation

Abstract: Complex interdependencies between social and ecological dynamics underpin many important environmental problems. To account for these complex dynamics, over the past several years my collea
22 Aug
Regulatory Implications of Coral Reef Restoration and Adaptation under a Changing Climate

Abstract: Coral reef restoration is gaining momentum globally in response to the threat of climate change and associated coral bleaching.  In Australia, as part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptatio

Australian Research Council Pandora

Partner Research Institutions

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Coral Reef Studies

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia

Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au

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