DNA reveals the past and future of coral reefs
New DNA techniques are being used to understand how coral reacted to the end of the last ice age in order to better predict how they will cope with current changes to the climate. James Cook Univer
From 2005 to 2022, the main node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies was headquartered at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland (Australia)
Originally from Victoria, Mia studied in Canberra and Indonesia before moving to Townsville to complete her PhD at James Cook University in 2008. In recent years Mia has undertaken research fellowships at the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and at the University of Glasgow before returning to the Centre of Excellence in January 2011. Mia’s research focuses on understanding the causes of intra- and inter-specific variation in the energy budgets of corals and fishes, and the consequences of such variation for the ecology of populations and communities.
Metabolism is the ‘fire of life’ and rates of energy use influence individual growth and reproduction. In this seminar I present data from experimental studies on temperate corals and freshwater fish that quantify the causes and consequences of individual differences in metabolic rate. For temperate corals, the balance of energy acquisition from photosynthesis versus heterotrophic feeding controls energy allocation between tissue growth and calcification. That is, environmental conditions control whether corals decide to grow tissue or skeleton. For freshwater fishes, differences in hormone content of eggs affect competitive ability of offspring. Competitive ability is programmed by metabolic rates of individuals, but the consequences of differences in metabolism depend on food availability and predictability. These studies show that small differences in physiology can have large consequences for individual performance.
New DNA techniques are being used to understand how coral reacted to the end of the last ice age in order to better predict how they will cope with current changes to the climate. James Cook Univer
A new study on the effects of climate change in five tropical countries has found fisheries are in more trouble than agriculture, and poor people are in the most danger. Distinguished Profess
James Cook University researchers have found brightly coloured fish are becoming increasingly rare as coral declines, with the phenomenon likely to get worse in the future. Christopher Hemingson, a
Researchers working with stakeholders in the Great Barrier Reef region have come up with ideas on how groups responsible for looking after the reef can operate more effectively when the next bleaching
Abstract: As marine species adapt to climate change, their heat tolerance will likely be under strong selection. Individual variation in heat tolerance and its heritability underpin the potential fo
Abstract: The Reef Ecology Lab in KAUST’s Red Sea Research Center explores many aspects of movement ecology of marine organisms, ranging from adult migrations to intergenerational larval dispersal
Abstract: Macroalgal meadows are a prominent, yet often maligned component of the tropical seascape. Our work at Ningaloo reef in WA demonstrate that canopy forming macroalgae provide habitat for ad
Abstract: Sharks are generally perceived as strong and fearsome animals. With fossils dating back at least 420 million years, sharks are not only majestic top predators but they also outlived dinosa
Abstract: Connectivity plays a vital role in many ecosystems through its effects on fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes. Its consequences for populations and metapopulations have been
Abstract: Evolution of many eukaryotic organisms is affected by interactions with microbes. Microbial symbioses can ultimately reflect host’s diet, habitat range, and even body shape. However, how
Abstract: The past few years have seen unprecedented coral bleaching and mortality on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) but the consequences of this on biodiversity are not yet known. This talk will expl
Partner Research Institutions
