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)
Rocky habitats support high levels of biodiversity and endemism, but also are under severe threat from human activities, and thus active habitat management is necessary to maintain species assemblages. My talk will focus on the conservation and management of rock-dwelling reptiles in temperate regions, which rely on sun-exposed sandstone rocks throughout much of the year. Sun exposure causes these rocks to reach relatively high temperatures, allowing ectotherms thermoregulate even when ambient temperatures are quite low. The availability of these “hot rocks” in the landscape is limited, and has been reduced by three main processes: (1) vegetation overgrowth (shading), (2) human disturbance of rocks, and (3) illegal removal of rocks (“bushrock removal”). Because a reduction in the availability of rocks can negatively influence population sizes of rock-dwelling reptiles, understanding how these threats impact fauna is vital to designing effective conservation and management programmes. My talk will discuss the nature of these threats, their impacts on fauna, and how landscape-scale restoration efforts can help improve habitat quality for rock-dwelling species. I will focus on Australia’s most endangered snake, the broad-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bungaroides), and its main prey, velvet geckos (Oedura lesueurii), but will reveal general conservation and management implications for a wide array of species inhabiting these systems.
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
