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)
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 have degraded significantly since the 1980s, and their capacity to recover is uncertain. Here I report on the current status of the GBR following many years of cumulative impacts from disturbances. I also show that while regional coral recovery and re-assembly began on numerous occasions between 1986 and 2018, increases in the spatial extent and frequency of climate induced disturbances have exceeded the capacity for complete recovery and re-assembly. Increased frequency of cyclones and mass bleaching of corals caused a net decline in coral cover on the GBR over the three decades, with coral cover in the northern GBR reaching the lowest recorded levels in 2017. The large spatial footprint and severity of coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017 epitomises an escalation from uncommon events of limited extent and severity, to new disturbance regimes where there is insufficient time between disturbances for complete recovery.
Biography: Mike is a coral reef ecologist on the AIMS Long Term Monitoring Team. His background is in reef fish ecology and behaviour, but has recently crossed to the dark side to embrace the world of fish habitat. He undertook his tertiary education at James Cook University where he finished an Honours degree last century, eventually succumbing to the allure of an adult gig by completing a PhD at the Centre of Excellence at JCU under the supervision of Prof. Morgan Pratchett in 2017. Mike’s current interests include examining the effects of disturbances on the status of fish and corals of the Great Barrier Reef.
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
