The future for sharks: adapt, move, or die
A new study suggests sharks will need to adapt, move or die as climate change could soon render their nurseries uninhabitable. Baby sharks rely on coastal nursery-like spaces such as shallow lagoons
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
Townsville-based marine biologist, Dr Sue-Ann Watson has been named Queensland Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year.
The prestigious award recognises Dr Watson’s work at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) at James Cook University on the effects of rising carbon dioxide on coral reef organisms.
Dr Watson has recently shown that ocean acidification not only harms invertebrate shell production, but also impairs the behaviour of marine animals.
“These altered response interactions, due to rising carbon dioxide, can affect an animals response to its predators, and could have far-reaching implications for marine food webs,” she says.
Dr Watson says it’s an honour to be recognised for her research.
“I am delighted, it is such an honour to be part of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) Young Tall Poppy program,” she says.
“I’m looking forward to participating in the science communication and community outreach activities that the Young Tall Poppy scheme provides to help promote science among school students and the broader community.”
Dr Pip Cohen, a scientist with the international research organisation WorldFish and a graduate and Adjunct Research Fellow in the Coral CoE, has also received one of Queensland’s Young Tall Poppy Awards for her work on small-scale fisheries governance among the least developed nations in the Pacific.
Dr Cohen uses interdisciplinary research to address the urgent need to improve environmental sustainability and food security in developing countries.
She has worked with economists, ecologists and anthropologists to produce a framework to guide integrated conservation policies.
“My research is conducted in developing countries, and as much as possible, by working alongside local fishing communities and national governments,” says Dr Cohen.
“This means I regularly need to communicate my science and make sure it can help answer questions of concern to those communities and countries.”
“The Tall Poppies award recognises the importance of communicating science for the benefit of the community, whether that is talking to school children or holding discussions with fishing communities on Pacific Islands,” Dr Cohen says.
The Australian Institute of Policy and Science established the Young Tall Poppy awards in 1998 to recognise and celebrate Australian intellectual and scientific excellence.
The award aims to encourage young Australians to follow in the footsteps of Australia’s outstanding achievers and to help raise the profile of science in the broader community.
Recipients are encouraged to give their time to outreach programs, working with teachers and students to promote the study of science and careers in the field.
Dr Sue-Ann Watson, +61 (0) 7 4781 5672, sueann.watson@jcu.edu.au
Dr Pip Cohen, +61 (0) 400 468 255, p.cohen@cgiar.org
Eleanor Gregory, Coral CoE Communications, +61 (0) 428 785 895, eleanor.gregory@jcu.edu.au
A new study suggests sharks will need to adapt, move or die as climate change could soon render their nurseries uninhabitable. Baby sharks rely on coastal nursery-like spaces such as shallow lagoons
Scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) this week received two prestigious awards for their interdisciplinary work on solving environmental problems. The Aus
Researchers have found a new way to distinguish and identify coral species—providing crucial information to help manage coral reefs in a warming world. Co-author Professor Andrew Baird from the A
A new study reveals the impacts of multiple climate extremes on coral reefs over the past three decades, with only 2% of the Great Barrier Reef escaping bleaching in that time. Lead author Professor
This talk is the last of the parachute science seminar series organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract Universities and institutions across th
This talk is the second of three on parachute science being organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract For millenia, Traditional Owners have hel
This talk is the first of three on parachute science being organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract Parachute science is the practice whereby
ABSTRACT Climate change loss and damage is known as the “third pillar” of international climate governance in addition to mitigation and adaptation. Although there is no agreed upon definition,
Abstract: The coral reefs of Western Australia (WA) are morphologically diverse, with high levels of biodiversity and endemism. Carbonate forming reefs occur along 20o of latitude, and more than
Abstract: Rainforests are much more than exotic and wondrous fauna and flora, they are the ancestral domain of Indigenous Peoples who have safeguarded them since time immemorial. Learn about this thr
Abstract: Ecological conditions on coral reefs are shifting. Fishes are an integral part of these restructuring ecosystems and can support ecological stability. However, the extent to which fishes wi
ABSTRACT This presentation reports on a journal paper being drafted that has been around 10 years in the making. I set out a long time ago to settle the arguments around protected areas being resid
Partner Research Institutions
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