Alastair Harborne
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
PhD, University of Exeter
University of Queensland
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
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
PhD, University of Exeter
University of Queensland
Following work at an NGO using volunteers to conduct coral-reef surveys, I completed my PhD at the University of Exeter (UK) in 2007. My PhD thesis was entitled “The ecology of coral reef communities at seascape scales”, and focused on how considering Caribbean marine habitats at seascape scales provides novel insights into their ecology and conservation. I then completed an early career fellowship at the University of Exeter, examining the relevative importance of different processes (e.g. predation and habitat quality) controlling the abundance of reef fishes. In 2012 I began an ARC DECRA Research Fellowship at the University of Queensland, focusing on the migration and feeding ecology of reef fishes on reef flats, and to integrate these data into models of how food webs vary with tidal state. In addition to insights into reef fish ecology in shallow water, the research will examine the implication of sea-level rise on the tropho-dynamics of shallow reef habitats.
My over-arching research interests are to provide novel insights into the to the ecology of coral-reef fishes, and to aid the conservation of fish populations. My research examines the processes (abiotic and biotic) controlling both the abundance of individual coral reef fish species and the diversity and trophic structure of entire communities of fishes across seascapes, and the functional role of different habitat types (e.g. nursery habitats). My research also addresses how the ecology, population demographics, and trophic functioning of fishes will be affected by a range of stressors, particularly climate change, over-fishing, and decreasing habitat quality. Such data are important for designing optimal conservation strategies. I am also interested in the impacts of marine reserves, addressing questions of the direct impact of cessation of fishing on fish populations and also the indirect effects of trophic cascades driven by increases in predatory species. My primary research focus is on coral reef ecosystems in both the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean, but I also have a growing interest in sub-tropical reefs.
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
A new study has delivered a stark warning about the impacts of urban growth on the world’s coral reefs. As coastal developments expand at pace around the world, a year-long study of coral on a reef
Alarming new research shows global warming of 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial levels will be catastrophic for almost all coral reefs – including those once thought of as refuges. Associate Profes
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
Abstract: Molecular approaches have revolutionised our understanding of the systematics and evolution of most branches on the tree of life, including corals. Over the last twenty-five years molecula
Abstract: Outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are a major driver of coral decline across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and compound upon the impacts of increasingly frequent and severe coral
Abstract: Being a new staff member at JCU, I will start with a short overview of my research. Next I will zoom in on a specific topic that I have been interested in for a long time: the impact of e
Abstract: The harsh truth is that, despite exciting innovations and increases in activity, ocean conservation is not succeeding, at least not fast enough. This is my conclusion from the last decad
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
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