People

Christopher grew up on the coast of Texas, in the United States. His love for the ocean blossomed at a very young age when he would frequently vacation to the beach during summer months. When Chris was a teenager, he and his family became certified to SCUBA dive. Following this were many trips to various locations around the Caribbean to dive on coral reef ecosystems. It was at this time that he realised he wanted to pursue a career involving the marine environment. He received a Bachelor’s of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University (gig ‘em!) but his love for coral reef ecosystems brought him to James Cook University. Upon completion of his Masters of Science under the supervision of Professor David Bellwood, he decided to further pursue research by embarking on a PhD. Chris and his advisers, David Bellwood and Peter Cowman, aim to investigate questions involving the vast diversity of colouration and patterns present in reef fish taxa. They are looking into both the evolutionary basis and the ecological role that colour and patterns serve on coral reefs.