Researchers
Students
Alumni
ManagementDarren Coker
PhD graduate
James Cook University
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
Darren grew up in New Zealand, but later moved to Australia where he completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Marine Biology at James Cook University. Following this, he completed a PhD at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (ARC CoE CRS) and Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville Australia. His PhD investigated the importance of live coral habitats for reef fishes and its role in moderating key ecological processes. He was supervised by Prof. Morgan Pratchett, Prof. Philip Munday, Dr. Nicholas Graham (ARC CoE CRS), Dr. Shaun Wilson (Department of Environment and Conservation, WA) and Dr. Aaron MacNeil (AIMS). He since completed a 12-month research fellowship with Prof. Morgan Pratchett and Dr. Vanessa Messmer at the ARC CoE CRS, investigating the effects of climate change on commercially important reef fishes. Darren is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Red Sea Research Centre at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Here, his research focuses on reef fish ecology, biodiversity patterns, cryptobenthic reef fish communities, and reef disturbance in the Red Sea.
New research on the Great Barrier Reef associates severe coral loss with substantial increases in the size of large, long-living herbivorous fish. However, the ecosystem is also left vulnerable to cra
Though coral reefs are in sharp decline across the world, scientists say some reefs can still thrive with plentiful fish stocks, high fish biodiversity, and well-preserved ecosystem functions. An i
Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its third coral bleaching event in just five years. The 2020 bleaching is severe, and more widespread than earlier events. “We surveyed 1,0
Stunning ‘gardens’ of deep-sea corals have been discovered in the Bremer Canyon Marine Park by Australian and international scientists during an oceanographic expedition aboard Schmidt Ocean Insti
Abstract: The dynamics of metapopulations are governed by many factors, including the spatial structure of populations across the landscape, life-history characteristics, demographic processes, and t
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Abstract: Achieving sustainable development requires scientists, decision-makers and practitioners to understand and work with synergies and trade-offs among the social, economic and environmental co
Abstract: In this talk you will discover that my research encompasses a diverse range of projects associated with ecology and fisheries across a variety of species. As such, I will discuss the findin
Abstract: Wildlife crime is a significant global problem that undermines efforts to protect the environment, applies immense pressure to often fragile social and cultural structures and deprives econ
Abstract: The talk will provide an early account of the severity and extent of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in 2020, and how it compares with earlier mass bleaching in 1998, 2002, 2016 a
Abstract: The continuing and rapid global decline of coral reefs calls for new approaches to sustain reefs and the millions of people who depend on them. In this talk, I present ongoing work by my re
Abstract: International conflict over fishery resources is a growing security concern. Increasing incidences of conflict, diminishing fishery resources and climate impacts on marine systems have aler
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