David Feary

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

PhD Graduate

James Cook University

dfeary@inweh.unu.edu

From New Zealand, David completed a Masters degree at the Leigh Marine Laboratory in Auckland. However, warmer temperatures and exceedingly diverse reef fish communities drew him to Australia where he completed his PhD in 2007, examining the role of coral loss in structuring tropical reef fish communities. At present he is working at the United Nations University-INWEH: a post-doctoral position under Professor Peter Sale, based in Dubai, UAE

Media Releases

29 Sep 2021

There’s still a long way to go to bridge the gender and economic gaps in coral reef science

Coral reef research remains disproportionately guided by men from the US and Australia, often excluding scientists from countries with the greatest extent of coral reefs. A new paper published in F

06 Sep 2021

Corals roll with the punches

A new study suggests corals may be able to cope with climate change in the coming decades better than previously thought—but will still struggle with ever-faster rates of climate change. Lead aut

26 Jul 2021

Measuring conservation in a way that counts

A new study raises questions on whether current conservation science and policy for protected areas could be saving more biodiversity—with political and economic expediency often having taken prece

13 Jul 2021

Banishing bandits: other countries bear the cost

A new study reveals the strategies that stop bandits from illegally fishing in Australian waters—but warns there is a cost to the region’s poorer countries. Co-author Dr Brock Bergseth, from th

Seminars

06 Oct

Coral Reefs of Western Australia

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

23 Sep

Rainforests: More than biodiversity

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

15 Sep

Space use by reef fishes – more than the science of “where”

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

09 Sep

Protected areas as “worthless lands”

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 residu

01 Sep

An emerging tool to quantify fish resources on coral reefs

Abstract: Contemporary global changes have put the capacity of future reefs to continue providing fish and fisheries production in jeopardy. Understanding future trends will require innovative and ac

18 Aug

The value of marine reserves for fish and fisheries

Abstract: No-take marine reserves are a cornerstone of marine ecosystem management in Australia, though they are rarely considered as an effective fisheries management strategy. Yet, by accumulating

11 Aug

Knowledge co-production in marine conservation: working across NGOs and academia

Abstract: There are increasing calls to deliver effective, equitable marine conservation – particularly in places where coastal communities are dependent on their natural resources for a range of be

04 Aug

Evolutionary Management of coral-reef fisheries using phylogenies to predict density dependence

Abstract: Harvesting models are based upon the ideology that removing large, old individuals provides space for young, fast-growing counterparts that can maximize (fisheries) yields while maintaining