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 candidate
Assistant Research Fellow, University of Otago (2017)
Laboratory Demonstrator, University of Otago (2016)
B.Sc. (Hons) with First Class in Neuroscience, University of Otago, New Zealand | B.Sc. Zoology and Neuroscience, University of Otago, New Zealand.
James Cook University
I am a PhD student investigating the neurobiological mechanisms through which ocean acidification effects marine invertebrate behaviours, using squid as a model organism. In other words, how do increased levels of CO2 lead to changes in behaviour in marine invertebrates? I am supervised by Prof. Philip Munday and Dr Sue-Ann Watson. My previous research has focused on the neuroendocrine regulatory mechanisms and molecular mechanisms underlying female to male sex change in sequentially hermaphroditic fish. Broadly, I am interested in the intersection of neuroscience and zoology, in particular marine animals, and the role of the brain in behaviour and phenotypic plasticity.
The neurobiological mechanisms through which ocean acidification effects marine invertebrate behaviours.
2019. Conservation and diversity in expression of candidate genes regulating socially-induced female-male sex change in wrasses. PeerJ 7:e7032 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7032
Thomas JT, Liu H, Todd EV, Gemmell NJ (2018). Sex Change in Fish. In M. K. Skinner (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Reproduction. vol. 6, pp. 192–197. Academic Press: Elsevier. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.20555-4
Todd EV, Liu H, Lamm MS, Rutherford K, Godwin JR, Thomas JT, Gemmell NJ (2017). Female mimicry by sneaker males has a transcriptomic signature in both the brain and gonad in a sex changing fish. Molecular Biology and Evolution 35: 225 – 241. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msx293
Thomas JT, Todd EV, Liu H, Lamm MS, Rutherford K, Godwin JR, Lokman PM, Gemmell NJ (2017). The proceedings of the 238th meeting of the OMSRS: Investigating early genetic regulators of sex change in labrid fish. New Zealand Medical Journal 130: 88. https://search.proquest.com/openview/044d02f1665c94f4f18b6853d093e352/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1056335
Thomas JT, Watson SA, Phil M (2019). Cephalopod behaviour at near-future carbon dioxide levels. Poster. International Behavioural Neuroscience Society 28th Annual Meeting, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Link to poster
Thomas JT, Todd EV, Liu H, Lamm MS, Rutherford K, Godwin JR, Lokman PR and Gemmell NJ (2017). Investigating early genetic regulators of sex change in labrid fish. Otago Medical School Research Society Summer Student Speaker Awards, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Thomas JT, Todd EV, Liu H, Lamm MS, Godwin JR, Muncaster S, Lokman PM and Gemmell NJ (2017). Early genetic regulators of sex change in fish. Poster. Annual Conference of the Genetics Society of Australasia with the NZ Society For Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dunedin, New Zealand. Link to poster
Thomas JT, Todd EV, Liu H, Lamm MS, Rutherford K, Godwin JR, Lokman PR and Gemmell NJ (2016). Investigating potential early regulators of teleost sex change: A candidate gene approach in the bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum). 5th Australian Sex Summit, Lancefielld, Victoria, Australia.
Thomas JT (2016). Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying teleost sex change. Anatomy Research Day, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Thomas JT, Todd EV, Liu H, Lamm MS, Rutherford K, Godwin JR, Lokman PM and Gemmell NJ (2016). Investigating potential early regulators of teleost sex change: A candidate gene approach in the bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum). Zoology Postgraduate Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Prestige Research Training Program Stipend, James Cook University (2018)
Runner up at the Otago Medical School Research Society, Summer Student Speaker Awards (2017)
First Prize for oral presentation, Zoology Postgraduate Symposium, University of Otago (2016)
Department of Anatomy, University of Otago Travel Fund (2016)
University of Otago Neuroscience Prize (2016)
Summer Research Scholarship, Health Science, University of Otago (2016)
Premiere Undergraduate Prize (Science), University of Otago (2015)
GH Satchell Prize, General Excellence in Zoology, University of Otago (2015)
University of Otago Women’s Scholarship (2014)
Summer Reserarch Scholarship, Marine Institue of the University of Auckland (2014)
University of Otago Scholarship in Science (2013)
The University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship (2012)
Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) Professor Terry Hughes was recently awarded an honorary Doctor in Science from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Pr
Scientists say coral reefs on a tiny island in the South Pacific have shown incredible resilience and recovery from a recent but very severe disturbance: a volcanic eruption that created a new island.
A flotilla of Vietnamese fishing boats with crews suffering in harsh conditions is stripping Pacific coral reefs of seafood as the poaching escalates to become an international human rights and securi
In a study published today, scientists report that the long-term success of clownfish depends more on living in a good neighbourhood than it does on good genes. The natural home of the clownfish is
Abstract: I will talk about what we have learned from studying symbioses in algae and corals. Origin of the photosynthetic organelle in algae led to the major rewiring of host metabolic pathw
Abstract: Because coastal fisheries have been a major provider of food and economic growth in modern human history, the inherent characteristics of fish populations have been studied by researchers f
Abstract Climate change is the fastest-growing global threat to the world's natural and cultural heritage. No systematic approach to assess climate vulnerability of protected areas and their communit
Abstract: This presentation will provide an updated prognosis of the overgrazing collapse of kelp beds driven by the range-extending sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) and outline antidotes cur
Abstract: Disturbances are fundamental to structuring many ecosystems, yet climate-driven alterations to disturbance regimes may prevent recovery in many biomes. Coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef
Abstract: Outbreaks of the corallivorous Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris) have been responsible for 40% of the decline in coral cover on the GBR over the last 35 years. With
Abstract: Complex interdependencies between social and ecological dynamics underpin many important environmental problems. To account for these complex dynamics, over the past several years my collea
Abstract: Coral reef restoration is gaining momentum globally in response to the threat of climate change and associated coral bleaching. In Australia, as part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptatio
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
Researchers
Students
Alumni
Management