People

Appointments:

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, ARC Centre for Coral Reef Studies (2012-present)

Education:

• PhD, James Cook University (2011)
• Graduate Diploma of Research Methods, James Cook University (2006)
• BA Biology, The Colorado College (2002)

Research Interests:

• Seascape ecology
• Marine conservation biology
• Fish-habitat interactions
• Larval connectivity
• Competition for resources

My research is motivated by innate curiosity in the natural world and also a keen interest in answering questions that can inform conservation and management efforts. In 2012, I joined the CoE as a postdoc investigating connectivity of coral trout and anemonefish populations among fished and protected areas on the Great Barrier Reef. In 2014, I took on a new project examining effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the recruitment and fitness of coral reef fishes. I am also involved in a number of collaborative projects in Australia and Papua New Guinea that monitor fish and benthic coral communities in marine reserves.

In addition to research, I also really enjoy teaching and mentoring postgraduate students. I have supervised 1 Honours student and 3 Masters students to completion, and I am currently on the supervisory panel for 2 PhD students. I am also involved in teaching subjects on sampling design, statistics and marine conservation biology at JCU.

Selected Publications

Bonin MC, Harrison HB, Williamson DH, Frisch AJ, Saenz-Agudelo P, Berumen ML, Jones GP (2016) The role of marine reserves in the replenishment of a locally-impacted population of anemonefish on the Great Barrier Reef. Molecular Ecology 25:478-499. View online

Wen CKC, Bonin MC, Harrison HB, Williamson DH, Jones GP (2016) Dietary shift in juvenile coral trout (Plectropomus maculatus) following coral reef degradation from a flood plume disturbance. Coral Reefs 35:451-455. View online

Bonin MC, Boström-Einarsson L, Munday PL, Jones GP (2015) The prevalence and importance of competition among coral reef fishes. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 46:169-190. View online

Bonin MC, Saenz-Agudelo P, Harrison HB, Nanninga GB, van der Meer MH, Mansour H, Perumal S, Jones GP, Berumen ML (2015) Characterization and cross-amplification of microsatellite markers in four species of anemonefish (Pomacentridae, Amphiprion spp.). Marine Biodiversity 46:135-140. View online

Boström-Einarsson L, Bonin MC, Munday PL, Jones GP (2014) Habitat degradation modifies the strength of interspecific competition in coral dwelling damselfishes. Ecology 95(11):3056-3067. View online

Boström-Einarsson L, Bonin MC, Munday PL, Jones GP (2013) Strong intraspecific competition and habitat selectivity influence abundance of a coral-dwelling damselfish. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 448:85-92. View online

Bonin MC (2012) Specializing on vulnerable habitat: Acropora selectivity among damselfish recruits and the risk of bleaching-induced habitat loss. Coral Reefs 31:287-297  View online

Bonin MC, Almany GR, Jones GP (2011) Contrasting effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on coral-associated reef fishes. Ecology 92(7):1503-1512  View online

Bonin MC, Munday PL, McCormick MI, Srinivasan M, Jones GP (2009) Coral-dwelling fishes resistant to bleaching but not to mortality of host corals. Marine Ecology Progress Series 394:215-222 View online

Bonin MC, Srinivasan M, Almany GR, Jones GP (2009) Interactive effects of competition and microhabitat on early post-settlement survival in a coral reef fish. Coral Reefs 28:265-274  View online