Researchers
Students
Alumni
ManagementSamuel Payet
PhD candidate
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
Sam grew up in North-West Australia on a plantation in the small coastal town of Carnarvon. He was given free rein to explore on weekends and quickly developed a curiosity for the ocean through fishing and diving. In 2014 Sam completed a BSc. (Hons.) in Marine Science at Curtin University where he studied hybrid reef fish at Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. He then worked as a research intern at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. This time, studying colour polymorphism in coral reef fish. Upon returning home Sam spent a memorable year living in a shack in Shark Bay, Western Australia. He worked as an Aquarist and Dive Master in the world heritage site and after spending a little too long away from civilization he decided it was time to do a PhD. Sam started at JCU in 2017 and is studying the role of natural selection and hybridisation in the evolution of Coral Trout (Genus: Plectropomus). His research is based in the Coral Sea where he hopes to combine genetic and ecological tools to study these iconic species.
The most extensive reef survey of the Coral Sea Marine Park ever undertaken will continue this week as scientists from ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University (Coral C
Scientists have used modern genetic techniques to prove age-old assumptions about what sizes of fish to leave in the sea to preserve the future of local fisheries. “We’ve known for decades that
Scientists say outdated assumptions around gender continue to hinder effective and fair policymaking and action for climate mitigation and adaptation. Lead author of a new study, Dr Jacqueline Lau
For the first time, scientists have assessed how many corals there are in the Pacific Ocean—and evaluated their risk of extinction. While the answer to “how many coral species are there?” is
Abstract: The fate of fish larvae during the pelagic phase has profound effects on replenishment of marine populations that are critical for human and ecosystem health. The survival and transport of l
Abstract: Neonate sharks experience high predation during early ontogeny. For this reason, predator avoidance is the major driver of shallow-water habitat use in neonate sharks. When a predator encoun
Abstract: Humans have been harvesting predators and other creatures from the global oceans for millennia. More recently, conservation measures, such as marine reserves, have been established to restor
Abstract: The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (WHA) is one of the most precious and diverse ecosystems on Earth. It is highly valued by people within Australia and worldwide and is critical to
Abstract: We frequently hear about demise and decline in fisheries systems. This narrative can inadvertently shift thefocus of research and funding away from the opportunities and benefits avail
Abstract: Multiple habitats in a tropical seascape are increasingly recognized as interconnected to one another. Mangroves, seagrass beds, and macroaglal beds are important components of a tropical se
Abstract: Current conservation goals for reef-building corals under climate change involve boosting desirable traits like heat tolerance and fast growth in natural and restored coral populations. This
Abstract: Coral reefs are threatened by local and global stressors, and critical to managing corals for persistence is understanding the components of how coral populations resist and recover from st
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