Researchers
Students
Alumni
ManagementZara-Louise Cowan
PhD graduate
James Cook University
zaralouise.cowan@my.jcu.edu.au
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
Zara grew up in the UK and achieved her BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences at the University of Liverpool. She learnt to dive in Dahab, Egypt, which confirmed her interest in marine biology. Whilst diving in Thailand, Zara had her first encounter with a crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) outbreak and was immediately interested in the causes of these outbreaks and their effects on coral reef communities. Supervised by Prof Morgan Pratchett and Dr Vanessa Messmer within the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Dr Symon Dworjanyn at the National Marine Science Centre, and Dr Scott Ling at the University of Tasmania, her PhD focuses on predation upon CoTS. Specifically, her research explores presumed anti-predator defences of the early life stages of this starfish, in addition to identifying new predators and determining patterns of predation upon larval starfish.
Personal Profiles:
ResearchGate | Google scholar | Twitter
Publications:
Cowan Z-L, Pratchett M, Messmer V, Ling S (2017) Known predators of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.) and their role in mitigating, if not preventing, population outbreaks. Diversity 9(1):7. doi:10:3390/d9010007
Cowan Z-L, Dworjanyn S, Caballes C, Pratchett M (2016) Benthic predators influence microhabitat preferences and settlement success of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris). Diversity 8(4):27. doi:10.3390/d8040027
Cowan Z-L, Dworjanyn SA, Caballes CF, Pratchett MS (2016) Predation on crown-of-thorns starfish larvae by damselfishes. Coral Reefs 35(4):1253-1262
MacNeil MA, Mellin C, Pratchett MS, Hoey J, Anthony KR, Cheal AJ, Miller I, Sweatman H, Cowan Z-L, Taylor S, Fonnesbeck CJ (2016) Joint estimation of crown of thorns (Acanthaster plancii) densities on the Great Barrier Reef. PeerJ 4(9):e2310. doi:10.7717/peerj.2310
Presentations:
Cowan Z-L, Dworjanyn SA, Caballes CF, Pratchett MS. December 2016. Predation on crown-of-thorns starfish larvae by damselfishes. British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Cowan Z-L, Dworjanyn SA, Caballes CF, Pratchett MS. November 2016. Predation on crown-of-thorns starfish larvae by damselfishes. Ecological Society of Australia Annual Meeting, Fremantle, Australia
Cowan Z-L. August 2016. Starfish wars: revenge of the fish. Three Minute Thesis Competition, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
Cowan Z-L, Dworjanyn SA, Caballes CF, Pratchett MS. June 2016. Predation on crown-of-thorns starfish larvae by damselfishes. 13th International Coral Reef Symposium, Hawaii, USA
Cowan Z-L. December 2015. Turning the tables on the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.). Lizard Island, Australia
Cowan Z-L, Ling S, Dworjanyn SA, Pratchett MS. June 2016. Assessing the role of saponins in deterring potential predators from feeding on the eggs of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.). Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Conference, Daydream Island, Australia
Cowan Z-L. April 2015. The role of predation in population regulation of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.). ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
Grants and Scholarships:
Postgraduate Research Scholarship, James Cook University, 2014 – 2017
Higher Degree Research Enhancement Scheme, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, $1,500, 2016
Ian Potter Foundation 50th Anniversary Commemorative Grants Scheme, Australian Museum’s Lizard Island Research Station, $8,800, 2015
Liverpool Excellence Scholarship, Renewable annually, University of Liverpool, 2010 – 2013
Teaching:
Casual Teaching Staff, EV3201 Managing Coastal and Marine Environments, James Cook University, 2016
Grading Assistant, EV3200 Terrestrial Resource Management, James Cook University, 2016
Casual Teaching Staff, BZ1001 Introduction to Biological Processes, James Cook University, 2015
Supervision:
C Van Wynen, SIT (School for International Training) Study Abroad Program, 2015
Voluntary Commitments:
Student Committee Chair, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, 2015-2016
Selected Popular Media:
How baby COTS survive by Z-L Cowan, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, 2016
Life stages of COTS by Z-L Cowan, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, 2016
Fish feeding on larvae COTS by M Deveson, Australian Museum, 2015
James Cook University researchers have found brightly coloured fish are becoming increasingly rare as coral declines, with the phenomenon likely to get worse in the future. Christopher Hemingson, a
Researchers working with stakeholders in the Great Barrier Reef region have come up with ideas on how groups responsible for looking after the reef can operate more effectively when the next bleaching
A new study has delivered a stark warning about the impacts of urban growth on the world’s coral reefs. As coastal developments expand at pace around the world, a year-long study of coral on a reef
Alarming new research shows global warming of 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial levels will be catastrophic for almost all coral reefs – including those once thought of as refuges. Associate Profes
Abstract: Molecular approaches have revolutionised our understanding of the systematics and evolution of most branches on the tree of life, including corals. Over the last twenty-five years molecula
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This talk is the last of the parachute science seminar series organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract Universities and institutions across th
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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