Research projects 2009

The following research projects were carried out during 2009. Project leaders who are postgraduate students are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Causes and consequences of fish diversity loss on coral reefs
*Vanessa Messmer (James Cook University, November 2008 to March)

Influence of herbivorous fishes on the benthic community structure of the Great Barrier Reef
*Roberta Bonaldo (James Cook University, December 2008 to January)

Sunscreen in coral reef fish; are MAA sunscreens exploited in the cleaner/client mutualism?
*Maxi Eckes (University of Queensland, December 2008 to January)

The ecological role of sediments on coral reefs
*Christopher Goatley (James Cook University, December 2008 to January, March, September, October/November, December to January 2010)

Ecology of cryptobenthic reef fish assemblages in the Great Barrier Reef
*Alonso Gonzalez Cabello (James Cook University, December 2008 to January, August/September)

Fish/ algal interactions: the role of herbivory in structuring algal communities across an exposure gradient
*Andrew Hoey (James Cook University, December 2008 to January)

Underwater sound at Lizard Island
Dr Andrew Jeffs (University of Auckland; December 2008 to January)

The effect of temperature on predator/prey behaviour
*Crystal Neligh (James Cook University, December 2008 to January, November/December)

Effect of temperature on respiration and reproduction in coral reef fish
Prof Goran Nilsson and Dr Sara Ostlund Nilsson(University of Oslo, December 2008 to January)

Effects of ocean acidification on reef fishes
Prof Goran Nilsson and Dr Sara Ostlund Nilsson (University of Oslo, December 2008 to January)

Selectivity in predation of coral reef fishes
Dr Mark McCormick (James Cook University) and Dr Mark Meekan (Australian Institute of Marine Science; December 2008 to January)

Threats to coral reef biodiversity due to climate induced coral bleaching and ocean acidification
*Jessica Stella (James Cook University, December 2008 to January, April)

Ecological significance of coral disease on the Great Barrier Reef
David Abrego and Allison Paley (for Prof Bette Willis) (James Cook University, January, March, August and September/October)

Social structure of Centropyge
*Tzo Zen Ang (University of Cambridge, January/ February)

Habitat selection by cardinal fish
*Naomi Gardiner (James Cook University, January/ February)

Chemical cues: the role of chemical alarm cues in coral reef fish
*Mathew Mitchell (James Cook University, January/ February, March/ April, November to January 2010)

Resources and fitness of coral-feeding butterflyfishes
Dr Michael Berumen (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) and Dr David Raubenheimer (Massey University) (February)

C-Reefs - Census of Marine Life
Dr Julian Caley (Australian Institute of Marine Science), John Ahern (University of Melbourne), Dr Arthur Anker, Dr Rob Lasley and Dr Francois Michonneau (Florida Museum of Natural History), Dr Claudia Arango Carvajal (Queensland Museum), *Jo Browne, Dr Phil Bock and Dr Julian Finn (Museum Victoria), Dr Magdalena Blazewicz-Paszkowycz (University of Lodz), Dr Niel Bruce (Museum of Tropical Queensland), *Rainbo Dixon (Murdoch University), Dr Fred Gurgel (University of Adelaide), Dr Anders Hallen (University of Wollongong), Ashley Miskelly (independent researcher), Dr Molly Timmers (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and Charlotte Watson (Northern Territory Museum) (February)

Bioerosion of dead coral
Dr Morgan Pratchett (James Cook University, February)

Pathogenesis of crown of thorns starfish
*Jairo Rivera Posada (James Cook University, February, May, August/September)

Colour polymorphism and bleaching tolerance in Acropora millepora
Dr Line Bay (James Cook University, February/ March)

Coral bleaching susceptibility: a hierarchy of causes and consequences
*Dominique McCowan (James Cook University, February, October/ November)

Are coralivorous fishes vectors of coral disease?
*Karen Chong-Seng (James Cook University, February/ March)

Effects of coral bleaching on coral-dwelling fishes
*Darren Coker (James Cook University, February/ March, September, October to December)

Assessing the risk of ocean acidification for the Great Barrier Reef
*Alicia Crawley (University of Queensland, March, September, November/ December)

Effects of future ocean acidification on the physiology of hermatypic corals
Dr Simon Dunn (University of Queensland, March, September)

Ecology of cryptobenthic fishes on the Great Barrier Reef
*Carine Lefevre (James Cook University, March, August/ September)

Coral reef ecological stoichiometry
Prof Catherine Lovelock, Prof John Pandolfi and Dr Ruth Reef (University of Queensland, March, October/ November)

Controlled clock genes in corals
Dr Ruth Reef (University of Queensland, March)

Annual fish census at six sites at Lizard Island
Dr Mark McCormick (James Cook University; March)

Competition of damselfish
*Christine Weaver (James Cook University, March)

Energetics of habitat choice in planktivorous coral reef fishes
*Jacob Johansen (James Cook University, March/ April, September/ October)

Sea urchin predation on the Great Barrier Reef
*Matthew Young (James Cook University, March/ April)

Protistan parasites of teleosts and elasmobranchs: biology, transmission and identity
Dr Rob Adlard (Queensland Museum, April)

Mating strategies of specialist and generalist clownfish
Karen Burke da Silva (Flinders University, April)

Percentage of anemone clones to individuals
Karen Burke da Silva (Flinders University, April)

Distribution of clownfish and their associated anemones
Karen Burke da Silva (Flinders University, April)

Helminth parasites of Great Barrier Reef fishes
Dr Tom Cribb (University of Queensland) and Rod Bray (Natural History Museum London) (April)

Patterns of trophic transmission of digenean trematodes in fishes of the Great Barrier Reef
*Abigail Downie (University of Queensland, April)

Myxosporean parasites of elasmobranchs
*Ricky Gleeson (University of Queensland, April)

Myxosporean diversity in apogonids and Zschokkella/ Myxidium parasites of marine teleosts
*Holly Heiniger (University of Queensland, April)

Host specificity of Helicometra in fishes from Queensland waters: exceptional or misunderstood?
*Jayde Kersnovske (University of Queensland, April)

Clownfish host and non-host anemone toxicity
*Anita Nedosyko (Flinders University, April)

Ecological role of parasites in fish after settlement
*Derek Sun (University of Queensland, April)

Connectivity of coral reefs
Dr Eric Treml (University of Queensland, April)

Sanguinicolid diversity of eggs as sentinels of infection
*Russell Yong Qi Yung (University of Queensland, April)

Evolution of coloured signals in marine organisms
Dr Karen Cheney (University of Queensland, April/ May)

Do the most conspicuous nudibranchs contain the most toxic chemicals?
*Fabio Cortesi (University of Queensland, April/ May)

Biomechanics and evolution of stomatopods
Dr Sheila Patek (University of California Berkeley, April/ May)

Long-term direct and indirect effects of Labroides dimidiatus on the coral reef community
*Peter Waldie (University of Queensland, April/ May, August/ September)

Impact of climate change factors on different zooxanthellate symbioses
Dr Ingo Burghardt (University of Bochum, May)

Planning for Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System
Scott Bainbridge, Ray Boyes, Damien Eggeling and Chris Robertson (Australian Institute of Marine Science, May)

Spearing kinetics of mantis shrimp
*Maya de Vries (University of California Berkeley, May)

Assessment of ecological connectivity in corals: implications for their recovery from perturbations and adaptation to climate change
*Gergely Torda (James Cook University/ Australian Institute of Marine Science, May, August, November/ December)

Interactive effects of water quality parameters and climate change on calcifying marine species
*Joost Van Dam (James Cook University/ Australian Institute of Marine Science, May)

Population genetics of Seriatopora hystrix
*Patricia Warner (James Cook University/ Australian Institute of Marine Science, May, November)

Personality in the context of cooperative behaviour in cleaner fish
*Laetitia Brun (University of Neuchatel, May to August)

Applying game theory and cognition to a cleaning mutualism
*Ana Pinto (University of Neuchatel, May to August)

Do cleaner fish influence predators' behaviour towards prey?
*Diane Rappaz (University of Neuchatel, May to July)

Testing the adaptive capacity of corals to climate change: a demographic approach
Dr Andrew Baird (James Cook University, June, October, November)

Social dilemma in fish: how do reef fish deal with a sabretooth blenny?
*Andrea Bshary (University of Neuchatel, June/ July)

Cooperative and cognitive aspects of cleaning symbiosis
Prof Redouan Bshary (University of Neuchatel, June/ July)

Biodiversity of coral assemblages
Prof Sean Connolly (James Cook University, June, October)

Hydrodynamic disturbances on coral reefs
Dr Joshua Madin (Macquarie University, June, October)

Evaluating Holocene sea level models using fixed intertidal biological indicators on the central and north Queensland coast and islands
*Shelley Wright (University of New England, June)

The role of punishment in stabilising cleaner-cleaner cooperation
Dr Nichola Raihani (Zoological Society of London, June/July)

The effect of cleanerfish tactile stimulation on the physiological response of their client fish
Dr Marta Soares (Instituto Superior de Psicologia Lisbon, June/ July)

The effect of cooperative behaviour on the brain cell expression of AVT and IT receptors of male and female cleanerfish
Dr Marta Soares (Instituto Superior de Psicologia Lisbon, June/ July)

Monitoring giant clam populations
Dr Andrew Lewis and Rick Braley (independent researchers, August)

Ecosystem function of rabbitfishes - movement patterns of Siganus lineatus
*Rebecca Fox (James Cook University, August/ September, November)

The energy budget of scarid cocoon production
*Peter Waldie (University of Queensland, August/ September)

Stomatopod behaviour
Dr Roy Caldwell (University of California Berkeley, September)

Vision and eye movements in bony fish and elasmobranchs
Prof Shaun Collin (University of Queensland, September)

Polarization in twilight/nocturnal skies
Dr Tom Cronin (University of Maryland Baltimore County, September)

Distribution, abundance and diversity of the Lapita cultural complex on the GBR coastline of Australia
Dr Matthew Felgate (University of Auckland), Dr Carol Lentfer (University of Queensland), Dr Simon Haberle (Australian National University) and Dr Jim Specht (Australian Museum) (September)

Reef fish replenishment dynamics
Dr Nicholas Graham (James Cook University, September, October/ November)

Vision and signals in fishes and stomatopods
Prof Justin Marshall, Dr Tsyr-huei Chiou and Dr Martin How (University of Queensland, September)

Barcoding larval stomatopod crustaceans for physiological, ecological and biodiversity studies
Dr Megan Porter (University of Maryland Baltimore County, September)

Control of eye movements in the sandlance, Limnichthys sp.
Prof Hans-Joachim Wagner (University of Tuebingen, September)

Holothurian density and diversity assessment
*Christine Buckius (University of Queensland, September)

Oculae camouflage of stomatopod larvae
*Kate Feller (University of Maryland Baltimore County, September)

Genetic diversity of coconut palms
*Bee Gunn (Australian National University, September)

Natural history illustration
*Daniel Atkins (University of Newcastle, September/ October)

Understanding the sensitivity of crustose coralline algae to ocean acidification
Dr Guillermo Diaz Pulido (University of Queensland, September to December)

Explaining coral species abundances: linking morphology to demography
Dr Maria Dornelas (James Cook University, October)

Influence of temperature on behaviour and behavioural consistency
Dr Mark McCormick (James Cook University; October)

Community trophic structure and composition between habitats
*Jonathon Ruppert (University of Toronto, October)

Lizard Island community metabolism study
Dr Jack Silverman, Dr Kenny Schneider (Carnegie Institution), Dr Christian Andreassi, Dr Steven Davis (Stanford University), Dr Jonathon Erez, Dr Boaz Lazar, Dr Asaph Rivlin (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) and Dr David Kline (University of Queensland) (October/ November)

Coral reef fish coloration: sexual selection, diversity and speciation
Prof Trond Amundsen, Dr Elisabet Forsgren and Dr Stefan Walker (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, October to December)

Effect of enforced mating costs in a hermaphroditic sea slug
*Joscha Beninde (University of Tuebingen, October to December)

Effect of chronic fish predation on reef building corals
*Andrew Cole (James Cook University, October to December)

Role of hypodermic injections as mate-manipulation in the sea slug Siphopteron quadrispinosum
*Tobias Gerlach (University of Tuebingen, October to December)

Sexual reciprocity and traumatic mating in hermaphrodite sea slugs
*Rolanda Lange (University of Tuebingen, October to January 2010)

Predator-prey interactions on reefs
*Will Feeney (James Cook University, November/ December)

Predator recognition in coral reef fishes
Dr Maud Ferrari (University of California Davis) and Dr Doug Chivers (University of Saskatchewan) (November/ December

The effect of ocean acidification on the coral host transcriptome
Dr Paulina Kaniewska (University of Queensland, November, December)

Effects of ocean acidification on behaviour of reef fishes
Prof Phil Munday (James Cook University, November, December)

Ambient underwater sound
Dr Craig Radford (University of Auckland, November)

Reef-sound-induced settlement in crab megalopae
*Jenni Stanley (University of Auckland, November)

Colour vision thresholds in marine fish
*Conor Champ (University of Queensland, November/ December)

Effects of ocean acidification on habitat selection of reef fishes
*Brynn Devine (James Cook University, November/ December)

Learned predator recognition in parental care coral reef fish species
*Danielle Dixson (James Cook University, November/ December)

Effects of temperature and pH on marine turf algae biomass accumulation
*Mae Lortie (School for International Training, November/ December)

Secret communication using ultraviolet patterns in reef fish
*Amira Parker (University of Queensland, November/ December)

Impact of acidification on fish survival
Dr Mark McCormick (James Cook University) and Dr Mark Meekan (Australian Institute of Marine Science; November to January 2010)

The effect of carbon dioxide induced acidification on the predatory ability and behaviour of coral reef predator Pseudochromis fuscus
*Ingrid Cripps (James Cook University, December)

Escape response performance of young reef fish
Prof Lee Fuiman (University of Texas Austin, December)

Effects of parasites on juvenile reef fish
Cait Newport and Peter Waldie (for Alexandra Grutter) (University of Queensland, December to January 2010)

Long-term monitoring of giant clam populations
Dr David Phillips (Independent researcher, December to January 2010)