Marine Ecology & Environmental Change Lab
Student OPPORTUNITIES
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AUFRANDE: Duel Doctorate of Philosophy in Coral Reef Fish Ecology with Assoc Prof Suzanne C. Mills (École Pratique des Hautes Études) Option 1: Impacts of run-off events on coral reef fish communities Option 2: Thermal regulation in coral reef fish Option 3: The biology and ecology of rabbitfish Due April 11 2023 https://aufrande.eu/position/dc48/ Influence of the past, present and future environments in shaping plasticity and adaptation to environmental change in marine ecosystems. This research program investigates how environmental change will effect coral reef fish by assessing adaptive responses in the model damselfish, the spiny chromis, Acanthochromis polyacanthus. These projects utilize state-of-the-art research facilities at the on campus Marine and Aquaculture Research Facility at JCU Townsville. Experiments will interrogate the interplay between adaption and plasticity both within and across generations using novel experimental designs. There are opportunities for Honours, Masters and PhD research projects within this research program. Sex is important in adaptation to environmental change
This research program will use novel experiments with the aim of determining the potential for plasticity to be adaptive with sexual selection, as well as how phenotypic change transfers across generations by establishing genomic mechanisms. Plasticity (or acclimation) is often hailed as the saviour for species in the face of rapid climate change, but it is problematic if it is not actually adaptive in nature. There are opportunities for Honours, Masters and PhD research projects within this research program. Photo credits: MarshBunny CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
Students |
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Yogi Yasutake ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University: Doctorate of Philosophy Project Establishing how the nature of environmental change influences phenotypic and adaptive outcomes |
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Elliott Schmidt ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University: Doctorate of Philosophy Project An assessment of local adaptation, heritability, and assisted gene flow potential in a reef fish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) along a latitudinal gradient |
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Jasmine Cane ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University: Master of Philosophy Project The effect of transgenerational plasticity on the development of coral reef fish under multiple environmental stressors |
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Bethan Lang ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University: Doctorate of Philosophy Project The effect of thermal stress on the behaviour and physiology of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris), and impacts on prey corals |
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Shannon McMahon ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University: Doctorate of Philosophy (completed) Project The effects of climate change on the growth and physiology of reef snappers |
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Rachel Spinks ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University: Doctorate of Philosophy (completed) Project Phenotypic plasticity to warming in coral reef fishes: the importance of sex and exposure timing within and between generations |
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Idham Sumarto Pratama James Cook University: Masters Professional Minor Project (completed) Project The effect of increased water temperature during egg incubating of Acanthochromis polyacanthus |
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Lauren LaMonica James Cook University: Masters Professional Minor Project (completed) Project Effects of developmental thermal conditions on two rabbitfish species |
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Yogi Yasutake James Cook University: Honours Student (completed) Project Exploring thermal plasticity across generations and the influence of thermal exposure timing |
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Giverny Rodgers James Cook University: Doctorate of Philosophy (completed) Project Climate change in a stable thermal environment: Effects on the performance and life history of a coral reef fish |
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Donny Warren James Cook University: Doctorate of Philosophy (completed) Project Evaluating how developmental thermal acclimation affects competition and anti-predatory responses in coral reef damselfish |
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Katie Motson James Cook University: Masters by Coursework Minor Project (completed) Project Developmental thermal acclimation of tropical wrasses to future ocean warming |
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Shannon McMahon James Cook University: Honours Student (completed) Project Interactive effects of elevated CO2 and food availability on a coral reef fish |
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Shannen Smith University of Technology Sydney: Honours Student (completed) Project Carving out a new niche: Examining behavioural and morphological predictors of biological invasion success for tropical marine fishes |
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Graeme Poleweski University of Technology Sydney: Honours Student (completed) Project Can tropical vagrant fishes acclimate to current and future winter sea temperatures in South-Eastern Australia? |
