The University of Western Australia

Assoc/Prof Thomas Wernberg

Research Associate Professor/ARC Future Fellow
UWA Oceans Institute

Contact details

Address

UWA Oceans Institute
The University of Western Australia (M096)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6369 4047

Email

thomas.wernberg@uwa.edu.au

Biography

I am an ARC Future Fellow at the School of Plant Biology, based within the UWA’s Oceans Institute and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. I received my Masters in Environmental Biology & Geography from Roskilde University in Denmark in 1998, and my PhD in Marine Botany from UWA in 2003. My research covers a broad spectrum of topics, but my primary interests lie in the ecological interactions in and around shallow sub-tidal habitats. My research provides predictions on how coastal habitats will respond to stressors like climate change, invasive species and eutrophication. By highlighting the links between fields such as physiology, ecology and biogeography, my research has contributed to an integrated understanding of the complex processes that occur in near-shore marine environments. I have supervised five postgraduate students, published >60 papers, and received >$2.5M in funding.

Key research

I have a particular interest in ecological interactions in and around shallow subtidal habitats. My research has a strong quantitative and empirical focus, relying on field and laboratory observations and experiments to tease apart the often complex interactions that cause patterns of species distributions in nature.

My interests and experiences are broad and not confined to particular taxa or processes other than perhaps a predilection for perturbation ecology and broad-scale comparisons; much of my work has centred on macroalgae (because they are dominant habitat formers in temperate areas), but the focus has often been on how these interact with fish and invertebrates; my research covers a broad spectrum of topics and taxa, including invasive species, structure and biogeography of marine assemblages, patterns and causes of morphological variation in habitat formers, ecosystem engineering effects of canopy species, biomechanical properties of macroalgae, herbivory and population structure of herbivores, trophic links between reefs and adjacent habitats, ecophysiology of marine plants and recovery of reef communities from physical disturbances. By high-lighting links between these topics, my research has contributed to an integrated understanding of ecological processes in near-shore marine habitats. Specific topics covered include:

1) Effect of climate and human stressors on the resilience of communities to disturbances;

2) Ecological effects of physiological adaptation to stress;

3) The ecology of invasive species and their impacts on native communities;

4) Trophic linkages between habitats from export and consumption of detached reef algae;

5) Biomechanics of canopy formers and the prediction of physical disturbances;

6) Morphological variation of canopy- algae, and effects on the ecology of the understorey;

7) Biogeography and macro-ecology of temperate marine plants;

I am active within all of these topics but, increasingly, my research focuses on the nexus between physiology, ecology and biogeography, and the need to understand current and future patterns of global change (climate change, invasive species, eutrophication). This research provides predictions on how coastal habitats will respond to anthropogenic stressors now and in the future, and recommendations for conservation strategies needed to ameliorate their impacts.

INTERNATIONAL TEMPERATE REEF SYMPOSIUM: http://www.oceans.uwa.edu.au/news-events/10-itrs

Publications

RESEARCHER ID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-4172-2010

GOOGLE SCHOLAR: http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=hiXE8AsAAAAJ&hl=en


RESEARCH THESES

2. Ph.D. (2003) Marine Botany (Distinction): “Influence of the canopy-forming kelp Ecklonia radiata (C. Ag.) J. Agardh on associated macroalgal assemblages in southwestern Australia”. School of Plant Biology (Botany), University of Western Australia, Australia.
Supervisor: Gary A. Kendrick,

1. M.Sc. (1998) Environmental Biology & Geography (by research): “Studies on the ecology of Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt in Limfjorden”. Institute for Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, Denmark.
Supervisor: Morten F. Pedersen,


BOOK CHAPTERS

1. Wernberg, T., Campbell, A., Coleman, M.A., Connell, S.D., Kendrick, G.A., Moore, P.J., Russell, B.D., Smale, D.A. & Steinberg, P.D. (2009). Chapter 11: Macroalgae and Temperate Rocky Reefs. In: Poloczanska, E.S., Hobday, A.J. & Richardson, A.J. (eds) Report Card of Marine Climate Change for Australia; detailed scientific assessment, NCCARF publication 05/09, ISBN 978-1-921609-03-9, Pp. 128-146.


PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS

62. Wernberg, T., Smale, D.S., Thomsen, M.S. (2012) A decade of climate change experiments on marine organisms: procedures, patterns and problems, Global Change Biology, in press

61. Smale, D.A., Wernberg, T. (2012) Short-term in situ warming influences early development of sessile assemblages. Marine Ecology Progress Series, in press

60. Smale, D., Wernberg, T. (2012) Ecological observations associated with an anomalous warming event at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. Coral Reefs, in press

59. Höffle, H., Wernberg, T., Thomsen, M.S., Holmer, M. (2012) Drift algae, an invasive snail and elevated temperature reduces the ecological performance of a warm-temperate seagrass through additive effects, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 450: 67–80

58. Thomsen, M.S., de Bettignies, T., Wernberg, T., Holmer, M. Debeuf, B. (2012) Harmful algae are not harmful to everyone. Harmful Algae, 16: 74-80

57. Russell, B.D., Harley, C.D.G., Wernberg, T., Mieszkowska, N., Widdicombe, S., Hall-Spencer, J.M., Connell, S.D. (2012) Predicting ecosystem shifts requires new approaches that integrate the effects of climate change across entire systems. Biology Letters, 8: 164-166.

56. Thomsen, M.S., Wernberg, T., Engelen, A.H., Tuya, F., Vanderklift, M.A., Holmer, M., McGlathery, K.J., Arenas, F., Kotta, J., Silliman, B.R. (2012) A meta-analysis of seaweed impacts on seagrasses: generalities and knowledge gaps, PLoS One, 7: e28595

55. Wernberg, T., Russell, B.D., Thomsen, M.S., Gurgel, C.F.D., Bradshaw, C.J.A., Poloczanska, E.S., Connell, S.D. (2011) Seaweed communities in retreat from ocean warming. Current Biology, 21: 1828-1832.

54. Tuya, F., Vanderklift, M., Wernberg, T., Thomsen, M.S. (2011) Gradients in abundance explain patterns in the numbers of species at reef-seagrass ecotones, PLoS One, 6(5): e20190

53. Tuya, F., Wernberg, T. & Thomsen, M.S. (2011) The relative influence of local to regional drivers of variation in reef fishes. Journal of Fish Biology, 79: 217-234.

52. Thomsen, M.S., Olden, J.D., Wernberg, T., Griffin, J.N. & Silliman, B.R.. (2011) A broad framework to organize and compare invasion impacts. Environmental Research, 111: 899-908.

51. Smale, D.A, Wernberg, T. & Vance T. (2011) Community development on subtidal reefs in a biodiversity hotspot: the influences of wave energy and the stochastic recruitment of an ecosystem engineer, Marine Biology, 158: 1757-1766.

50. Thomsen, M.S., Wernberg, T., Olden, J.D., Griffin, J.N., & Silliman, B.R. (2011) Context-dependent impacts of marine invasions in a general framework. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 400: 322-327.

49. Wernberg, T., Thomsen, M.S., Tuya, F. & Kendrick, G.A. (2011) Biogenic habitat structure of seaweeds change along a latitudinal gradient in ocean temperature. Journal of Experimenal Marine Biology and Ecology, 400: 264-271.

48. Wernberg T, Russell B.D., Moore P.J., Ling S.D., Smale D.A., Campbell A., Coleman M.A., Steinberg P.D., Kendrick G.A., Connell S.D. (2011) Impacts of climate change in a global hotspot for temperate marine biodiversity and ocean warming. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 400: 7-16

47. Smale, D.A., Wernberg, T., Loyd, P.S., Barnes, D.K.A. (2011) Turning on the heat: ecological responses to simulated warming. PLoS One, 6: e16050.

46. Smale, D.A., Kendrick, G.A. & Wernberg, T. (2011) Subtidal macroalgal richness, diversity and turnover, at multiple spatial scales, along the southwestern Australian coastline. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 91: 224-231.

45. Wernberg, T., Tuya, F., Thomsen, M.S., Kendrick, G.A. (2010) Turban snails as habitat for foliose algae: contrasting geographical patterns in species richness, Marine and Freshwater Research, 61: 1237–1242

44. Waters, J., Wernberg, T., Connell, S., et al. (2010). Australia’s marine bioregions revisited: back to the future? Austral Ecology, 35, 988–992

43. Thomsen, M.S., Wernberg, T., Altieri, A., Tuya, F., Gulbransen, D., McGlathery, K., Holmer, M. & Silliman, B.R. (2010) Habitat cascades: the conceptual context and global relevance of facilitation. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 87: 501-509

42. Thomsen, M.S., Wernberg, T., Tuya, F. & Silliman, B.S. (2010) Ecological performance and possible origin of a ubiquitous but under-studied gastropod. Estuarine Coastal Shelf Science, 87: 501-509

41. Wernberg, T., Thomsen, M.S., Tuya, F., Kendrick, G.A., Staehr, P.A. & Toohey, B.D. (2010) Decreasing resilience of kelp beds along a latitudinal temperature gradient: potential implications for a warmer future. Ecology Letters, 13: 685-694

40. Tuya, F., Vanderklift, M.A., Hyndes, G.A, Wernberg, T., Thomsen, M.S. & Hanson, C. (2010) Proximity to reefs alters the balance between positive and negative effects on seagrass fauna. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 405: 175-186

39. Vanderklift M.A. & Wernberg, T. (2010) Consistent consumer-prey relationships across hundreds of kilometres revealed by stable isotope analysis. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 403: 53-61

38. Smale, D.A, Kendrick, G.A., Wernberg, T. (2010) Assemblage turnover and taxonomic sufficiency of subtidal macroalgae at multiple spatial scales. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 384: 76-86.

37. Wernberg, T. & Vanderklift, M.A. (2010) Contribution of temporal and spatial components to morphological variation in a kelp (Ecklonia, Laminariales). Journal of Phycology, 46: 153-161

36. Tuya, F., Wernberg, T. & Thomsen, M.S. (2009) Habitat structure affect abundances of labrid fishes across temperate reefs in south-western Australia. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 86: 311-319

35. Thomsen, M.S., Wernberg, T., Tuya, F. & Silliman, B. (2009) Evidence for impacts of non-indigenous macroalgae: a meta-analysis of experimental field studies. Journal of Phycology, 45(3): 812-819.

34. Smale, D.A. & Wernberg, T. (2009) Satellite-derived SST data as a proxy for water temperature in nearshore benthic ecology. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 387: 27-37

33. Thomsen, M.S., Wernberg, T., Silliman, B. R., Josefson, A. B. (2009) Large scale abundance patterns of non-indigenous soft-bottom benthic invertebrates. Helgoland Marine Research, 63(2): 159-167

32. Tuya, F., Wernberg, T. & Thomsen, M.S. (2009) Colonization of gastropods on subtidal reefs depends on density in adjacent habitats not on disturbance regime, Journal of Molluscan Studies, 75: 27-33.

31. Staehr, P. A. & Wernberg, T. (2009) Physiological responses of Ecklonia radiata (Laminariales) to a latitudinal gradient in ocean temperature. Journal of Phycology, 45(1): 91-99.

30. Wernberg, T. (2009). Spatial variation in population structure of Ecklonia radiata (Laminariales) sporophytes. Aquatic Botany, 90: 93-95, doi: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2008.05.009

29. Tuya, F., Wernberg, T. & Thomsen, M.S. (2008) Testing the 'abundant centre' hypothesis on endemic reef fishes in south-western Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 372: 225-230, doi: 10.3354/meps07718

28. Vanderklift, M. A. & Wernberg, T. (2008). Detached kelps from distant sources are a food subsidy for sea urchins. Oecologia, 157: 327-335, doi: 10.1007/s00442-008-1061-7

27. Wernberg, T. & Connell, S. D. (2008). Physical disturbance and subtidal habitat structure on open rocky coasts: effects of wave exposure, extent and intensity. Journal of Sea Research, 59: 237-248; doi:10.1016/j.seares.2008.02.005

26. Wernberg, T., White, M. & Vanderklift, M.A. (2008). Population structure of turbinid gastropods on wave-exposed subtidal reefs: effects of density, body size and algae on grazing behaviour Marine Ecology Progress Series 362: 169–179, doi: 10.3354/meps07416.

25. Tuya, F., Wernberg, T. & Thomsen, M.S. (2008). The spatial arrangement of reefs alters the ecological patterns of fauna between interspersed habitats, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 78: 774-782, doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2008.02.017.

24. Thomsen, M. S., Wernberg, T., Stæhr, P. A., Silliman, B. R., Josefson, A. B., Krause-Jensen, D., Risgaard-Petersen, N. (2008). Annual changes in abundance of non-indigenous marine benthos on a very large spatial scale. Aquatic Invasions, 3(2): 133-140, doi: 10.3391/ai.2008.3.2.3

23. Wernberg, T. & Goldberg, N. (2008). Species richness and short-term temporal dynamics of foliose algae in a subtidal kelp bed in relation to changes in environmental conditions and canopy biomass. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 76(2): 265-272, doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2007.07.008.

22. Vanderklift, M. A., How, J., Wernberg, T., MacArthur, L., Heck Jr, K. L. & Valentine, J. F. (2007). Proximity to reef influences the density of small predatory fishes while type of seagrass influences intensity of predation on crabs. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 340: 235-243.

21. Thomsen, M.S., Wernberg, T., Staehr, P.A., Krause-Jensen, D., Risgaard-Petersen, N., Siliman, B. R. (2007). Alien macroalgae in Denmark – a broad-scale perspective. Marine Biology Research 3: 61-72

20. Wernberg, T., Vanderklift, M.A., How, J. & Lavery, P.S. (2006). Export of detached algae from reefs to adjacent seagrass beds. Oecologia, 147: 692-701, doi: 10.1007/s00442-005-0318-7.

19. Wernberg, T. (2006). Scale of impact determines early post-disturbance assemblage structure in subtidal Fucus beds in the Baltic Sea (Bornholm, Denmark). European Journal of Phycology, 41: 105-113

18. Thomsen, M., Wernberg, T., Stæhr, P. & Pedersen, M. (2006). Spatio-temporal distribution patterns of the invasive macroalga Sargassum muticum within a Danish Sargassum-bed. Helgoland Marine Research, 60: 50-58.

17. Fowler-Walker, M., Wernberg, T. & Connell, S. D. (2006). Differences in kelp morphology between wave sheltered and exposed localities: morphologically plastic or fixed traits? Marine Biology, 148: 755-767, doi: 10.1007/s00227-005-0125-z

16. Wernberg, T. (2005). Holdfast aggregation in relation to morphology, age, attachment and drag for the kelp Ecklonia radiata. Aquatic Botany 82: 168-180.

15. Thomsen, M. S. & Wernberg, T. (2005). Mini review: what affects the forces required to break or dislodge macroalgae? European Journal of Phycology 40: 139-148.

14. Wernberg, T. & Thomsen, M. S. (2005). The effect of wave exposure on the morphology of Ecklonia radiata. Aquatic Botany 83: 61-70.

13. Pedersen, M., Stæhr, P., Wernberg, T. & Thomsen, M. (2005). Biomass dynamics of invasive Sargassum muticum and indigenous Halidrys siliquosa, in Limfjorden, Denmark – implications for invasion effects on ecosystem functioning. Aquatic Botany 83: 31-47.

12. Wernberg, T., Kendrick, G. A. & Toohey, B. D. (2005). Modification of the physical environment by an Ecklonia radiata (Laminariales) canopy and its implications to associated foliose algae. Aquatic Ecology, 39: 419-430, doi: 10.1007/s10452-005-9009-z

11. Thomsen, M., Krause-Jensen, D., Wernberg, T., Stæhr, P. & Risgaard-Petersen, N. (2005). Alien seaweeds in Denmark: Where? When? How many? (in Danish). Urt 29: 110-115.

10. Toohey, B. D., Kendrick, G. A., Wernberg, T., Phillips, J.; Malkin, S. & Prince, J. (2004). The effects of light and thallus scour from Ecklonia radiata canopy on an associated foliose algal assemblage: the importance of photoacclimation. Marine Biology 144:1019-1027.

9. Thomsen, M. S., Wernberg, T. & Kendrick, G. A. (2004). The effect of thallus size, life stage, aggregation, wave exposure and substrate conditions on the forces required to break or dislodge the small kelp Ecklonia radiata. Botanica Marina 47: 454-460.

8. Wernberg, T., Thomsen, M. S., Stæhr, P. & Pedersen, M. F. (2004). Epibiota communities on the introduced and indigenous macroalgal relatives Sargassum muticum and Halidrys siliquosa in Limfjorden (Denmark). Helgoland Marine Research 58:154-161.

7. Kendrick, G. A.; Harvey, E., Wernberg, T., Harman, N. & Goldberg, N. (2004). The role of disturbance in maintaining diversity of benthic macroalgal assemblages from Southwestern Australia. The Japanese Journal of Phycology (Suppl) 52:5-9.

6. Wernberg, T., Kendrick, G. A. & Phillips, J. (2003). Regional differences in kelp-associated algal assemblages found on temperate limestone reefs in southwestern Australia. Diversity and Distributions 9:427-441.

5. Wernberg, T., Coleman, M., Fairhead, A., Miller, S. & Thomsen, M. S. (2003). Morphology of Ecklonia radiata (C. Ag.) J. Agardh along its geographic distribution in southwestern Australia and Australasia. Marine Biology 143:47-55.

4. Wernberg, T., Thomsen, M. S., Stæhr, P. A. & Pedersen, M. F. (2001). Comparative phenology of Sargassum muticum and Halidrys siliquosa (Phaeophyceae: Fucales) in Limfjorden, Denmark. Botanica Marina 44:31-39.

3. Stæhr, P., Pedersen, M. F., Thomsen, M., Wernberg, T., & Jensen, D. K. (2000). Invasion of Sargassum muticum in Limfjorden (Denmark) and its possible impact on the indigenous macroalgal community. Marine Ecology Progress Series 207:79-88.

2. Wernberg-Møller, T., Thomsen, M. & Stæhr, P. (1998): Invasion of Japweed in Denmark - status anno 1998 (in Danish). Urt 22(4):128-132.

1. Hansen, B., Wernberg-Møller, T. & Wittrup, L. (1997): Particle grazing efficiency and specific growth efficiency of the Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis (Muller). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 215:217-233.


SELECTED TECHNICAL REPORTS AND OTHER NON-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

6. Thomsen, M.S. & Wernberg, T. (2009). Drift algae, invasive snails and seagrass health in the Swan River: patterns, impacts and linkages. Report prepared for the Swan River Trust. Report no. 2009-2 from the Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Perth. Pp. 82.

5. Poloczanska, E.S., Johnson C., Wernberg, T. (2008). Approaches for Predicting Marine Climate Change. In Poloczanska, E. S., Hobday, A. J. and Richardson, A. J. (eds) ‘In Hot Water: preparing for climate change in Australia’s coastal and marine systems’, Workshop conveners report - proceedings of conference held in Brisbane, 12-14th November 2007, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

4. Wernberg, T, Thomsen, M., McMahon, K. (2008). Determining seagrass depth distribution in the Swan River – a test of the dumpy level method with recommendations for alternatives. Report prepared for the Water Science Branch, Department of Water. Report no 2008-2 from the Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Perth. Pp. 22.

3. Thomsen, M.S., Staehr, P.A., Wernberg, T., Krause-Jensen, D. & Josefson, A. B., Tendal, O.S. (2008). Introduced plants and animals Denmark (in Danish). Naturens Verden, 6: 10-18 (popular science journal).

2. Thomsen, M. S., Staehr, P. A & Wernberg, T. (eds.) (2007). First Symposium on Marine Bioinvasions in Denmark, Copenhagen August 17 2007: Abstract book with introduction and summary. Pp. 24.

1. Babcock, R.; Clapin, G.; England, P.; Kleczkowski, M.; Murphy, N.; Phillips, J.; Sampey, A.; Vanderklift, M.; Cook, K.; Stuart-Andrews, C.; Waddington, W.; Wernberg, T. (2006). Chapter 6: Benthic ecosystem dynamics. Strategic Research for the Marine Environment, final report. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Roles, responsibilities and expertise

- UWA Boating & Diving Safety Committee

- Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, External Spaces Committee

Funding received

CAREER TOTAL: >$2.74M

NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE GRANTS (Australia & Denmark): $1,422K

COMPETITIVE UNIVERSITY GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS: $700K

PRIVATE, INDUSTRY AND OTHER FUNDING: $352K

SELECTED GRANTS

- Wernberg “Climatic forcing of ecological function in temperate marine habitats: bridging the gaps” Australian Research Council Future Fellowship, 2011-2015, $697,578

- Wernberg & Gurgel “Long-term changes in the phenology of Australia's temperate marine macroalgae: has climate change impacted the world's most diverse algal flora?” Australian Research Council Linkage grant & partner contributions, 2012-2014, $315,000

- Smale, Wernberg, Hawkins & Cook “Does warming facilitate invasive species in marine habitats?” UWA Research Collaboration Grant (UK), 2011, $19,000

- Frusher, Pecl, Wernberg, Smale, Tobin “Understanding the global impacts and implications of range-shifting species in marine systems” Australian National Network in Marine Science, Issues in Marine Science program, 2011-2012, $300,000

- Wernberg, Kendrick, Bolton, Anderson, Sjotun: “Global patterns of climate adaptation in kelps” Worldwide Universities Network Research Development Fund, 2011, (£15,000) $24,000

- Wernberg, Kendrick, Johnson, Wright: “Reproduction and ecophysiology of Ecklonia radiata at the margins of its Australian distribution” Australian National Network in Marine Science Springboard program, 2011, $28,000

- Wernberg, Kendrick, Bolton, Anderson: “SHARC – Southern Hemisphere Algal Research Coalition” UWA Research Collaboration Award (South Africa), 2011, $17,000

- Wernberg: “Adaptation and reproductive ecology of a marine foundation species facing global warming and reduced water quality” UWA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 2010, $74,018.

- Wernberg et al.: “Marine Flora Climate Impacts”, ARC-NZ Vegetation Function Network, working group 58, 2009, $25,000 (estimated value)

- Wernberg, Thomsen: “Synergistic impacts of drift algae, invasive species and environmental stressors on seagrass health and ecological interactions”, ECU Industry Linkage Grant and The Swan River Trust, 2008-2009, $46,340

- Wernberg, Kendrick, Babcock: “Effects of physical disturbance on kelp-dominated reef communities across a broad temperate-tropical transition zone”, Australian Research Council Discovery grant, 2005-07, $210,000

- Wernberg: “Vegetative re-generation as a mechanism for canopy recovery of fucoid algae”, Danish Natural Science Research Council, (2007-08) (210,000 DKR), $46,000

- Wernberg: “Influence of Ecklonia radiata on associated macroalgae in southwestern Australia”, Danish Natural Science Research Council (1999-2002) (965,979 DKR), $228,300

Previous positions

Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Assistant Professor, School of Plant Biology, UWA Oceans Institute and Australian Institute of Marine Sceince, The University of Western Australia, January 2010-April 2012

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, May 2005-December 2009.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, University of Adelaide, May 2004-April 2005.

Research Associate, Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University, January-May 2004.

Research Associate, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, June – December 2003.

Teaching

COURSES TAUGHT

Aquatic Botany (PLNT2203)

Marine Science (SCIE2204)


STUDENTS

Bijo Joy Arackal (PhD, IPRS scholar): Ecophysiology and sub-cellular indicators of thermal adaptation in seaweeds. Co-supervised by Assoc Prof Finnegan, The University of Western Australia, on-going.

Stefan Andrews (BSc Hons): Effects of temperature on fucoid reproduction and early performance. Co-supervised by Bennett, The University of Western Australia, on-going.

Scott Bennett (PhD, APA scholar): Functional ecology of Sargassum canopies at different latitudes. Co-supervised by Prof Kendrick, The University of Western Australia, on-going.

Margaret Mohring (PhD, APA scholar): Effects of climate on the reproduction of kelp (Ecklonia radiata). Co-supervised by Prof Kendrick, The University of Western Australia, on-going.

Thibaut de Bettignies (PhD): Sources and supply of wrack: quantifying vectors of habitat connectivity. Co-supervised by Prof Lavery (ECU) and Dr Mat Vanderklift (CSIRO), Edith Cowan University, on-going.

Jakob Thyrring: Community wide facilitation by an invasive ecosystem engineer (Batillaria australis). Co-supervisor with Dr Mads Thomsen, and Dr Kurt Thomas Jensen(AaU), visiting student, Aarhus University (Denmark), 2011.

Hong Nam Lo: Seasonal and spatial variation in abundance and species richness of seaweed associated mobile epifauna in Ningaloo, Western Australia. Co-supervised by Dr Rule (DEC), MSc, on-going.

Jose Escano Placido Roepstorff: Ecology of Caulerpa spp. in Western Australia – understanding traits and impacts of super-invaders. Co-supervised by Prof Holmer (USD) and Dr Thomsen (NERI), MSc, The University of Southern Denmark, 2010.

Hannes Höffle: Impacts of invasive species on seagrass health under present and future temperature regimes – a case study from two climate zones. Co-supervisor with Prof Holmer (SDU) and Dr Thomsen (NERI). MSc, The University of Southern Denmark, 2008.

Melissa White: Grazing pressure by herbivorous gastropods on macroalgae in southwestern Australian kelp forests. Co-supervised by Prof Kendrick and Dr Vanderklift (CSIRO), BSc(Hons), The University of Western Australia, 2006.

Current external positions

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian Institute of Marine Science

Adjunct Lecturer, Edith Cowan University

Research profile

Research profile and publications