Research projects 2014

The following research projects were carried out at Lizard Island Research Station during 2014.

Feeding preference and bioerosion rates of sea urchins on the Great Barrier Reef
Trisha Atwood, University of Queensland

Counts of fishing target species on four Lizard region reefs and assessment of cyclone damage
Tony Ayling, Avril Ayling and Daniela Ceccarelli, consultants to Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Coral demography
Andrew Baird and Sean Connolly, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University
Maria Dornelas, University of St Andrews, UK
Joshua Madin, Macquarie University

Do parasites affect the cognitive abilities of their fish hosts?
Sandra Binning, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

Exploring UV as an aggressive signal in stomatopod crustaceans
Mike Bok Lund University, Sweden

Function, structure an evolution of compound eyes in serpulid and sabellid polychaetes
Mike Bok Lund University, Sweden

Investigating mechanisms that drives colour change in fangblennies
Karen Cheney, University of Queensland
Helen Nilsson Skold, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Interactions beteen an alga and a crustacean: The first marine arthropod with photobionts?
Celia Churchill and Todd Oakley, University of California Santa Barbara, USA

Gastropod phylogeny
Francesco Criscione, Australian Museum

Disease transmission experiment in COTS: vinegar as a control method
Lisa Bostrom Einarsson and Jairo Rivera Posada, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Cooperative and cognitive aspects of cleaning symbiosis
Redouan Bshary, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

Physiological mechanisms underlying behavioural impairments in fish exposed to ocean acidification
Timothy Clark, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Fredrik Jutfelt, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Vanessa Messmer, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University
Josefin Sundin, Uppsala University, Sweden
Andrew Tobin, James Cook University

The role of hindgut symbionts in protein uptake and recycling in marine herbivorous fishes
Kendall Clements, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Esther Angert, Cornell University, USA
Lindsey White, Auckland University of Technology

Effects of climate change/nutrient interactions on foraminifera
Catherine Collier, Australian Institute of Marine Science

Energy content of coral eggs
Vivian Cumbo, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Ability of obligate coral dwelling fishes to protect host corals from damaging algae
Danielle Dixson, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Jodie Rummer, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University
Timothy Clark, Australian Institute of Marine Science

Corals in space: mapping spatial distribution of coral species
Maria Dornelas, University of St Andrews, UK
Mia Hoogenboom, James Cook University
Stefan Williams, Oscar Pizzaro, Ariel Friedman and Michael Bewley, University of Sydney

Taxonomic identification and descriptions of ascidians in Queensland
Merrick Ekins, Queensland Museum

Effects of ocean warming and acidification on reef composition and structural complexity
Renata Ferrari Legoretta, University of Sydney

Circular polarisation behaviour
Yakir Gagnon, University of Queensland

Ecology of novel coral reef ecosystems
Tessa Hempson and Kirsty Nash as field leaders for Nick Graham ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

High speed colour polarization cameras for underwater behavioural studies
Viktor Gruev with PhD students Sam Powell and Missael Garcia, Washington University St Louis, USA

Effect of sediment and algae on coral settlement
Andrew Hoey, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Macroalgal driven feedbacks and the dynamics of coral reefs
Andrew Hoey, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Relationship between metabolism and behaviours in fish
Shaun Killen University of Glasgow, UK

Temperature and high-CO2 efects in the Humpbacked Conch, Gibberulus gibberulus
Sjanne Lefevre Nilsson, University of Oslo, Norway
Goran Nilsson, University of Oslo, Norway

Indirect effects of cleaner wrasses
Elizabeth Madin, University of Technology Sydney
Robert Warner, University of California Santa Barbara, USA

Mapping damage and recovery of Cyclone Ita
Joshua Madin, Macquarie University
Oscar Pizzaro and Ariel Friedman, University of Sydney
Tom Bridge,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Polarisation on the reef, polarisation vision and stomatopod vision
Justin Marshall and Kyra Hay, University of Queensland
Roy Caldwell University of California Berkeley, USA

The role of parasites and cleaning behaviour in coral reef fish recruitment
Eva McClure field leader for Alexandra Grutter, University of Queensland

Effects of boat noise on predator-prey interactions in reef fish
Mark McCormick, James Cook University

Temporal trends in fish and coral around Lizard Island
Mark McCormick, James Cook University

Initiation and spread of outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish on the GBR
Vanessa Messmer, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University

Gnathiid isopod genetic characterisation
Jess Morgan, University of Queensland

Vision in polychaetes and flatworms
Dan-Erik Nilsson, Lund University, Sweden

Physiology of jumping snails
Goran Nilsson, Sjanne Lefevre Nilsson and Kristian Gundersen, University of Oslo, Norway

Ecological significance of coral disease on the Great Barrier Reef
Cathie Page as field leader for Bette Willis, JCU James Cook University

Neural anatomy of vision in stomatopod metamorphosis and behaviour
Megan Porter, University of South Dakota, USA

Reproductive behaviour of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
Morgan Pratchett, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Seagrass monitoring
Michael Rasheed, James Cook University

Oil Spill Response Atlas
Michael Rasheed, James Cook University

Seeing the reef in a new light: polarization imaging of the reef and its inhabitants
Nick Roberts, University of Bristol, UK

Environmental constraints on mangrove performance
Ruth Reef, University of Queensland

How mangroves affect the pH and carbonate chemistry of coral lagoons
Ruth Reef and Catherine Lovelock, University of Queensland

Mangroves and ocean acidification
Ruth Reef and Catherine Lovelock, University of Queensland

A novel method for controlling outbreak populations of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
Jairo Rivera Posada, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Uncovering mechanisms underlying varieties in mutualistic interactions
Dominique Roche, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

Concept learning in reef fish
Uli Siebeck and Guy Wallis, University of Queensland

Acoustic recordings of reef and boat noise
Stephen Simpson, University of Exeter, UK
Mark Meekan, Australian Institute of Marine Science

The visual system of damselfish
Sara Stieb, University of Basel, Switzerland

Visually guided behaviours in marine worms
Cynthia Tedore, Lund University, Sweden

Polarised vision in fish and cephalopods
Shelby Temple, University of Bristol, UK

Effects of ocean acidification on sperm motility of echinoderms
Sven Uthicke, Australian Institute of Marine Science

Effects of ocean acidification on marine invertebrate behaviour
Sue-Ann Watson, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Carbon sequestration capacity of deep water seagrasses on the Great Barrier Reef
Paul York, Michael Rasheed and Jessie Jarvis, James Cook University
Peter Macreadie, University of Technology Sydney
Ken Moore, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Consistency of lateralisation in reef fish (PhD)
Bridie Allan, James Cook University

Latitudinal variation in growth rates of branching corals (PhD)
Kristen Anderson, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Mechanisms of impacts of boat noise stress on coral reef fish (MSc)
Emily Armstrong-Smith, University of Exeter, UK

An investigation of social networks: a new approach to quantifying pattern, causes and consequences of group dynamics (PhD)
Rebecca Branconi with supervisors Marian Wong, University of Wollongong, and Peter Branconi, Boston University, USA

UV-induced DNA damage and UV avoidance (PhD)
Christoph Braun, University of Queensland

Influence of predation and competition on growth and otholith microstructure of prey (PhD)
April Boaden, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Niche partitioning among herbivorous reef fishes (PhD)
Simon Brandl, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Chemical crypsis in reef fish (PhD)
Rohan Brooker, James Cook University

Environmental cues for spawning and reproduction in Acanthaster planci
Ciemon Caballes, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

The role of territorial grazer behaviour and community structure in coral reef trophic dynamics (PhD)
Jordan Casey, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Is fish shape density dependent? (Honours)
Katy Corkill, James Cook University

Being brown or yellow: ecological and molecular base for colour adaptation in Pseudochromis fuscus (PhD)
Fabio Cortesi, University of Basel and University of Queensland

The visual system of the stomatopod (PhD)
Ilse Daly, University of Bristol, UK

Effects of predator presence on fish behaviour (MSc)
Lauren Fear, University of Exeter, UK

Larval visual ecology of stomatopod crustaceans (PhD)
Kate Feller, University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA

Coral-mediated diversity: testing the Janzen-Connell hypothesis for coral reefs (MSc)
Grace Frank, James Cook University

Adaptations to cleaning mutualism: a comparative approach (PhD)
Simon Gingins, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

Nudibranch colours and patterns and reef fish response bias (Honours)
Naomi Green, University of Queensland

Variation in belowground carbon storage across intertidal wetland habitats of the GBR (PhD)
Matthew Hayes, University of Queensland

Effects of future coral assemblages on associated fish communities (PhD)
Tessa Hempson, James Cook University

Evolution of sociality in coral gobies (PhD)
Martin Hing, University of Wollongong

Effect of anthropogenic noise on coral reef fish community dynamics (Honours)
Lucy Holmes, James Cook University

Relation between fast-start responses of client species and service quality that they receive during cleaning interactions (MSc)
Maiwenn Jornod, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

Molecular characterization of extraocular opsins in cephalopods and stomatopods (PhD)
Alexandra Kingston with supervisor Tom Cronin, University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA

Visual anatomy and visual ecology of tropical marine worms (PhD)
John Kirwan, Lund University, Sweden

Competition and boldness in fish recruits on reefs with different susceptibility to bleaching (MSc)
Judith Kok, James Cook University

Do anthropogenic changes to the marine ecosystems result in the formation of ecological traps? (PhD)
Valeriya Komyakova, University of Melbourne

Ecology of crustacea on coral reefs (PhD)
Michael Kramer, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University

Behavioural ecology of wrasses: a comparative approach (MSc)
Oceane Krattinger, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

Effect of high CO2 on temperature preference on coral reef fish (PhD)
Floriana Lai, University of Oslo, Norway

Temperature effect on predator/prey interactions (PhD)
Govinda Lienart, James Cook University

Visual ecology of cardinalfishes (Apogonidae): investigation of high variability in spectral sensitivities (PhD)
Martin Luehrmann, University of Queensland

Cognitive flexibility in cleaner wrasse: environmental constraints? (PhD)
Sharon McAfoose, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

Reconstructing the evolutionary history of coral-microbe associations (PhD)
Ryan McMinds, Oregon State University, USA

The pulse of a coral reef: using acoustic survey as a tool for monitoring coral reef ecosystems in a changing climate (PhD)
Jamie McWilliam, Curtin University

Habitat scale pH variability in a lagoonal coral reef (PhD)
Gabrielle Miller, James Cook University

Ecology of juvenile rabbitfishes (MSc)
Chris Mirbach, James Cook University

Fish with friends: effect of familiarity on schooling behaviour in coral reef fish (PhD)
Lauren Nadler, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Colour communication in fish (PhD)
Cait Newport, University of Queensland

Coral disease dynamics on the Great Barrier Reef (PhD)
Katia Nicolet, James Cook University

Examining the adaptability and neurobiology of reef fish social bonding (PhD)
Jessica Nowicki, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Orientation strategies of larval fish in the pelagic environment (PhD)
Jack O’Connor, University of Technology Sydney

Effects of ocean acidification and nutrients on tropical seagrass (PhD)
Yan Ow, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University

Controlling mesopredators: importance of intraguild behavioural interactions in trophic cascades (PhD)
Maria del Mar Palacios, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Investigating the behavioural and physical responses of the Lemon Damselfish to ocean acidification (PhD)
B. Wren Patton, Pennsylvania State University, USA

Competition and habitat selection on coral gobies (PhD)
Pedro Pereira, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

The function of reef fish colour patterns: how did the coral trout get its spots? (PhD)
Genevieve Phillips, University of Queensland

Phylogenetics of cone snails (PhD)
Mark Phuong, University of California Los Angeles, USA

Intraspecific variation in coral colony condition (PhD)
Chiara Pisapia, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Prior residency effects and the dynamics of fish communities in a changing environment (PhD)
Davina Poulos, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Development of underwater polarization video camera (PhD)
Sam Powell, Washington University St Louis, USA

Benthic foraminifera as a tool for detecting environmental and ecological changes on the GBR (PhD)
Martina de Freitas Prazeres, University of Queensland

Post-release behaviour and short-term survival of caught-and-released reef fishes (PhD)
Graham Raby, Carleton University, USA

The effects of neophobia on coral reef fish (MSc)
Ryan Ramasamy, James Cook University

Effect of cortisol on cleanerfish cooperation behaviour in low complexity habitats (MSc)
Olivia Rey, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

Macroalgae as a transmission agent of coral disease (MSc)
Andres Rodriguez, James Cook University

Sounds of sea urchins and ambient reef noise (PhD)
Natalie Soars, University of Sydney

Effects of projected near-future CO2 levels on marine mollusc behaviour (PhD)
Blake Spady, James Cook University

Mortality estimation of herbivorous coral reef fish using direct telemetry methods (Honours)
Tara Stevens, James Cook University

Trematodes of northern Great Barrier Reef Pomacentridae: richness, host-specificity and beta diversity (PhD)
Derek Sun, University of Queensland

Parallel vs convergent pathways in the stomatopod polarisation vision system (PhD)
Rachel Templin, University of Queensland

Understanding the complex visual system of mantis shrimps: a new form of colour vision? (PhD)
Hanne Thoen University of Queensland

Interactive effects of ocean acidification and eutrophication on marine calcifying organisms (PhD)
Nikolas Vogel, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University

Sensitivity heritability under elevated CO2 in a coral reef fish (PhD)
Megan Welch with supervisor Phil Munday, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Short term consistency in fish behaviour (PhD)
James White, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University

Evolution of chemical defence and visual warning signals in opisthobranch molluscs (PhD)
Anne Winters, University of Queensland

Examining predation as a possible means of controlling Crown-of-Thorns Starfish outbreaks on reefs around Lizard Island, Australia
Amanda Chan, School for International Training, USA

Predation on Crown-of-Thorns starfish and its potential effects on their population on the GBR
Sofia Gabriel , School for International Training, USA

Mangroves as storm protection: The effect of stem and root density on flow reduction
Alex Ilich, School for International Training, USA

How the fishing of large parrotfish (family Labridae) will affect algal grazing as an ecosystem functions on coral reefs
John Tindle, School for International Training, USA

The effect of predator models on fish behaviour
Emily Walker, School for International Training, USA