LARVAL RETENTION AND CONNECTIVITY IN CORAL REEF FISH POPULATIONS: A MULTI-TECHNIQUE APPROACH. A key unanswered question in marine ecology and fisheries management is - are planktonic juveniles retained within or transported among populations? The only three techniques that can potentially quantify larval dispersal distances are genetic markers, natural chemical signatures and applied chemical marks. This project combines, for the first time, all three techniques to measure the scale of disper ....LARVAL RETENTION AND CONNECTIVITY IN CORAL REEF FISH POPULATIONS: A MULTI-TECHNIQUE APPROACH. A key unanswered question in marine ecology and fisheries management is - are planktonic juveniles retained within or transported among populations? The only three techniques that can potentially quantify larval dispersal distances are genetic markers, natural chemical signatures and applied chemical marks. This project combines, for the first time, all three techniques to measure the scale of dispersal in two coral reef fish species. The relative importance of retention and connectivity will be measured, from a large scale encompassing different regions (Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea) to a small scale focussing on individual reefs.Read moreRead less
Do larval fish leave the reef to avoid parasites? Although fundamental to understanding the community structure of reef fishes, why fish larvae migrate to the open ocean remains controversial. Traditional explanations are that it results in dispersal, avoidance of predators, and increased food. Recent work on the Great Barrier Reef, however, suggests avoiding reef-based micropredatory parasites may be more important. To determine if this so, we will investigate the effect of parasites on larval ....Do larval fish leave the reef to avoid parasites? Although fundamental to understanding the community structure of reef fishes, why fish larvae migrate to the open ocean remains controversial. Traditional explanations are that it results in dispersal, avoidance of predators, and increased food. Recent work on the Great Barrier Reef, however, suggests avoiding reef-based micropredatory parasites may be more important. To determine if this so, we will investigate the effect of parasites on larval fish condition, performance, and susceptibility to micropredators; whether larval fish are vulnerable to reef-based micropredators; the effects of micropredators on fish settlement patterns; and whether larval fish that don't migrate have adaptations to avoid micropredators.Read moreRead less
The role of early life history on the survival of coral reef fishes - opening the Black Box. A fundamental unanswered question in marine ecology and fisheries management is - what influences the number of individuals that survive the larval phase to join a reef population? Theoretical studies show that small changes in the quality of offspring can lead to large changes in the numbers surviving the larval phase. What aspects of offspring quality determine who survives is largely unknown. We use ....The role of early life history on the survival of coral reef fishes - opening the Black Box. A fundamental unanswered question in marine ecology and fisheries management is - what influences the number of individuals that survive the larval phase to join a reef population? Theoretical studies show that small changes in the quality of offspring can lead to large changes in the numbers surviving the larval phase. What aspects of offspring quality determine who survives is largely unknown. We use a multidisciplinary approach to explore what influences the quality of offspring spawned by adults, and whether offspring traits prior to or at hatching determine the identity of individuals that survive to join the reproductive population.Read moreRead less
How connected are marine populations? Comparing life histories of endemic and non-endemic reef fishes to investigate the mechanisms behind self-recruitment. Recruitment of pelagic larvae plays a fundamental role in benthic marine populations, yet the sources and destinations of recruits are unknown for nearly all marine species. Because endemic species rely on retention of locally spawned larvae, they provide a novel opportunity for investigating the mechanisms allowing self-recruitment. I prop ....How connected are marine populations? Comparing life histories of endemic and non-endemic reef fishes to investigate the mechanisms behind self-recruitment. Recruitment of pelagic larvae plays a fundamental role in benthic marine populations, yet the sources and destinations of recruits are unknown for nearly all marine species. Because endemic species rely on retention of locally spawned larvae, they provide a novel opportunity for investigating the mechanisms allowing self-recruitment. I propose to compare the life histories and microchemical signatures in larval otoliths of endemic and closely related non-endemic reef fishes to determine the mechanisms and prevalence of self-recruitment. The results will broaden our understanding of how marine populations are replenished, information critically needed for marine conservation and resource management.Read moreRead less
The development and evolution of the pelvic girdle in basal gnathostomes. Comparing the development of muscles, cartilage and bone in representatives of all three major groups of fish will provide information as to how structures evolved but also how the adult morphology is distributed in phylogeny. Because so little is known about the genetic mechanisms underlying the formation of the pelvic girdle in fish, it is important to start studying a model animal such as the zebrafish. The pathways unc ....The development and evolution of the pelvic girdle in basal gnathostomes. Comparing the development of muscles, cartilage and bone in representatives of all three major groups of fish will provide information as to how structures evolved but also how the adult morphology is distributed in phylogeny. Because so little is known about the genetic mechanisms underlying the formation of the pelvic girdle in fish, it is important to start studying a model animal such as the zebrafish. The pathways uncovered have the potential to describe mechanisms common to all jawed vertebrates, not only common to fish. Understanding the mechanisms that generate major morphological transition in the vertebrate lineage necessarily informs us about our own evolutionRead moreRead less
The mechanisms of settlement success in coral reef fishes. Most marine fishes, including commercial species, produce larvae that disperse in the open ocean. The short period during which these larval fishes leave the open water and take up residence on adult benthic habitat (settlement) is critical in determining the success of the population, but is poorly understood. Settling larvae differ in their physical attributes, including body size and physiological condition, both of which affect the ....The mechanisms of settlement success in coral reef fishes. Most marine fishes, including commercial species, produce larvae that disperse in the open ocean. The short period during which these larval fishes leave the open water and take up residence on adult benthic habitat (settlement) is critical in determining the success of the population, but is poorly understood. Settling larvae differ in their physical attributes, including body size and physiological condition, both of which affect their vulnerability to predators and their ability to compete for food and grow. By looking closely at this short life history stage, we hope to better understand how the supply of offshore larvae controls the production of marine fishes, including commercial fisheries.Read moreRead less
Seeing without eyes: the evolution of non-visual photoreceptors in vertebrates. Australia's underwater biodiversity is second to none with endemic species representing the earliest stages in vertebrate evolution, many of them relying heavily on vision for survival. Tracing the evolution of light detection and image formation will provide crucial information about the lifestyles of our vertebrate ancestors, the environmental selection pressures driving speciation and colour communication. Charact ....Seeing without eyes: the evolution of non-visual photoreceptors in vertebrates. Australia's underwater biodiversity is second to none with endemic species representing the earliest stages in vertebrate evolution, many of them relying heavily on vision for survival. Tracing the evolution of light detection and image formation will provide crucial information about the lifestyles of our vertebrate ancestors, the environmental selection pressures driving speciation and colour communication. Characterisation of optimal light environments and extra-ocular light detection will also help protect and manage endemic species in wild and captive environments. Read moreRead less
Cognitive and behavioural benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation across the lifespan. The Australian Bureau of Statistics recently estimated that 7-19% of children have learning and behaviour problems associated with child ADHD. Concurrently, rates of dementia are rapidly increasing worldwide, currently costing the Australian government $6.6 billion pa, and it has been predicted that rates of dementia could double every 20 years. If omega-3 PUFA research can show benefits in cognition an ....Cognitive and behavioural benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation across the lifespan. The Australian Bureau of Statistics recently estimated that 7-19% of children have learning and behaviour problems associated with child ADHD. Concurrently, rates of dementia are rapidly increasing worldwide, currently costing the Australian government $6.6 billion pa, and it has been predicted that rates of dementia could double every 20 years. If omega-3 PUFA research can show benefits in cognition and behaviour across the lifespan, this has potential benefit for fish oil products and their ability to enhance mental health and cognitive outcomes, thereby helping to lower the substantial social and health care costs associated with poor academic performance, mental illness and growing rates of dementia.Read moreRead less
Marine flatworm parasites of elasmobranchs: a unique model for experiments exploring invasion strategies, biology and specificity to help understand parasitism. Primitive parasites with simple life cycles from ancient hosts emphasise adaptations to parasitism. Experimental studies on live eggs and infective stages of different monogenean (flatworm) parasite species from the skin, gills and cloaca of southern fiddler rays will identify critical interactions early in parasite-host relationships t ....Marine flatworm parasites of elasmobranchs: a unique model for experiments exploring invasion strategies, biology and specificity to help understand parasitism. Primitive parasites with simple life cycles from ancient hosts emphasise adaptations to parasitism. Experimental studies on live eggs and infective stages of different monogenean (flatworm) parasite species from the skin, gills and cloaca of southern fiddler rays will identify critical interactions early in parasite-host relationships that determine whether or not parasitism occurs. Basic and applied benefits include: development of a tractable experimental system for studying parasite-host relationships; strategies to control parasites in public aquaria and aquaculture; profitable and exportable expertise; excellence and research training in basic parasitology; contributions to Australia's natural heritage collections.Read moreRead less
Conservation ecology of the black cod (Epinephelus daemelii). Black cod is a large, reef fish species that was once common and commercially important in NSW. Today, Black Cod is listed as vulnerable, and we know little more of their biology than when they were first protected in 1983. This project will significantly increase the effectiveness of Black cod management by determining their distribution, abundance, stock structure, fecundity, spawning behaviour and recruitment. This will allow imple ....Conservation ecology of the black cod (Epinephelus daemelii). Black cod is a large, reef fish species that was once common and commercially important in NSW. Today, Black Cod is listed as vulnerable, and we know little more of their biology than when they were first protected in 1983. This project will significantly increase the effectiveness of Black cod management by determining their distribution, abundance, stock structure, fecundity, spawning behaviour and recruitment. This will allow implementation of an effective recovery plan and a review of the status of Black Cod internationally and by the Federal Government. Collaboration with NSW Fisheries' Grey Nurse Shark program will allow assessment of the importance of Grey Nurse critical habitat areas in maintaining Black Cod populations.Read moreRead less