Research Areas
Hybridisation in marine fishes
Hybridisation was traditionally considered rare and unimportant in the marine environment. However, an increasing number of studies are showing hybridisation is common in marine species, particularly for fishes. This increase may be linked to a concomitant increase in human impacts that interfere with the mating process. Hybridisation has the potential to increase or decrease the number of species due to different patterns in genetic recombinations. The genetic consequences of hybridisation in marine fishes are largely unknown. Thus there is a need to determine the causes and consequences of hybridisation in marine fishes. To do this requires a combination of field, lab and genetic studies. |
Human impacts and conserving marine biodiversity
The marine environment supports enormous biodiversity, particularly on coral reefs. However, this biodiversity is being threatened by a range of escalating human impacts including: climate change (rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification), overfishing, sedimentation and destructive fishing practices. A combination of field and lab studies are used to assess which impacts pose the greatest threats and which species are the most vulnerable. This knowledge is required for development management strategies aimed at mitigating human threats and conserve marine biodiversity. |
Cumulative impacts on fisheries resources
Marine fisheries contribute significantly to the economy and employment in maritime countries and are an important protein source for billions of people worldwide . While fisheries management aims to ensure sustainability of fish stocks by preventing overfishing, this task is becoming increasingly difficult due to the negative effects on fish stocks caused by the escalation of other human impacts (e.g. climate change, pollution, habitat degradation). Therefore, research is needed to determine which impacts pose the greatest threat to fisheries stocks and which life stages are most the vulnerable to these impacts. |
Extinction risk in endemic fishes
In the terrestrial environment, endemic species have experienced the highest rates of extinction because they exhibit a range of vulnerable traits. To determine whether endemic marine species also have a high risk of extinction requires investigation of the ecological, biological and genetic traits that make species vulnerable. Endemic hotspots, locations with a high concentration of endemic species, provide the ideal place to examine extinction risk in endemic species. For tropical marine biodiversity, endemic hotspots include Hawaii, Japan, Marquesas, Easter Island, Red Sea, Lord Howe Island and Western Australia. Identifying the traits that increase extinction risk in endemic marine species will aid in the developing management strategies for conserving this unique marine biodiversity. |