I am interested in all aspects of polychaete biology especially their systematics, ecology and reproductive ecology. Since being appointed my research has focussed on describing the Australian polychaete fauna especially the family Terebellidae, as well as working on the phylogeny of the polychaetes using both molecular and morphological techniques. I also have been interested in polychaetes which live in coastal environments especially those living in seagrass beds.
In addition to my interest in polychaete systematics, I have been heavily involved in studying the bioerosion of coral substrates both within Australia as well as in French Polynesia. As reefs continue to be threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as increasing water turbidity and eutrophication this has had major impacts on the rates and agents of bioerosion, which may lead to changes in the balance between reef growth and reef destruction. At one of our study sites in French Polynesia the rate of reef destruction far exceeds the rate of growth and loss of reef framework is occurring. In addition as reefs are subjected to increasing water temperatures and with it an increasing incident of bleaching events often leading to coral death, this also has the potential for increasing rates of bioerosion and loss of reef framework. Polychaetes are one of the earliest colonisers of recently killed coral colonies and facilitate the substrate for colonisation by other borers such as sponges and bivalves.
I have had a long time involvement with the Australian Coral Reef Society and the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, which both host annual scientific conferences as well as supporting students with research grants. Both of these societies are concerned with the conservation of Australian ecosystems and their biodiversity.
Currently I am involved in the CReefs program which is attempting to document the polychaete biodiversity of three selected Australian coral reef sites, Ningaloo, Lizard and Heron Island, especially of the Terebellida.
Over the years I have supervised several PhD and MSc students and have adjunct positions at the Universities of New South Wales, Sydney and Queensland.
Qualifications
BSc Special Hons (London)
PhD University of Newcastle upon Tyne UK
DSc University of Newcastle upon Tyne UK
I became interested in polychaetes while an undergraduate at Queen Mary’s College, University of London in the 1960’s and I undertook a PhD on the reproductive biology of a species of polychaete Melinna cristata (F. Ampharetidae) at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. This species forms dense colonies off the NE coast of England and is an important fish food for some commercially important species of fish. In 1970, I arrived in Sydney to take up a position at the Australian Museum, where I have continued to work ever since.
Memberships and Awards
Senior Vice President of the Royal Zoological Society of NSW
Fellow of the Royal Zoological Society NSW
Councillor of the Australian Coral Reef Society
Member of the Ecological Society of Australia
Member of the Australian Marine Science Association
Awarded Silver Jubilee medal in July 2010 by Australian Marine Sciences Association for contributions to marine sciences
Membership of Editorial Boards
Taxon editor for Zootaxa
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Pacific Conservation
Australian Zoologist
International Polychaete Conference 2013
To be held at the Australian Museum, Sydney:
International Polychaete Conference 2013 Sydney Australia
Selected Research Projects
Phylogeny and Biodiversity of Terebellidae - Systematics and biogeography of Australian terebellida, More
Bioerosion of coral substrates, 2010 More
Polychaete fauna of coral reefs: morphological and molecular characterisation and keys to species, 2009 More
Are some fan-worms (Sabellidae: Polychaeta) cryptic or introduced species? 2009 More
Introduced marine pests and their taxonomy, 2008 More
Systematics and phylogeny of Sabellida (Polychaeta) Pat Hutchings, 2008 More
Review of the scaleworm polychaetes (Acoetidae) of the Australasian region Anna Murray, 2005 More
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