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Dr Steve Whalan

B. Sc (Hons 1A), University of Western Australia, 2002. PhD, James Cook University, 2007.

Research Fellow

Research Focus

Dr Steve Whalan Coral reefs exhibit remarkable diversity and complexity that persist under a dynamic flux of disturbance and recovery. The balance between disturbance events (natural and anthropogenic) and recovery is fragile, particularly when increasing levels of anthropogenic stress are considered. Understanding processes that define how populations are maintained over time and space are critical to efforts to manage and conserve populations and more broadly coral reef ecosystems. My research falls under the broad banner of determining key elements contributing to population maintenance, and on impacts that compromise population persistence for coral reef taxa. I have a specific focus on sessile invertebrates, due to their plasticity in reproductive strategies, which often translate to dynamic pictures of their population ecology.

Research Expertise

  • Coral reef ecology
  • Benthic ecology
  • Marine invertebrate larval ecology (dispersal, settlement and recruitment)
  • Invertebrate reproduction
  • Sessile invertebrate population connectivity
  • Biodiversity surveys and benthic habitat mapping
  • Sponge ecology
  • Sponge aquaculture

Awards

2012 recipient of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's Bommies award. www.barrierreef.org/research/generating-new-ideas-the-bommies-award/bommie-award-2012-winner

Grants

  • ARC Linkage LP0990664, (2009). Towards closing the life cycle of marine sponges: benefits for public aquarium display and coral reef conservation.
  • Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (2009). Project 1.3.2 - Ecological role and potential economic value of sponges to the Torres Strait. www.rrrc.org.au/mtsrf/theme_1/project_1_3_2.html

Publications

Link to Google Scholar Publications and Metrics: scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=qdgqbmEAAAAJ

Updated: 02 April 2013