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Professor Peter L. Harrison

Professor Peter L. Harrison, Director

Director, Marine Ecology Research Centre

Director of Marine Studies

e: peter.harrison@scu.edu.au

BSc (Double Major in Marine Biology and Zoology), James Cook University, Townsville, 1979
BSc (First Class Honours) in Marine Biology, James Cook University, 1980. (Honours Prize)
PhD in Marine Biology, James Cook University, conferred 1989.

Research Summary

Professor Peter Harrison is the founding Director of the Marine Ecology Research Centre and the Director of Marine Studies at Southern Cross University. Peter is a recognised world leader in coral reproduction ecology and has been actively researching and teaching a wide range of marine science and ecology programs for more than 30 years. He has been awarded more than $6.4 million in research grants and consultancies (the majority from national and international competitive research grants). He has published more than 130 scientific research papers, books, invited major review chapters and major reports, which have been cited more than 2,700 times (ISI Web of Science citation records 2012); Hirsch citation index = 22.

Peter was a leading member of the coral research team at James Cook University that discovered the mass coral spawning phenomenon on the Great Barrier Reef (Harrison et al. Science: 223: 1186-1189), and was a joint recipient of a prestigious Eureka Prize for Environmental Research for this discovery. He has been awarded multiple prizes for excellence in science research and University teaching including a 2009 Australian Learning and Teaching Council citation for outstanding University Teaching and two University Teaching excellence Awards.

Peter has been appointed by the Minister for the Environment to national committees including the Australian Government's Threatened Species Scientific Committee since 2005, the Christmas Island Expert Working Group 2009-2010, and the National Environmental Research Program Advisory Panel in 2010. Peter is also an appointed member of the Port Curtis and Port Alma Ecosystem Research and Monitoring Program Advisory Panel, the NSW DECCW Marine Fauna Advisory Group, the Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation Scientific Committee, a member of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (Oceania), a member of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium, and the Patron of the Banyan Tree Marine Laboratory in the Maldives, central Indian Ocean.

Peter has successfully supervised to completion 40 Postgraduate and Honours students, with 15 current Postgraduate students and Postdoctoral research fellows on topics ranging from coral reef ecology and management, impacts of pollutants on marine invertebrates, freshwater and estuarine wetlands and fish communities, to whale and dolphin ecology and conservation. His major research interests include: global patterns of coral reproduction, impacts of pollution and stress on coral reefs and other marine ecosystems, whale and dolphin ecology and conservation, long-term monitoring of subtropical and tropical marine reef communities, coral reef rehabilitation, dispersal and biogeography of corals and implications for global networks of marine protected areas.

Much of Peter's research has focused on the Great Barrier Reef and subtropical marine habitats in eastern Australia, with additional research in Japan, Micronesia, French Polynesia, the Arabian Gulf, Florida, Bahamas, Maldives, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Philippines and Antarctica. During 1995, he was the Project Leader for a United Nations funded mission to assess the impacts of the first Gulf War on the coral reef systems of Kuwait, and has a new coral species discovered in the Arabian Gulf named after him (Porites harrisoni). Peter regularly reviews manuscripts for many international journals and grant applications for leading international and national research granting bodies including the ARC and USA NSF. He is also an elected Academic Staff member on the University Council.

Peter has also led the development of the SCU Whale Research Centre as its Director since 2002, which has supported numerous postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers on whales and dolphins in Australia and overseas. He was the project leader for the ARC-Linkage grant on ageing humpback whales using non-lethal molecular techniques, which has been highlighted in many media reports including feature stories in 'Nature' and on the ABC '7.30 Report' and in an ARC Annual Report. Peter's most recently completed major cetacean research project was the DEWHA-funded research project on the 'Global Status of Cetaceans' (Harrison et al. 2009, 125 pages; internationally peer-reviewed). Peter has been awarded and managed external cetacean research grants worth ~$1 million since 2002, and he was the co-organiser for the 2004 DEH Australian National Cetacean Research Partnerships workshop.

Peter is passionate about science and ecology and its application to conservation management, and has participated in many international and national marine science conferences and workshops. He also enjoys communicating science research to the broader community and has featured in more than 20 television documentaries and many hundreds of other media interviews on national and international television, radio, newspapers, and magazines to highlight science research and promote conservation and management. Peter has won prizes for his photographs and his images have been very widely published in international and Australian textbooks, popular books, science journals, poster series, magazine articles and newspapers, and featured in art exhibitions.

Awards and Distinctions

  • 2009 Australian Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, Australian Learning and Teaching Council.
  • 2008 Vice Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award, Southern Cross University.
  • 2000 University Award for Teaching Excellence, Southern Cross University.
  • New coral species Porites harrisoni (Veron 2000) named after Peter in recognition of his international coral reef research.
  • 1992 Eureka Prize for Environmental Research (joint recipient) for the discovery of, and research on, the mass coral spawning phenomenon. (Secretariat: Australian Museum, award presentation broadcast live on ABC-TV 'Quantum').
  • Young Scientist Travel Award, 5th International Congress of Invertebrate Reproduction, Nagoya, Japan, 1989.
  • Dr R. Palmerston-Rundle Prize for Biological Sciences. Award for the best performance in BSc (Honours) degree within the School of Biological Sciences, James Cook University, during 1980.
  • The Lawrence George Chun Tie Bursary, James Cook University, 1980.
  • Nominated for the 2006 'Nature' Mentor Award by postgraduate students.

Committee, Council and Board Membership

  • Appointment by Minister for the Environment to the Australian Threatened Species Scientific Committee (Australian Government Department of Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities), Committee Member since 2005, reappointed in 2008 until 2012
  • Appointment by Minister for the Environment to the Christmas Island Expert Working Group 2009-2010
  • Appointment by Minister for the Environment to the National Environmental Research Program Advisory Panel 2010
  • Appointed member of NSW DECCW Marine Fauna Advisory Group, 2009 ongoing
  • Appointed member of the Port Curtis and Port Alma Ecosystem Research and Monitoring Program (ERMP) Advisory Panel, 2010 ongoing
  • Southern Cross University Council member (elected Academic staff representative from 2010)
  • National Marine Science Centre Board Member 2005-2011 (alternate member 2003-2005)
  • IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (Oceania) Member 2006 to present
  • Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation Scientific Committee Member 2012 ongoing
  • Patron, Banyan Tree Marine Laboratory, Vabbinfaru, Maldives since 2007 (ongoing)
  • Marine Science and Management Course Coordinator (2002-2010)
  • Master and Graduate Diploma of Marine Science and Management Course Coordinator (2003-2010)
  • MS&M Curriculum Review Committee (ongoing)
  • SCU Academic Board member (2000-2006)
  • SCU Academic Board Standing Committee member (2002-2005)
  • SCU Learning and Teaching Advisory Committee member (2000-2003)
  • SCU HAAS Divisional Board member (2001-2005)

Recent National Competitive Research Grants

  • $438,000 Australian Research Council Linkage grant (LP0562517). Ageing wild vertebrates from their DNA: An investigation using humpback whales. (Harrison: Primary author and Project manager) 2005-2008
  • $370,000 Australian Research Council LIEF grant (LE0989952). Continuous wet flow IRMS for environmental research, 2009
  • $170,000 Australian Research Council LIEF grant (LE100100013). Eddy correlation lander array, 2010
  • $500,000 Australian Research Council LIEF grant (LE110100143). Flexible architecture high performance computing facility for the Intersect Consortium of New South Wales, 2011
  • $1,637,000 Australian Antarctic Science (AAS Grant 3054). Impacts of oil pollutants on Antarctic marine invertebrates, 2008-2012
  • $149,100 Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. Mass coral larval reseeding of damaged coral reefs. 2011-2013
  • $50,100 Australian Marine Mammal Centre Fluke Matcher computerised fluke matching system for Humpback whales, 2008-2009
  • $27,000 Australian Marine Mammal Centre Improving analysis of marine mammal populations, 2008-2009
  • $170,000 Australian Marine Mammal Centre Anthropogenic contaminants in Queensland's coastal dolphins, 2010-2011
  • $40,600 Australian Marine Mammal Centre Development of an Australian Humpback whale fluke catalogue, 2011-2012
  • $42,900 Inspiring Australia (Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education) East Coast Humpback Whale Watch Catalogue 2012-2014

Google Scholar Citations

http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=YUGuNGkAAAAJ

Top 10 Publications (based on citations and scholarship)

Harrison, P.L. and Wallace, C.C. (1990). Reproduction, dispersal and recruitment of scleractinian corals. Chapter 7. In: Z. Dubinsky (Editor), Coral Reef Ecosystems, Ecosystems of the World Vol. 25. pp. 133-207. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam. ISBN 0-444-87392-9. (Significance: I was invited to write this review and contributed >90% of the material which has >570 citations (ISI WoS citation records February 2012), which is by far the most widely cited coral reproduction publication globally.)

Harrison, P.L., Babcock, R.C., Bull, G.D., Oliver, J.K., Wallace, C.C. and Willis, B.L. (1984). Mass spawning in tropical reef corals. Science, 223: 1186-1189. JIF 31.377 (Significance: This paper announced the discovery of the mass coral spawning phenomenon on the Great Barrier Reef, and has >340 citations (ISI WoS), making it the second most widely cited coral reproduction publication globally.)

Babcock, R.C., Bull, G.D., Harrison, P.L., Heyward, A.J., Oliver, J.K. , Wallace, C.C. and Willis, B.L. (1986). Synchronous spawning of 105 scleractinian coral species on the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Biology, 90: 379-394. JIF 2.011 (Significance: This paper has >330 citations and provides the most comprehensive original data on coral spawning published to date, and is the third most widely cited coral reproduction publication globally.)

Harrison, P.L. and Jamieson, B.G.M. (1999). Cnidaria and Ctenophora. In B.G.M. Jamieson (Editor), Reproductive Biology of the Invertebrates, Volume IX Part A, Progress in Male Gamete Ultrastructure and Phylogeny, Oxford-IBH. pp. 21-95. (Significance: I was invited to write this review chapter and contributed >50% of the review, published in this prestigious invertebrate reproduction monograph series.)

Harrison, P.L. and Booth, D.J. (2007). Coral reefs: naturally dynamic and increasingly disturbed ecosystems. Chapter 13, pp. 316-377. In S.D. Connell and B.M. Gillanders (Editors) Marine Ecology, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 630 pages. ISBN 0-19-555302-0. (Significance: I was invited to write this peer-reviewed chapter and contributed >80% - it provides a comprehensive global review of coral reef ecology.)

Willis, B.L., Babcock, R.C., Harrison, P.L. and Wallace, C.C. (1997). Experimental hybridization and breeding incompatibilities within the mating systems of mass spawning reef corals. Coral Reefs 16, Suppl.: S53-S65. JIF 3.780 (Significance: This paper has >80 citations and demonstrated that reef corals can hybridise, leading to a major global re-evaluation of coral taxonomy and evolutionary theory.)

Hayashibara, T., Shimoike, K., Kimura, T., Hosaka, S., Heyward, A., Harrison, P., Kudo, K. and Omori, M. (1993).� Patterns of coral spawning at Akajima Island, Okinawa, Japan. Marine Ecology Progress Series 101: 253-262. JIF 2.483 (Significance: This paper has >80 citations and was the first research to demonstrate that non-Australian reef coral communities have large multispecific spawning periods.)

Koop, K., Booth, D., Broadbent, A., Brodie, J., Bucher, D., Capone, D., Coll, J., Dennison, W., Erdmann, M., Harrison, P., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Hutchings, P., Jones, G.B., Larkum, A.W.D., O'Neil, J., Steven, A., Tentori, E., Ward, S., Williamson, J. and Yellowlees, D. (2001). ENCORE: The effect of nutrient enrichment on coral reefs. Synthesis of results and conclusions. Marine Pollution Bulletin 42: 91-120. JIF 2.359 (Significance: This paper synthesises substantial multidisciplinary research on nutrient effects on corals and reefs and has >130 citations.)

Harrison, P.L. and Ward, S. (2001). Elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus reduce fertilization success of gametes from scleractinian reef corals. Marine Biology 139: 1057-1068. JIF 2.011 (Significance: This paper described new methods for quantifying stress impacts on coral reproductive success, which have since been applied by other researchers working on pollution impacts, and has >30 citations.)

Harrison, P.L. (2011). Sexual reproduction of scleractinian corals. In: Z. Dubinsky and N. Stambler (Editors), Coral Reefs: An Ecosystem in Transition Part 3, 59-85, DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-0114-4_6 Springer Publishers. (Significance: This recently published invited review chapter provides the most up to date global review of coral reproduction yet published.)

Selected Publications

Peter Harrison's publications were cited more than 2,700 times between 1983- February 2012 (ISI Web of Science citation records).

Books

Carpenter, K.E., Harrison, P.L., Hodgson, G., Alsaffar, A.H. and Alhazeem, S.H. (1997). The Corals and Coral Reef Fishes of Kuwait. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait. 166 pp. (>45% contribution to the production, design and writing of this book)

Hutton, I. and Harrison, P.L. (2004). A Field Guide to the Marine Life of Lord Howe Island. Hutton, Lord Howe Island. 168 pp. (~45% contribution to the production, design and writing of this book) ISBN 0-9581286-3-4

Major Invited Review Chapters in Books

Harrison, P.L. and Wallace, C.C. (1990). Reproduction, dispersal and recruitment of scleractinian corals. Chapter 7. In: Z. Dubinsky (Editor), Coral Reef Ecosystems, Ecosystems of the World Vol. 25. pp. 133-207. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam. (>90% contribution, >570 citations) ISBN 0-444-87392-9

Harrison, P.L. and Jamieson, B.G.M. (1999). Cnidaria and Ctenophora. In B.G.M. Jamieson (Editor), Reproductive Biology of the Invertebrates, Volume IX Part A, Progress in Male Gamete Ultrastructure and Phylogeny, Oxford-IBH. pp. 21-95. (>50% contribution)

Harrison, P.L. and Booth, D.J. (2007). Coral reefs: naturally dynamic and increasingly disturbed ecosystems. Chapter 13, pp. 316-377. In S.D. Connell and B.M. Gillanders (Editors) Marine Ecology, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 630 pages. (>80% contribution to this invited and peer-reviewed chapter) ISBN 0-19-555302-0

Harrison, P.L. (2011). Sexual reproduction of scleractinian corals. In: Z. Dubinsky and N. Stambler (Editors), Coral Reefs: An Ecosystem in Transition Part 3, 59-85, DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-0114-4_6 Springer Publishers. ISBN 978-94-007-0113-7

Papers in Refereed Journals and Refereed Proceedings

Harrison, P.L., Babcock, R.C., Bull, G.D., Oliver, J.K., Wallace, C.C. and Willis, B.L. (1984). Mass spawning in tropical reef corals. Science, 223: 1186-1189. (>340 citations)

Harrison, P.L. (1985). Sexual characteristics of scleractinian corals: systematic and evolutionary implications. Proc. Fifth Int. Coral Reef Congress, Tahiti, 4: 337-342. (>50 citations)

Willis, B.L., Babcock, R.C., Harrison, P.L., Oliver, J.K. and Wallace, C.C. (1985). Patterns in the mass spawning of corals on the Great Barrier Reef from 1981 to 1984. Proc. Fifth Int. Coral Reef Congress, Tahiti, 4: 343-348. (>120 citations)

Babcock, R.C., Bull, G.D., Harrison, P.L., Heyward, A.J., Oliver, J.K. , Wallace, C.C. and Willis, B.L. (1986). Synchronous spawning of 105 scleractinian coral species on the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Biology, 90: 379-394. (>330 citations)

Harrison, P.L. (1988). Pseudo-gynodioecy: an unusual breeding system in the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis. Proc. Sixth Int. Coral Reef Symposium, Townsville, 2: 699-705.

McMillan, J., Yellowlees, D., Heyward, A., Harrison, P. and Miller, D. (1988). Preparation of high molecular weight DNA from hermatypic corals and its use for DNA hybridization and cloning. Marine Biology, 98: 271-276.

Oliver, J.K., Babcock, R.C., Harrison, P.L. and Willis, B.L. (1988). The geographic extent of mass spawning: clues to ultimate factors. Proc. Sixth Int. Coral Reef Symposium, Townsville, 2: 803-810. (>60 citations)

Harrison, P.L. (1990). Sperm morphology and fertilization strategies in scleractinian corals. Advances in Invertebrate Reproduction, Vol. 5: 299-304. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam.

Miller, D.J. and Harrison, P.L. (1990). Molecular and developmental biology of the Cnidaria - basic aspects and phylogenetic implications. Aust. J. Biotechnol., 4: 241-245.

Miller, D.J., Harrison, P.L., McMillan, J.P., Miles, A., Odorico, D.M. and ten Lohuis, M.R. (1993). Nucleotide sequence of the histone gene cluster in the coral Acropora formosa (Cnidaria ; Scleractinia) : features of histone gene structure and organisation are common to diploblastic and triploblastic metazoans. J. Molecular Evolution, 37: 245-253.

Hayashibara, T., Shimoike, K., Kimura, T., Hosaka, S., Heyward, A., Harrison, P., Kudo, K. and Omori, M. (1993). Patterns of coral spawning at Akajima Island, Okinawa, Japan. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser., 101: 253-262. (>80 citations)

Harriott, V.J., Smith, S. and Harrison, P.L. (1994). Distribution patterns among the coral communities of the Solitary Islands Marine Reserve, N.S.W.. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser., 109: 67-76. (>40 citations)

Harriott, V.J., Harrison, P.L., and Banks, S.A. (1995). The coral communities of Lord Howe Island. Mar. Freshw. Res. 46: 457-465. (>40 citations)

Berghammer, H., Hayward, D., Harrison, P.L. and Miller, D.J. (1996). Nucleotide sequence of ub52 from the cnidarian Acropora millepora reveals high evolutionary conservation. Gene 178: 195-197.

Willis, B.L., Babcock, R.C., Harrison, P.L. and Wallace, C.C. (1997). Experimental hybridization and breeding incompatibilities within the mating systems of mass spawning reef corals. Coral Reefs 16, Suppl.: S53-S65. (>80 citations)

Richardson, D.L., Harriott, V.J. and Harrison, P.L. (1997). Distribution and abundance of giant sea anemones (Actiniaria) in subtropical eastern Australian waters. Mar. Freshwater Res. 48: 59-66.

Wilson, J. and Harrison, P.L.. (1997). Sexual reproduction in high latitude coral communities at the Solitary Islands, eastern Australia. Proc. 8th Int. Coral Reef Symposium, Panama, 1: 533-538.

Ward, S. and Harrison, P.L. (1997). The effects of elevated nutrient levels on settlement of coral larvae during the ENCORE experiment, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Proc. 8th Int. Coral Reef Symposium, Panama, 1: 891-896.

Willis, B.L., Babcock, R.C., Harrison, P.L. and Wallace, C.C. (1997). Hybridization and breeding incompatibilities within the mating systems of mass spawning reef corals. Proc. 8th Int. Coral Reef Symposium, Panama 1: 81-90.

Richardson, D.L., Harrison, P.L. and Harriott, V.J. (1997). Timing of spawning and fecundity of a tropical and subtropical anemonefish (Pomacentridae: Amphiprion) on a high latitude reef on the east coast of Australia. Mar. Ecol Progr. Ser., 156: 175-181

Harrison, P.L., Harriott, V.J., Banks, S.A. and Holmes, N.J. (1998). The coral communities of Flinders Reef and Myora Reef in the Moreton Bay Marine Park, Queensland, Australia. In: I.R Tibbetts, N.J. Hall and W.C. Dennison (Editors) Moreton Bay and Catchment, School of Marine Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, pp. 525-536.

Wilson, J.R. and Harrison, P.L. (1998). Settlement-competency periods of larvae of three species of scleractinian corals. Marine Biology, 131: 339-345. (>50 citations)

Reichelt-Brushett, A.J. and Harrison, P.L. (1999). The effect of copper, zinc and cadmium on fertilization success of gametes from scleractinian reef corals. Marine Pollution Bulletin 38: 182-187.

Ward, S. and Harrison, P.L. (2000). Changes in gametogenesis and fecundity of acroporid corals that were exposed to elevated nitrogen and phosphorus during the ENCORE experiment. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 246: 179-221.

Reichelt-Brushett, A.J. and Harrison, P.L. (2000). The effect of copper on the settlement success of larvae from the scleractinian coral Acropora tenuis. Marine Pollution Bulletin 41: 385-391

Harrison, P.L. and Ward, S. (2001). Elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus reduce fertilization success of gametes from scleractinian reef corals. Marine Biology 139: 1057-1068

Koop, K., Booth, D., Broadbent, A., Brodie, J., Bucher, D., Capone, D., Coll, J., Dennison, W., Erdmann, M., Harrison, P., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Hutchings, P., Jones, G.B., Larkum, A.W.D., O'Neil, J., Steven, A., Tentori, E., Ward, S., Williamson, J. and Yellowlees, D. (2001). ENCORE: The effect of nutrient enrichment on coral reefs. Synthesis of results and conclusions. Marine Pollution Bulletin 42: 91-120. (>130 citations)

Ball, E.E., Hayward, D.C., Reece-Hoyes, J.S., Hislop, N., Samuel, G., Saint, R., Harrison, P.L. and Miller, D.J. (2002) Coral Development: from classical embryology to molecular control. Int. J. Developmental Biology 46: 671-678.

Ward, Selina, Peter Harrison, and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg (2002). Coral bleaching reduces reproduction of scleractinian corals and increases susceptibility to future stress. Proc. 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, 2: 1123-1128

Bucher, D.J. and Harrison, P.L. (2002). Growth response of the reef coral Acropora longicyathus to elevated inorganic nutrients: do responses to nutrients vary among coral taxa? Proc. 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, 1: 443-448

Nozawa, Y. and Harrison, P.L. (2002). Larval settlement patterns, dispersal potential, and the effect of temperature on settlement rates of larvae of the broadcast spawning reef coral, Platygyra daedalea, from the Great Barrier Reef. Proc. 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, 1: 409-416

Lane, A. and Harrison, P.L. (2002). Effects of oil contaminants on survivorship of larvae of the scleractinian reef corals Acropora tenuis, Goniastrea aspera and Platygyra sinensis from the Great Barrier Reef. Proc. 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, 1: 403-408

Ball, E.E., Hayward, D.C., Catmull, J., Reece-Hoyes, J.S., Hislop, N., Harrison, P.L. and Miller, D.J. (2002) Molecular control of development in the reef coral, Acropora millepora. Proc. 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, 1: 395-402

Wilson, J.R. and Harrison, P.L. (2003). Spawning patterns of scleractinian corals at the Solitary Islands - a high latitude coral community in eastern Australia. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 260: 115-123

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and P. L. Harrison (2004). Development of a sublethal test to determine the effects of copper and lead on scleractinian coral larvae. Archives Env. Contam. Toxicology 47: 40-55

Nozawa, Y. and P.L. Harrison (2005) Temporal settlement patterns of larvae of the broadcast spawning reef coral Favites chinensis and the broadcast spawning and brooding reef coral Goniastrea aspera from Okinawa, Japan. Coral Reefs 24: 274-282

Scott, A. and Harrison, P.L. (2005) Synchronous spawning of host sea anemones. Coral Reefs 24: 208

Reichelt-Brushett, A. J. and P.L. Harrison (2005) The effect of selected trace metals on the fertilization success of several scleractinian coral species. Coral Reefs 24: 524-534.

Wilson, J.R. and Harrison, P.L. (2005). Post-settlement mortality and growth of newly settled corals in a subtropical environment. Coral Reefs 24: 418-421.

Harrison, P.L. (2006). Settlement competency periods and dispersal potential of scleractinian reef coral larvae. Proceedings of the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, pp. 78-82.

Carroll, A., Harrison, P.L. and Adjeroud, M. (2006). Sexual reproduction of Acropora reef corals at Moorea, French Polynesia. Coral Reefs 25: 93-97.

Mangubhai, S. and Harrison, P.L. (2006). Seasonal patterns of coral reproduction on equatorial reefs in Mombasa, Kenya. Proceedings of the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, pp. 106-114.

Nozawa, Y. and Harrison, P.L. (2007) Effects of elevated temperature on larval settlement and post-settlement survival in scleractinian corals, Acropora solitaryensis and Favites chinensis. Marine Biology 152: 1181-1185.

Scott, A. and Harrison, P.L. (2007). Embryonic and larval development of the host sea anemones Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa. Biological Bulletin 213: 110-121.

Mangubhai, S., Harrison, P.L. and Obura, D.O. (2007). Patterns of coral larval settlement on lagoon reefs in the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve in Kenya. Marine Ecology Progress Series 345: 149-159.

Scott, A. and Harrison, P.L. (2007). Broadcast spawning of two species of sea anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa, that host anemonefish. Inv. Reprod. Dev. 5: 163-171

Harrison, P.L. (2008). Coral spawn slicks at Lord Howe Island, the world's most southerly coral reef. Coral Reefs 27: 35.

Mangubhai, S., and Harrison, P.L. (2008). Asynchronous coral spawning patterns on equatorial reefs in Kenya. Marine Ecology Progress Series 360: 85-96.

Patten, N.L., Harrison P.L. and Mitchell J.G. (2008). Prevalence of virus-like particles within a staghorn scleractinian coral (Acropora muricata) from the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 27: 569-580.

Mangubhai, S., and Harrison, P.L. (2008). Gametogenesis, spawning and fecundity of Platygyra daedalea (Scleractinia) on equatorial reefs in Mombasa, Kenya. Coral Reefs 27: 117-122.

Patten, N.L., Mitchell J.G., Middleboe, M., Eyre, B., Seurant, L., Harrison P.L. and Glud, R.G. (2008). Bacterial and viral dynamics during a mass coral spawning period on the Great Barrier Reef. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 50: 209-220.

Scott, A. and Harrison, P.L. (2008). Larval settlement and juvenile development of sea anemones that provide habitat for anemonefish. Marine Biology 154: 833-839.

Nozawa, Y. and Harrison, P.L. (2008) Temporal patterns of larval settlement and survivorship of two broadcast-spawning acroporid corals. Marine Biology 155: 347-351.

Fury, C. and Harrison P.L. (2008) Abundance, site fidelity and range patterns of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in two Australian subtropical estuaries. Marine Freshwater Research 59: 1015-1027.

Fellegara, I. and Harrison, P.L. (2008). Status of the subtropical scleractinian coral communities in the turbid environment of Moreton Bay, southeast Queensland. In, Davie, P.J.F and Phillips, J.A. (Eds), Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton Bay, Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum - Nature 54: 277-291.

Mangubhai, S., and Harrison, P.L. (2009). Extended breeding seasons and asynchronous spawning among equatorial reef corals in Kenya. Marine Ecology Progress Series 374: 305-310.

Scott, A. and Harrison, P.L. (2009). Gametogenic and reproductive cycles of the sea anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor. Marine Biology 156: 1659-1671.

Noreen, A., Harrison, P.L. and van Oppen, M.J.H. (2009). Genetic diversity and connectivity in a brooding reef coral at the limit of its distribution. Proc. Roy. Soc. B. 276: 3927-3935.

Wallace, C.C., Fellegara, I. Muir, P.R. and Harrison, P.L. (2009). The Scleractinian Corals of Moreton Bay, Eastern Australia: high latitude, marginal assemblages with increasing species richness. In, Davie, P.J.F and Phillips, J.A. (Eds), Proceedings of the 13th International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Volume 2. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum - Nature 54 (2): 1-118.

Sommer, B., Harrison P.L. and Scheffers, S.R. (2010). Aggressive colonial ascidian impacting deep coral reefs at Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Coral Reefs 29: 245.

Kniest, E., Burns, D. and Harrison, P. (2010). Fluke Matcher: a computer-aided fluke matching system for humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae flukes. Marine Mammal Science 26: 744-756.

Adjeroud, M., Fernandez, J.M., Carroll, A.G., Harrison, P.L. and Penin, L. (2010). Spatial patterns and recruitment processes of coral assemblages among contrasting environmental conditions in the southwestern lagoon of New Caledonia. Marine Pollution Bulletin 61: 375-386.

Boyd, W.E., M. O'Reilly, D. Bucher, K. Fisher, A. Morton, P.L. Harrison, E. Nuske, R. Coyle and K. Rendall (2010) Activating the Teaching-Research Nexus in smaller universities: case studies highlighting diversity of practice. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice 7 (2), 2010: 1-18.

Golbuu Y., Wolanski E., Harrison P., Richmond R.H., Victor S. and Fabricius KE (2011). Effects of land use change on characteristics and dynamics of watershed discharges in Babeldaob, Palau, Micronesia. J Marine Biology Volume 2011, Article ID 981273, 17 pages doi :10.1155/2011/981273.

Cagnazzi, D., Harrison, P.L., Ross, G. and Lynch, P. (2011). Abundance and site fidelity of Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins in the Great Sandy Strait, Queensland, Australia. Marine Mammal Science 27: 255-281.

Golbuu Y., van Woesik, R., Richmond R.H., Harrison P.L. and Fabricius K.E. (2011). River discharge reduces reef coral diversity in Palau. Marine Pollution Bulletin 62: 824-831.

Beger M., Babcock R., Booth D. J., Bucher D., Condie S. A., Creese B., Cvitanovic C., Dalton S. J., Harrison P., Hoey A., Jordan A., Loder J., Malcolm H., Purcell S. W., Roelfsema C. M., Sachs P., Smith S. D. A., Sommer B., Stuart-Smith R., Thomson D., Wallace C. C., Zann M. and Pandolfi J. M. (2011). Research challenges to improve the management and conservation of subtropical reefs to tackle climate change threats. Ecological Management and Restoration 12 (1): e7-e10.

Franklin, T., Franklin, W., Brooks, L, Harrison, P.L., Baverstock, P and Clapham, P. (2011). Seasonal changes in group characteristics of eastern Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Hervey Bay 1992-2005. Marine Mammal Science 27(3): E134-E152.

Fury, C.A. and Harrison, P.L. (2011). Impact of flood events on dolphin occupancy patterns. Marine Mammal Science 27: E185-E205.

Sommer, B., Harrison, P.L., Brooks, L. and S.R. Scheffers (2011) Coral community decline at Bonaire, southern Caribbean. Bulletin of Marine Science 87(3): 541-565.

Fury, C.A. and Harrison, P.L. (2011). Seasonal and tidal influences on the habitat use of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in two Australian estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 93: 389-395.

Harrison, P.L., Dalton, S. and Carroll, A.G. (2011) Extensive coral bleaching on the world's southernmost coral reef at Lord Howe Island, Australia. Coral Reefs 30: 775.

Paton, D., Brooks, L., Burns, D., Franklin, T., Franklin, W., Harrison, P. and Baverstock, P. (2011). Abundance of East coast Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in 2005 estimated using multi-point sampling and capture-recapture analysis. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management (Special Issue) 3: 253-259.

Burns, D., Brooks, L., Clapham, C. and Harrison, P.L. (2012) Between-year synchrony in migratory timing of individual humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae. Marine Mammal Science. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00557.x

Franklin W., Franklin T., Brooks, L., Gibbs N., Childerhouse S., Smith, F., Burns D., Paton D., Garrigue, C., Constantine, R., Poole, M.M., Hauser, N., Donoghue M., Russell, K., Mattila, D.K., Robbins, J., Oosterman, A., Leaper, R., Harrison P.L., Baker C.S. and Clapham P. (in press). Antarctic waters (Area V) near the Balleny Islands are a summer feeding area for some Eastern Australian (E (i) breeding group) Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management.

W. Franklin, T. Franklin, L. Brooks, N. Gibbs, S. Childerhouse, D. Burns, D. Paton, C. Garrigue, R. Constantine, M. Poole, N. Hauser, M. Donoghue, K. Russell, D.K. Mattila, J. Robbins, M. Anderson, C. Olavarr'a, J. Jackson, M. Noad, P. Harrison, P. Baverstock, R. Leaper, S. Baker and P. Clapham (in press). Eastern Australia (Breeding Area E1) may be a wintering destination for Area V Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrating through New Zealand waters. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management.

Other Book Chapters and Publications.

Harrison, P.L., Alhazeem, S.H. and Alsaffar, A.H. (1997). The ecology of coral reefs in Kuwait and the effects of stressors on corals. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research Report No. KISR 4994, Kuwait.

Harrison, P.L. (1998). Hard Corals pp. 177-185. In P. Davie (Editor) Wild Guide to Moreton Bay. Queensland Museum, Brisbane.

Harrison, P.L. and Wallace, C.C. (2011). Hard Corals pp. 84-92. In P. Davie (Editor) Wild Guide to Moreton Bay and Adjacent Coasts. 2nd Edition, Queensland Museum, Brisbane.

Other Papers in Conference Proceedings

Harrison, P.L., Babcock, R.C., Bull, G.D., Oliver, J.K., Wallace, C.C. and Willis, B.L. (1983). Recent developments in the study of sexual reproduction in tropical reef corals. In: J.T. Baker, R.M. Carter, P.W. Sammarco and K.P. Stark (Editors), Proceedings: Inaugural Great Barrier Reef Conference, Townsville, 1983. JCU Press, pp. 217-219.

Harrison, P.L., Collins, J.D., Alexander, C.G. and Harrison, B.A. (1990). The effects of fuel oil and dispersant on the tissues of a staghorn coral Acropora formosa : a pilot study. Proc. Second Workshop on the Role of the Scientific Co-ordinator on Oil Spill Response, HMAS Cerberus, Victoria, 1990. pp. 51-61.

Paton,. D, Brooks, L., Burns, D., Franklin, T., Franklin, W., Harrison, P. and Baverstock, P (2006). First abundance estimate of East Coast Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) utilising multi-point sampling and likelihood analysis. IWC Inter-sessional Workshop to Assess the Status of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales, Hobart, April 2006 IWC Scientific Committee SC/A06/HW32.

W. Franklin, T. Franklin, L. Brooks, N. Gibbs, S. Childerhouse, D. Burns, D. Paton, C. Garrigue, R. Constantine, M. Poole, N. Hauser, M. Donoghue, K. Russell, D.K. Mattila, J. Robbins, M. Anderson, C. Olavarr'a, J. Jackson, M. Noad, P. Harrison, P. Baverstock, R. Leaper, S. Baker and P. Clapham (2008). Eastern Australia (Breeding Area E1) may be a wintering destination for Area V Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrating through New Zealand waters. IWC Scientific Committee SC/60/SH3.

Paton,. D, Brooks, L., Burns, D., Kniest, E., Harrison, P. and Baverstock, P (2009). Abundance estimate of Australian east coast humpback whales (Group E1) in 2005 using multi year photo-identification data and capture-recapture analysis. IWC Scientific Committee SC/61/SH10.

M. Anderson, D. Steel, W. Franklin, T. Franklin, D. Paton, D. Burns, P. Harrison, P.R. Baverstock, C. Garrigue, C. Olavarria, M.M Poole, N. Hauser, R. Constantine, D. Thiele, P. Clapham, M. Donoghue, C.S. Baker (2010) Microsatellite genotype matches of eastern Australian humpback whales to Area V feeding and breeding grounds. IWC Scientific Committee SC/62/SH7.

Steel, D., N. Schmitt, M. Anderson, D. Burns, S. Childerhouse, R. Constantine, T. Franklin, W. Franklin, N. Gales, C. Garrigue, N. Gibb, N. Hauser, D.Mattila, C. Olavarria, D. Paton, M. Poole, J. Robbins, J. Ward, P. Harrison, P. Baverstock, M. Double and C.S. Baker (2011). Initial genotype matching of humpback whales from the 2010 Australia/New Zealand Antarctic Whale Expedition (Area V) to Australia and the South Pacific. IWC Scientific Committee SC/63/SH10, 8 pages.

Popular scientific articles

Wallace, C.C., Babcock, R.C., Harrison, P.L., Oliver, J.K. and Willis, B.L. (1986). Sex on the reef: mass spawning of corals. Oceanus 29: 38-42.

Harrison, P.L. (1993). Coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef. Search 24: 45-48.

Harrison, P.L. and Wallace, C.C. (2010) Global Spawning. Ocean Geographic 14 (4): 19-30.

Research Theses

Harrison, P.L. (1980). The fine structure of Acropora formosa (Dana, 1846) (Scleractinia: Anthozoa). B.Sc. (Hons) Thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, 129 pp.

Harrison, P.L. (1988). Comparative ultrastructure of scleractinian spermatozoa and its evolutionary implications. Ph.D. Thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, 282 pp.

Postgraduate Research Student Supervision

Previous PhD and MSc Project Supervision

Darren Richardson. 'Aspects of the ecology of anemone fishes (Pomacentridae: Amphiprion) and giant sea-anemones (Actiniaria) within sub-tropical eastern Australian waters. SCU PhD project, graduated 1998. (Senior supervisor)

Selina Ward. 'The effects of elevated nitrogen and phosphorus on the reproduction of three species of acroporid reef corals'. SCU PhD project, graduated 1998. (Sole Supervisor)

Joanne R. Wilson. 'Reproductive and larval ecology of broadcast spawning corals at the Solitary Islands, eastern Australia'. SCU PhD project, graduated 1999. (Sole Supervisor) ACRS National Conference Student presentation award.

Amanda J. Reichelt-Brushett. 'The lethal and sublethal effects of selected trace metals on various life stages of scleractinian corals'. SCU PhD project, graduated 1999. (Senior Supervisor)

Daniel J. Bucher. 'The effects of experimentally elevated nutrient concentrations on growth rate, skeletal architecture and soft tissue morphology of acroporid corals (Scleractinia: Acroporidae). SCU PhD project, graduated 2001. (Sole Supervisor)

Shaker Alhazeem. 'Monitoring changes in reef communities on the north-western area of Heron Island reef, using quantitative surveys and aerial photographs'. SCU MSc project, graduated 1999. (Senior Supervisor)

Yoko Nozawa. 'Initial settlement patterns, settlement-competency periods and the effect of temperature on settlement of larvae of broadcast spawning reef corals'. SCU MSc project, graduated 2001. (Sole Supervisor)

Esther Fischer. 'Dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) as a water quality stress indicator' Co-supervisor for PhD project, SCU, graduated 2005. (Co-supervisor)

Daniele Cagnazzi. 'Abundance and distribution of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis in the Great Sandy Strait, Queensland, Australia'. Senior Supervisor for MSc project, SCU and the University of Bologna, completed 2005.

Sangeeta Mangubhai. 'Coral Reproductive Ecology on Kenyan Reefs'. Sole Supervisor for PhD project, SCU, graduated 2007. 2007 Chancellor's Medal for Outstanding PhD thesis. 2006 ACRS National Conference Student presentation award.

Anna Scott. 'Sexual reproductive biology of the host sea anemones Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa in the Solitary Islands Marine Park, Australia'. Sole Supervisor for PhD project, SCU. APA scholarship. Thesis excellent, two examiners recommended Chancellor's Medal, graduated May 2008.

Nicole Patten. 'Viruses and cellular bleaching processes in reef corals'. Senior Supervisor for PhD project, SCU, graduated September 2008. 2008 Chancellor's Medal for Outstanding PhD thesis.

Christine Fury. 'Dolphin habitat use in northern NSW'. Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU. (Senior Supervisor). Thesis excellent, two examiners recommended Chancellor's Medal. Graduated September 2009.

Ryan Donnelly. 'Solomon Island Fisheries Management'. Senior supervisor for MSc project, SCU. Graduated September 2009.

Annika Noreen. 'Genetic connectivity of eastern Australian coral populations' Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU. SCU International Postgraduate Research Student award, and 2006 ISRS/TOC International Coral Reef Fellowship in Coral Reef Science. Thesis excellent, two examiners recommended Chancellor's Medal. Graduated September 2010.

Andrew Carroll. 'Reproduction of scleractinian reef corals at Moorea, French Polynesia'. Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU/NMSC. APA scholarship. 2007 ACRS National Conference Student oral presentation award. Graduated September 2010.

Daniel Burns. 'Humpback whale migration and identification'. Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU. Graduated September 2010.

Michela Mitchell. 'Actiniaria (Cnidaria: anthozoa) of Port Phillip Bay, Victoria: including a taxonomic case study of Oulactis muscosa and Oulactis mcmurrichi' Senior supervisor for MSc project, SCU. Graduated September 2011.

Daniele Cagnazzi. 'Conservation status of Australian snubfin, (Orcaella heinsohni), and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, (Sousa chinensis), in the Capricorn Coast, Central Queensland, Australia'. Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU. Graduated September 2011.

Yimnang Golbuu. 'Responses of Palau's coral reefs to disturbances at multiple scales' Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU. SCU International Postgraduate Research Student award. Thesis accepted September 2010.

Ruth Owler. 'Ecology of rocky shore communities in Cape Byron Marine Park'. Senior supervisor for MSc project, SCU. Graduated May 2012.

Casandra Chronik. 'Development of a 2011 Coffs Harbour humpback whale watch photo-identification catalogue' Masters 25% research project thesis, High Distinction grade.

Current PhD and MSc Project Supervision

Kathryn Brown. 'Impacts of oil pollutants on early life stages of Antarctic marine invertebrates'. Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU.

Yulia Ivashchenko. 'Soviet Whaling: past history and present impacts'. Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU.

Peta Beeman. 'Development of an East Australian Humpback whale watch photo-identification catalogue'. Senior supervisor for Masters project, SCU.

Elisabeth Deschaseaux. 'Effect of climate change on atmospheric aerosol emissions from corals' Co-supervisor for PhD, SCU.

Brigitte Sommer. 'Dynamics of subtropical coral assemblages'. Co-supervisor for PhD, UQ.

Trish Franklin. 'Humpback whale population ecology and behaviour, Hervey Bay'. Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU.

Wally Franklin. 'Humpback whale population genetics, Hervey Bay'. Senior supervisor for PhD project, SCU.

Simon Hartley. 'Benthic community monitoring at Julian Rocks, Cape Byron Marine Park'. Supervisor for MSc project, SCU.

Kristina Entwistle. 'Impacts of coral bleaching on Lord Howe Island benthic reef communities' Masters 50% research student.

Jacinta Ryan. 'Whistle production of a female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) before, during and after the birthing process' Masters 50% research student.

Nicola Ransome. 'Social roles, migratory timing and behaviour of heavily scarred humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a Mexican breeding ground.' Masters 50% research student.

Honours Research Project Supervision

Supervisor of BEnvSc (Honours) projects at SCU:

2011-2012 'Patterns of scleractinian coral recruitment at Lord Howe Island' Kerry Cameron.

2008-2009 'Comprehensive assessment of the world's largest Flatback sea turtle rookery and nesting success' Brett Leis (Senior supervisor) (Class 1 Honours).

2008-2009 'Effects of extreme storm and tsunami events on coral reef communities and diversity patterns in Bonaire, southern Caribbean' Brigitte Sommer (Senior supervisor), (Class 1 Honours).

2008-2009 'Southern migration of humpback whales and the use of Cape Byron Marine Park habitats' Kathryn Brown. (Class 1 Honours) University Medal.

2005-2006 'Benthic structure at Cook Island, northern NSW, with an emphasis on scleractinian corals' Chris Wilson (Co-supervisor) (Class 2A Honours)

2005 'Drupella species densities in Ningaloo Marine Park' Shannon Armstrong (Class 1 Honours)

2003-2004 'Coral communities in the Great Sandy Straight region' Cathrine Bennett (Class 2A Honours)

2002-2003 'Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreaks at Lord Howe Island' Lea Taylor (Class 1 Honours)

2002-2003 'Lord Howe Island coral communities' Jacqueline Bullard (Class 1 Honours)

2002 'Marine turtle population monitoring at subtropical NSW reefs' Marissa Speirs (Class 1 Honours)

2002 'Freshwater fish communities in northern NSW wetlands' Nathan Miles (Class 1 Honours)

2000-2001 'The effects of experimentally elevated nutrients and reduced salinity on scleractinian coral reproductive success' Anna Scott (Class 1 Honours)

2000-2001 'Settlement competency patterns and dispersal potential of scleractinian reef coral larvae' Andrew Carroll (Class 1 Honours)

2000 'A survey of the fish fauna of the Upper-Nymboida and Blicks River Sub-catchments, New South Wales, Australia, with reference to water management'. Kris Pitman (Class 2A Honours).

1999-2000 'The effects of fuel oil, dispersed oil and oil dispersant on the reproductive success of scleractinian corals'. Alison Lane (Class 1 Honours, University Medal).

1997 'Clarence River invertebrate benthic macrofauna'. Ben Hunter (Class 2A Honours).

1991 'A limnological study of the Nymboida River, N.S.W., with some reference to the fishes'. Gerard Hawkes (Class 2A Honours).

1991 'Some aspects of food and feeding in the Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea commercialis (Iredale and Roughley) in Port Stephens, NSW'. Darren Richardson (Class 1 Honours).

1990 'Sexual reproduction of scleractinian corals from Northern NSW'. Brett Nudd (Class 2B Honours).

Updated: 20 September 2012