Brigitte Sommer

PhD Candidate

Research Interests

Coral reef ecology, community ecology, ecological theory, conservation

Current project

Ecological dynamics and conservation of subtropical coral and benthic communities of east Australia in a changing climate:

Climate change is projected to alter environmental conditions of high-latitude reefs, with likely impacts on species ranges, community composition and reef health. My research integrates aspects of ecology, statistical modelling and systematic conservation planning to examine ecological dynamics of high-latitude coral and benthic communities of east Australia, the mechanisms that drive their assembly and implications for their management and conservation. The study of corals developing under marginal conditions may provide valuable insights into the potential future status of reefs that currently develop under optimal conditions, but may become marginal under climate change.

SUPERVISORS: Prof. John M. Pandolfi (UQ), Dr. Maria Beger (UQ), Prof. Peter L. Harrison (SCU), Dr. Russ Babcock (CSIRO)

Qualifications

Honours in Coral Reef Ecology - Southern Cross University
Master of Marine Science and Management - University of New England
Master of Environmental Management - University of New England
Master and Bachelor of Social Sciences & Economics - Vienna University of Economics and Business

Publications

Sommer B., Harrison P.L., Scheffers S.R. (2010) Aggressive colonial ascidian impacting deep coral reefs at Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Coral Reefs 29(1):245

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

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

Baird A.H., Sommer B., Madin J.S. (2012) Pole-ward range expansion of Acropora spp. along the east coast of Australia. Coral Reefs DOI 10.1007/s00338-012-0928-6

Conference proceedings

Sommer B., Harrison P.L., Scheffers S.R. (2009) TThe status of marine benthic communities at Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Southern Caribbean. Abstracts book and presentation 84th Annual Coral Reef Society Conference 25-27 Sept 2009, Darwin, Australia.

Sommer B., Harrison P.L., Beger M., Pandolfi J.M. (2011) The ecology of subtropical benthic reef communities of Eastern Australia and implications for their conservation. Abstracts book and presentation 86th Annual Coral Reef Society Conference 26-28 Aug 2011, Sunshine Coast, Australia.

Updated: 21 May 2013