Current Research

1. Pollution Impacts

My research breaks new ground in developing field-based ecotoxicological experiments that examine interactions between toxicants and community dynamics. This work has been published in high impact general ecology and marine journals (e.g. Ecological Applications, Marine Ecology Progress Series). A significant achievement of my interdisciplinary research has been that it has met the highest standards of both the ecological and ecotoxicological research fields, such that I have also published in leading journals of pollution research (e.g. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry). I have recently been invited to take up the position of Associate Editor of Marine Ecotoxicology for the international journal Ecotoxicology. Funding for my pollution research program comes from a variety of sources including ARC linkage (2006-2008) and the Port Kembla Port Corporation.

 

2. Marine Biological Invasions

A major breakthrough in my research came with the understanding that disturbances due to pollution interact with community dynamics to create large positive indirect effects on competitively inferior or "weedy" species. These findings led to the development of my current research program investigating the role of disturbances (both natural and anthropogenic) in facilitating the invasion of marine communities. As part of this research program I have developed techniques to deliver controlled exposures to marine invasive propagules in the field (i.e. sub-tidally). This is a novel and important advance for tests of invasibility in the marine environment as it minimises variability and eliminates potential confounding due to differential propagule pressure. Funding for this research program comes from a variety of sources including - ARC discovery (2003-2006), ARC APAI linkage (2006-2008) and the Department of Primary Industries (NSW).

 

3. Pollution and Antarctic marine communities

Antarctica is no longer considered a pristine environment and the impact of human activity is likely to increase in coming years. This program assesses the vulnerability of Antarctic hard-substrate assemblages compared to those of temperate regions and will provide information on the responses of individuals, populations and communities to stressors such as pollution and climate change. The project involves Antarctic subtidal experimental work during the summers of 2005-2008. Funding for this research program comes from the Australian Antarctic Science Grant and the Faculty Research Program.

 

Collaborations

I have ongoing collaborations with the following researchers and research groups outside of the University of New South Wales:

  • Glasby T - Office of Conservation, Department of Primary Industries (NSW)
  • Riddle M, Stark J, King C - Human Impacts, Australian Antarctic Division
  • Simpson S  - Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research, CSIRO
  • Marshall D - Integrative Biology School, University of Queensland
  • Hyne R & Mann R - Centre for Ecotoxicology, Department of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change (NSW)