CoralReefEcology2016:01 Academicstaff

IntroductiontoCoralReefEcology Subject coordinator & Lecturer Dr Mia Hoogenboom

Lecturers- Professor Sean Connolly

Professor Terry Hughes
MB3190 Undergraduate Dr Andrew Hoey
MB5190 Postgraduate Dr David Wachenfeld (GBRMPA)
Dr Sue-Ann Watson

DrMiaHoogenboom
mia.hoogenboom1@jcu.edu.au
SMTBBuildingDB028,Level1
Ext.15937
Technicalstaff
Phil Osmond (Dive Officer)
Rickard Abom (Field Coordinator)
Glen Ewels (Dive Officer)
Tutors:Katia Nicolet, Allison Paley, Tory Chase, Grace Frank

DrMiaHoogenboom CoralReefEcophysiologyLab
i) Climate change and coral reefs
2003 B Arts/ B Sc (Marine Biology, 1st Class Hons)
Adaptation to environmental change
Fitness implications of phenotypic plasticity in corals Factors that promote recovery from bleaching

2008 PhD Marine Ecology

Recent Publications
R Rodolfo-Metalpa, M Hoogenboom et al. (2014) Thermally tolerant corals have
Physiological models of performance for scleractinian corals limited capacity to acclimatize to future warming. Global Change Biology

M Hoogenboom, D Campbell, E Beraud, K DeZeeuw, C Ferrier-Pags (2012) Effects

of light, food availability and temperature stress on the function of Photosystem
Senior Lecturer (2012 - ), School of Marine and Tropical Biology, JCU II and Photosystem I of coral symbionts. PLoS ONE 7(1): e30167

Research Fellow (2011 - 2012), ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Students
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2009 - 2011), University of Glasgow Saskia Jurriaans Thermal acclimation of reef-building corals
Blake Ramsby Sponge-coral interactions in a high CO2 world
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2008 - 2009), Centre Scientifique de Monaco Tess Hill Changes in the outcome of species interactions in a high CO2 world

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CoralReefEcophysiologyLab CoralReefEcophysiology Lab
ii) Ecotoxicology iii) Population and community dynamics
Effects of pollutants on biological communities Species distribution modelling
Sublethal effects Species interactions
Synergistic effects of pollution and temperature Projected changes in community structure

Recent Publications
N Hall, K Berry, M Hoogenboom (2015) Microplastic ingestion by scleractinian corals.
Marine Biology, 162: 725-732
K Berry, M Hoogenboom, F Flores, A Negri (2016) Simulated coal spill causes
mortality and growth inhibition in tropical marine organisms. Scientific Reports,
6:25894
Students
Kathryn Berry Effects of coal dust on coral reef organisms
Kay Critchell - Microplastic pollution of inshore GBR environments
Annie Bauer Marine debris social-ecological impacts
Recent Publications
J Madin, M Hoogenboom, S Connolly (2012) Integrating physiological and
biomechanical drivers of population growth over environmental gradients on
coral reefs. Journal of Experimental Biology 215, 968-976.
J Madin, M Hoogenboom, S Connolly, E Darling et al. (2016) A trait-based approach
to advance coral reef science. Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Students
Katia Nicolet Environmental stressors and dynamics of coral disease
Grace Frank Spatial variation in coral community composition
Tory Chase Species interactions on coral reefs
Mike McWilliam Trait based approaches to understanding coral communities

CoralReefEcology(MB3190/MB5190)
Predation

Overview contemporary
aspects of coral reef ecology
population dynamics Disease/Parasitism
community structure & diversity
environmental disturbances
competition and predation
reef management
Questionnaire Facilitation

Emphasis on mechanisms &

processes that shape reef
communities Competition

Important foundation for further

research degrees + careers in
management and conservation

2
 Wewillinvestigatetheevidencecontributingto
Morethan275millionpeopleresidein
fundamentalcontroversyinecology: thedirectvicinityofcoralreefs...,where
livelihoodsaremostlikelytodependon
Inpopulationecology=arepopulationsizesdrivenby
competitiondriven(densitydependent)regulationor reefsandrelatedresources.
byenvironmentalinfluences(e.g.temperature)? ReefsatRiskRevisited2011

Incommunityecology=dospeciescooccurbecause COTS BLEACHING DISEASES

theyhaveacommonresponsetoenvironmental
factorsorarecommunitiesassembledrandomly?

Montage by Dean Jacobsen

Tomanagereefs....
~US$30billionannually!!!!
12 Weneedtounderstandthefactorsthat
Annualbenefit(billionsofUS$)

10
controlreefbiodiversityandecosystem
8

6
functioning
4

From Cesar et al. (2003) The economics of worldwide coral reef degradation

3
 In situ surveys
Coral bleaching

Estimates of total
coral loss (on
average) from
shallow survey
sites = 22 35%

HayPointcoalterminal,MackayQLD
(~940kmNofBrisbane,400kmSofTownsville) PORT
DEVELOPMENT
REQUIRES
CAPITAL
DREDGING

Gladstone

AbbotPoint

Total coal exports through the GBR are forecast to

increase 3-fold by 2020 (BREE 2012; Australian
Government 2013). PLUSongoing
maintenancedredging

4
 Manydifferentprocessesaffectreef More species
than expected
by chance
biodiversity,andtheseactondifferent Fewer species
than expected
spatialandtemporalscales by chance

Hughes et al. 2002. Ecology Letters 5:775-784 Figure 4

GBR Lord Howe

Corals ~360 100

Fish ~1500 500

Echino ~600 110

Molluscs >5000 1500

Algae 629 318

> 1000 km Sea 17 0

snakes

Keith et al. (2013) Proc Roy Soc B 280:20130818

5
 Acropora x 6, Montipora x 2 SubjectGoals
Coeloseris mayeri, Heliopora coerulea
Porites x 3, Psammocora obtusangula

350
Siderastrea x 2
Understandingof:
a) keyprocessesunderlyingreefcommunitystructure
300
b) linkbetweenindividualsandecosystemfunction;
Numberofcoralspecies

250
Montastraea cavernosa
c) issuesunderlyingreefconservation&management
200 Agaricia grahamae
Oculina varicosa Skillsthatinclude:
150 Heterocyathus x 3
Heteropsammia cochlea a) capacitytoreflectcriticallyonscientificevidence.
Stephanocoenia intersepta
100 b) investigateandsynthesizecomplexinformation,concepts
50 andtheories.
0
c) independentlyundertakefieldresearch
>10 1020 2030 3040 4050 50100 100200 d) manipulatedata,visualizedata,conductappropriate
Maximumobserveddepth(m) statisticalanalyses.
Data extracted from Carpenter et al. (2008) Science 321:560-563

trophic cascade

Courseoutline&structure FieldTriptoOrpheusIsl.
From Sandin Et Al (2008)

Holistic treatment of ecological processes that provides essential

background for understanding threats to and management of coral
reefs COST - $300 (incl. GST), plus you need
all your own gear. JCU Dive Club can hire
Series of lectures (Mon-Tues throughout semester, sometimes out complete snorkelling sets (incl.
Friday) presented by Hoogenboom, Hoey & Connolly, as well as wetsuits) for $25.00
other guest lecturers.
Payment due by 9th September
Tutorials, computer & lab. practicals + 2-day field trip to Orpheus
Island designed to help you integrate the theory with practical
problem solving. OBJECTIVE - The purpose of the trip is to
give you the opportunity to test and
Material and information will be posted on LearnJCU. Students explore the practical side of the ecological
should expect some changes to the proposed schedule, so please issues we have dealt with theoretically in
check this site regularly. lectures and computer practicals. Based
on the data we collect as a group, you will
write an original research paper.

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FieldTriptoOrpheusIsl. Assessment:MB3190
DIVING There is the option of diving Note: There will be limited opportunities
for diving (maximum of 4 dives) and we
on the field trip, but YOU are responsible
do not guarantee that diving will always
for meeting University dive requirements:
be possible. Approved divers must still
participate in activities involving reef
Assessment item Weight Duedate
- Must have had an occupational dive
medical (AS2299) within the 12 months of
walking and snorkelling. Practical Exercises
diving
Minireports(2@7.5%) 15% 17Augand31Aug
- Ensure access to approved dive gear - if *The lab report is the culmination of labs 1-3, and is to
using your own gear it must have an written up as per a report for publication in the journal
Coral Reefs. You will be making use of data collected
appropriate record of regular services
by all students, but must analyse data and prepare the
- Need to prove relevant experience and
FieldReport 20%
report completely independently. 28Oct
competency to the University DSO Phil
Osmond or Glen Ewels (e.g., dive Posterpresentation
certification and log-book with >15 hours Posterdue 15% Mon19Sept
of diving)
Presentation Wed21Sept
- Adhere to restrictive dive policies that
apply to undergraduate courses, which FinalExam 50% TBA endofSP2
include depth limitations (<9m) and use of
surface lines.

Assessment:MB5190

Assessment item Weight Duedate

Practical Exercise Importantinformationregarding
TutorialEssay 10% 17Augand31Aug assessmentcriteriaandpoliciesisprovided
FieldReport 20% 28Oct
inyourSubjectOutline
Posterpresentation
Poster&Presentation 20% 19and21Sept
Peerevaluation 10% 7Oct
FinalExam 40% TBA endofSP2
MAKESUREYOUREADIT!

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Coursepolicyonlecturesandlecturenotes Reportwriting
Students are expected to attend all lectures, and no allowances will All professionals (including marine biologists and ecologists) MUST be able
be made for students who cannot or do not attend. Lectures will be to communicate effectively and clearly. Written communication is a difficult
skill that requires much time and practise, so do not under-estimate the time
recorded (voice only) and these recordings are intended to be used
and effort required.
for revision purposes.
All presentations shown during lectures and practicals will be loaded For this course prepare your
on to LearnJCU. PowerPoint slides are intended to aid learning, assignments in accordance with
but do not necessarily present all pertinent points from each guidelines for authors for Coral
Reefs.
lecture
Comprehension of course content (from lectures and associated Please find latest instructions
readings) will be assessed in the final exam pertaining to this journal
online.

http://www.springer.com/life+sci/ecology/journal/338

Takehomemessages REQUIREDREADINGSFROMTHIS
LECTURE:
1. CentralgoalofMB3190/5190:
Yoursubjectoutlines.READTHEASSESSMENTCRITERIA
Understandhowenvironmentalconditions,biotic (seriously!!YouREALLYNEEDtoreadthese!!)
interactionsandgeologicalprocessesinfluencethestructure
ofreefcommunitiesandimplicationsformanagement
NEXTLECTURE:Coralsarethefoundation
2. Assessments:deepenyourunderstandinganddevelop
essentialskillsrequiredforcareerinscience
speciesofreefs