JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Andrew Hoey

About

Teaching

MB3190: Coral Reef Ecology (Level 3; TSV)
MB5190: Coral Reef Ecology (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

My research focuses on broad-scale ecological processes and the functional importance of different taxa to the resilience of coral reef ecosystems, in particular the functional role of herbivorous fishes and the dangers of seaweed expansion on coral reefs. I have worked at over 30 locations spanning the world’s tropical oceans and this experience has provided him with considerable insight into the differences among these systems in terms of diversity, reef community structure, human use patterns and, perhaps more importantly, the underlying processes. My current research focuses on understanding the functional importance of different herbivorous fishes in preventing and/or reversing seaweed expansion on coral reefs, the differential responses of herbivorous fishes to changes in the benthic community structure on coral reefs, the recruitment dynamics and replenishment of reef fish populations, and the effects of increasing water temperature on the physiology and function of reef fish.

Experience

2016 to 2018 - Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
2016 to 2017 - President, Australian Coral Reef Society
2013 to 2015 - DECRA Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
2012 to 2013 - Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
2011 to 2012 - Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, Red Sea Research Center, KAUST
2010 to 2011 - Experimental Scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science (Townsville, Australia)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2014 - ESA George Mercer Award - Outstanding Ecological Paper
2013 - Churchill Medal
2012 - Virginia Chadwick Award
2009 - Virginia Chadwick Award
2008 - Science for Management Award, GBRMPA
2008 - Terry Walker Award, Australia Coral Reef Society

Fellowships

2013 - Isobel Bennett Marine Biology Fellowship, Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation
2011 - Churchill Fellowship
2007 to 2009 - Ian Potter Doctoral Fellowship at Lizard Island

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Hughes T, Kerry J, Álvarez-Noriega M, Alvarez-Romero J, Anderson K, Baird A, Babcock R, Beger M, Bellwood D, Berkelmans R, Bridge T, Butler I, Byrne M, Cantin N, Comeau S, Connolly S, Cumming G, Dalton S, Diaz-Pulido G, Eakin C, Figueira W, Gilmour J, Harrison H, Heron S, Hoey A, Hobbs J, Hoogenboom M, Kennedy E, Kuo C, Lough J, Lowe R, Liu G, McCulloch M, Malcolm H, McWilliam M, Pandolfi J, Pears R, Pratchett M, Schoepf V, Simpson T, Skirving W, Sommer B, Torda G, Wachenfeld D, Willis B and Wilson S (2017) Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals. Nature, 543 (7645). pp. 373-377
Pratchett M, Cameron D, Donelson J, Evans L, Frisch A, Hobday A, Hoey A, Marshall N, Messmer V, Munday P, Pears R, Pecl G, Reynolds A, Scott M, Tobin A, Tobin R, Welch D and Williamson D (2017) Effects of climate change on coral grouper (Plectropomus spp.) and possible adaptation options. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 27. pp. 297-316
Wilmes J, Matthews S, Schultz D, Messmer V, Hoey A and Pratchett M (2017) Modelling growth of juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Diversity, 9 (1). pp. 1-11
Bauman A, Dunshea G, Feary D and Hoey A (2016) Prickly business: abundance of sea urchins on breakwaters and coral reefs in Dubai. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 105 (2). pp. 459-465
Bento R, Hoey A, Bauman A, Feary D and Burt J (2016) The implications of recurrent disturbances within the world's hottest coral reef. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 105 (2). pp. 466-472
Cinner J, Huchery C, MacNeil M, Graham N, McClanahan T, Maina J, Maire E, Kittinger J, Hicks C, Mora C, Allison E, D'Agata S, Hoey A, Feary D, Crowder L, Williams I, Kulbicki M, Vigliola L, Wantiez L, Edgar G, Stuart-Smith R, Sandin S, Green A, Hardt M, Beger M, Friedlander A, Campbell S, Holmes K, Wilson S, Brokovich E, Brooks A, Cruz-Motta J, Booth D, Chabanet P, Gough C, Tupper M, Ferse S, Sumaila U and Mouillot D (2016) Bright spots among the world's coral reefs. Nature, 535 (7612). pp. 416-419
Friedman S, Price S, Hoey A and Wainwright P (2016) Ecomorphological convergence in planktivorous surgeonfishes. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 29 (5). pp. 965-978
Frisch A, Cameron D, Pratchett M, Williamson D, Williams A, Reynolds A, Hoey A, Rizzari J, Evans L, Kerrigan B, Muldoon G, Welch D and Hobbs J (2016) Key aspects of the biology, fisheries and management of Coral grouper. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 26 (3). pp. 303-325
Heenan A, Hoey A, Williams G and Williams I (2016) Natural bounds on herbivorous coral reef fishes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological Sciences, 283 (1843). pp. 1-9
Hoey A, Howells E, Johansen J, Hobbs J, Messmer V, Bradbury D, Wilson S and Pratchett M (2016) Recent advances in understanding the effects of climate change on coral reefs. Diversity, 8 (2). pp. 1-22
Hoey A, Feary D, Burt J, Vaughan G, Pratchett M and Berumen M (2016) Regional variation in the structure and function of parrotfishes on Arabian reefs. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 105 (2). pp. 524-531

Book Chapters

Pratchett M, Hoey A, Wilson S, Hobbs J and Allen G (2016) Habitat-use and specialisation among coral reef damselfishes. In: Biology of Damselfishes. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, FL, USA, pp. 84-121

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Equity Trustees - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment

Canopy-forming macroalgae on coral reefs: how does it affect key ecosystem processes?

Indicative Funding: $5,000
Summary: Coral reefs are in global decline, with a range of stressors leading to regional reductions in the cover of live corals. While some reefs recover, others are overgrown by fleshy macroalgae such as the canopy-forming Sargassum. Once established, such macroalgal-dominated states are difficult to reverse as positive feedbacks maintain the degraded state. This project will answer the questions: (a) How do clearings in dense beds of macroalgae affect key ecosystem processes such as herbivory and (b) Are herbivorous fishes able to damage or remove Sargassum holdfasts ('root-systems'), thereby preventing canopy-forming macroalgae from regrowing?
Investigators: Zoe Loffler and Andrew Hoey (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Macroalgae; Sargassum Phaeophyceae; Coral reef; Clearings; Phase-shift; Herbivory

Australian Museum - Crown-of-Thorns Starfish research grants

Microhabitat preferences and post-settlement demography for juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS)

Indicative Funding: $35,717
Summary: We will document fine-scale (within reef) variation in the abundance of juvenile (0+ year old) CoTS and relate patterns of abundance to specific features of the local habitat (e.g., depth and aspect) and micro-habitat (eg., cover of different coralline algae and corals) to further refine where to find newly settled CoTS. In areas with high settlement of CoTS, we will also quantify early post-settlement growth and mortality for a single cohort of CoTS, by measuring the local abundance and size structure of juvenile CoTS at selected locations through the course of 1 year.
Investigators: Morgan Pratchett, Jennifer Wilmes, Andrew Hoey and Vanessa Messmer (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Acanthaster; Demography; Settlement; Disturbance; Coral Reefs

Australian Coral Reef Society - Student Research Award

Project Title The effect of canopy forming macroalgae on key ecosystem processes on coral reefs

Indicative Funding: $2,500
Summary: Herbivores play an important role in controlling algal biomass on coral reefs, however, different herbivores target different lifestages of algae. Grazing fishes have been hypothesised to prevent the establishment of adult macroalgae by consuming macroalgal juveniles, while browsing fishes consume adult macroalgae. However, the size at which macroalgae transition from being susceptible to grazers vs browsers, and the influence of small-scale habitat features on this relationship are unknown.
Investigators: Zoe Loffler and Andrew Hoey (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Macroalgae; Sargassum Phaeophyceae; Coral Reef; Propagules; Phase-shift; Herbivory

Australian Coral Reef Society - Student Research Award

The effect of temperature on algae-fish interactions on coral reefs

Indicative Funding: $4,000
Summary: Marine herbivores play a pivotal role in structuring coral reef communities, building resiliency in the face of a changing climate by the mechanical removal of fleshy macroalgae. Ocean warming is currently one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems. As global climates are changing, understanding how marine flora and fauna interact is a crucial but understudied aspect of how entire ecosystems will respond. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of increasing temperature on the interaction between tropical marine herbivorous fish and seaweeds. Specifically, as oceans warm, how primary production by seaweeds will scale with consumption by herbivores.
Investigators: Alexia Graba-Landry and Andrew Hoey (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Plant-herbivore interactions; Macroalgae; Coral Reefs; Ocean warming; Herbivory; Metabolic Theory of Ecology

Department of the Environment and Energy - Director of National Parks - Contract Research

Updated review of research and monitoring in Australia's Commonwealth Marine Reserves relating to natural values

Indicative Funding: $40,821 over 2 years
Summary: Review and summarise all information (including scientific literature, technical reports and other relevant outputs of scientific research and monitoring) relevant to Australia?s Commonwealth Marine Reserves (CMRs). Relevance to CMRs will be assessed on the basis of geographic overlapping with CMR boundaries and adjacent areas and relevance (eg connectivity) to the CMRs'values, including any literature that links uses or pressures to natural values. All information will be incorporated into an updated CMR research database for the Australian Director of National Parks.
Investigators: Andrew Hoey, Morgan Pratchett and Vanessa Messmer (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Commonwealth Marine Reserves; Tropical Reef; Temperate Reef; Resource Management; Ecosystem Health

Australian Research Council - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award

Macroalgal-Driven Feedbacks and the Dynamics of Coral Reef Ecosystems

Indicative Funding: $375,000 over 3 years
Summary: Coral reefs are in decline worldwide with many being overgrown by large fleshy macroalgae. While the causes of reef degradation are relatively well established, there is an absence of information on how key ecological processes respond to this degradation. This research will determine how the foraging behaviour of fishes capable of preventing and reversing macroalgal overgrowth, and the replenishment of fish and coral populations are influenced by the composition and density of macroalgal beds. The outcomes will provide a framework for predicting future changes in key processes on coral reefs and will identify temporal windows in which management actions may be most effective; leading to more effective protection of coral reefs.
Investigators: Andrew Hoey (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Macroalgae; ecological feedback; Resilience

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Spatial Dynamics in the Territories of Stegastes spp. Relative to Coral Growth, Disease and Mortality within Opal Reef (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Effects of Suspended Sediments on the Performance of Early Life History Stages of Coral Reef Fishes. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Coral Algal Interactions; Linking Between Sargassum sp. Microbial Community and Allelopathy for Influencing Reef Health (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
Habitat Preferences and Associations of Juvenile Algal-associated Fishes on Coral Reefs (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
Effects of Coral Loss on Reproductive Biology and Population Viability of Chaetodon Butterflyfish (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
No Take Marine Reserve performance under varying environmental and anthropogenic influences (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Physiological and behavioural strategies used by fish to mitigate the effects of ocean warming. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Coral core microbiome: composition, microhabitat distribution host influence and response to environmental changes. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Distribution and Abundance of Juvenile Crown-of-Thorns Starfish on the Great Barrier Reef (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Evidence of Functional Diversity loss in Harvested Parrotfishes and Surgeonfishes in American Samoa (PhD , Primary Advisor)
The Effect of Temperature on Seaweed-Herbivore Interactions on Tropical Coral Reef Systems (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Variation in Structure and Function of Reef Fish Assemblages Among Different Coral Habitats. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Beyond the Reef: The Influence of Seascape Structure on Fish Communities and Ecological Processes on Coral Reefs (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Effect of canopy forming macroalgae on key processes on coral reefs. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
The Impacts of Coral Reef Health on Fish-Parasite Interactions (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Coral Reef Mesopredator Trophodynamics in Response to Reef Condition. (PhD , Associate Advisor)

Completed

Neural and Ecological Basis of Pair Bonding in Butterflyfishes (Family Chaetodontidae) (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Trophic impact of large predators on coral reefs and management implications (2015, PhD , Associate Advisor)
Environmental Influences on the Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of the Crown-of-thorns Starfish (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Variation in early post-settlement growth and mortality of scleractinian corals (2013, PhD , Associate Advisor)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.