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

Clements C, Rasher D, Hoey A, Bonito V and Hay M (2018) Spatial and temporal limits of coral-macroalgal competition: the negative impacts of macroalgal density, proximity, and history of contact. Marine Ecology - Progress Series, 586. pp. 11-20
Bauman A, Hoey A, Dunshea G, Feary D, Low J and Todd P (2017) Macroalgal browsing on a heavily degraded, urbanized equatorial reef system. Scientific Reports, 7 (1).
Bento R, Feary D, Hoey A and Burt J (2017) Settlement patterns of corals and other benthos on reefs with divergent environments and disturbances histories around the northeastern Arabian Peninsula. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4.
Bonaldo R, Pires M, Guimaraes P, Hoey A and Hay M (2017) Small Marine Protected Areas in Fiji provide refuge for reef fish assemblages, feeding groups, and corals. PLoS One, 12 (1).
Clark T, Messmer V, Tobin A, Hoey A and Pratchett M (2017) Rising temperatures may drive fishing-induced selection of low-performance phenotypes. Scientific Reports, 7.
Fulton C, Wainwright P, Hoey A and Bellwood D (2017) Global ecological success of Thalassoma fishes in extreme coral reef habitats. Ecology and Evolution, 7 (1). pp. 466-472
Hess S, Prescott L, Hoey A, McMahon S, Wenger A and Rummer J (2017) Species-specific impacts of suspended sediments on gill structure and function in coral reef fishes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological Sciences, 284 (1866).
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, Wilson S, 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 and Cumming G (2017) Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals. Nature, 543 (7645). pp. 373-377
Messmer V, Pratchett M, Hoey A, Tobin A, Coker D, Cooke S and Clark T (2017) Global warming may disproportionately affect larger adults in a predatory coral reef fish. Global Change Biology, 23 (6). pp. 2230-2240
Pratchett M, Cowan Z, Nadler L, Caballes C, Hoey A, Messmer V, Fletcher C, Westcott D and Ling S (2017) Body size and substrate type modulate movement by the western Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster solaris. PLoS ONE, 12 (9).
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
Rasher D, Hoey A and Hay M (2017) Cascading predator effects in a Fijian coral reef ecosystem. Scientific Reports, 7.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 92+ research outputs authored by Dr Andrew Hoey from 2002 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Reef Guardian Grants

Temperature and seaweed-fish interactions

Indicative Funding: $2,000
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

Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Shallow Reef Monitoring 2018

Indicative Funding: $54,750
Summary: The purpose of this contract is to survey shallow reef environments within the Elizabeth and Middleton reef national Marine Park, to assess the status and trends of reef environments and reef-associated organisms. Surveys will be conducted using methods established during prior surveys, undertaken at Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs in March 2011 and arch 2014.
Investigators: Morgan Pratchett and Andrew Hoey in collaboration with Katie Sambrook and Sallyann Gudge (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Lord Howe Island Marine Park Authority)
Keywords: Coral Reefs; Offshore Platforms & Structures; Sharks; Commonwealth Marine Parks; Monitoring; Fishes

Equity Trustees - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment

The effect of habitat degradation on host-parasite interactions in coral reef fish

Indicative Funding: $5,840
Summary: This project will investigate how the degradation of coral reef habitats impacts the abundance and composition of parasites on/within key herbivorous coral reef fish species. In doing so, this study will explore likely changes in the health and condition of these fishes, as reefs continue to degrade. It is hypothesised that parasite community structure will differ largely between healthy and degraded habitats (e.g. coral vs. rubble and macroalgal-dominated habitats), resulting in increased infection by parasites with life histories favoured by degradation, disturbance and reduced habitat. Such changes in parasite community structure are hypothesised to lead to an initial increase in parasite-induced disease epidemics in response to habitat degradation.
Investigators: Katie Motson, Andrew Hoey and Kate Hutson (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Parasites; Degradation; Health; Fish; Coral Reef; Herbivore

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

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

Socio-Ecological Dynamics in Archaeological Shellfish Fisheries: A case from the Keppel Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Australia (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Effects of Suspended Sediments on the Performance of Early Life History Stages of Coral Reef Fishes. (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Changes in behaviour and sociality of Chaetodon butterflyfish linked to population declines and coral loss (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
Macroalgae Regime Shift of the Great Barrier Reef: Ecological and Microbial Coral-algal Interactions (Masters , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Variation in structure and function of reef fish assemblages among distinct coral habitats (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Effect of canopy forming macroalgae on key processes on coral reefs. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Resilience of Coral Assemblages in NW Australia (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
No Take Marine Reserve performance under varying environmental and anthropogenic influences (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Deciphering the bacterial microworld in corals: structure, variability and persistence (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
How Coral Reef Fish Communities are Shaped by both Socioeconomic Drivers and Larval Dispersal Patterns (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Spatial Variation in the Density and Demography of Newly Settled Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris). (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Effects of water quality on the ecology of herbivorous parrotfishes and surgeonfishes in American Samoa (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
The Effect of Temperature on Seaweed-Herbivore Interactions on Tropical Coral Reef Systems (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Beyond the Reef: The Influence of Seascape Structure on Fish Communities and Ecological Processes on Coral Reefs (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Physiological and behavioural strategies used by fish to mitigate the effects of ocean warming. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
The Impacts of Coral Reef Health on Fish-Parasite Interactions (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)

Completed

Neural and ecological basis of pair bonding in butterflyfishes (F: Chaetodontidae) (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Trophic impact of large predators on coral reefs and management implications (2015, PhD , Associate Advisor)
Habitat preferences and associations of juvenile algal-associated fishes on coral reefs (2017, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
Coral reef mesopredator trophodynamics in response to reef condition (2017, 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)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

Hughes, T. (2018) Global warming transforms coral reef assemblages. James Cook University
Hess, S. (2017) Species-specific impacts of suspended sediments on gill structure and function in coral reef fishes. James Cook University

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.