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
  • 2019 - Principal Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
  • 2013 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
  • 2019 - Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award
  • 2018 - JCU Primary Advisor of the Year
  • 2018 - Fellow of the International Society for Reef Studies
  • 2017 - JCU Research Excellence Award
  • 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
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 170+ research outputs authored by Prof Andrew Hoey from 2002 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Fisheries Society of the British Isles - Research Grant Fund

Impacts of a volcanic eruption on coral reef fisheries in a co-managed fishery-system

Indicative Funding
$12,186 over 2 years
Summary
In January 2022, a massive submarine volcanic eruption occurred in the Kingdom of Tonga, causing widespread damage from both ashfall and tsunami waves. For 20 years prior to this eruption, the Tongan government has worked closely with local communities to manage and conserve the countries coral reef ecosystem and reef fisheries. In the wake of this acute disturbance, I aim to: 1)understand how coral reefs and their fisheries respond to massive acute disturbances, and 2)investigate whether local marine management measures can mitigate observed impacts. Ecological surveys of fish and reef health will be conducted across the country?s coral reefs, both within and beyond managed areas, at varying distances from the eruption epicentre.
Investigators
Lucy Southworth, Andrew Hoey, Patrick Smallhorn-West and Amy Diedrich (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Research Division and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Small scale fisheries; Fisheries co-management; Volcanic eruption; Habitat degradation; Food security; Fisheries productivity

Department of the Environment and Energy - Director of National Parks - Tender

Coral Sea Bright Spot Reef Health and Resilience Survey ? 2022-24

Indicative Funding
$765,778 over 2 years
Summary
The Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP) covers approximately 990,000 km2 and includes over 30 individual reef systems that are surrounded by deep waters. Extensive bleaching of corals was recorded across shallow reef habitats within the CSMP in 2020 and 2021. This project will use surveys of benthic, fish and invertebrate communities to assess the ongoing effects and potential recovery from these back-to-back bleaching events.
Investigators
Andrew Hoey, Eva McClure, Morgan Pratchett, Deborah Burn and Gemma Galbraith (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Research Division)
Keywords
Coral reef; Coral bleaching; Marine park management; Reef fish; Coral Sea

Lizard Island Research Station - Gough Family Doctoral Fellowship

The influence of habitat-degradation induced stress on population regulation of coral reef fishes

Indicative Funding
$22,000 over 2 years
Summary
This project will use an experimental approach to better understand how loss of live coral affects the population dynamics of coral dwelling fishes through alterations in energetics and stress physiology. I will use a combination of field surveys and laboratory experiments to examine if the transition from live coral to algal dominated habitats affects body condition and survival of juvenile fishes differentially based on their reliance of live coral habitat. The outcomes of this study will provide a new perspective on the attributes of individuals and populations that make some species more resilient to habitat change than others.
Investigators
Eric Fakan, Andrew Hoey and Geoff Jones (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Habitat Degradation; Pomacentridge; sub-lethal effects; Coral-associated fishes; Fitness; Stress

Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Reef Restoration and Adaptation Science (RRAP)

EcoRAP ? Macroalgal dynamics

Indicative Funding
$189,000 over 4 years (administered by AIMS)
Summary
The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program is a collaboration of Australia?s leading experts to create an integrated group of reef interventions that is safe, acceptable, and at a scale to be effective to help protect the future of the Great Barrier Reef, other Australian reefs and coral reefs globally. This project will assess the ecology and demographic rates of macroalgae on inshore reefs of the GBR
Investigators
Andrew Hoey (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords
Macroalgae; Coral reef; Competition; Demographics

Department of the Environment and Energy - Director of National Parks - Tender

Moore Reef Grounding Assessment (Coral Sea Marine Park)

Indicative Funding
$51,487 over 1 year
Summary
A vessel was reported to have run aground at Moore Reef in the Coral Sea Marine Park in December 2022. This project will use surveys of the grounding site and surrounding habitat to understand the impact of the vessel grounding on reef habitats, and benthic and fish communities on Moore Reef.
Investigators
Andrew Hoey, Eva McClure and Gemma Galbraith (College of Science & Engineering and TropWater)
Keywords
Coral reef; Grounding; Marine park management; Reef fish; Coral Sea; Impact assessment

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

Reef - Island connectivity in the Coral Sea Marine Park.

Indicative Funding
$40,906 over 1 year
Summary
This project use stable isotope analyses of fish, algae and sponge samples to investigate potential island reef-connectivity in the Coral Sea Marine Park. The work is intended to identify potential nutrient subsidies from seabirds and vegetated island to surrounding reef systems.
Investigators
Andrew Hoey (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords
Coral Reefs; Sea birds; Nutrient subsidies; Connectivity

Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Crown-of-Thorns Control Innovation Program (CCIP)

Quantifying predation rates on CoTS relative to fisheries management zones and corresponding differences in abundance of putative predators

Indicative Funding
$299,115 over 2 years
Summary
The purpose of this research is to quantify rates of predation on CoTS at reefs within contrasting Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) management zones. More specifically, we will quantify predation and mortality rates for CoTS, as well as differences in the abundance and composition of potential predators, between reefs where fishing is permitted (Blue zones), restricted (Yellow zones) or effectively prohibited (Green zones). The focus of this project is unequivocally on relatively large and conspicuous post-settlement life stages of CoTS (e.g., sub-adults and adults) and the relatively large predators (mainly fishes) that might be consuming them.
Investigators
Morgan Pratchett, Ciemon Caballes, Andrew Hoey, Symon Dworjanyn and Scott Ling (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Southern Cross University and University of Tasmania)
Keywords
Coral Reefs; Crown-of-thorns starfish; Zoning; Predation; Outbreaks; Marine protected areas

Lizard Island Research Station - Gough Family Doctoral Fellowship

Differential effects of sequential disturbances on the structure and function of reefs across the continental shelf

Indicative Funding
$15,000 over 1 year
Summary
On the Great Barrier Reef, the greatest distinction in benthic composition and herbivorous fish assemblage structure and function is found across the continental shelf, among inner-, mid- and outer-shelf reefs. Yet our understanding of how these unique assemblages respond and re-form following disturbances is limited. This project investigates changes in benthic composition and the structure, function and behaviour of herbivorous fish assemblages on inner-, mid- and outer-shelf reefs following multiple cyclone and bleaching events from 2015-2017. In doing so, this project will provide the first longitudinal study of cross-shelf assemblages and processes and improve understanding of reef recovery.
Investigators
Eva McClure and Andrew Hoey (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords
Coral Reefs; Great Barrier Reef; Cross-Shelf; Disturbance; Recovery

Department of the Environment and Energy - Director of National Parks - Tender

Coral reef research and monitoring in the Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP).

Indicative Funding
$451,795 over 1 year
Summary
The Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP) covers approximately 990,000 km2 and includes over 30 individual reef systems that are surrounded by deep waters. In March 2020 extensive bleaching of corals was recorded across shallow reef habitats within the CSMP. This project will use surveys of benthic, fish and invertebrate communities to assess the ongoing effects of the 2020 bleaching event on coral reefs within the CSMP.
Investigators
Andrew Hoey, Morgan Pratchett and Eva McClure (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords
Coral Reef; Coral Bleaching; marine park management; Reef Fish; Coral Sea

Ian Potter Foundation - Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation - Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Research Grants

Effective sampling of Acanthaster cf. solaris to provide early-warning of new and renewed outbreaks

Indicative Funding
$62,727 over 2 years
Summary
This project aims to develop a holistic monitoring program that will not only help to deliver an early-warning syste, but will increase the viability of culling CoTS populations even during non-outbreak periods with the ultimate goal of reducing the frequency and severity of future outbreaks. Perhaps even more importantly, this project will deliver (for the first time) spatially and temporally explicit information about the structure and dynamics of crown-of-thorns starfish within the ?initiation zone? and in the lead-up to a new population irruption, which is a critical knowledge gap that limits understanding of the initiation and causes of population outbreaks.
Investigators
Morgan Pratchett, Andrew Hoey, Ciemon Caballes, Sven Uthicke and Jason Doyle in collaboration with Peter Doll and Janai Chandler (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Australian Institute of Marine Science)
Keywords
Coral Reefs; Disturbance; Management; Monitoring

Department of the Environment and Energy - Director of National Parks - Tender

Coral Sea Marine Park Coral Reef Health Survey (2021)

Indicative Funding
$354,402 over 1 year
Summary
The Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP) covers approximately 990,000 km2 and includes over 30 individual reef systems that are surrounded by deep waters. In March 2020 extensive bleaching of corals was recorded across shallow reef habitats within the CSMP. This project will use surveys of benthic, fish and invertebrate communities to assess the impacts of the 2020 bleaching event on coral reefs within the CSMP.
Investigators
Andrew Hoey, Morgan Pratchett and Hugo Harrison (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords
Coral Reef; Coral Bleaching; Marine Mark Management; Reef Fish; Coral

New York University Abu Dhabi - Research Enhancement Fund

Migrate or hibernate: How do coral reef fishes survive extreme seasonal temperatures in the Arabian Gulf?

Indicative Funding
$30,098 over 2 years (administered by New York University Abu Dhabi)
Summary
Seawater temperatures of the Arabian Gulf are among the most extreme and variable in which coral reefs exist, consistently reaching above 36 degrees C in summer and below 14 degrees C in winter. These temperatures present a challenging environment for marine organisms, extending substantially beyond the survivable temperature range of most tropical coral reef fishes worldwide. This project will use implanted acoustic tags to track fish movement and activity patterns and location (presence /absence on the reef) on the reef during summer and winter; and aquarium studies of metabolic activity to determine how these fishes cope with the extreme temperatures in the Arabian Gulf.
Investigators
John Burt, Andrew Hoey and Jacob Johansen (New York University Abu Dhabi, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and University of Hawaii - Manoa)
Keywords
Temperature; activity patterns; Coral Reef Fish; seasonal movement; Arabian Gulf
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
  • Vulnerability of coral assemblages in Australia?s coral sea marine park (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • The effects of habitat degradation on live coral associated reef fishes (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Effect of Environmental Stressors on the Competitive Ability of Corals (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • Spatial Dynamics of Tropical Shallow Marine Habitats and their Related Mobile marine Faunal Communities (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • Establishing how the Nature of Environmental Change Influences Phenotypic and Adaptive outcomes (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • Changes in behaviour and sociality of Chaetodon butterflyfish linked to population declines and coral loss (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
  • Do the effects of multiple environmental stressors depend on the timing of experience across generations? (Masters , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • Changing mesophotic nature coral of reef ecosystems fish herbivory with depth: from shallow to upper mesophotic coral ecosystems (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Local- versus broad-scale effects of algal assemblages on coral demography (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Regional and Local Variation in Fish Assemblages and Demography: A Seascape Perspective (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Effects of water quality on the ecology of herbivorous parrotfishes and surgeonfishes in American Samoa (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • The effects of macroalgal stands on coral demographics on the GBR (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Interactions between fish and coral reefs: the influence of habitat degradation on fish communities (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Habitat suitability and patterns of larval settlement for crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in the western Pacific (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Dynamics of Reef-building corals along the north-western Australian coastline (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • The Effect of Ocean Warming on the Behaviour and Fitness of Post-settlement Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Completed
Data

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

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.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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Email
Phone
Location
  • 19.111, Kevin Stark Research Building (Townsville campus)
Advisory Accreditation
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