Dr. Hugo Harrison is a molecular ecologist with an interest in coral reefs, notably movement ecology of coral reef organisms. His main research is focused on understanding patterns of larval connectivity in coral reef fish, and its relevance to the design and effectiveness of marine protected areas.

Dr. Harrison received his doctoral degree cum laude in Marine Biology from James Cook University in Australia and the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etude in France in 2014.  As part of his thesis, Dr. Harrison and colleagues were the first to apply a forensic DNA profiling approach to track the dispersal pathways of fish larvae throughout a network of marine reserves on Australia’s Great Barrier Reefs. Their study provides the first conclusive evidence that larval supply from marine reserves generates important recruitment subsidies to both fished and protected areas.

His expertise lies in combining field-based research with advances in molecular genetics to investigate dispersal and connectivity in coral reef seascapes, which are fundamental to the persistence and effective management of reef ecosystems globally. In 2016, he was awarded a prestigious ARC Discovery Research Fellowship (DECRA) to identify “Critical regions and network connectivity of coral reef ecosystems”.

He now leads a diverse research portfolio on 'Adaptive Seascapes' to investigate coral reefs' adaptive potential to climate change. His research interests span genomics and population genetics, biophysical and metapopulation modelling, as well as species life-history and ecosystem dynamics.

Interests

Research

• Movement ecology in coral reef seascapes
• Marine reserves for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management
• Disturbance regimes and the recovery of coral reef ecosystems
• Spatial patterns of contemporary selection to climate change

Teaching

• Marine conservation and fisheries management

Experience

• 2016 to 2019 - DECRA Research Fellow, James Cook University
• 2013 to 2016 - Post-doctoral Research Associate, James Cook University

Research Disciplines

• Ecology (3103)
• Climate change impacts and adaptation (4101)
• Environmental management (4104)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Marine systems and management (1805)

Awards

• 2016 to 2019 - Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU.

Journal Articles

• Burn D, Hoey A, Matthews S, Harrison H and Pratchett M (2023) Differential bleaching susceptibility among coral taxa and colony sizes, relative to bleaching severity across Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Marine Parks. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 191.
• Cannon S, Donner S, Liu A, González Espinosa P, Baird A, Baum J, Bauman A, Beger M, Benkwitt C, Birt M, Chancerelle Y, Cinner J, Crane N, Denis V, Depczynski M, Fadli N, Fenner D, Fulton C, Golbuu Y, Graham N, Guest J, Harrison H, Hobbs J, Hoey A, Holmes T, Houk P, Januchowski-Hartley F, Jompa J, Kuo C, Limmon G, Lin Y, McClanahan T, Muenzel D, Paddack M, Planes S, Pratchett M, Radford B, Reimer J, Richards Z, Ross C, Rulmal Jr. J, Sommer B, Williams G and Wilson S (2023) Macroalgae exhibit diverse responses to human disturbances on coral reefs. Global Change Biology, 29 (12). pp. 3318-3330
• Fitzgerald L, Harrison H, Coker D, Saenz-Agudelo P, Srinivasan M, Majoris J, Bostrom Einarsson L, Pujol B, Bennett-Smith M, Thorrold S, Planes S, Jones G and Berumen M (2022) Rank change and growth within social hierarchies of the orange clownfish, Amphiprion percula. Marine Biology, 169 (10).
• Gurdek-Bas R, Benthuysen J, Harrison H, Zenger K and van Herwerden L (2022) The El Niño Southern Oscillation drives multidirectional inter-reef larval connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef. Scientific Reports, 12 (1).
• Marzonie M, Bay L, Bourne D, Hoey A, Matthews S, Nielsen J and Harrison H (2022) The effects of marine heatwaves on acute heat tolerance in corals. Global Change Biology, 29 (2). pp. 404-416
• McLean D, Ferreira L, Benthuysen J, Miller K, Schlappy M, Ajemian M, Berry O, Birchenough S, Bond T, Boschetti F, Bull A, Claisse J, Condie S, Consoli P, Coolen J, Elliott M, Fortune I, Fowler A, Gillanders B, Harrison H, Hart K, Henry L, Hewitt C, Hicks N, Hock K, Hyder K, Love M, Macreadie P, Miller R, Montevecchi W, Nishimoto M, Page H, Paterson D, Pattiaratchi C, Pecl G, Porter J, Reeves D, Riginos C, Rouse S, Russell D, Sherman C, Teilmann J, Todd V, Treml E, Williamson D and Thums M (2022) Influence of offshore oil and gas structures on seascape ecological connectivity. Global Change Biology, 28 (11). pp. 3515-3536
• Nielsen J, Matthews G, Frith K, Harrison H, Marzonie M, Slaughter K, Suggett D and Bay L (2022) Experimental considerations of acute heat stress assays to quantify coral thermal tolerance. Scientific Reports, 12 (1).
• Payet S, Pratchett M, Saenz-Agudelo P, Berumen M, DiBattista J and Harrison H (2022) Demographic histories shape population genomics of the common coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus). Evolutionary Applications, 15 (8). pp. 1221-1235
• van Woesik R, Shlesinger T, Grottoli A, Toonen R, Thurber R, Warner M, Hulver A, Chapron L, McLachlan R, Albright R, Crandall E, DeCarlo T, Donovan M, Eirin-Lopez J, Harrison H, Heron S, Huang D, Humanes A, Krueger T, Madin J, Manzello D, McManus L, Matz M, Muller E, Rodriguez-Lanetty M, Vega-Rodriguez M, Voolstra C and Zaneveld J (2022) Coral-bleaching responses to climate change across biological scales. Global Change Biology, 28 (14). pp. 4229-4250
• Hamilton R, Lozano-cortés D, Bode M, Almany G, Harrison H, Pita J, Saenz-agudelo P, Gereniu C, Waldie P, Peterson N, Choat J and Berumen M (2021) Larval dispersal and fishing pressure influence recruitment in a coral reef fishery. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58 (12). pp. 2924-2935
• Lavin C, Jones G, Williamson D and Harrison H (2021) Minimum size limits and the reproductive value of numerous, young, mature female fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288 (1946).
• Lowe J, Payet S, Harrison H, Hobbs J, Hoey A, Taylor B, Sinclair-Taylor T and Pratchett M (2021) Regional versus latitudinal variation in the life-history traits and demographic rates of a reef fish, Centropyge bispinosa, in the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks, Australia. Journal of Fish Biology, 99 (5). pp. 1602-1612

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 46+ research outputs authored by Dr Hugo Harrison from 2012 onwards.

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

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

• Seascape connectivity and ecology in pinnacle reef fishes (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

• Coral reef fish larval connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef from biophysical modelling and genomics (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The life-history, evolution and adaptation of coral reef fishes in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea (2023, PhD , Primary Advisor)

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

• Harrison, H. (2017) Data from: Widespread hybridisation and bi-directional introgression in sympatric species of coral reef fish. James Cook University
• Bonin, M. (2017) Data from: The role of marine reserves in the replenishment of a locally-impacted population of anemonefish on the Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University
• Williamson, D. (2017) Data from: Large-scale, multi-directional larval connectivity among coral reef fish populations in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. James Cook University

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.