JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Jodie Rummer

About

Dr. Jodie Rummer is an Australian Research Council (ARC) early career Discovery fellow, Assistant Professor of Research at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University (JCU) and was the 2015-2016 recipient of the highly prestigious UNESCO-L’Oréal Women in Science Fellowship for Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Rummer is a leading authority on the evolution of oxygen transport in fish and how performance is maintained during stress. Her research, combines ecology, evolution, and physiology to address issues important to conservation, such as the effects of climate change and other human-caused problems on coral reef fishes, sharks, and rays and the potential for adaptation.

Beyond her research, Jodie also champions for issues that women and other minorities face in the STEM fields. She was editorial advisor and authored three chapters for “Success Strategies from Women in STEM” (2015, Elsevier). In her work, Jodie emphasizes the importance of leadership, being a good role model, and communication – especially with young girls and minorities wanting to pursue careers in science/STEM fields. A career highlight has been her TEDx talk, “Athletes of the Great Barrier Reef”. She also uses social media to communicate scientific findings, highlight fellow scientists’ success stories and achievements, and to and advocate for issues related to women in science, gender balance, and diversity in STEM.

Interests

Research

Ecological, Evolutionary, and Conservation Physiology in Fish • The physiology, performance indicators of stress, and acclimation strategies of fish • Environmental adaptations related to O2, CO2 exchange, acid-base balance, and ion regulation • Evolution of life history tactics, distribution patterns, and biogeography
Hyperbaric, thermal, O2, CO2, pH, water balance, & ionregulation performance assays • Blood sampling, surgical techniques, O2 & pH micro-sensing fiber-optic technology • Evolutionary reconstructions of physiological traits and phylogenetic comparisons

Experience

2015 to present - Academic Editor, Conservation Physiology
2014 to present - Senior Research Fellow (Assistant Professor, Research), ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studie (James Cook University, AUSTRALIA)
2014 to present - Academic Editor, PLoS One
2015 to 2017 - ARC Discovery Fellow (DECRA), ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (James Cook University, AUSTRALIA)
2011 to 2014 - ARC Super Science Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (James Cook University, AUSTRALIA)
2010 to 2011 - Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Biology and Chemistry (City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, HONG KONG)
2008 to 2010 - Editorial Commentary Journalist, Journal of Experimental Biology
2007 to 2010 - Aquatic Facilities Curator, Department of Zoology (University of British Columbia)
2004 to 2010 - PhD candidate, Department of Zoology (University of British Columbia)
2004 to 2006 - Research Assistant, AquaNet (Canada Network Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture, Vancouver, B.C. CANADA)
2003 to 2006 - Teaching Assistant, Department of Zoology (University of British Columbia)
2002 to 2003 - Research & Volunteer Coordinator, Operation Wallacea

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2016 to 2017 - Australia’s Top 5 Scientists under 40, Radio National, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and University of New South Wales
2016 - Catch a Rising Star, for Women in Science Queensland National Science Week
2016 - Society for Experimental Biology President’s Medal – Communication and Diversity in Science
2015 - Rising Star in Queensland Science (Queensland Government)
2015 - George A. Bartholomew distinguished young investigator in comparative physiology, biochemistry, and functional and integrative biology, USA
2008 - • Society for Experimental Biology Young Scientist of the Year, 2nd runner up

Fellowships

2015 to 2017 - Australian Research Council Discovery Fellowship (early career, DECRA), for research “Physiological performance of reef fishes under ocean acidification”.
2015 to 2016 - Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation Fellow, AUSTRALIA
2015 to 2016 - L’Oréal – UNESCO for Women in Science – AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND, winner
2014 to 2015 - Institut des Récifs Coralliens du Pacifique / Institute for Pacific Coral Reefs Research Fellow, Moorea, FRENCH POLYNESIA
2011 to 2014 - ARC Super Science Fellowship

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

Habary A, Johansen J, Nay T and Rummer J (in press) Adapt, move, or die: how will tropical coral reef fishes cope with ocean warming? Global Change Biology,
Berthe C, Mourier J, Lecchini D, Rummer J, Sellos D and Iglésias S (2016) DNA barcoding supports the presence of the cryptic ocellated eagle ray, Aetobatus ocellatus (Myliobatidae), in French Polynesia, South Pacific. Cybium, 40 (2). pp. 181-184
Cinner J, Pratchett M, Graham N, Messmer V, Fuentes M, Ainsworth T, Ban N, Bay L, Blythe J, Dissard D, Dunn S, Evans L, Fabinyi M, Fidelman P, Figueiredo J, Frisch A, Fulton C, Hicks C, Lukoschek V, Mallela J, Moya A, Penin L, Rummer J, Walker S and Williamson D (2016) A framework for understanding climate change impacts on coral reef social–ecological systems. Regional Environmental Change, 16 (4). pp. 1133-1146
Heinrich D, Watson S, Rummer J, Brandl S, Simpfendorfer C, Heupel M and Munday P (2016) Foraging behaviour of the epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum is not affected by elevated CO2. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 73 (3). pp. 633-640
Heuer R, Welch M, Rummer J, Munday P and Grosell M (2016) Altered brain ion gradients following compensation for elevated CO2 are linked to behavioural alterations in a coral reef fish. Scientific Reports, 6. pp. 1-10
Johnson M, Kraver D, Renshaw G and Rummer J (2016) Will ocean acidification affect the early ontogeny of a tropical oviparous elasmobranch (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)? Conservation Physiology, 4 (1). pp. 1-11
Rummer J, Binning S, Roche D and Johansen J (2016) Methods matter: considering locomotory mode and respirometry technique when estimating metabolic rates of fishes. Conservation Physiology, 4 (1). pp. 1-13
Rummer J and Munday P (2016) Climate change and the evolution of reef fishes: past and future. Fish and Fisheries, 18 (1). pp. 22-39
Baker D, Sardella B, Rummer J, Sackville M and Brauner C (2015) Hagfish: champions of CO2 tolerance question the origins of vertebrate gill function. Scientific Reports, 5.
Chin A, Mourier J and Rummer J (2015) Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) show high capacity for wound healing and recovery following injury. Conservation Physiology, 3 (1). pp. 1-9
Ferrari M, Munday P, Rummer J, McCormick M, Corkill K, Watson S, Allan B, Meekan M and Chivers D (2015) Interactive effects of ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures alter predation rate and predator selectivity in reef fish communities. Global Change Biology, 21. pp. 1848-1855

Book Chapters

Darling E and Rummer J (2015) Strategically using social media. In: Success Strategies From Women in STEM: a portable mentor. Elsevier, London, UK, pp. 255-298

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 62+ research outputs authored by Dr Jodie Rummer from 2001 onwards.

Current Funding

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

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology - Competitive Research Grant

Genomic evidence for adaptation of marine fishes to ocean acidification

Indicative Funding: $536,574 over 3 years (administered by King Abudullah University of Science and Technology)
Summary: Ocean acidification is predicted to have far-reaching impacts on marine biodiversity, especially in vulnerable ecosystems such as coral reefs. Whether marine animals can adapt to the decreasing pH is uncertain and the likely molecular mechanisms responsible for such adaptation are unknown. Recent studies show that ecologically important behaviours of marine fishes can be impaired by CO2 levels projected to occur in the ocean before the end of this century. However, in a unique multi-generational experiment with a common coral reef fish, we have demonstrated that such individuals are more tolerant to high CO2 than others and that this tolerance is heritable. In this study we will use Next-Generation Sequencing to sequence the brain's genomes and transcriptomes from parents and their offspring to test for genetic adaptation in CO2 tolerance.
Investigators: T Ravasi, Philip Munday, V Orlando, Michael Berumen and Jodie Rummer (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Ocean Acidification; Coral Reef Fish; Adaptation; Genome

Oceania Chondrichthyan Society - Passions of Paradise Student Research Grant

Reef shark performance in the 21st century

Indicative Funding: $3,000
Summary: Tropical reef sharks are predicted to have a limited ability to rapidly adapt to ocean warming that is expected to reduce sharks? aerobic metabolic scope (AS). Environments prone to warming, like coastal shark nurseries, may become unsuitable habitat, because reduced AS is associated with detriments to fitness. The aims of this study are to understand temperature-driven variation in AS and its underlying mechanisms for juvenile reef sharks, and to link AS to nursery habitat suitability. This study is significant, because determining the suitability of nursery habitat for juveniles may have implications for the long-term viability of reef shark populations.
Investigators: Ian Bouyoucos and Jodie Rummer (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Aerobic Scope; Stress; Carcharhinus melanopterus; Performance; Nursery Area; Negaprion acutidens; Carcharhinidae)

L'Oreal Australia & New Zealand - Women in Science Fellowship

Impacts of suspended sediments on the health and performance of coral reef fish

Indicative Funding: $25,000 over 2 years
Summary: Inceasing atmospheric CO2 is warming the oceans, increasing the frequency and extent ofhypoxia, and decreasing ocean pH at a rate 100-times faster than over the past million years. Data necessary for undertanding the consequences of climate change on sharks are limited, likely due to logistics precluding laboratory experiments. Tropical sharks could be most affected due to warmer temperatures, and many use shallow lagoons and mangroves that could be experienceing even more severe hanges in water quality for pupping and nurseries. This research will examine movement patterns and physiological performance in reef sharks and environmental conditions in critical nursery habitats.
Investigators: Jodie Rummer (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Reef Sharks; Climate Change; Stress Physiology; Nursery habits; Ocean Acidification; Adaptation

Australian Research Council - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award

Evolutionary and environmental basis of CO2 tolerance in coral reef fishes

Indicative Funding: $358,536 over 3 years
Summary: This study will examine the effects of ocean acidification, which occurs due to increasing atmospheric CO2, on coral reef fishes. Physiological performance of fishes varies under elevated CO2, but behaviour is consistently, negatively impacted. This research will investigate evolutionary trade-offs between behaviour and performance, physiological mechanisms key to compromising, maintaining, or enhancing metabolic performance under elevated CO2, and the importance of habitat in how fish respond to elevated CO2. As fish play critical roles in marine ecosystems by structuring food webs and driving ecological processes, this information will be critical for predicating the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
Investigators: Jodie Rummer (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Ocean Acidification; Coral Reef Fishes; Adaptation

Lizard Island Research Station - Fellowship

Athletes in acidified oceans: differential effects of high CO2 on coral reef fish performance

Indicative Funding: $11,000
Summary: Using results and models from my previous studies, my team and I will experimentally test whether maintaining physiological performance (eg swimming, recovery from exercise, etc) in coral reef fishes exposed to end-of-century CO2 levels is via enhanced oxygen delivery to tissues (eg muscle, heart etc). Comparisons will also be made between different types of swimmers. Understanding the effects of elevated CO2 and the underlying mechanisms responsible for variations in performance and efficiency is important in predicting the potential for fish to adapt to changing ocean conditions and, ultimately, the ecological impacts of ocean acidification on fish populations and marine ecosystems.
Investigators: Jodie Rummer (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords: Ocean Acidification; Coral Reef Fish; Adaptation; Evolution; physiological performance; oxygen delivery

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

Adaptive Potential of Coral Reef Fishes to Ocean Acidification (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
The Mechanisms Underpinning Maintained or Enhanced Performance of Coral Reef Fishes Under Elevated Carbon Dioxide Conditions (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
A Challenging Environment in a Changing World of Juvenile Sharks: Ecological Energetics of Climate Change with Implications Toward Conservation (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Effects of Suspended Sediments on the Performance of Early Life History Stages of Coral Reef Fishes. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
How Do Coral Reef Fish Develop Into Athletes (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Physiological and behavioural strategies used by fish to mitigate the effects of ocean warming. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Potential Importance of phenotypic Plasticity at the Gills of Coral reef Fishes in response to Increased temeratures During a Coral Bleaching Event (Masters , Primary Advisor)

Completed

Climate change in a stable thermal environment: effects on the performance and life history of coral reef fish (2016, PhD , Secondary 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.