I lead and manage long-term monitoring and applied research programs in tropical coral and seagrass ecosystems. I have over 18 years’ of experience using spatial analysis and mapping to monitor habitats at risk. My research interests span from seagrass habitats to coral reefs with a focus on the ecology and photobiology of marine plants, reef resilience strategies, science-driven management of ports and dredging impacts on habitats of the Great Barrier Reef, and building meaningful partnerships with traditional owners, community groups and the tourism sector.

I focus on forging partnerships across industries using alliances to springboard impactful and scalable strategies to research and inform management of reef and coastal assets. I lead science delivery and integration for the Great Reef Census, a citizens science approach that uses the diverse fleet of vessels spanning industries on the GBR to deliver scalable research and monitoring that feeds directly to reef management and conservation goals. I have helped foster a shared economy approach to science and partnerships out of Cairns with close collaborators Citizens of the GBR, Mars Sustainable Solutions, Dawul Wuru Indigenous Corporation, Experience Co and Reef Restoration Foundation. 

In recent years, my work has centred on the marine optical environment and how photosynthetic processes dictate the success of marine plants and how this impacts the habitat at a broader scale. Using fine-scale fluorometric technology together with field-based rapid-assessment techniques our research team has built a strong understanding of natural variability versus impacts from environmental threats.

Research Disciplines

• Environmental management (4104)
• Climate change impacts and adaptation (4101)
• Policy and administration (4407)

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

• Alderdice R, Pernice M, Cardenas A, Hughes D, Harrison P, Boulotte N, Chartrand K, Kuehl M, Suggett D and Voolstra C (2022) Hypoxia as a physiological cue and pathological stress for coral larvae. Molecular Ecology, 31 (2). pp. 571-587
• Ceccarelli D, McLeod I, Boström-Einarsson L, Bryan S, Chartrand K, Emslie M, Gibbs M, Gonzalez Rivero M, Hein M, Heyward A, Kenyon T, Lewis B, Newlands M, Mattocks N, Schläppy M, Suggett D and Bay L (2020) Substrate stabilisation and small structures in coral restoration: state of knowledge, and considerations for management and implementation. PLoS ONE, 15 (10).
• Chartrand K, Szabó M, Sinutok S, Rasheed M and Ralph P (2018) Living at the margins - the response of deep-water seagrasses to light and temperature renders them susceptible to acute impacts. Marine Environmental Research, 136. pp. 126 - 138
• Schrameyer V, York P, Chartrand K, Ralph P, Kuhl M, Brodersen K and Rasheed M (2018) Contrasting impacts of light reduction on sediment biogeochemistry in deep- and shallow-water tropical seagrass assemblages (Green Island, Great Barrier Reef). Marine Environmental Research, 136. pp. 38-47
• Wu P, McMahon K, Rasheed M, Kendrick G, York P, Chartrand K, Caley M and Mengersen K (2018) Managing seagrass resilience under cumulative dredging affecting light: predicting risk using dynamic Bayesian networks. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55 (3). pp. 1339-1350
• Wu P, Mengersen K, McMahon K, Kendrick G, Chartrand K, York P, Rasheed M and Caley M (2017) Timing anthropogenic stressors to mitigate their impact on marine ecosystem resilience. Nature Communications, 8.
• Chartrand K, Bryant C, Carter A, Ralph P and Rasheed M (2016) Light thresholds to prevent dredging impacts on the Great Barrier Reef seagrass, Zostera muelleri ssp. capricorni. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3.
• York P, Carter A, Chartrand K, Sankey T, Wells L and Rasheed M (2015) Dynamics of a deep-water seagrass population on the Great Barrier Reef: annual occurrence and response to a major dredging program. Scientific Reports, 5. pp. 1-9
• Macreadie P, Schliep M, Rasheed M, Chartrand K and Ralph P (2014) Molecular indicators of chronic seagrass stress: A new era in the management of seagrass ecosystems? Ecological Indicators, 38. pp. 279-281
• Petrou K, Jimenez-Denness I, Chartrand K, McCormack C, Rasheed M and Ralph P (2013) Seasonal heterogeneity in the photophysiological response to air exposure in two tropical intertidal seagrass species. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 482. pp. 93-106
• Grech A, Chartrand-Miller K, Erftemeijer P, Fonseca M, McKenzie L, Rasheed M, Taylor H and Coles R (2012) A comparison of threats, vulnerabilities and management approaches in global seagrass bioregions. Environmental Research Letters, 7 (2). pp. 1-8
• Unsworth R, Rasheed M, Chartrand K and Roelofs A (2012) Solar radiation and tidal exposure as environmental drivers of Enhalus acoroides dominated seagrass meadows. PLoS One, 7 (3). pp. 1-8

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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 40+ research outputs authored by Dr Katie Chartrand from 2008 onwards.

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

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.