Marcus Sheaves is a Professor in the College of Science and Engineering, where he is Head of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, Deputy Director of JCU’s Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER). Marcus also leads JCU’s Estuary and Coastal Wetland Ecology Research Group, and leader of the Science for Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Management consortium..

 Marcus has researched ecosystem and fisheries ecology of tropical estuaries, coastal wetlands and mangrove systems since the early 1990s. His research has focussed particularly on nursery ground utilisation and values, and critical thinking in environmental decision-making. He has published widely with over 70 peer reviewed publications since 2007. Marcus leads a number of substantial research projects within Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region. He has extensive collaborations with research and management organisations both within Australia and internationally.

 

Teaching

• EV3201: Managing Coastal and Marine Environments (Level 3; TSV)
• EV5701: Managing Coastal and Marine Environments (Level 5; TSV)
• EV5961: Ecosystem Dynamics - Ridge to Reef (Level 5; TSV)
• MB3200: Marine Conservation Biology (Level 3; TSV)
• MB3270: Coastal, Estuarine and Mangrove Ecosystems (Level 3; TSV)
• MB5004: Marine Conservation Biology (Level 5; TSV)
• MB5270: Coastal, Estuarine and Mangrove Ecosystems (Level 5; TSV)
• MB5310: Marine Reserves as Fisheries Management Tools (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• The ecology of estuaries and coastal wetland ecosystems, in particular in: nursery ground function, animal habitat relationships, the role of ecosystem mosaics and connectivity
• Ecosystem repair and rejuvenation, contributions to food security and the effects of climate change
• Fisheries, food web, seascape and spatial ecology

Awards

• 2006 - Best Paper of the Year; 'Coral Reefs' - Journal of the International Society of Reef Studies

Fellowships

• 2009 - Australian Academy of Sciences Study Fellowship

Other

• 2012 - Primary Postgraduate Advisor of the Year, James Cook University

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

• Bradley M, Baker R and Sheaves M (2017) Hidden components in tropical seascapes: deep-estuary habitats support unique fish assemblages. Estuaries and Coasts, 40 (4). pp. 1195-1206
• Waltham N and Sheaves M (2017) Acute thermal tolerance of tropical estuarine fish occupying a man-made tidal lake, and increased exposure risk with climate change. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 196. pp. 173-181
• Wegscheidl C, Sheaves M, McLeod I, Hedge P, Gillies C and Creighton C (2017) Sustainable management of Australia's coastal seascapes: a case for collecting and communicating quantitative evidence to inform decision-making. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 25 (1). pp. 3-22
• Barnett A, Abrantes K, Baker R, Diedrich A, Farr M, Kuilboer A, Mahony T, McLeod I, Moscardo G, Prideaux M, Stoeckl N, Van Luyn A and Sheaves M (2016) Sportfisheries, conservation and sustainable livelihoods: a multidisciplinary guide to developing best practice. Fish and Fisheries, 17 (3). pp. 696-713
• Buelow C, Baker R, Reside A and Sheaves M (2016) Spatial dynamics of coastal forest bird assemblages: the influence of landscape context, forest type, and structural connectivity. Landscape Ecology, 32 (3). pp. 547-561
• Roeger J, Foale S and Sheaves M (2016) When 'fishing down the food chain' results in improved food security: evidence from a small pelagic fishery in Solomon Islands. Fisheries Research, 174. pp. 250-259
• Sheaves M, Baker R, Abrantes K and Connolly R (2016) Fish biomass in tropical estuaries: substantial variation in food web structure, sources of nutrition and ecosystem-supporting processes. Estuaries and Coasts, 40 (2). pp. 580-593
• Sheaves M, Johnston R and Baker R (2016) Use of mangroves by fish: new insights from in-forest videos. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 549. pp. 167-182
• Sheaves M, Sporne I, Dichmont C, Bustamante R, Dale P, Deng R, Dutra L, van Putten I, Savina-Rollan M and Swinbourne A (2016) Principles for operationalizing climate change adaptation strategies to support the resilience of estuarine and coastal ecosystems: an Australian perspective. Marine Policy, 68. pp. 229-240
• Sheaves M, Baker R, McLeod I, Abrantes K, Wani J and Barnett A (2016) The conservation status of Niugini black bass: a world-renowned sport fish with an uncertain future. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 23 (3-4). pp. 243-252
• Sheaves M (2016) Simple processes drive unpredictable differences in estuarine fish assemblages: baselines for understanding site-specific ecological and anthropogenic impacts. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science , 170. pp. 61-69
• Sheaves M, Coles R, Dale P, Grech A, Pressey R and Waltham N (2016) Enhancing the value and validity of EIA: serious science to protect Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Conservation Letters, 9 (5). pp. 377-383

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

• Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change in the Tropics: Livelihood Sustainability of North Queensland Commercial Fishers (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Investigating the ability of a cognitive/affective model of choice behaviour on promoting pro environmental recreational fishing behaviours. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Understanding barriers and opportunities for sustained benefits from inland pond aquaculture for Solomon Islands households (Masters , Advsor Mentor)
• Measuring Productivity of Australian Tropical Estuaries Using Standard Stock Analysis (Masters , Primary Advisor)
• Tropical Invertebrate Fauna Associated with Seagrass Meadows (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
• The Role of Seagrasses and Their Value as a Food Source for Fish and Mesograzers: Investigating the Differences Between Deep-Water and Shallo Seagrass Beds (PhD , Advsor Mentor)
• The Role of Context in the Habitat and Seascape Relationships of Coastal Fishes (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Integrated Assessment of Ecosystem Connectivity and Functioning: Coastal Forest Avifauna of Northeast Australia (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• The Effects of a Changing Marine Environment on the Bioeroding Sponge Cliona orientalis (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Viruses in Marine Sponges (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Habitat Configuration and Utility of Tropical Estuaries Exposed to Different Extents of Human Development (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Population structure and connectivity of small-bodied benthic shark species: Comparing patterns across the Pacific, a case study of the genus Heterodontus (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Roles of batoids in coastal and reef ecosystems: impacts on prey and predator populations and the potential for energy transfer to adjacent subtidal and offshore communities (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Dissolved Oxygen as a Constraint for the Structure of Mangrove Fish Ossemblages Assemblages and Their Patterns of Mangrove Utilisation: A Comparison Between Natural and Disturbed Mangrove Ecosystems Through the Australian and Caledonian Coastlines. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Effects of Biodiversity and Environment on Benthic Ecosystem Functioning of Tropical Estuaries. (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• Spatio-temporal patterns of faunal distribution along a near-pristine estuarine edge environment (2014, Masters , Primary Advisor)
• Patterns and processes at multiple scales shape fish assemblage structure in tropical estuaries (2014, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Mangrove Restoration, A Case for an Evidence Based Approach (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Spatio-temporal dynamics and population biology of the Fly River Herring (Nematalosa papuensis): implications for freshwater lake management in Papua New Guinea (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Benthic Infauna of Mangrove Forests: Dissolved Oxygen and Environmental Settings Determine Their Community Composition and Function. (2017, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• A landscape level understanding of habitat associations to integrate intertidal crabs into ecosystem models of tropical estuaries (2013, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• The Applicability of tropical nematode communities as biological indicators for environmental impact assessment and monitoring. (2012, PhD , Primary Advisor)

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.