Prof Morgan Pratchett ~ Professor, Marine Biology & Aquaculture
Marine & Aquaculture Sciences
- About
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- Teaching
- Interests
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- Research
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- Impacts of climate change on coral reef ecosystems
- Population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish
- Population dynamics of scleractinian corals
- Ecological versatility in coral reef fishes
- Biology and ecology of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)
- Research Disciplines
- Socio-Economic Objectives
Prof Morgan Pratchett has broad interests in population and community ecology of coral reef organisms, especially corals and fishes. His current research focuses on major disturbances that impact coral reef ecosystems, with a view to understanding differential responses and vulnerabilities among coral reef organisms.
Morgan has written many papers describing direct and indirect effects of coral bleaching and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish, considering impacts on both coral assemblages and associated assemblages of coral reef fishes. He has also conducted extensive research on the biology and ecology of coral reef butterflyfishes.
- Honours
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- Fellowships
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- 2012 - Queensland Smart Futures Fellowship
- 2011 - ACU Titular Fellowship, University of Oxford
- 2008 - Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship, American Australian Association
- 2008 - Sir John and Laurine Proud Research Fellowship, Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation
- 2008 - Churchill Fellowship, University of Newcastle, UK
- Memberships
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- Australian Coral Reef Society
- Fisheries Society of the British Isles
- Recording Secretary for International Coral Reef Society
- Publications
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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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- Blandford M, Hillcoat K, Pratchett M and Hoey A (2023) Effects of habitat fragmentation on the recruitment and early post-settlement survival of coral reef fishes. Marine Environmental Research, 183.
- 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
- Cumming G, Adamska M, Barnes M, Barnett J, Bellwood D, Cinner J, Cohen P, Donelson J, Fabricius K, Grafton R, Grech A, Gurney G, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Hoey A, Hoogenboom M, Lau J, Lovelock C, Lowe R, Miller D, Morrison T, Mumby P, Nakata M, Pandolfi J, Peterson G, Pratchett M, Ravasi T, Riginos C, Rummer J, Schaffelke B, Wernberg T and Wilson S (2023) Research priorities for the sustainability of coral-rich western Pacific seascapes. Regional Environmental Change, 23 (2).
- Doll P, Uthicke S, Caballes C, Patel F, Gomez Cabrera M, Lang B and Pratchett M (2023) Induction of larval settlement in crown-of-thorns starfish is not mediated by conspecific cues. Scientific Reports, 13.
- Doll P, Uthicke S, Caballes C, Diaz-Pulido G, Abdul Wahab M, Jeong S, Lang B and Pratchett M (2023) Settlement cue selectivity by larvae of the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish. Biology Letters, 19 (1).
- Kwong S, Villacorta Rath C, Pratchett M and Uthicke S (in press) Telomere dynamics in the Pacific crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris): effect of age, diet, and tissue type. Coral Reefs,
- Lang B, Donelson J, Bairos-Novak K, Wheeler C, Caballes C, Uthicke S and Pratchett M (2023) Impacts of ocean warming on echinoderms: A meta?analysis. Ecology and Evolution, 13 (8).
- Lang B, Caballes C, Uthicke S, Doll P, Donelson J and Pratchett M (2023) Impacts of ocean warming on the settlement success and post?settlement survival of Pacific crown?of?thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris). Coral Reefs, 42. pp. 143-155
- Pacey K, Caballes C and Pratchett M (2023) Using size-weight relationships to estimate biomass of heavily targeted aquarium corals by Australia’s coral harvest fisheries. Scientific Reports, 13.
- Burn D, Matthews S, Pisapia C, Hoey A and Pratchett M (2022) Changes in the incidence of coral injuries during mass bleaching across Australia’s Coral Sea Marine Park. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 682. pp. 97-109
- Caballes C, Messmer V, Raymundo M and Pratchett M (2022) Prevalence and severity of sublethal injuries in crown-of-thorns starfish relative to marine reserves in the Great Barrier Reef. Aquatic Conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems, 32 (6). pp. 993-1004
- More
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 328+ research outputs authored by Prof Morgan Pratchett from 1999 onwards.
- Current Funding
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Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - Marine Parks
Coral reef monitoring, research and community engagement in the IOT Marine Parks.
- Indicative Funding
- $499,978 over 2 years
- Summary
- The objectives of this project are twofold: i) Enhance understanding of the nature values in the shallow waters of IOT Marine Park by determining their current condition, the key ecological processes that maintain them, and their threats; and ii) Build capacity in the local communities to support employment opportunities and ecologically sustainable economic growth. The project will enhance understanding of natural values through monitoring and research, while engaging and upskilling the local community.
- Investigators
- Morgan Pratchett and Joseph DiBattista (College of Science & Engineering and Australian Museum)
- Keywords
- Coral reefs; Monitoring; Ecosystem management; Indian Ocean Territory; Conservation; Commonwealth Marine Parks
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water - Approach to market
Localised status assessment for specialty coral harvest species in the Great Barrier Reef
- Indicative Funding
- $585,089 over 1 year
- Summary
- The objectives of the proposed 2-year program of monitoring are to assess the relative abundance and biomass of coral species within localised areas of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, directly comparing between areas of intensive coral harvesting with complementary reference areas within Marine National Park areas that are closed to fishing.
- Investigators
- Morgan Pratchett and Andrew Baird (College of Science & Engineering)
- Keywords
- Coral reefs; Monitoring; Ecosystem management; Great Barrier Reef; Fisheries; Marine Parks
Department of the Environment and Energy - Director of National Parks - Tender
Coral Sea Bright Spot Reef Health and Resilience Survey ? 2022-24
- Indicative Funding
- $1,010,595 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 (Research Division)
- Keywords
- Coral reef; Coral bleaching; Marine park management; Reef fish; Coral Sea
Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Crown-of-Thorns Control Innovation Program (CCIP)
CCIP-M-01 ? Project management
- Indicative Funding
- $60,000 over 3 years
- Summary
- This project provides for the Program Director and Subprogram Leads to drive progress in research delivery, with a strong focus on ensuring that identified synergies across projects in the program are realised. This technical leadership group will also focus on translating the research into tangible and actionable COTS management outcomes through annual `Innovation to Implementation? workshops that bring together researchers and end-users to map out pathways for trailing and integration of CCIP research in the on-water COTS Control Program.
- Investigators
- Morgan Pratchett and Mary Bonin (Research Division and Great Barrier Reef Foundation)
- Keywords
- Coral Reefs; Crown-of-thorns starfish; Management; Disturbance; Outbreaks; monitering
Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Crown-of-Thorns Control Innovation Program (CCIP)
Pre-outbreak monitoring of the density, distribution and size-structure of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) in the Great Barrier Reef
- Indicative Funding
- $441,100 over 3 years
- Summary
- This project will conduct annual field surveys (diver-based and eDNA) across reefs in the primary outbreak initiation region to reveal how the density, distribution and size-structure of COTS populations changes, providing field data to inform early warning and response in the lead up to the 2025 outbreak.
- Investigators
- Morgan Pratchett, Ciemon Caballes, Sven Uthicke and Jason Doyle (Research Division and Australian Institute of Marine Science)
- Keywords
- Coral Reef; Management; Disturbance; Outbreak; Monitoring; Crown-of-thorns starfish
Lizard Island Research Station - Critical research grants
Spatiotemporal variation in settlement rates of crown-of-thorns starfish on Australia?s Great Barrier Reef: critical research to underpin understanding and management of impending population irruptions
- Indicative Funding
- $68,000 over 1 year
- Summary
- The purpose of this research is to quantify spatiotemporal variation in settlement rates of crown-of-thorns starfish in the lead up to renewed population irruptions on the GBR. Attention will focus on reefs within the putative initiation area, though complementary sampling will also be conducted on reefs in the far northern GBR. Despite existing evidence that population irruptions in the far northern GBR (specifically, at reefs in the Cape Grenville region) can precede the emergence of population irruptions in the northern extent of the currently defined initiation area there has never been any attempt to measure and compare settlement rates of crown-of-thorns starfish over a broad cross-section of reefs in the northern GBR.
- Investigators
- Morgan Pratchett (Research Division)
- Keywords
- Coral Reefs; Disturbance; Management; Culling; Marine Parks; Coral
Australian Coral Reef Society - Research Grant
Molecular-based method for the quantification of in situ crown-of-thorns starfish settlement rates
- Indicative Funding
- $2,500 over 1 year
- Summary
- This research will develop and validate an innovative protocol for the quantification of in situ crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) settlement rates. DNA spiked samples will be analysed using two different DNA extraction methods and droplet digital PCR to determine relative method performance and sub-sampling requirements. Analyses of control samples collected outside the reproductive season may provide additional method validation by ruling out sample contamination by waterborne DNA originating from adult COTS. This work will facilitate future research to resolve critical information gaps and improve the ecological underpinning of COTS management.
- Investigators
- Peter Doll and Morgan Pratchett (Research Division)
- Keywords
- Molecular Ecology; eDNA; Larval Settlement; ddPCR; Coral Reefs; Crown of thorns starfish
Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Crown-of-Thorns Control Innovation Program (CCIP)
COTS Monitoring Design: sample design for science and management decisions
- Indicative Funding
- $14,400 over 1 year
- Summary
- This project uses a combination of desktop and fieldwork to characterise and measure the detection errors associated with various COTS survey tools (e.g. manta tow, glider, eDNA, scooter, cull dives) and will calibrate density estimates across these tools to enable integration of data from multiple sources and programs into COTS Control Program decision-making.
- Investigators
- Morgan Pratchett, Ciemon Caballes and Emma Lawrence (Research Division and Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation)
- Keywords
- Coral Reef; crown of thorns; Management; Disturbance; Outbreaks; Monitoring
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 (Research Division, Southern Cross University and University of Tasmania)
- Keywords
- Coral Reefs; Crown-of-thorns starfish; Zoning; Predation; Outbreaks; Marine protected areas
Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Crown-of-Thorns Control Innovation Program (CCIP)
In situ feeding rates of crown-of-thorns starfish and fate of prey corals
- Indicative Funding
- $280,000 over 2 years
- Summary
- Accurate measurements of CoTS feeding rates are key in modelling ecological thresholds to inform CoTS management. This project aims to quantify feeding rates of CoTS in the field, to better resolve ecological impacts of CoTS on coral assemblages relative to the size and abundance of CoTS, as well as changes in prey availability and seasonal variation in temperature. This will significantly improve current models that estimate ecological thresholds used to inform surveillance (density of CoTS required to prevent further coral damage) and control (levels of culling required to ensure that coral growth outpaces CoTS feeding) activities in the GBR.
- Investigators
- Morgan Pratchett and Ciemon Caballes (Research Division)
- Keywords
- Coral Reefs; Crown-of-thorns starfish; Feeding rates; Coral Mortality; Disturbance; Recovery
Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Crown-of-Thorns Control Innovation Program (CCIP)
Effects of prey limitation on the collapse of CoTS populations
- Indicative Funding
- $51,250 over 1 year
- Summary
- CoTS outbreaks typically end with precipitous declines in abundance, which have been attributed to starvation following local depletion of prey resources or rapid onset of disease among high-density populations. We will examine whether abrupt declines in the abundance of CoTS can be attributed to local depletion of prey resources resulting in starvation and reduced immunity against opportunistic pathogens. The vulnerability of CoTS to starvation and susceptibility to disease will be compared between CoTS from reefs with varying levels of coral cover. Understanding the processes that contribute to the collapse of CoTS populations will provide important insights to manage ongoing outbreaks.
- Investigators
- Ciemon Caballes and Morgan Pratchett (Research Division)
- Keywords
- Coral Reefs; Crown-of-thorns starfish; Pathogenesis; Population collapse; Outbreaks; Starvation
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 (Research Division)
- Keywords
- Coral Reef; Coral Bleaching; marine park management; Reef Fish; Coral Sea
- Supervision
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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
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- The effects of marine heatwaves on phenotypic and adaptive outcomes in a marine fish (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
- Phylogenomics and Whole Genome Assembly of Marine Angelfishes: The Evolutionary History of an Iconic Reef Fish Family (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
- Development and Application of Novel Genetic Tools for the Investigation of Genetic Diversity and Age Structure of Crown-of-Thorns Seastar on the Great Barrier Reef (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
- Assessing coral reef resilience in Malaysia (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
- Dynamics of Reef-building corals along the north-western Australian coastline (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Changes in the Biology and Behaviour of Pacific Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf.solaris) with increasing Densities and onset of Population Irruptions (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Biology and Ecology of Australian Aquarium Corals: Information needed to Secure the Sustainability of ongoing Wild Harvest of Scleractinian Corals (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Vulnerability of coral assemblages in Australia?s coral sea marine park (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Processes and patterns in larval settlement of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Thermal Plasticity of Natural versus Sexually selected Traits (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
- Completed
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- Spatial and temporal variation in movement patterns and behaviour of a large, coral reef mesopredator, Plectropomus leopardus, on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Modelling tools for the management of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) outbreaks on Australia?s Great Barrier Reef (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Variation in structure and function of reef fish assemblages among distinct coral habitats (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Effects of coral-dwelling damselfishes' abundances and diversity on host coral dynamics (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- The persistence of Sargassum communities on coral reefs: resilience and herbivory (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Spatial and temporal variation in the demography of early-stage juvenile Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from Australia's Great Barrier Reef (2020, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- The effect of increasing temperature on algae-fish interactions on coral reefs (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Temperature preferences of tropical fishes and the influence of local abiotic and biotic factors (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Differential susceptibility of corals to major versus routine disturbances in Australia's Coral Sea (2021, Masters , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Sub-lethal effects of coral loss and habitat degradation on coral reef fishes with specific emphasis on Chaetodon butterflyfishes (2023, Masters , Primary Advisor)
- The life-history, evolution and adaptation of coral reef fishes in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea (2023, PhD , Advisor Mentor)
- Causes and consequences of natural hybridisation among coral reef butterflyfishes (Chaetodon: Chaetodontidae) (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Effects of habitat fragmentation on coral-associated fish assemblages (2023, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
- Impacts of ocean warming on the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf.solaris) (2023, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Data
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These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.
- Pratchett, M. (2020) Gamete concentrations and gonad index for Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish. James Cook University
- Graba-Landry, A. (2020) Graba-Landry PhD thesis: The effect of increasing temperature to algae-fish interactions on coral reefs. James Cook University
- Burn, D. (2020) Biogeographical variation in diurnal behaviour of Acanthaster planci versus Acanthaster cf. solaris. James Cook University
- Hughes, T. (2019) Global warming impairs stock-recruitment dynamics of corals. James Cook University
- Richardson, L. (2018) PhD thesis data: Variation in structure and function of reef fish assemblages among distinct coral habitats, by Laura E. Richardson (2018). James Cook University
- Hughes, T. (2018) Global warming transforms coral reef assemblages. James Cook University
- Blowes, S. (2017) Data from: Heterospecific aggression and dominance in a guild of coral-feeding fishes: the roles of dietary ecology and phylogeny. James Cook University
- Lawton, R. (2017) Data from: High gene flow across large geographic scales reduces extinction risk for a highly specialised coral feeding butterflyfish. James Cook University
- Pratchett, M. (2017) Captive movement rates of the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster solaris. James Cook University
- Cowan, Z. (2017) Predation on settling crown-of-thorns starfish larvae by benthic predators. James Cook University
- Collaboration
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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)
Connect with me
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My research areas
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