Dr Peter Cowman is an ARC DECRA Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. He is a previous recipient of the prestigious Donnelley Postdoctoral Environmental Fellowship (2014-2016) administered by the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (YIBS). Dr Cowman is a leading authority on the phylogenetic systematics and evolutionary origins of coral reef-associated fishes. 

His research focuses on reconstructing the evolutionary history of diverse groups of fishes and corals that are associated with tropical reefs habitats and uses those phylogenetic hypotheses to explore macroevolutionary questions on topics ranging from the origins of trophic novelty, processes driving biodiversity patterns, and the ancestral biogeography of reef-associated lineages. In a parallel research theme, he explores the causative relationships between genomic change, processes of diversification and life history traits across the tree of life.

Experience

• 2014 to 2016 - Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University (New Haven (USA))
• 2012 to 2014 - Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University (Canberra)

Research Disciplines

• Evolutionary Biology (0603)
• Ecology (0602)
• Environmental Science and Management (0502)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (9608)

Awards

• 2009 - Virginia Chadwick Award for Excellence in Publication
• 2017 to 2020 - ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)

Fellowships

• 2017 to 2020 - ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
• 2014 to 2016 - Donnelley Environmental Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies

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

• Cowman P, Parravicini V, Kulbicki M and Floeter S (in press) The biogeography of tropical reef fishes: endemism and provinciality through time. Biological Reviews,
• Floeter S, Bender M, Siqueira A and Cowman P (in press) Phylogenetic perspectives on reef fish functional traits. Biological Reviews, pp. 1-21
• Leprieur F, Descombes P, Gaboriau T, Cowman P, Parravicini V, Kulbicki M, Melián C, de Santana C, Heine C, Mouillot D, Bellwood D and Pellissier L (2016) Plate tectonics drive tropical reef biodiversity dynamics. Nature Communications, 7. pp. 1-8
• Leprieur F, Colosio S, Descombes P, Parravicini V, Kulbicki M, Cowman P, Bellwood D, Mouillot D and Pellissier L (2016) Historical and contemporary determinants of global phylogenetic structure in tropical reef fish faunas. Ecography, 39 (9). pp. 825-835
• Mouillot D, Parravicini V, Bellwood D, Leprieur F, Huang D, Cowman P, Albouy C, Hughes T, Thuiller W and Guilhaumon F (2016) Global marine protected areas do not secure the evolutionary history of tropical corals and fishes. Nature Communications, 7. pp. 1-8
• Siqueira A, Oliveira-Santos L, Cowman P and Floeter S (2016) Evolutionary processes underlying latitudinal differences in reef fish biodiversity. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 25 (12). pp. 1466-1476
• Bromham L, Hua X, Lanfear R and Cowman P (2015) Exploring the relationships between mutation rates, life history, genome size, environment, and species richness in flowering plants. American Naturalist, 185 (4). pp. 507-524
• Hua X, Cowman P, Warren D and Bromham L (2015) Longevity is linked to mitochondrial mutation rates in rockfish: a test using poisson regression. Molecules and Cells, 32 (10). pp. 2633-2645
• Cowman P (2014) Historical factors that have shaped the evolution of tropical reef fishes: a review of phylogenies, biogeography, and remaining questions. Frontiers in Genetics, 5. pp. 1-15
• D'agata S, Mouillot D, Kulbicki M, Andréföuet S, Bellwood D, Cinner J, Cowman P, Kronen M, Pinca S and Vigliola L (2014) Human-mediated loss of phylogenetic and functional diversity in coral reef fishes. Current Biology, 24 (5). pp. 555-560
• Pellissier L, Leprieur F, Parravicini V, Cowman P, Kulbicki M, Litsios G, Olsen S, Wisz M, Bellwood D and Mouillot D (2014) Quaternary coral reef refugia preserved fish diversity. Science, 344 (6187). pp. 1016-1019

Book Chapters

• Bellwood D, Goatley C, Cowman P and Bellwood O (2015) The evolution of fishes on coral reefs: fossils, phylogenies and functions. In: Ecology of Fishes on Coral Reefs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 55-63

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

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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

• How Do Coral Reef Fish Develop Into Athletes (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Regulators of Coral Reef Diversity Through Space and Time (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• The Evolution, Biogeography and Ecological Significance of Colour in Coral Reef Fishes (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

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