JCU > Research Portfolio > Prof Philip Munday

About

Professor Philip Munday has broad interests in the ecology and evolution of reef fishes. His primary research focuses on understanding and predicting the impacts that climate change will have on populations and communities of marine fishes, both directly through changes in the physical environment and indirectly through effects on coral reef habitat. Using a range of laboratory and field-based experiments he has investigated the effects of climate change on reef fish populations and testing their capacity for acclimation and adaptation to a rapidly changing environment.

Prof Munday is a Highly Cited Researcher who has published over 270 scientific papers. He is now retired and is an Emeritus Professor in the ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies.

Interests

Research

Impact of climate change on marine fishes
Ocean Acidification
Adaptation to evironmental change
Role of habitat in structuring fish communities

Experience

2014 to 2017 - ARC Future Fellow (Professorial Tier), James Cook University (Townsville)
2008 to 2013 - ARC QEII Research Fellow, James Cook University (Townsville)
2003 to 2007 - ARC Australian Research Fellow, James Cook University (Townsville)
2003 to 2004 - Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Santa Barbara (USA)
2000 to 2002 - ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellow, James Cook University (Townsville)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2018 - Fellow of International Society for Reef Studies
2018 - JCU Outstanding Career Achievement in Research Supervision
2014 - JCU Award for Excellence in Research
2009 - Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence in Research and Research Supervision

Fellowships

2014 to 2017 - ARC Future Fellow (Professor)
2008 to 2013 - ARC QEII Fellowship
2003 to 2007 - ARC ARF Fellowship
2003 to 2004 - Fulbright Fellowship
2000 to 2002 - ARC APD 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

McMahon S, Munday P and Donelson J (2023) Energy use, growth and survival of coral reef snapper larvae reared at elevated temperatures. Coral Reefs, 42. pp. 31-42
Bernal M, Ravasi T, Rodgers G, Munday P and Donelson J (2022) Plasticity to ocean warming is influenced by transgenerational, reproductive, and developmental exposure in a coral reef fish. Evolutionary Applications, 15 (2). pp. 249-261
Bernal M, Schmidt E, Donelson J, Munday P and Ravasi T (2022) Molecular Response of the Brain to Cross-Generational Warming in a Coral Reef Fish. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9. pp. 1-16
Chan S, Suresh S, Munday P, Ravasi T, Bernal M and Schunter C (2022) The alternative splicing landscape of a coral reef fish during a marine heatwave. Ecology and Evolution, 12 (3).
Goldsworthy N, Srinivasan M, Smallhorn-West P, Cheah L, Munday P and Jones G (2022) Life-history constraints, short adult life span and reproductive strategies in coral reef gobies of the genus Trimma. Journal of Fish Biology, 101 (4). pp. 996-1007
Kang J, Nagelkerken I, Rummer J, Rodolfo-Metalpa R, Munday P, Ravasi T and Schunter C (2022) Rapid evolution fuels transcriptional plasticity to ocean acidification. Global Change Biology, 28 (9). pp. 3007-3022
Nicol S, Lehodey P, Senina I, Bromhead D, Frommel A, Hampton J, Havenhand J, Margulies D, Munday P, Scholey V, Williamson J and Smith N (2022) Ocean Futures for the World’s Largest Yellowfin Tuna Population Under the Combined Effects of Ocean Warming and Acidification. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.
Spinks R, Donelson J, Bonzi L, Ravasi T and Munday P (2022) Parents exposed to warming produce offspring lower in weight and condition. Ecology and Evolution, 12 (7).
Doll P, Munday P, Bonin M and Jones G (2021) Habitat specialisation and overlap in coral reef gobies of the genus Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Marine Ecology-Progress Series, 677. pp. 81-94
Hannan K, McMahon S, Munday P and Rummer J (2021) Contrasting effects of constant and fluctuating pCO₂ conditions on the exercise physiology of coral reef fishes. Marine Environmental Research, 163.
Monroe A, Schunter C, Welch M, Munday P and Ravasi T (2021) Molecular basis of parental contributions to the behavioural tolerance of elevated pCO(2) in a coral reef fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological Sciences, 288 (1964).

Book Chapters

Schunter C, Donelson J, Munday P and Ravasi T (2023) Resilience and Adaptation to Local and Global Environmental Change. In: Evolution, Development and Ecology of Anemonefishes: Model Organisms for Marine Science. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, pp. 253-273

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 276+ research outputs authored by Prof Philip Munday from 2000 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Australian Museum - Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship

Mechanisms for underpinning maintained or enhanced performance of coral reef fishes under future climate change conditions.

Indicative Funding: $16,545 over 3 years
Summary: The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the oceans is increasing at unprecedented rate. This is expected to have negative impacts on marine organisms. However, some studies have found enhanced aerobic scope of fishes. No study has identified the mechanisms underpinning maintained or enhanced performance of fishes during predicted future conditions. This basic mechanistic knowledge could help informing how fish communities will perform and survive in future climate change conditions and their adaptive capacity.
Investigators: Kelly Hannan, Jodie Rummer and Philip Munday (Research Division)
Keywords: Climate Change; Performance; Reef Fish; Ocean Acidification; Oxygen Consumption

Australian Research Council - Centres of Excellence

ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrated Coral Reef Studies

Indicative Funding: $28,000,000 over 7 years
Summary: The overarching aim of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrated Coral Reef Studies is to provide the scientific knowledge necessary for sustaining ecosystem goods and services of the world's coral reefs, which support the livelihoods and food security of millions of people in the tropics. The Centre will enhance Australia's global leadership in coral reef science through three ambitious research programs addressing the future of coral reefs and their ability to adapt to change. A key outcome of the research will be providing tangible benefits to all Australians by bui8lding bridges between the natural and social sciences, strengthening capacity, and informing and supporting transformative changes in coral reef governance and management.
Investigators: Graeme Cumming, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Malcolm McCulloch, Peter Mumby, Sean Connolly, John Pandolfi, Bob Pressey, Andrew Baird, David Bellwood, Joshua Cinner, Sophie Dove, Maja Adamska, Mia Hoogenboom, Geoff Jones, Mike Kingsford, Ryan Lowe, Mark McCormick, David Miller, Philip Munday, Morgan Pratchett, Garry Russ and Tiffany Morrison in collaboration with Janice Lough, David Wachenfeld, Stephen Palumbi, Serge Planes and Philippa Cohen (Research Division, The University of Queensland, University of Western Australia, College of Science & Engineering, Australian National University, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Stanford University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and WorldFish)
Keywords: coral reef ecosystems; Climate Change Adaptation; ecological resilience; biodiversity goods and services; social-ecological dynamics

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.

Completed

The neurobiological effects of ocean acidification on a cephalopod (2022, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Effects of diel pCO₂ fluctuations on coral reef fishes now and into the future (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Beneficial acclimation and stress-hardening of corals to climate change conditions (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
The effects of climate change on the growth and physiology of reef snappers (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Investigating the drivers of microbial community composition in reef-building corals (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Effects of projected near-future carbon dioxide levels on cephalopod physiology and behaviour (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Effects of diel CO₂ cycles on the early development and behaviour of coral reef fishes under ocean acidification (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Relationships between behavioral and physiological performance under elevated CO₂ in marine fishes (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Phenotypic plasticity to warming in coral reef fishes: the importance of sex and exposure timing within and between generations (2021, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

Hannan, K. (2020) Effects of fluctuating and constant pCO2 on the exercise physiology of four species of coral reef fishes. James Cook University
Spinks, R. (2020) Sex and time specific effects of ocean warming on reproductive and hatchling traits in a coral reef damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus). James Cook University
Hannan, K. (2020) In situ water quality among coral reefs and microhabitats at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University
Laubenstein, T. (2020) Effects of elevated CO2, diel CO2 cycles, and elevated temperature on metabolic traits in a reef fish. James Cook University
Jarrold, M. (2019) Elevated CO2 affects anxiety but not a range of other behaviours in juvenile yellowtail kingfish. James Cook University
McMahon, S. (2019) Elevated CO2 and heatwave conditions affect the aerobic and swimming performance of juvenile Australasian snapper. James Cook University
Munday, P. (2019) Carbonate chemistry data for kingfish experiment - Watson et al. 2018. James Cook University
Jarrold, M. (2019) Databases for Chapter 9: Ecological effects of elevated CO2 on marine and freshwater fishes: from individual to community effects. James Cook University
Spinks, R. (2019) Developmental effects of heatwave conditions on the early life stages of a coral reef fish. James Cook University
Jarrold, M. (2019) Summary of studies investigating the effects of elevated CO2 on fish behaviour. James Cook University

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.