Rob has a long history translating scientific research into effective management advice and policy. He has a BSc in Zoology, an Honours degree (1st Class) in Entomology and a PhD in Fisheries from the University of Queensland.

He has worked as an entomologist, a fisheries scientist, a fisheries manager in the Torres Strait, as environment and regional manager for the Queensland government and as a seagrass scientist and research administrator.

Rob was the founding secretary of the World Seagrass Association and has a long history of promoting seagrass and coastal management research in the Indo-Pacific region.

Research Disciplines

• Environmental management (4104)
• Ecological applications (4102)

Fellowships

• 1996 - Churchill Fellow

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

• Collier C, Carter A, Rasheed M, McKenzie L, Udy J, Coles R, Brodie J, Waycott M, O’Brien K, Saunders M, Adams M, Martin K, Honchin C, Petus C and Lawrence E (2020) An evidence-based approach for setting desired state in a complex Great Barrier Reef seagrass ecosystem: a case study from Cleveland Bay. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 7, Article: 100042, DOI:10.1016/j.indic.2020.100042.
• Duffy J, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Trinanes J, Muller-Karger F, Ambo-Rappe R, Boström C, Buschmann A, Byrnes J, Coles R, Creed J, Cullen-Unsworth L, Diaz-Pulido G, Duarte C, Edgar G, Fortes M, Goni G, Hu C, Huang X, Hurd C, Johnson C, Konar B, Krause-Jensen D, Krumhansl K, Macreadie P, Marsh H, McKenzie L, Mieszkowska N, Miloslavich P, Montes E, Nakaoka M, Norderhaug K, Norlund L, Orth R, Prathep A, Putman N, Samper-Villarreal J, Serrao E, Short F, Pinto I, Steinberg P, Stuart-Smith R, Unsworth R, van Keulen M, van Tussenbroek B, Wang M, Waycott M, Weatherdon L, Wernberg T and Yaakub S (2019) Toward a coordinated global observing system for seagrasses and marine macroalgae. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, Article: 317, pp. 1-26, DOI:10.3389/fmars.2019.00317.
• Grech A, Hanert E, McKenzie L, Rasheed M, Thomas C, Tol S, Wang M, Waycott M, Wolter J and Coles R (2018) Predicting the cumulative effect of multiple disturbances on seagrass connectivity. Global Change Biology, 24 (7), pp. 3093-3104, DOI:10.1111/gcb.14127.
• Tol S, Jarvis J, York P, Grech A, Congdon B and Coles R (2017) Long distance biotic dispersal of tropical seagrass seeds by marine mega-herbivores. Scientific Reports, 7, Article: 4458, pp. 1-8, DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-04421-1.
• York P, Smith T, Coles R, McKenna S, Connolly R, Irving A, Jackson E, McMahon K, Runcie J, Sherman C, Sullivan B, Trevathan-Tackett S, Brodersen K, Carter A, Ewers C, Lavery P, Roelfsema C, Sinclair E, Strydom S, Tanner J, van Dijk K, Warry F, Waycott M and Whitehead S (2017) Identifying knowledge gaps in seagrass research and management: an Australian perspective . Marine Environmental Research, 127, pp. 163-172, DOI:10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.06.006.
• Grech A, Wolter J, Coles R, McKenzie L, Rasheed M, Thomas C, Waycott M and Hanert E (2016) Spatial patterns of seagrass dispersaland settlement. Diversity and Distributions, 22 (11), pp. 1150-1162, DOI:10.1111/ddi.12479.
• 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, DOI:10.1111/conl.12219.
• Tol S, Coles R and Congdon B (2016) Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planning. PeerJ, 4, Article: e2194, DOI:10.7717/peerj.2194.
• Coles R, Rasheed M, McKenzie L, Grech A, York P, Sheaves M, McKenna S and Bryant C (2015) The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area seagrasses: managing this iconic Australian ecosystem resource for the future. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science , 153, pp. A1-A12, DOI:10.1016/j.ecss.2014.07.020.
• McKenna S, Jarvis J, Sankey T, Reason C, Coles R and Rasheed M (2015) Declines of seagrasses in a tropical harbour, North Queensland, Australia, are not the result of a single event. Journal of Biosciences, 40 (2), pp. 389-398, DOI:10.1007/s12038-015-9516-6.

Conference Papers

• Carter A, Coles R, McKenna S and Rasheed M (2017) Spatial management tools for coastal seagrasses in Queensland, Australia. Proceedings of the Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference. 21-23 June 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia
• Rasheed M, McKenna S, Coles R and Carter A (2017) Protection of Great Barrier Reef seagrasses through innovative port industry and science research partnerships. Proceedings of the Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference. In: Australasian Coasts & Ports 2017 Conference: working with nature, 21-23 June 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 44+ research outputs authored by Dr Robert Coles from 2007 onwards.

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

• Understanding Recovery Processes of Tropical Seagrasses of the Great Barrier Reef (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

• Relative importance of different seagrass re-establishment strategies in tropical Queensland, Australia (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

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

• Tol, S. (2016) Biotic tropical seagrass seed dispersal by dugong and green sea turtles in the Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University

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.