Christopher Doropoulos

Marine Spatial Ecology Lab
School of Biological Sciences
University of Queensland

St. Lucia, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia

T + 61 7 3346 9868 | F + 61 7 3365 1655
email: c.doropoulos@uq.edu.au
skype: christopher.doropoulos

Research Interests

Benthic ecology; Disturbance ecology; Invertebrate and algal recruitment and succession; Evolutionary ecology

Qualifications

2009-2012 PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland, Australia
2004-2007 B. Sc. (First Class Honours), Edith Cowan University, Western Australia

Australian Recreational Boating License (2007); Western Australian Restricted Coxswains License (2008); Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (2009)
PADI Open Water (2005), Advanced (2007), and Rescue (2007) Certifications; ADAS Scientific Diver (Occupational Diving Certificate III) Certified (2009)
Workplace Senior First Aid (every 3 years since 2007) and Advanced Resuscitation (annual since 2007)

PhD Research

Coral recruitment represents a crucial phase in the development of coral populations, important to the recovery of coral reefs affected by anthropogenic and natural disturbances. Successful recruitment is significant to the resilience of coral reefs, and degraded reefs often exhibit declining rates of coral recruitment through a poorly understood combination of reduced adult fecundity, decreased settlement, and high rates of early mortality. Whilst evidence indicates that the effects of climate change adversely reduce the success of coral recruitment, empirical investigations into ecological interactions are limited. Thus, this project aims to investigate the effects of climate change on the settlement, growth, and early survival of corals important to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in an ecological context. Specifically, this research aims to determine:

  1. How ocean acidification affects the benthic substrate community and if this interacts with coral settlement;
  2. The effects of ocean acidification on crustose coralline algae (CCA) and their associated microbial community and how this interacts with coral settlement;
  3. How ocean acidification affects the growth, calcification, and survival of juvenile corals, and if this affects their susceptibility to mortality by grazers; and
  4. The effects of bleaching, competition, and physical disturbances on the recruitment, growth and survival of juvenile corals from the GBR.

PhD advisory team: Dr Selina Ward, Professor Peter J Mumby, Dr Guillermo Diaz-Pulido

 

Fellowships & Awards

2012 UQ School of Biological Sciences International Conference Award ($1200 AUD)
2012 UQ Graduate School International Travel Award ($5000 AUD)
2012 ACRS Student Fellowship to attend the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, 2012 ($700 AUD)
2010-2011 Heron Island Research Station Internship
2010 Winnifred Violet Scott Foundation Research Award ($19500 AUD)
2010 Australian Coral Reef Society Danielle Simmons Award ($2500 AUD)
2009 Australian Coral Reef Society Student Travel Award ($500 AUD)
2009-2012 Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)
2009-2012 QLD State Government Smart Futures PhD Top-up Scholarship
2007 Royal Society of Western Australia Prize, Edith Cowan University
2007 Edith Cowan University Equipment and Fieldwork Funding Support ($1000 AUD)
2006 Australian Institute for Nuclear Science Winter School, Application of Nuclear Techniques in Natural Processes

 Journal publications

4. Doropoulos C, Ward S, Diaz-Pulido G, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mumby PJ (2012) Ocean acidification reduces coral recruitment by disrupting intimate larval-algal settlement interactions. Ecology Letters. 15, 338-346.
3. Hyndes GA, Lavery PS, Doropoulos C (2012). Dual processes for cross-boundary subsidies: incorporation of nutrients from reef-derived kelp into a seagrass ecosystem. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 445, 97-107.
2. Verges A., Vanderklift MA, Doropoulos C. & Hyndes GA (2011). Spatial Patterns in Herbivory on a Coral Reef Are Influenced by Structural Complexity but Not by Algal Traits. PLoS ONE, 6 (2) e17115.
1. Doropoulos C, Hyndes GA, Lavery PS, Tuya F (2009) Dietary preferences of two seagrass inhabiting gastropods: allochthonous vs autochthonous resources. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 83 (1) 13-18.

Conference proceedings

6. Doropoulos C, Ward S, Diaz-Pulido G, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mumby PJ. Ocean acidification reduces recruitment in a common spawning coral (A. millepora) by affecting both the planulae and its settlement substrata. (Australian Coral Reef Society Conference, Coffs Harbour, September 2010).
5. Doropoulos C, Ward S, Diaz-Pulido G, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mumby PJ. Ocean acidification reduces recruitment in a common spawning coral (A. millepora) by affecting both the planulae and its settlement substrata. (9th International Larval Biology Symposium, Wellington, August 2010).
4. Vergés A, Doropoulos C, Hyndes GA, Vanderklift MA, Babcock RC. Cross-reef variation in fish herbivory at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. (Australian Coral Reef Society Conference, Darwin, September 2009).
3. Vergés A, Doropoulos C, Hyndes GA, Vanderklift MA. Within-habitat variation in fish herbivory in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. (8th Indo Pacific Fish Conference, Fremantle, June 2009).
2. Doropoulos C, Hyndes GA, Lavery PS, Tuya F. Testing the effects of a spatial subsidy on mesograzers inhabiting temperate seagrass meadows. (Australian Marine Science Association WA Honours Prize Night, Perth, April 2008).
1. Hyndes GA, Lavery PS, Doropoulos C. Detached kelp in seagrass: trash or treasure? (Australian Marine Science Association Conference, Christchurch, July 2008).