Dr Manuel González-Rivero
Marine Spatial Ecology Lab
School of Biological Sciences
University of Queensland
St. Lucia Brisbane, Qld 4072
Australia
tel: +61 (0) 7 3365 1671
email: m.gonzalezrivero@uq.edu.au; M.A.Gonzalez-Rivero@ex.ac.uk
skype: nano_magr
My research focuses on disturbance ecology of coral reefs and understanding patterns led by the perturbations on key processes. Aimed at this, over the course of my PhD I have been exploring various aspects of population and community ecology of sponges. By doing this, I am using sponges as models to understand how and to what extend current environmental and anthropogenic stressors affect them and their role in the ecosystem.
My background involves various aspects on the ecology of Caribbean reefs. In particular, I have looked at the importance of reef bioerosion by echinoids (Diadema antillarium), and the influence of the petrochemical industry on coral communities in Venezuela.
Career & Qualifications
2008-2011 | PhD research student – University of Exeter
2006-2007 | Research assistant – Laboratorio de Biosistemática de Peces, Instituto de Zoología Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela
2005-2007 | Research assistant – Fundación Universidad Central de Venezuela
2002-2005 | Teaching assistant – School of Biology, Universidad Central de Venezuela
2005 | BSc Biological Sciences, Universidad Central de Venezuela
Recent grants
2008-2011 | PhD scholarship. Fondo National de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Venezuela)
2008-2011 | PhD scholarship. Fundación Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho (Venezuela)
Publications
González-Rivero M., R Ferrari, C H L Schönberg, and PJ Mumby (2011) Impacts of macroalgal competition and parrotfish predation on the growth of a common bioeroding sponge. Marine Ecology Progress Series doi: 10.3354/meps09424.
González-Rivero M, A V Ereskovsky, C H L Schönberg, R Ferrari, J Fromont, and P J Mumby. “in review”. Life-history traits of a common Caribbean coral-excavating sponge, Cliona tenuis (Porifera: Hadromerida). Marine Ecology.
González-Rivero M, Yakob L, Mumby PJ (2011) The role of sponge competition on coral reef alternative steady states. Ecol Model 222:1847-1853 pdf
Conferences
González-Rivero M, Ferrari-Legorreta R, & Mumby, PJ 2010. Effects of parrotfish predation and macroalgae on the growth of a bioeroding sponge in the Caribbean. VIII World Sponge Conference. Girona, Spain.
González-Rivero M, Herrera A, Siegert B, Villamizar E, Castillo M, & Hernandez I. 2008. Monitoring programme of benthic reef communities influenced by the Petrochemical industry in the Eastern region of Venezuela. 11th International Coral Reef Symposium. Fort-Lauderdale, USA.
González-Rivero M & Villamizar E. 2007. Comparative analysis of previous (1999) and present (2006) conditions of some coral reefs in the National Park “Archipiélago de Los Roques”. Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC) meeting. St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
González-Rivero M, Villamizar E & Rodríguez J. 2006. Bioerosive impact of Diadema antillarum (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) on Caribbean coral reef ecosystems at Archipelago Los Roques, Venezuela after two decades of the Massive Mortality Event. International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) European Meeting 2006. Bremen, Germany.
González M., E. Villamizar & J.G. Rodríguez (2005). Estudio preliminar de la Bioerosión por erizos sobre la dinámica de un sistema arrecifal severamente impactado en Venezuela. XI Congreso Latinoamericano de Ciencias del Mar (COLACMAR). Valparaíso, Chile.
González M., E. Villamizar & J.G. Rodríguez (2005). Preliminar ecology study of Diadema antillarum and Echinometra viridis (Echinoidea) in Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela. 32nd Scientific Meeting of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC). Curazao,Netherlands Antilles.