Professor Paul Lavery

Professor of Marine Ecology

Telephone: (61 8)  6304 5687  
Email: p.lavery@ecu.edu.au   
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO19.349  

 

Current Teaching

  • Coastal and Marine Management
  • Fisheries and Aquaculture

Background

Paul Lavery has over 20 year’s experience working in applied marine science. He has worked in the Government sector in Australia and the USA and on some of the major marine restoration projects in Australia and overseas, including the Peel-Harvey Management Programme, the Boston Harbor Cleanup Programme and the Perth Coastal Waters Study. He was a contracted expert assisting in the development of the State’s first State Environmental Policy and has assisted in marine park planning through his involvement in several scientific reference groups.  He is currently a member of the working group revising the ANZECC Water Quality Guidelines (biological monitoring). He is a past Head of School and is currently the Associate Dean of Research and Higher Degrees.

  • 2008-present: Associate Dean Research and Higher Degrees, Faculty of Computing, Health and Science, ECU
  • 2006-present: Professor of Marine Ecology, School of Natural Sciences, ECU
  • 2002-2006: Head of School of Natural Sciences
  • 2001-2002: Associate Professor in Environmental Management, Edith Cowan University
  • 1994-2001: Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management, Edith Cowan University
  • 1993-1994: Marine Ecologist, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Boston, USA
  • 1992-1993: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, The University of Western Australia
  • 1990-1992: Environmental Officer, The Water Authority of Western Australia.
  • 1989-1990: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Western Australia

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Marine Sciences Association
  • Ecological Society of Australia
  • World Seagrass Association
  • International Association for Sediment-Water Science

Research Areas and Interests

  • Marine ecology and management (with a focus on seagrass and estuarine ecosystems)
  • The role and lifecycle of wrack in marine ecosystems
  • Impacts of dredging on benthic marine ecosystems
  • The eco-physiology of seagrasses
  • Carbon capture and storage in seagrass ecosystems
  • The development of monitoring indicators and protocols for marine ecosystems
  • Eco-hydraulics – the role of wave s and water movement in structuring benthic marine ecosystems.

Staff Qualifications

  • PhD, The University of Western Australia .
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Western Australia .

Research

Recent Research Grants

  • Pilot Malting Plant,  Dept of Agriculture and Food WA,  Grant,  2011,  $15,000.
  • Seagrass health survey (Becher Point to Fremantle Region),  Dept of Environment WA,  Grant,  2011,  $8,928.
  • Trophic Interaction and Ecosystem Modelling - WAMSI Node 4.3,  Western Australian Marine Science Institution,  Grant,  2011,  $61,743.
  • Developing indicators of nutrient-enrichment impacts on nearshore coastal reefs,  Edith Cowan University,  ECU Industry Collaboration - Grant,  2011,  $29,468.
  • Boat -based recreational boat fishing activity in Western Australia: a long term profile,  Dept of Fisheries WA,  Grant,  2011,  $1,100,000.
  • Improving capacity to predict impacts of dredging - modelling light and the response of seagrasses,  Edith Cowan University,  ECU Industry Collaboration - Grant,  2011,  $5,000.
  • The Role of Herbivory in Ameliorating the Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in Marine Ecosystems,  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,  Flagship Collaboration Research Fund(**),  2010,  $100,000.
  • Pilot Malting Plant,  Dept of Agriculture and Food WA,  Grant(**),  2010,  $265,000.
  • Research Study into Seagrass Wrack Movement at Geographe Bay,  University of Western Australia,  Grant(**),  2010,  $138,909.
  • Trophic Interaction and Ecosystem Modelling - WAMSI Node 4.3,  Western Australian Marine Science Institution,  Grant(**),  2010,  $65,018.
  • Seagrass health survey (Becher Point to Fremantle Region),  Dept of Environment WA,  Grant(**),  2010,  $8,556.
  • Impact of Dredging on Coral Communities,  Woodside Energy Ltd,  Grant,  2009,  $43,371.
  • Research Study into Seagrass Wrack Movement at Geographe Bay ,  University of Western Australia,  Grant,  2009,  $97,273.
  • Seagrass health survey (Becher Point to Fremantle Region),  Dept of Environment WA,  Grant,  2009,  $8,177.
  • Seagrass TIME - Trophic Cascades in Marine Ecosytems,  European Commission,  Marie-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship,  2009,  $36,608.
  • Scholarship (Singh)-WAMSI Reef-Seagrass Connectivity - Role of Wrack in Marine Foodwebs-Project 7,  Western Australian Marine Science Institution,  Scholarship,  2009,  $12,000.
  • The Role of Herbivory in Ameliorating the Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in Marine Ecosystems ,  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,  Flagship Collaboration Research Fund,  2009,  $50,000.
  • Transport and the Importance of Seaweed Wrack - Project 6,  Western Australian Marine Science Institution,  Scholarship,  2009,  $12,000.
  • Trophic Interaction and Ecosystem Modelling - WAMSI Node 4.3,  Western Australian Marine Science Institution,  Grant,  2009,  $71,964.
  • Trophic Interaction and Ecosystem Modelling - WAMSI Node 4.3,  Western Australian Marine Science Institution,  Grant,  2008,  $31,964.
  • Research Study into Seagrass Wrack Movement at Geographe Bay ,  University of Western Australia,  Grant,  2008,  $93,818.
  • Impact of Dredging on Coral Communities,  Woodside Energy Ltd,  Grant,  2008,  $74,849.
  • Transport and the Importance of Seaweed Wrack - Project 6,  Western Australian Marine Science Institution,  Scholarship,  2008,  $6,000.
  • Ecophysiology of Benthic primary producers (Consequences of reduced light availability in seagrass meadows for fauna and fisheries,  Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment,  Grant,  2008,  $97,175.
  • Seagrass health survey (Becher Point to Fremantle Region),  Dept of Environment WA,  Grant,  2008,  $35,794.
  • Seagrass TIME - Trophic Cascades in Marine Ecosytems,  European Commission,  Marie-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship,  2008,  $13,250.
  • North West Dugong Population Movement and Habitat Use,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2008,  $30,000.
  • Trophic Implications of Seagrass Habitat Disturbance from Reduced Light,  ANZ Executors & Trustee Company Limited,  Grant,  2007,  $5,000.
  • Ecophysiology of Benthic primary producers (Consequences of reduced light availability in seagrass meadows for fauna and fisheries,  Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment,  Grant,  2007,  $87,175.
  • Seagrass health survey (Becher Point to Fremantle Region),  Dept of Environment WA,  Grant,  2007,  $53,764.
  • North West Dugong Population Movement and Habitat Use,  Department of Environment & Conservation WA,  Grant,  2007,  $68,182.
  • Habitat Use by Black Swans in the Swan River Estuary,  Ernest Hodgkin Trust,  Scholarship,  2007,  $2,182.
  • The effects on seagrass loss on macroinvertebrate fauna Node 3.2,  Western Australian Marine Science Institution,  Scholarship,  2007,  $18,000.
  • Dugong Research Proposal NW Cape - NT Border: Year 1,  Dept of Conservation & Land Management,  Grant,  2007,  $9,000.
  • Seagrass health survey (Becher Point to Fremantle Region),  Dept of Environment WA,  Grant,  2006,  $19,997.
  • Ecophysiology of Benthic primary producers (Consequences of reduced light availability in seagrass meadows for fauna and fisheries,  Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment,  Grant,  2006,  $120,128.
  • Evaluation of the return of ecological function in transplanted meadows,  Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment,  Grant,  2006,  $31,538.
  • Seagrass health survey (Becher Point to Fremantle Region),  Dept of Environment WA,  Grant,  2005,  $22,599.
  • Ecophysiology of Benthic primary producers (Consequences of reduced light availability in seagrass meadows for fauna and fisheries,  Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment,  Grant,  2005,  $200,000.
  • Evaluation of the return of ecological function in transplanted meadows,  Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment,  Grant,  2005,  $13,231.
  • Evaluating the influence of trophic connections between marine habitats on the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas.,  Australian Research Council,  Grant - Discovery,  2005,  $80,308.
  • Morphological responses of seagrass meadows to light limitation and their application to environmental quality criteria.,  Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment,  Grant,  2004,  $23,582.
  • Evaluating the influence of trophic connections between marine habitats on the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas.,  Australian Research Council,  Grant - Discovery,  2004,  $89,132.
  • Seagrass health survey (Becher Point to Fremantle Region),  Dept of Environment WA,  Grant,  2004,  $35,015.
  • Ecophysiology of Benthic primary producers (Consequences of reduced light availability in seagrass meadows for fauna and fisheries,  Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment,  Grant,  2004,  $100,000.

Recent Publications (within the last five years)

Journal Articles

  • McMahon, K., Lavery, P., Mulligan, M., (2011), Recovery from the impact of light reduction on the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii, insights for dredging management. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(2), 270-283, DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.11.001.
  • Mellbrand, K., Lavery, P., Hyndes, G., Hamback, PA., (2011), Linking Land and Sea: Different Pathways for Marine Subsidies. Ecosystems, 14(5), 732-744, New York, DOI: 10.1007/s10021-011-9442-x.
  • Collier, C., Prado, P., Lavery, P., (2010), Carbon and nitrogen translocation in response to shading of the seagrass Posidonia sinuosa. Aquatic Botany, 93(1), 47-54, Netherlands, DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2010.03.003.
  • Svensson, CJ., Hyndes, G., Lavery, P., (2010), An efficient method for collecting large samples of live copepods free from detritus. Marine and Freshwater Research, 61(5), 621-624, Australia, DOI: 10.1071/MF09178.
  • Gartner, A., Lavery, P., McMahon, K., Brearley, A., Barwick, H., (2010), Light reductions drive macroinvertebrate changes in Amphibolis griffithii seagrass habitat. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 401(1), 87-100, Olendorf/Luhn, Germany, DOI: 10.3354/meps08367.
  • Eklof, JS., McMahon, K., Lavery, P., (2009), Effects of Multiple Disturbances in Seagrass Meadows: Shading Decreases Resilience to Grazing. Marine and Freshwater Research, 60(12), 1317-1327, Australia, DOI: 10.1071/MF09008.
  • Lavery, P., McMahon, K., Mulligan, M., Tennyson, A., (2009), Interactive effects of timing, intensity and duration of experimental shading on Amphibolis griffithii. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 394(2009), 21-33, Ohne, Germany, DOI: 10.3354/meps08242.
  • Doropoulos, C., Hyndes, G., Lavery, P., Tuya, F., (2009), Dietary preferences of two seagrass inhabiting gastropods: Allochthonous vs autochthonous resources. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 83(1), 13-18, United Kingdom, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2009.03.011.
  • Collier, C., Lavery, P., Ralph, PJ., Masini, RJ., (2009), Shade-induced response and recovery of the seagrass Posidonia sinuosa. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 370(1-2), 89-103, The Netherlands, DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2008.12.003.
  • Vanderklift, M., Lavery, P., Waddington, K., (2009), Intensity of herbivory on kelp by fish and sea urchins differs between inshore and offshore reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 376(2009), 203-211, Ohne, Germany, DOI: 10.3354/meps07811.
  • Collier, C., Lavery, P., Ralph, P., Masini, R., (2008), Physiological characteristics of the seagrass Posidonia sinuosa along a depth-related gradient of light availability. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 353, , 65-79, Ohne - Germany.
  • Prado, P., Collier, CJ., Lavery, P., (2008), 13C and 15N translocation within and among shoots in two Posidonia species from Western Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 361, , 69-82, Ohne - Germany.

Research Student Supervision

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy,  Trophic Implications Of Light Reductions For Amphibolis Griffithi Seagrass Communities.
  • Master of Science (Environmental Management),  Effects Of Low-density Mussel-line Aquaculture On A Posidonia Sinuosa Seagrass Ecosystem..
  • Doctor of Philosophy,  Seagrass Responses To Light Availability: A Mechanistic Approach..
  • Master of Science (Environmental Management),  Marine Sponge Diversity And Distribution On Subtidal Limestone Reefs, Offmarmon Lagoon, Western Australia..
  • Master of Science (Environmental Management),  Seasonal Movement And Habitat Useage Of Eastern Shark Bay Dugongs..
  • Master of Science (Environmental Management),  Do Marine Resources Subsidise Island Ecosystems?.

Co-principal Supervisor

Associate Supervisor

  • Master of Science (Environmental Management),  The Impact Of Black Swan (cygnus Ataratus) Grazing On The Seagrass Halophila Ovalis In The Lower Swan River Estuary.
  • Doctor of Philosophy,  Restoration Of Ecological Functions In Transplanted Seagrass Meadows..
  • Doctor of Philosophy,  In Vitro Porpagation Of Some Western Australian Seagrasses.