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Morgan Pratchett

Projects

11

Publications

23

Awards

0

Contact Details

Professor, Marine Biology & Aquaculture

    Biography

    Prof Morgan Pratchett is a marine conservation ecologist with extensive knowledge of coral reef ecosystems. His current research focuses on major disturbances that contribute to widespread declines in the abundance of hard corals, and corresponding changes in the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems.

    Research

    Projects
    Coral bleaching assessment 2024 in northern Great Barrier Reef
    01 Mar 2024 - 01 May 2024
    COTS Monitoring Design: sample design for science and management decisions (Old ID 27510)
    01 Jan 2022 - 30 Jun 2023
    Pre-outbreak monitoring of the density, distribution and size-structure of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) in the Great Barrier Reef (Old ID 27501)
    01 Jan 2021 - 01 Jun 2024
    Crown-of-thorns starfish control innovation program – Feasibility and Design Phase (Phase 1) (Old ID 27217)
    01 Oct 2020 - 30 Jun 2021
    Innovations in COTS Control on the Great Barrier Reef (Old ID 26958)
    01 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2020
    Coral Sea - Coral Reef Health Multi Year Project (Old ID 26516)
    27 May 2019 - 30 Jun 2021
    Coral Reef Health in the Coral Sea Marine Park (Old ID 24771)
    05 Mar 2018 - 05 Jul 2020
    Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Shallow Reef Monitoring 2018 (Old ID 24815)
    24 Feb 2018 - 10 Dec 2018
    Research to support sustainable coral harvesting by Australian aquarium industry (Old ID 23641)
    13 Jul 2017 - 12 Jul 2018
    Microhabitat preferences and post-settlement demography for juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) (Old ID 23243)
    13 Mar 2017 - 17 Apr 2018
    The impact of increasing ocean temperatures on the movement and behaviour of the iconic Indo-Pacific fisheries species, coral trout (Old ID 22898)
    01 Jan 2017 - 30 Sep 2019

    Teaching

    Taught Modules
    [MB3190] Coral Reef EcologyLecturer, Coordinator
    2025
    [MB5190] Coral Reef EcologyCoordinator, Lecturer
    2025
    Current JCU Research Students
    Structure and function of coral assemblages in Musandam, Oman
    Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
    Synergistic effects of climate-induced coral bleaching and coral feeding by crown-of-thorns starfish on corals and coral assemblages on the Great Barrier Reef
    Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
    The effects of marine heatwaves on phenotypic and adaptive outcomes in a marine fish
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
    A benefit-cost comparison of coral reef restoration policies and exploring their application in differentlocal government contexts in the Philippines
    Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)
    Integrating Citizen science into long-term monitoring of fisheries- What value does it serve in capturing trends of harvested populations?
    Master of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)
    Thermal Plasticity of Natural versus Sexually selected Traits
    Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
    Changes in the structure and function of Coral assemblages at Lizard Island
    Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
    Density-dependence in early life-history processes of hard corals and impacts on population recovery
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
    Novel approaches to understanding resilience of coral assemblages
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
    Completed JCU Research Students
    The effect of increasing temperature on algae-fish interactions on coral reefs
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2020
    Dynamics of carbonate production and erosion in north-western Australia
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2025
    The life-history, evolution and adaptation of coral reef fishes in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2023
    Impacts of ocean warming on the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris)
    Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)- 2023
    Temperature preferences of tropical fishes and the influence of local abiotic and biotic factors
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2020
    The biology, ecology, and management of corals targeted for commercial harvest by Australian coral fisheries
    Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)- 2024
    Age determination in the Pacific crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris): novel molecular approaches
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2025
    Spatial and temporal variation in the demography of early-stage juvenile Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2020
    Effects of habitat fragmentation on coral-associated fish assemblages.
    Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)- 2023
    Improving Coral Bleaching Predictions for Malaysian Reefs Through Consideration of Multiple Data Sources and Cumulative Pressures
    Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2025
    Differential susceptibility of corals to major versus routine disturbances in Australia’s Coral Sea
    Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2021
    Sub-lethal effects of coral loss and habitat degradation on coral reef fishes with specific emphasis on Chaetodon butterflyfishes
    Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2023
    Processes and patterns in larval settlement of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris)
    Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2024
    Novel insights into the evolutionary history of marine angelfishes from genome-scale data (F: Pomacanthidae)
    Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)- 2025

    Activities

    Associations
    Australian Coral Reef Society
    International Coral Reef Society

    Output

    Research priorities for the sustainability of coral-rich western Pacific seascapes
    2023
    Cumming, Graeme S.; Adamska, Maja; Barnes, Michele L.; Barnett, Jon; Bellwood, David R.; Cinner, Jos...
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Macroalgae exhibit diverse responses to human disturbances on coral reefs
    2023
    Cannon, Sara E.; Donner, Simon D.; Liu, Angela; González Espinosa, Pedro C.; Baird, Andrew H.; Baum,...
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Settlement cue selectivity by larvae of the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish
    2023
    Doll, Peter C.; Uthicke, Sven; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Diaz-Pulido, Guillermo; Abdul Wahab, Muhammad A....
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Increasing densities of Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, resolved using a novel survey method
    2023
    Chandler, Josie F.; Burn, Deborah; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Doll, Peter C.; Kwong, Sarah L.T.; Lang, Bet...
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Differential bleaching susceptibility among coral taxa and colony sizes, relative to bleaching severity across Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Marine Parks
    2023
    Burn, D.; Hoey, A.S.; Matthews, S.; Harrison, H.B.; Pratchett, M.S. (2023) 'Differential bleaching s. Marine Pollution Bulle, 191 . [DOI] ...
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Variation in abundance, diversity and composition of coral reef fishes with increasing depth at a submerged shoal in the northern Great Barrier Reef
    2022
    Scott, Molly E.; Tebbett, Sterling B.; Whitman, Kirsty L.; Thompson, Cassandra A.; Mancini, Frank B....
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Developing an effective marine eDNA monitoring: eDNA detection at pre-outbreak densities of corallivorous seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris)
    2022
    Uthicke, Sven; Robson, Barbara; Doyle, Jason R.; Logan, Murray; Pratchett, Morgan S.; Lamare, Miles ...
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Global declines in coral reef calcium carbonate production under ocean acidification and warming
    2021
    Cornwall, Christopher E.; Comeau, Steeve; Kornder, Niklas A.; Perry, Chris T.; van Hooidonk, Ruben; ...
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Knowledge Gaps in the Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star, Acanthaster sp., on Australia's Great Barrier Reef
    2021
    Pratchett, Morgan S.; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Cvitanovic, Christopher; Raymundo, Maia L.; Babcock, Russ...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Homing behaviour by destructive crown-of-thorns starfish is triggered by local availability of coral prey
    2020
    Ling, S.D.; Cowan, Z.-L.; Boada, J.; Flukes, E.B.; Pratchett, M.S. (2020) 'Homing behaviour by destr. 287 (1938). [DOI] ...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Habitat associations of settlement-stage crown-of-thorns starfish on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
    2020
    Wilmes, Jennifer C.; Shultz, Daniel J.; Hoey, Andrew S.; Messmer, Vanessa; Pratchett, Morgan S. (202...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Contrasting shifts in coral assemblages with increasing disturbances
    2020
    Pratchett, Morgan S.; McWilliam, Michael J.; Riegl, Bernhard (2020) 'Contrasting shifts in coral ass. Coral Reefs, 39 :783-793. [DOI] ...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Bleaching susceptibility of aquarium corals collected across northern Australia
    2020
    Pratchett, Morgan S.; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Newman, Stephen J.; Wilson, Shaun K.; Messmer, Vanessa; P...
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Deficits in functional trait diversity following recovery on coral reefs
    2020
    McWilliam, Mike; Pratchett, Morgan S.; Hoogenboom, Mia O.; Hughes, Terry P. (2020) 'Deficits in func. 287 . [DOI] ...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Coral reef conservation in the Anthropocene: confronting spatial mismatches and prioritizing functions
    2019
    Bellwood, David R.; Pratchett, Morgan S.; Morrison, Tiffany H.; Gurney, Georgina G.; Hughes, Terry P...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Independent effects of ocean warming versus acidification on the growth, survivorship and physiology of two Acropora corals
    2019
    Anderson, Kristen D.; Cantin, Neal E.; Casey, Jordan M.; Pratchett, Morgan S. (2019) 'Independent ef. Coral Reefs, 38 (6):122...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Global warming impairs stock-recruitment dynamics of corals
    2019
    Hughes, Terry P.; Kerry, James T.; Baird, Andrew H.; Connolly, Sean R.; Chase, Tory J.; Dietzel, And...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Contributions of pre- versus post-settlement processes to fluctuating abundance of crown-of-thorns starfishes ( Acanthaster spp.)
    2018
    Wilmes, Jennifer C.; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Cowan, Zara-Louise; Hoey, Andrew S.; Lang, Bethan; Messmer...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Global warming transforms coral reef assemblages
    2018
    Hughes, Terry P.; Kerry, James T.; Baird, Andrew H.; Connolly, Sean R.; Dietzel, Andreas; Eakin, C. ...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Thirty years of research on crown-of-thorns starfish (1986-2016): scientific advances and emerging opportunities
    2017
    Pratchett, Morgan S.; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Wilmes, Jennifer C.; Matthews, Samuel; Mellin, Camille; S...
    Journal Publication Open Access ResearchOnline@JCU
    Effects of climate change on coral grouper (Plectropomus spp.) and possible adaptation options
    2017
    Pratchett, Morgan S.; Cameron, Darren S.; Donelson, Jennifer; Evans, Louisa; Frisch, Ashley J.; Hobd...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Spatial, temporal and taxonomic variation in coral growth: implications for the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems
    2015
    Pratchett, Morgan S.; Anderson, Kristen D.; Hoogenboom, Mia O.; Windman, Elizabeth; Baird, Andrew H....
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
    Limits to understanding and managing outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.)
    2014
    Pratchett, Morgan S.; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Rivera-Posada, Jairo A.; Sweatman, Hugh P.A. (2014) 'Limi. Oc, ...
    Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU