Peter Cowman

Dr Peter F. Cowman is an Associate Professor of Marine Biology in the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University (JCU). He holds a significant co-appointment as a Principal Scientist and Curator of Marine Biodiversity within the Biodiversity and Geosciences Program at the Queensland Museum Tropics (QMT), having previously served as Principal Scientist & Curator of Biosystematics from 2021 to 2022. Dr Cowman is also a Theme Leader in the Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution at JCU.

He is a recognized leader in Australian science, having received the Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2020) for his achievements as an outstanding researcher and communicator. Prior to his current roles, he was an ARC DECRA Fellow (2017–2020) and a Senior Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. He also received the prestigious Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Environmental Fellowship (2014–2016) administered by the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (YIBS).

Research Focus and Expertise

Dr Cowman is a leading authority on the phylogenetic systematics and evolutionary origins of coral reef-associated fishes and corals. His extensive research, supported by over $1.8 million in competitive funding, leverages molecular phylogenetics and genomics to reconstruct deep evolutionary histories and resolve contemporary taxonomic challenges across tropical reefs.

Phylogenomic Systematics of Corals (CoralBank Project)

Dr Cowman has demonstrated leadership in integrating cutting-edge genomic techniques into collections-based research, notably through the CoralBank Project at the Queensland Museum. This initiative, funded through the partnership between QM and Project DIG, serves as an expansive genomic and taxonomic repository for the state’s marine collections.

Through his expertise in genomics and bioinformatics, Dr Cowman has directed the application of targeted capture methods, such as Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs) and exons, to generate highly informative molecular data. His foundational work includes redesigning and testing an enhanced target-enrichment bait set specifically for the subclass Hexacorallia (stony corals and their relatives) to improve phylogenetic resolution.

Under this ambitious project, Dr Cowman has contributed to the comprehensive systematic assessment of coral diversity, generating significant data across numerous samples:

• The project has collected approximately 10,000 coral colonies from around 45 ecoregions.

• This material includes associated Field Images, Voucher specimens, and Tissue samples, ensuring robust links between morphology and genetic data, which is critical given the issues of morphological plasticity in corals.

• Over 5,500 specimens have been sequenced using either UCE/Exon methods or Genome Skims.

• This expansive sampling covers 24 Scleractinia Families and 120 genera (many representing previously unrecognized lineages).

• The project includes over 3,000 specimens of the speciose Acroporidae, the dominant reef-building family.

• A key element of this taxonomic approach is the strategic collection and analysis of approximately 360 Topotype Samples, providing crucial anchor points to reliably link molecular sequences with nominal species descriptions.

This work has produced high-profile findings that reveal coral diversity to be significantly underestimated by traditional morphological taxonomy, highlighting the urgent need for a systematic revision of groups like Acropora.

Macroevolutionary Studies of Coral Reef Fishes

In parallel research, Dr Cowman continues to explore major macroevolutionary questions concerning tropical fishes. His work focuses on understanding:

• Origins of Biodiversity: Reconstructing evolutionary histories to map ancestral biogeography and dispersal patterns.

• Reefs as Diversification Drivers: He established that coral reefs act as both a 'cradle of speciation', promoting accelerated rates of diversification, and a 'safe haven' or refuge for fish lineages, protecting them from extinction during periods of climate instability.

• Global Patterns: He contributed to the finding of an inverse latitudinal gradient in speciation rate for marine fishes.

• Trophic Novelty: His early work successfully dated the evolutionary origins of wrasse lineages (Labridae) and demonstrated the rise of trophic novelty on coral reefs.

• Genomic Change: He explores the causative relationships between genomic change, processes of diversification and life history traits across the tree of life.

Public Engagement and Service

Dr Cowman actively translates his complex research for broad audiences, an achievement recognized by his Tall Poppy award. His outreach activities include:

• Serving as the Lead Curator for the Queensland Museum exhibition “Making Waves: A Century of Australian Coral Reef Science” (2022), which attracted approximately 80,000 visitors.

• Participating as an Invited Panelist in high-profile discussions at the World Science Festival in 2022 and 2024.

• Conducting live genome sequencing demonstrations at major community science events, such as Unearthed Mackay (2022).

• Briefing government agencies, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), on the importance of molecular systematics and taxonomy for coral conservation and monitoring efforts.

• His research has generated extensive media attention, resulting in 118 news mentions over seven years, including interviews with the New York Times and ABC Science.

• He is a lifetime member of the Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) and previously co-edited its magazine, “Reef in Review”.