Alexandra Carter

Dr Alex Carter is a Principal Research Officer with TropWATER at James Cook University, specialising in the ecology, mapping, and management of tropical coastal and marine ecosystems. With over 20 years of experience, her work has focused on seagrass, coral reefs, fisheries species, turtles, and dugong, integrating field ecology with spatial science to inform management and policy across northern Australia.

Alex has led and contributed to more than 40 applied research projects, including habitat mapping and long-term seagrass monitoring in Torres Strait, the Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpentaria, West Cape York, and Queensland’s east coast. She has worked extensively with the National Environmental Science Program and State, Territory and Commonwealth agencies, delivering work that underpins marine park planning, fisheries management, and biodiversity conservation.

A key strength of Alex’s research is her close collaboration with Traditional Owners and Indigenous ranger groups. She has co-developed monitoring programs, with a focus on providing hands-on training in ecological survey methods, mapping and data analysis. Her work emphasises building capacity in Sea Country management while supporting Indigenous aspirations for sustainable livelihoods and conservation outcomes.

She is recognised for her technical and project management expertise in conducting large-scale surveys in remote environments, managing multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring project outcomes meet scientific and community needs.

Prior to commencing at James Cook University, Alex was employed as a scientist at Queensland Fisheries. She completed her PhD on spatial variation in reproductive biology for common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus), and the role of marine reserves as a fisheries management tool for this species on the Great Barrier Reef.

Alex is interested in receiving inquiries from prospective Honours, Masters by Research and PhD candidates who are interested in tropical marine biology. Scholarship funding is available through James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarships.