Dr Line Bay

Associate Lecturer and ARC Research Associate

PhD, James Cook University

Research Interests

I have broad interests in ecology and evolution of animals and plants. In particular I am interested in developing and using molecular tools to examine variation in both neutral and functional molecular markers in wild populations. My research to date has focussed on coral reef fishes but I am increasing working in species from estuarine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Recent and Current Projects Include

The population genetic structure of coral reef fishes

The majority of my research to date has examined the population genetic structure of coral reef fishes at local and regional scales on the Great Barrier Reef and throughout the Indo-Pacific region. In this work I examined the application of spatial genetic models, primarily developed and tested in terrestrial systems, to describe coral reef fish populations. I also examined the role of historical factors including local extinctions and founder events on contemporary genetic structure of coral reef fishes.

Colony structure in social insects

I am currently developing the molecular tools required to determine the colony structure of an estuarine ant (Polyrhachis sokolova). In particular, I am interested in determining the number of reproducing females and males and the level of polydomy per colony.

The evolution of species borders and geographical variation in the population genetic structure of central and marginal populations

I am examining variation in the population genetic structure among central and marginal populations in coral reef fishes, mangroves and ants.

The ecology of coral reef fishes

I have an ongoing interest in the ecology of coral reef fishes and am currently involved in collaborations examining seasonal variation in the distribution and abundance of gobies at Lizard Island. I am also investigating the relationship between morphological and population genetic variation among populations of two species of coral reef fishes.

Selected Publications

Bay LK, Crozier RH and Caley MJ (2006a) The relationship between genetic structure and pelagic larval duration in coral reef fishes on the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Biology DOI 10.1007/s00227-006-0276-6 [pdf]

Bay LK, Buechler K, Gagliano M and Caley MJ (2006b) Intraspecific variation in the pelagic larval duration of tropical reef fishes. J Fish Biol 68: 1206–1214 [pdf]

Bay LK, Choat JH, van Herwerden L and Robertson DR (2004) High genetic diversities and complex genetic structure in an Indo-Pacific tropical reef fish (Chlorurus sordidus): evidence of an unstable evolutionary past? Marine Biology 144: 757–768 [pdf]

Bay LK, Jones GP and McCormick MI (2001) Habitat selection and aggression as determinants of spatial segregation among damselfishes on coral reefs. Coral Reefs 20: 289–298 [pdf]

Contact Details

Dr Line Bay

Campus: Townsville

Telephone: +61 7 4781 5768

Fax: +61 7 4725 1570

Email: Line.Bay@jcu.edu.au

Note: Please direct all student enquiries through the School Secretary.