Associate Professor Michelle Waycott
Associate Professor
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2008- Head of Discipline, Tropical Plant and Agricultural Science 2007- Associate Professor, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University 2004-2006 Senior Lecturer, School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University 2003-2004 Lecturer School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University 2000-2003 ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, James Cook University, 1997-2000 James Cook University Postdoctoral Fellow, 1997-1999 Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Naos Marine Laboratory, Panama, 1996-1997 Lecturer, Department of Botany, The University of Western Australia, and concurrent Research Associate, Department of Botany, The University of Western Australia. BSc (Hons) PhD (UWA) |
Contact Details
Dr Michelle Waycott
Campus: Townsville
Telephone: +61 7 4781 5246
Fax: +61 7 4725 1570
Email: Michelle.Waycott@jcu.edu.au
Note: Please direct all student enquiries through the School Secretary.
Research Interests
My research has come to focus on how plants and animals have adapted to survival in extreme environments and the genetic, physiological and ecological implications of the strategies they adopt.
I have research strands looking at marine angiosperm (esp. seagrass) population dynamics, genetics and evolution, molecular genetics, conservation genetics, biodiversity assessment en ecophysiological adaptations.
A new research program investigating the variability and adaptation of desert plants with a focus on their potential development as 'bush produce'.
Students who work with me have covered a diverse range of biota from a number of charismatic marine animals (such as dugong, sea-snakes, terns and sea turtles), to plants from both terrestrial (mistletoe, melaleuca, samphires, palms, legumes or grasses) and marine (seagrasses, mangroves) environments. Our focus is on the population dynamics and evolution of their study species.
In addition to my research into natural populations I am deeply involved with numerous collaborators in developing appropriate molecular tools for use in the study of plant and animal population dynamics, invasive marine species or for targets as harvested natural resources.
Along with other staff in the School of Marine and Tropical Biology we run a large collaborative research facility - the Molecular Ecology and Evolution Facility - that enables our research activities.
Current research projects
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Population genetics and evolution of Australian native plant populations
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Molecular ecology of desert Acacia species
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Conservation biology of Acacia peuce
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Sandalwood in northern Australia, population genetic structure and genetic resource assessment
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Seagrass evolution-molecular phylogeny, morpho-genetic variability
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Seagrass thecophysiology-link with plant physiological response and genotype
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Seagrass population genetics-microsatellite marker development in tropical seagrass species; population genetic
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Variation in survivorship of tropical seagrasses – Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis and Zostera meulleri
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Population genetic structure of dugongs in tropical Australia
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Evolutionary biogeography of northern Australia
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Global Initiative to Barcodes all Seagrasses
Research staff
Dr Catherine Collier: MTSRF project, “Condition, trend and risk in coastal habitats: Seagrass indicators, distribution and thresholds of potential concern”.
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Research focus on the ecophysiological responses of seagrasses to light and temperature stress
Heather Robson: DKCRC project, “Desert bush produce”.
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Molecular genetic analysis of bush tomato to improve livelihoods for desert Australians
Student Projects
Past
Alex Anderson, Hons, "Population genetic structure in a rainforest bird, the Grey-headed Robin: traces of Pleistocene climate change." (Supervisor with Steve Williams, David Blair, Tropical Biology and Jeremy Austin, UQ).
Aniuska Kazandjian, PhD, "Systematics of the Indigofera pratensis complex" (Supervised by Betsy Jackes, Tropical Biology)
Anna Lashko, PhD, "Population genetic structure in the roseate tern, Sterna dougallii" (Supervisor with Emma Gyuris, TESAG)
Brenda McDonald, PhD, "Genetic Structure of Dugong Populations throughout Australian Waters: Implications of Gene Flow and Migration for Conservation Strategies" (Michelle Waycott, Helene Marsh (TESAG), David Blair)
Caroline Chong, PhD, "Survival strategies of riparian Melaleuca species in tropical Australia" (Michelle Waycott, Richard Pearson and Will Edwards, Tropical Biology).
Dian Latifah, MAppSc, "Embryo development and germination in palm species" (Supervisor with Betsy Jackes, John Dowe and Leone Bielig, Tropical Biology).
Glenn Dunshea, Hons, "Devlopment of telomere based aging method for the dugong." (Supervisor with Ivan Lawler and Donna Kwan, TESAG).
Grant Whiteman, PhD, "The impact of grazing on the genetic diversity of speargrass, Heteropogon contortus" (Supervisor)
James Stuart, MSc, "Seagrass evolutionary strategies" (Supervised with Leone Bielig).
Katherine Thompson, Honours, "Molecular gender identification in paenungulates-same as other mammals?" (supervisor with David Blair, Tropical Biology)
Kathryn McMahon, PhD (UQ), "Tropical seagrass recovery strategies: lessons from macro-herbivore grazing" (Michelle Waycott, James Udy, Norm Duke, Marine Botany, UQ and Marion Cambridge, UWA)
Kelly Shepherd, PhD (UWA), "Systematics of Australian samphires" (Supervised by Tim Colmer UWA and Terry MacFarlane, CALM WA).
Made Ni Gari, MSc, "Cultivar identification in Salacca palm, Bali" (Betsy Jackes, Michelle Waycott and Leone Bielig, Supervisors).
Michelle Boyle, PhD, "Post-hatchling sea-turtle migration" (Michelle Waycott, Col Limpus (QPWS) and Ross Alford Supervisors)
Vimoksalehi Lukoscheck, PhD, "Sea snake conservation genetics and management in the GBRWHA" (Michelle Waycott, Helene Marsh (TESAG) and Scott Keogh (ANU) Supervisors)
Yvette Williams, PhD, " Finescale gene flow in three species of Microhylid frog in the Australian wet tropics" (Chris Johnson, Ross Alford and Michelle Waycott Supervisors)
Present
Ashley Field, PhD, “Systematics of Australia Huperzia” (Michelle Waycott and Joseph Holtum Supervisors)
Ainsley Calladine, PhD, "Evolution of the Australian Loranthaceae" (David Blair and Peter Valentine (TESAG) Supervisors)
Brendan Jones, Hons, “Genetic diversity of Northern Sandalwood” (Michelle Waycott and Tony Page Supervisors).
Adrian McMahon, “Dugong population genetics” (Michelle Waycott, Ivan Lawler, Helene Marsh and David Blair Supervisors)
Project supervisory support
Erick Bricker, University of Virginia, “Population genetics of Thalassia testudinum”
Laura Reynolds, University of Virginia, “Restoration ecology of Zostera marina in the Virginia coastal bays”.
Teaching
Genetics for Biology and Agriculture
Flowering plant diversity and Diversity of Flowering Plants for Agricultural Science
Introduction to Plant Science, Plant Biology for Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Biology of plant survival
Conservation Biology
Ecological and Conservation Genetics, Topics in Genetics
Selected Publications
Waycott M, Collier C, McMahon K, Ralph P, McKenzie L, Udy J, Grech A (2007) Vulnerability of seagrasses in the GBR to climate change. In 'Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability of the Great Barrier Reef'. (Eds J Johnson and P Marshall). (GBRMPA: Townsville)
Van Dijk JK, Waycott M, Van Tussenbroek BI, Ouborg J (2007) Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Caribbean seagrass Thalassia testudinum Banks ex Konig. Molecular Ecology Notes 7, 89-91.
Short F, Carruthers T, Dennison W, Waycott M (2007) Global seagrass distribution and diversity: A bioregional model. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 350, 3-20.
Sheaves M, Brodie J, Brooke B, Dale P, Lovelock C, Waycott M, Gehrke P, Johnston R, Baker R (2007) Vulnerability of coastal and estuarine habitats in the GBR to climate change. In 'Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability of the Great Barrier Reef'. (Eds J Johnson and P Marshall) pp. (in press, accepted 17/01/2007). (GBRMPA: Townsville)
Rowley JJL, Hemingway VA, Alford RA, Waycott M, Skerratt LF, Campbell R, Webb R (2007) Experimental infection and repeat survey data indicate the amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis may not occur on freshwater crustaceans in northern Queensland, Australia. Ecohealth 4, 31-36.
Parr L, F.R. S, Waycott M, Vianna J, McDonald B, Cabellero S (2007) Genetics and Demography. In 'Sirenian Conservation'. (Eds E Hines and AA Mignucci-Giannoni) pp. in press, accepted December 2006. (Florida University Press: Florida)
Lukoschek V, Waycott M, Marsh H (2007) Phylogeography of the olive sea snake, Aipysurus laevis (Hydrophiinae) indicates Pleistocene range expansion around northern Australia but low contemporary gene flow. Molecular Ecology 16, 3406-3422.
Chong C, Edwards W, Waycott M (2007) Differences in resprouting ability are not related to seed size or seedling growth in four riparian woody species. Journal of Ecology 95, 840-850.
Carruthers TJB, Dennison WC, Kendrick GA, Waycott M, Walker DI, Cambridge ML (2007) Seagrasses of south-west Australia: A conceptual synthesis of the world's most diverse and extensive seagrass meadows. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 350, 21-45.
Williams YM, Williams SE, Alford RA, Waycott M, Johnson CN (2006) Niche breadth and geographical range: ecological compensation for geographical rarity in rainforest frogs. Biology Letters 2, 532-535.
Waycott M, Procaccini G, Les DH, Reusch TBH (2006) Seagrass evolution, ecology and conservation: A genetic perspective. In 'Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation'. (Eds AW Larkum, RJ Orth and CM Duarte) pp. 25-50. (Elsevier)
Orth RJ, Carruthers TJB, et al. (2006) A global crisis for seagrass ecosystems. Bioscience 56, 987-996.
Fox S, Waycott M, Dunshea G (2006) Isolation and characterisation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the vulnerable spectacled flying fox, Pteropus conspicillatus. Conservation Genetics.
Blair D, Waycott M, Byrne L, Dunshea G, Smith-Keune C, Neil KM (2006) Molecular discrimination of Perna (Mollusca : Bivalvia) species using the polymerase chain reaction and species-specific mitochondrial primers. Marine Biotechnology 8, 380-385.
Waycott M, Longstaff BJ, Mellors J (2005) Seagrass population dynamics and water quality in the Great Barrier Reef region: A review and future research directions. Marine Pollution Bulletin 51, 343-350.
Shepherd KA, Macfarlane TD, Waycott M (2005) Phylogenetic analysis of the Australian Salicornioideae (Chenopodiaceae) based on morphology and nuclear DNA. Australian Systematic Botany 18, 89-115.
Mellors J, Waycott M, Marsh H (2005) Variation in biogeochemical parameters across intertidal seagrass meadows in the central Great Barrier Reef region. Marine Pollution Bulletin 51, 335-342.
Lukoschek V, Waycott M, Dunshea G (2005) Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from the Australasian sea snake, Aipysurus laevis. Molecular Ecology Notes 5, 879-881.
Bussell JD, Waycott M, Chappill JA (2005) Arbitrarily amplified DNA markers as characters for phylogenetic inference. Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics 7, 3-26.
Waycott M, McMahon K, Mellors J, Calladine A, D. K (2004) 'A guide to tropical seagrasses of the Indo-West Pacific.' (James Cook University: Townsville)
Shepherd KA, Waycott M, Calladine A (2004) Radiation of the Australian Salicornioideae (Chenopodiaceae)-based on evidence from nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences. American Journal of Botany 91, 1387-1397.
Calladine A, Waycott M (2004) (Ed.)^(Eds) 'Proceedings of Seagrass 2004 and the International Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW6), 24 September-1 October 2004, Townsville, Australia.' (James Cook University: Townsville)
Freshwater DW, York RA, Kenworthy WJ, Waycott M (2003) Multi-locus genotyping of the threatened seagrass, Halophila johnsonii Eiseman reveals a high level of clonality. Aquatic Botany submitted.
Waycott M, Freshwater DW, York RA, Calladine A, Kenworthy WJ (2002) Evolutionary trends in the seagrass genus Halophila (thouars): Insights from molecular phylogeny. Bulletin of Marine Science 71, 1299-1308.
Mellors J, Marsh H, Carruthers TJB, Waycott M (2002) Testing the sediment-trapping paradigm of seagrass: Do seagrasses influence nutrient status and sediment structure in tropical intertidal environments? Bulletin of Marine Science 71, 1215-1226.
Carruthers TJB, Dennison WC, Longstaff BJ, Waycott M, Abal EG, McKenzie LJ, Long WJL (2002) Seagrass habitats of northeast Australia: Models of key processes and controls. Bulletin of Marine Science 71, 1153-1169.
Bussell JD, Waycott M, Chappill JA, James SH (2002) Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the evolution of complex hybridity in Isotoma petraea. Evolution 56, 1296-1302.
Waycott M, Calladine A (2001) (Ed.)^(Eds) 'Changes in the Marine Environment: Proceedings of the 2001 meeting of the Australian Marine Sciences Association and the New Zealand Marine Sciences Association Society, 3-6 July, Townsville.' (James Cook University: Townsville)
Waycott M, Barnes PAG (2001) AFLP diversity within and between populations of the Caribbean seagrass Thalassia testudinum (Hydrocharitaceae). Marine Biology 139, 1021-1028.
Olsen JL, Procaccini G, Reusch THB, Waycott M (2001) 'Seagrass ecology goes molecular.' Stazione Zoologica, Anton D'horn, Italy, Napoli.
Inglis GI, Waycott M (2001) Methods for assessing seagrass seed ecology and population genetics. In 'Global seagrass research methods'. (Eds FT Short and R Coles) pp. 123-140. (Elsevier: Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Waycott M, Les DH (2000) Current perspectives on marine angiosperm evolution. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 7, 160-163.
Waycott M (2000) Mating systems and population genetics of marine angiosperms (seagrasses). In 'Monocots: Systematics and Evolution'. (Eds KL Wilson and D Morrison) pp. 277-285. (CSIRO Publishing: Sydney)
Waycott M (2000) Genetic factors in the conservation of seagrasses. Pacific Conservation Biology 5, 269-276.
Campey ML, Waycott M, Kendrick GA (2000) Re-evaluating species boundaries among members of the Posidonia ostenfeldii species complex (Posidoniaceae) - morphological and genetic variation. Aquatic Botany 66, 41-56.
James SH, Keighery GK, Moorrees A, Waycott M (1999) Genomic coalescence in a population of Laxmannia sessiliflora (Angiospermae, Anthericaceae): an association of lethal polymorphism, self-pollination and chromosome number reduction. Heredity 82, 364-372.
Dennison WCD, Waycott M, Abal EG (1999) 'Workplan for the National Land and Water Resources Audit, Theme 7, Estuaries Projects.' Depatmenr of botany, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Waycott M (1998) Genetic variation, its assessment and implications to the conservation of seagrasses. Molecular Ecology 7, 793-800.
Procaccini G, Waycott M (1998) Microsatellite loci identified in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile. Journal of Heredity 89, 562-568.
Waycott M, Sampson JF (1997) The mating system of an hydrophilous angiosperm Posidonia australis (Posidoniaceae). American Journal of Botany 84, 621-625.
Waycott M, James SH, Walker DI (1997) Genetic variation within and between populations of Posidonia australis, a hydrophilous, clonal seagrass. Heredity 79, 408-417.
Waycott M, Bussell JD (1997) 'DNA fingerprint analysis of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus from the salt field at Dampier Salt Pty Ltd, Dampier, Western Australia.' James Cook University, Townsville.
Les DH, Cleland MA, Waycott M (1997) Phylogenetic studies in alismatidae, II: Evolution of marine angiosperms (seagrasses) and hydrophily. Systematic Botany 22, 443-463.
Kendrick GA, Waycott M, Kirkman H, Wyllie A (1997) 'Two Peoples Bay seagrass study.' The University of Western Australia.
Byrne M, Waycott M, Hobbs AA, James SH (1997) Variation in ribosomal DNA within and between populations of Isotoma petraea and Macrozamia riedlei. Heredity 79, 578-583.
Waycott M, Walker DI, James SH (1996) Genetic uniformity in Amphibolis antarctica, a dioecious seagrass. Heredity 76, 578-585.
Waycott M, Les DH (1996) An integrated approach to the evolutionary study of seagrasses. In 'Seagrass biology: Proceedings an international workshop, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, 25–29January 1996'. (Eds J Kuo, RC Phillips, DI Walker and H Kirkman) pp. 71-78. (Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia: Perth)
Waycott M (1996) Genetic variation and evolution in Australian seagrasses. PhD thesis, The University of Western Australia.
Kennington WJ, Waycott M, James SH (1996) DNA fingerprinting supports notions of clonality in a rare mallee, Eucalyptus argutifolia. Molecular Ecology 5, 693-696.
Waycott M (1995) Assessment of genetic variation and clonality in the seagrass Posidonia australis using RAPD and allozyme analysis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 116, 289-295.
