Dr Marcus Sheaves
Senior Lecturer
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Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (2004 - present) Lecturer, JCU, (1994 - 2004) Tertiary level teaching, JCU (1990-94).
Bsc (Hons.), PhD JCU. |
Research Interests
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Fisheries Ecology of Tropical Recreational Sportfish
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Biological Connectivity Within and Among Tropical Coastal Habitats
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Ecology and Biology of Tropical Mangrove, Seagrass, Estuarine Fishes and Invertebrates
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Coastal Ecosystem Health and Conservation, and Ecology of Stressed Coastal Ecosystems
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Trophic Organisation of Tropical Mangrove, Seagrass and Estuarine Ecosystems
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Patterns of Biodiversity in Tropical Mangrove, Seagrass and Estuarine Ecosystems
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The Larval and Juvenile Ecology of Tropical Mangrove, Seagrass and Estuarine Organisms
Tropical coastal ecosystems include mangroves, seagrasses , shallow sandy, muddy and rocky habitats, estuarine floodplain pools, coastal reefs and nearshore open waters. They are vital habitats for many unique species, often functioning as critically important nursery grounds. As with other tropical marine systems, these ecosystems have much higher biodiversity than their temperate counterparts. Although, in many parts of the world these ecosystems are under threat from habitat destruction and modification, little detailed information is available about the ways in which animals use them. This is true even for important commercial and recreational species. The lack of information on tropical coastal ecosystems means that it is impossible to realistically assess the effect of habitat modification on these crucial ecosystems and their inhabitants, or to manage their resources effectively. Because of this a number of vital questions must be answered. For example: What resources, peculiar to these habitats, are used by the fauna? What controls biodiversity in these systems? What advantages do fish and invertebrates gain from living in these habitats?
Obtaining the answers to the biological questions important to the long-term health of tropical mangrove, seagrass and estuarine ecosystems will require careful study.
My research students have a broad range of research interests that include both biological and ecological aspects of marine fauna. Although my research and that of many of my postgraduate students continues to focus on fish, a number work on invertebrates, from the scale of microscopic meiofaunal nematodes to large macrofauna . In particular there is an increasing emphasis on the ecological relationships between fish and invertebrates and their relationships within and between mangrove, seagrass and estuarine habitats.
Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Group pages (estecol)
Current and Recent Research Projects Include
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Evaluating the biological connectivity between populations of recreational sportfish in coastal tropical systems, using otolith chemistry and genetic techniques
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Determining the specific habitat and dietary requirements of tropical recreational sportfish
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Evaluation of the nursery ground value of tropical mangrove systems for large predatory fish such as snappers, groupers, and trevallys
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Utilisation of structurally complex habitats by mangrove fishes
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Patterns of movement of fish in tropical estuaries
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Trophic relationships between mangrove crustaceans and fish
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Spatial differences in the diet and trophic position of tropical mangrove animals
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Evaluation of the intrinsic scale of variability of estuarine fish faunas
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The importance of trophic equivalents in the structure and function of tropical estuarine faunas
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Understanding the nature of tropical recreational sportfisheries and the sportfish resources they rely on
Recent and Currently Supervised Projects
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Sex change in tropical sparid fishes
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Life-history of leaf-feeding mangrove crabs
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Identification of nursery grounds of tropical fish using otolith chemistry
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Spatial and temporal patterns in the recruitment of fish to tropical seagrasses
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Habitat utilisation by recruiting mangrove fishes
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Temporal patterns of abundance in seagrass meiofauna
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Shifts in trophic roles of fishes on an estuary-freshwater gradient
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The trophic roles of tropical estuarine zooplankton
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Influence of the ontogeny of diet of fishes on trophic organisation in estuaries
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Impact of predators on newly recruited fishes in estuaries
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The influence of physical factors on recruitment to tropical estuaries
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Effect of sugar cane farming practices on fishes in wetland environments
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The development of marine fauna in constructed mangrove wetlands
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Variations in condition of tropical coastal fishes
Future PhD Directions
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Spatial distribution of infaunal invertebrates in tropical estuaries
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Use of supralittoral habitats by fish and mobile crustaceans
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Trophic organisation in tropical salt marsh habitats
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The influence of fluctuations in abundance of swarming crustaceans on the trophic structure of faunas of tropical mangrove systems
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The ecology of the epifauna of crab burrows in mangrove forests
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Trophic organisation of epibenthic habitats in tropical estuaries
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Species differentiation and stock structure of tropical ambassid and sparid fishes
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Faunal responses to the stresses of fluctuating environmental conditions in the fauna of supralittoral pools
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Resource dynamics underpinning tropical recreational sportfisheries
Teaching
Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies
Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies (Advanced)
Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems
Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems (Advanced)
Selected Publications
Baker, R. & Sheaves, MJ. (2007) Shallow-water refuge paradigm: conflicting evidence from tethering experiments in a tropical estuary.Marine Ecology-Progress Series. 349: 13 – 22
Johnston, RW. & Sheaves, MJ. (2007) Small fish and crustaceans demonstrate a preference for particular small-scale habitats when mangrove forests are not accessible. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 353: 164 - 179
Johnston, RW., Sheaves, MJ. & Molony, BW. (2007) Are distributions of fishes in tropical estuaries influenced by turbidity over small spatial scales? Journal of Fish Biology. 71: 657 - 671
Munday, PL., Jones, GP., Sheaves, MJ., Williams, AJ. & Goby, G. (2007) Vulnerability of fishes of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change. In: Climate change and the Great Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment (ed Johanna E Johnson and Paul AMarshall), 357 - 391. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Australian Greenhouse Office
Sheaves, MJ., Abrantes, KG. & Johnston, RW. (2007) Nursery ground value of an endangered wetland to juvenile shrimps. Wetlands Ecology and Management. 15 (4): 311 - 327
Baker, R. & Sheaves, MJ. (2006) Visual surveys reveal high densities of large piscivores in shallow estuarine nurseries. Marine Ecology-Progress Series. 323: 75 - 82
Sheaves, MJ. (2006) Is the timing of spawning in sparid fishes a response to sea temperature regimes? Coral Reefs. 25: 655 - 669
Sheaves, MJ. (2006) Scale-dependent variation in composition of fish fauna among sandy tropical estuarine embayments. Marine Ecology-Progress Series. 310: 173 - 184
Sheaves, MJ., Baker, R. & Johnston, RW. (2006) Marine nurseries and effective juvenile habitats: an alternative view. Marine Ecology-Progress Series. 318: 303 – 306
Sheaves, MJ., Collins, JD., Houston, W., Dale, PER., Revill, A., Johnston, RW. & Abrantes, KG. (2006) The contribution of floodplain wetland pools to the ecological functioning of the Fitzroy River estuary. Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary, Australia
Baker R and Sheaves M (2005) Redefining the piscivore assemblage of shallow estuarine nursery habitats .
Sheaves M (2005) Nature and consequences of biological connectivity in mangroves systems .
Houston, W., Porter, G., Black, R., Black, R. & Sheaves, MJ. (2004) Rediscovery of Yellow Chats (Capricorn subspecies) on the Fitzroy River Delta, Central Queensland. Sunbird: Queensland Journal of the Ornithicalogical Society. 34: 36 - 42
Fisher, R and Sheaves, M.J. (2003) Multi-scale spatial distribution of nematode faunas in northern Australian estuarine systems. Hydorbiologia . 495: 143-158.
Molony , B.W. and Sheaves, M.J. (2002) Otolith increment widths as tools to record and assess environmental changes in estuarine areas. Marine Technology Society Journal , 36: 44-51.
Sheaves, M.J. (2001) Are there really few piscivorous fishes in shallow estuarine habitats? Marine Ecology Progress Series , 222:272-290.
Wilson , J.P. and Sheaves, M. (2001) Short-term variations in taxonomic composition and trophic structure of a tropical estuarine fish assemblage. Marine Biology , 139: 787-796.
Molony , B.W. and Sheaves, M.J. 2000. Challenges of external insemination in a tropical sparid fish, Acanthopagrus berda . Environmental Biology of Fishes. 1-7
Sheaves, M. J., and Molony , B. W. 1999. Short-circuit in the mangrove food chain. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 119: 97-109.
Sheaves, M. J., Molony , B. W. and Tobin, A. J. 1998. Spawning Migrations and Local Movements of a Tropical Sparid Fish. Marine Biology 133: 123-128
Molony , B.W. and Sheaves, M.J. 1998. Otolith increment widths and lipid contents during starvation and recovery feeding in adult Ambassis vachelli ( Richardson ). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 221, 257-276.
Molony , B.W. and Sheaves, M.J. 1998. Variations in condition and body constitution in a tropical estuarine fish with year-round recruitment. Mangroves and Salt Marshes. 2, 1-9.
Sheaves, M. 1998. Spatial patterns in estuarine fish faunas in tropical Queensland: a reflection of interaction between long-term physical and biological processes? Marine and Freshwater Research. 49, 31-40.
Tobin, A., Sheaves, M. and Molony , B. 1997. Evidence of protandrous hermaphroditism in the tropical sparid Acanthopagrus berda . Journal of Fish Biology. 50, 22-33.
Molony , B.W. and Sheaves, M.J. 1995. Mangroves: Ecology of Intertidal Forests. Tropical Marine Studies : 4. UNESCO Project: Marine Science Curriculum Materials for South Pacific Schools . UNESCO Townsville. 92pp. ISBN 0 86443 527 4.
Sheaves, M.J. 1995. Effect of design modifications and soak time variations on Antillean-Z fish trap performance in a tropical estuary. Bulletin of Marine Science. 56(2), 475-489.
Sheaves, M.J. 1995. Large lutjanid and serranid fishes in tropical estuaries: Are they adults or juveniles? Marine Ecology Progress Series. 129, 31-40.
Contact Details
Dr Marcus Sheaves
Campus: Townsville
