MARINE ECOLOGIST Conservation and Management -- Fisheries Ecology -- Environmental Consulting

TERTIARY EDUCATION PHD. JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY, QLD, AUSTRALIA, 2012- 2015

“Top-down control, trophic interactions, and the importance of predatory fishes on coral reefs”.

Australian Postgraduate Award and Smart Futures Scholarship.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS FIRST CLASS). JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY, QLD, AUSTRALIA, 2011.

“Understanding demography, behavior and habitat use of Scolopsis bilineatus (Nemipteridae): a holistic approach”.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (MARINE BIOLOGY MAJOR). GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, QLD, AUSTRALIA. 2004-2007.

Award for Academic Excellence 2005, 2006, 2007. GPA: 6.18 (/7).

PUBLICATIONS Hall, A.E. and Kingsford, M.J. (in press). Variation in the population demographics of Scolopsis

bilineatus in response to predators. Coral reefs. Hall, A.E. and Clark, T.D. (2016). Seeing is believing: metabolism provides insight into threat perception

for a prey species of coral reef fish. Animal Behaviour. 115:117-126 Hall, A.E. and Kingsford, M.J. (2016). Predators exacerbate competitive interactions and dominance

hierarchies between two coral reef fishes. PLoS ONE. 11: e0151778 * Boaden, A.E. and Kingsford, M.J. (2015). Predators drive community structure in coral reef fish

assemblages. Ecosphere 6: art 46. *Boaden, A.E. and Kingsford, M.J. (2013). Distributions and habitat associations of the bridled monocle

bream (Scolopsis bilineatus: Nemipteridae): a demographic approach. Journal of Fish Biology 83:618-641

*Boaden, A. E., Kingsford, M. J. (2012) Diel behaviour and trophic ecology of Scolopsis bilineatus (Nemipteridae). Coral Reefs 31:871-883

DR APRIL HALL (nèe BOADEN)

Adjunct Research Fellow College of Marine and Environmental Science James Cook University, Townsville Qld 4811, Australia Ph: +61458565194 Email: april.hall3110@gmail.com

* Published in maiden name of April Boaden. Name change to April Hall as of November 2015.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

PHD PROJECT: 2012-2015

My PhD project focused on the effects of fishing on coral reefs, particularly with regards to variations in trophic interactions and community structure as a result of fishing predatory fishes. This research employed a variety of methods, including observational field based studies, collection of biological samples, manipulative experiments and advanced statistics.

FIELD ECOLOGIST: WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

SOCIETY, FIJI, 2014.

This project involved the assessment of fish biomass and diversity in and out of community-based marine reserves in remote communities in Fiji. This research required travel to isolated communities, communication with local community members, and an understanding of local cultures and values in relation to fisheries and conservation. Data from this project contributed to the ongoing management of community-based reserves around Fiji.

ASSISTED PROJECTS

- Use of data loggers and fish otoliths to infer oceanographic conditions and upwelling events (Prof. Michael Kingsford).

- Genetic connectivity of reef fishes in the Capricorn Bunkers (Prof. Gabriele Gerlach and Prof. Michael Kingsford).

- Distribution and ecology of cubuzoan jellyfishes (Dr Christopher Mooney and Prof. Michael Kingsford).

- Ecology of soft corals (Hannah Epstein and Prof. Michael Kingsford).

- Influence of suspended sediment on the health of coral reef fishes (Dr Amelia Wenger).

DATA CHAPTER ONE: “PREDATORS DRIVE

COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN CORAL REEF FISH

ASSEMBLAGES”.

Trophic effects of fishing predatory fishes on coral reefs

Published in Ecosphere in 2015

DATA CHAPTER TWO: “VARIATION IN THE

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS OF SCOLOPSIS

BILINEATUS IN RESPONSE TO PREDATORS”.

Effects of fishing predators on prey demography

Under review with Coral Reefs

DATA CHAPTER THREE: “PREDATORS

EXACERBATE COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS

AND DOMINANCE HIERARCHIES BETWEEN

TWO CORAL REEF FISHES.

Synergistic effects of predation and competition

In press with PLoS ONE

DATA CHAPTER FOUR: “SEEING IS BELIEVING: METABOLISM PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO

THREAT-PERCEPTION FOR A PREY SPECIES OF

CORAL REEF FISH.

Metabolic costs of predation

In press with Animal Behaviour

PhD Research Summary

KEY SKILLS:

FIELD EXPERIENCE

- Extensive scientific diving experience (>400h) in a variety of locations, including multiple offshore reefs and islands on the Great Barrier Reef, remote communities in Fiji, and coastal reefs in Thailand.

- Excellent fish identification skills, and extensive experience in conducting underwater visual census of coral reef fishes and benthic communities.

- Extensive experience in the co-ordination and logistical planning of field trips, including boating, diving, and laboratory based work.

- Experience in supervising and coordinating research teams in all components of field and laboratory research.

- Collection of fish, coral and algae samples, including sampling of fishes using clove oil, netting, spearing, and light trapping.

- Water sampling for oceanographic parameters including deployment of CTD (seabird) probes, in-situ underwater loggers and related software.

- Experience conducting aquatic ecological surveys including receiving environment impact investigations, water quality assessments, aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling and sediment sampling

- Flora and fauna field assessments, including the design and implementation of methods targeting conservation significant species.

- Habitat mapping of estuarine flora communities with emphasis on fisheries significant marine plants.

LABORATORY EXPERIENCE

- Extensive experience in the dissection, preparation, sectioning and interpretation of otoliths to estimate age and growth of coral reef fishes.

- Preparation and interpretation of histological samples from marine organisms.

- Estimation of a variety of water quality parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, oxygen

concentrations, and turbidity both in situ and in laboratory environments.

- Preparation of samples from a variety of estuarine biota for stable isotope analysis.

- Design and implementation of multifactorial in-situ and aquarium experiments.

- Use of respirometry techniques to estimate fish metabolism under various experimental treatments.

PROJECT DESIGN, DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING

- In-depth knowledge of key fisheries issues and practices in a wide variety of locations and cultures

- Excellent understanding of sampling designs, and their application to field and experimental studies.

- Knowledge of statistical designs and packages including SYSTAT, PRIMER and STATISTICA.

- Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office packages such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

- Experience in management and analysis of large datasets.

- Excellent oral communication skills, including receipt of multiple awards for presentations at international and national conferences, as well as radio and television presentations.

- Excellent written communication skills, through publication of peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, and popular articles for media release.

- Development of technical reports relating to environmental assessments such as flora and fauna surveys, threatened species management plans, aquatic ecology waterway health assessments, and fisheries significant marine plant habitat mapping.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

- Australian Coral Reefs Society conference 2013, 2014 and 2015 (oral presentation prize).

- Society for Conservation Biology conference, Suva Fiji, 2013.

- Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, Okinawa Japan, 2013

- Science in the Tropics Conference, Townsville Australia 2013 (oral presentation prize)

- International Coral Reefs Symposium, Cairns Australia 2012

- Australian Society for Fish Biology conference, Townsville Australia 2011

- Australian Network in Marine Science conference, Perth Australia 2011.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ROLES

- Vice President of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (ARC- CoE) student committee. Responsible for the organization of career development events, student mentor programs and student advocacy.

- Peer mentor for postgraduate students as part of the ARC- CoE mentor program.

- Involved in printed marketing for the School of Marine and Tropical Biology, JCU.

- Participation in science outreach programs at both Griffith and James Cook University.

- Peer review of scientific publications for Coral Reefs, and Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

- Volunteer coordinator for Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

AQUATIC ECOLOGIST: NORTHERN RESOURCE CONSULTANTS, TOWNSVILLE. JANUARY 2015- PRESENT

- Development of sampling designs and statistical analysis for a variety of projects.

- Use of macroinvertebrate assemblages as biomonitors to assess water quality in freshwater catchments.

- Collection of water and sediment samples for assessment of contaminants in freshwater creeks.

- Surveys of terrestrial flora and fauna species, and environment impact assessments for a range of developments.

- Preparation of technical reports relating to environmental assessment of terrestrial, aquatic and estuarine biota.

SUBJECT DEMONSTRATOR: JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY, TOWNSVILLE. 2011- 2015.

This role required me to perform a variety of tasks, including demonstration of field activities, microscopy and histology, assistance with online media, and assignment marking for the following subjects.

- Fundamentals of Biology

- Introduction to Animal Diversity

- Introduction to Plant Science

- Research and Communication Skills in the Natural Sciences

- Biological Oceanography

- Marine Ecology and Coastal Impacts (intensive field course held in Phuket, Thailand)

SUBJECT DEMONSTRATOR: GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, GOLD COAST. 2008

This role required me to be head tutor for a subject called “The Global Environment”, which was focused on global environmental issues. More than 250 students were enrolled in the course, and I was responsible for organizing and teaching all tutorials and discussion groups, as well as grading of key assessments.

RESEARCH SCIENTIST AT THE AUSTRALIAN RIVERS INSTITUTE, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, GOLD COAST. 2007-2008

- Preparation of aquatic organism samples for stable isotope analysis

- Laboratory components of assessments relating to the impacts of sewage outputs on water quality

- Use of satellite imagery to estimate the extent and potential impacts of canal systems on the Gold Coast

QUEENSLAND RECREATIONAL

BOAT LICENSE

PADI AND SSI RESCUE DIVER

TRAINING (AQF ACCREDITED)

FIRST AID CERTIFICATION

COMMERCIAL DIVER

MEDICAL (AS/NZ 2299)

OXYGEN ADMINISTRATION

CERTIFICATION

MORE THAN 400 HOURS OF

RESEARCH DIVING

EXPERIENCE

RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS

LIST OF REFEREES

PROFESSOR MICHAEL KINGSFORD

Primary PhD Supervisor Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University, QLD 4811 Email: michael.kingsford@jcu.edu.au Ph: +61438731694

DR NAOMI GARDINER

Course Coordinator College of Marine and Environmental Science James Cook University, QLD 4811 Email: naomi.gardiner @jcu.edu.au Ph: +61747815721

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR KYLIE PITT

Deputy Head of School of Environment Australian Rivers Institute Griffith University, Gold Coast QLD Email: k.pitt@griffith.edu.au Ph: (07) 55528324

DR AMELIA WENGER

Colleague/ Peer researcher Conservation Planning Group Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University, QLD 4811 Email: amelia.wenger@gmail.com Ph: +61406559711