Dr Peter Macreadie

Dr Peter Macreadie is Senior Lecturer in Marine Ecology within the School of Life and Environmental Sciences / Centre for Integrative Ecology at Deakin University in Victoria, Australia.  He received his PhD in Marine Ecology in 2010 from the University of Melbourne, which was followed by a UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2010-13, and then a prestigious Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship from 2013-16.  Macreadie is Head of the Blue Carbon Lab. Macreadie serves on the Victorian Coastal Council Science Panel and the Australian Government’s National Greenhouse Gas Wetland Inventory Committee. 

Awards (selected): Veski Victoria Fellowship (2014), Isobel Bennett Marine Biology Fellowship (2014), NSW Tall Poppy Award (2013), ARC DECRA Fellowship (2013),the(Sydney)magazine's top 100 most influential people (2011), UTS Early Career Research Excellence Award (2011), Australian Museum Eureka People's Choice Finalist (2011), American Australian Association Dow Chemical Company Fellowship (2010), Banksia Environmental Foundation Brian Robinson Fellowship, (2011), UTS Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010-12).

Dr Paul Carnell

PhD, University of Melbourne, AUS, 2010-2015
Research Assistant, Keough Lab, University of Melbourne, AUS, 2008-2010
BSc (Hons) Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Melbourne, AUS 2004-2008

Paul’s research career has a focus on environmental science that sits at the interface between high-quality research and science-based management of ecosystems. From further developing the science to offset carbon emissions through wetland restoration and protection, to the management of resilient coastal ecosystems. Paul has developed strong skills in experimental design and data analysis that underpins all of his work. Paul also has a strong background in fieldwork on marine and freshwater ecosystems, including seagrass, mangroves, saltmarsh, kelp forests and inland wetlands. It is in these coastal and inland wetland habitats, that Paul has been leading carbon stock assessments in the Blue Carbon Lab over the last couple of years. Through these projects Paul has developed strong relationships with Parks Victoria, Catchment Management Authorities in Victoria and New South Wales, Greenfleet and The Nature Conservancy.

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul_Carnell
Research Highlights:
  • Research grant, Carbon sequestration by Victorian wetlands. Victorian Government, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.
  • Research grant, Wetland Carbon Monitoring Program. Murray Local Land Services.
  • Research grant, Removal strategies of the introduced kelp Undaria pinnatifida and its interaction with the native algal canopy in Victoria’s Marine Sanctuaries. Parks Victoria.
  • Spatially variable synergistic effects of disturbance and additional nutrients on kelp recruitment and recovery, 2014, Carnell PE and Keough MJ, Oecologia
  • The influence of herbivores on primary producers can vary spatially and interact with disturbance, 2015, Carnell PE and Keough MJ, Oikos
Research Highlights:
  • Research grant awarded by the Deakin University’s Central Research Grants Scheme for the project ‘Maximising coastal carbon capture opportunities with stable blue carbon’
  • Losses and recovery of organic carbon from a seagrass ecosystem following disturbance, 2015, Macreadie PI, Trevathan-Tackett SM, et al., Proceedings of the Royal Society B (cover feature)
  • Comparison of marine macrophytes for their contributions to blue carbon sequestration, 2015, Trevathan-Tackett* SM, Kelleway* J, Macreadie PI, et al., Ecology
  • Research grant awarded by the PADI Foundation Research Grant, 2013, Dynamics of Sedimentary Carbon in Seagrass Meadows in Australia
  • Nancy Foster’s Scholar, NOAA, 2009-2011

Dr Stacey Trevathan-Tackett
Postdoctoral Fellow

PhD, University of Technology Sydney, AUS, 2012-2016
MSc Biology, University of North Florida, USA, 2009-2011
BSc Marine Science and Biology, Coastal Carolina University, USA, 2003-2007

Stacey’s research interests are in the fields of coastal biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. She currently working on projects to better understand the significance and intricacies of microbial transformation of carbon into greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4) within blue carbon habitats. We aim to identify the factors or processes that limit carbon remineralisation (back into greenhouse gases) and maximise the biosequestration of carbon in seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems. Stacey is also involved in seagrass wasting disease research. The protistLabyrinthula has been found to cause disease and occasional die-backs of seagrass species, however, we know nearly nothing about the distribution and function of Labyrinthula or the host-microbe relationship in Australia.

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stacey_Trevathan-Tackett

Carolyn Ewers
PhD candidate

PhD, Deakin University, AUS, 2014-current
MSc Biology, California Polytechnic State University, USA 2009-2013
Internship, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, USA 2007
BSc Marine Biology and Fisheries, California Polytechnic State University, USA 2006-2008

Carolyn’s research interests are in the fields of marine plant and animal ecology, including the effects of climate change on seagrass physiology and the relationships between seagrass and benthic invertebrates. She is currently working on her PhD thesis focused on understanding the dynamics of carbon sequestration in saltmarsh, mangrove and seagrass habitats (‘blue carbon’). Specifically, Carolyn is interested in 1) identifying and modelling factors driving differences in carbon stocks on local and regional scales, 2) investigating how land use changes (i.e., loss of intertidal wetlands due to reclamation) impact existing carbon stocks, sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions, and 3) assessing opportunities for blue carbon ecosystem restoration along Australia’s southeast coastline.
Research Highlights:
  • Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering or AINSE Research Award, 2015
  • Research featured in The Age “How coastland development ‘blue carbon’ contributes to climate change.” 28th June, 2015
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Carbon Cluster Travel Award, 2015
  • Deakin University Centre for Integrative Ecology (CIE) Student Research Award, 2015
  • Most Outstanding Graduate Student, Biological Sciences Department, Cal Poly State University, 2013
  • California State University Council on Ocean Affairs, Science, and Technology (COAST) Student Award for Marine Science Research, 2011
Research Highlights:
  • Seventy years of continuous encroachment substantially increases ‘blue carbon’ capacity as mangroves replace intertidal salt marshes, 2015, Kelleway J, …Macreadie PM, et al. Global Change Biology
  • Comparison of marine macrophytes for their contributions to blue carbon sequestration, 2015, Trevathan-Tackett* SM, Kelleway* J, Macreadie PI, et al., Ecology
  • AINSE Postgraduate Research Award from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), 2015, ‘210Pb and radiocarbon dating reveal the history of carbon sequestration in coastal wetlands’
  • Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists Science Program Scholarship, 2013
  • Chancellor’s Research Scholarship at University of Technology Sydney, 2013-2016, PhD Thesis ‘Carbon Dynamics of Costal Saltmarsh’

Jeff Kelleway
PhD Candidate

PhD, University of Technology Sydney, AUS, 2013-current
Research Scientist, NSW DPI (Fisheries) and NSW OEH, 2005-2009
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, 2011-2004


Jeff has over 10 years of experience as a wetland scientist. He has worked on projects investigating the impacts of physical disturbance on complex, fragile and largely understudied intertidal wetlands, as well as mapping and monitoring coastal wetlands and iconic wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin (NSW). He has also undertaken stints as an ecologist in the northern Canadian wilderness and the private sector in Australia. Jeff is currently completing his PhD investigating the carbon sequestration potential, or ‘blue carbon’, of saltmarshes and mangroves. Jeff’s research aims to improve understanding of the quantity and character carbon stocks in coastal wetlands and their response to environmental change. This includes assessing the importance of geomorphic setting to carbon stocks, as well as identifying contributions of autochthonous (resulting from primary production within the saltmarsh) and allochthonous (imported from adjacent ecosystems or elsewhere in the catchment) sources to carbon stocks. Jeff’s recently published research also highlights large carbon increases associated with encroachment of saltmarshes by mangroves under rising sea level.


Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeff_Kelleway

Saras Windecker
PhD Candidate​

PhD, University of Melbourne, AUS, 2014-current
MSc Environmental Studies, University of Pennsylvania, USA, 2010 – 2012
BA Biology, University of Pennsylvania, USA, 2007 – 2012

Saras’ research interests include marine and freshwater aquatic ecology. Saras became interested in working on wetland systems after working for USAID on a wetland rehabilitation initiative for water-stressed Gaza Strip. Her PhD thesis (supervised by Peter Vesk at UMelb, Jane Catford at Univ. of Southhampton and Peter Macreadie) involves looking at the role of vegetation community composition and plant functional traits on carbon sequestration in freshwater wetlands, and how these relationships inform restoration. Her research aims to improve our understanding of the dynamics of carbon sequestration may contribute to better conservation of inland freshwater resources in Victoria.
Research Highlights:
  • Research grant awarded, Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, 2015, ‘The impact of vegetation communities on carbon sequestration in wetlands’
  • Research grant awarded, The Lifeworks Foundation Grant, 2015, ‘Plant functional traits and ecosystem function: a mesocosm decomposition experiment’
  • Invited presenter in organised symposium, Society of Wetland Scientists’ annual meeting, 2015, ‘Applying functional trait ecology to a meta-analysis of wetland restoration success’
  • Research grant awarded, University of Pennsylvania University Scholars, 2012, ‘Mediterranean rocky shore biodiversity survey’
Research Highlights:
  • Multiple research grants (Margaret Catto Award, AMSA Ernest Hodgkin Estuary Research Prize) and travel awards (Australian Government Department of the Environment Australian Biological Resource)
  • The role of Labyrinthula spp. in global seagrass declines, 2015, Sullivan B, et al., Fungal Ecology
  • Zoosporic parasites infecting marine diatoms–A black box that needs to be opened, 2016, Scholz B,…Sullivan BK, et al., Fungal Ecology
  • Multiple zoosporic parasites pose a significant threat to amphibian populations, 2014, Gleason F,…Sullivan B, et al., 2014, Fungal Ecology
  • Ecological functions of zoosporic hyperparasites, 2014, Gleason F,…Sullivan B, et al., Frontiers in Microbiology​

​Brooke Sullivan
PhD Candidate

PhD, University of Melbourne, AUS, 2014-current
MSc Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture, University of Washington, USA, 2009-2011
Certificate in Restoration Ecology, University of Washington, USA, 2004- 2006
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, University of Washington, USA, 1999-2006
BA Community and Environmental Planning, University of Washington, USA, 1999-2006

Brooke has over 15 years of experience in the fields of environmental consulting and restoration and resilience ecology in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, within both academic and private sectors. She is also interested in disease ecology, particularly wasting disease in seagrasses. She currently working on her PhD thesis (supervised by Mick Keogh at UMelb and Peter Macreadie) exploring the role of site specific environmental conditions on a variety of seagrass propagules’ success in the field and in the laboratory, including an assessment of sediment, microbial and nutrient characteristics. She hopes to discover novel ecological relationships that can be applied to increase the success of large-scale seagrass conservation and restoration projects. She is currently based at the Victorian Marine Science Consortium in Queenscliff, Victoria.


Website: http://ecologicalrestorationpnw.blogspot.com.au/

Steve Krueger
Field technician

Fisheries Biologist & Program Manager, Environmental Science Associates, WA, USA 2003-2014
Plant Operator/Engineer & Assistant Project Manager in Environmental Remediation at ICF Kaiser Engineers, IT Corporation, and Rematch, Inc., 1998-2003
Fisheries and Biological Technician, US Forest Service & US Army Corps of Engineers 1992-1998
BSc Fish and Wildlife Management, Lake Superior State University, 1988-1993

Steve is a laboratory and field technician with over 25 years of experience in academic, government and private sectors. Steve’s research interests are in fisheries habitat restoration and endangered species recovery. His main duties in the Blue Carbon Lab include planning and executing extensive state-wide sediment coring fieldwork campaigns. He also processes sediments cores in the laboratory from extruding and slicing to grinding. Steve’s skills and certification include Open Water certified diver (PADI), 4-wheel drive certified and small boat operation. ​
Research Highlights:
  • Awarded “Highly Commended” for the NSW Competition night for communicating complex scientific research to a generalist audience, 2015, Fresh Science NSW, Science in Public.
  • Best Student Oral Presentation, 2014, International Seagrass Biology Workshop conference in Sanya, China for the conference presentation ‘Bioturbators: what are they doing with seagrass carbon?’
  • Ron Kenny Premier Conference Award Highly Commended Oral Presentation, 2014, Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference for the conference presentation ‘Fiddler crabs: the hunter-gatherers of blue carbon’
  • Dean’s Merit Award for academic excellence for their outstanding performance, 2013, University of Technology Sydney
  • Seagrass Viviparous Propagules as a Potential Long-Distance Dispersal Mechanism, 2014, Thomson AC,…Macreadie PI, Estuaries and Coasts
  • Response to “Comment on ‘Seagrass Viviparous Propagules as a Potential Long-Distance Dispersal Mechanism’ by ACG Thomson et al.”, in press, Thomson AC,…Macreadie PI, Estuaries and Coasts​

Alex Thomson
PhD Candidate

PhD, University of Technology Sydney, AUS, 2013-current
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, University of Technology Sydney, AUS, 2010-2012

Alex’s research interests lie in the areas of coastal and estuarine biogeochemistry and marine ecology, with particular interests in seagrass environments. She has worked to projects aimed to investigate the dispersal potential and establishment success of Zostera nigricaulis asexual vegetative propagules. Currently, Alex’s PhD research involves observing and experimenting with coastal blue carbon cycling in seagrasses, including the biogeochemical and microbial drivers of blue carbon and the effects of bioturbation by marine macrofauna on carbon stocks and fluxes. In addition to research, Alex has also been involved in teaching undergraduate courses as well as science outreach programs that aim to promote science and marine and environmental research to a range of school-aged children (primary and high-school), as well as in more public forums.

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alexandra_Thomson2

Quinn Ollivier
PhD Candidate

PhD Candidate, Deakin University Melbourne, AUS, 2016-current
BSc (Hons, First Class) Environmental Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, AUS, 2015 – 2016
BSc Marine Biology (Dean’s Merit Award 2015), University of Technology Sydney, AUS, 2012 – 2015

Quinn’s research interests lie within the field of whole ecosystem ecology, nutrient impacts on food web community structure and biogeochemical cycling, specifically, carbon sequestration in seagrass, saltmarsh and mangrove ecosystems (blue carbon ecosystems). He is currently working on projects that investigate opportunities for carbon offsetting within blue carbon ecosystems of the Corangamite Catchment region in Victoria. We aim to establish current blue carbon stocks, and identify possible mechanisms for the future management of these ecosystems that will aid in the mitigation of carbon re-mineralisation (CO2 released to the atmosphere) and climate change. Quinn is also involved in trophic cascade research. A large-scale loss of marine predators over recent decades has led to an immense change in oceanic food web structures, exerting flow on effects that are predicted to extend beyond that of faunal alterations, subsequently changing fundamental biogeochemical cycling processes (sedimentary carbon cycling). However, the empirical evidence for these flow on effects is only just coming to light, with research into trophic cascades effects on Australian seagrass carbon storage capacity still required.
Research Highlights:
  •  Awarded Deakin Industry PhD scholarship, 2016-2019, to investigate ‘Blue Carbon Offset Opportunities within the Corangamite Catchment’
  • Honours Thesis submission 2015, University of Technology Sydney, ‘How Predator Induced Trophic Cascades Affect Aquatic Below-Ground Communities and Sedimentary Organic Carbon’
  • Are the effects of adjacent habitat type on seagrass gastropod communities being masked by previous focus on habitat dyads?, 2015,Ollivier, QR, et al., Australian Journal of Zoology​
Research Highlights:
  • Christopher Michael Oakley Award from the School of Life and Environmental Science at Deakin University, 2015, for academic excellence and commitment to marine science.
  • AINSE Research Grant awarded by the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering program for the project ‘Variability in Australian temperate freshwater wetland carbon stocks, 2015
  • Honours scholarship awarded by the AINSE program for the project ‘Variability in Australian temperate freshwater wetland carbon stocks, 2015
  • Fieldwork expeditions: Wetland stocks in southwest Victoria and population estimates of humpback whale populations along Eastern Australian coast.​

Alex Pearse
Honours Student

BSc, Deakin University Warrnambool campus, 2011-2014
Alex’s research interests are in the field of freshwater ecology. He is currently working on his honours project titled ‘Variability in Australian temperate freshwater wetland carbon stocks’. We aim to identify the within wetland variability in carbon stocks to help improve sampling designs for carbon stock assessment projects. This project will also undertake one of the first carbon stock assessments of freshwater ephemeral wetlands in Australia. Alex has also been involved in work looking to identify rapid indicators of freshwater wetland health. Functional processes such as organic matter decomposition can indicate a systems health, but they are time consuming and costly to monitor. This work aims to identify water quality variables which can be used as ‘rapid indicators’ of wetland functional processes.

ReserachGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alex_Pearse2

Ashley Whitt
​PhD Candidate

"The aim of this project is to develop fundamental knowledge of how coastal catchments should be managed to protect and conserve important coastal vegetated habitats under future climate change"

Ashley's career as a coastal ecologist has focused on understanding anthropogenic impacts to coastal communities in oyster reefs, seagrass, saltmarsh and mangroves.
  • Awarded Deakin University PhD Scholarship, 2016-2019, to investigate 'The Future of Coastal Wetlands Under Rising Sea Levels.
  • Masters Thesis, 2016, Utilizing citizen science to assess bird community composition within a changing marsh-mangrove ecotone in Texas.
  • Coastal regime shifts: Rapid responses of coastal wetlands to changes in mangrove density. In Review, Guo H,....Whitt AA, et al., Ecology
  • PhD, Deakin University, AUS, 2016-current
  • MSs Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA, 2013-2016
  • Internship, Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory, USA 2011-2012
  • BSc Marine Biology (University and Departmental Honors), University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA, 2007-2011
  • passionate about solution driven research for environmental challenges impacting human well-being
  • use GIS in the development of clear visual aids and tools
  • provide decision-makers with analyses necessary to implement sound policies
  • optimal management strategies for insuring the persistence of coastal vegetated habitats for future climate change scenarios, specifically... project
  • experience with teaching undergraduate courses and environmental education with high-school students marsh restoration