Coral Reef Ecology and Physiology

-Reproduction and recruitment of scleractinian corals. Response of corals to environmental stress.
-The effects of bleaching on coral reproduction. The recovery process of corals following bleaching.
-The uptake of symbiotic dinoflagellates and endolithic algae by newly settled corals.
-Photosynthesis in zooxanthellate coral larvae
-The effects of ocean acidification on early life histories of corals
- Trichodesmium and fertilisation and larval health

Selected Publications:

Ward S, Harrison PL (1997). The effects of elevated nutrients on settlement of coral larvae during the ENCORE experiment. Proceedings of the Eighth International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama 1:891-986.

Harrison PL, Ward S (2000). Elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus reduce fertilization rates of gametes from scleractinian corals. Marine Biology 139:1057-1068

Jones, Ross J.; Ward, Selina; Yang Amri, Affendi; Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2000). Changes in photosynthetic efficiency of symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals after heat stress and during the 1998 Great Barrier Reef mass bleaching event. Mar Freshwater Res 51(1):63-71

Cox E, Ward S (2002). Impact of elevated ammonium on reproduction in two Hawaiian scleractinian corals with different life history patterns. Mar Poll Bull 44:1230-1235

Hoegh-Guldberg O, Jones RJ, Ward S and Loh W (2002). Is coral bleaching really adaptive? Nature 415: 601-602
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Ward S (1992). Evidence for broadcast spawning as well as brooding in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis. Marine Biology 112: 641-646.
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Ward S (1995). The effect of damage on the growth, reproduction and storage of lipids in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 187:193-206.
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Ward S, Arthington AH, Pusey BJ (1995). The effects of a chronic application of chlorpyrifos on the macroinvertebrate fauna in an outdoor artificial stream system: species responses. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 30: 2-23.
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Ward S and Harrison P (2000). Changes in gametogensis and fecundity of acroporid corals that were exposed to elevated nitrogen and phosphorus during the ENCORE experiment. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 246:179-221

Professional Associations:

President of the Australian Coral Reef Society

Programme Convenor - International Riversymposium 2001 - present

Students:

FELLEGARA Ida - PhD
KONGJANDTRE Narinratana - PhD - The taxonomy and systematics of corals genus Favia in Thai waters
TU Devin - MPhil - The Bleaching Effect on Reproduction and Lipid Stores in Scleractinian Coral on the Great Barrier Reef