Dr Mike Van Keulen

Room: BioSc/2.039

Research

Seagrass ecology:

The distribution and community structure of local seagrass ecosystems; the role of physical factors in seagrass community structure; sediment dynamics in seagrass ecosystems; the role of seagrass epiphytes as indicators of eutrophication; processes in seagrass seedling establishment and colonisation.

Physiology of algae and seagrasses:

The role of water movement in photosynthesis and respiration of marine plants; the interaction of physical factors on seagrass and algal physiology.

Biological hydrodynamics:

The role of water motion in structuring marine communities; the effects of water motion on the physiology of marine plants; the effects of marine plant morphology on flow around them; dye visualization studies of water flow over marine plants; the role of plant spacing on flow through seagrass meadows; water velocity profiles through seagrass communities.

Seagrass transplantation:

Various aspects of seagrass transplantation are being investigated, together with Dr Eric Paling. Studies include transplantation techniques, impacts of the physical environment on transplantation success and water quality impacts on seagrass transplantation and health (includes epiphyte growth).

Coral reef ecology:

Various aspects of coral reef ecology are being examined. Current projects include oxygen stress and metabolism in corals and benthic communities; grazing in coral reef ecosystems; trophodynamic studies of lagoon ecosystems; the distribution of seagrasses in the Ningaloo and Exmouth Gulf region, and their contribution to the productivity of the region.

Other projects should be discussed on an individual basis.

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