ARC Centre of Excellence for
Coral Reef Studies
After completing his B.Sc. at James Cook University (JCU), David spent several years working for the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and as a marine science consultant on projects within Australia and in the Pacific Islands. He later returned to JCU and completed a PhD in 2009 under the supervision of Prof. Geoff Jones and Prof. Garry Russ.
Since completing his PhD, David has been employed as a Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. His current research focuses on the ecological and fishery effects of marine reserves, the dynamics of coral reef fish and coral communities, larval dispersal of reef fishes and the connectivity of populations.
Dr David Williamson
David Williamson - Publications
Book Chapters
Chin A., Sweatman H., Forbes S., Perks H., Walker R., Jones G.P., Williamson D.H., Evans R.D., Hartley F., Armstrong S., Malcolm H. & Edgar G.J. (2008). Status of coral reefs in Australia and Papua New Guinea. In: Status of the coral reefs of the world: 2008 (ed. Wilkinson, C.), Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville, 296pp.
Refereed Journal Articles17. Hassell N.S., Williamson D.H., Evans R.D. & Russ G.R. (2013). Reliability of non-expert observer estimates of the magnitude of marine reserve effects. Coastal Management, in press
Wen C.K., Almany G.R., Williamson D.H., Pratchett M.S., Mannering T.D., Evans R.D., Leis J.M., Srinivasan M. & Jones G.P. (2013). Recruitment hotspots boost the effectiveness of no-take marine reserves. Biological Conservation, in press
Cvitanovic C, Wilson S.K., Fulton C.J., Almany G.R., Anderson P., Babcock R.C., Ban N.C., Beedon R., Beger M., Cinner J., Dobbs K., Evans L.S., Farnham A., Friedman K., Gale K., Gladstone W., Grafton Q., Graham N.A.J., Gudge S., Harrison P., Holmes T.H., Johnstone N., Jones G.P., Jordan A., Kendrick A., Kerr I., Klein C.J., Little L.R., Malcolm H., Morris D., Possingham H.P., Prescott J., Pressey R.L., Skilleter G.A., Simpson C., Waples K., Wilson D. & Williamson D.H. (2013). Critical research needs for managing coral reef Marine Protected Areas: perspectives of academics and managers. Journal of Environmental Management 114: 84-91.
Journal articles
Williamson D.H., Ceccarelli D.M., Evans, R.D., Jones, G.P. & Russ, G.R. (2014). Habitat dynamics, marine reserve status, and the decline and recovery of coral reef fish communities. Ecology & Evolution, 4, 337-354.
Hassell N.S., Williamson D.H., Evans R.D. & Russ G.R. (2013). Reliability of non-expert observer estimates of the magnitude of marine reserve effects. Coastal Management 41(4): 361-380
Wen C.K., Almany G.R., Williamson D.H., Pratchett M.S., Mannering T.D., Evans R.D., Leis J.M., Srinivasan M. & Jones G.P. (2013). Recruitment hotspots boost the effectiveness of no-take marine reserves. Biological Conservation 166: 124-131.
Cvitanovic C, Wilson S.K., Fulton C.J., Almany G.R., Anderson P., Babcock R.C., Ban N.C., Beedon R., Beger M., Cinner J., Dobbs K., Evans L.S., Farnham A., Friedman K., Gale K., Gladstone W., Grafton Q., Graham N.A.J., Gudge S., Harrison P., Holmes T.H., Johnstone N., Jones G.P., Jordan A., Kendrick A., Kerr I., Klein C.J., Little L.R., Malcolm H., Morris D., Possingham H.P., Prescott J., Pressey R.L., Skilleter G.A., Simpson C., Waples K., Wilson D. & Williamson D.H. (2013). Critical research needs for managing coral reef Marine Protected Areas: perspectives of academics and managers. Journal of Environmental Management 114: 84-91.
Wen C.K., Almany G.R., Williamson D.H., Pratchett M.S. & Jones G.P. (2012). Evaluating the effects of marine reserves on diet, prey availability and prey selection by juvenile predatory fishes. Marine Ecology Progress Series 469:133-144.
Harrison H.B., Williamson D.H., Evans R.D., Almany G.R., Thorrold S.R., Russ G.R., Feldheim K.A., van Herwerden L., Planes S., Srinivasan M., Berumen M.L. & Jones G.P. (2012). Larval Export From Marine Reserves and the Recruitment Benefit for Fish and Fisheries. Current Biology 22: 1023–1028.
Ceccarelli D.M. & Williamson D.H. (2012). Sharks that eat sharks: Opportunistic predation by wobbegongs. Coral Reefs 31(2): 471.
Graham N.A.J., Ainsworth T.D., Baird A.H., Ban N.C., Bay L.K., Cinner J.E., De Freitas D.M., Diaz-Pulido G., Dornelas M., Dunn S.R., Fidelman P.I.J., Foret S., Good T.C., Kool J., Mallela J., Penin L., Pratchett M.S. & Williamson D.H. (2011). From microbes to people: tractable benefits of no-take areas for coral reefs. OMBAR 49: 105-136.
Almany G.R., Hamilton R.J., Williamson D.H., Evans R.D., Jones G.P., Matawai M., Potuku T., Rhodes K.L., Russ G.R. & Sawynok B. (2010). Research partnerships with local communities: two case studies from Papua New Guinea and Australia. Coral Reefs 29: 567-576.
McCook L.J., Ayling T., Cappo M., Choat J.H., Evans R.D., Freitas D.M., De, Heupel M., Hughes T.P., Jones G.P., Mapstone B., Marsh H., Mills M., Molloy F., Pitcher C.R., Pressey R.L., Russ G.R., Sutton S., Sweatman H., Tobin R., Wachenfeld D.R., Williamson D.H. (2010). Adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef: a globally significant demonstration of the benefits of networks of marine reserves. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107: 18278-18285.
Almany G.R., Connolly S.R., Heath D.D., Hogan J.D., Jones G.P., McCook L.J., Mills M., Pressey R.L. & Williamson D.H. (2009). Connectivity, biodiversity conservation and the design of marine reserve networks for coral reefs. Coral Reefs 28: 339-351.
Diaz-Pulido G., McCook L.J., Dove S., Berkelmans R., Roff G., Kline D.I., Weeks S., Evans R., Williamson D.H. & Hoegh-Guldberg O. (2009). Doom and Boom on a Resilient Reef: Climate Change, Algal Overgrowth and Coral Recovery. PLoS ONE 4(4): e5239. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0005239.
Williamson D.H., Jones G.P., Thorrold S.R. & Frisch A.J. (2009). Transgenerational marking of marine fish larvae: stable isotope retention, physiological effects and health issues. Journal of Fish Biology 74: 891-905.5. Williamson D.H., Jones G.P. & Thorrold S.R. (2009). An experimental evaluation of transgenerational isotope labelling (TRAIL) in a coral reef grouper. Marine Biology 156: 2517-2525.
Russ G.R., Cheal A.J., Dolman A.M., Emslie M.J., Evans R.D., Miller I., Sweatman H. & Williamson D.H. (2008). Rapid increase in fish numbers follows creation of world's largest marine reserve network. Current Biology 18: 514-515.
Williamson D.H., Evans R.D. & Russ G.R. (2006). Monitoring the ecological effects of management zoning: Initial surveys of reef fish and benthic communities on reefs in the Townsville and Cairns regions of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Research Publication
Williamson D.H., Russ G.R. & Ayling A.M. (2004). No-take marine reserves increase abundance and biomass of reef fish on inshore fringing reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. Environmental Conservation 31(2): 149-159.
Davis K.L.F., Russ G.R., Williamson D.H. & Evans R.D. (2004). Surveillance and poaching on inshore reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Coastal Management 32: 373-387.