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| Prof Emma Johnston |
Topic: Understanding ecological impact on coastal systems caused by multiple stress factors
Professor Emma Johnston’s research combines the disciplines of ecotoxicology and subtidal ecology in an original approach that both progresses our understanding of fundamental ecology, and provides insights and recommendations for the management of marine systems.
A closer look at estuaries
Some of her work focuses on the health of estuaries because estuaries are considered the most highly disturbed of all aquatic environments. More than half of Australian estuaries are impacted by human activities to some degree as they are in close proximity to urban areas and therefore subject to agricultural and industrial stressors.
In addition to physical modifications to these marine ecosystems, such as the addition of artificial structures and loss of sedimentary habitat, they may also be subject to biological stressors. Invasive species may be present and the extraction of resources may occur. Chemical stressors, such as toxic and enriching contaminants, can evoke changes to water quality and have impact on the entire biota.
In her lecture, Prof Johnston will present highlights of her team’s recent research that relied on the development of new techniques to detect and distinguish stressors caused by human impact.
Emma Johnston is Professor at UNSW, Director of the Sydney Harbour Research Program at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and Vice President of Science and Technology Australia. Emma studies human impacts in marine ecosystems and her research is conducted in such diverse environments as Antarctica and Australia’s temperate estuaries.
Emma completed her doctorate at the University of Melbourne in 2002. In 2010, she was granted an Australian Research Fellowship and in 2014 she was awarded the inaugural Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science from the Australian Academy of Science. Emma is a passionate advocate for science; she is an expert advisor to both industry and government and appears regularly in the media.
Details for the lecture:
- Date: 12 March
- Time: 11am, morning tea at 10:30
- Cost: Free
- Location: AINSE Theatre, Lucas Heights
Published: 09/03/2015