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Magnetic Island Coral Reef Field Guide
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CURRICULUM VITAE

Daniela Ceccarelli PhD. James Cook University of North Queensland

PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: Daniela Monica Ceccarelli
Occupation: Aquatic Ecologist
Date of Birth: July 21st, 1973, Durham, N.C., U.S.A.
Address:

36 Barton St., Nelly Bay.Magnetic Island Q. 4819

Phone: 07 47 581 866

Email: dmcecca@bigpond.net.au

Nationality: Swiss / Italian. Australian residency awarded 1999.
Children: Tai Andrew Lewis, born 11.11.1996

Felix Hali Lewis, born 18.3.1999

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Science, Majoring in Marine Biology , James Cook University of North Queensland, 1998.

PhD, Majoring in Marine Biology , James Cook University of North Queensland, 2004.

 

TERTIARY EDUCATION

 

 October 2004: submitted thesis for Doctor of Philosophy degree, James Cook University. (Graduated April 2005)

Title: Herbivorous fishes as determinants of the structure of coral reef communities: farmers, foragers and their interactions. Supervised by Dr. G.P. Jones and Dr. L.J. McCook. Upgraded and expanded from Master of Science project.


• Extensive fieldwork, both descriptive and experimental, in different coral reef environments from inshore Great Barrier Reef environments to pinnacles in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea.
• Organizational skills in planning, coordinating and carrying out all aspects of fieldwork, labwork data handling and thesis writing.
• Skills in the field include identification of all major fish families, basic coral and algal identification and extensive sampling of benthic algae and invertebrates, as well as the construction and maintenance of experiments.
• Laboratory techniques include microscopy, stereomicroscopy, decalcifying and drying or algal samples for biomass estimation, preservation of samples and dissection of fish for gut contents analysis.
• Statistical techniques for data analysis included the use of SPSS for Windows, S-Plus for Windows, and extensive use of Excel spreadsheets. Commonly used multivariate techniques included Multivariate Analysis of Variance, Multiple Regression, Principal Components Analysis and Canonical Correlation Analysis.
• Writing to peer-reviewed publication standards.

1999 Master of Science (Qualifying), James Cook University.

Supervised by Dr. G.P. Jones and Dr. L.J. McCook. Courses studied al Postgraduate level:

The Minor Project report, titled "The distribution of territorial damselfishes in relation to the zonation of benthic communities on two inshore fringing reefs", included approximately 2 months of fieldwork and 3 weeks of data analysis and report preparation. The main results were presented in a seminar of the same title on December 6th, 1999.

1995 - 1998 Bachelor of Science, James Cook University.

Major in Marine Biology. Courses studied at 3rd year level include:

 

SECONDARY EDUCATION

Matura obtained in D-Type (Modern Languages) Gymnasium (High School). Completed at the Kantonsschule Zuercher Oberland in Wetzikon, Switzerland in 1993, in the top 5% of students graduating that year.

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

 

April 2006 – present: Aquatic ecologist for C&R Consulting, Townsville.


April – May 2006: Advisor in Marine Ecology Independent Student Projects
• Supervised School of International Training Students Julia Smith, Sarah Jennings and Andrew Garde Joia.
• Advice on sampling design, field techniques and data analysis, consultation on statistical processing of data, the ecological implications of the results and the format of the written report.
• Report titles to be advised

June 2005 – March 2006: Consulting ecologist to UniQuest Pty Ltd, to provide expertise to the Department of the Environment and Heritage on the impacts of commercial shipping on Ningaloo Marine Park (June 2005 – January 2006) and marine surveys of Ashmore and Cartier Reefs (September – December 2005).
• Impacts of commercial shipping on Ningaloo Marine Park: provide a desktop literature review of the potential mpacts of commercial shipping on Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters), including impacts on ecological, cultural and economic values of the Marine Park
• Assemble and synthesize literature and legislation
• Liaise with Government Departments and other information sources
• Ashmore Reef surveys: Assessing abundance and diversity of fish, corals and invertebrates (primarily Trochus, giant clams and Holothurians)
• Extensive fieldwork in a remote location (Ashmore and Cartier Reefs), identification of reef fishes and invertebrates, data analysis (including multivariate analyses and standardizing results for comparison with previous studies) and report writing.

November – December 2005: Advisor in Marine Ecology Independent Student Projects
• Supervised School of International Training Students Annie Portilla, Katie Branch, Sean Dooley, Melissa Anselmo and Tim Westbrook
• Advice on sampling design, field techniques and data analysis, consultation on statistical processing of data, the ecological implications of the results and the format of the written report.
• Report Titles:
• Size and abundance of Sphyraena flavicauda on five fringing reefs on Magnetic Island.
• Factors affecting territorial behaviour of the Australian Gregory Stegastes apicalis and Ward’s damselfish Pomacentrus wardi on Magnetic Island.
• Factors affecting agnostic behaviour of Stegastes apicalis on fringing reefs of Magnetic Island.
• Coral-coral competitive strategies and algal effects on varying morphologies at four fringing reefs on Magnetic Island (Queensland, Australia).
• Species composition of gobies (family: Gobiidae) on 3 inshore fringing reefs of Magnetic Island.

September-October 2005: Tutor, Marine Conservation Biology
• Provide assistance during demonstration of set tasks involving a number of software packages and statistical techniques
• Demonstrate understanding of topics related to rarity, endangered species, marine reserves
• Lecturing and marking assignments

June 2005: Tutor, Sampling and Experimental Design (MB 5300), JCU.

• Provide assistance during demonstration of the statistical software Statistica

• Demonstrate an established understanding of both univariate and multivariate statistical techniques (ANOVA, regression, PCA, MANOVA, CDA) and exploratory graphical analysis of marine ecological data

• Assist in formulating interpretations of statistical and graphic output


May – June 2005: Employed by ReefEcotours (Tevene’i Marine) to coordinate and run educational snorkeling tours on coral reefs around Magnetic Island.
• Organizing and running group snorkeling tours
• Providing assistance with fitting and using snorkeling equipment
• Assisting novice snorkelers
• Providing expert commentary on coral reef ecology, both through a pre-snorkel briefing and in the water

May 2005: Field assistant to D. Williamson of Scientific Marine Pty Ltd for seagrass and coral surveys in Cleveland Bay and Picnic Bay
• Assisting David Williamson of Scientific Marine Pty Ltd on impact assessment for the laying of a new power cable from Townsville to Magnetic Island.
• Identification of seagrass species in Rowes Bay, Cleveland Bay and Picnic Bay


December 2004: Consulting Marine Ecologist to C & R Consulting (Townsville) for Airlie Creek Impact Assessment
• EIA Field study of benthic flora and fauna in Airlie Creek, Airlie Beach, North Queensland.
• Impact assessment report describing the benthic ecology of the creek and the likely impact of earthworks in the area.

November – December 2004: Advisor in Marine Ecology Independent Student Project
• Supervised School of International Training Student Nick Bailey
• Advice on field techniques, sample processing and analysis, consultation on statistical processing of data, the ecological implications of the results and the format of the written report.
• Report Title: Habitat selection or resource competition? Causes for the distribution and abundance of herbivorous fish on three fringing reefs of Magnetic Island.

August 2002: Consulting Lecturer to Tevene’i Marine
• Preparation and presentation of lecture on management of the Great Barrier Reef to visiting students of Arcadia University.
• Extensive research on GBRMPA management policies and methods.

Field course coordination, Orpheus Island 2000.

Planning and field teaching for the Tropical Ecosystems Field course, run by Tevene'i Marine in conjunction with James Cook University, at Orpheus Island Research Station.

 

Marine Ecologist, School for International Training, March 2000.

The School for International Training accepts college students from institutions all over the USA for 6 month courses of study abroad. I assist Dr. Andrew Lewis in teaching the coral reef ecology component of the Australian course. The 10 day short course involved lectures and field studies at research stations on the Great Barrier Reef (Lizard Island Research Station). I presented lectures on the biology and ecology of reef organisms, conducted snorkelling excursions, and supervised the field study projects of 2 students.

 

Tevene'i Marine Field Ecologist for Custom-Designed Ecotour, 31 Jan.-2 Feb. 2000

Organised and coordinated educational tour to Orpheus Island, for 2 Swiss guests and one assistant. Included snorkelling equipment, transport, food, slide shows presented in English and Swiss German, and a series of interpretative and exploratory snorkelling sessions at different locations around Orpheus Island.

 

Tevene'i Marine Field Ecologist for Custom-Designed Ecotour, 14-16 December 1999

Organised and coordinated educational tour to Orpheus Island, for 2 Swiss guests and one assistant. Included transport, food, slide shows presented in English and Swiss German, and a series of interpretative and exploratory snorkelling sessions at different locations around Orpheus and Peloris Islands.

 

Adviser in Marine Ecology Independent Student Project, November-December 1999

Supervised School of International Training Student Sarah Denby during her Independent Student Project on Magnetic Island. Supervision included advice on field techniques, sample processing and analysis, consultation on statistical processing of data, the ecological implications of the results and the format of the written report. Title of the resulting report: "An assessment of benthic community structure inside and outside territories of two species of damselfish on an inshore fringing reef".

 

Field course coordination, Orpheus Island 1999.

Planning and field teaching for the Tropical Ecosystems Field course, run by Tevene'i Marine in conjunction with James Cook University, at Orpheus Island Research Station.

 

Research Assistant to A. Ayling, 31.1.98-1.2.98

Involved taking video transects of benthic communities on Magnetic Island, as well as heavy manual work such as staking out transects with metal stakes.

 

Italian Tutoring, 1996 - 1997

Elementary Italian (1st semester of 1996) and Intermediate Italian (1st semester of 1997) at the Institute of Modern Languages at the James Cook University of North Queensland. Both courses consisted of one lesson per week lasting 2 hours. The average number of students per class was 10.

 

GRANTS AND AWARDS


GBRMPA Augmentative Research Grant 2001 - $1000
James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarship 2002 - $36500
Doctoral Merit Research Grant 2002 - $1000
Best Oral Presentation by a Student, ACRS annual conference 2003
JCU Completion Scholarship 2004 - $3000

PUBLICATIONS


Lewis, D.M. (1999) The distribution of territorial damselfishes in relation to the zonation of benthic communities on two inshore fringing reefs. Masters (Qualifying) Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. 70pp.

Ceccarelli, D. M., Jones, G. P. and McCook, L. J. (2001) Territorial damselfish as determinants of the structure of benthic communities on coral reefs. Oceanography and Marine Biology: an annual review 39, 355-389.


Ceccarelli, D. M. 2004. Herbivorous fishes as determinants of the structure of coral reef communities: farmers, foragers and their interactions. PhD. Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.


Ceccarelli, D. M., Jones, G. P., and McCook, L. J. (2005) Foragers versus farmers: contrasting effects of two behavioural groups of herbivores on coral reefs. Oecologia 145: 445-453.


Ceccarelli, D. M., Jones, G. P. and McCook, L. J. (2005) Effects of territorial damselfish on an algal-dominated coastal coral reef. Coral Reefs 24: 606-620.


Ceccarelli, D. M., Hughes, T. P. and McCook, L. J. (in press) Impacts of simulated overfishing on the territoriality of coral reef damselfish. Marine Ecology Progress Series


Jones, G. P., Ceccarelli, D. M. and McCook, L. J. (in prep.) Contrasting effects of territorial damselfish and roving herbivores on the succession of inshore reef algae. Ecology


Ceccarelli, D. M. (in prep.) Are all territorial damselfish farmers? A multispecies comparison of diet and territory composition. Coral Reefs


Ceccarelli, D. M. (in prep.) Geographic variations in the territoriality of Pomacentrus tripunctatus and P. wardi. Marine Ecology Progress Series

Technical Reports


Ceccarelli, D. M. (2004) Airlie Creek Impact Report. Prepared for C & R Consulting, Townsville.


Ceccarelli, D. M. and Kospartov, M. C. (2006) Risks from Impacts of Commercial Shipping on the Key Values of Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters). Report prepared by UniQuest for the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.


Kospartov, M. C., Beger, M., Ceccarelli, D. M. and Richards, Z. (2006) An assessment of the distribution and abundance of sea cucumbers, trochus, giant clam, coral, fish and invasive marine species at Ashmore Reef national nature reserve and Cartier island marine reserve: 2005. Report prepared by UniQuest for the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.


Ceccarelli, D. M. (2006) Decommissioning of the Horseshoe Bay Sewage Treatment Plant: values and management options. Report to the Townsville City Council, prepared for C&R Consulting, Townsville.


Presentations

Australian Coral Reef Society Conference July 2001 – Territorial damselfish as determinants of the structure of benthic communities on coral reefs.


AIMS Seminar Series October 2001 - Territorial damselfish as determinants of the structure of benthic communities on coral reefs.


Australian Coral Reef Society Conference July 2003 – Foragers vs. farmers: relative effects on coral reef algae.

Reviews


Coral Reefs, July 2004, May 2005, February 2006
Marine and Freshwater Research, October 2004
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, December 2005

OTHER SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Diving & Boating Qualifications

Languages

English, Italian, German, Swiss German, Spanish (all fluent, including reading and writing)

French (fair)

Arabic (basic)

 

Musical Experience

 

Ashtanga Yoga Instructor (since 2000)


• Teaching weekly classes of varying size
• Disciplined daily self-practice
• Receiving on-going teacher training in Australia, Bali and India
• Organizing and conducting workshops, courses and retreats
• Working and communicating with people from all walks of life
• Working alone and as part of a team
• Accounting skills

 

REFEREES

 

 

 Consultancy