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Principal Research Scientist | NSW Fisheries, Adjunct Professor | Southern Cross University, Associate Professor | University of Western AustraliaKeynote Theme: Conservation and Future Proofing Temperate reefsMelinda Coleman is a Principal Research Scientist with NSW Fisheries, Adjunct Professor at Southern Cross University and Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia. She has previously been an Australian Research Council Fellow and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Maine, USA. Melinda leads a team of postdocs and students across government and university sectors to inform proactive marine management that anticipates and prepares for climate change. By melding ecology with genomics her team is providing new solutions for conserving and managing kelp forests in a future of increasing change. As a founding member of the Green Gravel action group and the award-winning Operation Crayweed team, Melinda is actively restoring lost kelp forests around Australia with the aim of boosting resilience to future climate change.
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Presentation: Future Proofing Kelp Forests
Climate change is causing widespread habitat deterioration and destruction and presents one of the biggest threats to species and global ecological function. Underwater kelp forests underpin fisheries and vast economic values on temperate coasts but are declining due to climate change. There is an urgent need to develop novel and proactive solutions to combat, reverse and prevent this habitat loss. I will discuss how genomic data is providing the evidence we need to assess the vulnerability of kelp forests and “future-proof” management under climate change.
Presentation Slides – Melinda Coleman
