Resilience of Australian seaweed communities to extreme events

About the research project

Extreme events are increasing in intensity and frequency under climate change. These impacts are particularly acute in Australia’s marine environment, where reef species are subject to compounding climate-driven impacts from marine heatwaves, floods, population explosion of range-extending species and algal blooms. Understanding the resilience of reef species and assemblages to collapse in the face of these events is critical to safeguard Australia’s unique biodiversity and valuable reef industries.

Given the inherent complexity of ecological collapse, empirical observations are essential to achieve accurate estimates of reef resilience. Australia’s Great Southern Reef is a natural laboratory for understanding climate-driven impacts in the ocean. Flanked by two poleward flowing boundary currents, the GSR is a global hotspot for warming, marine heatwaves and species range shifts. Using three-decade time-series of reef biodiversity data from across the GSR this project will assess the resilience of seaweed assemblages to extreme events and the thresholds of collapse.

Specifically this project will quantify inter-annual responses of seaweeds across Australia to marine heatwaves and the interdependencies between canopy and understory species. The project will also examine the relative sensitivities of populations and assemblages from different range positions (e.g. warm, centre or cool-edge populations) across southern Australia.

This project will provide spatially explicit measures of resilience of seaweed assemblages to marine heatwaves and identify critical species underpinning reef resilience.

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Scott Bennett

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years
• a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• Applicants require scientific/occupational diving qualifications and strong quantitative skills

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• Scientific/occupational diving qualifications
• strong quantitative skills

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Coxswains boating qualitifcation

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Scott Bennett to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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