Benthic community monitoring,
One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef

Dr Kay Davis

Chemical Ecology & Oceanography

About Me

I'm a marine biogeochemist focusing on the interactions between water chemistry and biology to determine ecosystem-scale health. One of my main interests lies in climate-driven influences on coral reef ecosystem metabolism. These types of studies can provide information about how reefs are affected by environmental disturbances and, therefore, how we can protect them. I also investigate how groundwater drives surface water processes and impacts coastal ecosystems.

I obtained my PhD at the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour, Australia in Chemical Oceanography & Ecology. I undertook a Post -Doctoral Research position at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) in Bremen, Germany investigating the influences of coastal groundwater on coral reef biogeochemistry and ecology. Currently, I am working as a Marine Biogeochemist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science on the University of Western Australia campus in Perth.

As a Minnesota, USA native, I enjoy spending my free time hiking, traveling, or in the ocean diving or surfing with friends.

Research

Coral reef ecosystem metabolism

Interactions between biology, hydrology, and chemistry can help us understand how quickly coral and algae are growing. Coral calcification and dissolution, and organic photosynthesis and respiration can be measured by looking at the water chemistry in an ecosystem - termed "ecosystem metabolism". I analyse water samples collected in-situ in the laboratory for total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon. Rates of ecosystem metabolism can be compared over time and space to investigate differences in reefs due to natural variability or as a result of disturbance, such as coral bleaching events.

Groundwater and coastal ecosystems

Groundwater is rich in dissolved materials including carbon dioxide and nutrients. Quantifying groundwater composition and flow provides information about local influences on surface water dynamics and ecological communities.

Blue Carbon Seascapes

Blue carbon ecosystems are vital because they capture and store significant amounts of carbon, and play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. My research at the Australian Institute of Marine Science is assessing a previously under-explored potential blue carbon component: macroalgae. Unlike other blue carbon ecosystems, macroalgae cannot bury the carbon they fix directly beneath them as they prefer rocky substrate. We're assessing how the carbon from macroalgae is buried in coastal and deep-sea sediments. Understanding how macroalgal carbon is stored will help protect macroalgal communities, as well as the deep sea and coastal ecosystems that harbour carbon stocks, and is the crucial first step in assessing how we can harness this natural power to help mitigate climate change. More information on our five year, $20 million project can be found here.

Low-Tide Acropora
Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia