Profile
Seabirds feed in the open ocean and return to islands to nest, where their guano provides nutrients to islands and coastal systems. Our previous work has shown that these nutrient subsidies from seabirds can enhance coral-reef fish growth and ecosystem functioning, and alter benthic communities following coral bleaching events.
Working with other researchers, I am now investigating the spatial and trophic extent of seabird-derived nutrients in coral-reef food webs. I am also continuing to test whether seabird nutrients help coral reefs recover from climate disturbances. By linking our work to island management that aims to restore seabird populations, such as eradicating invasive rats and promoting native vegetation, I seek to understand the timescales and contexts under which these conservation strategies benefit coral reefs.
Ecosystems are intricately connected. The bad news is that humans are disrupting these links. But, I am optimistic because these connections also mean management actions can have cascading benefits across multiple ecosystems.
Biography
My Project
Other interests
I am broadly interested in the behavioural, population, and community ecology of reef fishes, with a focus on how human activities influence these processes.
My Publications
Reef-Building Corals Farm and Feed on their Photosynthetic Symbionts
Wiedenmann, J., D.Angelo, C., Loreto Mardones, M., Moore, S., Benkwitt, C.E., Graham, N.A.J., Hambach, B., Wilson, P.A., Vanstone, J., Eyal, G., Ben-Zvi, O., Loya, Y., Genin, A. (2023). Reef-building corals farm and feed on their photosynthetic symbionts. Nature.
Terrestrial Invasive Species Alter Marine Vertebrate Behaviour
Gunn, R., Benkwitt, C., Graham, N., Hartley, I., Algar, A., Keith, S. (2023). Terrestrial invasive species alter marine vertebrate behaviour. Nature Ecology & Evolution
Seabird diversity and biomass enhance cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies
Benkwitt, C.E., Carr, P., Wilson, S.K., Graham, N.A.J. Seabird diversity and biomass enhance cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies. Proceedings of the Royal Society B
A Review of a Decade of Lessons From One of the World’s Largest MPAs: Conservation Gains and Key Challenges
Hays, G.C., Koldewey, H.J., Andrzejaczek, S., Attrill, M.J., Barley, S., Bayley, D.T.I., Benkwitt, C.E., Block, B., Schallert, R.J., Carlisle, A., Carr, P., Chapple, T.K., Collins, C., Diaz, C., Dunn, N., Dunbar, R.B., Eager, D.S., Engel, J., Embling, C.B., Esteban, N., Ferretti, F., Foster, N.L., Freeman, R., Gollock, M., Graham, N.A.J., Harris, J.L., Head, C.E.I, Hosegood, P., Howell, K.L., Hussey, N.E., Jacoby, D.M.P., Jones, R., Pilly, J.S., Lange, I.D., Letessier, T.B., Levy, E., Lindhart, M., McDevitt-Irwin, J.M., Meekan, M., Meeuwig, J.J., Micheli, F., Mogg, A., Mortimer, J.A., Mucciarone, D.A., Nicoll, M.A., Nuno, A., Perry, C., Preston, S.G., Rattray, A.J., Robinson, E., Roche, R., Schiele, M., Sheehan, E.V., Sheppard, A., Sheppard, C., Smith, A.L., Soule, B., Spalding, M., Stevens, G.M.W., Steyaert, M., Stiffel, S., Taylor, B.M., Tickler, D., Trevail, A.M., Trueba, P., Turner, J., Votier, S., Wilson, B., Williams, G., Williamson, B., Williamson, M.J., Wood, H. and Curnick, D.J. (2020) A review of a decade of lessons from one of the world’s largest MPAs: conservation gains and key challenges. Marine Biology.
Site-Level Variation in Parrotfish Grazing and Bioerosion as a Function of Species-Specific Feeding Metrics
Lange, I.D., Perry, C.T., Morgan, K.M., Roche, R., Benkwitt, C.E. and Graham, N.A.J. (2020) Site-level variation in parrotfish grazing and bioerosion as a function of species-specific feed metrics. Diversity.
