Portrait of Dr. Guy Carton

Dr. Guy Carton

Ph.D, MSc (hons first class), BSc, PG Dip Ed

Senior Lecturer - Environmental Science

School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences

Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre

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About Me

I teach Biology and Environmental Science from the North Rockhampton campus, joining the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences in 2019 as a senior lecturer in Environmental Science. A central theme of my research revolves around finding answers to three simple questions, 1) how do animals work?, 2) why do animals do what they do?, and 3) how do they response to environmental change? Obtaining answers to these questions often involves taking an integrative approach, working across the fields of ecophysiology (sensory and metabolic), ethology and ecology.
For the most part my research is borne out of simple curiosity, interest and a desire to develop applied solutions to problems. Previous research has ranged from investigating the sensory biology of Antarctica fish, exploring the role of pheromones in migration and spawning in freshwater and marine fish, quantifying the vulnerability of an Australian iconic species barramundi to future climate change, and investigating maternal factors that influence egg quality in commercially exploited marine fish.
From left to right: Antarctic toothfish caught during ice hole fishing (Ross Island, Antarctica). Testing the olfactory sensitivity of the freshwater Banded kokopu to migratory pheromones (University of Minnesota, USA). Studying the spawning behaviour of Sea bream in broodstock tanks using underwater cameras (Leigh Marine Laboratory, New Zealand). Measuring oxygen consumption in juvenile barramundi (James Cook University, Australia). Tracking development in early stage Coral trout eggs (Orpheus Island Research Station, Great Barrier Reef, Australia).
If you are interested in pursuing post-graduate studies (Hons, MSc, PhD) please drop me a line, in the first instance via email to identify common interests and potential projects.

General

Background

I teach five units (subjects) 

  • Life Science Laboratory (BIOL11102) centers on understanding the role that biology plays in the fields of science, environmental science, and agriculture
  • Environmental Monitoring (ENVR11014) focuses on learning the basics of ecosystem science and skill sets necessary to carry out environmental research
  • Applied Ecology (ENVR12002) deals with the science of understanding and managing natural living resources
  • Australian Vertebrate Fauna (ZOOL19002) provides tools for understanding the past, current, and future vertebrate fauna of Australia  
  • Environmental Physiology of Animals (ZOOL13015) principally focuses on how animals work and how they respond to environmental challenges

There is a strong emphasis on developing a wide range of skill sets by combining theoretical and practical work, this is in both laboratory and field-based settings. These units are a part of the Agriculture, Science, Environmental Science and Education (Secondary, science and biology) Bachelor’s degrees at CQU.

Environmental Monitoring (ENVR11014) students carrying out sampling and surveying of aquatic fauna at the mouth of Leekes Estuary on Great Keppel Island. Students use a range of methods to document the species present in the area. Bottom insert left to right: Leather back turtle entering the estuary captured using baited remote underwater video (BRUV), Cowtail stingray feeding in the estuary recorded using an aerial drone, Black bream (foreground) and school of Diamond scale mullet (background) at the mouth of the estuary captured using BRUV, Ghost crab caught in a pitfall trap deployed in the estuary foredune.
Australian Vertebrate Fauna (ZOOL19002) students use a range of modern environmental technologies to survey the fauna of Capricorn Caves. Left to right: Thermal image of a Little bend wing bat roost, Anabat sonogram of an echolocation call of a Large bent wing bat, thermal image of a pair of nocturnal Rock wallabies, camera trap detection of a Lace monitor, and nocturnal camera trap of adult and juvenile Rock wallaby.

Universities Studied At

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)
Sept 2001 | Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand

MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc - HONS first class)
1997 | University of Auckland, New Zealand

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BSc)
1995 | University of Auckland, New Zealand

Universities Worked At

Previous positions include lecturer and senior lecturer at the Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Australia.

LECTURER / SENIOR LECTURER
June 2007 to March 2016,
School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Australia

LECTURER
February 2002 to July 2007,
Leigh Marine Laboratory, Marine Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Professional Memberships

Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC), Central Queensland University, Australia.
Flora Fauna and Freshwater Research Group (FFF), Central Queensland University, Australia.

Recent Research Projects

Queensland Bat Blitz (ESG0792023)
From: 26/06/2023 to 26/06/2024
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist Engaging Science Grants 2023
Total Funding: $19,897.00

Research Supervision

Accreditation

I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:

  • 3005 Fisheries Sciences
  • 3005 Fisheries Sciences
  • 3005 Fisheries Sciences
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 3199 Other Biological Sciences
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management

Current Capacity

I am currently available to supervise more research candidates

Current Supervision

Master of Research
The characterization of post-capture stress in Ranina ranina: Identifying handling and transport techniques that increase post-capture survivorship.
Principal Supervisor
Master of Research
Temporal Patterns in Fish Use of Restored Intertidal Estuarine Habitats
Associate Supervisor

Research Interests

Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences

Fisheries Sciences - Aquaculture

Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences

Fisheries Sciences - Fisheries Management

Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences

Fisheries Sciences - Post-Harvest Fisheries Technologies (incl. Transportation)

Biological Sciences

Ecology - Freshwater Ecology

Biological Sciences

Ecology - Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology)

Biological Sciences

Physiology - Comparative Physiology

Environmental Sciences

Climate change impacts and adaptation - Climate change impacts and adaptation not elsewhere classified

Environmental Sciences

Ecological Applications - Ecological Applications not elsewhere classified

Environmental Sciences

Environmental management - Environmental assessment and monitoring

Publications

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Teaching

Higher Education

No information to display

Vocational Education and Training

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