Faculty of
Sustainability, Environmental and Life Sciences

Dr Mike van Keulen

Positions -

  • Senior Lecturer, Plant Sciences & Marine Biology
  • Program Chair, Marine Science
  • Director, Coral Bay Research Station

Qualifications - BSc (Hons) Murd. Ph.D Murd.
Phone - +61 8 93602369
Fax - +61 8 93606303
Office - Biological Sciences 2.039
Email - keulen@murdoch.edu.au

Units taught-
Semester I:

  • BIO265 - Plant Diversity
  • BIO287 - Plant Diversity for Marine Science
  • BIO384 - Marine and Estuarine Biology

Winter Term:

  • BIO383 - Tropical Marine Biology
Semester II:
  • BIO180 - Introduction to Marine Biology
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Research Interests -

  • Coral reef studies: I have several research projects at Ningaloo Reef, dealing with overall biodiversity, remote sensing and habitat mapping, seagrasses, benthic primary production, coral reproduction, coral reef metabolism and physiology, and interactions between corals, algae and grazers. As part of this work, I have been involved in the construction and management of a marine field research station, located at Coral Bay, which is now a Murdoch facility.
  • Seagrass ecology: The distribution and community structure of local seagrass ecosystems; the role of physical factors in seagrass community structure; sediment dynamics in seagrass ecosystems; the role of seagrass epiphytes as indicators of eutrophication
  • Seagrass rehabilitation: Rehabilitation of seagrasses and processes influencing recruitment success of seedlings, both in Western Australia and elsewhere in Australia. Involved in large-scale and experimental transplantation of seagrasses on Success Bank and in Cockburn Sound, as part of the Seagrass Research and Rehabilitation Plan (working in conjunction with the Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory)
  • Physiology of algae and seagrasses: the role of water movement in photosynthesis and respiration of marine plants; the interaction of physical factors on seagrass and algal physiology
  • Biological hydrodynamics: the role of water motion in structuring marine communities; the effects of water motion on the physiology of marine plants; the effects of marine plant morphology on water flow around them; dye visualization studies of water flow over marine plants; the role of plant spacing on flow through seagrass meadows; water velocity profiles through seagrass communities
  • Improving communications between seagrass and mangrove researchers: List-owner and maintainer of the WA Seagrass Web Page (http://wwwscience.murdoch.edu.au/centres/others/seagrass) and the WA Mangrove Web Page (http://wwwscience.murdoch.edu.au/centres/others/mangrove), and affiliated international e-mail discussion lists: Seagrass_Forum and Mangrove
  • Developing innovative teaching methods (see report from an assessment by the Teaching & Learning Centre of innovations in Plant Diversity - available electronically: http://wwwtlc1.murdoch.edu.au/eddesign/N265Eval.pdf)
  • The development of new equipment and techniques for the study of hydrodynamics in aquatic ecosystems.

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Research students -

PhD
2003-2006 Samantha Bridgwood (co-supervised with Marion Cambridge, UWA) "Seagrass landscapes along a wave gradient" Submitted October 2006
2003-2006 Lotte Horn (co-supervised with Eric Paling) "The measurement of seagrass photosynthesis using Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometry and its practical applications, specifically in regard to transplantation" Conferred October 2006
2004-2007 Fiona Webster (co-supervised with Russ Babcock, CSIRO and Neil Loneragan) "Coral reef resilience: balancing production and herbivory"
2005- (ongoing) Warren Chisholm (co-supervised with Eric Paling and Jennifer Verduin)
2006- (ongoing) Frazer McGregor (co-supervised with Anya Waite, UWA and Mark Meekan, AIMS)
2007- (ongoing) Janja Ceh (co-supervised with David Bourne, AIMS)
2008- (ongoing) Mark Langdon (co-supervised with Neil Loneragan, Eric Paling and Greg Skilleter, UQ)
2008- (ongoing) Kristel Wenziker (co-supervised with Lars Bejder, Kelley Waples, DEC and Guido Parra, UQ)

Honours
2000 Olivia Vincenec (co-supervised with Eric Paling) " Periphyton studies in Cockburn Sound : using periphyton as an indicator of water quality"
2000 David Tunbridge (co-supervised with Eric Paling) "The feasibility of seagrass rehabilitation in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia : a comparison of manual transplantation methodology using Posidonia sinuosa Cambridge et Kuo"
2001 Lotte Horn "PAM fluorometry and photosynthetic performance of seagrasses"
2001/2002 Tanya Langridge (co-supervised with Eric Paling) "The role of protective structures on the survival of seagrass seedling transplants"
2002 Samantha Bridgwood (co-supervised with Marion Cambridge, UWA) "The structure and function of windrows in meadows of the seagrass Posidonia sinuosa"
2004/2005 Natalie Rosser "Reproductive seasonality and biannual spawning of Acropora on two north-west Australian reefs"
2005 Jacqueline Hay (co-supervised with Jennifer Verduin) "Redox potential gradients surrounding seagrasses in dynamic sediment environments"
2007 Mark Langdon (co-supervised with Eric Paling) "Sea urchin grazing of seagrasses in Cockburn Sound"
2008 Taryn Foster (co-supervised with Eric Paling) "Temperature and depth stress in Pocillopora damicornis at Rottnest Island and Ningaloo Reef"

ISC and other projects
1999 Ben Rome "Artificial reefs: a review"
1999 Linda Salem "Intertidal distribution of littorinid snails"
2001 Erin Eames "Comparative study of organisms in transplanted vs. natural seagrasses"
2002 Mark Logue "Photosynthetic responses of seagrasses to rapid light changes"
2002 Kellie English "Review of fission in colonial marine organisms"
2002 Shantel Tedesco (Industry Practicum with AQWA) "Ecotourism interpretation programme development"
2002/2003 Warren Chisholm (co-supervised with Geoff Bastyan) "Seagrass seedling recruitment in Oyster Harbour"
2005 Tessa Hill (exchange research project, University of East Anglia)
2007 David McKinney (co-supervised with John Huisman) "Lucid Key to Scleractinian Corals of Western Australia"

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Theses, papers, presentations, etc. -

This is a list of my major publications, conference presentations and reports.
  • Theses (available electronically on request)
    • Honours thesis (1987) "Water flow in Amphibolis beds" Murdoch University
    • PhD thesis (1998) "Water flow in seagrass ecosystems" Murdoch University

  • Refereed papers (available electronically on request)
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Wheeler,C; Wheeler,K (2000) The effects of depth on manual transplantation of the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii (J.M. Black) den Hartog on Success Bank, Western Australia Pacific Conservation Biology 5: 314-320
    • van Keulen,M; Borowitzka,MA (2000) Comparison of water velocity profiles through morphologically dissimilar seagrasses. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 7: 143-146
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Wheeler,K; Phillips,J; Dyhrberg,R (2001) Mechanical seagrass transplantation on Success Bank, Western Australia Ecological Engineering 16: 331-339
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Wheeler,KD; Phillips,J; Dyhrberg,R; Lord,DA (2001) Improving mechanical seagrass transplantation Ecological Engineering 18: 107-113
    • van Keulen,M; Borowitzka,MA (2002) Comparison of water velocity profiles through morphologically dissimilar seagrasses measured with a simple and inexpensive current meter Bulletin of Marine Science 71:1257-1267
    • van Keulen,M; Paling,EI; Walker,CJ (2003) The effects of planting unit size and sediment stabilization on seagrass transplants in Western Australia Restoration Ecology 11: 50-55
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Wheeler,KD (2003) The influence of spacing on mechanically transplanted seagrass survival in a high wave energy regime Restoration Ecology 11: 56-61
    • van Keulen,M; Borowitzka,MA (2003) Seasonal variability in sediment distribution along an exposure gradient in a seagrass meadow in Shoalwater Bay, Western Australia Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 57:587-592
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Tunbridge,DJ (2007) Seagrass transplanting in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia: A comparison of manual transplantation methodology using Posidonia sinuosa Cambridge et Kuo Restoration Ecology 15:240-249
    • Horn,LE; Paling,EI; van Keulen,M (in press) Photosynthetic recovery of transplanted Posidonia sinuosa, Western Australia Aquatic Botany

  • Conference proceedings edited
    • van Keulen,M & Borowitzka,MA (eds) (1998) Biodiversity, Biotechnology & Biobusiness - 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Biotechnology, Perth, Western Australia. (Australian Biotechnology Association, WA Branch) ISBN 0-86905665-4
  • Conference presentations
    • van Keulen,M (1992) The study of water motion in Amphibolis griffithii beds. Australian Marine Sciences Association 1992, Mandurah, Western Australia
    • van Keulen,M (1994) Aspects of physical processes in a Posidonia sinuosa ecosystem. Australasian Society for Phycology and Aquatic Botany 1994, Rottnest Island, Western Australia
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Walker,C; Wheeler,K; Dyhrberg,R; Phillips,J (1998) Successful mechanical seagrass transplantation on Success Bank, Western Australia. Biodiversity, Biotechnology & Biobusiness - 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Biotechnology, Perth, Western Australia
    • van Keulen,M & Borowitzka,MA (1999) Water flow through canopies of different seagrass species. Ecological Society of Australia 1999, Fremantle, Western Australia. Poster presentation - available electronically on request
    • van Keulen,M & Borowitzka,MA (2000) Comparison of water velocity profiles through morphologically dissimilar seagrasses. 4th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Corsica, France (paper published in Biologia Marina Mediterranea - available electronically on request)
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Wheeler,KD; Phillips,J; Dyhrberg,R; Lord,DA (2000) Successful mechanical seagrass transplantation in southern Western Australia. 4th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Corsica, France. Poster presentation - available electronically on request
    • van Keulen, M (2001) Seagrass transplantation in a high energy environment. Experiences from Success Bank, Western Australia. Seagrass Restoration Workshop for the Adelaide Metropolitan Coast, Adelaide, South Australia
    • van Keulen, M; Borowitzka, MA (2003) A hydrodynamic study on seagrass density. ERF2003: Estuarine Research Federation Biennial Conference, Seattle, Washington, USA.
    • van Keulen, M; Paling, EI; Tubridge, DJ (2003) Seagrass Transplantation in High and Low Energy Environments in Western Australia. ERF2003: Estuarine Research Federation Biennial Conference, Seattle, Washington, USA.
    • Langridge, T; van Keulen, M; Paling, EI (2004) The effect of sediment stabilisation on the survival of transplanted seagrass seedlings in Western Australia. Seagrass 2004, Townsville.
    • van keulen, M; Paling, EI; Ridd, P; Fotheringham, D; Verduin, J. (2005) Seagrass rehabilitation and sediment dynamics. Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Conference, Darwin NT.
    • Verduin, JJ; van Keulen, M; Paling, EI; Chisholm, W. (2006) The effect of shoot density on flow and sediment stabilization within seagrass meadows. European Geophysical Union Annual Conference, Vienna, Austria.
    • van Keulen, M. (2006) Coral Bay Research Station, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Oceania Research Stations Network Conference, Stradbroke Island, QLD.
    • van Keulen, M; Shortland-Jones, H. (2006) A preliminary evaluation of seagrasses in Bateman Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Australian Coral Reef Society Conference, Mission Beach QLD.
    • Paling, EI; van Keulen, M; Verduin, JJ. (2006) Seagrass Restoration in Western Australia – where are we now? 7th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
    • Pinnel, N, Kobryn, HT, Heege, T, Harvey, MM, Beckley, LE, van Keulen, M, Collins, L and Hausknecht P, (2007) Spectral discrimination of marine habitats at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Conference, October 2007, Fremantle.
    • Kobryn, HT, Pinnel, N, van Keulen, M, Beckley, LE, Harvey, MM, Hausknecht, P, Hayward, P (2007) Through the looking glass! Revealing the habitats and biodiversity of Ningaloo Reef using hyperspectral imagery. Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Conference, November 2007, Fremantle.
    • Kobryn, HT, Pinnel, N, Beckley, LE, Harvey, M, van Keulen, M, Heege , T, Hausknecht, P (2007) Habitats and biodiversity of Ningaloo Reef. Mapping the habitat components and bathymetry with hyperspectral remote sensing. Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Conference, October 2007, Fremantle.
    • van Keulen, M (2007) Community outreach activities and the Coral Bay Research Station. Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Conference, October 2007, Fremantle.
    • Pinnel, N, Kobryn, HT, Harvey, M, van Keulen, M, Beckley, LE (2007) Mapping habitats and biodiversity of Ningaloo Reef Lagoon using Hyperspectral remote sensing data. Ningaloo Marine Park Symposium, Perth, Australia.
    • Van Keulen, M (2007) Biodiversity Studies as part of the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Collaborative Cluster Programme. Ningaloo Marine Park Symposium, Perth, Australia.
    • Kobryn, HT; Pinnel, N; van Keulen, M; Beckley, LE (2008) Mapping habitats and biodiversity of Ningaloo Reef lagoon using hyperspectral remote sensing data. 2nd Annual Ningaloo Research Symposium, Murdoch University.
    • van Keulen, M, Loneragan, N, Skilleter, G, Pinnel, N, Kobryn, H, Beckley,L (2008) Habitats and Biodiversity of Ningaloo Reef Lagoon, Western Australia. International Coral Reef Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
    • Verduin,J; van Keulen,M (2008) Patterns of seagrass meadows in response to swell and wind-wave exposure. 8th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Bamfield, Canada.
    • Paling,EI; Verduin,JJ; van Keulen,M; Horn, L (2008) Successful large-scale seagrass restoration to mitigate for harbour development in Western Australia. 8th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Bamfield, Canada.


  • Refereed reports/book chapters
    • Paling,EI; Walker,CJ; van Keulen,M (1997) "Project S2 Phase 2: Seagrass Rehabilitation in Owen Anchorage, Western Australia. Annual report January 1996 - August 1997" Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory, Murdoch University, Perth.
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Wheeler,K (1998) "Project S2, Phase 2: Seagrass Rehabilitation in Owen Anchorage, Western Australia. Annual report August 1997 - June 1998" Report no. MAFRA 98/4 Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory, Murdoch University, Perth.
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Wheeler,K (2000) "Seagrass Rehabilitation on Success Bank, Western Australia. (Project S2 1995 - 2000)" Report no. MAFRA 00/006 Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory, Murdoch University, Perth.
    • Calver,M et al. (2001) "Instructor's Resource Manual to accompany Biology 2nd Edition" McGraw-Hill, Sydney. ISBN 0.07.471009.5
    • Paling,EI; van Keulen,M; Wheeler,KD (2002) "Seagrass Rehabilitation on Success Bank, Western Australia (Project S2, 1995-2002) Final Report." Report no. MAFRA 02/6 Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory, Murdoch University, Perth.
    • Ackerman, J; Koch, EW; Verduin, JJ; van Keulen, M (2006) Fluid dynamics in seagrass ecology - from molecules to ecosystems. In: "Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation" (Larkum, AWD; Orth, RJ; Duarte, CM, eds.) Springer, Dordrecht. pp. 193-225.
    • Borowitzka, MA; Lavery, PS; van Keulen, M (2006) Epiphytes of seagrasses. In: "Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation" (Larkum, AWD; Orth, RJ; Duarte, CM, eds.) Springer, Dordrecht. pp. 441-461.

  • Unrefereed reports
    • van Keulen,M; Green,B; Astill,H; Wheeler,K (1998) "Report on marine survey of proposed deep-water harbour development site at Oakajee" Prepared for Industry Inland, Geraldton, Western Australia
    • Fitzpatrick,B; Penrose,H; van Keulen,M; Birkin,M; Webb,J (2002) "Biological Survey of Bateman Bay, Ningaloo Marine Park" Oceanwise Environmental Consultants, Perth.
  • Conferences attended
    • 3rd International Phycological Congress, Melbourne, 1988
    • Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference, Mandurah WA, 1992
    • Australasian Society for Phycology & Aquatic Botany Annual Conference, Rottnest Island WA, 1994
    • 2nd International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Rottnest Island WA, 1996
    • International Society of Ecological Engineers, Fremantle WA, 1997
    • Biodiversity, Biotechnology & Biobusiness, Perth WA, 1998
    • Ecological Society of Australia Annual Conference, Fremantle WA, 1999
    • MERA WA Marine Science Conference, Perth WA, 2000
    • 4th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Corsica France, 2000
    • Seagrass Restoration Workshop for the Adelaide Metropolitan Coast, Adelaide South Australia, 2001
    • Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Conference, Fremantle WA, 2002
    • Estuarine Research Federation Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, USA, 2003
    • Seagrass 2004, Townsville QLD, 2004
    • 6th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Townsville QLD, 2004
    • Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference, Darwin NT, 2005
    • 81st Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Conference, Heron Island QLD, 2005
    • Oceania Research Stations Network Conference, Stradbroke Island QLD, 2006
    • 82nd Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Conference, Mission Beach QLD, 2006
    • 7th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 2006
    • Oceania Research Stations Network Conference, Kioloa Campus NSW, 2007
    • 21st Pacific Science Congress, Okinawa, Japan, 2007
    • 83rd Australian Coral Reef Society Annual Conference, Fremantle WA, 2007
    • 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, 2008
    • 8th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Bamfield, Canada, 2008

  • Journals refereed for
    • Journal of Applied Phycology
    • Mangroves and Salt Marshes
    • Cryptogamie Algologie
    • Ecosystem Health
    • Bulletin of Marine Science
    • Restoration Ecology
    • Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
    • Acta Oecologica
    • Estuaries
    • Marine and Freshwater Research
    • Pacific Conservation Biology (Editorial Advisory Board)
    • Marine Ecology Progress Series

  • Memberships
    • Australian Marine Sciences Association (President, WA Branch 2003-7)
    • Estuarine Research Federation
    • Royal Society of WA
    • Coastal Education & Research Foundation
    • International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems
    • World Seagrass Association
    • American Society for Limnology and Oceanography
    • North West Research Association (President)
    • International Society for Reef Studies
    • Australian Coral Reef Society

  • Committee and other positions held
    • Murdoch Universty Dive Officer
    • Chair, School of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology Marketing Committee, Murdoch University
    • Program Chair, Marine Science, Murdoch Universty
    • Learning Technology Steering Group, Murdoch University
    • Classroom Management Group, Murdoch University
    • Marine Coastal and Community Network Regional Reference Group
    • Marine Science Reserve Council
    • Western Australian State Marine Policy Stakeholder Group
    • Busselton Jetty Observatory Research Advisory Committee

  • Relevant web pages
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Last Updated Wednesday, October 8, 2008 12:31 . Written by Mike van Keulen.
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