Associate Professor Karen Cheney
Associate Professor

Karen Cheney

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 57071

Background

A/ Prof. Karen Cheney is a marine ecologist employing a multidisciplinary approach to explore predator-prey interactions, animal signalling, and the fundamental principles behind the evolution and function of animal colour patterns. Her research spans sensory, behavioral, and chemical marine ecology, with a particular focus on marine fish and molluscs. She co-leads the Marine Sensory Ecology Group at UQ.

She is also the Academic Director of the Moreton Bay Research Station, where she is oversees the teaching and research conducted at the station. She also co-leads research projects on understanding the ecosystem services of shellfish reef restoration, and the conservation of the threatened seahorse, Hippocampus whitei, in SE Queensland. She is also the Deputy Director of the Centre for Marine Science.

Animal Signalling: She focuses on the evolution of animal signals in the marine environment, particularly those used for camouflage and warning signals (aposematism). Her research employs spectrophotometry, theoretical vision models, phylogenetic comparative analysis, and a novel method using a calibrated underwater camera system to analyse complex animal colour patterns. This innovative approach enables simultaneous in-situ collection of spatial and spectral properties of animals and their backgrounds. She specifically investigates the diversity of colour signals displayed by nudibranch molluscs, examining how these patterns are perceived by potential predators and their relationship to the unpalatability and toxicity of the molluscs’ stored chemical defences.

Colour Vision: She studies the visual performance of coral reef fish using behavioural assays inspired by tests used to screen for human color vision deficiencies. By relating behavioural data to theoretical visual modelling, she assesses the accuracy of these models. More broadly, she explores the sensory, neural, and cognitive foundations of colour perception and investigates the genetic basis for the diversification of visual systems.

Availability

Associate Professor Karen Cheney is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Ecology Zoology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Manchester
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of East Anglia
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, The University of Queensland

Search Professor Karen Cheney’s works on UQ eSpace

131 works between 1999 and 2025
All (131) Journal Article (107) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (6) Other Outputs (14)

61 - 80 of 131 works

2020

Other Outputs

A 5-channel LED display to investigate UV perception

Powell, Samuel, Mitchell, Laurie J., Phelan, A. M. , Cortesi, Fabio, Marshall, Justin N. and Cheney, Karen L. (2020). A 5-channel LED display to investigate UV perception. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/3e1e21e

A 5-channel LED display to investigate UV perception

2020

Journal Article

Correction to ‘Underwater caustics disrupt prey detection by a reef fish’

Matchette, S. R., Cuthill, I. C., Cheney, K. L., Marshall, N. J. and Scott-Samuel, N. E. (2020). Correction to ‘Underwater caustics disrupt prey detection by a reef fish’. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 287 (1931) 20201572, 20201572. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1572

Correction to ‘Underwater caustics disrupt prey detection by a reef fish’

2020

Journal Article

Effects of the cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus on grazing fishes and coral reef benthos

Grutter, Alexandra S., Bejarano, Sonia, Cheney, Karen L., Goldizen, Anne W., Sinclair-Taylor, Tane and Waldie, Peter A. (2020). Effects of the cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus on grazing fishes and coral reef benthos. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 643, 99-114. doi: 10.3354/meps13331

Effects of the cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus on grazing fishes and coral reef benthos

2020

Journal Article

Arenaran sesquiterpenes from the nudibranch Chromodoris strigata and its dietary sponge Acanthodendrilla sp. 2510: spectroscopic and computational studies

Narbutas, Patrick T., Clegg, Jack K., Pierens, Gregory K., Cheney, Karen L., Ganderton, Anna M. and Garson, Mary J. (2020). Arenaran sesquiterpenes from the nudibranch Chromodoris strigata and its dietary sponge Acanthodendrilla sp. 2510: spectroscopic and computational studies. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 73 (10), 948-955. doi: 10.1071/ch19540

Arenaran sesquiterpenes from the nudibranch Chromodoris strigata and its dietary sponge Acanthodendrilla sp. 2510: spectroscopic and computational studies

2020

Conference Publication

Inconspicuous carbon NMR signals and fluxional effects complicate the structural elucidation of Noriterpenes from Goniobranchus coi

Forster, Louise C., Pierens, Gregory K., Cheney, Karen L. and Garson, Mary J. (2020). Inconspicuous carbon NMR signals and fluxional effects complicate the structural elucidation of Noriterpenes from Goniobranchus coi. XVI International Symposium on Marine Natural Products|XI European Conference on Marine Natural Products, Peniche, Portugal, September 1-5, 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/md18010040

Inconspicuous carbon NMR signals and fluxional effects complicate the structural elucidation of Noriterpenes from Goniobranchus coi

2020

Conference Publication

Bugs from slugs: Exploring the bacterial Ddversity of Nudibranchs by metagenomics

Pimentel-Elardo, Sheila, Cheney, Karen, Garson, Mary and Nodwell, Justin (2020). Bugs from slugs: Exploring the bacterial Ddversity of Nudibranchs by metagenomics. XVI International Symposium on Marine Natural Products|XI European Conference on Marine Natural Products, Peniche, Portugal, September 1-5, 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/md18010040

Bugs from slugs: Exploring the bacterial Ddversity of Nudibranchs by metagenomics

2020

Conference Publication

The chemical ecology of Chromodoris Nudibranchs

Chan, Weili, Garson, Mary J. and Cheney, Karen L. (2020). The chemical ecology of Chromodoris Nudibranchs. XVI International Symposium on Marine Natural Products|XI European Conference on Marine Natural Products, Peniche, Portugal, September 1-5, 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/md18010040

The chemical ecology of Chromodoris Nudibranchs

2019

Journal Article

Color discrimination thresholds in a cichlid fish: Metriaclima benetos

Escobar-Camacho, Daniel, Taylor, Michaela A., Cheney, Karen L., Green, Naomi F., Marshall, N. Justin and Carleton, Karen L. (2019). Color discrimination thresholds in a cichlid fish: Metriaclima benetos. Journal of Experimental Biology, 222 (17) jeb201160, jeb201160. doi: 10.1242/jeb.201160

Color discrimination thresholds in a cichlid fish: Metriaclima benetos

2019

Journal Article

Cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) show visual system adaptations typical of nocturnally and diurnally active fish

Luehrmann, Martin, Carleton, Karen L., Cortesi, Fabio, Cheney, Karen L. and Marshall, N. Justin (2019). Cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) show visual system adaptations typical of nocturnally and diurnally active fish. Molecular Ecology, 28 (12), 3025-3041. doi: 10.1111/mec.15102

Cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) show visual system adaptations typical of nocturnally and diurnally active fish

2019

Journal Article

Geographic variation in diterpene-based secondary metabolites and level of defence in an aposematic nudibranch, Goniobranchus splendidus

Winters, Anne E., White, Andrew M., Cheney, Karen L. and Garson, Mary J. (2019). Geographic variation in diterpene-based secondary metabolites and level of defence in an aposematic nudibranch, Goniobranchus splendidus. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 85 (1), 41-47. doi: 10.1093/mollus/eyy057

Geographic variation in diterpene-based secondary metabolites and level of defence in an aposematic nudibranch, Goniobranchus splendidus

2018

Journal Article

Opsin gene evolution in amphibious and terrestrial combtooth blennies (Blenniidae)

Cortesi, Fabio , Cheney, Karen L., Cooke, Georgina M. and Ord, Terry J. (2018). Opsin gene evolution in amphibious and terrestrial combtooth blennies (Blenniidae).

Opsin gene evolution in amphibious and terrestrial combtooth blennies (Blenniidae)

2018

Journal Article

Correction: Tropical range extension for the temperate, endemic South-Eastern Australian nudibranch Goniobranchus splendidus (Angas, 1864). Diversity 2016, 8, 16

Wilson, Nerida G., Winters, Anne E. and Cheney, Karen L. (2018). Correction: Tropical range extension for the temperate, endemic South-Eastern Australian nudibranch Goniobranchus splendidus (Angas, 1864). Diversity 2016, 8, 16. Diversity, 10 (3) 57, 57. doi: 10.3390/d10030057

Correction: Tropical range extension for the temperate, endemic South-Eastern Australian nudibranch Goniobranchus splendidus (Angas, 1864). Diversity 2016, 8, 16

2018

Journal Article

Short term colour vision plasticity on the reef: changes in opsin expression under varying light conditions differ between ecologically distinct reef fish species

Luehrmann, Martin, Stieb, Sara M., Carleton, Karen L., Pietzker, Alisa, Cheney, Karen L. and Marshall, N. Justin (2018). Short term colour vision plasticity on the reef: changes in opsin expression under varying light conditions differ between ecologically distinct reef fish species. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 221 (22), jeb.175281. doi: 10.1242/jeb.175281

Short term colour vision plasticity on the reef: changes in opsin expression under varying light conditions differ between ecologically distinct reef fish species

2018

Journal Article

Correction to catalyst-controlled stereoselective synthesis secures the structure of the antimalarial isocyanoterpene pustulosaisonitrile-1

White, A. M., Dao, K., Vrubliauskas, D., Konst, Z. A., Pierens, G. K., Mándi, A., Andrews, K. T., Skinner-Adams, T. S., Clarke, M. E., Narbutas, P. T., Sim, D. C.-M., Cheney, K. L., Kurtán, T., Garson, M. J. and Vanderwal, C. D. (2018). Correction to catalyst-controlled stereoselective synthesis secures the structure of the antimalarial isocyanoterpene pustulosaisonitrile-1. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 83 (16), 9571-9572. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b01819

Correction to catalyst-controlled stereoselective synthesis secures the structure of the antimalarial isocyanoterpene pustulosaisonitrile-1

2018

Journal Article

Oxygenated Terpenes from the Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs Goniobranchus splendidus and Goniobranchus collingwoodi

Forster, Louise C., White, Andrew M., Cheney, Karen L. and Garson, Mary J. (2018). Oxygenated Terpenes from the Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs Goniobranchus splendidus and Goniobranchus collingwoodi. Natural Product Communications, 13 (3), 299-302. doi: 10.1177/1934578x1801300309

Oxygenated Terpenes from the Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs Goniobranchus splendidus and Goniobranchus collingwoodi

2018

Journal Article

Chromolactol, an Oxygenated Diterpene from the Indo-Pacific Nudibranch Goniobranchus coi: Spectroscopic and Computational Studies

Dewi, Ariyanti S., Pierens, Gregory K., Cheney, Karen L., Blanchfield, Joanne T. and Garson, Mary J. (2018). Chromolactol, an Oxygenated Diterpene from the Indo-Pacific Nudibranch Goniobranchus coi: Spectroscopic and Computational Studies. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 71 (10), 798-803. doi: 10.1071/CH18243

Chromolactol, an Oxygenated Diterpene from the Indo-Pacific Nudibranch Goniobranchus coi: Spectroscopic and Computational Studies

2017

Journal Article

Triggerfish uses chromaticity and lightness for object segregation

Mitchell, Laurie, Cheney, Karen L., Cortesi, Fabio, Marshall, N. Justin and Vorobyev, Misha (2017). Triggerfish uses chromaticity and lightness for object segregation. Royal Society Open Science, 4 (12) 171440, 1-10. doi: 10.1098/rsos.171440

Triggerfish uses chromaticity and lightness for object segregation

2017

Journal Article

Catalyst-Controlled Stereoselective Synthesis Secures the Structure of the Antimalarial Isocyanoterpene Pustulosaisonitrile-1

White, Andrew M., Dao, Kathy, Vrubliauskas, Darius, Könst, Zef A., Pierens, Gregory K., Mándi, Attila, Andrews, Katherine T., Skinner-Adams, Tina S., Clarke, Mary E., Narbutas, Patrick T., Sim, Desmond C.-M., Cheney, Karen L., Kurtán, Tibor, Garson, Mary J. and Vanderwal, Christopher D. (2017). Catalyst-Controlled Stereoselective Synthesis Secures the Structure of the Antimalarial Isocyanoterpene Pustulosaisonitrile-1. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 82 (24) acs.joc.8b01819, 13313-13323. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.7b02421

Catalyst-Controlled Stereoselective Synthesis Secures the Structure of the Antimalarial Isocyanoterpene Pustulosaisonitrile-1

2017

Journal Article

Parasite infestation increases on coral reefs without cleaner fish

Grutter, A. S., de Brauwer, M., Bshary, R., Cheney, K. L., Cribb, T. H., Madin, E. M.P., McClure, E. C., Meekan, M. G., Sun, D., Warner, R. R., Werminghausen, J. and Sikkel, P. C. (2017). Parasite infestation increases on coral reefs without cleaner fish. Coral Reefs, 37 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s00338-017-1628-z

Parasite infestation increases on coral reefs without cleaner fish

2017

Journal Article

New sesquiterpenoid isonitriles from three species of phyllidid nudibranchs

Sim, Desmond C.-M., Wayan Mudianta, I., White, Andrew M., Martiningsih, Ni Wayan, Loh, Jasmine J. M., Cheney, Karen L. and Garson, Mary J. (2017). New sesquiterpenoid isonitriles from three species of phyllidid nudibranchs. Fitoterapia, 126, 69-73. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2017.10.003

New sesquiterpenoid isonitriles from three species of phyllidid nudibranchs

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Understanding the threats to the endangered seahorse, Hippocampus whitei, in south-east Queensland
    Threatened Species Research Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2024
    `Super-human' colour vision: how does it improve animal visual performance?
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Imaging Mass Spectrometry at Higher Mass Resolution
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    A New Framework for the Analysis of Animal Colour Patterns
    Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Integrative blood coagulation research core facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    How different is different: highly contrasting colours in animal patterns
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Understanding colour and chemical diversity in marine molluscs
    The Australia and Pacific Science Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2016
    The evolution of coloured visual signals in marine organisms: a new approach to solving an old, unanswered problem
    UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    The functions of reef fish colour patterns: how did the coral trout get its spots?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    The role of bright colours in marine nudibranchs: aposematic or camouflage?
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Are conspicuous colours related to defensive chemicals in marine nudibranchs?
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2011
    The function and maintenance of aggressive mimics: the cleaner fish - fangblenny system
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Karen Cheney is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Colour Vision in Coral Reef Fish with Five Cone Spectral Sensitivities

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Wen-Sung Chung, Dr Fabio Cortesi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cohabitation and hybridization in anemonefish: behaviour, ecology, and strategies for mitigation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fabio Cortesi, Dr JP Hobbs

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the highly complex visual systems of seahorses and implications for conservation measures.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Wen-Sung Chung, Dr Fabio Cortesi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Colour Vision in Coral Reef Fish with Five Cone Spectral Sensitivities

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Wen-Sung Chung, Dr Fabio Cortesi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cohabitation and hybridization in anemonefishes: behaviour, ecology, and exploring restoration

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fabio Cortesi, Dr JP Hobbs

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The perception and function of marine colour patterns by reef fish predators

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The perception and function of marine colour patterns by reef fish predators

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the highly complex visual systems of seahorses and implications for conservation measures.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Wen-Sung Chung, Dr Fabio Cortesi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cohabitation and hybridization in anemonefishes: behaviour, ecology, and exploring restoration

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fabio Cortesi, Dr JP Hobbs

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cohabitation and hybridization in anemonefish: behaviour, ecology, and strategies for mitigation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fabio Cortesi, Dr JP Hobbs

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Genomics of Hybridization and Introgression in Anemonefishes: Implications for Conservation and Evolutionary Dynamics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr JP Hobbs, Professor Cynthia Riginos

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Colour vision plasticity of coral reef fish in a changing world

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fabio Cortesi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Colour vision plasticity of coral reef fish in a changing world

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fabio Cortesi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate change and the genetic consequences of hybridisation in clownfishes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr JP Hobbs, Professor Cynthia Riginos

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Plasticity in the visual systems of coral reef fishes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fabio Cortesi

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Karen Cheney directly for media enquiries about:

  • cleaner fish biology
  • colour signalling in marine organisms
  • Coral reef fish behaviour
  • mimicry

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