Associate Professor Karen Cheney
Associate Professor

Karen Cheney

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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)

101 - 120 of 131 works

2013

Book Chapter

Vision and body colouration in marine invertebrates

Marshall, Justin and Cheney, Karen L. (2013). Vision and body colouration in marine invertebrates. The New Visual Neurosciences. (pp. 1165-1178) edited by John S. Werner and Leo M. Chalupa. Cambridge, MA, USA: MIT Press.

Vision and body colouration in marine invertebrates

2012

Journal Article

Cleaner wrasse mimics inflict higher costs on their models when they are more aggressive towards signal receivers

Cheney, Karen L. (2012). Cleaner wrasse mimics inflict higher costs on their models when they are more aggressive towards signal receivers. Biology Letters, 8 (1), 10-12. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0687

Cleaner wrasse mimics inflict higher costs on their models when they are more aggressive towards signal receivers

2011

Journal Article

Long-term cleaner fish presence affects growth of a coral reef fish

Clague, Gillian E., Cheney, Karen L., Goldizen, Anne W., McCormick, Mark I., Waldie, Peter A. and Grutter, Alexandra S. (2011). Long-term cleaner fish presence affects growth of a coral reef fish. Biology Letters, 7 (6), 863-865. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0458

Long-term cleaner fish presence affects growth of a coral reef fish

2011

Journal Article

Long-term effects of the cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus on coral reef fish communities

Waldie, Peter A., Blomberg, Simon P., Cheney, Karen L., Goldizen, Anne W. and Grutter, Alexandra S. (2011). Long-term effects of the cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus on coral reef fish communities. PLoS One, 6 (6) e21201, e21201-1-e21201-7. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021201

Long-term effects of the cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus on coral reef fish communities

2011

Book Chapter

Color vision and color communication in reef fish

Marshall, N.J. and Cheney, K. (2011). Color vision and color communication in reef fish. Encyclopedia of fish physiology: From genome to environment. (pp. 150-158) edited by A. P. Farrell. San Diego, CA, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374553-8.00095-2

Color vision and color communication in reef fish

2010

Journal Article

Conspicuousness is correlated with toxicity in marine opisthobranchs

Cortesi, F. and Cheney, K. L. (2010). Conspicuousness is correlated with toxicity in marine opisthobranchs. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 23 (7), 1509-1518. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02018.x

Conspicuousness is correlated with toxicity in marine opisthobranchs

2010

Journal Article

Multiple selective pressures apply to a coral reef fish mimic: A case of Batesian-aggressive mimicry

Cheney, Karen L. (2010). Multiple selective pressures apply to a coral reef fish mimic: A case of Batesian-aggressive mimicry. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 277 (1689), 1849-1855. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2009.2218

Multiple selective pressures apply to a coral reef fish mimic: A case of Batesian-aggressive mimicry

2009

Journal Article

Cleaner gobies evolve advertising stripes of higher contrast

Lettieri, L, Cheney, K.L, Mazel, CH, Boothe, D, Marshall, NJ and Streelman, JT (2009). Cleaner gobies evolve advertising stripes of higher contrast. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, 212 (14), 2194-2203. doi: 10.1242/jeb.025478

Cleaner gobies evolve advertising stripes of higher contrast

2009

Journal Article

Mimicry in coral reef fish: How accurate is this deception in terms of color and luminance?

Cheney, K. L. and Marshall, Justin (2009). Mimicry in coral reef fish: How accurate is this deception in terms of color and luminance?. Behavioral Ecology, 20 (3), 459-468. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arp017

Mimicry in coral reef fish: How accurate is this deception in terms of color and luminance?

2009

Journal Article

Mimicry, colour forms and spectral sensitivity of the bluestriped fangblenny, Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos

Cheney, Karen L., Skogh, Charlotta, Hart, Nathan S. and Marshall, N. Justin (2009). Mimicry, colour forms and spectral sensitivity of the bluestriped fangblenny, Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 276 (1662), 1565-1573. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2008.1819

Mimicry, colour forms and spectral sensitivity of the bluestriped fangblenny, Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos

2009

Book Chapter

Interspecific relationships in blennies

Cheney, Karen L. (2009). Interspecific relationships in blennies. The biology of blennies. (pp. 379-494) edited by R. A. Patzner, E. Goncalves, P. Hastings and B. G. Kapoor. Enfield, NH, United States: Science Publishers.

Interspecific relationships in blennies

2009

Book Chapter

Interspecific relationships in blennies

Cheney, Karen L. (2009). Interspecific relationships in blennies. The Biology of Blennies. (pp. 379-404) CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b10301

Interspecific relationships in blennies

2008

Journal Article

Cleaner fish cause predators to reduce aggression toward bystanders at cleaning stations

Cheney, Karen L., Bshary, Redouan and Grutter, Alexandra S. (2008). Cleaner fish cause predators to reduce aggression toward bystanders at cleaning stations. Behavioral Ecology, 19 (5), 1063-1067. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arn067

Cleaner fish cause predators to reduce aggression toward bystanders at cleaning stations

2008

Journal Article

The role of avoidance learning in an aggressive mimicry system

Cheney, K. L. (2008). The role of avoidance learning in an aggressive mimicry system. Behavioral Ecology, 19 (3), 583-588. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arn001

The role of avoidance learning in an aggressive mimicry system

2008

Journal Article

Non-kin egg cannibalism and group nest-raiding by Caribbean sergeant major damselfish (Abudefduf saxatilis)

Cheney, K. L. (2008). Non-kin egg cannibalism and group nest-raiding by Caribbean sergeant major damselfish (Abudefduf saxatilis). Coral Reefs, 27 (1), 115-115. doi: 10.1007/s00338-007-0324-9

Non-kin egg cannibalism and group nest-raiding by Caribbean sergeant major damselfish (Abudefduf saxatilis)

2008

Journal Article

Cleaners Clean Cleaner Mimics

Cheney, K. L. and Eckes, M. (2008). Cleaners Clean Cleaner Mimics. Coral Reefs, 27 (3), 527-527. doi: 10.1007/s00338-008-0360-0

Cleaners Clean Cleaner Mimics

2008

Journal Article

Facultative mimicry: Cues for colour change and colour accuracy in a coral reef fish

Cheney, Karen L., Grutter, Alexandra S. and Marshall, N. Justin (2008). Facultative mimicry: Cues for colour change and colour accuracy in a coral reef fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, 275 (1631), 117-122. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2007.0966

Facultative mimicry: Cues for colour change and colour accuracy in a coral reef fish

2007

Journal Article

A protective function for aggressive mimicry?

Cote, Isabelle M. and Cheney, Karen L. (2007). A protective function for aggressive mimicry?. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 274 (1624), 2445-2448. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2007.0797

A protective function for aggressive mimicry?

2007

Journal Article

Aggressive mimics profit from a model-signal receiver mutualism

Cheney, K. L. and Cote, I. M. (2007). Aggressive mimics profit from a model-signal receiver mutualism. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Containing Papers of a Biological Character, 274 (1622), 2087-2091. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2007.0543

Aggressive mimics profit from a model-signal receiver mutualism

2005

Journal Article

Animal mimicry: Choosing when to be a cleaner-fish mimic

Côté, Isabella M. and Cheney, Karen L. (2005). Animal mimicry: Choosing when to be a cleaner-fish mimic. Nature, 433 (7023), 211-212. doi: 10.1038/433211a

Animal mimicry: Choosing when to be a cleaner-fish mimic

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

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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

Need help?

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