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)

121 - 131 of 131 works

2005

Journal Article

Mutualism or parasitism? The variable outcome of cleaning symbioses

Cheney, KL and Cote, IM (2005). Mutualism or parasitism? The variable outcome of cleaning symbioses. Biology Letters, 1 (2), 162-165. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2004.0288

Mutualism or parasitism? The variable outcome of cleaning symbioses

2005

Journal Article

Frequency-dependent success of aggressive mimics in a cleaning symbiosis

Cheney, K. L. and Cote, I. M. (2005). Frequency-dependent success of aggressive mimics in a cleaning symbiosis. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Containing Papers of a Biological Character, 272 (1581), 2635-2639. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3256

Frequency-dependent success of aggressive mimics in a cleaning symbiosis

2004

Journal Article

In situ evidence for ectoparasites as a proximate cause of cleaning interactions in reef fish

Sikkel, PC, Cheney, KL and Cote, IM (2004). In situ evidence for ectoparasites as a proximate cause of cleaning interactions in reef fish. Animal Behaviour, 68 (2), 241-247. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2003.10.023

In situ evidence for ectoparasites as a proximate cause of cleaning interactions in reef fish

2004

Journal Article

Distance-dependent costs and benefits of aggressive mimicry in a cleaning symbiosis

Cote, IM and Cheney, KL (2004). Distance-dependent costs and benefits of aggressive mimicry in a cleaning symbiosis. Proceedings of The Royal Society of London Series B-biological Sciences, 271 (1557), 2627-2630. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2004.2904

Distance-dependent costs and benefits of aggressive mimicry in a cleaning symbiosis

2003

Journal Article

Costs and benefits of a cleaning mutualism

Cheney, K. L. and Cote, I. M. (2003). Costs and benefits of a cleaning mutualism. Journal of Fish Biology, 63 (s1), 228-228. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2003.0216f.x

Costs and benefits of a cleaning mutualism

2003

Journal Article

The ultimate effect of being cleaned: does ectoparasite removal have reproductive consequences for damselfish clients?

Cheney, KL and Cote, IM (2003). The ultimate effect of being cleaned: does ectoparasite removal have reproductive consequences for damselfish clients?. Behavioral Ecology, 14 (6), 892-896. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arg079

The ultimate effect of being cleaned: does ectoparasite removal have reproductive consequences for damselfish clients?

2003

Journal Article

Habitat choice in adult longfin damselfish: territory characteristics and relocation times

Cheney, KL and Cote, IM (2003). Habitat choice in adult longfin damselfish: territory characteristics and relocation times. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology And Ecology, 287 (1), 1-12. doi: 10.1016/S0022-0981(02)00500-2

Habitat choice in adult longfin damselfish: territory characteristics and relocation times

2003

Journal Article

Do ectoparasites determine cleaner fish abundance? evidence on two spatial scales

Cheney, K. L. and Cote, I. M. (2003). Do ectoparasites determine cleaner fish abundance? evidence on two spatial scales. Marine Ecology-progress Series, 263, 189-196. doi: 10.3354/meps263189

Do ectoparasites determine cleaner fish abundance? evidence on two spatial scales

2003

Journal Article

Indirect consequences of parental care: sex differences in ectoparasite burden and cleaner-seeking activity in longfin damselfish

Cheney, K. L. and Cote, I. M. (2003). Indirect consequences of parental care: sex differences in ectoparasite burden and cleaner-seeking activity in longfin damselfish. Marine Ecology-progress Series, 262, 267-275. doi: 10.3354/meps262267

Indirect consequences of parental care: sex differences in ectoparasite burden and cleaner-seeking activity in longfin damselfish

2001

Journal Article

Are Caribbean cleaning symbioses mutualistic? Costs and benefits of visiting cleaning stations to longfin damselfish

Cheney, KL and Cote, IM (2001). Are Caribbean cleaning symbioses mutualistic? Costs and benefits of visiting cleaning stations to longfin damselfish. Animal Behaviour, 62 (5), 927-933. doi: 10.1006/anbe.2001.1832

Are Caribbean cleaning symbioses mutualistic? Costs and benefits of visiting cleaning stations to longfin damselfish

1999

Journal Article

Fishing effects in northeast Atlantic shelf seas: patterns in fishing effort, diversity and community structure VII. The effects of trawling disturbance on the fauna associated with the tubeheads of serpulid worms

Kaiser, MJ, Cheney, K, Spence, FE, Edwards, DB and Radford, K (1999). Fishing effects in northeast Atlantic shelf seas: patterns in fishing effort, diversity and community structure VII. The effects of trawling disturbance on the fauna associated with the tubeheads of serpulid worms. Fisheries Research, 40 (2), 195-205. doi: 10.1016/S0165-7836(98)00212-4

Fishing effects in northeast Atlantic shelf seas: patterns in fishing effort, diversity and community structure VII. The effects of trawling disturbance on the fauna associated with the tubeheads of serpulid worms

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

    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

    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

    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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