
Overview
Background
My research focuses on reef recovery following disturbances, looking at the interplay between biological, ecological and physical drivers of recovery. After diving in the Galapagos, my interest in the marine environment was piqued, and I began a PhD in reef recovery dynamics in 2016, receiving my doctarate in 2021. My work is interdisplinary, incorporating aspects of marine geology and hydrodynamics to the core focus of marine ecology. I have investigated how coral recruitment is affected by material legacies (rubble) on coral reefs, how these legacies are affected by the physical environment (mobilisation thesholds) and how marine invertebrates consolidate this material, contributing to reef recovery. My research focuses largely on natural recovery potential, but I also investigate the efficacy of reef restoration techniques in the marine environment, such as mesh netting and metal structures, and where they can speed recovery. My work has spanned multiple regions, including the Maldives, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Coral Triangle.
Availability
- Dr Tania Kenyon is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
Reef recovery and restoration
Broadly, I study the dynamics and processes underlying the recovery of coral reefs following disturbances, particularly those that break up the reef into rubble. I have a keen interest in marine invertebrates including scleractinian corals, with a particular focus on those that reside on coral reefs and contribute to the consolidation of rubble. I also focus on hydrodynamics in the marine environment, and how waves and currents affect recovery times on disturbed reefs. My research focuses on both natural recovery potential, and recovery following the deployment of a variety of reef restoration methods.
Works
Search Professor Tania Kenyon’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Structural and hydrodynamic modelling of the probability of breakage of branching and plate coral colonies
Deng, Wen, Eigeland, Karen, Kenyon, Tania, Callaghan, David P. and Baldock, Tom E. (2025). Structural and hydrodynamic modelling of the probability of breakage of branching and plate coral colonies. Coastal Engineering, 195 104647, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2024.104647
2025
Journal Article
Bio-degradable ‘reef bags’ used for rubble stabilisation and their impact on rubble stability, binding, coral recruitment and fish occupancy
Kenyon, Tania M., Jones, Conor, Rissik, David, Brassil, Wills, Callaghan, David, Mattocks, Neil and Baldock, Tom E. (2025). Bio-degradable ‘reef bags’ used for rubble stabilisation and their impact on rubble stability, binding, coral recruitment and fish occupancy. Ecological Engineering, 210 107433, 107433. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107433
2024
Journal Article
Material Legacies on Coral Reefs: Rubble Length and Bed Thickness Are Key Drivers of Rubble Bed Recovery
Kenyon, Tania M., Eigeland, Karen, Wolfe, Kennedy, Paewai‐Huggins, Roima, Rowell, Devin, Dodgen, Tanya and Mumby, Peter J. (2024). Material Legacies on Coral Reefs: Rubble Length and Bed Thickness Are Key Drivers of Rubble Bed Recovery. Global Change Biology, 30 (11) e17574, e17574. doi: 10.1111/gcb.17574
2023
Journal Article
Mobilisation thresholds for coral rubble and consequences for windows of reef recovery
Kenyon, Tania M., Harris, Daniel, Baldock, Tom, Callaghan, David, Doropoulos, Christopher, Webb, Gregory, Newman, Steven P. and Mumby, Peter J. (2023). Mobilisation thresholds for coral rubble and consequences for windows of reef recovery. Biogeosciences, 20 (20), 4339-4357. doi: 10.5194/bg-20-4339-2023
2023
Journal Article
Hierarchical drivers of cryptic biodiversity on coral reefs
Wolfe, Kennedy, Kenyon, Tania M., Desbiens, Amelia, de la Motte, Kimberley and Mumby, Peter J. (2023). Hierarchical drivers of cryptic biodiversity on coral reefs. Ecological Monographs, 93 (3) e1586, 1-27. doi: 10.1002/ecm.1586
2022
Journal Article
Coral rubble dynamics in the Anthropocene and implications for reef recovery
Kenyon, Tania M., Doropoulos, Christopher, Wolfe, Kennedy, Webb, Gregory E., Dove, Sophie, Harris, Daniel and Mumby, Peter J. (2022). Coral rubble dynamics in the Anthropocene and implications for reef recovery. Limnology and Oceanography, 68 (1), 110-147. doi: 10.1002/lno.12254
2021
Journal Article
The potential for applying “Nonviolent Communication” in conservation science
Williams, Brooke A., Simmons, B. Alexander, Ward, Michelle, Beher, Jutta, Dean, Angela J., Nou, Tida, Kenyon, Tania M., Davey, Madeline, Melton, Courtney B., Stewart‐Sinclair, Phoebe J., Hammond, Niall L., Massingham, Emily and Klein, Carissa J. (2021). The potential for applying “Nonviolent Communication” in conservation science. Conservation Science and Practice, 3 (11) e540. doi: 10.1111/csp2.540
2021
Journal Article
The biology and ecology of coral rubble and implications for the future of coral reefs
Wolfe, Kennedy, Kenyon, Tania M. and Mumby, Peter J. (2021). The biology and ecology of coral rubble and implications for the future of coral reefs. Coral Reefs, 40 (6), 1769-1806. doi: 10.1007/s00338-021-02185-9
2021
Other Outputs
From Rubble to Reef: The physical and biological dynamics of coral reef rubble beds
Kenyon, Tania M. (2021). From Rubble to Reef: The physical and biological dynamics of coral reef rubble beds. PhD Thesis, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/30ab794
2020
Journal Article
The effects of rubble mobilisation on coral fragment survival, partial mortality and growth
Kenyon, Tania M., Doropoulos, Christopher, Dove, Sophie, Webb, Gregory E., Newman, Steven P., Sim, Clarence W. H., Arzan, Mohammed and Mumby, Peter J. (2020). The effects of rubble mobilisation on coral fragment survival, partial mortality and growth. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 533 151467, 151467. doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2020.151467
2020
Journal Article
Substrate stabilisation and small structures in coral restoration: State of knowledge, and considerations for management and implementation
Ceccarelli, Daniela M., McLeod, Ian M., Bostrom-Einarsson, Lisa, Bryan, Scott E., Chartrand, Kathryn M., Emslie, Michael J., Gibbs, Mark T., Rivero, Manuel Gonzalez, Hein, Margaux Y., Heyward, Andrew, Kenyon, Tania M., Lewis, Brett M., Mattocks, Neil, Newlands, Maxine, Schlappy, Marie-Lise, Suggett, David J. and Bay, Line K. (2020). Substrate stabilisation and small structures in coral restoration: State of knowledge, and considerations for management and implementation. PLoS ONE, 15 (10 October) e0240846, 1-27. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240846
2020
Journal Article
Conservation value of a subtropical reef in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, highlighted by citizen-science efforts
Grol, Monique G. G., Vercelloni, Julie, Kenyon, Tania M., Bayraktarov, Elisa, van den Berg, Cedric P., Harris, Daniel, Loder, Jennifer A., Mihaljević, Morana, Rowland, Phebe I. and Roelfsema, Chris M. (2020). Conservation value of a subtropical reef in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, highlighted by citizen-science efforts. Marine and Freshwater Research, 72 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.1071/mf19170
2019
Journal Article
Temporal effects of ocean warming and acidification on coral–algal competition
Brown, Kristen T., Bender-Champ, Dorothea, Kenyon, Tania M., Rémond, Camille, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Dove, Sophie (2019). Temporal effects of ocean warming and acidification on coral–algal competition. Coral Reefs, 38 (2), 297-309. doi: 10.1007/s00338-019-01775-y
2016
Journal Article
The effects of land use change on native dung beetle diversity and function in Australia's Wet Tropics
Kenyon, Tania M., Mayfield, Margaret M., Monteith, Geoff B. and Menendez, Rosa (2016). The effects of land use change on native dung beetle diversity and function in Australia's Wet Tropics. Austral Ecology, 41 (7), 797-808. doi: 10.1111/aec.12366
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Tania Kenyon is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Tania Kenyon directly for media enquiries about:
- coral
- coral reef
- disturbance recovery
- marine invertebrates
- reef restoration
- rubble
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