Professor Gregory Webb
Professor

Gregory Webb

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52181

Background

Prof. Gregory E. Webb is a palaeontologist and carbonate sedimentologist who has occupied the Dorothy Hill Chair of Palaeontology and Stratigraphy at the University of Queensland since 2011. He is the head of the Integrated Palaeoenvironmental Research Group in the School of Earth Sciences. He obtained his BSc in Geology with highest honours at the University of Oklahoma (OU-1983) followed by an MSc in Geology (OU-1984) and a PhD in Palaeontology at The University of Queensland in 1989. His research interests are clustered within the fields of carbonate petrology, reef palaeobiology, geomicrobiology, carbonate geochemistry and carbonate stratigraphy. These fields have major implications for understanding Earth history, palaeoclimatology, and mineral and energy exploration. In general, Prof. Webb's research focuses on understanding how organisms make rocks – how the biosphere interacts with the lithosphere through time - and how those rocks are preserved and how they record evidence of past environmental conditions in their geochemistry.

Availability

Professor Gregory Webb is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Geochemistry Geology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Oklahoma
  • Masters (Research) of Science, University of Oklahoma
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research impacts

Key impacts of Prof. Webb's research include: demonstration of the role of microbes in reef building through geological time; establishment of the value of modern and ancient microbialites as proxies for environmental geochemical signatures; application of environmental geochemistry to new coral reef samples made available through UQ's new research vessel the RV D Hill and to late Pleistocene vertebrate remains in Queensland that demonstrate recent, pre-anthropogenic changes in Queensland's climate. The integration of well dated fossil remains from both terrestrial and marine environments with high quality geochemical analysis allows specific hypotheses to be tested that provide information directly useful for testing climate models and the effects of pre-instrumental climate change and anthropogenic forcing on Australian faunas and ecosystems.

Search Professor Gregory Webb’s works on UQ eSpace

153 works between 1984 and 2025
All (153) Journal Article (127) Other Outputs (1) Conference Publication (16) Book Chapter (9)

41 - 60 of 153 works

2017

Journal Article

High-resolution hyperspectral imaging of diagenesis and clays in fossil coral reef material: a nondestructive tool for improving environmental and climate reconstructions

Murphy, R.J., Webster, J.M., Nothdurft, L., Dechnik, B., McGregor, H.V., Patterson, M.A., Sanborn, K.L., Webb, G.E., Kearney, L.I., Rintoul, L. and Erler, D.V. (2017). High-resolution hyperspectral imaging of diagenesis and clays in fossil coral reef material: a nondestructive tool for improving environmental and climate reconstructions. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 18 (8), 3209-3230. doi: 10.1002/2017GC006949

High-resolution hyperspectral imaging of diagenesis and clays in fossil coral reef material: a nondestructive tool for improving environmental and climate reconstructions

2017

Journal Article

Building biogenic beachrock: visualizing microbially-mediated carbonate cement precipitation using XFM and a strontium tracer

McCutcheon, Jenine, Nothdurft, Luke D., Webb, Gregory E., Shuster, Jeremiah, Nothdurft, Linda, Paterson, David and Southam, Gordon (2017). Building biogenic beachrock: visualizing microbially-mediated carbonate cement precipitation using XFM and a strontium tracer. Chemical Geology, 465, 21-34. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.05.019

Building biogenic beachrock: visualizing microbially-mediated carbonate cement precipitation using XFM and a strontium tracer

2017

Journal Article

The evolution of the Great Barrier Reef during the Last Interglacial Period

Dechnik, Belinda, Webster, Jody M., Webb, Gregory E., Nothdurft, Luke, Dutton, Andrea, Braga, Juan-Carlos, Zhao, Jian-xin, Duce, Stephanie and Sadler, James (2017). The evolution of the Great Barrier Reef during the Last Interglacial Period. Global and Planetary Change, 149, 53-71. doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2016.11.018

The evolution of the Great Barrier Reef during the Last Interglacial Period

2017

Journal Article

Successive phases of Holocene reef flat development: evidence from the mid- to outer Great Barrier Reef

Dechnik, Belinda, Webster, Jody M., Webb, Gregory E., Nothdurft, Luke and Zhao, Jian-xin (2017). Successive phases of Holocene reef flat development: evidence from the mid- to outer Great Barrier Reef. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 466, 221-230. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.11.030

Successive phases of Holocene reef flat development: evidence from the mid- to outer Great Barrier Reef

2016

Journal Article

Global microbial carbonate proliferation after the end- Devonian mass extinction: mainly controlled by demise of skeletal bioconstructors

Yao, Le, Aretz, Markus, Chen, Jitao, Webb, Gregory E. and Wang, Xiangdong (2016). Global microbial carbonate proliferation after the end- Devonian mass extinction: mainly controlled by demise of skeletal bioconstructors. Scientific Reports, 6 (39694) 39694, 39694. doi: 10.1038/srep39694

Global microbial carbonate proliferation after the end- Devonian mass extinction: mainly controlled by demise of skeletal bioconstructors

2016

Journal Article

Earliest Mississippian rugose corals of eastern Australia: post-disaster fauna across the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary?

Denayer, Julien and Webb, Gregory E. (2016). Earliest Mississippian rugose corals of eastern Australia: post-disaster fauna across the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary?. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 97 (3), 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s12549-016-0261-0

Earliest Mississippian rugose corals of eastern Australia: post-disaster fauna across the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary?

2016

Journal Article

Beachrock formation via microbial dissolution and re-precipitation of carbonate minerals

McCutcheon, Jenine, Nothdurft, Luke D., Webb, Gregory E., Paterson, David and Southam, Gordon (2016). Beachrock formation via microbial dissolution and re-precipitation of carbonate minerals. Marine Geology, 382, 122-135. doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2016.10.010

Beachrock formation via microbial dissolution and re-precipitation of carbonate minerals

2016

Journal Article

In search of early life: carbonate veins in Archean metamorphic rocks as potential hosts of biomarkers

Peters, Carl A., Piazolo, Sandra, Webb, Gregory E., Dutkiewicz, Adriana and George, Simon C. (2016). In search of early life: carbonate veins in Archean metamorphic rocks as potential hosts of biomarkers. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 453, 44-55. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.08.003

In search of early life: carbonate veins in Archean metamorphic rocks as potential hosts of biomarkers

2016

Journal Article

Modern lacustrine microbialites: towards a synthesis of aqueous and carbonate geochemistry and mineralogy

Chagas, Anderson A.P., Webb, Gregory E., Burne, Robert V. and Southam, Gordon (2016). Modern lacustrine microbialites: towards a synthesis of aqueous and carbonate geochemistry and mineralogy. Earth-Science Reviews, 162, 338-363. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2016.09.012

Modern lacustrine microbialites: towards a synthesis of aqueous and carbonate geochemistry and mineralogy

2016

Journal Article

Significance of shallow core transects for reef models and sea-level curves, Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef

Webb, Gregory E., Nothdurft, Luke D., Zhao, Jian-Xin, Opdyke, Bradley and Price, Gilbert (2016). Significance of shallow core transects for reef models and sea-level curves, Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef. Sedimentology , 63 (6), 1396-1424. doi: 10.1111/sed.12266

Significance of shallow core transects for reef models and sea-level curves, Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef

2016

Journal Article

Reef core insights into mid-Holocene water temperatures of the southern Great Barrier Reef

Sadler, James, Webb, Gregory E., Leonard, Nicole D., Nothdurft, Luke D. and Clark, Tara R. (2016). Reef core insights into mid-Holocene water temperatures of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Paleoceanography, 31 (10), 1395-1408. doi: 10.1002/2016PA002943

Reef core insights into mid-Holocene water temperatures of the southern Great Barrier Reef

2016

Journal Article

Chaetetes morphology, environment, and taxonomy

Stanton, Robert J., Lambert, Lance L., Webb, Gregory E. and Lustig, Lidia D. (2016). Chaetetes morphology, environment, and taxonomy. Facies, 62 (4) 29. doi: 10.1007/s10347-016-0479-3

Chaetetes morphology, environment, and taxonomy

2016

Journal Article

Coral skeletal geochemistry as a monitor of inshore water quality

Saha, Narottam, Webb, Gregory E. and Zhao, Jian-Xin (2016). Coral skeletal geochemistry as a monitor of inshore water quality. Science of the Total Environment, 566-567, 652-684. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.066

Coral skeletal geochemistry as a monitor of inshore water quality

2016

Journal Article

Shoal-water dynamics and coastal biozones in a sheltered-island setting: Upper Devonian Pillara Limestone (Western Australia)

Baarli, B. Gudveig, Webb, Gregory E., Johnson, Markes E., Cook, Alex G. and Walsh, Daniel R. (2016). Shoal-water dynamics and coastal biozones in a sheltered-island setting: Upper Devonian Pillara Limestone (Western Australia). Lethaia, 49 (4), 507-523. doi: 10.1111/let.12162

Shoal-water dynamics and coastal biozones in a sheltered-island setting: Upper Devonian Pillara Limestone (Western Australia)

2016

Journal Article

Acropora interbranch skeleton Sr/Ca ratios: evaluation of a potential new high-resolution paleothermometer

Sadler, James, Nguyen, Ai D., Leonard, Nicole D., Webb, Gregory E. and Nothdurft, Luke D. (2016). Acropora interbranch skeleton Sr/Ca ratios: evaluation of a potential new high-resolution paleothermometer. Paleoceanography, 31 (4), 505-517. doi: 10.1002/2015PA002898

Acropora interbranch skeleton Sr/Ca ratios: evaluation of a potential new high-resolution paleothermometer

2016

Journal Article

Influence of hydrodynamic energy on Holocene reef flat accretion, Great Barrier Reef

Dechnik, Belinda, Webster, Jody M., Nothdurft, Luke, Webb, Gregory E., Zhao, Jian-xin, Duce, Stephanie, Braga, Juan C., Harris, Daniel L., Vila-Concejo, Ana and Puotinen, Marji (2016). Influence of hydrodynamic energy on Holocene reef flat accretion, Great Barrier Reef. Quaternary Research, 85 (1), 44-53. doi: 10.1016/j.yqres.2015.11.002

Influence of hydrodynamic energy on Holocene reef flat accretion, Great Barrier Reef

2015

Journal Article

Septate gastropods from the Upper Devonian of the Canning Basin: implications for palaeoecology

Cook, Alex G., Jell, Peter A., Webb, Gregory E., Johnson, Markes E. and Baarli, B. Gudveig (2015). Septate gastropods from the Upper Devonian of the Canning Basin: implications for palaeoecology. Alcheringa, 39 (4), 519-524. doi: 10.1080/03115518.2015.1044339

Septate gastropods from the Upper Devonian of the Canning Basin: implications for palaeoecology

2015

Journal Article

Temporal overlap of humans and giant lizards (Varanidae; Squamata) in Pleistocene Australia

Price, Gilbert J., Louys, Julien, Cramb, Jonathan, Feng, Yue-xing, Zhao, Jian-xin, Hocknull, Scott A., Webb, Gregory E., Nguyen, Ai Duc and Joannes-Boyau, Renaud (2015). Temporal overlap of humans and giant lizards (Varanidae; Squamata) in Pleistocene Australia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 125, 98-105. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.08.013

Temporal overlap of humans and giant lizards (Varanidae; Squamata) in Pleistocene Australia

2015

Journal Article

Large variations in the Holocene marine radiocarbon reservoir effect reflect ocean circulation and climatic changes

Hua, Quan, Webb, Gregory E., Zhao, Jian-xin, Nothdurft, Luke D., Lybolt, Matthew, Price, Gilbert J. and Opdyke, Bradley N. (2015). Large variations in the Holocene marine radiocarbon reservoir effect reflect ocean circulation and climatic changes. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 422, 33-44. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2015.03.049

Large variations in the Holocene marine radiocarbon reservoir effect reflect ocean circulation and climatic changes

2015

Journal Article

REE patterns of microbial carbonate and cements from Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) siliceous sponge mounds (Djebel Bou Dahar, High Atlas, Morocco)

Della Porta, Giovanna, Webb, Gregory E. and McDonald, Iain (2015). REE patterns of microbial carbonate and cements from Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) siliceous sponge mounds (Djebel Bou Dahar, High Atlas, Morocco). Chemical Geology, 400, 65-86. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2015.02.010

REE patterns of microbial carbonate and cements from Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) siliceous sponge mounds (Djebel Bou Dahar, High Atlas, Morocco)

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2028
    Reconstructing climate and coral mortality in the Coral Sea Marine Park
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Dating Holocene tufa deposits, major climate change on the Darling Downs, Queensland
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2018
    The history of late-Holocene relative sea level and coral reef flat carbonate production in the southern Great Barrier Reef
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program (ANSTO)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry (CGMS) - Achieving excellence in isotope geochemistry and geochronology
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Next-generation multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) with laser-ablation capability for in situ high-throughput and high resolution isotope dating and characterizat
    UQ Major Research Facility Fund
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program - AS133/XFM/7130: Differential diagenetic behaviour in oolitic limestones: controls on strain patitioning and silicification
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program - AS133/XFM/7225: Implications for biosphere in major and trace element distributions in terrestrial Fe-oxide deposits and oceanic Fe-Mn-oxide accumulations
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Confocal microscope for high-resolution microtopographic analysis of surfaces in historical, forensic and polymer sciences (ARC LIEF Grant administered by The Flinders University of South Australia)
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program - AS131/XFM/5741: Trace metal distribution in contemporary versus paleo-reef-microbialites: Implications for microbial activity, ocean chemistry & paleocli
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Tahiti coral reefs as a natural laboratory for studying coral and microbialite diagenesis IODP Leg 110 Tahiti Sea Level
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2018
    Geomorphological development of coral reefs, southern Great Barrier Reef: an integrated record of Holocene palaeoecology and palaeoclimate from cores
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012
    The Geomicrobiology Laboratory
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2016
    Australian drilling program: biomarkers, oxygen and geobiology
    Macquarie University
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Refined reservoir correction for radiocarbon dating of the southern Great Barrier Reef based on U-series dated corals
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Gregory Webb is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Springbok Sandstone; implications for aquifer connectivity and coal seam gas development in the Surat Basin

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Phil Hayes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Advanced dating techniques for establishing the history of the Great Barrier Reef

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jianxin Zhao, Dr Daniel Harris

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The palaeobiogeographical significance of the Carboniferous flora and fauna assemblage at Hannam's Gap, Queensland

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Gilbert Price

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Tectonic Geomorphology of the Great Barrier Reef: the contribution of geological structures to reef growth and geomorphology

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn, Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema, Dr Daniel Harris

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Late Quaternary faunas and cave fossil deposits of north Queensland, Australia

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Gilbert Price

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Application of new technologies to rapidly evaluate critical metals in drill core and waste materials

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Micklethwaite

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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