Dr Rebecca Cramp
Dr

Rebecca Cramp

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 58539

Background

I am a comparative and environmental physiologist based at the University of Queensland. My research focuses primarily how the environment constrains the physiology of invertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles. I have a highly diverse research program that incorporates fundamental, curiosity-driven research and increasingly, a more applied research agenda in the emerging field of conservation physiology. Conservation physiology explores the responses of organisms to anthropogenic threats and attempts to determine the ecophysiological constraints dictated by current conditions and future environmental change. My research interests encompass the general areas of osmo- and ion-regulation, digestive and thermal physiology, environmental drivers of physiological function (specifically immune function and disease susceptibility) and animal performance in anthropogenically modified environments.

Availability

Dr Rebecca Cramp is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Animal immunology Animal physiological ecology Animal physiology - biophysics Animal physiology - cell Animal physiology - systems Aquaculture Biological Sciences Comparative physiology Fish pests and diseases Fisheries management Fisheries sciences Vertebrate biology Zoology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Conservation Physiology

    Conservation physiology explores the responses of organisms to anthropogenic threats and attempts to determine the ecophysiological constraints dictated by current conditions and future environmental change. By taking a conservation physiology approach to studies of the impacts of environmental change on organisms, we can determine not only the degree of threat but most importantly an organisms’ capacity for acclimatisation/adaptation to these changes.

  • Integrative Physiology

Research impacts

My research program, incorporates fundamental, curiosity-driven research and increasingly, a more applied research agenda in the emerging field of conservation physiology. By taking a conservation physiology approach to studies of the impacts of environmental change on organisms, we can determine not only the degree of threat but most importantly an organisms’ capacity for acclimatisation/adaptation to these changes. Exploring how organisms cope at environmental extremes and predicting how they respond to environmental change is becoming increasingly important as ecosystems are modified and threatened by human activity and climate change.

Search Professor Rebecca Cramp’s works on UQ eSpace

130 works between 1999 and 2025
All (130) Journal Article (93) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (6) Other Outputs (28)

1 - 20 of 130 works

2025

Journal Article

High protein diets improve the growth of juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer) at elevated temperatures

Nuic, Barbara, Bowden, Alyssa, Rombenso, Artur, Simon, Cedric, Franklin, Craig E., Jago, Matthew, Smullen, Richard and Cramp, Rebecca L. (2025). High protein diets improve the growth of juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer) at elevated temperatures. Aquaculture, 595 741485, 741485. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741485

High protein diets improve the growth of juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer) at elevated temperatures

2024

Journal Article

Considering ultraviolet radiation in experimental biology: a neglected pervasive stressor

Hird, Coen, Lundsgaard, Niclas U., Downie, Adam T., Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2024). Considering ultraviolet radiation in experimental biology: a neglected pervasive stressor. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 227 (16). doi: 10.1242/jeb.247231

Considering ultraviolet radiation in experimental biology: a neglected pervasive stressor

2024

Other Outputs

Effects of high protein versus high lipid diet on juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer, performance at elevated temperature

Nuic Vidigal, Barbara, Franklin, Craig, Bowden, Alyssa and Cramp, Rebecca (2024). Effects of high protein versus high lipid diet on juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer, performance at elevated temperature. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/91eeb67

Effects of high protein versus high lipid diet on juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer, performance at elevated temperature

2024

Journal Article

Atlantic salmon <i>Salmo salar</i> do not prioritize digestion when energetic budgets are constrained by warming and hypoxia

Nuic, Barbara, Bowden, Alyssa, Franklin, Craig E. and Cramp, Rebecca L. (2024). Atlantic salmon Salmo salar do not prioritize digestion when energetic budgets are constrained by warming and hypoxia. Journal of Fish Biology, 104 (6), 1718-1731. doi: 10.1111/jfb.15693

Atlantic salmon <i>Salmo salar</i> do not prioritize digestion when energetic budgets are constrained by warming and hypoxia

2024

Journal Article

Dramatic genome-wide reprogramming of mRNA in hypometabolic muscle

Hudson, Nicholas J., Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2024). Dramatic genome-wide reprogramming of mRNA in hypometabolic muscle. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 272 110952, 110952. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2024.110952

Dramatic genome-wide reprogramming of mRNA in hypometabolic muscle

2024

Journal Article

Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-associated DNA damage

Hird, Coen, Flanagan, Emer, Franklin, Craig E. and Cramp, Rebecca L. (2024). Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-associated DNA damage. Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology, 341 (3), 272-281. doi: 10.1002/jez.2780

Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-associated DNA damage

2024

Journal Article

The interactive impacts of a constant reef stressor, ultraviolet radiation, with environmental stressors on coral physiology

Downie, Adam T., Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2024). The interactive impacts of a constant reef stressor, ultraviolet radiation, with environmental stressors on coral physiology. Science of The Total Environment, 907 168066, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168066

The interactive impacts of a constant reef stressor, ultraviolet radiation, with environmental stressors on coral physiology

2023

Other Outputs

Quantile regression for comparative physiologists

Hird, Coen, Franklin, Craig and Cramp, Rebecca (2023). Quantile regression for comparative physiologists. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/60f1bf8

Quantile regression for comparative physiologists

2023

Journal Article

Thermal compensation reduces DNA damage from UV radiation

Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2023). Thermal compensation reduces DNA damage from UV radiation. Journal of Thermal Biology, 117 103711, 103711. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103711

Thermal compensation reduces DNA damage from UV radiation

2023

Other Outputs

Atlantic salmon do not prioritise digestion when energetic budgets are constrained

Nuic Vidigal, Barbara, Franklin, Craig, Bowden, Alyssa and Cramp, Rebecca (2023). Atlantic salmon do not prioritise digestion when energetic budgets are constrained. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/98432b8

Atlantic salmon do not prioritise digestion when energetic budgets are constrained

2023

Journal Article

Carryover effects from environmental change in early life: an overlooked driver of the amphibian extinction crisis?

Lundsgaard, Niclas U., Hird, Coen, Doody, Kathleen A., Franklin, Craig E. and Cramp, Rebecca L. (2023). Carryover effects from environmental change in early life: an overlooked driver of the amphibian extinction crisis?. Global Change Biology, 29 (14), 3857-3868. doi: 10.1111/gcb.16726

Carryover effects from environmental change in early life: an overlooked driver of the amphibian extinction crisis?

2023

Journal Article

Sublethal consequences of ultraviolet radiation exposure on vertebrates: Synthesis through meta‐analysis

Downie, Adam T., Wu, Nicholas C., Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2023). Sublethal consequences of ultraviolet radiation exposure on vertebrates: Synthesis through meta‐analysis. Global Change Biology, 29 (23), 1-15. doi: 10.1111/gcb.16848

Sublethal consequences of ultraviolet radiation exposure on vertebrates: Synthesis through meta‐analysis

2023

Journal Article

Modelling prolonged stratification and hypoxia in dryland river waterholes during drought conditions

Zhai, Sherry Y., Huang, Peisheng, Marshall, Jonathan C., Lobegeiger, Jaye, Cramp, Rebecca L., Parisi, Monique A., Franklin, Craig E., Prior, Andrea, Kurucz, Kamilla and Hipsey, Matthew R. (2023). Modelling prolonged stratification and hypoxia in dryland river waterholes during drought conditions. Inland Waters, 13 (2), 272-292. doi: 10.1080/20442041.2023.2213629

Modelling prolonged stratification and hypoxia in dryland river waterholes during drought conditions

2023

Other Outputs

Cold-acclimation completely compensates UV radiation-induced DNA damage rate in amphibian larvae (Limnodynastes peronii)

Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca and Franklin, Craig (2023). Cold-acclimation completely compensates UV radiation-induced DNA damage rate in amphibian larvae (Limnodynastes peronii). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/221fbfe

Cold-acclimation completely compensates UV radiation-induced DNA damage rate in amphibian larvae (Limnodynastes peronii)

2023

Journal Article

Biological mechanisms matter in contemporary wildlife conservation

Cooke, Steven J., Madliger, Christine L., Lennox, Robert J., Olden, Julian D., Eliason, Erika J., Cramp, Rebecca L., Fuller, Andrea, Franklin, Craig E. and Seebacher, Frank (2023). Biological mechanisms matter in contemporary wildlife conservation. iScience, 26 (3) 106192, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106192

Biological mechanisms matter in contemporary wildlife conservation

2023

Book Chapter

The impact of the 2019–20 Australian wildfires on aquatic systems

Whiterod, Nick S., Lintermans, Mark, Cramp, Rebecca L., Franklin, Craig E., Kennard, Mark J., McCormack, Rob, Pearce, Luke, Raadik, Tarmo A., Ward, Michelle and Zukowski, Sylvia (2023). The impact of the 2019–20 Australian wildfires on aquatic systems. Australia's Megafires: Biodiversity Impacts and Lessons from 2019-2020. (pp. 59-77) edited by Libby Rumpff, Sarah M. Legge, Stephen van Leeuwen, Brendan A. Wintle and John C. Z. Woinarski. Melbourne, VIC Australia: CSIRO.

The impact of the 2019–20 Australian wildfires on aquatic systems

2023

Journal Article

Body size dictates physiological and behavioural responses to hypoxia and elevated water temperatures in Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii)

McPhee, Darren, Watson, Jabin R., Harding, Doug J., Prior, Andrea, Fawcett, James H., Franklin, Craig E and Cramp, Rebecca L (2023). Body size dictates physiological and behavioural responses to hypoxia and elevated water temperatures in Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii). Conservation Physiology, 11 (1) coac087, coac087. doi: 10.1093/conphys/coac087

Body size dictates physiological and behavioural responses to hypoxia and elevated water temperatures in Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii)

2023

Other Outputs

Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-induced DNA damage

Hird, Coen, Franklin, Craig and Cramp, Rebecca (2023). Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-induced DNA damage. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/f559345

Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-induced DNA damage

2023

Other Outputs

The ultraviolet microenvironment in freshwater ecosystems: implications for amphibians.

Hird, Coen, Franklin, Craig and Cramp, Rebecca (2023). The ultraviolet microenvironment in freshwater ecosystems: implications for amphibians.. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/0f81bde

The ultraviolet microenvironment in freshwater ecosystems: implications for amphibians.

2023

Other Outputs

The impacts of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on vertebrate physiology - Meta Analysis

Downie, Adam, Franklin, Craig, Cramp, Rebecca and Wu, Nicholas C (2023). The impacts of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on vertebrate physiology - Meta Analysis. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/a584096

The impacts of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on vertebrate physiology - Meta Analysis

Past funding

  • 2022
    Fish response to chronic hypoxia
    Queensland Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Between and Hot Place and Hypoxia: Modelling to support climate adaptation of Queensland's inland river waterholes (Qld Department of Environment and Science grant administered by UWA)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    ResTeach 2011 0.1 TFE School of Biological Sciences
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Rebecca Cramp is:
Available for supervision

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

Available projects

  • Physiological tools for the management of key native fish species in QLD waterways

    Many freshwater fish spawn in response to elevated flows. Water resource development can reduce flow magnitude, timing, frequency, duration and rate of change therefore negatively effecting the flow response required for spawning in native fish. While some aspects of fish spawning physiology and biology are well understood, many gaps remain and these gaps make it difficult to assess the impacts of water management policy on current and future species distributions. This project will focus on key water quality requirements for successful spawning and larval development in a range of native QLD fish species. This work will be used to inform Queensland water policy development.

  • Developing physiologically-informed models for balancing the protection of fish populations and water resource management in QLD waterways

    Increasing instances of environmental hypoxia in waterholes of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) represent a significant risk to the native fish populations that rely on these refuge environments to survive extended drought periods. Hypoxic conditions are known to cause widespread mass fish kills in the MDB, however little is known about the physiological mechanisms underpinning chronic hypoxia tolerance in Australian endemic fish species. This study will examine how freshwater fish physiologically and behaviourally respond to prolonged hypoxia and whether the mechanisms underpinning these responses allow fish to compensate for the negative impacts of hypoxia on physiological function. This project relates to on-going research by QLD government regarding the health and management of QLD Murray Darling Basin waterholes and their suitability as refugia for key native fish species

  • The effects of UV-B radiation on amphibian physiology and performance

    Climate change imposes increasingly variable environmental conditions that may be challenging to early life-history stages in animals with complex life histories, leading to detrimental physiological effects in later life. Yet, the latent nature of these carryover effects, combined with the long temporal scales over which they can manifest, means that this phenomenon remains understudied and is often overlooked in short-term studies limited to single life-history stages. This project will look at how ultraviolet B radiation impacts larval amphibian development and health in both short and longer term scales.

  • Effects of bushfire ash/smoke on aquatic animal physiology

    Ash and post fire sediment runoff into streams and waterbodies can compromise animal physiological function, with significant effects on short and long-term health and survival. As with most toxicants, the impacts are dependent on both the dose of the substance as well as the duration over which animals are exposed. The threshold tolerances of fish and other aquatic animals for ash and post-fire sediment loads in Australian waterways are unknown. The provision of this information would inform the management of waterway flows to both sufficiently dilute sediment slugs and ensure that they move through sensitive habitats quickly enough before they can adversely affect animal health. This project proposes to examine the effects of acute and chronic exposure to ash and/or post-fire runoff sediment on the physiological tolerance of Australian freshwater fish and invertebrates.

  • How does nitrate runoff from agriculture affect freshwater animals?

    Nitrate pollution in freshwater environments is caused by runoff from fertilisers, urban waste and debris. Despite evidence of the negative effects of nitrate on a range of aquatic taxa, it is considered to be relatively non-toxic, and after heavy rain, can found in concentrations up to 100 times the current guideline of 50 mg/l.This project will examine how nitrate interacts with other environmental stressors to affect the health and survival of aquatic animals. The outcomes of this work will feed into advice to improve the the management of water quality for threatened aquatic species.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Rebecca Cramp directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au