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Emeritus Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
Emeritus Professor

Ove Hoegh-Guldberg

Email: 

Overview

Background

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg FAA; ARC Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and School of Biological Sciences.

Research Publications (>440 publications, see list and impact Google Scholar). For full Curriculum vitae, click here.

BIOGRAPHY

Ove Hoegh-Guldberg is Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia Over the past 10 years he was Founding Director of the Global Change Institute (details here) and is Deputy Director of the Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies (www.coralcoe.org.au, since 2006) and Affiliated Professor in Tropical Marine Biology at the University of Copenhagen (2016-present). Ove’s research focuses on the impacts of global change on marine ecosystems and is one of the most cited authors on climate change. In addition to pursuing scientific discovery, Ove has had a 20-year history in leading research organisations such as the Centre for Marine Studies (including 3 major research stations over 2000-2009) and the Global Change Institute, both at the University of Queensland. These roles have seen him raise more than $150 million for research and infrastructure. He has also been a dedicated communicator of the threat posed by ocean warming and acidification to marine ecosystems, being one of the first scientists to identify the serious threat posed by climate change for coral reefs in a landmark paper published in 1999 (Mar.Freshwater Res 50:839-866), which predicted the loss of coral reefs by 2050. Since that time, Ove led global discussions and action on the science and solutions to rapid climate change via high profile international roles such as the Coordinating Lead Author for the ‘Oceans’ chapter for the Fifth Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Coordinating Lead Author on the Impacts chapter of the IPCC Special report on 1.5oC. In addition to this work, Ove conceived and led the scientific XL-Catlin Seaview Survey (details here) which has surveyed over 1000 km of coral reefs across 25 countries (details here) and which captured and analysed over 1 million survey images of coral reefs. These images and data are available to the scientific community and others via an online database: (details here).

Developing these resources is part of Ove’s current push to understand and support solutions to global change with partners such as WWF International: (details here). As scientific lead, Ove has been steering a global response to the identification of 50 sites globally that are less exposed to climate change (Beyer et al 2018, Hoegh-Guldberg et al. 2018), working with WWF International to assemble a global partnership across seven countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Cuba, East Africa, Madagascar and Fiji; Coral Reef Rescue Initiative). Scientific papers published by Ove cover significant contributions to the physiology, ecology, environmental politics, and climate change. Some of Ove’s most significant scientific contributions have been recognised by leading journals such as Science and Nature (Hoegh-Guldberg and Bruno 2010; Hoegh-Guldberg et al. 2007; Hoegh-Guldberg et al. 2019a,b), scores of invited talks and plenaries over the past 20 years, plus his appointment as significant international roles e.g. Coordinating Lead Author of Chapter 30 (“The Oceans”) for the 5th Assessment Report, as well as Coordinating Lead Author for Chapter 3 (Impacts) on the special report on the implications of 1.5oC (for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC).

Listen to a recent interview of Ove by Jonica Newby for the ABC Science Show.

Availability

Emeritus Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Research interests

  • Climate change and tropical coastal ecosystems

    The impacts of climate change on tropical coastal ecosystems are rapidly expanding and are seriously affecting natural and human systems. Key changes include rapid increases in sea temperatures, acidification, sea level and intensifying storms, which cause significant and usually negative changes to the distribution and abundance of coastal marine species. These impacts can have significant consequences for the health and food security of the over 500 million people that depend on these coastal ecosystems for food and livelihood. Our group is interested in helping fill these gaps to understand better how the future will unfold for tropical coastal ecosystems.

  • Can remote learning (MOOCs) help build capacity in tropical coastal management?

    Remote learning tools (such as Massive Open Online Courses or MOOCs) who great potential to assist in tropical coastal management, mainly as they provide an opportunity to exchange information from experts worldwide at low cost. In addition, MOOCs can be a good way for professionals to stay updated with the latest research and technologies in tropical coastal management, helping improve their skills and knowledge. In this regard, MOOCs can also be a valuable resource for people interested in tropical coastal management but who do not have the opportunity to pursue formal education in the field. By creating MOOCs, individuals can learn about tropical coastal management and gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that are present in this field. Over the next two years, we have funding from the UN GEF and GCF programs to build 3-4 courses in partnership with WWF, NGOs and seven developing countries with considerable stakes in improving the health of coral reefs and related ecosystems. The participating countries include Madagascar, Tanzania, Indonesia, the Philippines, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Cuba.

  • Strategies for responding to climate change in tropical coastal settings.

    Several major strategies can be used to respond to the impacts of climate change in impoverished coastal areas of the tropics. These strategies can help reduce the risks and negative impacts of climate change and provide opportunities for economic and social development in these areas. Some of the key parts of a strategy include: Adaptation: This involves taking steps to reduce the vulnerability of communities and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. This can include measures such as building natural barriers and other protective infrastructure, improving early warning systems, and implementing sustainable coastal practices and barriers. Mitigation: This involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions and slowing the rate of climate change. This can be achieved through various measures, such as increasing renewable energy sources, reducing deforestation, and improving energy efficiency. Community-based adaptation: This involves working with local communities to identify and address their specific needs and concerns related to climate change. This can involve providing education and training and supporting community-led initiatives to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Ecosystem-based adaptation: This involves using natural systems, such as coastal forests, mangroves, and coral reefs, to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. For example, mangroves can provide natural protection against storms, sediment runoff and flooding, and forests can absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Green infrastructure: This involves investing in infrastructure designed to be environmentally sustainable and resilient to the impacts of climate change. This can include measures such as reforestation, MPA design, and sustainable coastal practices.

Research impacts

Ove has produced >440 peer-reviewed research publications (see list and impact, Google Scholar). Ove is one of the most cited Australian science authors (and 3rd internationally of 53,136 authors) on “climate change” by Thomson-Reuter’s ISI Web of Science (details here) in 2009. This represents a group of less than 0.5% of all published scientific researchers worldwide. This has been updated recently with Ove being a member of the top 0.01% most productive scientists globally (Ioannidis et al. 2019) PLoS biology, 17(8), p.e3000384.). Ove received numerous awards from Thomson Reuters (e.g. Citation Award Winner in Ecology Thomson Reuters Citation & Innovation Award in 2012). Ove’s H-index is 124 (Google Scholar, Jan 2023), with a total number of citations of his work being 93,904 He have received several awards from Thomson-Reuters and now Clarivate Analytics (see above). He has been awarded a Eureka Prize for his scientific research, a QLD Premier’s fellowship, and later ARC Laureate Fellow. He was elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 2013 and has been instrumental in ensuring the most accurate science is communicated through appointments as Chief Scientist to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (20 years) and the Coral Reef Rescue Initiative (4 years). He received the Prince Albert II 2014 Award for Climate Change, and the 2016 International Award from the Banksia Foundation. He has been recognised as a Highly Cited Researcher in 2001, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2021 (top 1% of his field) and was listed among the 100 most influential people in Climate Policy globally (List available at Apolitical: (details here). As a coordinating Lead Author of two major reports (SR 1.5oC, AR5 Oceans report) and as Reviewing editor for AR6 Australian and NZ report, Ove and IPCC leaders received the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity in 2022 (Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity).

Works

Search Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg’s works on UQ eSpace

410 works between 1982 and 2025

81 - 100 of 410 works

2017

Journal Article

Symbiotic plasticity of Symbiodinium in a common excavating sponge

Fang, James K. H., Schonberg, Christine H. L. , Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Dove, Sophie (2017). Symbiotic plasticity of Symbiodinium in a common excavating sponge. Marine Biology, 164 (5) 104. doi: 10.1007/s00227-017-3088-y

Symbiotic plasticity of Symbiodinium in a common excavating sponge

2017

Journal Article

Key functional role of the optical properties of coral skeletons in coral ecology and evolution

Enriquez, Susana, Mendez, Eugenio R., Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Iglesias-Prieto, Roberto (2017). Key functional role of the optical properties of coral skeletons in coral ecology and evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284 (1853) 20161667, 20161667. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1667

Key functional role of the optical properties of coral skeletons in coral ecology and evolution

2017

Journal Article

Photoacclimatory and photoprotective responses to cold versus heat stress in high latitude reef corals

Pontasch, Stefanie, Fisher, Paul L. , Krueger, Thomas, Dove, Sophie, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Leggat, William and Davy, Simon K. (2017). Photoacclimatory and photoprotective responses to cold versus heat stress in high latitude reef corals. Journal of Phycology, 53 (2), 308-321. doi: 10.1111/jpy.12492

Photoacclimatory and photoprotective responses to cold versus heat stress in high latitude reef corals

2017

Journal Article

Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) community patterns in invertebrate hosts from inshore marginal reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Tonk, Linda, Sampayo, Eugenia M. , Chai, Aaron, Schrameyer, Verena and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2017). Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) community patterns in invertebrate hosts from inshore marginal reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Journal of Phycology, 53 (3), 589-600. doi: 10.1111/jpy.12523

Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) community patterns in invertebrate hosts from inshore marginal reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

2017

Journal Article

Deep reefs are not universal refuges: Reseeding potential varies among coral species

Bongaerts, Pim, Riginos, Cynthia, Brunner, Ramona, Englebert, Norbert, Smith, Struan R. and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2017). Deep reefs are not universal refuges: Reseeding potential varies among coral species. Science Advances, 3 (2) e1602373, 1-12. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1602373

Deep reefs are not universal refuges: Reseeding potential varies among coral species

2017

Journal Article

Lower mesophotic coral communities (60-125 m depth) of the northern great barrier reef and coral sea

Englebert, Norbert, Bongaerts, Pim, Muir, Paul R., Hay, Kyra B., Pichon, Michel and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2017). Lower mesophotic coral communities (60-125 m depth) of the northern great barrier reef and coral sea. PLoS One, 12 (2) e0170336, e0170336. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170336

Lower mesophotic coral communities (60-125 m depth) of the northern great barrier reef and coral sea

2017

Journal Article

Studying interactions between excavating sponges and massive corals by the use of hybrid cores

Fang, James K. H., Mason, Robert A. B., Schonberg, Christine H. L. , Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Dove, Sophie (2017). Studying interactions between excavating sponges and massive corals by the use of hybrid cores. Marine Ecology, 38 (1) e12393. doi: 10.1111/maec.12393

Studying interactions between excavating sponges and massive corals by the use of hybrid cores

2017

Journal Article

Microbiome variation in corals with distinct depth distribution ranges across a shallow–mesophotic gradient (15–85 m)

Glasl, Bettina, Bongaerts, Pim, Elisabeth, Nathalie H., Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove , Herndl, Gerhard J. and Frade, Pedro R. (2017). Microbiome variation in corals with distinct depth distribution ranges across a shallow–mesophotic gradient (15–85 m). Coral Reefs, 36 (2), 1-6. doi: 10.1007/s00338-016-1517-x

Microbiome variation in corals with distinct depth distribution ranges across a shallow–mesophotic gradient (15–85 m)

2016

Journal Article

Symbiodinium biogeography tracks environmental patterns rather than host genetics in a key Caribbean reef-builder, Orbicella annularis

Kennedy, Emma V., Tonk, Linda, Foster, Nicola L., Chollett, Iliana, Ortiz, Juan-Carlos, Dove, Sophie, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Mumby, Peter J. and Stevens, Peter J. (2016). Symbiodinium biogeography tracks environmental patterns rather than host genetics in a key Caribbean reef-builder, Orbicella annularis. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283 (1842) 20161938, 20161938. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1938

Symbiodinium biogeography tracks environmental patterns rather than host genetics in a key Caribbean reef-builder, Orbicella annularis

2016

Journal Article

Coral symbioses under prolonged environmental change: living near tolerance range limits

Sampayo, Eugenia M., Ridgway, Tyrone, Francechinis, Lorenzo, Roff, George, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Dove, Sophie (2016). Coral symbioses under prolonged environmental change: living near tolerance range limits. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 36271, 36271. doi: 10.1038/srep36271

Coral symbioses under prolonged environmental change: living near tolerance range limits

2016

Journal Article

Ocean acidification: linking science to management solutions using the Great Barrier Reef as a case study

Albright, Rebecca, Anthony, Kenneth R. N., Baird, Mark, Beeden, Roger, Byrne, Maria, Collier, Catherine, Dove, Sophie, Fabricius, Katharina, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Kelly, Ryan P., Lough, Janice, Mongin, Mathieu, Munday, Philip L., Pears, Rachel J., Russell, Bayden D., Tilbrook, Bronte and Abal, Eva (2016). Ocean acidification: linking science to management solutions using the Great Barrier Reef as a case study. Journal of Environmental Management, 182, 641-650. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.07.038

Ocean acidification: linking science to management solutions using the Great Barrier Reef as a case study

2016

Other Outputs

Reviving Melanesia's ocean economy: the case for action

Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Ridgway, Tyrone (2016). Reviving Melanesia's ocean economy: the case for action. Gland, Switzerland:

Reviving Melanesia's ocean economy: the case for action

2016

Journal Article

Reconciling development and conservation under coastal squeeze from rising sea-level

Mills, Morena, Leon, Javier X., Saunders, Megan I., Bell, Justine, Liu, Yan, O’Mara, Julian, Lovelock, Catherine E., Mumby, Peter J., Phinn, Stuart, Possingham, Hugh P., Tulloch, Vigitskaia, Mutafoglu, Konar, Morrison, Tiffany, Callaghan, David, Baldock, Tom, Klein, Carissa and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2016). Reconciling development and conservation under coastal squeeze from rising sea-level. Conservation Letters, 9 (5), 361-368. doi: 10.1111/conl.12213

Reconciling development and conservation under coastal squeeze from rising sea-level

2016

Journal Article

Implications of the Paris agreement for the ocean

Magnan, Alexandre K., Colombier, Michel, Bille, Raphael, Joos, Fortunat, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Portner, Hans-Otto, Waisman, Henri, Spencer, Thomas and Gattuso, Jean-Pierre (2016). Implications of the Paris agreement for the ocean. Nature Climate Change, 6 (8), 732-735. doi: 10.1038/nclimate3038

Implications of the Paris agreement for the ocean

2016

Journal Article

Responses of marine organisms to climate change across oceans

Poloczanska, Elvira S., Burrows, Michael T., Brown, Christopher J., Molinos, Jorge Garcia, Halpern, Benjamin S., Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Kappel, Carrie Vanessa, Moore, Pippa, Richardson, Anthony, Schoeman, David and Sydeman, David (2016). Responses of marine organisms to climate change across oceans. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3 (MAY) 62. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2016.00062

Responses of marine organisms to climate change across oceans

2016

Journal Article

Day–night ecophysiology of the photosymbiotic bioeroding sponge Cliona orientalis Thiele, 1900

Fang, James K.H., Schonberg, Christine H.L., Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Dove, Sophie (2016). Day–night ecophysiology of the photosymbiotic bioeroding sponge Cliona orientalis Thiele, 1900. Marine Biology, 163 (5) 100, 100.1-100.12. doi: 10.1007/s00227-016-2848-4

Day–night ecophysiology of the photosymbiotic bioeroding sponge Cliona orientalis Thiele, 1900

2016

Journal Article

Multiple stressors and ecological complexity require a new approach to coral reef research

Pendleton, Linwood H., Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Langdon, Chris and Comte, Adrien (2016). Multiple stressors and ecological complexity require a new approach to coral reef research. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3 (MAR) 36. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2016.00036

Multiple stressors and ecological complexity require a new approach to coral reef research

2016

Journal Article

Scaling up ecological measurements of coral reefs using semi-automated field image collection and analysis

Gonzalez-Rivero, Manuel, Beijbom, Oscar, Rodriguez-Ramirez, Alberto, Holtrop, Tadzio, Gonzalez-Marrero, Yeray, Ganase, Anjani, Roelfsema, Chris, Phinn, Stuart and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2016). Scaling up ecological measurements of coral reefs using semi-automated field image collection and analysis. Remote Sensing, 8 (1) 30, 30. doi: 10.3390/rs8010030

Scaling up ecological measurements of coral reefs using semi-automated field image collection and analysis

2015

Journal Article

Signaling cascades and the importance of moonlight in coral broadcast mass spawning

Kaniewska, Paulina, Alon, Shahar, Karako-Lampert, Sarit, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Levy, Oren (2015). Signaling cascades and the importance of moonlight in coral broadcast mass spawning. eLife, 4 (e09991) e09991. doi: 10.7554/eLife.09991

Signaling cascades and the importance of moonlight in coral broadcast mass spawning

2015

Journal Article

Differential coral bleaching—contrasting the activity and response of enzymatic antioxidants in symbiotic partners under thermal stress

Krueger, Thomas, Hawkins, Thomas D., Becker, Susanne, Pontasch, Stefanie, Dove, Sophie, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Leggat, William, Fisher, Paul L. and Davy, Simon K. (2015). Differential coral bleaching—contrasting the activity and response of enzymatic antioxidants in symbiotic partners under thermal stress. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular and Integrative Physiology, 190, 15-25. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.08.012

Differential coral bleaching—contrasting the activity and response of enzymatic antioxidants in symbiotic partners under thermal stress

Supervision

Availability

Emeritus Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biodiversity studies
  • Biology and stress
  • Climate change and coral
  • Climate impacts on coral reef ecosystems
  • Climate projections
  • Coral - physiology
  • Coral bleaching
  • Coral ecology
  • Coral reefs
  • Ecological assessments
  • Ecology - corals
  • Global warming and marine life
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Marine botany
  • Molecular biology
  • Physiology of corals
  • Population genetics
  • Reproductive biology
  • Stress biology

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