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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

101 - 120 of 410 works

2015

Journal Article

Transcriptomic changes in coral holobionts provide insights into physiological challenges of future climate and ocean change

Kaniewska, Paulina, Chan, Chon-Kit Kenneth, Kline, David, Ling, Edmund Yew Siang, Rosic, Nedeljka, Edwards, David, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Dove, Sophie (2015). Transcriptomic changes in coral holobionts provide insights into physiological challenges of future climate and ocean change. PLoS One, 10 (10) e0139223, 1-30. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139223

Transcriptomic changes in coral holobionts provide insights into physiological challenges of future climate and ocean change

2015

Journal Article

PH homeostasis during coral calcification in a free ocean CO2 enrichment (FOCE) experiment, Heron Island reef flat, Great Barrier Reef

Georgiou, Lucy, Falter, James, Trotter, Julie, Kline, David I., Holcomb, Michael, Dove, Sophie G., Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and McCulloch, Malcolm (2015). PH homeostasis during coral calcification in a free ocean CO2 enrichment (FOCE) experiment, Heron Island reef flat, Great Barrier Reef. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112 (43), 13219-13224. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1505586112

PH homeostasis during coral calcification in a free ocean CO2 enrichment (FOCE) experiment, Heron Island reef flat, Great Barrier Reef

2015

Journal Article

The coral core microbiome identifies rare bacterial taxa as ubiquitous endosymbionts

Ainsworth, Tracy D., Krause, Lutz, Bridge, Thomas, Torda, Gergely, Raina, Jean-Baptise, Zakrzewski, Martha, Gates, Ruth D., Padilla-Gamino, Jacqueline L., Spalding, Heather L., Smith, Celia, Woolsey, Erika S., Bourne, David G., Bongaerts, Pim, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Leggat, William (2015). The coral core microbiome identifies rare bacterial taxa as ubiquitous endosymbionts. The ISME Journal, 9 (10), 2261-2274. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2015.39

The coral core microbiome identifies rare bacterial taxa as ubiquitous endosymbionts

2015

Journal Article

The ReFuGe 2020 Consortium—using “omics” approaches to explore the adaptability and resilience of coral holobionts to environmental change

ReFuGe 2020 Consortium, Voolstra, Christian R, Miller, David J., Ragan, Mark A., Hoffmann, Ary A., Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Bourne, David G., Ball, Eldon E., Ying, Hua, Forêt, Sylvain, Takahashi, Shunichi, Weynberg, Karen D., van Oppen, Madeleine J. H., Morrow, Kathleen, Chan, Cheong Xin, Rosic, Nedeljka, Leggat, William, Sprungala, Susanne, Imelfort, Michael, Tyson, Gene W., Kassahn, Karin S., Lundgren, Petra B., Beeden, Roger J., Ravasi, Timothy, Berumen, Michael L., Abal, Eva and Fyffe, Theresa (2015). The ReFuGe 2020 Consortium—using “omics” approaches to explore the adaptability and resilience of coral holobionts to environmental change. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2 (Art No.: 68) 68. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2015.00068

The ReFuGe 2020 Consortium—using “omics” approaches to explore the adaptability and resilience of coral holobionts to environmental change

2015

Journal Article

Contrasting futures for ocean and society from different anthropogenic CO<inf>2</inf> emissions scenarios

Gattuso, J.- P., Magnan, A., Bille, R., Cheung, W. W. L., Howes, E. L., Joos, F., Allemand, D., Bopp, L., Cooley, S. R., Eakin, C. M., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Kelly, R. P., Portner, H.- O., Rogers, A. D., Baxter, J. M., Laffoley, D., Osborn, D., Rankovic, A., Rochette, J., Sumaila, U. R., Treyer, S. and Turley, C. (2015). Contrasting futures for ocean and society from different anthropogenic CO2 emissions scenarios. Science, 349 (6243) aac4722, 45-+. doi: 10.1126/science.aac4722

Contrasting futures for ocean and society from different anthropogenic CO<inf>2</inf> emissions scenarios

2015

Journal Article

Six month in situ high-resolution carbonate chemistry and temperature study on a coral reef flat reveals asynchronous pH and temperature anomalies

Kline, David I., Teneva, Lida, Hauri, Claudia, Schneider, Kenneth, Miard, Thomas, Chai, Aaron, Marker, Malcolm, Dunbar, Rob, Caldeira, Ken, Lazar, Boaz, Rivlin, Tanya, Mitchell, Brian Gregory, Dove, Sophie and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2015). Six month in situ high-resolution carbonate chemistry and temperature study on a coral reef flat reveals asynchronous pH and temperature anomalies. PLoS One, 10 (6) e0127648, e0127648-e0127648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127648

Six month in situ high-resolution carbonate chemistry and temperature study on a coral reef flat reveals asynchronous pH and temperature anomalies

2015

Other Outputs

Reviving the Ocean Economy: the case for action

Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2015). Reviving the Ocean Economy: the case for action. Geneva, Switzerland: World Wide Fund and The University of Queensland.

Reviving the Ocean Economy: the case for action

2015

Journal Article

The moral of the coral

O'Neill, Sean, Brahic, Catherine and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2015). The moral of the coral. New Scientist, 226 (3016), 25-25.

The moral of the coral

2015

Journal Article

Transcriptomic characterization of the enzymatic antioxidants FeSOD, MnSOD, APX and KatG in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium

Krueger, Thomas, Fisher, Paul L., Becker, Susanne, Pontasch, Stefanie, Dove, Sophie, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Leggat, William and Davy, Simon K (2015). Transcriptomic characterization of the enzymatic antioxidants FeSOD, MnSOD, APX and KatG in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 15 (1) 48, 48.1-48.20. doi: 10.1186/s12862-015-0326-0

Transcriptomic characterization of the enzymatic antioxidants FeSOD, MnSOD, APX and KatG in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium

2015

Journal Article

Deepest zooxanthellate corals of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea

Englebert, N., Bongaerts, P., Muir, P., Hay, K. B. and Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (2015). Deepest zooxanthellate corals of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Marine Biodiversity, 45 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1007/s12526-014-0221-8

Deepest zooxanthellate corals of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea

2015

Journal Article

Porites white patch syndrome: associated viruses and disease physiology

Lawrence, S. A., Davy, J. E., Wilson, W. H., Hoegh-Guldberg, O. and Davy, S. K. (2015). Porites white patch syndrome: associated viruses and disease physiology. Coral Reefs, 34 (1), 249-257. doi: 10.1007/s00338-014-1218-2

Porites white patch syndrome: associated viruses and disease physiology

2015

Journal Article

Prevalent endosymbiont zonation shapes the depth distributions of scleractinian coral species

Bongaerts, Pim, Carmichael, Margaux, Hay, Kyra B., Tonk, Linda, Frade, Pedro R. and High-Guldberg, Ove (2015). Prevalent endosymbiont zonation shapes the depth distributions of scleractinian coral species. Royal Society Open Science, 2 (140297) 140297, 1-11. doi: 10.1098/rsos.140297

Prevalent endosymbiont zonation shapes the depth distributions of scleractinian coral species

2015

Journal Article

Habitat-specific environmental conditions primarily control the microbiomes of the coral Seriatopora hystrix

Pantos, Olga, Bongaerts, Pim, Dennis, Paul G., Tyson, Gene W. and Hoegh-Guldberg, OVe (2015). Habitat-specific environmental conditions primarily control the microbiomes of the coral Seriatopora hystrix. The ISME Journal, 9 (9), 1916-1927. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2015.3

Habitat-specific environmental conditions primarily control the microbiomes of the coral Seriatopora hystrix

2015

Journal Article

Understanding constraints to the transformation rate of global energy infrastructure

Lane, Joe L, Smart, Simon, Schmeda-Lopez, Diego, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Garnett, Andrew, Greig, Chris and Mcfarland, Eric (2015). Understanding constraints to the transformation rate of global energy infrastructure. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, 5 (1), 33-48. doi: 10.1002/wene.177

Understanding constraints to the transformation rate of global energy infrastructure

2015

Journal Article

Deep down on a Caribbean reef: lower mesophotic depths harbor a specialized coral-endosymbiont community

Bongaerts, Pim, Frade, Pedro R., Hay, Kyra B., Englebert, Norbert, Latijnhouwers, Kelly R. W., Bak, Rolf P. M., Vermeij, Mark J. A. and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2015). Deep down on a Caribbean reef: lower mesophotic depths harbor a specialized coral-endosymbiont community. Scientific Reports, 5 (Art No.: 7652) 7652, 7652. doi: 10.1038/srep07652

Deep down on a Caribbean reef: lower mesophotic depths harbor a specialized coral-endosymbiont community

2014

Journal Article

Early transcriptional changes in the reef-building coral Acropora aspera in response to thermal and nutrient stress

Rosic, Nedeljka, Kaniewska, Paulina, Chan, Kenneth, Ling, Edmund, Edwards, David, Dove, Sophie and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2014). Early transcriptional changes in the reef-building coral Acropora aspera in response to thermal and nutrient stress. BMC Genomics, 15 (1) 1052, 1052. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1052

Early transcriptional changes in the reef-building coral Acropora aspera in response to thermal and nutrient stress

2014

Journal Article

Maps, laws and planning policy: working with biophysical and spatial uncertainty in the case of sea level rise

Bell, Justine, Saunders, Megan I., Leon, Javier X., Mills, Morena, Kythreotis, Andrew, Phinn, Stuart, Mumby, Peter J., Lovelock, Catherine E., Hoegh-Huldberg, Ove and Morrison, T. H. (2014). Maps, laws and planning policy: working with biophysical and spatial uncertainty in the case of sea level rise. Environmental Science and Policy, 44, 247-257. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2014.07.018

Maps, laws and planning policy: working with biophysical and spatial uncertainty in the case of sea level rise

2014

Journal Article

The Catlin Seaview Survey - kilometre-scale seascape assessment, and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems

Gonzalez-Rivero, Manuel, Bongaerts, Pim, Beijbom, Oscar, Pizarro, Oscar, Friedman, Ariell, Rodriguez-Ramirez, Alberto, Upcroft, Ben, Laffoley, Dan, Kline, David, Bailhache, Christophe, Vevers, Richard and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2014). The Catlin Seaview Survey - kilometre-scale seascape assessment, and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 24 (S2), 184-198. doi: 10.1002/aqc.2505

The Catlin Seaview Survey - kilometre-scale seascape assessment, and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems

2014

Journal Article

Unfolding the secrets of coral-algal symbiosis

Rosic, Nedeljka, Ling, Edmund Yew Siang, Chan, Chon-Kit Kenneth, Lee, Chin Hong, Kaniewska, Paulina, Edwards, David, Dove, Sophia and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ian Ove (2014). Unfolding the secrets of coral-algal symbiosis. The ISME Journal, 9 (4), 844-856. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2014.182

Unfolding the secrets of coral-algal symbiosis

2014

Journal Article

Antioxidant plasticity and thermal sensitivity in four types of Symbiodinium sp.

Krueger, Thomas, Becker, Susanne, Pontasch, Stefanie, Dove, Sophie, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, Leggat, William, Fisher, Paul L. and Davy, Simon K. (2014). Antioxidant plasticity and thermal sensitivity in four types of Symbiodinium sp.. Journal of Phycology, 50 (6), 1-13. doi: 10.1111/jpy.12232

Antioxidant plasticity and thermal sensitivity in four types of Symbiodinium sp.

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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