Geoffrey Jones

Prof Geoff Jones is an Adjunct Professor at James Cook University with 30 years of expertise in marine ecology and tropical marine conservation. His research focuses on larval dispersal dynamics and coral reef fish responses to habitat changes, contributing to over 200 refereed publications. He has supervised 113 students (50 BSc, 31 MSc, 32 PhD) and hosted 13 post-doctoral fellows. His work emphasizes developing technologies to address ecological challenges, such as genetic parentage analysis for larval dispersal and habitat fragmentation studies. Recent research highlights include coral reef fragmentation caused by Crown-of-Thorns starfish and hybridization in clownfish populations.

His teaching includes over 1,000 students in a 3rd-year BSc course on Marine Conservation Biology. Key research themes include coral reef resilience, marine reserve effectiveness, and habitat-sensitivity interactions. Jones’ team explores how fish populations adapt to environmental pressures, such as coral decline and anthropogenic disturbances, with applications to conservation strategies.

Publications emphasize larval dynamics, hybridization, and habitat-driven ecological processes. His work has informed marine management frameworks, including Tonga’s Special Management Area program. Jones advocates for adaptive management and community engagement in conservation efforts.