Shanta Barley

Shanta Barley serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Western Australia, where she also works as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the Pangaea Initiative. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Marine Ecology from UWA (2012-2016), an MSc in Oceanography from Southampton University, and a BSc in Biological Sciences from Oxford University.

Dr. Barley's research focuses on marine ecosystem dynamics, particularly examining how shark removal affects coral reef biodiversity. Her work investigates changes in prey behavior, abundance, and ecosystem function when apex predators are absent, using stereo underwater video systems and stable isotope analysis. Her research interests span marine ecology, coral reef conservation, shark behavior, marine protected areas, and fisheries science, contributing significantly to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to environmental conservation.

Her publication record demonstrates expertise across climate science, marine policy, and ecosystem conservation, with research appearing in top journals including Nature Climate Change, Science, and Marine Biology. Dr. Barley's work shows a clear trajectory from foundational marine ecology research toward policy-relevant science addressing global conservation challenges.

Scientific Recognition:

• Association of British Science Writer's (ABSW) Richard Gregory Award for Best Newcomer (2011)

Dr. Barley brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to marine science, combining rigorous academic training with practical field experience in Madagascar and environmental journalism experience with major media outlets including BBC, New Scientist, Guardian, and Nature. Her multilingual abilities (English, French, and Vezo) support her international research collaborations across diverse marine environments.