Dr Kenny Wolfe

Kenny graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours), majoring in biology and geography in 2011. As part of his undergraduate degree, Kenny went on a series of incredible research field trips, including a trip to the Mekong River (Asia).

He completed his PhD in 2017, where he examined the human impacts on model species on the Great Barrier Reef. In order to understand the ecosystems he was studying, Kenny regularly conducted seasonal field trips to One Tree Island and Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

He also had the opportunity to teach undergraduate courses, in zoology, animal ecological physiology, and coral reef biology.

In his own words

“I am driven by the fundamental desire to understand anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems, and to facilitate management in a rapidly depleting ocean.

"My research is focused on coral reef ecosystem function (namely on the Great Barrier Reef), and human-driven shifts in ecosystem dynamics.

“My key interest is in marine invertebrates – 'less-charismatic' marine organisms. They are poorly represented compared to more conventional reef species like fish and corals, but are highly important in ecosystem functions and the services they provide.

"For example, their population significantly impacts ecosystem dynamics (e.g. the crown-of-thorns starfish) and they also have a direct commerical importance (e.g. sea cucumber fisheries; trepang), and ”