James Smith
BSc(Hons) PhD UNSW
School of Biological Earth and Environmental Science
University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052
AUSTRALIA
Phone: +612 9385 2118
Fax: +612 9385 1558
Email: James.Smith at unsw.edu.au
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the dynamics of fish populations, in particular the carrying capacity concept, and the structuring role of resource competition.
The goal of my postdoctoral research is to determine the energetic contribution of purpose-built artificial reefs to marine fisheries. I will assess the net value of artifical reefs to fisheries, by partitioning reef-driven changes into production and aggregation components. I am also involved in a project designing an Eastern king prawn stocking program, with a focus on determining sustainable stocking densities for intermittently open and closed estuaries.
My PhD examined the ecological determinants of stocking density of Australian bass, and I developed a stocking model suited to closed systems. The model operates by balancing the production of plankton with steady-state consumer demand. I am currently building on this research to develop population models which predict maximum population size, and which quantify the trade-off between population abundance and population biomass.
Software Development
As part of my research into stocking density and trophic interactions, I have developed some software which is able to evaluate stable isotopic mixing models that incorporate uncertainty in dietary source data and in trophic enrichment factors. For more information see this pageSelected Publications
- Smith, J.A., Lowry, M.B., Champion, C., Suthers, I.M. (2016). A designed artificial reef is among the most productive marine fish habitats: new metrics to address ‘production versus attraction’. Marine Biology 168: 188.
- Smith, J.A., Lowry, M.B., Champion, C., Suthers, I.M. (2015). Fish attraction to artificial reefs not always harmful: a simulation study.Ecology and Evolution 5(20), 4590-4602.
- Smith, J.A., D. Mazumder, I. M. Suthers, M. D. Taylor (2013) To fit or not to fit: evaluating stable isotope mixing models using simulated mixing polygons. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
- Smith, J.A., Baumgartner, L.J., Suthers, I.M., Fielder, D.S., Taylor, M.D. (2013) Density-dependent energy use constributes to the self-thinning relationship of cohorts. The American Naturalist 181 (3)
- Smith, J.A., Baumgartner, L.J., Suthers, I.M., Ives, M.C., Taylor, M.D. (2012) Estimating the stocking potential of fish in impoundments by modelling supply and steady-state demand Freshwater Biology 57 :1482–1499
- Smith, J.A., Baumgartner, L.J., Suthers, I.M. and Taylor, M.D. (2011). Generalist niche, specialist strategy: the diet of an Australian percichthyid. Journal of Fish Biology 78 :1183-1199
- Smith, J.A., Baumgartner, L.J., Suthers, I.M. & Taylor, M.D. (2011). Distribution and movement of a stocked freshwater fish: implications of a variable habitat volume for stocking programs. Marine & Freshwater Research 62:1342-1353
