Current Appointment: Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Contact: Department of Environmental Sciences
University of Technology, Sydney
Cnr Westbourne Street & Pacific Highway
GORE HILL NSW 2065
Australia

Office: Room 5.19H (St Leonards Campus)
Phone: +61 2 9514 4159
Fax: +61 2 9514 4079
E-mail: Melanie.Bishop-1@uts.edu.au

Melanie Bishop is a benthic marine ecologist.  The major aim of her research is to determine how environmental and ecological factors alter marine biodiversity and, as a result, ecosystem function.  At UTS, Melanie is working with Dr Brendan Kelaher to determine how human-induced changes in the quality and quantity of detrital enrichment impact the functioning of benthic macrofaunal assemblages. With declines in seagrass and increasing algal growth associated nutrient enrichment, the ratio of detrital seagrass to macroalgae has changed over the last century and will continue to change in the future. Effects of changing detrital sources on the functioning of macrobenthic assemblages are of concern given the role macrofaunal assemblages play in geochemical cycling, secondary production, filtration and sediment stability. In collaboration with Prof. David Booth and Brendan Kelaher, Melanie is also determining the impacts of nutrient enrichment impacts on the trophic dynamics of critical estuarine habitats and the commercially-important fish and crustacean species that they support.  Melanie’s previous research interests in North Carolina include the ecological and economic ramifications of the proposed introduction of the non-native Suminoe oyster to the east coast of the USA, the impact of beach nourishment on the functioning of beach ecosystems, and processes influencing successful recruitment of the economically important bay scallop. Her doctoral research at the University of Sydney considered the ecological impact of boat-generated waves on infaunal and epifaunal macroinvertebrates.

Melanie’s research interests include:

• Marine biodiversity and ecosystem function
• Trophic dynamics in estuarine habitats
• Impacts of human activities on near-shore coastal environments
• Biology and ecology of marine invertebrates
• Biological invasions

Refereed Publications

Bishop, M.J., & Peterson, C.H. (in press, 2005) When r-selection may not predict proliferation of an introduced species: relative susceptibility of a non-native oyster to predation.  Ecol Appl

Bishop, M.J., & Peterson, C.H. (in press, 2005) Direct effects of physical stress can be counteracted by indirect benefits: oyster growth on a tidal elevation gradient. Oecologia

Bishop, M.J., & Wear, S.L. (in press, 2005) Ecological consequences of ontogenetic shifts in predator diet: seasonal constraint of a behaviorally mediated indirect interaction. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol

Bishop, M.J., & Peterson, C.H. (in press, 2005) Constraints to Crassostrea ariakensis aquaculture: season and method of culture strongly influence success of grow-out. J Shellfish Res

Bishop, M.J., Peterson, C.H., Summerson, H.C., Lenihan, H.S., & Grabowski, J.H. (in press, 2004) Deposition and long-shore transport of dredge spoils to nourish beaches: impacts on benthic infauna of an ebb-tidal delta. J Coastal Res

Bishop, M.J., Peterson, C.H., Summerson, H.C., & Gaskill, D. (2005) Implications of method of harvest on sustainability of a bay scallop fishery: dredging uproots seagrass and displaces recruits. Fish Bull 103:712-719

Peterson, C.H., & Bishop, M.J. (2005) When monitoring represents abrogation of agency responsibility: environmental impacts of beach “nourishment”. BioScience 55:887-896

Bishop, M.J., & Peterson, C.H. (2005) Consumer ratings of the Suminoe oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis, during home cooking. J Shellfish Res 24:497-502

Bishop, M.J. (2005). Joint effects of boat wake and dredge spoil disposal on sediments and assemblages of macro-invertebrates. Estuaries 28: 510-518

Bishop, M.J. (2005) Artificial sampling units: a tool for increasing the sensitivity of tests for impact in soft-sediments. Environ Mon Assess 107:203-220

Bishop, M.J., Rivera JA, Irlandi EA, Ambrose WG, & Peterson CH (2005) Spatio-temporal patterns in the mortality of juvenile bay scallops in North Carolina: investigation of a life-history anomaly. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 315:127-146

Bishop, M.J., & Hooper PJ (2005) Flow, stocking density and treatment against Polydora spp.: Influences on nursery growth and mortality of the oysters Crassostrea virginica and C. ariakensis. Aquaculture 246:251-261

Powers, S.P., Peterson, C.H., Christian, R.R., Sullivan, E., Powers, M.J., Bishop, M.J., & Buzzelli, C.P. (2005) Effects of eutrophication on bottom habitat and prey resources of demersal fish. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 302:233-243

Bishop, M.J. (2004) A posteriori evaluation of strategies of management: the effectiveness of no-wash zones in minimizing the impacts of boat-wash on macrobenthic infauna. Env Manag 34: 140-149

Bishop, M.J., & Chapman MG (2004) Managerial decisions as experiments: an opportunity to determine the ecological impact of boat-generated waves on macrobenthic infauna. Est Coast Shelf Sci 61:613-622

Burreson, E.M., Stokes, N.A., Carnegie, R.B., & Bishop, M.J. (2004) Bonamia sp. (Haplosporidia) found in non-native oysters, Crassostrea ariakensis, in Bogue Sound, North Carolina. J Aquat Anim Health 16:1-9

Bishop, M.J., Underwood, A.J., Archambault, P. (2002) Sewage and environmental impacts on rocky shores: necessity of identifying relevant spatial scales. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 236:121-128

Non-refereed Publications

Bishop, M.J. (2003) Olympics make waves over ferry wakes. Australasian Science 241:30-31

Book Reviews

Bishop, M.J. (2003) Thinking About Biology, by Stephen Webster; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge; 2003; 235 pp.; ISBN 0-521-59954-7. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 297:119-120

Conference Presentations

Bishop, M.J, & Peterson C.H. (2005) When r-selection may not predict proliferation: susceptibility of a nonnative oyster to predation.. 4th International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions. Victoria University, Wellington, NZ. 6-10 April, 2005.

Bishop, M.J. & Peterson C.H. (2005) Predation as a mechanism of invasion resistance: Consumption of non-native Crassostrea ariakensis oysters by the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. 34th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting. Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.A. 6-10 April, 2005.

Bishop, M.J. (2004) C. ariakensis research in North Carolina. 7th International Conference on Shellfish Restoration. Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A. 17-20 November, 2004.

Bishop, M.J. & Peterson, C.H. (2004) Biological uncertainty over impacts of beach nourishment: is abrogation of agency responsibility the Corps of the problem? Society of Conservation Biology Meeting. “Conservation in an Urbanizing World”. Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A. 30 July – 2 August, 2004.

Bishop, M.J., Rivera, J.A., Irlandi, E.A., Ambrose, W.G. & Peterson, C.H. (2004) Ecological detective work: using spatio-temporal patterns of mortality to identify potential predators of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians concentricus, in North Carolina in spring and fall. 33rd Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting. Daulphin Island Marine Laboratory, Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. 26-27 March, 2004.

Bishop, M.J. (2004) A new oyster for North Carolina? Suitability of the Suminoe Oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis, for culture. North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference. Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, U.S.A. 23-34 January, 2004.

Bishop, M.J. (2003) The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games: good for sport and science. Joint ECSA35-ERF Symposium “Scientific Research as a strategy to support estuarine and coastal management”. University of Sonora. San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico. 28 April – 1 May, 2003.

Bishop, M.J. (2003) Baffles or beaters: the role of seagrasses in dissipating boat wash. Society of Wetland Scientists Postgraduate Symposium. Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia. 28 February, 2003.

Bishop, M.J. (2001). Non-significant? Methods of detecting ecological impacts in a variable environment. 16th Biennial Conference of the Estuarine Research Federation “ERF 2001: An Estuarine Odyssey”.  St Pete Beach, Florida, U.S.A. 4-8 November, 2001.

Past Positions

May 2003 – Apr 2005
Post-doctoral fellow with Prof. C. H. Peterson
Institute of Marine Science,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Morehead City, NC, USA
http://www.marine.unc.edu/IMS/

Mar 2000 – Apr 2003
PhD student with Dr M.G. Chapman and Prof. A. J. Underwood
Centre for Research on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities
University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
http://www.eicc.bio.usyd.edu.au/