Climate change and tropicalization have led the influx of tropical species into temperate environments. As part of an honours research project under my supervision, we used Indo-Pacific damselfish to explore the role of temperature and macronutrient intake on individual performance. The findings of these experiments highlighted the importance of nutrition in the adaptation of coral reef species to marginal thermal habitats.

With my collaborators I introduced a new synthesis of approaches for researching links between animal ecology, including the impacts of climate change, and the dietary niche concept. Current project in this theme includes Australasian gannets (Morus serrator) in New Zealand.

Selected publications

Machovsky-Capuska GE, Miller MGR, Silva FRO, Amiot C, Stockin KA, Senior AM, Schuckard R, Melville D, Raubenheimer D (2018). The nutritional nexus: linking niche, habitat variability and prey composition in a generalist marine predator. Journal of Animal Ecology, 87:1286-1298.https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12856 . (IF 4.5) [pdf]

Rowe C, Figueira W, Raubenheimer D, Solon-Biet SM, Machovsky-Capuska GE (2018). The role of temperature and macronutrient selection on metabolic and swimming performance of the Indo-Pacific Damselfish. Marine Biology, 165:178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3435-7 . (IF 2.5) [pdf]