Dr. David Feary

Research Associate, Coastal Programme

Originally from New Zealand, Dr. David Feary completed his Masters at the University of Auckland, under Dr Kendall Clements. He studied the ecology of a range of small benthic reef fishes (F. Tripterygiidae) and mechanisms for the maintenance of speciation in highly speciose fauna. After completing his Masters in 2001 David headed a major research initiative quantifying the response of benthic infaunal communities to changes in sedimentation rate and quality. Working under Dr. Richard Ford, he investigated both intertidal and subtidal community structure within the beaches and estuaries throughout Auckland, New Zealand, focusing on quantifying the response of infaunal communities to differing levels of anthropogenic sedimentation (from increasing urbanisation). However, his enthusiasm for reef fish ecology (and tropical diving) led him to a Ph.D. at James Cook University, Australia, in 2003. Under Prof. Geoffrey Jones, Dr. Mark McCormick and Dr. Glenn Almany, he examined the tropical reef fish community response to coral alteration and loss. This was done in both Papua New Guinea and Australia, and highlighted the varied roles of different demographic mechanisms in structuring reef fish communities within degraded coral habitats. David is currently based in Dubai, working with UNU-INWEH and examining marine benthic communities surrounding the extensive land reclamation projects in the Arabian Gulf.