Microscale fluid dynamics around coral surfaces

The key research goal in this project is:

• To develop a mechanistic framework for understanding microscale biophysical processes at the coral surface.

The details

This project is developing a new biophysical approach to coral studies, integrating mathematical modelling, numerical simulations and lab-on-chip experiments.

Although the Great Barrier Reef spans more than 2,300km, fundamental processes driving the health and function of corals, such as nutrient uptake, oxygen exchange and bacterial recruitment, occur at sub-millimetre scales. Despite their importance, we still largely lack a quantitative understanding of the governing transport processes.

The project investigates three-dimensional fluid flows generated by corals and their physical/ecological consequences. Through an iterative approach involving mathematical modelling and experiments, the project will develop a mechanistic framework for understanding microscale biophysical processes at the coral surface. This will inform efforts in coral conservation and management and be broadly applicable to a range of other problems in biology.

The graduate researcher on this project is: Antony Ravichandran

Supervision team

• The University of Melbourne: Dr Douglas Brumley, Professor Linda Blackall
• The University of Manchester: Professor Peter Duck, Dr Draga Pihler-Puzovic