Dr. Chris Thompson
Research Fellow
Publications
Heidrich KN, Meeuwig JJ, Juan- Jordá MJ, Palomares ML, Pauly D, Thompson CDH, Friedlander AM, Sala E, Zeller D. 2023. Multiple lines of evidence highlight the dire straits of yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean. Ocean & Coastal Management, 246, 106902.
Friedlander AM, Ballesteros E, Adler AM, Goodell W, Jenkinson R, Knopp JA, Thompson CDH, et al. 2023. Shallow subtidal marine benthic communities of Nachvak Fjord, Nunatsiavut, Labrador: A glimpse into species composition and drivers of their distribution. PLoS ONE. 10.1371.
Murray S, Meeuwig JJ, Thompson CDH, Mouillot D. 2023. Identifying the drivers of silky shark distribution and an evaluation of protection measures. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 106, 1693-1713.
Thompson CDH, Meeuwig JJ, Friedlander AM, Sala E. 2023. Remote seamounts are key conservation priorities for pelagic wildlife. Conservation Letters, 00, e12993, https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12993
Thompson CDH, Meeuwig JJ. 2022. Sharks are the preferred scraping surface for large pelagic fishes: Possible implications for parasite removal and fitness in a changing ocean. PLoS ONE 17(10): e0275458.
Heidrich KN, Juan-Jordá MJ, Murua H, Thompson CDH, Meeuwig JJ, Zeller, D. 2022. Assessing progress in data reporting by tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. Fish and Fisheries.
Thompson CD. 2021. Remote regions and remote cameras: what sampling the last wild places can teach us about pelagic ecosystems PhD Thesis. University of Western Australia.
Meeuwig JJ, Thompson CDH, Forrest JA, Jabour Christ H, Letessier TB, Meeuwig DJ. 2021. Pulling back the blue curtain: a pelagic monitoring program for the Blue Belt. Frontiers in Marine Science. 2021;8:788.
Thompson CDH, Meeuwig JJ, Brown J, Richardson AJ, Friedlander AM, Miller PI, Weber SB. 2021. Spatial variation in pelagic wildlife assemblages in the Ascension Island Marine Protected Area: implications for monitoring and management. Frontiers in Marine Science. 2021;8:684.
Thompson CDH, Bouchet PJ, Meeuwig JJ. 2019. First underwater sighting of Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi). Marine Biodiversity Records, 12: 6.
Letessier TB, Mouillot D, Bouchet PJ, Vigliola L, Fernandes MC, Thompson, CDH, Boussarie G, Turner J, Juhel JB, Maire E, Caley MJ, Koldewey HJ, Friedlander AM, Sala E. & Meeuwig JJ. 2019. Remote reefs and seamounts are the last refuges for marine predators across the Indo-Pacific. PLOS Biol., 17, e3000366.
Caselle JE, Hamilton SL, Davis K, Thompson CDH, Turchik A, Jenkinson R, Simpson D, Sala E. 2018. First quantification of subtidal community structure at Tristan da Cunha Islands in the remote South Atlantic: from kelp forests to the deep sea. PLoS ONE, 13(3): e0195167.
Bouchet P. Meeuwig JJ, Huveneer, C, Langlois T, Lowry M, Rees M, Santana-Garcon J, Scott M, Taylor M, Thompson CDH & Vigliola L. 2018. Marine sampling field manual for pelagic stereo-BRUVS ( Baited Remote Underwater Videos ). F. Manuals Mar. Sampl. to Monit. Aust. Waters. National Environmental Science Programme (NESP).
Thompson CDH. 2014. Predicting shark behaviour: The influence of species, size and brain organisation. Honours thesis, University of Western Australia.
Outreach
2023
FSM End of Expedition Event in Yap with State leaders
FSM – On ship presentations and tours for school students and Government leaders in Yap and Chuuk States
FSM - Expedition Event in Chuuk with State leaders
FSM – Community meetings with Chiefs and local stakeholders at Nomwin, Namonuito, and Pulowat Atolls
Online Explorer Classroom Event for FSM Schools
RMI – End of expedition event with government leaders and stakeholders
Presentation to School Students at St George’s College
Niue - end of Expedition Event with Government Officials
Online Explorer Classroom for Niuean Schools
VIP event with Maldivian Ministers
Online Explorer Classroom Event for Maldives Schools
Outreach for paper “Sharks are the preferred scraping surface for large pelagic fishes: Possible implications for parasite removal and fitness in a changing ocean”
The Conversation Article “How do fishes scratch their itches? It turns out sharks are involved” - 100,000 readers, Japanese and Indonesian translations
ABC Radio National - interview
ABC Radio Drive Sydney - interview
Joy Radio Melbourne – Interview
2SER Radio Sydney – Interview
NHK – Interview for Japanese TV show
New Scientist - article
Popular Science - article
Le Temps – article
WA Today – article
9 news - article
UWA - press release, YouTube short
2022
Lecture for UWA Fisheries Unit
VIP event with President of Colombia aboard expedition vessel
Community event in Chisasibi, Canadian Arctic
Community event in Nain, Labrador – Canadian Arctic Exhibition
UWA World Ocean Day Video Interview
2021
Presentation and workshop on marine science and conservation for school children visiting Waterman’s Research Centre, UWA
UWA Ascension Island Seamounts Media Release
2019
Galapagos/MigraMar Pelagic BRUVS Workshop 2019:
Co-led a workshop on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos to teach techniques in mid-water BRUVS sampling, processing, and data management to researchers from organisations in the Tropical Eastern Pacific
FishBase and SealifeBase 2019 Symposium:
“FishBase Applications for Mid-water BRUVS”
Australian Marine Science Association Conference (AMSA) 2019:
"Ascension Island Pelagic Communities"
UWA School of Biological Sciences Rottnest Post-Graduate Retreat, 2019
National Geographic Pristine Seas Research Fellow: As part of his ongoing work with National Geographic Pristine Seas Chris has developed a broad range of expertise in marine ecology and remote fieldwork with a particular focus on the pelagic ocean, seabirds and the wholistic and connected study of marine environments. Throughout this collaboration Chris has taken part in many field expeditions and delivered scientific results to help inform the conservation of important areas of the ocean around the world. Chris’ PhD thesis entitled “Remote Regions and Remote Cameras: what sampling the last wild places can teach us about pelagic ecosystems” explored the impact of humans on global marine wildlife and the value of remote regions in both the observation and conservation of ecosystems in a near natural state. In his current position as National Geographic Pristine Seas Postdoctoral Research Fellow he continues this work as well as expanding his scope to include seabirds, reef systems, the deep sea, and their connections. As Pristine Seas continues its work moving into more inhabited waters, Chris looks forward to working closely with local communities and stakeholders to ensure that effective conservation and management strategies are put in place to improve the resilience and sustainability of their waters into the future.
Bio: Chris Thompson is a marine ecologist and zoologist with a keen interest in anything to do with the natural world. The chief focus of his work is the pelagic ocean and the seabirds strongly linked to it. He has taken part in over twenty research expeditions working in locations from his backyard in Western Australia to the remote tropics, arctic, and sub-Antarctic. In this time he has developed sampling skills including deploying seabed, deep-sea and pelagic camera systems, surveying seabirds, tagging sharks, and conducting visual census’ of fishes, corals, and invertebrates. He completed his PhD at the University of Western Australia; in which he explored the impact of humans on global pelagic wildlife assemblages and what remote places can teach us about intact ecosystems. Through his work, Chris hopes to better understand our natural world, the drivers shaping it, and what we can do to conserve it.
Highlights:
• Sampling effort: Through taking part in over 20 field expeditions Chris has substantially contributed to the development of the MFL’s global dataset of over 6,000 mid-water BRUVS deployments generating records of over 120,000 animals and facilitating the study of broad scale ecological questions
• Conservation Impact: Directly involved in expeditions which contributed to conservation outcomes at those locations, with over 1.4 million km2 of ocean protected in MPAs.
Field Experience
- November 2023 - Federated States of Micronesia – Chief Scientist on second leg of National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in partnership with Blue Prosperity Micronesia and the FSM Government, surveying pelagic wildlife, seabirds and marine mammals at in Chuuk and Yap States across Nomwin, Namonuito, Pulap, Pulowat, West Fayu, Ifalik, Woleai, and Sorol Atolls.
- September – October 2023 - Republic of Marshall Islands – National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in partnership with Marshall Islands Marine Resource Authority, surveying pelagic wildlife, seabirds and marine mammals at Bikar, Bokak, Bikini and Rongerik Atolls.
- July 2023 - Niue – National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in partnership with Niue Ocean Wide, Tofia Niue, surveying pelagic wildlife, seabirds and marine mammals at Antiope Seamount, Beveridge Reef and
- April 2023- Deep Sea Dropcam training Hawaii – Took part in lab and field based training on deep sea camera systems with members from Nat Geo Exploration Technology Lab and Hawaii Deep Sea Ecology Lab
- March 2023 - Southern Maldives – National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in partnership with WAITT Institute, MMRI, Government of the Maldives, and Scripps surveying pelagic wildlife, seabirds and marine mammals. Work spanned the waters of the southern atolls of Huvadhu, Fuvahmulah, and Addu. Additionally assisted in benthic point intercept surveys.
- November 2022 - Dominica - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in partnership with project CETI surveying pelagic wildlife, seabirds, and marine mammals. Work spanned the waters surrounding the main island of Dominica as well as those of bank
- Jul – Aug 2022 - Canadian Arctic - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition partnership with Oceans North, Nunatsiavut, Inukjuak, Mushkegowuk, and Churchill sampling pelagic wildlife and surveying seabirds and other wildlife and in the Canadian arctic. Work spanned the waters and coasts of Nachvak Fjord, Hudson Strait, Hudson Bay, James Bay, and Arqvilliit.
- Mar-Apr 2022 - Colombia - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition surveying seabirds and sampling pelagic wildlife. Work spanned the offshore pacific, Golfo Trubuga, and Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in the Colombian Caribbean.
- Oct 2021 - Southern Line Islands, Kiribati - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition sampling pelagic wildlife and surveying seabirds.
- April 2021 - Recherche Archipelago - Co-led field training workshop in BRUVS sampling methods for the rangers of the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title cooperation.
- Jan – Feb 2020 - North and Central Maldives - Waitt Foundation, Scripps 100 Island Challenge, and MMRI expedition. Deploying mid-water BRUVS and assisting in other field data collection (invertebrate surveys, algae and water sample collection, photo quads, and mosaic plot setup).
- Nov 2019 - Galapagos Workshop with partners from throughout the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Teaching field techniques for mid-water BRUVS.
- Mar - Apr 2019 - Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in collaboration with University of Costa Rica and Osa Conservation, surveying offshore waters.
- Oct - Nov 2018 – Burwood Bank, Argentina - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in collaboration with CONICET deploying deep ocean dropcams at Burwood Bank, Argentina.
- Jun 2018 – Azores, Portugal - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in collaboration with Oceano Azul Foundation, Waitt Foundation and the University of the Azores. Surveying pelagic wildlife assemblages of the central and western groups of the Azores archipelago (Corvo, Flores and Pico).
- Apr - May 2018 – Malpelo, Colombia - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in collaboration with Fundacion Malpelo and Parques Colombia to Malpelo Island, Colombia. Deploying mi-water BRUVS to survey the pelagic assemblages present around the island.
- May - Jun 2017 – Ascension Island - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition to Ascension Island. The project focus was to investigate the biodiversity footprint of seamounts to inform spatial planning of marine protected areas. I deployed mid-water BRUVS to investigate the association of pelagic animals with these features.
- Jan - Feb 2017 Tristan da Cunha - National Geographic Pristine Seas Expedition to Tristan da Cunha. I deployed mid-water BRUVS as part of a science team surveying the waters of this remote territory.
- Sep - Oct 2016 – Niue - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition to Niue and Beveridge Reef. Surveying pelagic assemblages using mid-water BRUVS.
- Mar - Apr 2016 Revillagigedo, Mexico - National Geographic Pristine Seas Expedition to Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico. Surveying pelagic assemblages using mid-water BRUVS.
- Mar 2016 – Clipperton - National Geographic Pristine Seas Expedition to Clipperton Island. Surveying pelagic assemblages using mid-water BRUVS
- Nov 2015 – Chagos - Pangaea Chagos Initiative Trip 2: I was involved predominantly with expedition preparation and mobilisation and benthic BRUVS deployment around the atolls of the Chagos Archipelago.
- Sep 2015 – Ilhas Selvagens, Portugal - National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in collaboration with the Waitt Foundation to Ilhas Selvagens. Surveying pelagic assemblages using mid-water BRUVS.
- Mar 2015 – Chagos - Pangea Chagos Initiative Trip 1: I was involved predominantly with expedition preparation and mobilisation and benthic BRUVS deployment around the atolls of the Chagos Archipelago.
- Jan 2015 - Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory). The trip was for the Chagos consortium in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London UWA, Plymouth and St Andrews. I was involved in preparation, logistics, mobilisation, and field sampling around the archipelago.
- Nov - Dec 2013 – Ningaloo - Assisted PhD fieldwork at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia including; catching and tagging small sharks, genetic sampling, servicing acoustic receivers, and collecting environmental data.
- Dec 2012 - Rottnest - Assisted in the collection of data on the intertidal rock platform communities at Rottnest Island, Western Australia.
Contact
Marine Futures Lab, School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute
University of Western Australia M092
35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009