Profile

Biography

Laurence McCook manages the production of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and has been responsible for the strategic coordination of the scientific information needed to protect the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system. He is an Adjunct Senior Principal Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and spent over 10 years researching coral reef degradation and resilience as a research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. He has a Ph.D. in marine ecology and resilience from Dalhousie University, Canada, where he researched ecological recovery after large-scale disturbance to rocky seashores. His scientific publications include numerous reviews applying scientific research to coral reef management. McCook has experience in providing high-level advice to government and parliament and as an advocate for science-based marine management with community and interest groups. He recently run a series of workshops on coral reef management for reef managers and communities across Indonesia

McCook's expertise centres on the application of science to environmental management, including:

- The protection of coral reefs through managing for ecological (and social) resilience, especially on the Great Barrier Reef and Indonesia;
- The role of marine reserves in the conservation of tropical marine ecosystems;
- The presentation of scientific rigour, uncertainty, and the burden of proof, and shifting baselines, and
- The interface between environmental and economic values.

He is committed to the explicit and specific application of research outcomes to management issues including marine protected area planning, recommendations for management actions and the coordination and synthesis of scientific information as the basis for better public information and stewardship.

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EDUCATION

1992: Ph.D., Dalhousie University - Biology, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
1984: B.Sc. (First Class Honours in Neurobiology of Invertebrate Vision) Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

KEY POSITIONS HELD

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
2012-PRESENT - Director, Climate Change and Science

GBRMPA
2003-2012 - Manager, Research & Monitoring Coordination (Natural Sciences) and Manager, Ecosystem Health and Resilience, Australia

GBRMPA
2005-2007 – Acting roles as Director, Parliamentary and Ministerial Liaison, Director, Science Coordination, and Director, Climate Change Program

GBRMPA
2002-2003 – Manager / Project Manager, Water Quality Science Liaison, and Water Quality Policy and Extension.

Australian Institute of Marine Science and CRC Reef Research Centre
1994-2003 - Research Scientist- Coral Reef Ecology, Australia

KEY AWARDS & HONORS

Fellowship

2006: Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation
1985 - 1989: I. W. Killam Memorial Doctoral Fellowship
1979 - 1984: N.S.W. Government Teacher Education Scholarship

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

Halpern BS, Diamond J, Gaines S, Gelcich S, Gleason M, Jennings S, Lester S, Mace A, McCook LJ, McLeod K, Napoli N, Rawson K, Rice J, Andrew Rosenberg A, Ruckelshaus M, Saier B, Sandifer P, Sholtz A, Zivian A. in press. Near-term priorities for the science, policy and practice of Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP). Marine Policy

Ban, N., J. Cinner, V. Adams, M. Mils, G. Almany, S. Ban, L. McCook, and A. White. Recasting shortfalls of marine protected areas as opportunities through adaptive management. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems In Press 

Dobbs K, Day J, Skeat H, Baldwin J, Molloy F, McCook L, Johnson M, Elliot B, Skeat A, Vohland K, Wachenfeld D, Kenchington R. 2011. Developing a long-term outlook for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: a framework for adaptive management reporting underpinning an ecosystem based management approach. Marine Policy 35: 233-240.

Ban NC, Adams V, Almany G, Ban S, Cinner J, McCook LJ, Mills M, Pressey RL, White A. 2011 Designing, implementing and managing marine protected areas: Emerging trends and opportunities for coral reef nations: emerging trends and opportunities for coral reef nations. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 408: 21-31

McCook LJ, Ayling T, Cappo M, Choat JH, Evans RD, Freitas DM De, Heupel M, Hughes TP, Jones GP, Mapstone B, Marsh H, Mills M, Molloy F, Pitcher CR, Pressey RL, Russ GR, Sutton S, Sweatman H, Tobin R,Wachenfeld DR, Williamson DH. 2010. Adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef: a globally significant demonstration of the benefits of networks of marine reserves. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107: 18278–18285

Diaz-Pulido G, Harii S, McCook LJ & Hoegh-Guldberg O. 2010. The impact of benthic algae on the settlement of a reef-building coral. Coral Reefs 29:203-208

McCook LJ, Almany GR, Berumen M, Day J, Green A, Jones GP, Leis JM, Planes S, Russ G, Sale PF, Thorrold S 2009. Management under uncertainty: guide-lines for incorporating connectivity into the protection of coral reefs Coral Reefs 28: 353-366

Almany GR, Connolly SR, Heath DD, Hogan JD, Jones GP, McCook LJ, Mills M, Pressey RL, Williamson DH 2009 Connectivity, biodiversity conservation and the design of marine reserve networks for coral reefs Coral Reefs 28: 339-351

Steneck R, Alban M, Alcala A, Arnold SN, Butler M, McCook, LJ, Paris C, Russ G, Sale P 2009. Thinking and Managing Outside the Box: Coalescing connectivity networks to build region-wide resilience in coral reef ecosystems. Coral Reefs 28: 367-378

Diaz-Pulido G, McCook LJ, Dove S, Berkelmans R, Roff J, Kline DI, Weeks S, Evans RD, Williamson DH, Hoegh-Guldberg O (2009) Doom and boom on a resilient reef: Climate change, algal overgrowth and coral recovery. PLoS ONE 4: e5239: 1-9

Birrell, C.L., McCook, L.J., Willis, B. & Harrington, L. 2008. Allelochemical effects of macroalgae on larval settlement of the coral Acropora millepora. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 362:129-137

Birrell, C.L., McCook L.J., Willis, B.L., Diaz-Pulido, G.A. (2008) The effects of benthic algae on the replenishment of corals and the implications for the resilience of coral reefs. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu Rev. 46, 25-64

Diaz-Pulido G, McCook LJ (2008) Environmental Status of the Great Barrier Reef: Macroalgae (Seaweeds). In: Chin A (State of the Great Barrier Reef Report). GBRMPA, pp 44
14. McCook LJ, Folke C, Hughes TP, Nyström M, Obura D, Salm R (2007) Ecological resilience, climate change and the Great Barrier Reef. In: Johnson J, Marshall P: Climate change and the Great Barrier Reef. p. 75-96

Diaz-Pulido G, McCook LJ, Larkum AWD, Lotze HK, Raven John A., Schaffelke B, Smith JE, Steneck RS (2007) Vulnerability of macroalgae of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change. In: Johnson J, Marshall P: Climate change and the Great Barrier Reef. p 153-192

Fabricius KE, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Johnson J, McCook LJ, Lough J (2007) The vulnerability of coral reef ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change. In: Johnson J, Marshall P: Climate change and the Great Barrier Reef. p. 515-554.

Hughes TP, Rodrigues MJ, Bellwood DR, Ceccarelli D, Hoegh-Guldburg O, McCook LJ, Moltschaniwskyj N, Pratchett MS, Steneck RS, Willis B (2007) Phase shifts, herbivory, and the resilience of coral reefs to climate change. Current Biology 17:1-6

Hughes TP, Bellwood DR, Folke CS, McCook LJ, Pandolfi JM (2007) No-take areas, herbivory and coral reef resilience. Trends Ecol. Evol. 22:1-3

Hutchings, P., Haynes, D., Goudkamp, K. McCook, LJ. 2005. Water quality issues in the Great Barrier Reef region: An overview of papers. Mar. Poll. Bulletin 51: 3-8

Wolanski E, Richmond, R, McCook LJ, Sweatman, H. 2003. Mud, marine snow and coral reefs: The survival of coral reefs requires integrated watershed-based management activities and marine conservation. American Scientist 91:44-51.

Ceccarelli D., Jones, G.P. & McCook L.J. 2001 Territorial damselfishes as determinants of benthic community structure on coral reefs. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu Rev. 39: 355-389

McCook, L.J., Jompa, J. & Diaz-Pulido, G. D. 2001 Competition between corals and algae on coral reefs: a review of evidence and mechanisms. Coral Reefs 19: Special Issue on Algal Dynamics on Coral Reefs: 400-417.

McCook, L.J. 1999. Macroalgae and phase shifts on coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef and other regions: A perspective on scientific issues and management consequences. Coral Reefs, Special Issue on Reef Management. 18: 357-367.

McCook, L.J. 1994. Understanding ecological community succession: causal models and theories, a review. Vegetatio 110: 115-147.