Biography summary
2012-present Senior Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
2010 Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University
2009 Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
2009 Visiting Research Fellow, Marine Biological Association of the UK
2008 Lecturer (Fixed-term), School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong
2006 Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong
Research interests
My research focuses on the evolutionary biology and ecology of natural populations. I use a combination of ecological and molecular approaches to address fundamental questions in the fields of genetic adaptation, mating systems evolution, population connectivity and sexual selection.
My research group works on a range of marine and terrestrial organisms, chosen because they represent the best model systems in which to test fundamental questions in ecological and evolutionary biology. Some of the main research topics and species we work on include:
Adaptation of native and invasive species – (Sea Anemones, European Starlings, Northern Pacific Sea Star)
Connectivity and dispersal – (Seagrass, Freshwater crayfish, Marine Fish, Marine Invertebrates)
Mating system evolution (e.g. outcrossing, selfing, clonal reproduction) – Corals, Sea Anemones, Seagrasses, Sea Stars
Sexual selection, sperm competition and cryptic female choice – Bivalves, Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, Amphibians.
Teaching interests
Evolutionary Biology, Population Genetics; Marine Ecology
Units taught
Genetics (SLE254 - unit chair)
Cells and Genes (SLE111 - Campus coordinator)
Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (SLE263 - campus coordinator)
plus contribution towards
Professional Practice (SLE301)
Research Project (SLE 390)
Media appearances
Science at Deakin – A Staff Perspective
Triple R, Radio Marinara, 15 April 2012 - Sex in the sea, sperm competition in spawning marine invertebrates.
Awards
2011 Award for Excellence in Research, awarded by the School of life and Environmental Science.
2011 Award for Excellence in Teaching, awarded by the School of life and Environmental Science.
2011 Commendation for Teaching from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academia).
2010 Australian Academy of Science International Travel Award.
2009 Darwin Award, awarded by the British Council to travel to the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
2006 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – ARC funded project awarded to Prof. Mats Olsson.
2004 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Student research Award.
2003 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Student research Award.
2001 PhD University Scholarship – University of Wollongong.
1997 Gavin Brothwick Award – University of Bangor, highest achieving student in Marine Biology.
Publications
J Kent, G Jenkins, C Sherman
(2018), Vol. 92, pp. 523-531, Journal of fish biology, Chichester, Eng., C1
Rare long-distance dispersal of a marine angiosperm across the Pacific Ocean
T Smith, P York, B Broitman, M Thiel, G Hays, E van Sebille, N Putman, P Macreadie, C Sherman
(2018), Vol. 27, pp. 487-496, Global ecology and biogeography, Chichester, Eng., C1
A Cardilini, C Sherman, W Sherwin, L Rollins
(2018), Vol. 6, pp. 1-18, PeerJ, Corte Madera, Calif., C1
Plover parents care more for young of the opposite sex
D Lees, C Sherman, K Kostoglou, L Tan, G Maguire, P Dann, M Weston
(2018), Vol. 29, pp. 933-938, Behavioral ecology, Oxford, Eng., C1
Highly disturbed populations of seagrass show increased resilience but lower genotypic diversity
Rod Connolly, Timothy Smith, Paul Maxwell, Andrew Olds, Peter Macreadie, Craig Sherman
(2018), Vol. 9, pp. 1-9, Frontiers in plant science, Lausanne, Switzerland, C1
Environmental influences on neuromorphology in the non-native starling Sturnus vulgaris
Adam Cardilini, Sarah Micallef, Valerie Bishop, Craig Sherman, Simone Meddle, Katherine Buchanan
(2018), Vol. 92, pp. 63-70, Brain, behavior and evolution, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Reproductive, dispersal and recruitment strategies in Australian seagrasses
C Sherman, T Smith, P York, J Jarvis, L Ruiz-Montoya, G Kendrick
(2018), pp. 213-256, Seagrasses of Australia, Cham, Switzerland, B1
Genetic connectivity in tropical and temperate Australian seagrass species
K McMahon, E Sinclair, C Sherman, K van Dijk, U Hernawan, J Verduin, M Waycott
(2018), pp. 155-194, Seagrasses of Australia: structure, ecology and conservation, Cham, Switzerland, B1
Identifying knowledge gaps in seagrass research and management: An Australian perspective.
P York, T Smith, R Coles, S McKenna, R Connolly, A Irving, E Jackson, K McMahon, J Runcie, C Sherman, B Sullivan, S Trevathan-Tackett, K Brodersen, A Carter, C Ewers, P Lavery, C Roelfsema, E Sinclair, S Strydom, J Tanner, K-J van Dijk, F Warry, M Waycott, S Whitehead
(2017), Vol. 127, pp. 163-172, Marine environmental research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Seed germination in a southern Australian temperate seagrass
E Cumming, J Jarvis, C Sherman, P York, T Smith
(2017), Vol. 5, pp. 1-19, PeerJ, San Diego, Calif., C1
Implications of radio-tracking for the survival of Masked Lapwing chicks
D Lees, C Sherman, G Maguire, P Dann, M Weston
(2017), Vol. 41, pp. 37-41, Corella, C1
Recovery pathways from small-scale disturbance in a temperate Australian seagrass
T Smith, P York, P Macreadie, M Keough, D Jeff Ross, C Sherman
(2016), Vol. 542, pp. 97-108, Marine ecology progress series, Amelinghausen, Germany, C1
Tests of ecogeographical relationships in a non-native species: what rules avian morphology?
A Cardilini, K Buchanan, C Sherman, P Cassey, M Symonds
(2016), Vol. 181, pp. 783-793, Oecologia, Berlin, Gemany, C1
D Roche, A Cardilini, D Lees, G Maguire, P Dann, C Sherman, M Weston
(2016), Vol. 556, pp. 189-195, Science of the total environment, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Fine-scale patterns of genetic variation in a widespread clonal seagrass species
C Sherman, P York, T Smith, P Macreadie
(2016), Vol. 163, pp. 1-11, Marine biology, Berlin, Germany, C1
Species composition and hybridisation of mussel species (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) in Australia
E Ab Rahim, T Nguyen, B Ingram, C Riginos, J Weston, C Sherman
(2016), Vol. 67, pp. 1955-1963, Marine and freshwater research, Clayton, Vic., C1
Multiple dispersal vectors drive range expansion in an invasive marine species
M Richardson, C Sherman, R Lee, N Bott, A Hirst
(2016), Vol. 25, pp. 5001-5014, Molecular ecology, Chichester, Eng., C1
Spatial variation in reproductive effort of a southern Australian seagrass
T Smith, P York, P Macreadie, M Keough, D Ross, C Sherman
(2016), Vol. 120, pp. 214-224, Marine environmental research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
What are we missing about marine invasions? Filling in the gaps with evolutionary genomics
C Sherman, K Lotterhos, M Richardson, C Tepolt, L Rollins, S Palumbi, A Miller
(2016), Vol. 163, pp. 1-24, Marine biology, Berlin, Germany, C1
Seagrass viviparous propagules as a potential long-distance dispersal mechanism
A Thomson, P York, T Smith, C Sherman, D Booth, M Keough, D Ross, P Macreadie
(2015), Vol. 38, pp. 927-940, Estuaries and coasts, New York, N.Y., C1
B Shiel, C Sherman, M Elgar, T Johnson, M Symonds
(2015), Vol. 5, pp. 1601-1608, Ecology and evolution, London, Eng., C1
Novel therapeutics for cononary artery disease from genome-wide association study data
M Grover, S Ballouz, K Mohanasundaram, R George, A Goscinski, T Crowely, C Sherman, M Wouters
(2015), Vol. 8, pp. 1-11, BMC medical genomics, London, Eng., C1
The more pieces, the better the puzzle: sperm concentration increases gametic compatibility
C Sherman, E Ab Rahim, M Olsson, V Careau
(2015), Vol. 5, pp. 4354-4364, Ecology and evolution, London, Eng., C1
T Smith, C Green, C Sherman
(2015), Vol. 66, pp. 942-947, Marine and freshwater research, Clayton, Vic., C1
De novo assembly and characterization of the invasive Northern Pacific Seastar transcriptome
M Richardson, C Sherman
(2015), Vol. 10, pp. 1-18, PLoS one, San Francisco, Calif., C1
A Cardilini, M Weston, P Dann, C Sherman
(2015), Vol. 127, pp. 730-733, Wilson Journal of Ornithology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
P Macreadie, P York, C Sherman
(2014), Vol. 4, pp. 450-461, Ecology and evolution, London, Eng., C1
Identification of novel therapeutics for complex diseases from genome-wide association data
M Grover, S Ballouz, K Mohanasundaram, R George, C Sherman, T Crowley, M Wouters
(2014), Vol. 7, pp. 1-14, BMC medical genomics, London, England, C1
No detectable impact of small-scale disturbances on 'blue carbon' within seagrass beds
P Macreadie, P York, C Sherman, M Keough, D Ross, A Ricart, T Smith
(2014), Vol. 161, pp. 2939-2944, Marine biology, Berlin, Germany, C1
How did this snail get here? Several dispersal vectors inferred for an aquatic invasive species
L Van, N Huig, D Van, A Van, C Wagemaker, C Sherman, M Klaassen, J Figuerola
(2013), Vol. 58, pp. 88-99, Freshwater biology, London, England, C1
A Cardilini, M Weston, D Nimmo, P Dann, C Sherman
(2013), Vol. 115, pp. 72-80, Landscape and urban planning, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Swooping in the suburbs : parental defence of an abundant aggressive urban bird against humans
D Lees, C Sherman, G Maguire, P Dann, A Cardilini, M Weston
(2013), Vol. 3, pp. 754-766, Animals, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Sexual selection and the evolution of egg-sperm interactions in broadcast-spawning invertebrates
J Evans, C Sherman
(2013), Vol. 224, pp. 166-183, Biological bulletin, Woods Hole, Mass., C1
Microsatellite primer development for the seagrass Zostera nigricaulis (Zosteraceae)
T Smith, P York, A Stanley, P Macreadie, M Keough, D Ross, C Sherman
(2013), Vol. 5, pp. 607-610, Conservation genetics resources, Berlin, Germany, C1
M Richardson, A Stanley, C Sherman
(2012), Vol. 4, pp. 327-330, Conservation genetics resources, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
C Sherman, D Ierodiaconou, A Stanley, K Weston, M Gardner, M Schultz
(2012), Vol. 4, pp. 555-558, Conservation genetics resources, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
C Sherman, A Stanley, M Keough, M Gardner, P Macreadie
(2012), Vol. 4, pp. 689-693, Conservation genetics resources, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
A Pettersen, G Turchini, S Jahangard, B Ingram, C Sherman
(2010), Vol. 309, pp. 115-124, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
Female choice for males with greater fertilization success in the Swedish Moor Frog, Rana arvalis
C Sherman, J Sagvik, M Olsson
(2010), Vol. 5, pp. 1-6, PLoS One, San Francisco, Calif., C1
Consistent male-male paternity differences across female genotypes
C Sherman, E Wapstra, M Olsson
(2009), Vol. 5, pp. 232-234, Biology Letters, London, England, C1-1
Consistent paternity skew through ontogeny in Peron's tree frog (Litoria peronii)
C Sherman, E Wapstra, M Olsson
(2009), Vol. 4, pp. 1-4, PLoS one, San Francisco, Calif., C1
Mating system variation in the hermaphroditic brooding coral, Seriatopora hystrix
C Sherman
(2008), Vol. 100, pp. 296-303, Heredity, London, England, C1-1
Fine-scale adaptation in a clonal sea anemone
C Sherman, D Ayre
(2008), Vol. 62, pp. 1373-1380, Evolution, Oxford, England, C1-1
C Sherman, A Hunt, D Ayre
(2008), Vol. 95, pp. 106-116, Biological journal of the Linnean Society, Oxford, England, C1-1
C Sherman, T Uller, E Wapstra, M Olsson
(2008), Vol. 95, pp. 1055-1061, Naturwissenschaften, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
C Sherman, E Wapstra, T Uller, M Olsson
(2008), Vol. 33, pp. 348-352, Austral ecology, Milton, Qld., C1-1
C Sherman, E Wapstra, T Uller, M Olsson
(2008), Vol. 275, pp. 971-978, Proceedings of the royal society series b - biological sciences, London, England, C1-1
Polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Australian tree frog, Litoria peronii
C Sherman, M Olsson
(2007), Vol. 8, pp. 999-1001, Conservation genetics, Dordrecht, Netherlands, C1-1
C Sherman, A Peuker, D Ayre
(2007), Vol. 340, pp. 259-267, Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
C Sherman, D Ayre, K Miller
(2006), Vol. 25, pp. 7-18, Coral Reefs, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Spawning source, movement patterns, and nursery area replenishment of spawning population of king george whiting in south-eastern Australia - closing the life history loop
Dr Craig Sherman, Dr Gregory Jenkins, Dr Paul Hamer, Anthony Fowler
FRDC Grant - Research - Fisheries Research & Development Corporation
- 2015: $7,849
- 2014: $15,920
- 2013: $16,800
- 2012: $41,800
- 2011: $5,000
Patterns of interaction between habitat and oceanographic variable affecting the connectivitity and productivity of invertebrate fish
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Mary Young, Dr Craig Sherman
FRDC Grant - Research - Fisheries Research & Development Corporation
- 2017: $35,000
- 2016: $110,000
- 2015: $50,000
Other Public Sector Funding
The Reef Ecosystem Evaluation Framework (REEF): Managing for Resilience in Temperate Environments
Dr Craig Sherman, Dr Gregory Jenkins, Dr Neville Barrett, Asst/Prof Steve Swearer, Prof Maria Byrne, Prof Craig Johnson, Asst/Prof Sean Connell, Dr Bayden Russell, Prof Mick Keough, Dr Melinda Coleman
- 2013: $15,000
- 2012: $24,000
- 2011: $15,000
Seagrass resilience in Port Phillip Bay: Developing better predictions of seagrass responses to environmental change
Dr Craig Sherman, Prof Mick Keough, Dr Jeff Ross, Asst/Prof Steve Swearer, A/Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Peter Scanes, Dr Christine Coughanowr
- 2015: $52,010
- 2014: $51,880
- 2013: $49,010
- 2012: $152,643
Improving the sustainability of sand flat head in Port Phillip bay and across Victoria
Dr Craig Sherman
- 2013: $9,090
- 2012: $18,181
Seagrass Restoration: Development of methods for the recovery of intertidal seagrass meadows in Western Port.
Dr Craig Sherman, A/Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Rhys Coleman, Dr Perran Cook, Dr Emma Jackson, Mr Oliver Dalby
- 2019: $18,917
- 2018: $93,000
The development of environmental DNA (eDNA) protocols for monitoring White Shark populations in New South Wales coastal waters
Dr Adam Miller, Mr Paul Butcher, Mr Andrew Weeks, Dr Craig Sherman
- 2019: $45,370
Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys for the Northern Pacific seastar at Tidal River and surrounding areas.
Dr Craig Sherman, Dr Adam Miller
- 2018: $14,020
Understanding the influence of intertidal seagrass meadows on sediment and nutrient dynamics to assist seagrass recovery in Western Port.
Dr Craig Sherman, A/Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Rhys Coleman, Dr Perran Cook, Dr Emma Jackson
- 2018: $30,000
Early detection and monitoring of Undaria pinnatifida in Victorian coastal waters using environmental DNA technologies.
Dr Adam Miller, Dr Craig Sherman, Dr Eric Treml
- 2019: $10,500
National Marine Pest Reference Sequencing Project.
Dr Craig Sherman, Dr Adam Miller, Dr Han Ming Gan
- 2019: $18,181
Industry and Other Funding
Evolutionary and Pest Biology of the Invasive Northern Pacific Seastar, Asterias amurensis, in Australia
Dr Craig Sherman, Mr Mark Richardson
- 2013: $5,500
- 2012: $6,600
- 2011: $5,000
Funding for lapwing projects and subsequent write up
A/Prof Mike Weston, Dr Craig Sherman
- 2012: $2,000
Research and Monitoring of Seagrass Communities (Gladstone Ports Corporation)
Dr Paul York, Dr Craig Sherman, Dr Tim Smith
- 2013: $20,000
Contemporary vs. ancient influences on the patterns of connectivity and genetic structure of a freshwater crayfish, Geocharax gracilis
Dr Craig Sherman, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Ms Aimee Hauser
- 2014: $7,000
- 2013: $7,000
Connectivity and resilience of the purple sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma and the kelp Ecklonia radiata on temperate reef in Port Phillip Bay.
Dr Craig Sherman, Mr Kim Weston
- 2014: $4,000
- 2013: $4,000
Brood Sex Ratio in the Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus), Hooded Plover (Thinornis rubricollis) and Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
A/Prof Mike Weston, Dr Craig Sherman, Mr Daniel Lees
- 2016: $6,500
- 2015: $6,500
- 2014: $6,500
Sex-ratio in shorebirds
A/Prof Mike Weston, Dr Craig Sherman, Mr Daniel Lees
- 2015: $1,500
Other Funding Sources
Assessment of the genetic structure of seagrass populations in Western Port, Victoria
Dr Craig Sherman, Dr Perran Cook
- 2017: $6,846
- 2015: $27,913
Fish Health Assessment in Western Port
Dr Craig Sherman, Dr Kathryn Hassell, Dr Rhys Coleman
- 2018: $14,901
Supervisions
Adam Cardilini
Thesis entitled: Phenotypic and genetic variation of non-native common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Adam Cardilini
Thesis entitled: Phenotypic and genetic variation of non-native common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), Faculty Office- Science, Engineering & Built Environment
Mark Richardson
Thesis entitled: Evolutionary Biology of the Invasive Northern Pacific Seastar, Asterias amurensis
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Jared John Tromp
Thesis entitled: Long-term exposure to elevated temperature in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Yen Ting Wong
Thesis entitled: Study of Inheritance of Alpaca Fibre for Fibre Production Improvement
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Mani Grover
Thesis entitled: Novel therapeutics for complex diseases from genome-wide association data
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Jacob Thomas Van Oosterom
Thesis entitled: Gene flow in East Antarctic echinoderms and resilience to climate change
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences