Biography summary
Paul’s research career has a focus on environmental science that sits at the interface between high-quality research and science-based management of ecosystems. From further developing the science to offset carbon emissions through wetland restoration and protection, to the management of resilient coastal ecosystems. Paul has developed strong skills in experimental design and data analysis that underpins all of his work. Paul also has a strong background in fieldwork on marine and freshwater ecosystems, including seagrass, mangroves, saltmarsh, kelp forests and inland wetlands. It is in these coastal and inland wetland habitats, that Paul has been leading carbon stock assessments in the Blue Carbon Lab over the last couple of years. Through these projects Paul has developed strong relationships with Parks Victoria, Catchment Management Authorities in Victoria and New South Wales, Greenfleet and The Nature Conservancy.
Research interests
My research aims to support government and non-government organisations to manage, protect and rehabilitate marine, coastal and freshwater ecosystems. This is done via:
-Evaluating the ecosystem services (eg. blue carbon, coastal protection, fisheries) of marine, coastal and freshwater ecosystems, and how this varies in time and space
-Utilising data on ecosystem extent, condition and services to create Environmental- Economic accounts that aim to optimise the benefits of nature through protection and restoration.
- Developing effective and efficient monitoring programs that report against Limits of Acceptable Change in an Adaptive Management Framework
Teaching interests
Ecology, Marine Biology, Marine Botany, Biogeochemistry, Fisheries, Environmental Economics, Wetlands, Climate Change
Units taught
SLE 265 Marine Botany
SLE 328 Oceans, Coasts and Climate Change
SLE 345 Oceanography
Professional activities
Australian Marine Science Assosciation, national and state branch council member 2019- . https://www.amsa.asn.au/council-members
Media appearances
Scope TV Chanel 10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPiK9zeX2OY&t=54s
Importance of coastal wetlands for carbon sequestration and other values. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMQaU9p5s08&t=5s
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-23/victorians-urged-to-feast-on-sea-urchins-to-control-populations/100118378
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/kelp-needed-as-port-phillip-bay-seafloor-cleared-by-march-of-urchins-20180309-p4z3nu.html
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/wetlands-mask-entire-vic-city-s-emissions
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/hobart/programs/breakfast/climate-change-invaders/9564038
https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/divers-urged-to-feast-on-fast-spreading-sea-urchins-in-australia-v69f82167
https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/podcasts/radio-marinara/episodes/4075-radio-marinara-23-february-2020
https://www.fieldandgame.com.au/2018/08/27/1358482/wetlands-are-carbon-capture-kings
https://www.vrfish.com.au/2019/03/05/sea-urchins-taking-over-port-phillip-bay/
Research groups
Blue Carbon Lab
Deakin MARINE, Centre for Marine, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences
Centre for Integrative Ecology
Projects
Optimal management of overabundant sea urchins in Victoria. DELWP funded. https://www.bluecarbonlab.org/kelp-segrass-restoration/
Victorian Coastal Wetland Restoration Program. DELWP funded. https://www.bluecarbonlab.org/our-research/wetland-restoration/
Mapping Ocean Wealth Australia. https://oceanwealth.org/project-areas/australia/ and summary report here: https://www.natureaustralia.org.au/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/australia/MOW_Report_Web.pdf
Carbon sequestration by Victorian wetlands. Victorian Government, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.14319
Wetland Carbon Monitoring Program. Murray Local Land Services.
Publications
The value of estuarine producers to fisheries: A case study of Richmond River Estuary
H Jänes, P Macreadie, J Rizzari, D Ierodioconou, S Reeves, P Dwyer, P Carnell
(2022), Vol. 51, pp. 875-887, Ambio, Sweden, C1
Giuditta Bonetti, Katy Limpert, Kasper Elgetti Brodersen, Stacey Trevathan-Tackett, Paul Carnell, Peter Macreadie
(2022), Vol. 294, pp. 1-10, Environmental Pollution, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Blue carbon drawdown by restored mangrove forests improves with age
P Carnell, M Palacios, P Waryszak, S Trevathan-Tackett, P Masqué, P Macreadie
(2022), Vol. 306, pp. 1-8, Journal of Environmental Management, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
The potential of viruses to influence the magnitude of greenhouse gas emissions in an inland wetland
G Bonetti, S Trevathan-Tackett, P Carnell, P Macreadie
(2021), Vol. 193, Water Research, England, C1
Managing agricultural grazing to enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of freshwater wetlands
K Limpert, P Carnell, P Macreadie
(2021), Vol. 29, pp. 231-244, Wetlands Ecology and Management, C1
G Bonetti, S Trevathan-Tackett, P Carnell, S Treby, P Macreadie
(2021), Vol. 163, Applied Soil Ecology, C1
Estimating blue carbon sequestration under coastal management scenarios
M Moritsch, M Young, P Carnell, P Macreadie, C Lovelock, E Nicholson, P Raimondi, L Wedding, D Ierodiaconou
(2021), Vol. 777, Science of the Total Environment, Netherlands, C1
Planted mangroves cap toxic petroleum-contaminated sediments
P Waryszak, M Palacios, P Carnell, I Yilmaz, P Macreadie
(2021), Vol. 171, Marine Pollution Bulletin, England, C1
Microbial community dynamics behind major release of methane in constructed wetlands
G Bonetti, S Trevathan-Tackett, N Hebert, P Carnell, P Macreadie
(2021), Vol. 167, Applied Soil Ecology, C1
National scale predictions of contemporary and future blue carbon storage
M Young, O Serrano, P Macreadie, C Lovelock, P Carnell, D Ierodiaconou
(2021), Vol. 800, Science of the Total Environment, Netherlands, C1
Seagrass valuation from fish abundance, biomass and recreational catch
H Jänes, P Carnell, M Young, D Ierodiaconou, G Jenkins, P Hamer, P Zu Ermgassen, J Gair, P Macreadie
(2021), Vol. 130, Ecological Indicators, C1
Stable isotopes infer the value of Australia's coastal vegetated ecosystems from fisheries
H Janes, P Macreadie, E Nicholson, D Ierodiaconou, S Reeves, M Taylor, P Carnell
(2020), Vol. 21, pp. 80-90, Fish and fisheries, Chichester, Eng., C1
B Huang, M Young, P Carnell, S Conron, D Ierodiaconou, P Macreadie, E Nicholson
(2020), Vol. 710, Science of the Total Environment, Netherlands, C1
Assessing passive rehabilitation for carbon gains in rain-filled agricultural wetlands
S Treby, P Carnell, S Trevathan-Tackett, G Bonetti, P Macreadie
(2020), Vol. 256, Journal of Environmental Management, England, C1
Overgrazing of Seagrass by Sea Urchins Diminishes Blue Carbon Stocks
P Carnell, D Ierodiaconou, T Atwood, P Macreadie
(2020), Vol. 23, pp. 1437-1448, Ecosystems, C1
Reducing Emissions From Degraded Floodplain Wetlands
K Limpert, P Carnell, S Trevathan-Tackett, P Macreadie
(2020), Vol. 8, Frontiers in Environmental Science, C1
A Navarro, M Young, B Allan, P Carnell, P Macreadie, D Ierodiaconou
(2020), Vol. 242, Remote Sensing of Environment, C1
Quantifying fisheries enhancement from coastal vegetated ecosystems
H Jänes, P Macreadie, P Zu Ermgassen, J Gair, S Treby, S Reeves, E Nicholson, D Ierodiaconou, P Carnell
(2020), Vol. 43, Ecosystem Services, C1
Drivers and modelling of blue carbon stock variability in sediments of southeastern Australia
C Ewers Lewis, M Young, D Ierodiaconou, J Baldock, B Hawke, J Sanderman, P Carnell, P Macreadie
(2020), Vol. 17, pp. 2041-2059, Biogeosciences, C1
A Gulliver, P Carnell, S Trevathan-Tackett, M Duarte de Paula Costa, P Masqué, P Macreadie
(2020), Vol. 7, Frontiers in Marine Science, C1
P Carnell, M Keough
(2020), Vol. 10, Scientific Reports, England, C1
Climate drives the geography of marine consumption by changing predator communities
M Whalen, R Whippo, J Stachowicz, P York, E Aiello, T Alcoverro, A Altieri, L Benedetti-Cecchi, C Bertolini, M Bresch, F Bulleri, P Carnell, S Cimon, R Connolly, M Cusson, M Diskin, E D’Souza, A Flores, F Joel Fodrie, A Galloway, L Gaskins, O Graham, T Hanley, C Henderson, C Hereu, M Hessing-Lewis, K Hovel, B Hughes, A Randall Hughes, K Hultgren, H Jänes, D Janiak, L Johnston, P Jorgensen, B Kelaher, C Kruschel, B Lanham, K Lee, J Lefcheck, E Lozano-Álvarez, P Macreadie, Z Monteith, N O’Connor, A Olds, J O’Leary, C Patrick, O Pino, A Poore, M Rasheed, W Raymond, K Reiss, O Kennedy Rhoades, M Robinson, P Ross, F Rossi, T Schlacher, J Seemann, B Silliman, D Smee, M Thiel, R Unsworth, B van Tussenbroek, A Vergés, M Yeager, B Yednock, S Ziegler, J Emmett Duffy
(2020), Vol. 117, pp. 28160-28166, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., C1
P Crockett, P Carnell
(2020), Vol. 137, pp. 258-268, Victorian naturalist, Melbourne, Vic., C1
P Carnell, M Keough
(2019), Vol. 42, pp. 765-778, Estuaries and coasts, New York, N.Y., C1-1
G Bonetti, S Trevathan-Tackett, P Carnell, P Macreadie
(2019), Vol. 10, Frontiers in Microbiology, Switzerland, C1
Microhabitats can be recruitment refuges and sinks
P Carnell, M Sams, M Keough
(2019), Vol. 626, pp. 15-27, Marine ecology progress series, Oldendorf, Germany, C1
Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation
O Serrano, C Lovelock, T B. Atwood, P Macreadie, R Canto, S Phinn, A Arias-Ortiz, L Bai, J Baldock, C Bedulli, P Carnell, R Connolly, P Donaldson, A Esteban, C Ewers Lewis, B Eyre, M Hayes, P Horwitz, L Hutley, C Kavazos, J Kelleway, G Kendrick, K Kilminster, A Lafratta, S Lee, P Lavery, D Maher, N Marbà, P Masque, M Mateo, R Mount, P Ralph, C Roelfsema, M Rozaimi, R Ruhon, C Salinas, J Samper-Villarreal, J Sanderman, C J. Sanders, I Santos, C Sharples, A Steven, T Cannard, S Trevathan-Tackett, C Duarte
(2019), Vol. 10, Nature Communications, England, C1
Mapping Ocean Wealth Australia: the value of coastal wetlands to people and nature
Paul Carnell, Simon Reeves, Emily Nicholson, Peter Macreadie, Daniel Ierodiaconou, Mary Young, Jaya Kelvin, Holger Janes, Alejandro Navarro, James Fitzsimons, Chris Gillies
(2019), Carlton, Vic., A6
Variability and Vulnerability of Coastal 'Blue Carbon' Stocks: A Case Study from Southeast Australia
C Ewers Lewis, P Carnell, J Sanderman, J Baldock, P Macreadie
(2018), Vol. 21, pp. 263-279, Ecosystems, C1
A global map of mangrove forest soil carbon at 30 m spatial resolution
J Sanderman, T Hengl, G Fiske, K Solvik, M Adame, L Benson, J Bukoski, P Carnell, M Cifuentes-Jara, D Donato, C Duncan, E Eid, P Ermgassen, C Lewis, P Macreadie, L Glass, S Gress, S Jardine, T Jones, E Nsombo, M Rahman, C Sanders, M Spalding, E Landis
(2018), Vol. 13, Environmental Research Letters, C1
Carbon stocks, sequestration, and emissions of wetlands in south eastern Australia
P Carnell, S Windecker, M Brenker, J Baldock, P Masque, K Brunt, P Macreadie
(2018), Vol. 24, pp. 4173-4184, Global Change Biology, England, C1
M Young, P Macreadie, C Duncan, P Carnell, E Nicholson, O Serrano, C Duarte, G Shiell, J Baldock, D Ierodiaconou
(2018), Vol. 14, Biology Letters, England, C1
Carbon sequestration by Australian tidal marshes
P Macreadie, Q Ollivier, J Kelleway, O Serrano, P Carnell, C Ewers Lewis, T Atwood, J Sanderman, J Baldock, R Connolly, C Duarte, P Lavery, A Steven, C Lovelock
(2017), Vol. 7, Scientific Reports, England, C1
Global patterns in mangrove soil carbon stocks and losses
T Atwood, R Connolly, H Almahasheer, P Carnell, C Duarte, C Lewis, X Irigoien, J Kelleway, P Lavery, P Macreadie, O Serrano, C Sanders, I Santos, A Steven, C Lovelock
(2017), Vol. 7, pp. 523-528, Nature Climate Change, C1
The influence of herbivores on primary producers can vary spatially and interact with disturbance
P Carnell, M Keough
(2016), Vol. 125, pp. 1273-1283, Oikos, C1
P Carnell, M Keough
(2014), Vol. 175, pp. 409-416, Oecologia, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
Control charts for Victoria's Marine Protected Areas
Dr Paul Carnell
Parks Victoria Grant - Research
- 2015: $2,280
Removal strategies of the introduced kelp Undaria pinnatifida and its interaction with the native algal canopy in Victoria's Marine Sanctuaries
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Paul Carnell, Prof Peter Macreadie
Parks Victoria Grant - Research
- 2016: $3,000
- 2015: $3,000
RPP 1415 P18- Conservation plans for marine protected areas
Dr Paul Carnell, Prof Peter Macreadie
Parks Victoria Grant - Research
- 2015: $4,500
Wetland Monitoring Program Development
Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Jan Barton, Prof Rebecca Lester
Local Land Services
- 2016: $10,000
- 2015: $70,000
Carbon sequestration and storage in freshwater Victorian wetlands
Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Paul Carnell
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
- 2016: $53,040
- 2015: $60,000
A pilot monitoring program for Victoria's marine national parks and sanctuaries
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Paul Carnell, Mr Paul Tinkler
Parks Victoria Grant - Research CAT2-2-1
- 2018: $123,007
- 2017: $114,689
Evaluating the carbon sink-source capacity of inland wetlands within the Murray region
Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Paul Carnell
Local Land Services
- 2017: $128,034
Restoring healthy ecosystems in subtidal reefs: an integrated approach
Dr Paul Carnell, Prof Peter Macreadie, Miss Beck Morris, Asst/Prof Steve Swearer
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
- 2020: $12,912
- 2019: $12,736
- 2018: $12,272
Enhancing monitoring programs for Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park using remote observation, rock lobster pots and sonar technologies
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Paul Carnell, Mr Paul Tinkler, Mr Jordan Logan
Parks Victoria Grant - Research CAT2-2-1
- 2019: $124,141
- 2018: $37,650
- 2017: $69,338
Victorian Coastal Wetland Restoration
Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Paul Carnell
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
- 2020: $91,000
- 2019: $131,000
- 2018: $403,000
Are feral herbivores impacting carbon storage in alpine peatlands?
Dr Paul Carnell, Prof Peter Macreadie, Ms Sarah Treby
Parks Victoria Grant - Research CAT2-4
- 2019: $5,000
An updated monitoring program for Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park.
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Mr Paul Tinkler, Mr Sam Wines, Dr Paul Carnell, Prof John Arnould
Parks Victoria Grant - Research CAT2-2-1
- 2020: $86,381
- 2019: $45,000
An updated monitoring program for Cape Howe Marine National Park.
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Mr Paul Tinkler, Mr Sam Wines, Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Mary Young
Parks Victoria Grant - Research CAT2-2-1
- 2021: $48,780
- 2019: $45,000
Optimal Management of Overabundant Sea Urchins in Victoria.
Dr Paul Carnell, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Eric Treml, A/Prof Craig Sherman, Dr Adam Miller, Dr Mary Young, Prof Peter Macreadie
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
- 2021: $222,500
- 2020: $97,500
- 2019: $70,000
Development of an ongoing monitoring program for saltmarsh & seagrass in Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park
Dr Paul Carnell
Parks Victoria Grant - Research CAT2-2-1
- 2022: $1,890
- 2021: $6,033
- 2020: $24,132
Review of effects of wind powered vessels on wildlife within Victoria's MPAs and sensitive coastal areas.
Dr Paul Carnell, A/Prof Mike Weston
Parks Victoria Grant - Research CAT2-1-2
- 2021: $7,182
- 2020: $7,182
Mapping the benefits and costs of management actions for blue carbon habitats on Victoria's coastline.
Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Micheli Costa, Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Melissa Wartman, Prof Emily Nicholson
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
- 2022: $30,000
- 2021: $90,000
Developing a wetland restoration action plan for the Southeast Bellarine.
Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Melissa Wartman, Dr Maria Palacios, Prof Peter Macreadie
City of Greater Geelong
- 2022: $10,000
- 2021: $14,995
Giant Spider Crab ecological and socio-economic assessment in the marine water of Port Phillip Bay.
A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Justin Rizzari, Prof John Arnould, A/Prof Helen Scarborough, Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Mary Young, Dr Sasha Whitmarsh
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
- 2022: $447,467
CCMA Swan Bay Coastal saltmarsh migration assessment.
Dr Paul Carnell, Miss Jasmine Bursic, Dr Micheli Costa, Dr Melissa Wartman, Prof Peter Macreadie
Department of Environment and Energy
- 2022: $34,750
A pilot Coastal Natural values study for Corner Inlet and Nooramunga.
Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Kay Critchell, Prof Emily Nicholson
Parks Victoria
- 2022: $40,000
Project-level environmental economic accounting for coastal blue carbon ecosystems.
Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Paul Carnell
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
- 2022: $800,000
Industry and Other Funding
Sea urchin outbreak in Noorumunga Marine and Coastal Park: implications for seagrasses and their carbon-sink capacity
Prof Peter Macreadie, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Paul Carnell
Australia Academy of Science
- 2017: $1,000
- 2015: $9,000
The Victorian Coastal Wetland Restoration Program: Protecting Victoria's Saltmarsh Through Fencing
Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Melissa Wartman, Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Micheli Costa
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant - Research
- 2022: $81,925
- 2021: $87,234
Developing a new Seaweed Aquaculture Industry in Gippsland.
Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Prue Francis, Dr Alecia Bellgrove, Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Cecilia Biancacci, Dr Stacey Trevathan-Tackett
Food & Fibre Gippsland Inc
- 2022: $80,050
- 2021: $40,000
GeelongPort Citizen Science program.
Dr Maria Palacios, Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Paul Carnell
Geelong Port
- 2022: $60,000
Enhancing coastal restoration by accelerating saltmarsh revegetation and soil recovery
Dr Stacey Trevathan-Tackett, Dr Melissa Wartman, Dr Paul Carnell, Prof Peter Macreadie
Hermon Slade Foundation Grant - Research CAT3
- 2022: $14,740
Boosting drought resilience in the Lower Loddon Landscape.
Dr Martino Malerba, Dr Paul Carnell, Dr Lukas Schuster, Prof Peter Macreadie, Dr Stacey Trevathan-Tackett
Wetland Revival Trust
- 2022: $50,210
Supervisions
Sarah Treby
Thesis entitled: Management and Disturbance Impacts to Carbon Sequestration in Australian Freshwater Wetlands
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Giuditta Bonetti
Thesis entitled: The role of prokaryotes, viruses and viral infection strategies for carbon dynamics in inland wetlands
Doctor of Philosophy (Biol & Chem), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Katy Elizabeth Limpert
Thesis entitled: Maximising carbon drawdown in freshwater wetlands
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Holger Janes
Thesis entitled: Values of coastal ecosystems from fish and fisheries
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences