Dr. David Curnick

Brief CV:

• 2019-Present: Bertarelli Programme in Marine Science Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL, UK.
• 2013-Present: Member, IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group Secretariat.
• 2013-Present: Committee Member, Reef Conservation UK, UK.
• 2013-Present: Visiting Lecturer, Royal Veterinary College, UK.
• 2016-2019: Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Zoology, ZSL.
• 2013-2016: PhD Candidate, University College London, UK.
• 2009-2013: Marine and Freshwater Programme Coordinator, Conservation Programmes, ZSL, UK.
• 2009-2009: General Marine Scientist, Operation Wallacea, Indonesia.
• 2008-2009: MSc. Marine Biology (with Distinction), Coral Reef Research Unit, University of Essex, UK.
• 2005-2008: BSc. Marine and Freshwater Biology (Hons), University of Essex, UK.
   

Primary Research Interests:

My research seeks to understand the spatial and temporal behaviour patterns of sharks and tuna, and how they interact with both marine reserves and fisheries. These apex pelagic predators are under increasing global threat from both legal and illegal exploitation. Therefore, understanding the role that large marine reserves can play in the conservation of these species is crucial to improve their management.

A focus of my current work is based around the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) marine reserve. Through a multi-disciplinary approach of telemetry tagging, remote sensing and historic fisheries analyses, I am assessing the extent to which the BIOT marine reserve affords protection to these commercially important pelagic predators in the Indian Ocean, and whether it contains important sites for key life-stages such as breeding. I am also investigating the impact of the ongoing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the potential impact of fish aggregation devices (FADs) on the reserve.

Other Research Interests:

I also continue to work on a number of other projects broadly based around conservation and marine ecology. Most notable is my research on mangroves, coral reefs, the European eel and the pygmy three-toed sloth.

In addition, I am also a keen wildlife photographer and am currently investigating how we can maximize the use of photography to understand the natural world and apply this technology to new areas of science.
 

Recent Publications:

Dunn, N. & Curnick, DJ. Assessing the potential of historical fisheries data for the management of marine protected areas. 2019. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.

Carlisle, AB., Tickler, D., Dale, JJ., Ferretti, F., Curnick, DJ., Chapple, TK., Schallert, RJ., Castleton, M. & Block, BA. Estimating space use of mobile fishes in a large marine protected area with methodological considerations in acoustic array design. 2019. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6(26) doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00256

Curnick, DJ., Pettorelli, N., Amir, AA., Balke, T., Barbier, EB., Crooks, S., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Duncan, C., Endsor, C., Friess, DA., Quarto, A., Zimmer, M. and Lee, SY. 2019. The value of small mangrove patches. Science (New York, NY), 363(6424), p.239.

Curnick, DJ., Gollock, M., Schallert, R. & Hussey, N. 2019. Evidence of dynamic resource partitioning between two sympatric reef shark species. Journal of Fish Biology. 94(4): 680-685 doi: 10.1111/jfb.13938.

Tickler, DM., Carlisle, AB., Chapple, TK., Curnick, DJ., Dale, JJ., Schallert, RJ. & Block, BA. 2019. Potential detection of illegal fishing by passive acoustic telemetry. Animal Biotelemetry, 7(1), p.1.

Ferretti, F., Curnick, D., Romanov, E. & Block, BA. 2018. Shark baselines and the conservation role of remote coral reef ecosystems. Science Advances, 4(3), p.eaaq0333.

Davies, T., Curnick, DJ., Barde, J. & Chassot, E. 2017. Potential environmental impacts caused by beaching of drifting fish aggregating devices and identification of management solutions and uncertainties. A technical report to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. 

Curnick, DJ.,Head, C., Danwei, H., et.al. 2015. Setting evolutionary-based conservation priorities for a phylogenetically data-poor taxonomic group (Scleractinia). Animal Conservation, 18(4): 303-312.

Redding, DW., Curnick, DJ.,Head, C., Huang, D., Crabbe, MJC., Gollock, M., Hoeksema, BW., Johnson, KG., Jones, R., Koldewey, HJ. & Obura, DO. 2015. Setting evolutionary based conservation priorities for a phylogenetically data‐poor taxonomic group (Scleractinia): response to the commentaries. Animal Conservation, 18(4): 320-321.

Primavera, JH., Guzman, AMT., Coching, JD, Loma, RJA., Curnick, DJ. & Koldewey, HJ. 2014. Paradigm shifts in mangrove rehabilitation in Southeast Asia: Focus on the Philippines. In Proceedings of the 1st ASEAN Congress on Mangrove Research and Development, 3-7 December 2012, Manila, Philippines (pp. 17-30). Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB).

Thompson, BS., Clubbe, CP., Primavera, JH., Curnick, DJ.& Koldewey, HJ. 2014. Locally assessing the economic viability of blue carbon: a case study from Panay Island, the Philippines. Ecosystem Services. 8: 128-140.

Primavera, JH., Savaris, JP., Bajoyo, B., Coching, JD., Curnick, DJ.,Golbeque, RL., Guzman, AT., Henderin, JQ., Joven, RV., Loma, RA. & Koldewey, HJ. 2013. Manual on community-based mangrove rehabilitation. Mangrove manual series no.1.  

Curnick, DJ. & Duncan, C. 2013. The status and distribution of mangrove habitats along the Jeddah coast. A report to Nautica Environmental and Ramboll UK Ltd.

Gollock, M, Curnick, DJ., Head, C., Koldewey, HJ., Long, E., Taylor, M. & Zimmerman, B. 2011. A Biological and Socio-Economic Assessment of the Coral Reefs and associated fauna of the Tobago Cays marine park and Canouan Island. A report to the St Vincent & the Grenadines National Trust and Government.

Gollock, M., Curnick, DJ. & Debney, A. 2011. Recent recruitment of juvenile eel populations in the tributaries of the River Thames. Hydrobiolgia 672: 33–37

Koldewey, HJ., Curnick, DJ., Harding, S., Harrison, L. & Gollock, M. 2010. Potential benefits to fisheries and biodiversity of the Chagos Archipelago as a no-take marine reserve. Marine Pollution Bulletin 60: 1906–1916.