David Curnick

Postdoctoral Researcher

Brief CV:

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

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:

Redding, DW., Curnick, DJ., Head, CEI., 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.

Curnick, DJ., Head, C., Danwei, H., Crabbe, J., Gollock, M., Hoeksema, B., Johnson, K., Jones, R., Koldewey, HJ., Obura, D., Rosen, B., Smith, DJ., Taylor, M., Turner, J., Wren, S. & Redding, D. 2015. Setting evolutionary-based conservation priorities for a phylogenetically data-poor taxonomic group (Scleractinia). Animal Conservation, 18(4): 303-312.

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.

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

Naumann, E, Curnick, DJ., Suggett, DJ & Smith, DJ. 2011. Mangroves reveal more robust coral species. Biodiversity Science, 2.

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.