Professor Michael (Mike) Bennett

Position

Professor

Associations

• Oceania Chondrichthyan Society
• IUCN Species Survival Commission: Shark Specialist Group
• International Society for Vertebrate Morphology
• Birds Australia
• American Elasmobranch Society

Contact Details

Biography

Obtained my BSc (hons) degree in Zoology from the University of Leeds, UK (1980) and my PhD from the University of Wales, Bangor, UK (1984). Conducted five years of post doctoral research in animal mechanics at the University of Leeds before lecturing there and subsequently at the University of Queensland (1990 - continuing). Currently I lecture in human anatomy, functional anatomy and fish biology in firt to third level courses. My research focuses on primarily on animal locomotion, shark and ray biology, and the mechanical properties of biological materials. I am married to Sue, with a son (Tim) both of whom are wonderful. I spend too much time bird watching and not enough time fishing. My research students are fabulous and talented folk.

Research Interests

Fish Biology and Vertebrate Biomechanics
Professor Bennett's current research is in vertebrate biomechanics and fish biology. Biomechanical and functional morphological studies include analyses of avian, marsupial and human locomotion. Other studies include ontogenetic analyses of musculoskeletal development in birds with different growth strategies and the functional morphology of avian claws, particularly in relation to foraging behaviour and early bird evolution. I am involved in a number of collaborative projects investigating the mechanics of marsupial locomotion, and vertebrate soft connective tissue and mineralised tissue biomechanics. Research involving fishes focus on the biology of sharks and rays of Moreton Bay and the southern Great Barrier Reef. My research group is studying the biology of a large number of species, including, but not limited to whaler sharks, wobbegong and carpet sharks, grey nurse sharks, sawfishes and rays (manta, eagle, estuary, and mask rays). Our research spans population biology, feeding ecology, stress physiology, reproduction, parasitology, genetics, fisheries, growth and aging, and mechanics. I am also involved in a collaborative studies on the morphology, behaviour and physiology of a biomodal, air-breathing fishes (tarpon. Australian lungfish). Our laboratory has collaborative links with researchers from across Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, South Africa, the USA and the UK.

Selected Publications

Glen, C.L. & Bennett, M.B. Foraging modes of Mesozoic birds and non-avian theropods. Current Biology 17; 911-912 (2007)

 Bansemer, C.S. & Bennett, M.B. Reproductive periodicity, localised movements and behavioural segregation of pregnant Carcharias taurus at Wolf Rock, southeast Queensland, Australia. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 374, 215-227 (2009)

Taylor, S. & Bennett, M.B. Diet and ontogenetic segregation of the Australian weasel shark Hemigaleus australiensis White, Last & Compagno in Moreton Bay, southeast Queensland, Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 72, 917-936 (2008)

Bennett, M.B. Unifying principles in terrestrial locomotion: Do hopping australian marsupials fit in? Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 73, 726-735. (2000)

Cavanagh, R.D., Kyne, P.M., Fowler, S.L., Musick, J.A. & Bennett, M.B. (eds. 2003) ‘The conservation status of Australasian chondrichthyans’. Pp 170. The University of Queensland, Australia.

Bansemer, C.S. & Bennett, M.B. Multi-year validation of photo identification for the grey nurse shark, Carcharias taurus, and applications for non-invasive research. Marine and Freshwater Research 59, 1-10 (2008)(2008)

Schluessel, V., Bennett, M.B., Bleckmann, H., Blomberg, S. and Collin, S.P.Morphometric and ultrastructural comparison of the olfactory system in elasmobranchs: The significance of structure-function relationships based on phylogeny and ecology. Journal of Morphology 269, 1365-1386 (2008).

Bennett, M.B. Post-hatching growth and development of the pectoral and pelvic limbs in the black noddy, Anous minutus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 150; 159-168 (2008)

Krause, H., Bennett, M.B., Forwood, M.R. & Goh, J. Biomechanical properties of raw meshes used in pelvic floor reconstruction. International Urogynecology Journal 19, 1677-1681 (2008)

Kyne, P.M., Courtney, A.J. & Bennett, M.B. Aspects of reproduction and diet of the Australian endemic skate Dipterus polyommata (Ogilby) (Elasmobranchii: Rajidae), by-catch of a commercial prawn trawl fishery. Journal of Fish Biology 72, 61-77 (2008)

Marshall, A.D., Kyne, P.M. & Bennett, M.B. Comparing the diet of two sympatric urolophid elasmobranchs (Trygonoptera testacea Müller & Henle and Urolophus kapalensis Yearsley & Last): evidence of ontogenetic shifts and possible resource partitioning. Journal of Fish Biology 72, 883-898 (2008)

Marshall, A.D., Pierce, S. & Bennett, M.B.Morphological measurements of manta rays (Manta birostris) with a description of a foetus from the east coast of Southern Africa. Zootaxa 1520, 19-36 (2008).

Grants

Dietary ecology and remote sensing as predictive tools for habitat utilisation of the manta ray, Manta birostris.
Grant Body: Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation
Grant Period: 2008 - 2010
Value: $65,000

Population biology, distribution, movement patterns and conservation requirements of the grey nurse shark
Grant Body: Heron Slade Foundation
Grant Period: 2007 - 2009
Value: $52,542

New Grey Nurse Shark Research Project Manta

This multi-hundred-thousand-dollar project includes a call to the public to upload photos of sharks to identify individual sharks and  to locate them throughout the year. Media coverage included TV, radio and newspapers including Seven News; Sunrise Weekender; Radio National; and ABC Radio Wide Bay. Details on how to join at Fauna and Flora International and My Suburban News.

 Project Manta

ARC funded Linkage Project which provided the subject matter for a successful documentary that won the 2012 Australian Government Eureka Prize for Science Journalism for the ABC documentary, Project Manta.

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