Ben is a coastal and marine ecologist with broad expertise across the fields of ecological restoration, conservation biology, and spatial ecology. He has gained international recognition for his work on coastal fish habitats, ecological restoration prioritisation and monitoring (especially for wetlands and shellfish reefs), and the spatial ecology of coastal fishes.
Ben’s aim is to disentangle multiple sources of ecosystem variability and disturbance to optimise ecosystem management and maximise ecological, social and economic outcomes. Ben’s research therefore regularly incorporates the principles of systematic planning, spatial ecology, conservation, ecological restoration and ecological indicators.
Ben has significant experience collaborating with government, community groups, NGOs and private industry on projects ranging from ecological monitoring and large-scale ecological restoration to impact assessment and environmental planning. He welcomes opportunities to expand collaborations across these networks both in Australia and internationally.
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Research areas
- Coastal and marine ecology
- Spatial ecology
- Ecological restoration
- Conservation biology
- Coastal fish habitats
- Fish and fisheries biology and ecology
Courses coordinated
Potential postgraduate research topics
- Shellfish reef ecology and their ecological restoration
- Nutrient offsetting using coastal wetlands and reefs
- Incorporating spatial ecology into coastal restoration and conservation planning
- Coastal fish ecology and fish-habitat associations
- The ecological functions and ecosystem services of coastal habitats
- Coastal wetland ecology and biodiversity, including of terrestrial vertebrates
Teaching areas
- Coastal and marine ecology
- Restoration ecology
- Conservation biology
- Vertebrate ecology
- Environmental management
Associate Professor Ben Gilby's specialist areas of knowledge include marine ecology, fish biology, marine ecosystem management and conservation.