Bridie Allan

Collaborator – behavioural ecology of fishes

Otago University
310 Castle Street
PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054
New Zealand

See Bridie’s website HERE
See Bridie’s ResearchGate profile HERE
See Bridie’s Google Scholar page HERE
See Bridie’s Twitter account HERE

Education

PhD. (2016) in Marine Biology, James Cook University (Australia)
MSc. (2014) in Marine Biology, James Cook University (Australia)
BSc. (2009) in Zoology/Ecology, Otago university (New Zealand)

Areas of expertise and interest

Environmental change is one of the greatest threats facing marine ecosystems today. Despite a rapid increase in research in this field, predicting the response and acclimatory capacity of marine animals remains difficult. My research explores how anthropogenic driven environmental change can alter the mechanisms underlying population processes and how these changes scale to community dynamics. To do this, I investigate a wide range of impacts including climate change, oil pollution, habitat degradation, microplastic pollution, and other human activities that influence the behavior and survival of fish. For example, predation is one of the key processes structuring communities in ecological and evolutionary time and understanding the interactions between species in response to environmental change can be complex. However, only focusing on the responses of individual species is likely to provide an insufficient basis from which an understanding of long term responses to environmental change can be inferred. Using different field and laboratory experiments such as in situ behavioural assays and high speed videography, I undertake research that demonstrates how different levels of environmental and anthropogenic stressors affect various performance traits in fish which can lead to increased predator induced mortality.

Active research projects

Rossi Foundation grant to study the impacts of microplastics on the survival of coral reef fish.
The effect of photo enhanced toxicity of PAHs on commercially important fish larvae (cod, haddock and herring).
Orientation in herring larvae.
The impacts of habitat degradation of coral reef fish.
The effect of anthropogenically produced sound on the antipredator behaviour of fishes.
Ian Potter Foundation postdoctoral fellowship – Microplastics in the marine environment and their implications for behaviour, physiology and oxidative damage in coral reef fish.
University of Otago Research Grant – Developing edible polymers to reduce the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish.
University of Otago Research Grant – How echoes of past plastics exposure shapes future generations.

Publications

Parasite infection directly impacts escape response and stress levels in fish

Allan, B.J.M., B. Illing, E.P. Fakan, P. Narvaez, A.S. Grutter, P.C. Sikkel, E.C. McClure, J.L. Rummer & M.I. McCormick. 2020. Parasite infection directly impacts escape response and stress levels in fish. Journal of Experimental Biology. doi: 10.1242/jeb.230904.
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Orientation behavior and swimming speed of Atlantic herring larvae (Clupea harengus) in situ and in laboratory exposures to rotated artificial magnetic fields

Cresci, A., B.J.M. Allan, S. Shema, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2020. Orientation behavior and swimming speed of Atlantic herring larvae (Clupea harengus) in situ and in laboratory exposures to rotated artificial magnetic fields. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 526 (2020) 151358.
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Read a story about the work

Species-specific molecular responses of wild coral reef fishes during a marine heatwave

Bernal, M.A., C. Schunter, R. Lehmann, D.J. Lightfoot, B.J. M. Allan, H.D. Veilleux, J.L. Rummer, P.L. Munday, & T. Ravasi. 2020. Species-specific molecular responses of wild coral reef fishes during a marine heatwave. Science Advances 2020, 6: eaay3423.
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Organ health and development in larval kingfish are unaffected by ocean acidification and warming

Frommel, A.Y., Brauner, C.J., Allan, B.J.M., Nicol, S., Parsons, D.M., Pether, S.M.J., Setiawan, A.N., Smith, N., Munday, P.L. 2019. Organ health and development in larval kingfish are unaffected by ocean acidification and warming. PeerJ 7:e8266 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8266
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The effect of climate change on the escape kinematics and performance of fishes: implications for future predator–prey interactions

Domenici, P., B.J.M. Allan, C. Lefrançois, M.I. McCormick. 2019. The effect of climate change on the escape kinematics and performance of fishes: implications for future predator–prey interactions. Conservation Physiology 7: coz078.
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Scared to death? the killer effect of predation risk in snowshoe hares

Allan, B.J.M. 2019. Scared to death? the killer effect of predation risk
in snowshoe hares. Conservation Physiology 7. 10.1093/conphys/coz029.
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Testing the adaptive potential of yellowtail kingfish to ocean warming and acidification

Munday, P.L., C. Schunter, B.J.M. Allan, S. Nicol, D.M. Parsons, S.M.J. Pether, S. Pope, T. Ravasi, A.N. Setiawan, N. Smith & J.A. Domingos. 2019. Testing the adaptive potential of yellowtail kingfish to ocean warming and acidification. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 7: 253. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00253.
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Enhanced fast-start performance and anti-predator behaviour in a coral reef fish in response to suspended sediment exposure

Hess, S., B.J.M. Allan, A.S. Hoey, M.D. Jarrold, A.S. Wenger & J.L Rummer. 2019. Enhanced fast-start performance and anti-predator behaviour
in a coral reef fish in response to suspended sediment exposure. Coral Reefs 38: 103-108.
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Effects of boat noise on fish fast-start escape response depend on engine type

McCormick, M.I., E.P. Fakan, S.L. Nedelec & B.J.M. Allan. 2019. Effects of boat noise on fish fast-start escape response depend on engine type. Scientific Reports 9:6554 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43099-5
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Effect of elevated CO2 and small boat noise on the kinematics of predator-prey interactions

McCormick, M. I., Watson, S.-A., Simpson, S. D., & Allan, B. J. M. 2018. Effect of elevated CO2 and small boat noise on the kinematics of predator-prey interactions. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 285(1875), 20172650
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Boat noise impacts risk assessment in a coral reef fish but effects depend on engine type

McCormick, M. I., Allan, B. J. M., Harding, H., & Simpson, S. D. 2018. Boat noise impacts risk assessment in a coral reef fish but effects depend on engine type. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 3847.
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Ocean warming has a greater effect than acidification on the early life history development and swimming performance of a large circumglobal pelagic fish

Watson, Sue‐Ann, Bridie JM Allan, David E McQueen, Simon Nicol, Darren M Parsons, Stephen MJ Pether, Stephen Pope, Alvin N Setiawan, Neville Smith, Carly Wilson, Philip L Munday. 2018. Ocean warming has a greater effect than acidification on the early life history development and swimming performance of a large circumglobal pelagic fish. Global Change Biology. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14290.
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Warming has a greater effect than elevated CO2 on predator-prey interactions in coral reef fish

Allan, B. J. M., Domenici, P., Watson, S. A., Munday, P. L., & McCormick, M. I. 2017. Warming has a greater effect than elevated CO2 on predator-prey interactions in coral reef fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 284(1857), 20170784.
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Daily variation in behavioural lateralization is linked to predation stress in a coral reef fish

Ferrari, M. C. O., McCormick, M. I., Mitchell, M. D., Allan, B. J. M., Gonçalves, E. J., & Chivers, D. P. 2017. Daily variation in behavioural lateralization is linked to predation stress in a coral reef fish. Animal Behaviour, 133: 189-193.
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Interspecific differences in how habitat degradation affects escape response. Scientific Reports

McCormick, M. I., & Allan, B. J. M. 2017. Interspecific differences in how habitat degradation affects escape response. Scientific Reports 7: 426.
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Behavioural measures determine survivorship within the hierarchy of whole-organism phenotypic traits

McCormick, M. I., Fakan, E., & Allan, B. J. M. 2017. Behavioural measures determine survivorship within the hierarchy of whole-organism phenotypic traits. Functional Ecology 32: 958-969.
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Juvenile coral reef fish alter escape responses when exposed to changes in background and acute risk levels

Ramasamy, R. A., Allan, B. J. M., McCormick, M. I., Chivers, D. P., Mitchell, M. D., & Ferrari, M. C. O. 2017. Juvenile coral reef fish alter escape responses when exposed to changes in background and acute risk levels. Animal Behaviour 134: 15-22.
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Not equal in the face of habitat change: Closely related fishes differ in their ability to use predation-related information in degraded coral

Ferrari, M. C. O., McCormick, M. I., Allan, B. J. M., & Chivers, D. P. 2017. Not equal in the face of habitat change: Closely related fishes differ in their ability to use predation-related information in degraded coral. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 284(1852), 20162758.
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Oil exposure disrupts early life-history stages of coral reef fishes via behavioural impairments

Johansen, J. L., Allan, B. J. M., Rummer, J. L., & Esbaugh, A. J. 2017. Oil exposure disrupts early life-history stages of coral reef fishes via behavioural impairments. Nature Ecology and Evolution 1: 1146-1152.
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Algae associated with coral degradation affects risk assessment in coral reef fishes

McCormick, M. I., Barry, R. P., & Allan, B. J. M. 2017. Algae associated with coral degradation affects risk assessment in coral reef fishes. Scientific Reports 7(1), 16937.
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Competitive superiority versus predation savvy: The two sides of behavioural lateralization

Chivers, D. P., McCormick, M. I., Warren, D. T., Allan, B. J. M., Ramasamy, R. A., Arvizu, B. K., Ferrari, M. C. O. 2017. Competitive superiority versus predation savvy: The two sides of behavioural lateralization. Animal Behaviour 130: 9-15.
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Habitat degradation disrupts neophobia in juvenile coral reef fish

McCormick, M. I., Chivers, D. P., Allan, B. J. M., & Ferrari, M. C. O. 2016. Habitat degradation disrupts neophobia in juvenile coral reef fish. Global Change Biology 23: 719-727.
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At odds with the group: Changes in lateralization and escape performance reveal conformity and conflict in fish schools

Chivers, D. P., McCormick, M. I., Allan, B. J. M., Mitchell, M. D., Gonçalves, E. J., Bryshun, R., & Ferrari, M. C. O. 2016. At odds with the group: Changes in lateralization and escape performance reveal conformity and conflict in fish schools. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 283(1841), 20161127.
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Lionfish misidentification circumvents an optimized escape response by prey

McCormick, M. I. & Allan, B. J. M. 2016. Lionfish misidentification circumvents an optimized escape response by prey. Conservation Physiology 4(1), cow064.
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Risk assessment and predator learning in a changing world: Understanding the impacts of coral reef degradation

Chivers, D. P., McCormick, M. I., Allan, B. J. M., & Ferrari, M. C. O. 2016. Risk assessment and predator learning in a changing world: Understanding the impacts of coral reef degradation. Scientific Reports 6, 32542.
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Effects of elevated CO2 on predator avoidance behaviour by reef fishes is not altered by experimental test water

Munday, P. L., Welch, M. J., Allan, B. J. M., Watson, S.-A., McMahon, S. J., & McCormick, M. I. 2016. Effects of elevated CO2 on predator avoidance behaviour by reef fishes is not altered by experimental test water. PeerJ, 4, e2501.
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The effects of background risk on behavioural lateralization in a coral reef fish

Ferrari, M. C. O., McCormick, M. I., Allan, B. J. M., Choi, R. B., Ramasamy, R. A., & Chivers, D. P. 2015. The effects of background risk on behavioural lateralization in a coral reef fish. Functional Ecology 29: 1553-1559.
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Feeling the heat: The effect of acute temperature changes on predator-prey interactions in coral reef fish

Allan, B. J. M., Domenici, P., Munday, P. L., & McCormick, M. I. 2015. Feeling the heat: The effect of acute temperature changes on predator-prey interactions in coral reef fish. Conservation Physiology, 3(1), cov011.
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Plasticity of escape responses: Prior predator experience enhances escape performance in a coral reef fish

Ramasamy, R. A., Allan, B. J. M., & McCormick, M. I. 2015. Plasticity of escape responses: Prior predator experience enhances escape performance in a coral reef fish. PLoS ONE 10(8), e0132790.
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Living in a risky world: The onset and ontogeny of an integrated antipredator phenotype in a coral reef fish

Ferrari, M. C. O., McCormick, M. I., Allan, B. J. M., Choi, R., Ramasamy, R. A., Johansen, J. L., … Chivers, D. P. 2015. Living in a risky world: The onset and ontogeny of an integrated antipredator phenotype in a coral reef fish. Scientific Reports 5, 15537.
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Interactive effects of ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures alter predation rate and predator selectivity in reef fish communities

Ferrari, M. C. O., Munday, P. L., Rummer, J. L., McCormick, M. I., Corkill, K., Watson, S.-A., Allan, B. J. M., … Chivers, D. P. 2015. Interactive effects of ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures alter predation rate and predator selectivity in reef fish communities. Global Change Biology 21: 1848-1855.
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Shifting from right to left: The combined effect of elevated CO2and temperature on behavioural lateralization in a coral reef fish

Domenici, P., Allan, B. J. M., Watson, S.-A., McCormick, M. I., & Munday, P. L. 2014. Shifting from right to left: The combined effect of elevated CO2and temperature on behavioural lateralization in a coral reef fish. PLoS ONE 9(1), e87969.
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Parental effects improve escape performance of juvenile reef fish in a high-CO2 world

Allan, B. J. M., Miller, G. M., McCormick, M. I., Domenici, P., & Munday, P. L. 2014. Parental effects improve escape performance of juvenile reef fish in a high-CO2 world. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 281(1777), 20132179.
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Elevated CO2 affects predator-prey interactions through altered performance

Allan, B. J. M., Domenici, P., McCormick, M. I., Watson, S.-A., & Munday, P. L. 2013. Elevated CO2 affects predator-prey interactions through altered performance. PLoS ONE, 8(3), e58520.
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Elevated carbon dioxide affects behavioural lateralization in a coral reef fish

Domenici, P., Allan, B., McCormick, M. I., & Munday, P. L. 2012. Elevated carbon dioxide affects behavioural lateralization in a coral reef fish. Biology Letters 8(1), 78-81.
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The effect of sub-lethal UV phototoxicity of PAHs on swimming kinematics and feeding rate in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae

Allan, B.J.M., C.M.F. Durif, S. Shema, A.B. Skiftesvik, H.I. BROWMAN & S. Meier. The effect of sub-lethal UV phototoxicity of PAHs on swimming kinematics and feeding rate in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae.

The effect of sub-lethal UV phototoxicity of PAHs on swimming kinematics and feeding rate in Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae.