Bronte Connolly

I am a highly passionate Honours student at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), building on my BSc in Marine Biology and Climate Change.

My path into coral reef science took shape during my undergraduate degree, where I worked with the Future Reefs Lab and became deeply immersed in coral nutritional ecology. Through this work, I investigated how targeted nutritional interventions, including feeding sterol lipid nanoparticles, influence coral physiological responses under heat stress.

I am now moving into Honours, which is an exciting next step that brings together field-based surveys, citizen science data, and lab-based research.

I am particularly interested in how fine-scale biological processes and local environmental conditions interact to shape coral resilience and range dynamics under climate change.

Supervisors: Dr Jennifer Matthew (UTS), Dr Frédérik Saltré (BEAM)

My research

My Honours research examines coral distributions at the southern and northern thermal margins of their ranges in Sydney’s biogeographic transition zone. Using in situ surveys, citizen science data, and environmental datasets, I develop fine-scale habitat suitability models to identify coral hotspots and potential future habitats under ocean warming. This work aims to improve understanding of how nutritional ecology and local environmental conditions shape coral persistence and range shifts, with direct applications to marine park planning and conservation.

My interests

Coral reef ecology and restoration
Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems
Coral range shifts and distribution modelling
GIS and spatial ecology
Photogrammetry and benthic habitat mapping

Fun facts

When I’m not in the lab or on surveys, I’m usually surfing, scuba diving, or hiking. I follow a plant-based lifestyle and try to live sustainably - even when that means carrying far too many reusable containers into the field!

Favourite quote

“You can achieve anything you want. It takes passion, grit, and perseverance.” Dr. Ruth Gates