JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Sally Lau

About

Interests

Research

Population genomics
Antarctic benthic ecology and evolution
Antarctic ice sheet collapse

Experience

2018 to 2022 - PhD, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
2016 to 2018 - Research Assistant, University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
2012 to 2016 - MSci Marine Biology, University of Southampton (Southampton, United Kingdom)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2021 - AeRO Cloud Grants Program
2019 to 2021 - Antarctic Science International Bursary
2018 to 2021 - Promoting Environmental Research (David Pearse Bequest)
2018 to 2021 - James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarship
2020 - Antarctic Science Foundation PhD student support grant
2016 - The Undergraduate Awards: Highly Commended Entrant
2016 - University of Southampton Tyler Prize for the Best MSci Marine Biology Project

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Lau S, Strugnell J, Sands C, Silva C and Wilson N (2023) Genomic insights of evolutionary divergence and life histories innovations in Antarctic brittle stars. Molecular Ecology, 32 (13). pp. 3382-3402
Strugnell J, Mcgregor H, Wilson N, Meredith K, Chown S, Lau S, Robinson S and Saunders K (2022) Emerging biological archives can reveal ecological and climatic change in Antarctica. Global Change Biology, 28 (22). pp. 6483-6508
Lau S, Strugnell J, Sands C, Silva C and Wilson N (2021) Evolutionary innovations in Antarctic brittle stars linked to glacial refugia. Ecology and Evolution, 11 (23). pp. 17428-17446
Woodings L, Murphy N, Liggins G, Miller M, Ballinger G, Lau S and Strugnell J (2021) Population genomics of the Eastern Rock Lobster, Sagmariasus verreauxi, during spawning stock recovery from over-exploitation. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 78 (7). pp. 2448-2459
Caswell B, Klein E, Alleway H, Ball J, Botero J, Cardinale M, Eero M, Engelhard G, Fortibuoni T, Giraldo A, Hentati-Sundberg J, Jones P, Kittinger J, Krause G, Lajus D, Lajus J, Lau S, Lescrauwaet A, MacKenzie B, McKenzie M, Ojaveer H, Pandolfi J, Raicevich S, Russell B, Sundelöf A, Thorpe R, zu Ermgassen P and Thurstan R (2020) Something old, something new: historical perspectives provide lessons for blue growth agendas. Fish and Fisheries, 21 (4). pp. 774-796
Lau S, Thomas M, Hancock B and Russell B (2020) Restoration potential of Asian oysters on heavily developed coastlines. Restoration Ecology, 28 (6). pp. 1643-1653
Lau S, Wilson N, Silva C and Strugnell J (2020) Detecting glacial refugia in the Southern Ocean. Ecography, 43 (11). pp. 1639-1656
Lau S, Brettell D and Astudillo J (2018) Rapid assessment of the invasive Xenostrobus securis on cultured oysters in Hong Kong. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 17. pp. 11-16
Lau S, Grange L, Peck L and Reed A (2018) The reproductive ecology of the Antarctic bivalve Aequiyoldia eightsii (Protobranchia: Sareptidae) follows neither Antarctic nor taxonomic patterns. Polar Biology, 41. pp. 1693-1706

Other research outputs

Lau S and Strugnell J (2022) Is the Southern Ocean ecosystem primed for change or at the cliff edge? Global Change Biology, 28 (15). pp. 4493-4494
Janssen A, Badhe R, Bransome N, Bricher P, Cavanagh R, de Bruin T, Elshout P, Grant S, Griffin E, Grilly E, Henley S, Hofmann E, Johnston N, Karentz D, Kent R, Lynnes A, Martin T, Miloslavich P, Murphy E, Nolan J, Sikes E, Sparrow M, Tacoma M, Williams M, Arata J, Bowman J, Corney S, Lau S, Manno C, Mohan R, Nielsen H, van Leeuwe M, Waller C, Xavier J and Van De Putte A (2022) Southern Ocean Action Plan (2021-2030) in support of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Zenodo, Brussels, Belgium [Report]

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future - SAEF Biddable Research Funds

On the evolutionary rescue of Antarctic marine fauna ? did the IPCC AR6 get it right?

Indicative Funding: $50,000 over 2 years
Summary: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (IPCC-AR6) proposed Southern Ocean biodiversity to be rescued under designated refugia with assisted migration. These arbitrary refugia are defined by areas south of 70?S in West Antarctica, and Prydz Bay in East Antarctica. The decisions should instead be informed via species? current genetic fitness across the Southern Ocean, a direct measure of extinction risk and success potential for assisted migration. By quantifying genetic fitness, this project 1) demonstrates whether IPCC-AR6?s conservation proposal accelerates species extinction, and 2) establishes genetic-informed refugia and translocation pathways that ensures animal evolutionary resilience under climate change.
Investigators: Sally Lau and Jan Strugnell (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Genetic rescue; Evolutionary biology; Refugia; Southern Ocean; Benthic; Genome simulations

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research - INSTANT Fellowship

Reconstructing past grounded ice extent over time around Wilkes Land margin, East Antarctica, using animal genomes

Indicative Funding: $7,391 over 2 years
Summary: The marine-based margins of the Antarctic Ice Sheet are vulnerable to collapse based on current trajectories in temperature rise. A deep uncertainty remains on whether the marine-based margin of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) (ie, Wilkes Land) is sensitive to climate change. This project applies an innovative, genomic approach to reconstruct past configurations of the marine-based EAIS to inform its future stability.
Investigators: Sally Lau (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Population genomics; East Antarctic Ice Sheet; Climate Change; Whole genome sequencing; Global sea level rise; Pleistocene

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

A genetics perspective: dispersal of benthic invertebrates in the southern ocean (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.