Griffith University

PhD (Sydney), BSc(Hons) JCU

Senior Lecturer, Griffith School of Environment, Australia Rivers Institute

Contact details for Dr Kylie Pitt

Research Expertise

• Ecology of pelagic ecosystems, in particular, the role of gelatinous zooplankton in the trophodynamics and nutrient cycling of coastal waters
• Ecology of marine invertebrates
• Use of marine protected areas to conserve marine invertebrates

Current Teaching Areas

• 3704ENV Marine Invertebrates
• 3803ENV Marine Biology
• 1601ENV Biological Systems
• 1007ENV Introduction to Marine Science
  

 Selected Publications

•  Condon RH, Duarte CM, Pitt KA, Robinson K, Lucas CH, Sutherland KR, Mianzan HW, Bogeberg M, Purcell JE, Decker MB, Uye S, Madin LP, Brodeur RD, Haddock SHD, Malej A, Parry GD, Eriksen E, Quiñones J, Acha M, Harvey, M, Graham WM. Global oscillations fortell recurrent jellyfish blooms.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Accepted 27/11/12.
• Duarte CM, Pitt KA, Lucas C, Purcell J, Uye S, Robinson K, Brotz L, Decker M, Sutherland KR, Malej A, Madin L, Mianzan H, Gili JM, Fuentes V, Atienza D, Pages F, Breitburg D, Malek JC, Graham WM, Condon R.  (in press) Global ocean sprawl as a Trojan horse for jellyfish blooms: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment doi:10.1890/110246.
• Olds AD, Pitt KA, Maxwell PS, Connolly RM (2012). Cascades, connectivity and critical ecosystem functions: can spatial ecological processes promote resilience in reserves?  Journal of Applied Ecology 49:1195-1203.
• Olds AD, Connolly RM, Pitt KA, Maxwell PS. (2012) Connectivity between mangroves and reefs can mediate the performance of marine reserves. Conservation Letters 5:56-63.
• Lucas CH, Pitt KA, Purcell JE, Lebrato M, Condon RH. (2011) What’s in a jellyfish? Proximate and elemental composition and biometric relationships for use in biogeochemical studies.  Ecology 92(8):1704
• Lebrato M, Pahlow M, Oschlies A, Pitt KA, Jones DOB, Molinero JC, Condon RH. (2011)  Depth attenuation of organic matter export associated with jelly-falls.  Limnology and Oceanography 56(5):1917-1928.
• West EJ, Pitt KA, Welsh DT, Koop K, Rissik D.  (2009) Top-down and bottom-up influences of jellyfish on primary production and planktonic assemblages.  Limnology and Oceanography 54(6): 2058-2071.
• Pitt KA, Connolly RM, Maxwell P (2009). Redistribution of sewage nitrogen in estuarine food webs following sewage treatment upgrades.  Marine Pollution Bulletin 58:573-580.
• Pitt KA, Kingsford MJ, Rissik D, Koop K (2007). Jellyfish modify the response of planktonic assemblages to nutrient pulses.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 351:1-13. Feature article.
• Kingsford MJ, Pitt KA, and Gillanders BM (2000).  Management of jellyfish fisheries, with special reference to the order Rhizostomeae.  Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review  38:85-156.

Full Publication List

Current Supervised PhD Projects:

• Christopher Beattie - Patterns of movement by mud crabs in marine reserves.
• Joanna Browne - Gelatinous zooplankton and their symbionts in Eastern Australia.
• Ariella Chelsky Budarf - Ecological and biogeochemical consequences of decomposing jellyfish blooms.
• Paul Maxwell - Modelling the influence of Marine Protected Areas on ecosystem resilience.
• Jean Davis - Trophic connectivity among tropical coastal habitats and implications for MPA design.
• Shannon Klein - Factors influencing early life history demographics of jellyfish.