O'Connor, Jack

Senior Scientist

Profile
UNU Publications
Selected NON-UNU Publications
  • Jack O'Connor
    INSTITUTE:
    UNU-EHS
    OFFICE:
    Environmental Vulnerability & Ecosystem Services Section (EVES)
    E-MAIL:
    oconnor@ehs.unu.edu
    PHONE:
    +49 (0)228 815 0218
    NATIONALITY:
    Australia

    Research Interests

    • Climate change adaptation
    • Coastal ecology
    • Ecosystem management

    Education

    • PhD Marine Ecology, University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Australia in close collaboration with University of Melbourne, School of BioSciences and the Australian Museum, Department of Ichthyology
    • BSc (Hons. 1st class) Environmental Science, University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Australia in collaboration with CSIRO, Marine and Atmospheric Research Hub
    • BSc Marine Biology, University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Australia

    Biographical Statement

    Dr. Jack O’Connor is a senior scientist in the Environmental Vulnerability and Ecosystem Services (EVES) section of UNU-EHS.  He is an ecologist and environmental scientist with a focus on ecosystem-based adaptation and sustainable development, with particular expertise in managing and mitigating anthropogenic impacts in coastal socio-ecological systems (SESs).  Dr. O’Connor is involved in the GCRF Living Deltas Hub, an international consortium of transdisciplinary researchers developing new socio-ecological frameworks for sustainable development in major river deltas.  His research role in the Hub is to improve delta-level monitoring of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) and derive with stakeholders a new indicator-based assessment framework focusing on delta-specific SDGs.

    Prior to joining UNU-EHS, Dr. O’Connor worked in the field of coastal adaptation and management at the National Centre for Coasts and Climate, based at the University of Melbourne, Australia.  In collaboration with the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub (Australian Government) and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Victorian State Government), he led projects in the fields of blue carbon management and coastal hazard assessment.  During his post-doctoral work he has also led research projects investigating the effects of anthropogenic pollution in coastal environments of various countries around the world. He has a research background in marine ecology and a passion for inter-disciplinary collaborative projects.

  • Articles

    Reports

  • Articles

    • O’Connor JJ, Fest, BJ, Sievers, M, Swearer, SE (2019) Impacts of land management practices on carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes in blue carbon ecosystems – a meta-analysis. Global Change Biology, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14946
    • O’Connor JJ, Fobert EK, Besson M, Jacob H, Lecchini D (2019) Behavioural and physiological impacts of light pollution on a marine fish during larval settlement. Marine Pollution Bulletin. MPB-D-18-01799R1.
    • O’Connor, JJ, Booth, DJ, Swearer, SE, Fielder, DS, Leis, JM (2017) Ontogenetic milestones of chemotactic behaviour reflect innate species-specific response to habitat cues in larval fish. Animal Behaviour, 132, pp.61-71.
    • O’Connor JJ, Lecchini D, Beck H, Cadiou G, Lecellier G, Booth DJ, Nakamura Y (2016) Sediment pollution impacts sensory ability and performance of newly settling coral-reef fish. Oecologia, 180:11-21.

    Reports

    • O’Connor JJ, Fest, BJ, Sievers, M, Swearer, SE (2020) Climate change drivers of carbon sequestration in coastal ecosystems.
    • O’Connor JJ (2018) Victorian Coastal Science Studies Review. State of Environment Report 2018, Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning, Victorian State Government. pp 101-107.