Dr Andrew Jeffs

Associate Professor, Leigh Marine Laboratory PhD Auckland (1999) MSc Auckland (1986) BSc Auckland (1983) Office - 09-360-1126 Email

Research interests...

Ecology, aquaculture and marine biotechnology...

Aquaculture and marine biotechnology are rapidly growing industries in New Zealand. For example, the value of our mussel industry has trebled in the last decade to over $200 million. My research interests in aquaculture and marine biotechnology are broad with an active involvement in a range of research projects, including very applied projects working closely with the seafood industry, to more esoteric marine ecological issues related to aquaculture. Some examples of current projects are investigating the biology of mussel larvae, aquaculture of rock lobsters, and the biochemistry of oceanic plankton. I have a particular interest in the mysterious nature of cross-continental shelf transport of lobster larvae and this research is using a mix of field and laboratory techniques.

Current post-graduate projects...

• Aquaculture of New Zealand sea cucumbers, Matt Slater, PhD.
• The dietary requirements of the red rock lobster for aquaculture. Cedric Simon, PhD.
• The aquaculture of New Zealand eels, Mick Kearney, PhD.
• Feeding biology of early juvenile Greenshell mussels, Alice Yue, PhD.
• The orientation of coastal crabs to underwater sound, Jenni Stanley, MSc.
• Nursery feeding of aquacultured abalone, Matt Dyck, MSc.
• Growth performance and oxygen requirements of aquacultured abalone, Stephen Moore, MSc.
  

Post-Graduate Research Opportunities with Andrew Jeffs...

Email

Phone 09-360-1126 or Mobile 021-256-3303

1. Investigating the role of underwater sounds in influencing the behaviour of pelagic crabs, shrimps, lobsters and fishes.
2. Investigating the early biology and ecology of mussel larvae and juveniles as it relates to aquaculture applications.
3. Exploring the biochemical energetics of lobster, fish and crab larvae.
4. Investigating transparent tissues of offshore marine organisms.
5. Investigating the aquaculture of sea cucumbers to yield valuable bioactive compounds.
6. Determining the aquaculture potential of New Zealand inshore octopus species.
7. Orientation behaviour and spatial memory in lobsters.
8. Molecular genetics techniques for identifying the food of ocean going lobster larvae.
9. Describing the post-larvae of spiny lobsters of the world.
   
   Some of these projects will involve commercial research partners and there is potential to attract funding.

Recent Publications...

• Morrison, M.A., Jeffs, A.G., Hooker, S.H. In Press. Detection of sub-tidal mussel beds on rocky reefs using acoustics. Journal of Remote Sensing.
• Kearney, M., Jeffs, A.G., Lee, P. 2008. The effects of salinity and temperature on growth and survival of New Zealand shortfin, Anguilla australis, and longfin, A. dieffenbachii, glass eels. Aquaculture Research 39: 1769-1777.
• Simon, C.J., Jeffs, A.G. 2008. Feeding and gut evacuation of cultured juvenile spiny lobsters, Jasus edwardsii. Aquaculture 280: 211-219.
• Bassett, D.K., Jeffs, A.G., Montgomery, J.C. 2008. Identification of the predators of early juvenile spiny lobsters using a novel photographic tethering device. Marine and Freshwater Research 59: 1079-1083.
• Radford, C.A., Marsden, I.D., Davison, W., Jeffs, A.G. 2008. Specific dynamic action as an indicator of carbohydrate digestion in juvenile lobsters, Jasus edwardsii. Marine and Freshwater Research 59: 841-848.
• Cox, S.L., Jeffs, A.G. 2008. Developmental changes in the mouthparts of juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus: Implications for aquaculture. Aquaculture 283: 168-174.
• Radford, C.A., Jeffs, A.G., Tindle, C.T., Montgomery, J.C. 2008. Temporal patterns in ambient noise of biological origin from a shallow water temperate reef. Oecologia 156:921-929.
• Simpson, S.D., Meekan, M.G., Jeffs, A.G., Montgomery, J.C., McCauley, R.D. 2008. Settlement-stage coral reef fishes prefer the higher frequency invertebrate-generated audible component of reef noise. Animal Behaviour 75: 1861-1868.
• Radford, C.A., Jeffs, A.G., Tindle, C.T., Montgomery, J.C. 2008. Resonating sea urchin skeletons create coastal choruses. Marine Ecology Progress Series 362: 37-43.
• Simpson, S.D., Jeffs, A.G., Montgomery, J.C., McCauley, R.D., Meekan, M.G. 2007. Nocturnal relocation of adult and juvenile coral reef fishes in response to reef noise. Coral Reefs 27: 97-104.
• Radford, C.A., Jeffs, A.G., Montgomery, J.C. 2007. Directional swimming behavior by five species of crab postlarvae in response to reef sound. Bulletin of Marine Science 80: 369-378.
• Jeffs, A.G. 2007. Revealing the natural diet of larvae of phyllosoma larvae of spiny lobster. Bulletin of Fisheries Research Agency 20: 9-14.
• Mishra, M., Jeffs, A.G., Meyer-Rochow, V.B. 2007. Eye structure of the phyllosoma larva of the rock lobster Jasus edwardsii: How does it differ from that of the adult? Invertebrate Reproduction & Development 49: 213-222.
• Cole, R.G., Syms, C., Davey, N.K., Gust, N., Notman, P., Stewart, R., Radford, C.A., Carbines, G., Carr, M.H., Jeffs, A.G. 2007. Does breathing apparatus affect fish counts and observations? A comparison at three New Zealand fished and protected areas. Marine Biology 150: 1379-1395.
• Carton, A.G., Jeffs, A.G., Foote, G., Palmer, H., Bilton, J. 2007. Evaluation of methods for assessing the retention of seed mussels (Perna canaliculus) prior to seeding for grow-out. Aquaculture 262: 521-527.
• Radford, C.A., Marsden, I.D., Davison, W., Jeffs, A.G. 2007. Effects of dietary carbohydrate on growth of juvenile New Zealand rock lobsters, Jasus edwardsii. Aquaculture 273: 151-157.
• Dunphy, B.J., Hall, J.A., Jeffs, A.G., Wells, R.M.G. 2007. Selective particle feeding by the Chilean oyster, Ostrea chilensis; implications for nursery culture and broodstock conditioning. Aquaculture 261: 594-602.
• Montgomery, J.C., Jeffs, A.G., Simpson, S., Meekan, M., Tindle, C. 2006. Sound as an orientation cue for the pelagic larvae of reef fish and decapod crustaceans. Advances in Marine Biology 51: 143-196.
• Alfaro, A.C., Copp, B.R., Appleton, D.R., Kelly, S., Jeffs, A.G. 2006. Chemical cues promote settlement in larvae of the green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus. Aquaculture International 14: 405-412.
• Dunphy, B.J.., Wells R.M.G., Jeffs A.G. 2006. Oxygen consumption and enzyme activity of the subtidal flat oyster (Ostrea chilensis) and intertidal Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas): responses to temperature and starvation. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 40: 149.
• Phillips B.F., Jeffs, A.G., Melville-Smith, R., Chubb, C.F., Nelson, M.M., Nichols, P.D. 2006. Changes in fat and fatty acid composition of late larval and puerulus stages of the spiny lobster (Panulirus cygnus) during movement across the continental shelf of Western Australia. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 143B: 219-228.
• Simpson, S.D., Meekan, M.G., Montgomery, J.C., McCauley, R., Jeffs, A.G. 2005. Homeward sound. Science 308: 221.