Research Interests
Isotope Geochemistry Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Geospatial Information Systems Coastal and estuarine systems and management Marine and Estuarine Ecology Geomorphology and earth surface processes Ecological Impacts of Climate Change Geochronology Carbon Sequestration ScienceTeaching Strengths
Dr Brooke Conroy
Grant-Funded Researcher (A)
School of Biological Sciences
College of Sciences
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Coastal Ecology with a background in coastal geomorphology. My research examines how coastal wetlands develop across space and through time, with a focus on organic matter production, carbon storage and surface elevation dynamics in mangroves, saltmarshes and supratidal forests. I work across field ecology, isotope geochemistry and remote sensing to better understand how these ecosystems will function under future sea-level rise. My broader goal is to support blue carbon management and nature-based climate solutions through rigorous, interdisciplinary science.
My research integrates field-based ecological measurements, sediment geochemistry and remote sensing to investigate carbon accumulation and surface elevation dynamics in coastal wetlands. I combine sediment chronologies (radiocarbon, lead-210 and bomb-pulse isotopes), stable isotope analyses, sediment characterisation and μXRF measurements with drone-based LiDAR data, multispectral imagery and satellite data to develop spatial and temporal models of organic matter accumulation across tidal gradients.
I am particularly interested in quantifying both above- and below-ground processes that regulate carbon sequestration and surface elevation change, and in understanding how vegetation structure, tidal position and forest age influence carbon storage. My work aims to bridge fine-scale field measurements with landscape-scale modelling to improve predictions of wetland resilience under sea-level rise.
I completed my PhD at the University of Wollongong in 2025, where my research contributed to an Australian Research Council Discovery Project examining mangrove response to sea-level rise. During my doctorate, I led radiometric dating collaborations with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and was awarded an Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) Postgraduate Research Award.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - 2025 | Researcher | University of Wollongong |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2025 | University of Wollongong | Australia | PhD |
| 2017 - 2021 | University of Wollongong | Australia | International Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Kelleway, J. J., Gorham, C., Trevathan-Tackett, S. M., Palacios, M., Serrano, O., Lavery, P. S., . . . Rogers, K. (2025). Inundation and salinity regimes support blue carbon conditions in Australian temperate supratidal forests. Ecological Applications, 35(7), e70123-1-e70123-22. Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC1 |
| 2025 | Conroy, B. M., Hamylton, S. M., Kelleway, J. J., Asbridge, E. F., Woodroffe, C. D., & Rogers, K. (2025). Mangrove Above‐Ground Biomass and Production Are Related to Forest Age at Low Isles, Great Barrier Reef. Ecology and Evolution, 15(9), 24 pages. Scopus2 WoS1 |
| 2025 | Conroy, B. M., Kelleway, J. J., & Rogers, K. (2025). Root productivity contributes to carbon storage and surface elevation adjustments in coastal wetlands. Plant and Soil, 513(1), 605-631. Scopus7 WoS6 |
| 2022 | Conroy, B. M., Hamylton, S. M., Kumbier, K., & Kelleway, J. J. (2022). Assessing the structure of coastal forested wetland using field and remote sensing data. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 271, 107861. Scopus14 WoS12 |
| 2022 | Lipson, M. J., Nazarian, N., Hart, M. A., Nice, K. A., & Conroy, B. (2022). A Transformation in City-Descriptive Input Data for Urban Climate Models. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 18 pages. Scopus16 WoS17 |
| 2021 | Hirsch, A. L., Evans, J. P., Thomas, C., Conroy, B., Hart, M. A., Lipson, M., & Ertler, W. (2021). Resolving the influence of local flows on urban heat amplification during heatwaves. Environmental Research Letters, 16(6), 10 pages. Scopus31 WoS32 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Conroy, B., Hamylton, S., Kelleway, J., Asbridge, E., Woodroffe, C. D., & Rogers, K. (2025). Mangrove above-ground biomass and production is related to forest age on the Great Barrier Reef. DOI |
| 2024 | Conroy, B. M., Kelleway, J. J., & Rogers, K. (2024). Root productivity contributes to carbon storage and surface elevation adjustments in coastal wetlands. DOI |
- 2026: International Association of Geomorphologists Young Geomorphologists Travel Grant
- 2022 – 2025: AINSE Postgraduate Research Award (PGRA) ($9000 per annum)
- 2022 – 2025: ANSTO Research Portal Proposals ($135,608 in-kind)
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