Research on rare and largely forgotten shellfish reef marine ecosystems to understand how we can bring them back using natural solutions and eco-cultural restoration.  Read the Great Southern Reef Foundation story here. Post-graduate opportunities are available to understand this rare ecological recovery.

Award winning research on the use of marine sound to accelerate ecosystem restoration. Winner of the 2023 South Australian Science and Innovation Excellence Awards for Excellence in Science and Industry Collaboration.

My research aims to both improve the way we restore marine ecosystems, such as Southern Australia's lost shellfish reefs, and how we communicate their value to the broader public using effective communication that engages people with conservation, so we can build the productivity and adaptability of Australia's marine ecosystems through large-scale restoration of oyster reefs of high social value.  

Australia's sole remaining Flat oyster reef in Tasmania. We are working to bring them back. Photo: SD Connell.

Ecosystem restoration of Australia's lost shellfish reefs

My research has been at the central of Australia's shellfish reef restoration movement to restore lost oyster reefs; a national collaboration among research institiutes, State and Federal Governments, and environmental NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy. I regularly work with South Australia's Department for Environment and Water on ensuring these restorations are socially visible and valued, and ecologically monitored and disseminated.  My research has focused on improving the way we approach reef restorations, including strategies to enhance natural recruitment and survival of native oysters, those they can support marine biodiversity. 

I am interested in all aspects of reef restoration, with a primary focus on enhancing the recruitment and survival of oysters to the reef, ensuring it's long-term growth and performance. Projects include developing multi-species restoration approaches that boost oyster performance; understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics of natural recruitment to maximise reef recovery; targeting for restoration the habitat traits that support ecological function, and developing and testing marine technologies (e.g. underwater speakers) that can accelerate restoration processes.

This nationally collaborative research won the 2020 Eureka Prize Award for Applied Environmental Research, which I shared with four colleagues at research institutes across Australia and The Nature Conservancy. Read more here.

Multi‐species restoration accelerates recovery of extinguished oyster reefs. McAfee et al. 2020, Journal of Applied Ecology.

Science on how the sounds of the sea can enhance restoration outcomes

The sounds of the sea can tell us some much about the health of our oceans, and can tell marine animals where to find a great place to live. Our research harnesses the natural sounds of the sea and broadcasts it using underwater speakers within areas where natural marine sounds have been lost. Why do this? Because many marine animals, including invertebrates such as oysters, use sound as a navigational cue to find a home. When we use marine speakers on new reef restorations, we can attract many thousands of additional baby oysters to the reefs to accelerate reef recovery. We've made some exciting discoveries, but have so much more to learn.

Leveraging the cognitive biases of people to improve effective conservation messaging 

My research with communication scientists looks to bridge the gap between ecology and conservation psychology to develop a communication strategy that ignites public interest. Public engagement provides a foundation for large-scale restoration initiatives as public support helps legitimize Government investment in restoration. Yet, evidence on the most effective way to communicate conservation issues is limited. Communicating a balance between environmental challenges and optimism for positive environmental change has the potential to improve conservation messaging, and my research examines how the psychological mechanisms of optimism resonates with the intended audience.  This research seeks to understand the psychological levers and social practices that inform human perspectives and behaviour towards the environment, so we can use this knowledge to enhance public engagement with conservation. 

Everyone loves a success story: optimism inspires conservation engagement. McAfee et al. 2019, BioScience.

Other research interests: Ecosystem based management; tests of ecosystem engineering theory; climate-adaptation strategies for coastal systems; invertebrate physiology; mangrove ecology

Selected Research Awards 

• Australia Geographic Awards for Nature, for Reviving Coffin Bay's Lost Oyster Reefs, 2025
• South Australian Science and Innovation Excellence Awards, Excellence in Science and Industry Collaboration, 2024
• British Ecological Society award, Southwood Prize for best paper by an EMCR in Journal of Applied Ecology, 2023
• SA Climate Leaders Awards, Honorable Mention, SA Premier’s Climate Change Council, 2022
• School of Biological Science Publication Awards, Adelaide University, 2022
• South Australian Tall Poppy of the Year, finalist, 2021
• Young Tall Poppy Award for South Australia, 2021
• University Award for Outstanding Achievement for Excellence in Research by an Early Career Researcher, 2021
• Eureka Prize Award for Applied Environmental Research, 2020
• Order of Merit for Early Career Research Excellence, Faculty of Sciences UoA, 2020

Tall Poppy of the Year finalist, South Australian Science Excellence and Innovation Awards, 2021