Dr Daniel Harris
Senior Lecturer
School of the Environment
+61 7 336 56084
Chamberlain Building (35), Room 506
Researcher biography
My research career began when I recognised that the marine world has a history and pattern that can be studied to better explain the past, understand the present, and predict the future. I started studying beaches and coral reefs since they are iconic and complex systems where marine, ecological, geological and human processes interact to produce the ecosystems we see today. My goal, and that of my lab (The BeachLab), is to develop tools, gather data, and provide analyses to help coastlines and coral reefs navigate a warmer world. Our projects are focused on fundamental research questions about how coasts and coral reefs change through time. We also have applied research objectives to support the future management of coastal and coral reef systems.
I am now a teacher and researcher in Geography and Marine Science at the School of the Environment at UQ. Prior to my appointment at UQ, I was a teacher and researcher at The University of Sydney (where I completed my Undergraduate and PhD) and in a combined post at The University of Bremen (MARUM) and the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT). Perhaps equally importantly I grew up on the east coast of Australia and I have a personal and professional passion for beaches, coral reefs, surf, and the ocean.
Publications
Book Chapter
Browne, Nicola K., Cuttler, Michael, Moon, Katie, Morgan, Kyle, Ross, Claire L., Castro-Sanguino, Carolina, Kennedy, Emma, Harris, Dan, Barnes, Peter, Bauman, Andrew, Beetham, Eddie, Bonesso, Joshua, Bozec, Yves-Marie, Cornwall, Christopher, Dee, Shannon, DeCarlo, Thomas, D’Olivo, Juan P., Doropoulos, Christopher, Evans, Richard D., Eyre, Bradley, Gatenby, Peter, Gonzalez, Manuel, Hamylton, Sarah, Hansen, Jeff, Lowe, Ryan, Mallela, Jennie, O’Leary, Michael, Roff, George, Saunders, Benjamin J. and Zweilfer, Adi (2021). Predicting responses of geo-ecological carbonate reef systems to climate change: a conceptual model and review. Oceanography and marine biology: an annual review. (pp. 229-370) edited by S. J. Hawkins, A. J. Lemasson, A. L. Allcock, A. E. Bates, M. Byrne, A. J. Evans, L. B. Firth, E. M. Marzinelli, B. D. Russell, I. P. Smith, S. E. Swearer and P. A. Todd. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003138846-4
Journal Articles
Kenyon, Tania M., Harris, Daniel, Baldock, Tom, Callaghan, David, Doropoulos, Christopher, Webb, Gregory, Newman, Steven P. and Mumby, Peter J. (2023). Mobilisation thresholds for coral rubble and consequences for windows of reef recovery. Biogeosciences, 20 (20), 4339-4357. doi: 10.5194/bg-20-4339-2023
Harris, Daniel L., Webster, Jody M., Vila-Concejo, Ana, Duce, Stephanie, Leon, Javier X. and Hacker, Jorg (2023). Defining multi-scale surface roughness of a coral reef using a high-resolution LiDAR digital elevation model. Geomorphology, 439 108852, 108852. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108852
Vos, K., Splinter, K. D., Palomar-Vázquez, J., Pardo-Pascual, J. E., Almonacid-Caballer, J., Cabezas-Rabadán, C., Kras, E. C., Luijendijk, A. P., Calkoen, F., Almeida, L. P., Pais, D., Klein, A. H. F., Mao, Y., Harris, D., Castelle, B., Buscombe, D. and Vitousek, S. (2023). Benchmarking satellite-derived shoreline mapping algorithms. Communications Earth and Environment, 4 (1) 345, 1-17. doi: 10.1038/s43247-023-01001-2
Cowley, Dylan and Harris, Daniel L. (2023). Wave-driven sediment transport potential on a tropical coast: Implications for the northeastern Australian sediment budget. Marine Geology, 463 107104, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2023.107104
Kenyon, Tania M., Doropoulos, Christopher, Wolfe, Kennedy, Webb, Gregory E., Dove, Sophie, Harris, Daniel and Mumby, Peter J. (2022). Coral rubble dynamics in the Anthropocene and implications for reef recovery. Limnology and Oceanography, 68 (1), 110-147. doi: 10.1002/lno.12254
Sansoleimani, Atefeh, Webb, Gregory E., Harris, Daniel L., Phinn, Stuart R. and Roelfsema, Chris M. (2022). Antecedent topography and active tectonic controls on Holocene reef geomorphology in the Great Barrier Reef. Geomorphology, 413 108354, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108354
Mao, Yongjing, Harris, Daniel L., Xie, Zunyi and Phinn, Stuart (2022). Global coastal geomorphology – integrating earth observation and geospatial data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 278 113082, 113082. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2022.113082
Cowley, D., Harris, D. L., Moss, P. T. and Shulmeister, J. (2022). Beach narrowing on prograding coasts: examples from the tropics to subtropics of eastern Australia. Geomorphology, 401 108110, 108110. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108110
Mao, Yongjing, Harris, Daniel L., Xie, Zunyi and Phinn, Stuart (2021). Efficient measurement of large-scale decadal shoreline change with increased accuracy in tide-dominated coastal environments with Google Earth Engine. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 181, 385-399. doi: 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2021.09.021
Mao, Yongjing, Harris, Daniel L., Callaghan, David P. and Phinn, Stuart (2021). Determining the shoreline retreat rate of Australia using Discrete and Hybrid Bayesian networks. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 126 (6) e2021JF006112. doi: 10.1029/2021jf006112
Talavera, Lara, Vila-Concejo, Ana, Webster, Jody M., Smith, Courtney, Duce, Stephanie, Fellowes, Thomas E., Salles, Tristan, Harris, Daniel, Hill, Jon, Figueira, Will and Hacker, Jörg (2021). Morphodynamic controls for growth and evolution of a rubble coral island. Remote Sensing, 13 (8) 1582, 1-23. doi: 10.3390/rs13081582
Firth, Louise B., Harris, Daniel, Blaze, Julie A., Marzloff, Martin P., Boyé, Aurélien, Miller, Peter I., Curd, Amelia, Vasquez, Mickaël, Nunn, Julia D., O’Connor, Nessa E., Power, Anne Marie, Mieszkowska, Nova, O’Riordan, Ruth M., Burrows, Michael T., Bricheno, Lucy M., Knights, Antony M., Nunes, Flavia L. D., Bordeyne, François, Bush, Laura E., Byers, James E., David, Carmen, Davies, Andrew J., Dubois, Stanislas F., Edwards, Hugh, Foggo, Andy, Grant, Lisa, Green, J. A. Mattias, Gribben, Paul E., Lima, Fernando P. ... Hawkins, Stephen J. (2021). Specific niche requirements underpin multidecadal range edge stability, but may introduce barriers for climate change adaptation. Diversity and Distributions, 27 (4), 668-683. doi: 10.1111/ddi.13224
Carr, Chris and Harris, Dan (2021). Commercial hostages in international business disputes. Thunderbird International Business Review, 63 (4), 523-542. doi: 10.1002/tie.22199
Thran, Mandi C., Brune, Sascha, Webster, Jody M., Dominey-Howes, Dale and Harris, Daniel (2021). Examining the impact of the Great Barrier Reef on tsunami propagation using numerical simulations. Natural Hazards, 108 (1), 347-388. doi: 10.1007/s11069-021-04686-w
Wenger, Amelia S., Harris, Daniel, Weber, Samuel, Vaghi, Ferguson, Nand, Yashika, Naisilisili, Waisea, Hughes, Alec, Delevaux, Jade, Klein, Carissa J., Watson, James, Mumby, Peter J. and Jupiter, Stacy D. (2020). Best‐practice forestry management delivers diminishing returns for coral reefs with increased land‐clearing. Journal of Applied Ecology, 57 (12) 1365-2664.13743, 2381-2392. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.13743
Harris, Daniel L., Vila-Concejo, Ana, Austin, Timothy and Benavente, Javier (2020). Multi-scale morphodynamics of an estuarine beach adjacent to a flood-tide delta: assessing decadal scale erosion. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 241 106759, 106759. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106759
Cowley, Dylan and Harris, Daniel L. (2020). A review of wave climate trends for the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, from 1976-2018. Journal of Coastal Research, 95 (sp1), 1401-1405. doi: 10.2112/SI95-270.1
Lyons, Mitchell B., Roelfsema, Chris M., Kennedy, Emma V., Kovacs, Eva M., Borrego-Acevedo, Rodney, Markey, Kathryn, Roe, Meredith, Yuwono, Doddy M., Harris, Daniel L., Phinn, Stuart R., Asner, Gregory P., Li, Jiwei, Knapp, David E., Fabina, Nicholas S., Larsen, Kirk, Traganos, Dimosthenis and Murray, Nicholas J. (2020). Mapping the world's coral reefs using a global multiscale earth observation framework. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 6 (4) rse2.157, 557-568. doi: 10.1002/rse2.157
Carlot, J., Rovère, A., Casella, E., Harris, D., Grellet-Muñoz, C., Chancerelle, Y., Dormy, E., Hedouin, L. and Parravicini, V. (2020). Community composition predicts photogrammetry-based structural complexity on coral reefs. Coral Reefs, 39 (4), 967-975. doi: 10.1007/s00338-020-01916-8
Grol, Monique G. G., Vercelloni, Julie, Kenyon, Tania M., Bayraktarov, Elisa, van den Berg, Cedric P., Harris, Daniel, Loder, Jennifer A., Mihaljević, Morana, Rowland, Phebe I. and Roelfsema, Chris M. (2020). Conservation value of a subtropical reef in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, highlighted by citizen-science efforts. Marine and Freshwater Research, 72 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.1071/mf19170
Stringari, C. E., Harris, D. L. and Power, H. E. (2019). A novel machine learning algorithm for tracking remotely sensed waves in the surf zone. Coastal Engineering, 147, 149-158. doi: 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2019.02.002
Harris, Daniel L., Power, Hannah E., Kinsela, Michael A., Webster, Jody M. and Vila-Concejo, Ana (2018). Variability of depth-limited waves in coral reef surf zones. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 211, 36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2018.06.010
Rovere, Alessio, Casella, Elisa, Harris, Daniel L, Lorscheid, Thomas, Nandasena, Napayalage A. K., Dyer, Blake, Sandstrom, Michael R., Stocchi, Paolo, D'Andrea, William J. and Raymo, Maureen E. (2018). Reply to Hearty and Tormey: Use the scientific method to test geologic hypotheses, because rocks do not whisper. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115 (13), E2904-E2905. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1800534115
Harris, Daniel L., Rovere, Alessio, Casella, Elisa, Power, Hannah, Canavesio, Remy, Collin, Antoine, Pomeroy, Andrew, Webster, Jody M. and Parravicini, Valeriano (2018). Coral reef structural complexity provides important coastal protection from waves under rising sea levels. Science Advances, 4 (2) eaao4350, eaao4350. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aao4350
Lau, A. Y. Annie, Terry, James P., Ziegler, Alan, Pratap, Arti and Harris, Daniel (2018). Boulder emplacement and remobilisation by cyclone and submarine landslide tsunami waves near Suva City, Fiji. Sedimentary Geology, 364, 242-257. doi: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2017.12.017
Norman, Kasih, Inglis, Josha, Clarkson, Chris, Faith, J. Tyler, Shulmeister, James and Harris, Daniel (2017). An early colonisation pathway into northwest Australia 70-60,000 years ago. Quaternary Science Reviews, 180, 229-239. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.11.023
Rovere, Alessio, Casella, Elisa, Harris, Daniel L., Lorscheid, Thomas, Nandasena, Napayalage A. K., Dyer, Blake, Sandstrom, Michael R., Stocchi, Paolo, D'Andrea, William J. and Raymo, Maureen E. (2017). Giant boulders and Last Interglacial storm intensity in the North Atlantic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114 (46), 12144-12149. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1712433114
Gacutan, J., Vila-Concejo, A., Nothdurft, L. D., Fellowes, T. E., Cathey, H. E., Opdyke, B. N., Harris, D. L., Hamylton, S., Carvalho, R. C., Byrne, M. and Webster, J. M. (2017). Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca as novel geochemical proxies for understanding sediment transport processes within coral reefs. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 197, 54-68. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2017.08.010
Fellowes, Thomas E., Gacutan, Jordan, Harris, Daniel L., Vila-Concejo, Ana, Webster, Jody M. and Byrne, Maria (2017). Patterns of sediment transport using foraminifera tracers across sand aprons on the Great Barrier Reef. Journal of Coastal Research, 33 (4), 864-873. doi: 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-16-00082.1
Casella, Elisa, Collin, Antoine, Harris, Daniel, Ferse, Sebastian, Bejarano, Sonia, Parravicini, Valeriano, Hench, James L. and Rovere, Alessio (2017). Mapping coral reefs using consumer-grade drones and structure from motion photogrammetry techniques. Coral Reefs, 36 (1), 269-275. doi: 10.1007/s00338-016-1522-0
Bryson, Mitch, Duce, Stephanie, Harris, Dan, Webster, Jody M., Thompson, Alisha, Vila-Concejo, Ana and Williams, Stefan B. (2016). Geomorphic changes of a coral shingle cay measured using Kite Aerial Photography. Geomorphology, 270, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.06.018
Rovere, Alessio, Raymo, Maureen E., Vacchi, Matteo, Lorscheid, Thomas, Stocchi, Paolo, Gomez-Pujol, Lluís, Harris, Daniel L., Casella, Elisa, O'Leary, Michael J. and Hearty, Paul J. (2016). The analysis of Last Interglacial (MIS 5e) relative sea-level indicators: Reconstructing sea-level in a warmer world. Earth-Science Reviews, 159, 404-427. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2016.06.006
Dechnik, Belinda, Webster, Jody M., Nothdurft, Luke, Webb, Gregory E., Zhao, Jian-xin, Duce, Stephanie, Braga, Juan C., Harris, Daniel L., Vila-Concejo, Ana and Puotinen, Marji (2016). Influence of hydrodynamic energy on Holocene reef flat accretion, Great Barrier Reef. Quaternary Research, 85 (1), 44-53. doi: 10.1016/j.yqres.2015.11.002
Harris, D.L., Vila-Concejo, A., Webster, J.M. and Power, H.E. (2015). Spatial variations in wave transformation and sediment entrainment on a coral reef sand apron. Marine Geology, 363, 220-229. doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2015.02.010
Harris, Daniel L., Webster, Jody M. , Vila-Concejo, Ana, Hua, Quan, Yokoyama, Yusuke and Reimer, Paula J. (2015). Late holocene sea-level fall and turn-off of reef flat carbonate production: Rethinking bucket fill and coral reef growth models. Geology, 43 (2), 175-178. doi: 10.1130/G35977.1
Harris, Daniel L., Vila-Concejo, Ana and Webster, Jody M. (2014). Geomorphology and sediment transport on a submerged back-reef sand apron: One Tree Reef, Great Barrier Reef. Geomorphology, 222, 132-142. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.03.015
Vila-Concejo, Ana, Harris, Daniel L., Power, Hannah E., Shannon, Amelia M. and Webster, Jody M. (2014). Sediment transport and mixing depth on a coral reef sand apron. Geomorphology, 222, 143-150. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.09.034
Gischler, Eberhard, Dietrich, Sarah, Harris, Daniel, Webster, Jody M. and Ginsburg, Robert N. (2013). A comparative study of modern carbonate mud in reefs and carbonate platforms: Mostly biogenic, some precipitated. Sedimentary Geology, 292, 36-55. doi: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2013.04.003
Vila-Concejo, Ana, Harris, Daniel L., Shannon, Amelia M., Webster, Jody M. and Power, Hannah E. (2013). Coral reef sediment dynamics: evidence of sand-apron evolution on a daily and decadal scale. Journal of Coastal Research, 606-611. doi: 10.2112/SI65-103.1
Benavente, J., Harris, D. L., Austin, T. P. and Vila-Concejo, A. (2011). Medium term behavior and evolution of a beach cusps system in a low energy beach, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia. Journal of Coastal Research (SPEC. ISSUE 64), 170-174.
Harris, D. L., Webster, J. M., De Carli, E. V. and Vila-Concejo, A. (2011). Geomorphology and morphodynamics of a sand apron, One Tree Reef, Southern Great Barrier Reef. Journal of Coastal Research, 760-764.
Vila-Concejo, A., Austin, T. P., Harris, D. L., Hughes, M. G., Short, A. D. and Ranasinghe, R. (2011). Estuarine beach evolution in relation to a flood-tide delta. Journal of Coastal Research, 190-194.
Conference Papers
Cowley, Dylan and Harris, Daniel L. (2023). Tropical wave transformation through the Great Barrier Reef: Cairns, Australia. Engineers Australia.
Leon, J. X., Harris, D., Wettle, M. and Barmand, S. (2023). Coastal change along Noosa, Australia during a triple back-to-back La Nina (2020-2023). Engineers Australia.
Stringari, Caio E., Harris, Daniel L. and Power, Hannah E. (2017). Quantifying the fraction of broken waves on a high energy east coast Australian beach. Australasian Coasts and Ports 2017 Conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 21-23 June 2017. Barton, ACT Australia: Engineers Australia, PIANC Australia and Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand.
Harris, Daniel, Rovere, Alessio, Parravicini, Valeriano and Casella, Elisa (2016). The role of coral reef rugosity in dissipating wave energy and coastal protection. EGU General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria, 17-22 April 2016.
Harris, Daniel L. and Vila-Concejo, Ana (2013). Wave transformation on a coral reef rubble platform. 12th International Coastal Symposium (ICS2013), Plymouth, United Kingdom, 8-12 April 2013. Coconut Creek, FL, United States: Coastal Education & Research Foundation. doi: 10.2112/SI65-086.1
Newspaper Article
Harris, Daniel, Cowley, Dylan and Mao, Yongjing (2022, 05 02). Why some beaches, including in Queensland, are getting bigger despite rising sea levels The Conversation
Data Collections
Cowley, Dylan and Harris, Daniel (2022). Queensland Coastal Data. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/237b89a
Mao, Yongjing, Harris, Daniel and Phinn, Stuart (2022). Global coastal geomorphology dataset based on machine learning methods. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/f60606a
Mao, Yongjing and Harris, Daniel (2021). Efficient measurement of large-scale decadal shoreline change with increased accuracy in tide-dominated coastal environments with Google Earth Engine. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/2d07ef8
Mao, Yongjing and Harris, Daniel (2021). Australian shoreline retreat dataset for Bayesian network analysis. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/fe5a28b