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Staff Profile

Dr James Guest

Reader in Coral Reef Ecology

  • Email: james.guest1@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0)191 2083619
  • Personal Website:
  • Address: School of Natural & Environmental Sciences
    4th Floor, Ridley Building 2,
    Claremont Road
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
    United Kingdom
Background

My research interests are diverse within coral reef science and include diseases, reproductive and larval ecology, recruitment dynamics, long term community change, bleaching and restoration ecology and include use of various techniques ranging from large scale manipulative field ecology experiments to molecular biology methods including fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and next generation sequencing of coral symbionts. I have lived in five countries and worked with a diverse group of scientists from a range of disciplines in large, international multi-disciplinary research groups. For example, between 2005 and 2008 I was employed by Â鶹´«Ã½ (UK) as part of an international European Union funded project, involving a consortium of scientists from six countries, to investigate reef restoration techniques on degraded reefs in the Philippines. I was also appointed as a member of the Reef Restoration Working Group of the Coral Reef Targeted Research program of the World Bank-Global Environment Facility (GEF-CRTR, www.gefcoral.org), a multi-million dollar five year incentive to investigate some of the most pressing problems facing coral reefs. An impact case study based on this work received a 4 star rating in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework indicative of research quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. I was awarded a prestigious three year Lee Kuan Yew Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2009 and between 2012 and 2014 held a senior research fellowship jointly with the University of New South Wales and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU) to coordinate multidisciplinary research activities among a group of 17 marine ecologists and molecular biologists from Australia and Singapore. During 2016 and 2017 I was a Powell Center Fellow at the University of Hawai'i's Institute of Marine Biology, investigating methods of identifying resilient coral reefs against a backdrop of degradation. From 2017 to 2022 I led a European Research Council Consolidator Grant at Â鶹´«Ã½ to bring together the various branches of my research and to assemble a world class research team to tackle questions facing tropical coral reefs. I am currently a Reader in Coral Reef Ecology and lead the Coralassist Lab at Â鶹´«Ã½.


Publications

  • Articles

    • Lachs L, Ward A, Beauchamp EA, Edwards AJ, Ferrari R, Figueira WF, Golbuu Y, Humanes A, Martinez HM, Pygas DR, Sommer B, Van Der Steeg E, Bythell JC, Guest JR. . Royal Society Open Science 2025, 12(7), 250271.
    • Mera H, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Lachs L, Quigley KM, Willis BL, Baird AH. . Coral Reefs 2025, 44, 1789–1803.
    • Mendoza Quiroz S, Banaszak AT, McGonigle ML, Bickel AR, Guest JR, Miller MW. . Restoration Ecology 2025, 33(8), e70090.
    • Lachs L, Donner S, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Guest J. . Scientific Reports 2025, 15, 1321.
    • van der Steeg E, Humanes A, Bythell JC, Craggs JR, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Lachs L, Miller MW, Randle JL, Guest JR. . Coral Reefs 2025, 44, 1389–1401.
    • de la Torre Cerro R, Beauchamp E, Buzzoni D, Craggs J, East H, Edwards A, Golbuu Y, Humanes A, Lachs L, Martinez H, Mill A, van der Steeg E, Ward A, Guest JR. . Coral Reefs 2025, 44, 501-512.
    • Humanes A, Lachs L, Beauchamp E, Bukurou L, Buzzoni D, Bythell J, Craggs JRK, de la Torre Cerro R, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Martinez HM, Palmowski P, van der Steeg E, Sweet M, Ward A, Wilson AJ, Guest JR. . Nature Communications 2024, 15(1), 8703.
    • Suggett DJ, Guest J, Camp EF, Edwards AJ, Goergen L, Hein M, Humanes A, Levy JS, Montoya-Maya PH, Smith DJ, Vardi T, Winters RS, Moore T. . npj Ocean Sustainability 2024, 3, 20.
    • Edwards AJ, Guest J, Humanes A. . Current Biology 2024, 34(9), R399-R406.
    • Floyd M, East HK, Traganos D, Musthag A, Guest J, Hashim AS, Evans V, Helber S, Unsworth RKF, Suggitt AJ. . Scientific Reports 2024, 14, 10879.
    • Lachs L, Bozec Y-M, Bythell JC, Donner SD, East HK, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Gouezo M, Guest JR, Humanes A, Riginos C, Mumby PJ. . Science 2024, 386(6727), 1289-1294.
    • Lachs L, Humanes A, Mumby PJ, Donner SD, Bythell JC, Beauchamp E, Bukurou L, Buzzoni D, de la Torre Cerro R, East HK, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Martinez HM, van der Steeg E, Ward A, Guest JR. . PLOS Climate 2024, 3(7), e0000453.
    • Miller MW, Mendoza Quiroz S, Lachs L, Banaszak AT, Chamberland VF, Guest JR, Gutting AN, Latijnhouwers KRW, Sellares-Blasco RI, Virdis F, Villalpando MF, Petersen D. . PLoS ONE 2024, 19(9), e0309719.
    • Lachs L, Humanes A, Pygas DR, Bythell JC, Mumby PJ, Ferrari R, Figueira WF, Beauchamp E, East HK, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Martinez HM, Sommer B, van der Steeg E, Guest JR. . Communications Biology 2023, 6(1), 400.
    • Cannon SE, Donner SD, Liu A, GonzalezEspinosa PC, Baird AH, Baum JK, Bauman AG, Beger M, Benkwitt CE, Birt MJ, Chancerelle Y, Cinner JE, Crane NL, Denis V, Depczynski M, Fadli N, Fenner D, Fulton CJ, Golbuu Y, Graham NAJ, Guest J, Harrison HB, Hobbs J-PA, Hoey AS, Holmes TH, Houk P, Januchowski-Hartley FA, Jompa J, Kuo C-Y, Limmon GV, Lin YV, McClanahan TR, Muenzel D, Paddack MJ, Planes S, Pratchett MS, Radford B, Reimer JD, Richards ZT, Ross CL, Rulmal J, Sommer B, Williams GJ, Wilson SK. . Global Change Biology 2023, 29(12), 3318-3330.
    • Guest J, Baria-Rodriguez MV, Toh TC, dela Cruz D, Vicentuan K, Gomez E, Villanueva R, Steinberg P, Edwards A. . Coral Reefs 2023, 42, 1365-1377.
    • Husband E, East HK, Hocking EP, Guest J. . Remote Sensing 2023, 15(19), 4787.
    • Lachs L, Donner SD, Mumby PJ, Bythell JC, Humanes A, East HK, Guest JR. . Nature Communications 2023, 14(1), 4939.
    • Bonilla KG, Guest JR, Baria-Rodriguez MV. . Coral Reefs 2023, 42, 717-728.
    • Humanes A, Lachs L, Beauchamp EA, Bythell JC, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Martinez HM, Palmowski P, Treuman A, van der Steeg E, van Hooidonk R, Guest JR. . Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2022, 289(1981), 20220872.
    • Lachs L, Chong F, Beger M, East HK, Guest JR, Sommer B. . Ecology and Evolution 2022, 12(3), -.
    • Elahi R, Edmunds PJ, Gates RD, Kuffner IB, Barnes BB, Chollett I, Courtney TA, Guest JR, Lenz EA, Toth LT, Viehman TS, Williams ID. . Ecological Applications 2022, 32(7), e2651.
    • Baird AH, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Harii S, Hatta M, Lachs L, Mera H, Sinniger F, Abrego D, Ben-Zvi O, Bronstein O, Cabaitan PC, Cumbo VR, Eyal G, Eyal-Shaham L, Feldman B, Figueiredo J, Flot J-F, Grinblat M, Heyward A, Hidaka M, Hirose M, Iguchi A, Isomura N, Kinzie RA, Kitanobo S, Kuba A, Levy O, Loya Y, Mezaki T, Mohamed AR, Morita M, Nojima S, Nozawa Y, Prasetia R, Puill-Stephan E, Ramirez-Portilla C, Rapuano H, Rosenberg Y, Sakai Y, Sakai K, Shlesinger T, Terraneo TI, Yakovleva I, Yamamoto HH, Yamazato K. . Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies 2022, 24(1), 41-49.
    • Ferrari R, Lachs L, Pygas DR, Humanes A, Sommer B, Figueira WF, Edwards AJ, Bythell JC, Guest JR. . Trends in Ecology and Evolution 2021, 36(12), 1093-1101.
    • Bonilla KG, Guest JR, dela Cruz DW, Baria-Rodriguez MV. . Invertebrate Reproduction & Development 2021, 65(3), 201-209.
    • Courtney TA, Guest JR, Edwards AJ, Dizon RM. . Coral Reefs 2021, 40, 1631-1635.
    • Bouwmeester J, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Bauman AG, Berumen ML, Baird AH. . Coral Reefs 2021, 40, 1411-1418.
    • Lachs L, Bythell JC, East HK, Edwards AJ, Mumby PJ, Skirving WJ, Spady BL, Guest JR. . Remote Sensing 2021, 13(14), 2677.
    • Baird AH, Guest JR, Edwards AJ, Bauman AG, Bouwmeester J, Mera H, Abrego D, Alvarez-Noriega M, Babcock RC, Barbosa MB, Bonito V, Burt J, Cabaitan PC, Chang C-F, Chavanich S, Chen CA, Chen C-J, Chen W-J, Chung F-C, Connolly SR, Cumbo VR, Dornelas M, Doropoulos C, Eyal G, Eyal-Shaham L, Fadli N, Figueiredo J, Flot J-F, Gan S-H, Gomez E, Graham EM, Grinblat M, Gutierrez-Isaza N, Harii S, Harrison PL, Hatta M, Ho NAJ, Hoarau G, Hoogenboom M, Howells EJ, Iguchi A, Isomura N, Jamodiong EA, Jandang S, Keyse J, Kitanobo S, Kongjandtre N, Kuo C-Y, Ligson C, Lin C-H, Low J, Loya Y, Maboloc EA, Madin JS, Mezaki T, Min C, Morita M, Moya A, Neo S-H, Nitschke MR, Nojima S, Nozawa Y, Piromvaragorn S, Plathong S, Puill-Stephan E, Quigley K, Ramirez-Portilla C, Ricardo G, Sakai K, Sampayo E, Shlesinger T, Sikim L, Simpson C, Sims CA, Sinniger F, Spiji DA, Tabalanza T, Tan C-H, Terraneo TI, Torda G, True J, Tun K, Vicentuan K, Viyakarn V, Waheed Z, Ward S, Willis B, Woods RM, Woolsey ES, Yamamoto HH, Yusuf S. . Scientific Data 2021, 8(1), 35.
    • Humanes A, Beauchamp EA, Bythell JC, Carl MK, Craggs JR, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Lachs L, Martinez HM, Palmowski P, Paysinger F, Randle JL, van der Steeg E, Sweet M, Treumann A, Guest JR. . Frontiers in Marine Science 2021, 8, 669995.
    • Courtney TA, Barnes BB, Chollett I, Elahi R, Gross K, Guest JR, Kuffner IB, Lenz EA, Nelson HR, Rogers CS, Toth LT, Andersson AJ. . Ecosphere 2020, 11(4).
    • Darling ES, McClanahan TR, Maina J, Gurney GG, Graham NAJ, Januchowski-Hartley F, Cinner JE, Mora C, Hicks CC, Maire E, Puotinen M, Skirving WJ, Adjeroud M, Ahmadia G, Arthur R, Bauman AG, Beger M, Berumen ML, Bigot L, Bouwmeester J, Brenier A, Bridge TCL, Brown E, Campbell SJ, Cannon S, Cauvin B, Chen CA, Claudet J, Denis V, Donner S, Estradivari -, Fadli N, Feary DA, Fenner D, Fox H, Franklin EC, Friedlander A, Gilmour J, Goiran C, Guest J, Hobbs J-PA, Hoey AS, Houk P, Johnson S, Jupiter SD, Kayal M, Kuo C-y, Lamb J, Lee MAC, Low J, Muthiga N, Muttaqin E, Nand Y, Nash KL, Nedlic O, Pandolfi JM, Pardede S, Patankar V, Penin L, Ribas-Deulofeu L, Richards Z, Roberts TE, Rodgers KS, Safuan CDM, Sala E, Shedrawi G, Sin TM, Smallhorn-West P, Smith JE, Sommer B, Steinberg PD, Sutthacheep M, Tan CHJ, Williams GJ, Wilson S, Yeemin T, Bruno JF, Fortin M-J, Krkosek M, Mouillot D. . Nature Ecology & Evolution 2019, 3, 1341–1350.
    • Leong RC, Marzinelli EM, Low J, Bauman AG, Lim EWX, Lim CY, Steinberg PD, Guest JR. Effect of coral-algal interactions on early life history processes in Pocillopora acuta in a highly disturbed coral reef system. Frontiers in Marine Science 2018, 5, 385.
    • Guest JR, Edmunds PJ, Gates RD, Kuffner IB, Andersson AJ, Barnes BB, Chollett I, Courtney TA, Elahi R, Gross K, Lenz EA, Mitarai S, Mumby PJ, Nelson HR, Parker BA, Putnam HM, Rogers CS, Toth LT. . Journal of Applied Ecology 2018, 55(6), 2865-2875.
    • Chamberland VF, Petersen D, Guest JR, Petersen U, Brittsan M, Vermeij MJA. . Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 18076.
    • Craggs J, Guest JR, Davis M, Simmons J, Dashti E, Sweet M. . Ecology and Evolution 2017, 7(24), 11066-11078.
    • Keith SA, Maynard JA, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Bauman AG, VanHooidonk R, Heron SF, Berumen ML, Bouwmeester J, Piromvaragorn S, Rahbek C, Baird AH. . Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2016, 283(1830), 20160011.
    • Guest JR, Tun K, Low J, Vergés A, Marzinelli EM, Campbell AH, Bauman AG, Feary DA, Chou LM, Steinberg PD. . Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 36260.
    • Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Heyward AJ, Villanueva RD, Baria MV, Bollozos ISF, Golbuu Y. . Marine Ecology Progress Series 2015, 525, 105-116.
    • Guest JR, Baria MV, Gomez ED, Heyward AJ, Edwards AJ. . Coral Reefs 2014, 33(1), 45-55.
    • Guest JR, Baird AH, Maynard JA, Muttaquin E, Edwards AJ, Campbell SJ, Yewdall K, Affendi YA, Chou LM. . PLoS One 2012, 7(3), e33353.
    • Guest JR, Dizon RM, Edwards AJ, Franco C, Gomez ED. . Restoration Ecology 2011, 19(2), 234-242.
    • Baria MVB, Guest JR, Edwards AJ, Aliño PM, Heyward AJ, Gomez ED. . Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 2010, 394(1-2), 149-153.
    • Vicentuan KC, Guest JR, Baria MV, Cabaitan PC, Dizon RM, Villanueva RD, Alino PM, Edwards AJ, Gomez ED, Heyward AJ. . Coral Reefs 2008, 27(1), 83.
    • Guest JR, Todd PA, Goh E, Sivaloganathan B, Reddy KP. . Aquatic Conservation 2008, 18(5), 570-579.
    • Guest JR, Todd PA, Goh BPL, Chou LM. . Invertebrate Reproduction and Development 2007, 50(3), 133-138.
    • Huang D, Todd PA, Guest JR. . Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 2007, 342(2), 269-281.
    • Guest JR, Baird AH, Goh BPL, Chou LM. . Invertebrate Reproduction and Development 2005, 48(1-3), 207-218.
    • Bythell JC, Barer MR, Cooney RP, Guest JR, O'Donnell AG, Pantos O, Le Tissier MDA. . Letters in Applied Microbiology 2002, 34(5), 359-364.

  • Book Chapter

    • Crawford A, Humanes A, Caldwell G, Guest J, van der Steeg E. . In: Hvejsel MF; Cruz PJS, ed. Structures and Architecture: A Viable Urban Perspective?. London: CRC Press, 2022, pp.458-466.

  • Editorial

    • Baird AH, Guest JR. . Marine Ecology - Progress Series 2009, 374, 301-304.

  • Notes

    • Peixoto RS, Voolstra CR, Baums IB, Camp EF, Guest J, Harrison PL, Montoya-Maya PH, Pollock FJ, Smith DJ, Wangpraseurt D, Banaszak AT, Chui APY, Shah N, Moore T, Fabricius KE, Vardi T, Suggett DJ. . Nature Climate Change 2024, 14(12), 1219-1222.
    • Bouwmeester J, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Bauman AG, Berumen ML, Baird AH. . Coral Reefs 2021, 40, 1489.
    • Guest J. . Science 2008, 320(5876), 621-623.