UMass Boston

Marine and estuarine ecology, microbial ecology, invertebrate biology, biosecurity and invasive species ecology, ecosystem function, environmental management, sediment pollution, stormwater, ecological restoration, climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions

PhD, Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales

GradCert, University Learning and Teaching, University of New South Wales

BSc (Hons and University Medal), Marine Biology and Spatial Information Systems, University of New South Wales

Barros, TL, Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, KA, Simpson, SL, Farrell, M, Bracewell, S, Johnston, EL (2025) Impact of wildfires on sediment quality in estuaries in New South Wales, Australia. Chemosphere. 385: 144604.

Renn, C, Vadillo Gonzalez, S, Marzinelli, EM, Dafforn, KA, Hart, J, Voerman, SE, Firth, LB, Gribben, PE (2025) Propagule pressure and native macrophyte biomass mediate the success of an invasive alga: the role of below-ground microbial communities. Biological Invasions. 27: 137.

Dafforn, KA (2025) Future-proofing our ports against biological invasion. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 73: 101518.

Schaefer, N, Bishop, MJ, Herbert, B, Hoey, AS, Mayer-Pinto, M, Sherman, CDH, Foster-Thorpe, C, Vozzo, ML & Dafforn, KA (2025) Major global ports alter light regimes for marine biofouling communities. Journal of Environmental Management. 374: 124119.

Schaefer, N, Hoey, AS, Bishop, MJ, Bugnot, AB, Herbert, B, Mayer-Pinto, M, Sherman, CDH, Foster-Thorpe, C, Vozzo, ML & Dafforn, KA (2025) Shining the light on marine infrastructure: the use of artificial light to manipulate benthic marine communities. Journal of Applied Ecology. 62: 220-230.

Ferguson, A, Filippini, G, Potts, J, Bugnot, AB, Johnston, EL, Rao, S, Ruszczyk, J & Dafforn, KA (2025) Benthic processes are an important indicator of eutrophication in intermittently open and closed lakes and lagoons. Estuaries and Coasts. 47: 2324-2340.

Vozzo, ML, Bishop, MJ, Dafforn, KA & Mayer-Pinto, M (2025) Ecological effects of habitat complexity vary with intertidal elevation: implications for seawall eco-engineering. Journal of Applied Ecology. 

Dodds, KC, Vozzo, ML, Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, KA & Bishop, MJ (2025) Stakeholders support marine eco-engineering, but what are the perceived benefits and who should pay? People and Nature. 

Renn, C, Vadillo Gonzalez, S, Marzinelli, EM, Dafforn, KA, Hart, J, Voerman, SE, Firth, LB & Gribben, PE (2025) Propagule pressure and native macrophyte biomass mediate the success of an invasive algae: the role of below-ground microbial communities. Biological Invasions. 27: 1-21.

Bauer, F, Knights, AM, Hanley, ME, Griffin, JN, Foggo, A, Brown, A, Bishop, MJ, Dafforn, KA, Mayer-Pinto, M & Firth, LB (2025) Thermal patterns on eco-engineered coastal infrastructure depend on topographic complexity and spatial scale. Ecological Engineering. 215: 107596.

Palmer, J, Bugnot, AB, Filippini, G, Gribben, PE, Varkey, D, Erickson, K & Dafforn, KA (2024) The influence of bioturbator activity on sediment bacterial structure and function is moderated by environment. Marine Environmental Research. 201: 106702.

Janssen, AR, Bishop, MJ, Mayer-Pinto, M & Dafforn, KA (2024) Morpho-physiological traits and tissue burdens of Ecklonia radiata linked to environmental variation in an urban estuary. Marine Environmental Research. 199: 106572.

Vozzo, ML, Bishop, MJ, Dafforn, KA, Steinberg, PD, Strain, EMA & Mayer-Pinto, M (2024) From experiment to intervention: a case study of scaling up marine eco-engineering from research to application. Environmental Science and Policy. 158: 103800

Schaefer, N, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL, Clark, GF & Mayer-Pinto, M (2024) Investigating the interactive effects of habitat type and light intensity on rocky shores. Oecologia. 3: 627-642.

Firth, L. B., Bone, J., Bartholomew, A., Bishop, M. J., Bugnot, A., Bulleri, F., Chee, S.-Y., Claassens, L., Dafforn, K. A., Fairchild, T. P., Hall, A. E., Hanley, M. E., Komyakova, V., Lemasson, A. J., Loke, L. H. L., Mayer-Pinto, M., Morris, R., Naylor, L., Perkins, M. J., Pioch, S., Porri, F., O'Shaughnessy, K. A., Schaefer, N., Strain, E. A., Toft, J. D., Waltham, N., Aguilera, M., Airoldi, L., Bauer, F., Brooks, P., Burt, J., Clubley, C., Cordell, J. R., Espinosa, F., Evans, A. J., Farrugia-Drakard, V., Froneman, W., Griffin, J., Hawkins, S. J., Heery, E., Herbert, R. J. H., Jones, E., Leung, K. M. Y., Moore, P., Sempere-Valverde, J., Sengupta, D., Sheaves, M., Swearer, S., Thompson, R. C., Todd, P., & Knights, A. M. (2024) Coastal greening of grey infrastructure: an update on the state-of-the-art. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 177:35-67.

MacIntosh, A., Dafforn, K.A., Chariton, A., Koppel, D., Cresswell, T., & Gissi, F. (2024) Response of microbial communities to NORM-contaminated sediments: a microcosm-based study. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 43: 1648-1661.

Schaefer, N., Bishop, M. J., Bugnot, A. B., Foster-Thorpe, C., Herbert, B., Hoey, A. S., Mayer-Pinto, M., Nakagawa, S., Sherman, C. D. H., Vozzo, M. L., & Dafforn, K. A. (2024) Influence of habitat features on the colonisation of native and non-indigenous species. Marine Environmental Research. 198: 106498.

Walker, L. D. A., Gribben, P., Glasby, T. M., Marzinelli, E. M., Varkey, D. & Dafforn, K. A. (2024) Above and below-ground bacterial communities shift in seagrass beds with warming temperatures. Frontiers in Marine Science – Aquatic Microbiology. 11: 1374946.

Schaefer, N., Bishop, M. J., Bugnot, A. B., Herbert, B., Hoey, A. S., Mayer-Pinto, M., Sherman, C. D. H., Foster-Thorpe, C., Vozzo, M. L., & Dafforn, K. A. (2024) Variable effects of substrate colour and microtexture on sessile marine taxa in Australian estuaries. Biofouling. 40: 223-234.

Steinberg, RK, Turnbull, J, Ainsworth, TD, Dafforn, KA, Poore, AGB & Johnston EL (2024) Impacts of necrotizing disease on the Endangered cauliflower soft coral Dendronypthya australis, Marine and Freshwater Research. 75

Filippini, G, Bugnot, AB, Varkey, DR, Siboni, N, Ferguson, A, Gribben, PE, Erickson, K, Palmer, J & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Nitrogen-cycling genes in oyster reefs and surrounding sediments: relationships with environmental factors and respective nitrogen rates', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 197, 115710, pp. 1-11. 

Filippini, G, Bugnot, AB, Ferguson, A, Gribben, PE, Palmer, J, Erickson, K & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'The influence of oyster reefs and surrounding sediments on nitrogen removal – an in-situ study along the East coast of Australia', Environmental Research, vol. 237, no. Part 1, 116947, pp. 1-11. 

MacIntosh, A, Dafforn, K, Penrose, B, Chariton, A & Cresswell, T 2023, 'Assessing the ecological impacts of NORM-contaminated scale on marine infauna using sediment microcosms', Chemosphere, vol. 340, 139939, pp. 1-15.

Gonzalez, SV, Dafforn, KA, Gribben, PE, O'Connor, WA & Johnston, EL 2023, 'Organic enrichment reduces sediment bacterial and archaeal diversity, composition, and functional profile independent of bioturbator activity', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 196, 115608, pp. 1-13.

Trethewy, M, Mayer-Pinto, M & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Urban shading and artificial light at night alter natural light regimes and affect marine intertidal assemblages', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 193, 115203, pp. 1-12. 

Bugnot, AB, Dafforn, KA, Erickson, K, McGrath, A, O'Connor, WA & Gribben, PE 2023, 'Reintroducing a keystone bioturbator can facilitate microbial bioremediation in urban polluted sediments', Environmental Pollution, vol. 324, 121419, pp. 1-10. 

Schaefer, N, Mayer-Pinto, M, Johnston, EL & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Understanding the role of microhabitats in intertidal rock pools to guide future eco-engineering designs', Marine Biology, vol. 170, no. 4, 44, pp. 1-11. 

Schaefer, N, Sedano, F, Bishop, MJ, Dunn, K, Haeusler, MH, Yu, KD, Zavoleas, Y & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Facilitation of non-indigenous ascidian by marine eco-engineering interventions at an urban site', Biofouling, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 80-93. 

Mayer‐Pinto, M, Bugnot, AB, Johnston, EL, Potts, J, Airoldi, L, Glasby, TM, Strain, EMA, Scanes, P, Ushiama, S & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Physical and biogenic complexity mediates ecosystem functions in urban sessile marine communities', Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 480-493. 

Bracewell, SA, Barros, TL, Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, K, Simpson, SL & Johnston, E 2023, 'Contaminant pulse following wildfire is associated with shifts in estuarine benthic communities', Environmental Pollution, vol. 316, no. Part 1, 120533, pp. 1-13. 

Filippini, G, Dafforn, KA & Bugnot, AB 2023, 'Shellfish as a bioremediation tool: a review and meta-analysis', Environmental Pollution, vol. 316, no. Part 2, 120614, pp. 1-12. 

Stelling-Wood, TP, Gribben, PE, Birch, G, Bishop, MJ, Blount, C, Booth, DJ, Brown, C, Bruce, E, Bugnot, AB, Byrne, M, Creese, RG, Dafforn, KA, Dahlenburg, J, Doblin, MA, Fellowes, TE, Fowler, AM, Gibbs, MC, Glamore, W, Glasby, TM, Hay, AC, Kelaher, B, Knott, NA, Larkum, AWD, Parker, LM, Marzinelli, EM, Mayer-Pinto, M, Morgan, B, Murray, SA, Rees, MJ, Ross, PM, Roughan, M, Saintilan, N, Scanes, E, Seymour, JR, Schaefer, N, Suthers, IM, Taylor, MD, Williamson, JE, Vila Concejo, A, Whittington, RJ & Figueira, WF 2023, 'A deep dive into the ecology of Gamay (Botany Bay, Australia): current knowledge and future priorities for this highly modified coastal waterway', Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 74, no. 12, pp. 1003-1025. 

Barros, TL, Bracewell, SA, Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, K, Simpson, SL, Farrell, M & Johnston, EL 2022, 'Wildfires cause rapid changes to estuarine benthic habitat', Environmental Pollution, vol. 308, 119571, pp. 1-9. 

Clifton, GA, Dafforn, KA & Bishop, MJ 2022, 'The ecological benefits of adding topographic complexity to seawalls vary across estuarine gradients', Ecological Engineering, vol. 182, 106735, pp. 1-16. 

Bishop, MJ, Vozzo, ML, Mayer-Pinto, M & Dafforn, KA 2022, 'Complexity-biodiversity relationships on marine urban structures: reintroducing habitat heterogeneity through eco-engineering', Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, vol. 377, no. 1857, 20210393, pp. 1-12. 

Bugnot, AB, Gribben, PE, O'Connor, WA, Erickson, K, Coleman, RA & Dafforn, KA 2022, 'Below‐ground ecosystem engineers enhance biodiversity and function in a polluted ecosystem', Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 59, no. 8, pp. 2094-2105. 

Ruprecht, JE, King, IP, Mitrovic, SM, Dafforn, KA, Miller, BM, Deiber, M, Westhorpe, DP, Hitchcock, JN, Harrison, AJ & Glamore, WC 2022, 'Assessing the validity and sensitivity of microbial processes within a hydrodynamic model', Water Research, vol. 218, 118445, pp. 1-16. 

Mayer-Pinto, M, Jones, TM, Swearer, SE, Robert, KA, Bolton, D, Aulsebrook, AE, Dafforn, KA, Dickerson, AL, Dimovski, AM, Hubbard, N, McLay, LK, Pendoley, K, Poore, AGB, Thums, M, Willmott, NJ, Yokochi, K & Fobert, EK 2022, 'Light pollution: a landscape-scale issue requiring cross-realm consideration', UCL Open: Environment, vol. 4, 7, pp. 1-17. 

Steinberg, RK, Ainsworth, TD, Moriarty, T, Bednarek, T, Dafforn, KA & Johnston, EL 2022, 'Bleaching susceptibility and resistance of octocorals and anemones at the world’s southern-most coral reef', Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 13, 804193, pp. 1-20. 

Martinez, AS, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL, Filippini, G, Potts, J & Mayer-Pinto, M 2022, 'Variations in benthic fluxes of sediments near pier pilings and natural rocky reefs', Marine Environmental Research, vol. 177, 105640, pp. 1-8. 

Lowe, EC, Steven, R, Morris, RL, Parris, KM, Aguiar, AC, Webb, CE, Bugnot, AB, Dafforn, K, Connolly, RM & Mayer Pinto, M 2022, 'Supporting urban ecosystem services across terrestrial, marine and freshwater realms', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 817, 152689, pp. 1-9. 

Bugnot, AB, Dafforn, KA, Coleman, RA, Ramsdale, M, Gibbeson, JT, Erickson, K, Vila‐Concejo, A, Figueira, WF & Gribben, PE 2022, 'Linking habitat interactions and biodiversity within seascapes', Ecosphere, vol. 13, no. 4, e4021, pp. 1-14. 

Esquivel-Muelbert, JR, Lanham, BS, Martínez-Baena, F, Dafforn, KA, Gribben, PE & Bishop, MJ 2022, 'Spatial variation in the biotic and abiotic filters of oyster recruitment: implications for restoration', Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 59, no. 4, pp. 953-964. 

Ruprecht, JE, King, IP, Dafforn, KA, Mitrovic, SM, Harrison, AJ, Birrer, SC, Crane, SL & Glamore, WC 2022, 'Implications of bacterial mineralisation in aquatic ecosystem response models', Water Research, vol. 209, 117888, pp. 1-15.

MacIntosh, A, Dafforn, K, Penrose, B, Chariton, A & Cresswell, T 2022, 'Ecotoxicological effects of decommissioning offshore petroleum infrastructure: a systematic review', Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 52, no. 18, pp. 3283-3321. 

Floerl, O, Atalah, J, Bugnot, AB, Chandler, M, Dafforn, KA, Floerl, L, Zaiko, A & Major, R 2021, 'A global model to forecast coastal hardening and mitigate associated socioecological risks', Nature Sustainability, vol. 4, no. 12, pp. 1060-1067.

Birrer, SC, Wemheuer, F, Dafforn, KA, Gribben, PE, Steinberg, PD, Simpson, SL, Potts, J, Scanes, P, Doblin, MA & Johnston, EL 2021, 'Legacy metal contaminants and excess nutrients in low flow estuarine embayments alter composition and function of benthic bacterial communities', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, 661177, pp. 1-18. 

Steinberg, RK, Johnston, EL, Bednarek, T, Dafforn, KA & Ainsworth, TD 2021, 'It’s what’s on the inside that counts: an effective, efficient, and streamlined method for quantification of octocoral Symbiodiniaceae and chlorophyll', Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 8, 710730, pp. 1-11.

Ruprecht, JE, Birrer, SC, Dafforn, KA, Mitrovic, SM, Crane, SL, Johnston, EL, Wemheuer, F, Navarro, A, Harrison, AJ, Turner, IL & Glamore, WC 2021, 'Wastewater effluents cause microbial community shifts and change trophic status', Water Research, vol. 200, 117206, pp. 1-11.

Vadillo Gonzalez, S, Johnston, EL, Dafforn, KA, O'Connor, WA & Gribben, PE 2021, 'Body size affects lethal and sublethal responses to organic enrichment: evidence of associational susceptibility for an infaunal bivalve', Marine Environmental Research, vol. 169, 105391, pp. 1-8. 

Bracewell, SA, Dafforn, KA, Lavender, JT, Clark, GF & Johnston, EL 2021, 'Latitudinal variation in the diversity–disturbance relationship demonstrates the context dependence of disturbance impacts', Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 30, no. 7, pp. 1389-1402. 

Shackleton, ME, Dafforn, KA, Murphy, NP, Greenfield, P, Cassidy, M & Besley, CH 2021, 'How does molecular taxonomy for deriving river health indices correlate with traditional morphological taxonomy?', Ecological Indicators, vol. 125, 107537, pp. 1-16. 

Bergstrom, DM, Wienecke, BC, van den Hoff, J, Hughes, L, Lindenmayer, DB, Ainsworth, TD, Baker, CM, Bland, L, Bowman, DMJS, Brooks, ST, Canadell, JG, Constable, AJ, Dafforn, KA, Depledge, MH, Dickson, CR, Duke, NC, Helmstedt, KJ, Holz, A, Johnson, CR, McGeoch, MA, Melbourne-Thomas, J, Morgain, R, Nicholson, E, Prober, SM, Raymond, B, Ritchie, EG, Robinson, SA, Ruthrof, KX, Setterfield, SA, Sgrò, CM, Stark, JS, Travers, T, Trebilco, R, Ward, DFL, Wardle, GM, Williams, KJ, Zylstra, PJ & Shaw, JD 2021, 'Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic', Global Change Biology, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1692-1703.

Threlfall, CG, Marzinelli, EM, Ossola, A, Bugnot, AB, Bishop, MJ, Lowe, EC, Imberger, SJ, Myers, S, Steinberg, PD & Dafforn, KA 2021, 'Toward cross-realm management of coastal urban ecosystems', Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 225-233.

Vozzo, ML, Mayer-Pinto, M, Bishop, MJ, Cumbo, VR, Bugnot, AB, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL, Steinberg, PD & Strain, EMA 2021, 'Making seawalls multifunctional: the positive effects of seeded bivalves and habitat structure on species diversity and filtration rates', Marine Environmental Research, vol. 165, 105243, pp. 1-12. 

Critchley, L, Bugnot, AB, Dafforn, KA, Marzinelli, EM & Bishop, MJ 2021, 'Comparison of wrack dynamics between mangrove forests with and without seawalls', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 751, 141371, pp. 1-11. 

Bugnot, AB, Mayer-Pinto, M, Airoldi, L, Heery, EC, Johnston, EL, Critchley, LP, Strain, EMA, Morris, RL, Loke, LHL, Bishop, MJ, Sheehan, EV, Coleman, RA & Dafforn, KA 2021, 'Current and projected global extent of marine built structures', Nature Sustainability, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 33-41. 

Airoldi, L, Beck, MW, Firth, LB, Bugnot, AB, Steinberg, PD & Dafforn, KA 2021, 'Emerging solutions to return nature to the urban ocean', Annual Review of Marine Science, vol. 13, pp. 445-477. 

Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, KA & Fobert, E 2020, 'Knowledge exchange to improve research and management of the impacts of artificial light at night', Austral Ecology, vol. 45, no. 8, pp. 1059-1061. 

Steinberg, RK, Dafforn, KA, Ainsworth, T & Johnston, EL 2020, 'Know thy anemone: a review of threats to octocorals and anemones and opportunities for their restoration', Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 7, 590, pp. 1-18. 

Borja, A, Andersen, JH, Arvanitidis, CD, Basset, A, Buhl-Mortensen, L, Carvalho, S, Dafforn, KA, Devlin, MJ, Escobar-Briones, EG, Grenz, C, Harder, T, Katsanevakis, S, Liu, D, Metaxas, A, Morán, XAG, Newton, A, Piroddi, C, Pochon, X, Queirós, AM, Snelgrove, PVR, Solidoro, C, St. John, MA & Teixeira, H 2020, 'Past and future grand challenges in marine ecosystem ecology', Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 7, 362, pp. 1-9. 

Ruprecht, JE, Glamore, WC, Dafforn, KA, Wemheuer, F, Crane, SL, van Dorst, J, Johnston, EL, Mitrovic, SM, Turner, IL, Ferrari, BC & Birrer, SC 2020, 'A novel real-world ecotoxicological dataset of pelagic microbial community responses to wastewater', Scientific Data, vol. 7, 158, pp. 1-12. 

Schaefer, N, Mayer-Pinto, M, Griffin, KJ, Johnston, EL, Glamore, W & Dafforn, KA 2020, 'Predicting the impact of sea-level rise on intertidal rocky shores with remote sensing', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 261, 110203, pp. 1-9.

Zavoleas, Y, Hank Haeusler, M, Dunn, K, Bishop, M, Dafforn, K, Schaefer, N, Sedano, F & Daniel Yu, K 2020, 'Designing bio-shelters: improving water quality and biodiversity in the bays precinct through dynamic data-driven approaches', Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, vol. 2020, no. 5, pp. 521-532. 

Lee, AL, Capa, M, Dafforn, KA, Hutchings, PA & Murray, A 2020, 'New records of non-indigenous Branchiomma and Parasabella species (Sabellidae: Annelida) in South Australia highlight the continuing challenges for sabellid taxonomy', Journal of Natural History, vol. 54, no. 39-40, pp. 2647-2673. 

Filippini, G, Bugnot, AB, Johnston, EL, Ruszczyk, J, Potts, J, Scanes, P, Ferguson, A, Ostrowski, M, Varkey, D & Dafforn, KA 2019, 'Sediment bacterial communities associated with environmental factors in Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons (ICOLLs)', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 693, 133462, pp. 1-12. 

Ushiama, S, Mayer-Pinto, M, Bugnot, AB, Johnston, EL & Dafforn, KA 2019, 'Eco-engineering increases habitat availability and utilisation of seawalls by fish', Ecological Engineering, vol. 138, pp. 403-411.

Gaw, S, Harford, A, Pettigrove, V, Sevicke-Jones, G, Manning, T, Ataria, J, Cresswell, T, Dafforn, KA, Leusch, FDL, Moggridge, B, Cameron, M, Chapman, J, Coates, G, Colville, A, Death, C, Hageman, K, Hassell, K, Hoak, M, Gadd, J, Jolley, DF, Karami, A, Kotzakoulakis, K, Lim, R, McRae, N, Metzeling, L, Mooney, T, Myers, J, Pearson, A, Saaristo, M, Sharley, D, Stuthe, J, Sutherland, O, Thomas, O, Tremblay, L, Wood, W, Boxall, ABA, Rudd, MA & Brooks, BW 2019, 'Towards sustainable environmental quality: priority research questions for the Australasian region of Oceania', Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 917-935.

Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, KA & Johnston, EL 2019, 'A decision framework for coastal infrastructure to optimize biotic resistance and resilience in a changing climate', BioScience, vol. 69, no. 10, pp. 833-843. 

O'Brien, AL, Dafforn, KA, Chariton, AA, Johnston, EL & Mayer-Pinto, M 2019, 'After decades of stressor research in urban estuarine ecosystems the focus is still on single stressors: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 684, pp. 753-764. 

Gonzalez, SV, Johnston, E, Gribben, PE & Dafforn, K 2019, 'The application of bioturbators for aquatic bioremediation: review and meta-analysis', Environmental Pollution, vol. 250, pp. 426-436. 

Lachnit, T, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL & Steinberg, P 2019, 'Contrasting distributions of bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses from contaminated coastal sediments', Environmental Microbiology, vol. 21, no. 6, pp. 1929-1941. 

Macolino, AC, Dafforn, KA, Hedge, LH, Poore, AGB & Johnston, EL 2019, 'Fine-scale effects of boat moorings on soft sediment communities masked in large-scale comparisons', Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 6, 101, pp. 1-10. 

Bugnot, AB, Hose, GC, Walsh, CJ, Floerl, O, French, K, Dafforn, KA, Hanford, J, Lowe, EC & Hahs, AK 2019, 'Urban impacts across realms: making the case for inter-realm monitoring and management', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 648, pp. 711-719.

Birrer, SC, Dafforn, KA, Sun, MY, Williams, RBH, Potts, J, Scanes, P, Kelaher, BP, Simpson, SL, Kjelleberg, S, Swarup, S, Steinberg, P & Johnston, EL 2019, 'Using meta-omics of contaminated sediments to monitor changes in pathways relevant to climate regulation', Environmental Microbiology, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 389-401. 

Schaefer, N, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL & Mayer-Pinto, M 2019, 'Size, depth and position affect the diversity and structure of rock pool communities in an urban estuary', Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 70, no. 7, pp. 1034-1044. 

Heery, EC, Dafforn, KA, Smith, JA, Ushiama, S & Mayer-Pinto, M 2018, 'Not all artificial structures are created equal: pilings linked to greater ecological and environmental change in sediment communities than seawalls', Marine Environmental Research, vol. 142, pp. 286-294. 

Birrer, SC, Dafforn, KA, Simpson, SL, Kelaher, BP, Potts, J, Scanes, P & Johnston, EL 2018, 'Interactive effects of multiple stressors revealed by sequencing total (DNA) and active (RNA) components of experimental sediment microbial communities', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 637-638, pp. 1383-1394. 

Morris, RL, Golding, S, Dafforn, KA & Coleman, RA 2018, 'Can coir increase native biodiversity and reduce colonisation of non-indigenous species in eco-engineered rock pools?', Ecological Engineering, vol. 120, pp. 622-630. 

Bugnot, AB, Mayer-Pinto, M, Johnston, EL, Schaefer, N & Dafforn, KA 2018, 'Learning from nature to enhance Blue engineering of marine infrastructure', Ecological Engineering, vol. 120, pp. 611-621. 

Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, KA, Bugnot, AB, Glasby, TM & Johnston, EL 2018, 'Artificial structures alter kelp functioning across an urbanised estuary', Marine Environmental Research, vol. 139, pp. 136-143. 

Lee, AL, Dafforn, KA, Hutchings, PA & Johnston, EL 2018, 'Reproductive strategy and gamete development of an invasive fanworm, Sabella spallanzanii (Polychaeta: Sabellidae), a field study in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia', PLoS ONE, vol. 13, no. 7, e0200027, pp. 1-13. 

Tian, C, Doblin, MA, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL, Pei, H & Hu, W 2018, 'Dinoflagellate cyst abundance is positively correlated to sediment organic carbon in Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay, NSW, Australia', Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 5808-5821. 

Marzinelli, EM, Qiu, Z, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL, Steinberg, PD & Mayer-Pinto, M 2018, 'Coastal urbanisation affects microbial communities on a dominant marine holobiont', npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, vol. 4, no. 1, 1, pp. 1-7. 

Mayer-Pinto, M, Cole, VJ, Johnston, EL, Bugnot, A, Hurst, H, Airoldi, L, Glasby, TM & Dafforn, K 2018, 'Functional and structural responses to marine urbanisation', Environmental Research Letters, vol. 13, no. 1, 014009, pp. 1-17.

Strain, EMA, Olabarria, C, Mayer-Pinto, M, Cumbo, V, Morris, RL, Bugnot, AB, Dafforn, KA, Heery, E, Firth, LB, Brooks, PR & Bishop, MJ 2018, 'Eco-engineering urban infrastructure for marine and coastal biodiversity: which interventions have the greatest ecological benefit?', Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 426-441. 

Sutherland, MD, Dafforn, KA, Scanes, P, Potts, J, Simpson, SL, Sim, VXY & Johnston, EL 2017, 'Links between contaminant hotspots in low flow estuarine systems and altered sediment biogeochemical processes', Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 198, no. Part B, pp. 497-507. 

Lavender, JT, Dafforn, KA, Bishop, MJ & Johnston, EL 2017, 'An empirical examination of consumer effects across twenty degrees of latitude', Ecology, vol. 98, no. 9, pp. 2391-2400.

Lawes, JC, Dafforn, KA, Clark, GF, Brown, MV & Johnston, EL 2017, 'Multiple stressors in sediments impact adjacent hard substrate habitats and across biological domains', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 592, pp. 295-305. 

Bishop, MJ, Mayer-Pinto, M, Airoldi, L, Firth, LB, Morris, RL, Loke, LHL, Hawkins, SJ, Naylor, LA, Coleman, RA, Chee, SY & Dafforn, KA 2017, 'Effects of ocean sprawl on ecological connectivity: impacts and solutions', Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, vol. 492, pp. 7-30.

Heery, EC, Bishop, MJ, Critchley, LP, Bugnot, AB, Airoldi, L, Mayer-Pinto, M, Sheehan, EV, Coleman, RA, Loke, LHL, Johnston, EL, Komyakova, V, Morris, RL, Strain, EMA, Naylor, LA & Dafforn, KA 2017, 'Identifying the consequences of ocean sprawl for sedimentary habitats', Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, vol. 492, pp. 31-48.

Lavender, JT, Dafforn, KA, Bishop, MJ & Johnston, EL 2017, 'Small-scale habitat complexity of artificial turf influences the development of associated invertebrate assemblages', Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, vol. 492, pp. 105-112. 

Hedge, LH, Dafforn, KA, Simpson, SL & Johnston, EL 2017, 'Uncovering hidden heterogeneity: geo-statistical models illuminate the fine scale effects of boating infrastructure on sediment characteristics and contaminants', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 119, no. 2, pp. 143-150. 

Dafforn, KA 2017, 'Eco-engineering and management strategies for marine infrastructure to reduce establishment and dispersal of non-indigenous species', Management of Biological Invasions, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 153-161. 

Mayer-Pinto, M, Johnston, EL, Bugnot, AB, Glasby, TM, Airoldi, L, Mitchell, A & Dafforn, KA 2017, 'Building 'blue': an eco-engineering framework for foreshore developments', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 189, pp. 109-114. 

Bolton, D, Mayer-Pinto, M, Clark, GF, Dafforn, KA, Brassil, WA, Becker, A & Johnston, EL 2017, 'Coastal urban lighting has ecological consequences for multiple trophic levels under the sea', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 576, pp. 1-9.

Johnston, EL, Dafforn, KA, Clark, GF, Rius, M & Floerl, O 2017, 'How anthropogenic activities affect the establishment and spread of non-indigenous species post-arrival', Oceanography and Marine Biology: an annual review, vol. 55, pp. 389-419.

Edge, KJ, Johnston, EL, Dafforn, KA, Simpson, SL, Kutti, T & Bannister, RJ 2016, 'Sub-lethal effects of water-based drilling muds on the deep-water sponge Geodia barretti', Environmental Pollution, vol. 212, pp. 525-534. 

Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL, Ferguson, A, Humphrey, CL, Monk, W, Nichols, SJ, Simpson, SL, Tulbure, MG & Baird, DJ 2016, 'Big data opportunities and challenges for assessing multiple stressors across scales in aquatic ecosystems', Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 67, no. 4, pp. 393-413. 

Tan, EL-Y, Mayer-Pinto, M, Johnston, EL & Dafforn, KA 2015, 'Differences in intertidal microbial assemblages on urban structures and natural rocky reef', Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 6, 1276, pp. 1-13. 

Dafforn, KA, Mayer-Pinto, M, Morris, RL & Waltham, NJ 2015, 'Application of management tools to integrate ecological principles with the design of marine infrastructure', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 158, pp. 61-73.

Sim, VXY, Dafforn, KA, Simpson, SL, Kelaher, BP & Johnston, EL 2015, 'Sediment contaminants and infauna associated with recreational boating structures in a multi-use marine park', PLoS ONE, vol. 10, no. 6, e0130537, pp. 1-15.

Edge, KJ, Dafforn, KA, Simpson, SL, Ringwood, AH & Johnston, EL 2015, 'Resuspended contaminated sediments cause sublethal stress to oysters: a biomarker differentiates total suspended solids and contaminant effects', Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 1345-1353.

Dafforn, KA, Glasby, TM, Airoldi, L, Rivero, NK, Mayer-Pinto, M & Johnston, EL 2015, 'Marine urbanization: an ecological framework for designing multifunctional artificial structures', Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 82-90.

Clark, GF, Kelaher, BP, Dafforn, KA, Coleman, MA, Knott, NA, Marzinelli, EM & Johnston, EL 2015, 'What does impacted look like? High diversity and abundance of epibiota in modified estuaries', Environmental Pollution, vol. 196, pp. 12-20. 

Lavender, JT, Dafforn, K & Johnston, EL 2014, 'Meso-predators: a confounding variable in consumer exclusion studies', Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, vol. 456, pp. 26-33. 

Edge, KJ, Dafforn, K, Simpson, SL, Roach, AC & Johnston, EL 2014, 'A biomarker of contaminant exposure is effective in large scale assessment of ten estuaries', Chemosphere, vol. 100, pp. 16-26. 

Dafforn, KA, Baird, DJ, Chariton, AA, Sun, MY, Brown, MV, Simpson, SL, Kelaher, BP & Johnston, EL 2014, 'Faster, Higher and Stronger? The Pros and Cons of Molecular Faunal Data for Assessing Ecosystem Condition', Advances in Ecological Research, vol. 51, pp. 1-40. 

Dafforn, KA, Kelaher, BP, Simpson, SL, Coleman, MA, Hutchings, PA, Clark, GF, Knott, NA, Doblin, MA & Johnston, EL 2013, 'Polychaete richness and abundance enhanced in anthropogenically modified estuaries despite high concentrations of toxic contaminants', PLoS ONE, vol. 8, no. 9, e77018, pp. 1-10. 

Rivero, NK, Dafforn, KA, Coleman, MA & Johnston, EL 2013, 'Environmental and ecological changes associated with a marina', Biofouling, vol. 29, no. 7, pp. 803-815.

Sun, MY, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL & Brown, MV 2013, 'Core sediment bacteria drive community response to anthropogenic contamination over multiple environmental gradients', Environmental Microbiology, vol. 15, no. 9, pp. 2517-2531.

Gall, ML, Holmes, SP, Dafforn, K & Johnston, EL 2013, 'Differential tolerance to copper, but no evidence of population-level genetic differences in a widely-dispersing native barnacle', Ecotoxicology, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 929-937. 

Dafforn, KA, Glasby, TM & Johnston, EL 2012, 'Comparing the invasibility of experimental "reefs" with field observations of natural reefs and artificial structures', PLoS ONE, vol. 7, no. 5, e38124, pp. 1-16. 

Sun, MY, Dafforn, KA, Brown, MV & Johnston, EL 2012, 'Bacterial communities are sensitive indicators of contaminant stress', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 64, no. 5, pp. 1029-1038.

Dafforn, KA, Simpson, SL, Kelaher, BC, Clark, GF, Komyakova, V, Wong, CKC & Johnston, EL 2012, 'The challenge of choosing environmental indicators of anthropogenic impacts in estuaries', Environmental Pollution, vol. 163, pp. 207-217. 

McKinley, AC, Dafforn, KA, Taylor, MD & Johnston, EL 2011, 'High levels of sediment contamination have little influence on estuarine beach fish communities', PLoS ONE, vol. 6, no. 10, e26353, pp. 1-15.

Dafforn, KA, Lewis, J & Johnston, EL 2011, 'Antifouling strategies: history and regulation, ecological impacts and mitigation', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 453-465. 

Dafforn, KA, Glasby, TM & Johnston, EL 2009, 'Links between estuarine condition and spatial distributions of marine invaders', Diversity and Distributions, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 807-821. 

Piola, R, Dafforn, K & Johnston, EL 2009, 'The influence of antifouling practices on marine invasions', Biofouling, vol. 25, no. 7, pp. 633-644.

Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL & Glasby, TM 2009, 'Shallow moving structures promote marine invader dominance', Biofouling, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 277-287. 

Dafforn, KA, Glasby, TM & Johnston, EL 2008, 'Differential effects of tributyltin and copper antifoulants on recruitment of non-indigenous species', Biofouling, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 23-33. 

My research has focused on the ecological dynamics of urban marine environments, particularly the impacts of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. I began by investigating how chemical contaminants and physical habitat modifications influence the success of invasive species, conducting large-scale experiments across estuaries with results that informed antifouling policy in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. This foundational work evolved into applied research on ecological engineering of built structures, where I collaborated with industry partners like Lendlease to develop multifunctional built infrastructure that supports biodiversity and ecosystem health. These efforts culminated in the co-founding of the Living Seawalls project, which integrates ecological design into urban marine structures to enhance biodiversity.

In my current role as Co-Director of the Stone Living Lab I am designing and testing innovative nature-based approaches to enhance coastal resilience while delivering benefits beyond biodiversity such as water quality and shoreline protection. My team has conducted foundational research demonstrating how human-made structures select for species with distinct functional traits, influencing ecosystem processes. We’ve shown that increasing physical and biogenic complexity through eco-engineering can enhance species richness and particle removal, contributing to improved water clarity. These findings are critical as we seek to develop nature-positive solutions for increasingly urbanised coastlines. Through projects like Living Seawalls, I aim to continue advancing scalable, evidence-based designs that integrate ecological restoration with coastal protection.

My research has also explored the biogeochemical processes that underpin ecosystem function in urban estuaries, with a strong focus on developing nature-based solutions for coastal restoration. I have led large-scale experiments to quantify nitrogen removal and disentangle the roles of oysters, sediments, and their interactions. My team has shown that cross-habitat coupling enhances biodiversity through organic matter provisioning, and that dense oyster patches can act as hotspots for denitrification. A key part of my work connects ‘omics with benthic ecology—an area I believe is often overlooked. My team has demonstrated that restoring sediment-dwelling animals increases denitrifying microbial communities and remineralisation, offering promising strategies for remediating contaminated sediments. We’ve also found that microbial communities near stormwater drains are distinct and dominated by sulphur-reducing bacteria, and have used metatranscriptomics to link gene expression to nitrogen and sulphur cycling, revealing potential greenhouse gas production in contaminated sediments. By integrating macrofaunal, microbial, and biogeochemical research, I aim to deliver scalable, evidence-based interventions to support the recovery of degraded coastal systems.