Opportunities
Research Projects
We welcome interns who are looking for a space to do their honours and masters.
Characterisation of scalloped hammerheads aggregations
Supervisors
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au;
Dr Naima Andrea López naima.lopez@research.uwa.edu.au
We are currently studying a recurrent aggregation of scalloped hammerheads within the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. We use aerial drones as a non-invasive method to monitor and characterise the aggregation, and we plan to expand this research project by implementing a stereo diver operated video system (DOVS) monitoring. Using DOVS will allow us to identify individuals, record sex and improve size estimates. Determining the size classes and sex ratios of the individuals in this aggregation will provide insights into the sizes (i.e. ages) at which hammerhead sharks recruit to and emigrate from the aggregation and, thus, to assess the role that marine protected areas play in their protection in Western Australia. The project will involve (1) potential field work to Shoalwater during summer 2023-2024, (2) image analysis of the DOVS 2023-24 survey, and (3) statistical analysis of size estimates of DOVS and drone surveys. This analysis will feed directly into the current WA State government marine park planning process.
Investigating the sponges gardens associated with subsea infrastructure in Northwest Australia
Supervisors
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au; Dr Sean van Elden sean.vanelden@uwa.edu.au
The Pilbara region of Northwest Australia is considered a bioregional diversity hotspot for sponges, with hundreds of species found there. Historical trawling activity has removed much of the sponge and soft coral (macrobenthos) biomass throughout this region, however trawling is prohibited around oil and gas infrastructure. This project would use video footage from ROVs and BRUVS to determine whether the abundance and diversity of macrobenthos is higher around offshore infrastructure than at natural habitats exposed to trawling. The findings from this project would help to identify local macrobenthos hotspots in the Pilbara which may aid in recovery of these communities throughout the region. These findings would also inform decommissioning recommendations for offshore infrastructure in Western Australia.
Investigating the role of fish scraping behaviour in removing ectoparasites
Supervisors
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au; Dr Chris Thompson christopher.thompson@uwa.edu.au
Scraping behaviour, where a fish scrapes its body against a physical or biological substrate, is widespread in marine environments. Fish have been observed scraping against sharks, rays, turtles, other fish, sandy substrates, and other materials. There support for the hypothesis that this behaviour is used to remove ectoparasites and therefore may improve the fitness of the species involved. This project would use video footage from BRUVS to identify species involved in these interactions and investigate empirically whether this behaviour results in parasite removal. This work highlights the importance of biodiversity, the intricate relationships among species, and the possible fitness implications if these links are lost.
A comparison between sounds in pelagic and benthic environments in Shark Bay & Exmouth
Supervisor
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au
Sound is a vital sensory cue for marine wildlife, however there is increasing underwater noise from human activities. Baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) are capable of recording the soundscape of the surrounding environment. Data from soundscapes can provide information about the health of the ecosystem and anthropogenic stressors that occur in that region. This project will involve analysis of audio recordings from both mid-water and benthic BRUVS to benchmark the soundscape of these environments and compare how soundscapes differ between benthic and pelagic environments.
Invertebrate ecology of the Antarctic Peninsula
Supervisor
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au
We have been deploying BRUVS along the Antarctic Peninsula, observing a diverse invertebrate community. This project will involve analysis of BRUVS footage to document the diversity, abundance and size structure of the invertebrate community to determine how it varies across habitats and along a 7° gradient of latitude. The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most rapidly warming areas of Antarctica with an expectation of significant invasions by invertebrates, making this an important study to generate a first characterisation of the existing communities.
What can BRUVS tell us about sea jellies: a big data analysis
Supervisor
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au;
Dr Chris Thompson christopher.thompson@uwa.edu.au
Baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) are typically used to study vertebrates. However keen eyes observe a diversity of gelatinous organisms. Such observations are important as, for instance, we know that siphonophores are more common in warm years in Antarctica while krill are less common. This project will involve analysis of a global BRUVS dataset of more than 100,000 records to develop a methodology to classify and count planktonic invertebrates as well as looking at their distributions through space and time. You will hone your quantitative skills and opportunities for field work will be made available when possible.
What can BRUVS tell us about larval fish: a big data analysis
Honours / Masters
Baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) are typically used to study animals larger than 5 cm. However keen eyes observe a diversity of small organisms including larval fish. This project will involve image analysis of a global BRUVS video to develop a methodology to classify and count fish larvae as well as looking at their distributions through space and time. You will hone your quantitative skills and opportunities for field work will be made available when possible.
Supervisor
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au;
Dr Chris Thompson christopher.thompson@uwa.edu.au
Bait in wild-capture fisheries: an overlooked conservation impact
A number of fishing gears such as long-lines and traps rely on bait to catch fish. While there has been much concern about the use of wild-caught fish as a feed input to aquaculture production, the nature and scale of bait use in wild fisheries remains undocumented and undiscussed. Consequently, the conservation implications of bait as an input to wild fisheries are unknown. This project will empirically model bait consumption in wild fisheries by collating data on global fishing effort, global catch of bait species, and bait consumption by fishing gear. The temporal spatial distribution of bait procurement and bait consumption will be analysed, particularly in light of geopolitical considerations such as the Global Development Index.
Supervisor
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au;
Prof Dirk Zeller dirk.zeller@uwa.edu.au