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 aggreation, 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 drones surveys. This analysis will feed directly into the current WA State government marine park planning process.
A comparison between marine communities associated with artificial and natural habitats in Northwest Australia
Supervisors
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au; Dr Sean van Elden sean.vanelden@uwa.edu.au
There is increasing evidence that artificial marine habitats, such as oil and gas infrastructure, are associated with higher abundance and diversity of marine life. As offshore infrastructure comes to the end of its lifespan, decisions need to be made around either removing the infrastructure, or leaving it wholly or partly in place as an artificialreef. It is important that we understand the ecological role played by these artificial structures before they are decommissioned and potentially removed from the marine environment. This project aims to compare the abundance and diversity of marine communities associated with subsea infrastructure and nearby natural habitats, using existing video imagery.
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 first assessment of pelagic fish assemblages in the Amirantes Islands - Seychelles
Supervisor
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au
Seychelles comprises 115 islands which cover only 452 km2 of the countries' 1,336,559 km2 exclusive economic zone. The small island developing nation committed to protect 30% of it's national waters by May 2023 and the majority of their marine park network will cover open ocean areas which remain unstudied. Featuring the largest tuna fishing operation in the Indian Ocean, there is a lack of benchmarks on pelagic wildlife communities which are needed to effectively manage fish populations including species of conservation concern such as transient elasmobranchs. The project will involve image analysis of footage from midwater baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) to characterize the pelagic wildlife assemblage around the remote Amirantes Islands group. This study can improve the management of large scale marine protected areas in the region and can directly aid in the conservation of a range of threatened species.
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 capabale 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 anlaysis 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 characteristaion 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
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 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 quantitataive skills and opportunities for field work will be made available when possible.
Relationships among pilot and host fish, who hangs with who and what does that mean for ecology and distribution of the pilots
Supervisor
Prof Jessica Meeuwig jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au;
Dr Chris Thompson christopher.thompson@uwa.edu.au
Relationships among large pelagic animals and their retinue of pilots and hitchhikers are little studied. A broad range of behavioural and symbiotic links are present among animals ranging from sharks, rays, turtles, and whales, to remora, juvenile trevallies, and driftfishes. Many of these are not well documented and there are many questions in regard to what these these relationships mean for the distribution and ecology of the species involved. This project will involve analysis of a global BRUVS dataset of more than 100,000 records to identify pairs of hosts and pilot species and how these relationships may influence their ecology.
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