Supervisors
Adrian Gleiss – Murdoch University, Perth, AUS (Principal)
Jenna Hounslow – Murdoch University, Perth, AUS
Alastair Harry – Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Perth, AUS
Michael Travers – Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Perth, AUS
Location
Murdoch University’s School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences and Harry Butler Institute’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, South Street campus, Perth, Western Australia. Students will be based at the Physiology, Ecology, and Conservation Lab (www.peaclab.org) on campus and will complete fieldwork (several 2–3-week trips per year) in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Project Description
The Kimberley region of Western Australia is renowned for its unique marine environments. Its rich marine biodiversity is central to the life and culture of First Nations peoples who have maintained a continuous connection with Sea Country and ‘Saltwater’ resources since time immemorial. As the region develops, the aquatic living resources of the Kimberley face an increasing range of anthropogenic pressures.
We are seeking two PhD candidates to work on projects in collaboration with Traditional Owners and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to address knowledge gaps relating to fish and fisheries ecology in two regions to commence in the first half of 2025:
1.Yawuru Nagulagun / Roebuck Bay
2.The Buccaneer Archipelago
Projects will be co-designed in collaboration with Traditional Owners and government fisheries scientists to address knowledge gaps relating to management and sustainability of fish and fisheries resources including: culturally significant species; commercially and recreationally harvested species; and endangered, threatened and protected species. The successful candidates will have the opportunity to develop a project on a broad range of topics and processes relating to fish and fisheries ecology centred around ongoing projects in each of the regions.
Yawuru Nagulagun / Roebuck Bay
Yawuru Nagulagun / Roebuck Bay is a highly productive tropical embayment with extensive intertidal mudflats. Its high conservation value is reflected with both state and federal marine park status, the Yawuru Indigenous Protected Area and as a RAMSAR listed wetland. Iconic estuarine fish species such as barramundi (Lates calcarifer) and threadfin salmon (Polydactylus macrochir) found in Roebuck Bay support valuable recreational and charter fisheries. Species such as walga walga (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) and stingrays (family Dasyatidae) are culturally significant and a traditional source of food for Yawuru people. Roebuck Bay also has a diverse elasmobranch fauna that includes high abundance of many globally threatened species such as sawfish, wedgefish, and hammerhead sharks.
The candidate will make use of existing fisheries monitoring data and the recently installed Yawuru Nagula Buru Acoustic Array to understand the spatial ecology of fish and elasmobranchs in Roebuck Bay. The aims of the project are to:
Evaluate the extent and drivers of spatiotemporal patterns in distribution of fish and elasmobranchs in Roebuck Bay,
Identify and characterise habitats for fish and elasmobranchs within Roebuck Bay, and
Assess overlap with potential pressures within Roebuck Bay.
Buccaneer Archipelago Marine Parks
The Buccaneer Archipelago Marine Parks comprise three marine protected areas covering more than 600,000 hectares and which have been co-designed with the region’s Traditional Owners. Management of the marine parks is undertaken jointly by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions and Traditional Owners, with DPIRD having responsibility for fisheries research, management and compliance. Research is required to characterise the biology and ecology of fish, shark and ray species targeted within the marine parks by recreational, commercial and customary fishers to improve the understanding of the diversity, abundance, movement patterns and importance of critical habitats to these species. These studies will support monitoring objectives and the sustainable management of aquatic resources within the marine park, including cultural and conservation values and will address the following broad aims:
Determine the underlying importance of habitat and environmental factors on the spatio-temporal distribution of fish and elasmobranchs in the Kimberley.
Quantify the connectivity and seasonal movement of key fish and elasmobranch species across the marine park and the broader Kimberley region.
Develop quantitative and robust indices for monitoring selected Kimberley marine environments that enable the status of fish and elasmobranchs to be reliably measured, easily communicated and tracked over time.
Training
Cross-cultural knowledge sharing and working in collaboration with Traditional Owners
Fieldwork in remote, subtropical, northern Australia
Computational and analytical techniques in the investigation of ecological data through tagging (acoustic and satellite Telemetry) and Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (depending on final project scope)
Funding
Project costs will be met by DPIRD and Murdoch University. The successful applicant will receive the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship ($37,000 AUD per annum) awarded through a Murdoch University scholarship (see below), plus a top-up scholarship ($10,000 AUD per annum) from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Entry requirements
Essential criteria
Applicants must have obtained a First Class Honours or Masters degree, or the equivalent qualifications, in an appropriate area of science (e.g., marine ecology, marine science, marine biology).
Ability to use R (or other coding software) for data exploration and statistical analyses.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Capacity to undertake fieldwork at remote locations for up to 3 months each year.
Full driving licence
If English is not your first language, you will need to meet the required level as per our guidance at https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/english-proficiency-tests
Desirable criteria
Experience working in cross-cultural environments.
Experience in animal movement research (e.g., biotelemetry, biologging)
Experience in Spatial Analyses (e.g. habitat suitability modelling)
Experience in analysis of Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems data (e.g., Event Measure, Multivariate analyses)
Experience in Machine Learning
Coxswain Grade 3 or higher.
How to apply and important dates
Apply for a Research Training Scholarship with Murdoch University. This scholarship will provide the base scholarship ($37,000 per annum for 3 yrs.). Please check your eligibility criteria for the Murdoch RTP scholarship are met prior to applying.
Domestic Students: https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/scholarship/research-training-program-stipends-(domestic-students) CLOSING DATE 31 October 2024
International Students: https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/scholarship/research-training-program-stipends-(international-students) CLOSING DATE 30 September 2024
Submit an Expression of Interest for the top-up scholarship from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development as a single PDF file to Adrian Gleiss (a.gleiss@murdoch.edu.au) and Alastair Harry (alastair.harry@dpird.wa.gov.au), including the following:
Letter of application (2 pages maximum; addressing the entry requirements and selection criteria above, outlining your academic interests, prior research experience, and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).
Sample of academic writing (e.g. thesis excerpt, publication)
CV, including contact details for two referees familiar with your recent academic work.
Successful candidates for this project must secure BOTH the RTP scholarship AND the DPIRD top-up scholarship and be available to start in the first half of 2025.
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