Science, Technology and Engineering

School of Life Sciences

Department of Environmental Management & Ecology

Potential, current and past post-graduate projects - Marine Ornithology Group (MOG)

Potential projects
Past and current projects

Potential post-graduate projects - Marine Ornithology Group (MOG)

Supervisor: Dr Catherine Meathrel, LTU (+61 2 60249875) c.meathrel@latrobe.edu.au

Impact of fire management and invasive weeds on breeding success in Short-tailed Shearwaters (Great Dog Island, Tasmania): Controlled burning of native tussock grasses (Poa poiformis) has long been used by indigenous Australians on the islands in Bass Strait. This is done to make access to Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) burrows easier during the harvesting of chicks, known as ‘muttonbirding’. In collaboration with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Council and using GPS technology, this fieldwork will involve the examination of fire histories used by indigenous muttonbirders, impacts on the flora (including invasive weeds) and the effect on shearwater burrow densities and reproductive success.
Intake: July
Level: PhD
Subsets of this project may be suitable for Honours at either intake (February or July)

Role of successional vegetation on the breeding success of Pacific Gulls (Goose Island, Tasmania): Our previous research on the breeding strategies of Pacific Gulls (Larus pacificus pacificus) on various islands in Bass Strait has documented that protective vegetation in the vicinity of the nest is vital to egg hatching and chick fledging. Hampered by inclement weather and large boating distances between islands in the Furneaux Group, these studies will be replicated on remote Goose Island where these gulls use all three nesting strategies – colonial, loose colonial and solitary pairs. This project will involve monitoring changes in nest-side vegetation from September to February and the effects of the vegetations’ die-off over austral summer on reproductive success of gulls. Please note that this is a very remote island (NO TRIPS OFF FOR PROJECT DURATION, provisioned monthly by chartered boat).
Intake: July
Level: PhD
Subsets of this project may be suitable for Honours at either intake (February or July)

Breeding success of roof nesting Silver Gulls (Melbourne): Many species of gull world–wide are viewed as pests. Their propensity to exploit anthropogenic resources (eg. food, freshwater) may lead to unacceptable populations in urban centres. Silver Gulls (Larus novaehollandiae) breed on buildings within the greater metropolitan area, including storage facilities along the harbour-front. This project is designed to compare the reproductive success (i.e. clutch size, egg size and quality, hatching success, chick growth and fledging) of roof nesting gulls with more traditional nesters. The transfer of pathogens (eg. Samonella, Pasturella, etc.) to water bodies will also be examined. To undertake this project you will need to be very fit and willing to undergo lots of OH&S training with the property managers.
Intake: July
Level: PhD
Subsets of this project may be suitable for Honours at either intake (February or July)

Stress hormones, carotenoids, immunocompetence and reproductive success in gulls (Hobart and Flinders Island): There has been resurgence lately in studying the endocrinology of birds, particularly stress hormones in breeding adults. Carotenoids are provisioned to the egg and play an important role in the immunocompetence of eggs and chicks. Our previous research has shown that egg colour (an indicator of carotenoid levels) differs between urban and remote colonies of Silver Gulls. This study on any species of gull will involve techniques to sex the live embryo, collection of a subsample of fresh eggs for analyses of constituents including carotenoids, and monitor chick growth and survival.
Intake: July
Level: PhD

Population biology of invasive Kelp Gulls in eastern Australia: Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus) are thought to have invaded Australia in the early 1940s. Since that time, they have established breeding populations in New South Wales, Victoria and especially in southern Tasmania. Though slightly smaller than the endemic Pacific Gull (L. pacificus), this species is much more aggressive and out-competes the indigene at breeding and feeding sites. As such, this competition has been proposed as one of the threats to Pacific Gulls. This study will involve extensive use of the ornithological literature to trace the Kelp Gulls’ invasion of Australia. Field work will involve comparative studies between the two species where they breed in sympatry (Hobart), population estimates, diet and pathogen transfer through major urban refuse tips and roosting on buildings in the harbour.
Intake: anytime of year
Level: PhD

Of course, any other projects will be considered.

Past and current post-graduate projects - Marine Ornithology Group (MOG)

2009 BSc (Hons): Pair-bond duration and patterns of divorce in Short-tailed Shearwaters (in progress).

2006 PhD: Effects of investigator disturbance on the reproductive success of Short-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) in the Furneaux Group, Bass Strait, Tasmania (in progress).

2005 PhD: Influence of geography and environment on the energetics and behaviour of Little Penguins Eudyptula minor (in progress).

2004 PhD: The morphological and genetic relationships of the geographically isolated Pacific Gull Larus pacificus populations in Australia (in progress).

2004 PhD: The effects of anthropogenic food on the body condition, biochemistry, stable isotopes and egg quality of Silver Gulls in Tasmania (Conferred July 2008).

2004 BSc (Hons): Feeding behaviour and chick provisioning of the eastern Pacific Gull Larus p. pacificius in the southern Furneaux Group, Tasmania.

2004 BSc (Hons): Factors affecting recruitment into a population of Short-tailed Shearwaters Puffinus tenuirostris breeding on Great Dog Island, Furneaux Group, Tasmania.

2003 BSc (Hons): Nest site selection and reproductive success of Pacific Gulls Larus pacificus in the Furneaux Group of Islands, Bass Strait, Tasmania.

2003 BSc (Hons): Foraging ecology of Pacific Gulls Larus pacificus in the Furneaux Group of Islands, Bass Strait, Tasmania.

2000 BSc (Hons): The reproductive biology of the Pacific Gull, Larus pacificus, breeding in loose pairs and colonies in the Furneaux Group, Tasmania.