Coast to Coral: Movement and Diet of Tiger Sharks
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE TO 8 AUGUST.
Join Reef Check Australia and friends on the first Tuesday night of each month in your lounge room/office/comfy chair, for an evening of discovery, inspiration and appreciation of our local marine, coastal and catchment environments.
Alexandra Ikpe, PJ, is conducting her research on biology and ecology of tiger sharks along the eastern coast of Australia, focusing on small- and large-scale movement and diet. Utilising multiple tagging technologies and metabarcoding this research will provide further information to fill knowledge gaps in the literature. This work is important for conservation of the species and for understanding the ecological role it fills, towards providing updated and informed advice for policy and management, and in protection and safety programs for beach goers.
Tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, are highly mobile apex predators that play a key role as ecosystem engineers along the eastern coast of Australia. Their presence maintains marine community equilibrium and their absence allows for trophic cascades to generate. Despite the evidenced importance of G. cuvier, there are significant gaps in the literature on mature male movement, species fine-scale movement, and the influence of diet on distribution and fitness. This project targets these data gaps, recognizing the importance of comprehensive species knowledge to better conserve, protect, and manage the species and the marine communities it influences. This research contributes to species knowledge and a better understanding of their movement at multiple spatial extents over various temporal scales and offers more data towards investigating potential drivers of movement along the Australia east coast.
Virtual doors (zoom) opens at 6.25pm for a 6:30 pm start.
Bring a mate and share in the discovery!
At Reef Check Australia we’re all about inspiring our mates and we love to read your thoughts! So, share your favourite parts about the night and tag us! Reef Check Australia #coasttocoral
This initiative is hosted by Reef Check Australia, and proudly supported by oh so many groups including the City of Gold Coast, Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, Sunshine Coast Council's Environment Levy partnerships grant, The Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Townsville City Council.
Future talks take place on the first Tuesday night of each month, with a new, interesting and engaging speaker.
For more information contact seqsurveys@reefcheckaustralia.org