RIEL seminar series
Fish and floodplains: drivers of barramundi migration in the Top End
Presenter | Dr Brien Roberts | |
---|---|---|
Date |
|
|
Time |
to
|
|
Contact person | E: riel.outreach@cdu.edu.au | |
Location |
CDU Casuarina Campus Yellow 1.1.39 and online If you wish to attend this seminar online: https://charlesdarwinuni.zoom.us/j/82412378818 |
|
Open to | Public |
Migration is a fundamental aspect of the lifecycle of many animals and enables individuals to exploit habitats and resources that are geographically separated from breeding sites. Movement patterns are often highly variable among individuals, which may have profound implications for the productivity and resilience of populations and the ecosystem services (e.g., fisheries) they provide. Diadromous fishes, which undergo migrations between marine and freshwater habitats, are exemplars of such behavioural flexibility, which makes them ideal candidates to investigate the mechanisms that underpin migration. My PhD research uses barramundi as a model species to explore the causes and consequences of variable migratory behaviour within populations. Overall, my findings underscore the importance of productive freshwater habitats for barramundi populations and highlight the complexity of trade-offs between life history characteristics and individual fitness. I argue that hydrological variability, which characterises northern Australian rivers, plays a key role in enhancing the productivity of important commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries. My research outlines the threats to tropical riverine and coastal fisheries imposed by increasing demand for freshwater resources, emphasising the need to incorporate the preservation of life history diversity into the goals of sustainable development.
Brien Roberts is a recent PhD graduate with RIEL at Charles Darwin University. He has a keen and lifelong interest in aquatic biology, and will be in part presenting his thesis, titled ‘Drivers of catadromous migration in barramundi in the wet/dry tropics of northern Australia’. He is currently working as an aquaculture scientist with NT Fisheries.
Related Events
Hidden emissions
Read more about Hidden emissionsIn this seminar, Clément will present results from a new database of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations and fluxes in tropical freshwater systems. He will highlight the extreme variability in GHG concentrations and fluxes across the tropics, and the role of small streams, ponds and riparian wetlands as globally significant hotspots of GHG emissions.
'Calling the wind': Blue whales, climate and whale tourism in Timor-Leste
Read more about 'Calling the wind': Blue whales, climate and whale tourism in Timor-LestePrevious studies have identified the major economic potential for whale watching in the developing nation of Timor-Leste. In this seminar, Karen will outline efforts in developing a whale and dolphin ecotourism industry
Marine megafauna research across the remotest sea country in the NT
Read more about Marine megafauna research across the remotest sea country in the NTNatalie and Carol will discuss the Australian Research Council funded Marine Megafauna Project, which focuses on sea country partnerships with eight Indigenous Ranger groups across the Top End of the Northern Territory (NT). The project encompasses work on sea turtles, dolphins and whales.