To coincide with the Vanishing Point exhibition, the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies presents a lecture series on Saturday mornings from May to July.
Citizen Science and Our Oceans will be presented by Dr Gretta Pecl from Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.
Dr Pecl has broad interests in marine ecology with experience working on varied aspects of life history, fisheries ecology and population connectivity, and in assessing the role of movement and migration as key processes structuring marine populations. Identifying the spatial scale of population connectivity and understanding the effect and role of connectivity on recruitment of future generations is a very poorly understood area. More recently Dr Pecl has been exploring the physiological and ecological mechanisms underpinning the large-scale redistribution of species occurring throughout our marine systems. Understanding such processes lies at the crux of assessing and predicting how populations may respond to major challenges such as climate change. Much of her work is interdisciplinary in nature, aimed at addressing questions critical to both ecological understanding of our marine systems and sustainable management of resources.
Her recent research activity spans a range of topics including detecting and understanding the mechanisms behind species range extensions, population and fishery responses to environmental change, and on using citizen science approaches for ecological monitoring and engagement (e.g. www.REDMAP.org.au). Developing and evaluating adaptation options, for minimising impacts and maximising opportunities under a changing climate, is also a large focus. Dr Pecl is one of a larger team working on developing a Global Network of Marine Hotspots aimed at building a global network of scientists, managers and policy makers from regions like south east Australia that are warming at a rate much faster than the global average. The network will allow knowledge to be synthesised, compared and contrasted across locations, and provide a framework for facilitating accelerated learning and indication of sensible adaptation pathways for other global regions.
Coming up in the IMAS Weekend Lectures
May 16 – Dave Pryce – The Plastiki Expedition
May 23 – Dr Patti Virtue – Krill- upon which the entire Antarctic ecosystem relies
May 30 – Lara Marcus – Whale sharks – the biggest fish in the ocean who eats the smallest plankton
June 6 – Dr Frederique Oliver – Is Antarctica Pristine?