Sarah Imgraben

Postgraduate Student

Contact Details

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) - marine biology

Research

Coastal wetland habitats in South Australia consist of a matrix of habitat types such as mangroves, seagrass beds, salt marshes and mudflats. These wetlands are important as nursery grounds for fisheries species and as feeding and breeding grounds for shorebirds but many of these areas have been reduced in metropolitan areas due to urbanisation, industrial development and human use. We need an understanding of how different components of a habitat mosaic are connected to one another to anticipate the effects of habitat fragmentation and destruction. This study aims to investigate the connectivity and ecological functioning of different components of wetland habitats by incorporating small scale habitat mapping with biological and ecological assessments. Habitat use by gastropods and their movement will be used to investigate the effect of habitat heterogeneity on fauna. This will be undertaken in reserve and non-reserve areas to assess the effects of different levels of human use, and the effectiveness of current protection measures. Greater knowledge on the ecological functioning of these environments, as well as the utilisation of these habitats by multiple species, will increase our understanding of how they may be affected by habitat destruction or fragmentation.

Supervisors

Dr Laurent Seuront

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