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The effects of marine debris on Australian seabirds

Author(s): Miss Krista Verlis
Supervisor(s): Dr Scott Wilson; Prof Marnie Campbell

Field of Research: Environmental Sciences
Research Organisation: Centre for Environmental Management

Abstract

Marine debris is recognised as a key threatening process facing the Australian oceanic environment with the potential for this pollution to cause physical, economic and aesthetic damage, with impacts on biodiversity and the health and wellbeing of wildlife also being possible. Seabirds can be at particular risk from marine debris due to ingestion and entanglement threats, with seabird ingestion levels used in northern Europe as a means to measure this pollution. This project aims to determine the extent and source of marine debris pollution in the ecologically important world heritage area of the southern Great Barrier Reef, and along the subtropical east Australian coastline. A number of migratory seabird species are found nesting in these areas. The impacts of this debris through ingestion, and use as nesting material by Australian seabirds will be ascertained. This will inform stakeholders such as the Federal and State governments, the Great Barrier Reef marine park authority, and the local community on the extent and nature of this threat so that appropriate measures can be taken to mitigate effects and preventive measures developed.

Keywords: marine debris, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), seabirds, nest material, ingestion, plasma, wedge-tailed
Timeline: August 31 2011 to August 31 2014

Project Contacts

Name: Miss Krista Verlis
Contact Research Organisation: Centre for Environmental Management
Phone: +61 7 4970 7284
Email: k.verlis@cqu.edu.au