Tania Skewis

Fluctuating asymmetry is a potential tool for assessing fish health in estuarine environments. The method has been widely used internationally, but in Australia, literature on the subject is sparse, and the utility of the method is not well understood. This project intends to establish baseline conditions for fluctuating asymmetry in Australian estuaries, alongside investigating the viability of fluctuating asymmetry as a tool for assessing environmental stress in Australian estuarine fish.

Potentially, fluctuating asymmetry is an inexpensive, easily applied tool for monitoring environmental stress at the sub-lethal level, as well as measuring susceptibility to further stressors. There is currently little published literature on the subject within Australia. This project will directly contribute to the monitoring and management of an economically and ecologically important local area, and the knowledge gained will be useful in future planning, and policy decision-making processes - early detection of sub-lethal effects of environmental stress can assist decisions on policy changes and remedial actions to prevent further environmental degradation and species loss.