My name is Beau Reilly and I study marine biology and ecology at the University of Queensland. I am a third year student and am enrolled in the Advanced Study Program in Science at the university. I am interested in the physiology of aquatic organisms, particularly the various osmoregulatory strategies of fishes. I am also fascinated by the sensory systems of marine animals and how they have evolved distinct adaptations to different environments.

Current Research
As part of the Advanced Study Program, I will be conducting a research project in the ECO-Lab. My study animal is the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, one of a limited number of euryhaline elasmobranchs. How bull sharks manage to osmoregulate between seawater and freshwater is not entirely clear. Bull sharks exhibit mitochondria-rich cells within their branchial epithelium, and there is evidence that these cells may play a role in active uptake of electrolytes in freshwater elasmobranchs. The aim of my project is to conduct a morphometric examination of the gills of bull sharks acclimated to freshwater and saltwater, and interpret the function of mitochondria-rich cells in regards to osmoregulation.

Contact Beau Reilly