Thesis

This PhD project will develop methodologies to assess the reproductive state of wild dugongs via non-invasive hormonal profiles in exhaled air and faeces, and will calibrate these profiles against saliva and blood. These data will be used along with gender, body size and social association data gathered during mark-recapture studies, to determine the reproductive status of individual dugongs. Life history parameters determined during this study will be incorporated into a population study of dugongs in Moreton Bay, southern Queensland. An understanding of reproductive behaviour and biology is crucial if we are to develop useful models of population dynamics.

Honours project 2003

Publications

Burgess, E., Blanshard, W., Keeley, T. and J. Lanyon (2009) Reproductive endocrine monitoring of dugongs. Abstract, Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria Conference, Gold Coast, 22-26 March 2009.

Burgess, E., Keeley, T. and J, Lanyon (2009) Determining Reproductive Status in Wild Dugongs. Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference (abstract oral presentation), Adelaide, 5-9 July 2009.

Burgess EA, Booth DT and Lanyon JM (2006) Swimming performance of hatchling green turtles is affected by incubation temperature. Coral Reefs 25:341-349. DOI 10.1007/s00338-006-0116-7. Download pdf version

Booth DT, Burgess EA, McCosker J and Lanyon JM (2004) The influence of incubation temperature on post-hatching fitness characteristics of turtles. International Congress Series "Third International Conference of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry in Africa" Elsevier, Amsterdam. Vol 1275 pp 226-233. Download pdf version

Awards