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  • Caitlyn O'Dea

    Caitlyn O'Dea

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Caitlyn O'Dea

Overview of thesis

Herbivore distributions and abundance are already shifting because of climate change, leading to intensified grazing pressure on foundation species such as seagrasses. Other observations include rapidly increasing magnitudes of change in estuary ecosystems, which is also affecting seagrass resilience. While the resilience of seagrasses is well-studied, the timeframes of recovery has received comparatively little attention, particularly in temperate estuaries.

In a field experiment that excluded swans from the study area, this project has experimentally investigated the impact of increased magnitude of simulated black swan grazing on the recovery of Halophila ovalis (or paddleweed) in a temperate estuary. Increased grazing intensity not only led to longer recovery times, but also greater variability in the recovery time among experiment locations. This research aims to provide insight into the recovery time of seagrasses and can inform seagrass ecosystem management and facilitate realistic management timelines.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management), Edith Cowan University (2014-2017)

Research

Research Interests

  • Ecological resilience
  • Estuarine and marine ecology
  • Ecosystem monitoring and research
  • Climate change and extreme climatic events
  • Community engagement and science communication

Other work

  • 2020-present: Environmental Officer, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (Australia)
  • 2019: Graduate Ecologist, 360 Environmental (Australia)
  • 2016: Science Intern, Endangered Primate Rescue Centre (Vietnam)

Past Teaching

  • 2016: English language tutor, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (Vietnam)

Scholarships and Awards

  • 2019 – Ernest Hodgkin Estuary Research Award - Best Presentation in the Area of Research Facilitating a Greater Understanding of Estuarine Processes and Management, at the 2019 Australian Marine Science Association Conference (2019)
  • 2019 – Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment Grant, Ecological Society of Australia for Masters project (2019)
  • 2015 – New Colombo Plan Mobility Program grant to Vietnam

Supervisors

Associate Professor Kathryn McMahon (Edith Cowan University)
Professor Paul Lavery (Edith Cowan University)

Contact

Caitlyn O’Dea
Master of Science (Environmental Management)
Centre for Marine Ecosystem Research
School of Science
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