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  • Samantha Spear

    Samantha Spear

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Samantha Spear

Overview of thesis

The Ramsar listed, Vasse-Wonnerup Wetland System (VWWS) in southwestern Australia, has undergone significant modification and ecological change since European settlement, yet still provides critical habitat for waterbirds. The VWWS has been identified as the most nutrient rich in region, with the resulting degradation posing a threat to the trophic ecology and habitat use of the 25,000 to 35,000 waterbirds who inhabit the VWWS annually. The objectives of this research are to evaluate the role food availability plays in foraging ecology and habitat use of shorebirds and investigate whether introduced fish species form a component of the diet of piscivores birds.  These introduced species may provide an alternative or supplementary food source, potentially altering their foraging behaviours and habitat preferences.

To achieve the objectives, fieldwork and sampling to record bird activities, environmental variables, food availability, and bird scats, will occur twice a year, in December and February (the start of the Nyoongar Birak season (First Summer), and the start of the Nyoongar Bunuru season (Second Summer). These seasons represent the season when water levels are high and the highest numbers of waterbirds are found, and when conditions are changed due to water level reduction resulting from evaporation, respectively. An environmental DNA (eDNA) approach will be employed to identify the potential range of food sources available in the environment for the three target species—the Ramsar-listed Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), as well as, the piscivorous Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius). This will involve collecting water and sediment samples, along with bird scat, and applying a metabarcoding technique capable of detecting all invertebrate species present. In addition, observation, both in the field and through video analysis, will be conducted to gather detailed insights into the foraging behaviour, diet, prey selection, and foraging water depth of shorebirds.

This study will work collaboratively with South West NRM, to provide insights into the trophic dynamics of waterbirds in the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetland, highlighting the interplay between food availability, habitat use, and the role of invasive species in ecological processes. The findings will aid in formulating targeted conservation and management strategies.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Honours.

Research

Research Interests

  • Shorebird ecology
  • Foodwebs

Past Research employment history

  • November 2024, Fieldwork Assistant Onslow and Exmouth.

Scholarships and Awards

  • 2025 STEM ELEVATE Scholarship
  • 2024 WA Naturalists’ Club Serventy Memorial Prize in Natural Sciences
  • 2020 Destination Australia Scholarship

Supervisors

Contact

Samantha Spear
PhD Student
School of Science
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