D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y
ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE
CURTIN UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIA
2019- PRESENT
Thesis Research Focus: Conservation of elasmobranchs - ecology, public perception, and legal protections
This multidisciplinary project encompasses all aspects necessary to develop applicable, and effective policies for shark conservation by understanding the socioeconomics, human behavior and ecological aspects of shark conservation.
She is currently a PhD candidate who uses Global FinPrint data to assess what environmental factors influence the composition and distribution of elasmobranchs in Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Márquez also uses FinPrint data coupled with socioeconomic surveys to better understand the human behaviour and ecological aspects of elasmobranch conservation success or failure.
This multidisciplinary project encompasses all aspects necessary to develop applicable, and effective policies for shark conservation by understanding the socioeconomics, human behavior and ecological aspects of shark conservation.
She is currently a PhD candidate who uses Global FinPrint data to assess what environmental factors influence the composition and distribution of elasmobranchs in Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Márquez also uses FinPrint data coupled with socioeconomic surveys to better understand the human behaviour and ecological aspects of elasmobranch conservation success or failure.
M A S T E R O F S C I E N C E
MARINE BIOLOGY
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
2015-2016
Thesis Research Focus: Habitat Use in Chondrichthyans.
Over the last few decades, much effort has been devoted towards evaluating and reducing bycatch in marine fisheries. There has been a particular focus on quantifying the risk to chondrichthyans, primarily because of their relatively high vulnerability to overfishing. A key part of risk assessment is evaluating the distributional overlap of the fish with the fisheries, where fish distribution is influenced by habitat use. We synthesise published observations of habitat use for different life history stages of chondrichthyans, and hypothesise the associated catch composition in terms of fish sex, size, and maturity. We then search for these catch compositions, and thereby locations, using New Zealand research vessel catch data. Results show that some life history stages and habitats for certain species could be identified, whereas others could not. Pupping ground criteria were met for Callorhynchus milii (ELE), Hydrolagus novaezealandiae (GSH), and Hydrolagus bemisi (GSP); nursery ground criteria were met for Callorhynchus milii (ELE), mating ground criteria were met for Callorhynchus milii (ELE), Hydrolagus novaezealandiae (GSH), Hydrolagus bemisi (GSP), and Harriotta raleighana (LCH); lek-like mating criteria were met for Hydrolagus novaezealandiae (GSH). For those life-history stage habitats not found, this may be because these are outside of the coverage of the data set (and likely also commercial fisheries), or because they do not actually exist for some chondrichthyans. On the basis of the results, we propose to change the order of species in the risk assessment, and raise relative risk for GSP, given the species vulnerability of pupping grounds.
Over the last few decades, much effort has been devoted towards evaluating and reducing bycatch in marine fisheries. There has been a particular focus on quantifying the risk to chondrichthyans, primarily because of their relatively high vulnerability to overfishing. A key part of risk assessment is evaluating the distributional overlap of the fish with the fisheries, where fish distribution is influenced by habitat use. We synthesise published observations of habitat use for different life history stages of chondrichthyans, and hypothesise the associated catch composition in terms of fish sex, size, and maturity. We then search for these catch compositions, and thereby locations, using New Zealand research vessel catch data. Results show that some life history stages and habitats for certain species could be identified, whereas others could not. Pupping ground criteria were met for Callorhynchus milii (ELE), Hydrolagus novaezealandiae (GSH), and Hydrolagus bemisi (GSP); nursery ground criteria were met for Callorhynchus milii (ELE), mating ground criteria were met for Callorhynchus milii (ELE), Hydrolagus novaezealandiae (GSH), Hydrolagus bemisi (GSP), and Harriotta raleighana (LCH); lek-like mating criteria were met for Hydrolagus novaezealandiae (GSH). For those life-history stage habitats not found, this may be because these are outside of the coverage of the data set (and likely also commercial fisheries), or because they do not actually exist for some chondrichthyans. On the basis of the results, we propose to change the order of species in the risk assessment, and raise relative risk for GSP, given the species vulnerability of pupping grounds.
B A C H E L O R O F S C I E N C E
MARINE ECOLOGY + CONSERVATION
NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2011-2015
Senior Thesis Research Focus: Sex Specific Differences in Habitat use and Migratory behavior shown in great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in South Africa.
The large-scale spatial dynamics and population structure of marine top predators are poorly known. Electronic tag and photographic identification data collected over a period of two years are presented showing a complex suite of behavioral patterns in 34 white sharks (21 female, 13 male), ranging in size from 2.5–5.1 m TL. Data includes coastal return migrations and offshore migrations, indicative that use of certain parts of the coast varied significantly with the season and the sex of the shark. To investigate the effects of season, sex, size, maturity of the shark and resources versus habitat use, the author plotted shark distribution with respect to ocean current maps (cold vs. warm), magnetic field maps and fish population maps.
The large-scale spatial dynamics and population structure of marine top predators are poorly known. Electronic tag and photographic identification data collected over a period of two years are presented showing a complex suite of behavioral patterns in 34 white sharks (21 female, 13 male), ranging in size from 2.5–5.1 m TL. Data includes coastal return migrations and offshore migrations, indicative that use of certain parts of the coast varied significantly with the season and the sex of the shark. To investigate the effects of season, sex, size, maturity of the shark and resources versus habitat use, the author plotted shark distribution with respect to ocean current maps (cold vs. warm), magnetic field maps and fish population maps.
