PhD candidate Ben D'Antonio has submitted his thesis and presented his PhD completion seminar!
Sequeira Lab is excited to share that PhD candidate Ben D'Antonio has just submitted his thesis and presented his PhD completion seminar!
The Sequeira Lab is excited to share that our PhD candidate Ben D’Antonio has just submitted his thesis entitled ‘The Biophysical Drivers of Sharks in Western Australia’. Ben has also just presented his PhD completion seminar at the UWA Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, and now awaits comments and feedback from the thesis examiners.
In his thesis, Ben used interdisciplinary techniques including satellite telemetry, acoustics, oceanographic observations and statistical modelling to quantify the pelagic prey field and physical structure of the water column in the vicinity of tagged sharks. This work aimed to determine the key biophysical features that drive the movement and behaviour of two contrasting species of shark (whale sharks and tiger sharks) in Western Australia.
Some of the chapters that make up Ben’s thesis are published as an open access publication here: Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reef, while the others are currently in peer review. Ben’s thesis was completed at the University of Western Australia under the co-supervision of Prof Charitha Pattiaratchi, A/Prof Ana M. M. Sequeira, Dr Mark Meekan and Dr Luciana Ferreira.
Huge congratulations to Ben on this milestone!
