Current activities

Michele is leading the species modelling component of the Northern Seascapes Project A12 which is modelling and mapping a range of priority Threatened and Migratory marine species distributions including coastal dolphins, dugongs, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles, sawfish and river sharks and 6 shorebird species.

Background

Dr Michele Thums is a marine Ecologist with a research focus on understanding the movement, distribution and important areas of marine megafauna (e.g. marine mammals, sea turtles and sharks) in northern Australia using animal borne telemetry systems, various survey techniques and a range of quantitative methods. Her specific research interests are in understanding the environmental drivers of animal movement and distribution, both natural and anthropogenic in nature and the intersection of important habitats with threatening processes.

Academic qualifications

2004-2009 - PhD, School of Zoology, University of Tasmania.Thesis title: Foraging strategies of the southern elephant seal. Supervisors: Prof. Mark Hindell and Prof. Corey Bradshaw

1997-2000 Bachelor of Science (Biology) with honours class 1, University of Sydney. Thesis title: A seasonal comparison of diet, energy and water requirements of long-nosed bandicoots in the Sydney region.