Favourite papers?
Bullock, R., Fermor, D., Pouponeau, D., Moulinie, E., & Grimmel, H. (2024). Using Drones to Reveal the Distribution and Population Abundance of Threatened Dasyatid Rays at a Nursery Site in Seychelles. Drones, 8(2), 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8020048
Crook, K. A., Sheaves, M., & Barnett, A. (2022). Species‐specific foraging behaviors define the functional roles of sympatric stingrays. Limnology and Oceanography, 67(1), 219–230. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11987
Grew, M., Gaston, T. F., Griffin, A. S., Duce, S. J., & Raoult, V. (2024). Ray bioturbation
rates suggest they shape estuary processes. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, rse2.411. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.411
Laidre, K. L., Supple, M. A., Born, E. W., Regehr, E. V., Wiig, Ø., Ugarte, F., Aars, J., Dietz, R., Sonne, C., Hegelund, P., Isaksen, C., Akse, G. B., Cohen, B., Stern, H. L., Moon, T., Vollmers, C., Corbett-Detig, R., Paetkau, D., & Shapiro, B. (2022). Glacial ice supports a distinct and undocumented polar bear subpopulation persisting in late 21st-century sea-ice conditions. Science, 376(6599), 1333–1338. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abk2793
Mitchell, J. D., Drymon, J. M., Vardon, J., Coulson, P. G., Simpfendorfer, C. A., Scyphers, S. B., Kajiura, S. M., Hoel, K., Williams, S., Ryan, K. L., Barnett, A., Heupel, M. R., Chin, A., Navarro, M., Langlois, T., Ajemian, M. J., Gilman, E., Prasky, E., & Jackson, G. (2023). Shark depredation: Future directions in research and management. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 33(2), 475–499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-022-09732-9
Amaya Berge
BSc Marine Biology | University of Washington, Seattle (United States)
MSc Marine Biology | James Cook University (Australia)
Amaya is a Master’s student in Marine Biology with an admiration for the marine environment, elasmobranchs, and small-scale fisheries, despite growing up in the landlocked state of Wisconsin in the United States. Her early fascination with marine ecosystems led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at the University of Washington, where she conducted an independent research project at Friday Harbor Laboratories. Her study examined the size and abundance of staghorn sculpin (Leptocottus armatus) as a function of abiotic tidepool conditions on San Juan Island. Her decision to apply to a master’s program in Australia was originally inspired by her time spent as a student in South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, where she gained a deeper appreciation for tropical marine ecosystems as well as the communities that interact with them. She is now studying at James Cook University and is a research student in the Fish and Fisheries Lab.
Current Project:
Amaya is currently pursuing a Masters by Research project involving a year of independent study to generate a novel understanding of ecosystem services provided by stingrays in the shallow, coastal habitats of D’Arros Island and St. Joseph Atoll, Seychelles. The primary objective of the project aims to estimate the density and distribution of ray foraging pits captured from drone footage provided by The Save Our Seas Foundation-D’Arros Island Research Centre (DRC) and examine trends against temporal and environmental factors. Additionally, if the necessary resources and time are available, artificial intelligence may be explored to assess the potential for deep neural networks to aid in the identification and measurement of feeding pits from the drone videos.
Favourite species?
Leopard shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
Spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari)
Pacific spiny lumpsucker (Eumicrotremus orbis)
