Miss Skye Woodcock

Biography/ Background

I have recently fished my PhD titled "Stock enhancement in the Murray-Darling Basin, Identification of Stocked Fish and Enhancing Post-stock Survival" under the supervision of Bronwyn Gillanders, Andrew Munro and David Crook. The objectives of this study were to develop hatchery marking protocols using enriched stable isotopes to batch mark the otoliths (inner ear) of Australian native fish, to provide a potential means of determining stocking successes. Firstly the concentrations and length of exposure required to produce a reliable mark was determined and secondly, the ability to discriminate between different/similar isotope marks in the otoliths of fish was tested. In addition investigation into the incorporation of Mg into otoliths of freshwater fish was investigated to determine if otolith Mg concentrations are influenced by water or diet. Finally pre-stock training with predator odours was tested to determine if pre-stock predator training would influenced the behaviour of fish stocked in the presence of a predator and investigation of the influence habitat and stocking density play in behavioural patterns exhibited by stocked fish was examined.

Qualifications

Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) 2006-2007
Flinders University, South Australia
Thesis Title: The impact of diet on the growth and proximate composition of juvenile whelks, Dicathais orbita (Gastropoda: Mollusca)

Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) 2003-2005
Flinders University, South Australia

Diploma in the Seafood Industry (Aquaculture), 2001-2002
Port Lincoln TAFE, South Australia

Awards & Achievements

Highly Commended Presentation - The Royal Society of South Australia 2010

Best Student Paper - Oral Presentation, 4th International Otolith Symposium, Monterey California, 24-28th August 2009

Outstanding Student Award (awarded to the student who best demonstrated enthusiasm, reliability, teamwork and commitment to their studies for the Diploma in the Seafood Industry (Aquaculture)), 2002.

Research Interests

I have interest in otolith chemistry, in particular otolith marking techniques and the difference in elemental incorporation into otoliths. Aquaculture research (developing techniques to improve practices, new species innovation), the influence of climate change on fisheries and fish ecology and an interest in fish biology.

Publications

 

Woodcock, S.H., Gillanders, B.M., Munro A.R., McGovern, F., Crook, D.A. & Sanger, A.C. Using enriched stable isotopes of barium and magnesium to batch mark otoliths of larval golden perch (Macquaria ambigua, Richardson). Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 20: 157-165

Woodcock, S.H. & Benkendorff, K. (2008) The impact of diet on the growth and proximate composition of juvenile whelks, Dicathais orbita (Gastropoda: Mollusca). Aquaculture, 276: 162-170.

Conference Attendance

Australian Society for Fish Biology 2011 Conference. Oral Presentation: Incorporation of magnesium into fish otoliths: discrimination between water and diet.

Australian Society for Fish Biology, Conference & Climate Change Symposium, 2010. Oral Presentation: Application of enriched stable isotope immersion techniques to produce batch marks in the otoliths of Australian native freshwater fish. 

4th International Otolith Symposium, Monterey, California, 2009. Oral Presnentation: Batch-marking otoliths of Austalian native larval fish using immersion techniques with combinations of enriched stable isotopes.

Australasian Aquaculture International Conference and Trade Show, Brisbane, 2008. Oral Presentation: Marking hatchery produced golden perch, Macquaria ambigua, using a combination of isotopes.

Entry last updated: Friday, 14 Oct 2011