Teagan Marzullo

BSc(Hons) University of QLD

School of Biological Earth and Environmental Science
University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052
AUSTRALIA

Email: t.marzullo at unsw.edu.au

Research Interests

1. Top-down ecosystem effects in the marine environment
2. Physiology and sensory systems of fish (esp. Elasmobranchs)
3. Habitat use and movements of stingrays and stingarees in response to varying environmental factors
4. Field energetics and biomechanics of rays

Current Projects

Formerly, my primary area of interest focussed on stingray sensory systems- specifically the electroreceptive ampullae of Lorenzini and the mechanoreceptive lateral line. This research drove my fascination with rays further after presenting at Sharks International (2010) in Cairns, where I realized only a select few in the elasmobranch world concentrate on stingrays.

Currently I am investigating the elusive ecology of stingrays and stingarees found within estuaries of New South Wales. Contrary to what you have been told, rays are harder to catch than you think- at least the decent sized ones! If you are inclined to disagree, then I challenge you to demonstrate your awe-inspiring angling ability. A large part of my research involves implanting acoustic transmitters in rays, from Georges River, Shoalhaven River and Clyde River, to track their long-term movements, habitat use and activity patterns in response to a suite of environmental factors including temperature, salinity, bathymetry and diel cycles.

Further, I am validating the use of stingray barbs as a potential tool to determine stock structure and residency within and among species. Topping it off, I am also investigating stingray biomechanics and respirometry to be applied to free-living stingarees in the Shoalhaven River using novel accelerometry tags. In conclusion- stingrays are as awesome as the people who study them (this inc. my supervisors).