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Doctor

Asta Audzijonyte

Senior Research Fellow in Macroecological Modelling

Ecology and Biodiversity

Orcid identifier0000-0002-9919-9376
  • Senior Research Fellow in Macroecological Modelling
    Ecology and Biodiversity
  • Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Ecology and Biodiversity, IMAS Hobart Waterfront Building, Hobart CBD Campuses, TAS

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research Themes:
Asta’s research helps to improve our understanding of marine ecosystem dynamics and best practices in sustainable fisheries and conservation. This work is important for the development of sustainable marine policies and aligns with the University's research theme of Marine, Antarctic and Maritime. Asta’s work also addresses factors and mechanisms influencing fisheries productivity and stock recovery rates and effects of climate change on marine communities. Her work aligns with the National strategic research priority of 'Living in a changing environment'.

Expertise:
Ecological and ecosystem modelling (size structured models in mizer, end-to-end models in Atlantis, individual growth models and others)
Size based models for data-poor fisheries assessments
Understanding fish life-history changes on population and ecosystem dynamics
Using genetic markers to study population history and diversity (molecular ecology and taxonomy)
Effects of environment on physiological adaptations of marine organisms
Application of machine learning tools for fish species and size identification
Novel methods for recreational fisheries assessments

Awards:
2020 Pew fellow in marine conservation
2014 Kone Foundation advanced research fellow (Finland)
2008 David and Lucile Packard Foundation fellow (USA)

In addition to the grants funded through the University of Tasmania, Asta Audzijonyte received over $2mln as a chief investigator through grants in EU and USA. These grants include EU Smart Specialisation program funded project “Advanced models, citizen science and big data for sustainable food production and ecological services of inland aquatic ecosystems” (2018-2022, €809 000); EU regional development funds project “Advances in angler number assessment using drones” (2020-2021, €110 000) and others fellowships and smaller grants.

PROJECTS

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Showing page 1, grants 1 to 4 of 4
CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
Top-up scholarship: Fish sizes and growth in a warming ocean
CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation1 Jan 2023 - 20 Mar 2026
People funded by this grant: Audzijonyte A, Willington S, Trebilco R, Krueck N
Project Total: $30,000; The proposed research will explore drivers and consequences of body size Changes in coastal Tasmanian fish species. integrating multiple data sources and modelling approaches. Specifically, this research would first use Bayesian statistical models to understand Changes in Tasmanian fish sizes through space and time, interactions with fishing levels, MPAs, presence of other species and multiple environmental drivers, drawing upon data sources including fisheries SUNe)'&, historical records and existing and new fish growth data, historical records and long-term underwater visual survey data. It would then explore reasons for body size Changes through detailed analyses of growth and size structure for ecologically and economically important Tasmanian coastal species. Funded by: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($30,000); University of Tasmania.
GRANT
Universal properties in size distributions of aquatic species
Australian Research Council1 Dec 2022 - 30 Nov 2025
People funded by this grant: Audzijonyte A, Krueck N, Richards S, Andersen K
Project Total: $456,000; Knowledge about the body size distributions in natural populations is central to ecology and management. Body sizes are rapidly changing due to human impacts, but we still do not know how and why. This project will bring together large datasets collected through traditional and citizen science methods and advances in size based theory to assess general properties in body size distributions across thousands of aquatic species, estimate and predict temperature and harvest impacts through space and time, and advance size-based theory and its application. We will develop practical statistical tools for management and conservation of data poor species worldwide, focusing on non-traditional data sources. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Discovery Projects ($456,000); University of Tasmania ($100,291).
GRANT
Citizen science empowered global analyses of fish sizes changes through space and time, and impacts on fisheries and marine conservation
The Pew Charitable Trusts1 Jul 2020 - 30 Nov 2024
People funded by this grant: Audzijonyte A
Project Total: $243,000; Body size determines species ecological role and resilience, but detailed size information and its changes through space and time are still lacking for most fish species. I propose to address this knowledge gap by analysing newly available global fish size data to develop maps and predictions on how intra-specific size structure changes through space and time in response to temperature and human impact. Using ecosystem and fisheries models I will then explore how these observed fish size changes affect food webs and productivity, and what are the consequences of using potentially incorrect size information when planning conservation or assessing fisheries stocks. In collaboration with colleagues around the globe, Reef Life Survey team and Centre for Marine Socioecology the project will launch new citizen science initiatives where size data is still lacking. We will also establish a smart phone application to collect data on fish species, catches and sizes and to communicate real time information about local ecosystem status and its alternative futures. The outcomes of the project will: 1) deliver maps of coastal fish species size structure and its deviations from expectations, to be used as ecosystem indicators, assessment of data-poor fisheries or early warning signals; 2) develop predictions of global species body size responses to climate change; 3) improve our knowledge about the likely impacts of future fish size changes on marine conservation and livelihoods; and 4) enhance societal involvement in marine research and conservation through active data contribution and exploratory games. Funded by: The Pew Charitable Trusts - Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation ($243,000); University of Tasmania.
GRANT
Rapidly changing life-histories and the resilience of Pacific Ocean fisheries
Australian Research Council20 Jun 2019 - 31 Dec 2022
People funded by this grant: Morrongiello J, Audzijonyte A, Swearer S, Hobday A, Black B
Project Total: $343,000; The project will use global collections of fish otolith data and modelling approaches to develop new methods to track life-history changes, and document their magnitude and ecological and fisheries impacts around the Pacific ocean. The project will also do laboratory experiments to assess the effects of fishing and warming on life-history changes in zebrafish. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Discovery Projects; University of Melbourne; University of Tasmania.