Project Total: $17,000; This project seeks to understand the complex interplay between fishing pressure, environmental variations, and their impacts on Southern sand flathead (Platycephalus bassensis) populations in Tasmania. The sand flathead is a key species for recreational fishing in the region, but recent assessments have raised concerns about the robustness of its stock dynamics. Fishing pressure has significantly altered population structures, with notable declines in age and size. Simultaneously, Tasmania's coastal waters have been identified as a global hotspot for ocean warming, and populations are additionally experiencing rapid environmental changes. These anthropogenic and environmental dual pressures could be driving phenotypic and genotypic changes in sand flathead populations.
Background and Purpose:
The primary goal of this research is to disentangle the effects of fishing-induced selection from environmental pressures on sand flathead populations. Using a multi-disciplinary approach that includes population genetics, behavioural physiology, and epigenetics, this study will provide critical insights into how sand flathead populations adapt (or fail to adapt) to these pressures.
The research will focus on three key objectives:
Conducting population genetic analysis to assess genetic diversity and potential fisheries-induced evolution across different regions of Tasmania.Evaluating the energy use and uptake rates in sand flathead from areas with varying fishing pressures to understand physiological adaptations.Examining epigenetic reactions to temperature changes of fish from regions facing different fishing pressure
This project will produce valuable data that will likely be utilised for developing targeted conservation strategies and sustainable management practices for sand flathead populations, ensuring the long-term viability of this important species in Tasmania's changing environment. Funded by: Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - Grant ($20,000); University of Tasmania.
