Episode 142: Dr Jennie Smith (IMAS) - Part 2...and more...
This episode features Part 2 of Craig's interview with guest Dr Jennie Smith, who is a Junior Research Fellow in the Dive Fisheries Research Group at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania. Jennie moved to Tasmania from the UK to do her PhD at IMAS; a project focussing on the dynamics of predation of the Southern Rock Lobster on Longspined Sea Urchins which have extended their range from populations to the north on the mainland down into Tasmanian waters, with very significant impacts on our rocky reefs. In this Part 2 we hear Jennie relate her introduction to SCUBA diving in the UK, gaining her early experience in freshwater, in a flooded quarry at a 'delightful' 6 degrees C! She also talks about her current research at IMAS which is exploring the population and growth dynamics of Blacklip Abalone, and with primary focus being on the populations in the remote and rugged waters of northwestern Tasmania. The second half of the episode has Craig reading two recently published articles that come with marine flavours.