Maria Bleitz
Maria is PhD student at the University of Melbourne in the Water Resources group within the Department of Infrastructure Engineering. Her PhD research investigates mechanisms limiting the population size of brolga, a long-lived waterbird that is endangered in the state of Victoria. Before joining the university, Maria worked on various avian and wetland research projects throughout the US including roles with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Virginia Tech Shorebird Program. Her master's research showed that shallow wetlands, which are the type most vulnerable to climate-change-altered inundation patterns, contain more food resources for migratory shorebirds. Maria is interested in documenting the effects of climate change and anthropogenic development on aquatic systems, with a special interest in wetlands.
I am interested in changes to water availability and its effect on waterbird populations. In my PhD, I research how water availability affects brolga movements and breeding success.
Abstracts this author is presenting: