Juliette Gard

I am a current Master of Philosophy candidate, and a member of both the BEAM Lab and the MAVE Lab at the University of Wollongong.

I completed my Bachelor of Science in 2023 at the University of Sydney, and since then have built a diverse research background across Australia and internationally. I have contributed to projects investigating fish assemblages in seagrass communities, the genetic resilience of Sydney rock oysters, coral reef monitoring, and spotted eagle ray photo-ID. I fell in love with marine mammal research whilst working in the Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project in Western Australia, examining the behavioural ecology and maternal investment of bottlenose dolphins, and am now undertaking my own research in dolphin population ecology.

Supervisors: Dr Katharina Peters (UOW), Dr Frédérik Saltré (BEAM), A/Prof Guido Parra (Flinders University), Dr Kerstin Bilgmann (Macquarie University), Prof Barbara Bollard (UOW)

My research

The focus of my research is on establishing a baseline of population metrics for the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin population in Jervis Bay. Using both historical and contemporary data, my research will estimate population abundance, describe demographic composition, assess site fidelity, and examine spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use. These outcomes will provide critical insight into population status, reproductive health, and long-term viability, thus strengthening conservation planning for coastal dolphins and improving the capacity to respond proactively to environmental change.

My interests

Marine mammal population ecology
Ecological modelling
Climate change impacts on marine systems
Conservation and management

Fun facts

I love the bush as much as I love the ocean and prefer to spend my weekends going on walks, finding waterfalls and exploring the nature around me. I also know all of the flags of the world, I’m still waiting for that to be a useful skill.

Favourite quote

"Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory” – Ghandi