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Dr Sabrina Fossette
Senior Research Scientist
Sabrina has been researching marine turtles with the North West Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation Program (NWSFTCP) since 2015. Her role includes monitoring and evaluating the impact of environmental conditions and human activities on the movements and behaviour of marine turtles to help manage and conserve marine turtle species, particularly flatback turtles, in Western Australia.
Having previously worked on marine turtles, marine mammals and jellyfish in the field of movement ecology, eco-physiology and conservation biology, Sabrina has vast experience in the field of marine fauna. Sabrina is highly experienced in data analysis, scientific paper writing and communication, providing management advice and supervising PhD and post-graduate students across these areas.
"Having the privilege to work in a long-term monitoring and research program like the NWSFTCP is a unique opportunity to have a tangible and positive impact on a long-lived species, such as the threatened flatback turtle."
Sabrina is a member of the Marine Turtle Expert Panel for the Gorgon Gas Project, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Sea Turtle Foundation. Throughout her research career, she received multiple Fellowships and grants to work at several locations worldwide.
Projects
- Building spatial cumulative risk assessments for flatback turtles in Western Australia
- Determining the spatio-temporal distribution of post-hatchling and juvenile flatback turtles
- Investigating trends in nesting abundance, egg and hatchling survival rates at multiple flatback rookeries in Western Australia
- Collaborating on an internal DBCA project investigating the diet of flatback turtles using eDNA metabarcoding
- Co-supervising a PhD project assessing the environmental determinants of diet, nutritional status and habitat use of flatback turtles at a foraging ground in Western Australia
- Collaborating on a project led by Murdoch University on integrating ecological, social and cultural values of the coastal waters of Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park
Highlighted publications
- I still call Australia home: Movements and distribution of flatback turtles in Western Australia and overlap with marine protected areas
- Reconstructed and projected beach temperatures reveal where flatback turtles are most at risk from climate change
- Flatback futures - Evaluating conservation interventions to reduce threats to an endemic Australian turtle
Acknowledgement of Country
The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional owners throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.