Secret lives of dolphins revealed

The expert driving a research project focusing on Dolphins along the South East Queensland coastline will share her knowledge during a forum at Deception Bay this month.

Dr Alexis Levengood will speak at a forum on November 21 at Deception Bay Environmental Hub, 7 Joseph Cres, Deception Bay, from 7-9pm.

Her research centres on the behavioural ecology, genetics, acoustics, health and conservation of coastal marine mammals.

She has spent the past eight years researching on the world famous Shark Bay dolphins in Western Australia and recently founded the Dolphin Research Project SEQ focused on the local coastline.

Dr Levengood’s work in South East Queensland is focusing on species that have been overlooked in the region until now and includes understanding spatial and genetic connectivity, behaviour and health.

She is a Research Fellow and Lecturer at University of Sunshine Coast, emerging as one of Australia’s leading marine mammal experts.

With more than 15 years’ experience, she has worked with five dolphin species, three whale species, as well as manatees and dugongs across six countries spanning three continents.

“We can't protect what we don't know. So, without baseline information how can we protect these iconic marine mammals,” Dr Levengood says.

The forum is part of the Summer Series, run in collaboration between citizen scientists from the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG), Redcliffe Environmental Forum (REF) and environmental researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).

ESRAG Oceania Chair Colin Scobie says: “Seeing these iconic mammals – Dolphins in our Moreton Bay is a major eco-tourism drawcard as we are fortunate that Brisbane is the only city in the world that has an abundance of these Dolphin species in our local waters”.

“There is discussion whereby because of lack of research the Dolphin is regarded as potentially threatened by human activities particularly around fishing, pollution, urban development and in some instances tourism. Thus, research is important.”

To book your place at the event, visit trybooking.com/CWJDQ