Rebecca Herron

Qualifications prior to this degree:
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Science
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology

Supervisor/s: Ben Kefford and Simon Mitrovic

Project title: A novel biological method of monitoring herbicides.

Describe your research project
Herbicides used for weed control in agriculture are regularly detected in rivers draining into the Great Barrier Reef at levels that may pose a risk to aquatic organisms. I want to determine whether herbicides are a threat to photosynthetic freshwater organisms such as benthic (bottom dwelling) algae. Algae are important because they form the basis of the aquatic food chain which supports many other species.

What is the aim of your project?
My project aims to identify species of benthic algae that are at risk from herbicides and develop a new biomonitoring index to detect herbicide toxicity in rivers that drain into the Great Barrier Reef. The index could be used as an early warning sign for herbicide toxicity in rivers. This would be a valuable monitoring tool for the improvement of water quality in catchments of the Great Barrier Reef.

Why did you choose to pursue a research degree as opposed to going into the work force?
I wanted to learn as much as I could at uni and make the most of this opportunity. Research is exciting and I wanted to further my knowledge and discover all I can about my project. My project is important to me because it has real applications in the world that will help improve management strategies for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

What is your daily activity?
At the moment I am doing lots of field work which I love. It involves traveling to different rivers in North Queensland and collecting algae samples to take back to the lab. Once I get back to the lab I run toxicology experiments to determine how sensitive the various algae species are to herbicide pollution. I also spend time looking at the algae down the microscope, report writing and organising more field trips!

What attracted you to research at UTS Science?
I wanted a practical degree that would give me lots of experience in the field and skills to use in the workforce. I saw that UTS Science had some exciting field trips and opportunities for research, which looked great.

My future
I am passionate about the environment and want to be involved in its protection, especially our freshwater ecosystems. I would love to work in a conservation and environmental management role where I could be part of instigating positive change.