The Ecology and Conservation Group
Gabriel Machovsky Capuska

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Since I was a child I have been passionate about marine animals, particularly mammals and seabirds. My research interests are focused on marine biology and animal behaviour as a tool in conservation.

I obtained my Licentiate degree (BSc, Hons.) in 2005 at the National University of Mar del Plata in Argentina, the country that I am originally from. My thesis focused on 'Heavy metal distribution and accumulation in common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)'. This research was supervised by Dr. Marcela Gerpe, "Laboratorio de Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales".

Since my undergraduate years, I have been involved in different activities related to conservation and science. I assisted in the Biology Department at TEA ("Trabajos de Educacion Ambiental" - Environmental Education Studies). My tasks were related to the preparation of teaching support material and teaching seminars for different education levels. At the same time, I worked as a volunteer student in marine mammal post-mortem collection and examination of carcasses stranded around Buenos Aires Province and assistant in classes in the Marine Ecology paper at the National University of Mar del Plata, Argentina. Drs. Ricardo Bastida and Diego Rodríguez were the supervisors of these activities ("Grupo de Ecología Costera, Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales").

For the past six years, I worked as a technician in national and international scientific institutions (Natural Science Museum of Mar del Plata, Argentina and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research New Zealand, NIWA, Hamilton). In the latter, as part of the Marine Ecology Group, I worked in several benthic soft-sediment projects with Drs. Simon Thrush, Judi Hewitt and Drew Lohrer. As part of my scientific experience, I had been chosen to join two summer expeditions in Antarctica with the Argentinian Antarctic Institute. The aim of the main project was focused on the study of reproductive and alimentary aspects of Antarctic vertebrates and their usage in managing and monitoring the ecosystem. Fieldwork activities involved different species such as: Imperial shags (Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis), Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii), Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) and fish. In collaboration with other researchers, we worked in Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) and Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus). Dr. Ricardo Casaux was the scientific leader of these expeditions.

I am currently doing my PhD degree on foraging ecology of Australasian gannet (Morus serrator). The main question being addressed is "how do gannets locate their prey?" Gannets are highly social seabirds, which during the breeding season congregate in colonies of up to 3000 monogamous breeding pairs, with members of each pair alternately tending the single progeny and foraging. If the tending parent leaves the nest unguarded, the egg or young chick is highly vulnerable to predation. It is therefore strongly in the genetic interests of both birds that their foraging trips are efficient and limited to durations that are within the threshold for abandonment by the guarding parent. Foraging is, however, challenging, as the marine pelagic resources on which gannets feed are widely and patchily distributed.

FUNDING BODIES

• Institute of Natural Resources Scholarship, Massey University
• Massey University Research Fund
• Australian National University. ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science.
  Summer Course on Animal Navigation: fellowship - 2008

PUBLICATION/ REPORTS

Machovsky Capuska G; von Haeften G; Rodríguez D; Moreno V & Gerpe M In press. Distribution and Accumulation of copper, zinc, cadmium and mercury in common dolphins, Delphinus delphis in waters off Patagonia. SETAC, LA 3rd Book.

Machovsky Capuska G; Rosso P; Copello S & Casaux R In press. First observation of siblicide in Brown Skua (Catharacta lonnbergi) at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Antarctica. Notornis.

Bastida R et. al. 2007. Aquatic Mammals from South America and Antarctica. First Edition in Spanish. Edit. Vázquez Mazzini. Buenos Aires, Argentina. [Photographic contributor]. [Abstract (PDF, 1.3 MB)]

Machovsky Capuska G 2005. Distribution and accumulation of copper, zinc, cadmium and mercury in common dolphin, Delphinus delphis. Unpublished Licenciate Thesis, National University of Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina. 65 pp. [Abstract (PDF, 69 KB)]

CONFERENCES ATTENDED

2008 - New Zealand Marine Science and Australian Marine Science Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Lohrer D; Machovsky Capuska G; Chiaroni L & Thrush S. Interactive effects of two key species in subtidal soft-sediment habitats of Mahurangui Harbour. [Abstract (PDF, 77 KB)]

2007 - VI Argentine and III Latin-American Symposium on Antarctic Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Casaux R; Ramón A & Machovsky Capuska G. Composition of the diet of post-breeding Antarctic shags at the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. [Abstract (PDF, 85 KB)]

2006 - Congress of Mast Zoology, RS, Brazil.
Machovsky Capuska G; Rodríguez D; Moreno V & Gerpe M. Heavy metal accumulation in common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, Argentina. [Abstract (PDF, 92 KB)]

2005 - VII Congress of the Environmental Toxicology and Contamination Latin America Society, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in Latin America Challenges, Perspectives and New Approaches, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
Machovsky Capuska, G; Gerpe M; von Haeften G; Rodríguez D & Moreno V. Heavy metal accumulation in common dolphin, Delphinus delphis. [Abstract (PDF, 86 KB)]

2003 - "V National Conference of Marine Sciences", National University of Mar del Plata and National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development of Argentina, Mar del Plata -Buenos Aires, Argentina.

CERTIFICATES

• International boat master licence: 2005 - current.
• International diver license (open water): 1997 - current.
• Professional lifeguard certificate: 1996 - current.

AFFILIATION to scientific and conservation organisations

• Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour.