Marie Attard

Seabird Remote Sensing Data Analyst

Marie Attard

Links/Websites

General enquiries

For general enquiries please see our contact page.

Marie Attard

Biography

I am the lead researcher on the South Georgia Seabirds From Space project and previous postdoctoral researcher on the Albatrosses From Space project at the British Antarctic Survey. My work focuses on monitoring albatrosses, burrowing petrels, shags and other seabirds from space using very high-resolution satellite imagery. Through online citizen science campaigns, we have successfully counted wandering albatrosses at 24 breeding colonies on South Georgia. These counts will contribute to the development of an automated, standardized, and efficient monitoring protocol for future satellite surveys, significantly enhancing our understanding of archipelago-wide population dynamics.

My research at the British Antarctic Survey has also demonstrated that critically endangered Tristan Albatrosses on Gough Island can be detected from space. However, detection rates were limited by persistent cloud cover and landscape features such as tall grass and shadows on slopes, which obscured some birds.

I completed my PhD at the University of New South Wales, studying the ecology of endangered and extinct marsupial carnivores. Since then, I have undertaken four postdoctoral research positions in Australia (University of New England) and the UK (Sheffield University, Royal Holloway University of London, and the British Antarctic Survey). My research has spanned topics including avian eggshell form and function and vertebrate feeding behaviour and bite mechanics.

Beyond research, I was the unit coordinator for Principles of Zoology at the University of New England and have co-supervised one PhD and two Honours students.

Research interests

I am a functional ecologist and evolutionary biologist and am passionate about species conservation. A key theme of my research is understanding what drives variation in animal behaviour, physiology and morphology across species, and how species respond to environmental change.

My research spans across biomechanics, biomaterials, evolutionary biology, functional morphology, spatial analysis and physiology. I currently monitor breeding populations of great albatrosses on remote islands using super high-resolution satellites and citizen science. Our team are working towards making this method applicable at an ocean-wide scale for albatrosses and other large marine species.

I also work closely with curators, collections staff, postgraduate students and fellow scientists worldwide to investigate and explain the diversity and evolution of a range of biological structures. I collect and analyse a variety of large datasets to explore the diversity of numerous living organisms and how they could respond to challenges, such as predators and climate change.

I have a deep interest in the relationship between the structure and function of unique morphological traits. My previous research projects answer a range of fascinating questions, including “Why do some marine seabirds lay cone-shaped eggs”, “Were Neanderthals capable of speech”, “Were the jaws of the extinct Tasmanian tiger too weak to kill sheep”, and “Can eggshell surface properties predict a species nest environment”?
Career
2022-Present: Lead researcher for South Georgia Seabirds From Space project in Wildlife from Space team, British Antarctic Survey
2021-2022: Postdoctoral researcher in Wildlife From Space team, British Antarctic Survey, UK
2019-2021: Postdoctoral researcher in Avian Eggshell Ecology, Animal Behaviour and Physiology Research group, Royal Holloway University of London, UK
2016-2018: Postdoctoral researcher in Avian Eggshell Ecology, Tim R Birkhead lab, University of Sheffield, UK
2014-2016: Research assistant, Function, Ecology and Anatomy Research (FEAR) lab, University of New England, Australia
2014-2015: Postdoctoral researcher, Function, Ecology and Anatomy Research (FEAR) lab, University of New England, Australia
2014: Unit coordinator for Principles for Zoology, University of New England, Australia
2013: Field assistant, Greencollar Consulting Solutions, Australia
2012: Course demonstrator for Vertebrate Zoology, University of New South Wales, Australia
2009-2010: Course demonstrator for Animal Behaviour, University of New South Wales, Australia
2009: Research assistant, Mammal lab, University of New South Wales, Australia
2008: Educational officer, Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife Park, Australia
2006-2007: Research Assistant, School of Computing and Mathematics, Western Sydney University, Australia
Qualifications
2009-2013: PhD Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia. Dissertation: “Who’s on the menu: marsupial carnivore feeding ecology and extinction risk”.
2008: BSc (Honours) Biological Sciences, 1st Class, Macquarie University, Australia. Dissertation: “Vocal discrimination in mate guarding male Australian sea lions”.
2005-2007: BSc (Advanced Science) Biological Sciences, Western Sydney University, Australia. Environmental Science (major); Microbiology (major); Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (sub-major).

Memberships
British Ornithologists’ Union
Society of Experimental Biology

Collaborations

Journal articles

Attard MRG, Phillips RA, Oppel S, Bowler E, Fretwell PT (In Press) Feasibility of using very high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor Tristan albatrosses Diomedea dabbenena on Gough Island. Endangered Species Research.

Sansalone G, Wroe S, Coates G, Attard MRG, Frucianco C (2024) Unexpected uneven distribution of functional trade-offs explains cranial morphological diversity in carnivores. Nature Communications. 15(1), 3275.

Attard MRG, Portugal SJ (2024) Global diversity and adaptations of avian eggshell thickness. Ibis. 166(2). doi: 10.1111/ibi.13136

Attard MRG, Phillips RA, Bowler E, Clarke PJ, Cubaynes H, Johnston DW, Fretwell PT (2024) Review of satellite remote sensing and unoccupied aircraft systems for counting wildlife on land. Remote Sensing. 16(4), 627.

Attard MRG, Bowen J, Portugal SJ (2023) Surface texture heterogeneity in maculated bird eggshells. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 20(204), 20230293.

McClelland SC, Attard MRG, Bowen J, Corrocks NPC, Jamie, GA, Dixit T, Spottiswoode CN, Portugal SJ (2023) Eggshell composition and surface properties of avian brood-parasitic species compared with non-parasitic species. Royal Society Open Science 10(5), 221023.

van Heteren AH, Tsang LR, Sansalone G, Ross P, Ledogar JA, Attard MRG, Sustaita D, Clausen P, Scofield P, Wroe S (2021) New Zealand’s extinct giant raptor (Harpagornis moorei) killed like an eagle, ate like a condor. Proceedings of Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1913

Attard MRG, Lewis A, Wroe S, Hughs C, Rogers R (2021). Whisker growth in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and applications for stable isotope studies. Ecosphere. doi: 10.1002/ecs2.3846

Attard MRG, Bowen J, Corado R, Hall L, Dorey R, Portugal SJ (2021) Ecological drivers of eggshell wettability in birds. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 18: 20210488. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0488

Attard MRG and Portugal SJ (2021) Climate variability and parent nesting strategies influence gas exchange across avian eggshells. Proceedings of Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 288: 20210823. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0823

Birkhead T, Russell D, Garbout A, Attard MRG, Thompson J, Jackson D (2020) New insights from old eggs – the shape and thickness of Great Auk Pinguinus impennis eggs. Ibis 162(4):1345-1354. doi: 10.1111/ibi.12820.

Tsang LR, Sansalone G, Wilson LAB, Attard MRG, Ledogar J, Wroe S (2019). Raptor talon shape and biomechanical performance are controlled by relative prey size but not by allometry. Scientific Reports. 9: 7076. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43654-0

Birkhead TRB, Attard MRG, Pilastro A (2019) Subtle egg-membrane structures in birds’ eggs. Molecular Reproduction and Development. 86(4): 353-353. doi: 10.1002/mrd.23103

Attard MRG, Sherratt E, Mcdonald P, Gracia M, Wroe S (2018) A new, three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach to assess egg shape variation. PeerJ. 6: e5052. doi: 10.7717/peerj.5052

Attard MRG, Medina I, Langmore N, Sherratt E (2017) Egg shape mimicry in parasitic cuckoos, Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 7(2): e31704. doi: 10.1111/jeb.13176

Attard MRG, Wilson LAB, Worthy TH, Scofield P, Johnston P, Parr WCH, Wroe S (2016) Moa diet fits the bill: virtual reconstruction incorporating mummified remains and prediction of biomechanical performance in avian giants. Proceedings of Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 283(1822). doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2043

Attard MRG, Parr W, Archer M, Hand S, Rogers TL, Wroe S (2014) Virtual reconstruction and prediction of diet of the Australian mid Cenozoic thylacinid, Nimbacinus dicksoni (Thylacinidae, Marsupialia). PLOS ONE. 9 (4), e93088. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093088.g005

Anastasio R, Wroe S, Tuniz C, Arensburge B, Mancini L, Cesana DT, Dreossi D, Ravichandiran M, Attard MRG, Parr W, Agur A (2013) Micro-Biomechanics of the Kebara 2 Hyoid and Its Implications for Speech in Neanderthals. PLOS ONE. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082261

Attard MRG, Chamoli U, Ferrara T, Rogers TL, Wroe S (2011) Skull mechanics and implications for feeding behaviour in a large marsupial carnivore guild: the thylacine, Tasmanian devil and spotted-tailed quoll. Journal of Zoology, 285 (4); 292-300. doi: 10.1111.j.1469-7998.2011.00844.x

Attard MRG, Pitcher BJ, Charrier I, Ahonen H, Harcourt RG (2010) Vocal discrimination in mate guarding male Australian sea lions: Familiarity Breeds Contempt, Ethology, 116; 1-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01786.x

Book chapters

Attard MRG and Wroe S (2022) Thylacine Prey Size in “History and Mystery of the Thylacine”. The Thylacine Chronicles. Editor: Branden Holmes. CSIRO Publishing.

 

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2025

Attard, Marie R.G. ORCIDORCID record for Marie R.G. Attard, Phillips, Richard A., Oppel, Steffen, Bowler, Ellen ORCIDORCID record for Ellen Bowler, Fretwell, Peter T. ORCIDORCID record for Peter T. Fretwell. (2025) Feasibility of using very high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor Tristan albatrosses Diomedea dabbenena on Gough Island. Endangered Species Research, 56 (). pp. 10.3354/esr01396

2024

Sansalone, G., Wroe, S., Coates, G., Attard, M.R.G. ORCIDORCID record for M.R.G. Attard, Fruciano, C.. (2024) Unexpectedly uneven distribution of functional trade-offs explains cranial morphological diversity in carnivores. Nature Communications, 15 (). 15 pp. 10.1038/s41467-024-47620-x

Attard, Marie R.G. ORCIDORCID record for Marie R.G. Attard, Portugal, Steven J.. (2024) Global diversity and adaptations of avian eggshell thickness indices. Ibis, 166 (). 17 pp. 10.1111/ibi.13136

Attard, Marie R.G. ORCIDORCID record for Marie R.G. Attard, Phillips, Richard A., Bowler, Ellen, Clarke, Penny J. ORCIDORCID record for Penny J. Clarke, Cubaynes, Hannah ORCIDORCID record for Hannah Cubaynes, Johnston, David W., Fretwell, Peter T. ORCIDORCID record for Peter T. Fretwell. (2024) Review of Satellite Remote Sensing and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems for Counting Wildlife on Land. Remote Sensing, 16 (). 23 pp. 10.3390/rs16040627

2023

Attard, Marie R.G. ORCIDORCID record for Marie R.G. Attard, Bowen, James, Portugal, Steven J.. (2023) Surface texture heterogeneity in maculated bird eggshells. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 20 (). 15 pp. 10.1098/rsif.2023.0293

Monitoring seabirds on South Georgia
Seabird populations on South Georgia are monitored using ground and boat-based surveys. However, these are expensive and logistically challenging, and access is difficult or impossible for many areas. To overcome these challenges, this project will assess the feasibility of using remote satellite imagery to monitor the status of flying seabirds (mollymawks, burrowing petrels and shags) across the island group, provide baselines to showcase the recovery of burrowing petrels following the eradication of rodents and reindeer in the mid-2010s, and develop methods that could replace expensive and logistically challenging ground surveys across numerous remote islands worldwide.

Spectral classification methods will be tested to map vegetation richness, and hence the distribution and abundance of burrow-nesting petrels, while textural analysis will be tested to identify mollymawks on land. We will determine if South Georgia shags can differentiated from penguins in satellite imagery based on differences in guano colour and colony density.  If successful, these approaches will be applied within the 3-year project to complete the first remote censuses of the entire island group for selected species.

Monitoring albatrosses using very high resolution satellites and citizen science
Monitoring the world’s threatened albatross species is challenging because of their remote nesting locations, making ground or aerial surveys expensive, infrequent and often incomplete. In this project funded by Darwin Plus, we will launch a citizen science campaign, using 31-cm resolution satellite imagery to count wandering albatrosses on South Georgia and Tristan albatrosses on Gough Island directly from space. Counts will be used to develop an automated, standardised and efficient monitoring protocol for future satellite surveys, greatly improving our understanding of archipelago-wide population dynamics.