Jessica Guerchon

I’m a marine biologist with a BSc and MSc in marine biology and hands-on experience in research, teaching, and fieldwork. I’ve always been drawn to ocean life and the way biology, behaviour, and the physical environment interact. I moved to Australia to undertake a PhD at UNSW because I wanted to work at the intersection of marine ecology, real-world coastal issues, and strong research infrastructure. Outside of work, I’m happiest in the water or outdoors, and I love diving and running.

Supervised by: Alistair Poore, Amandine Schaeffer, Kylie Pitt and Jaz Lawes

Project Title: Understanding Physalia spp. Behaviour, Reproduction, Morphology and Population Dynamics, for Ecological Insight and Management Applications

Project Description: Bluebottles (Physalia spp.) are a common and highly visible marine organism around Australia, with major impacts on beach safety and coastal management due to painful stings and frequent mass strandings. My PhD aims to understand how different bluebottle lineages are distributed and connected around Australia, how they respond to environmental conditions, and how this relates to where and when they arrive on beaches. I’m building a nationwide citizen science DNA sampling network to map population connectivity and seasonal patterns, alongside controlled behavioural trials that test responses to wind, UV, and temperature under experimental conditions. I also document and compare their morphology between Physalia utriculus and Physalia megalista, to quantify variation within and between lineages and support reliable identification across regions and seasons. The results will improve interpretation of stranding events, strengthen understanding of bluebottle population connectivity and morphology, and support future forecasting and management strategies.