Marie Attard

Following her PhD, Attard held postdoctoral research positions at the University of New England, University of Sheffield, Royal Holloway, University of London and the British Antarctic Survey. As of 2021, she is employed at the British Antarctic Survey as a Remote Sensing Data Analyst to monitor threatened and endangered seabird populations.^[15]

Her earlier research used 3D Finite Element Analysis of biological structures to assess prey size limits and foraging behaviour of extinct birds and mammals. The shape and mechanical performance of the Haast's eagles skull and talons suggest it hunted like an eagle, but fed like a vulture.^[16] Her research on skull biomechanics of extinct marsupials advanced understanding of the Tasmanian tiger's hunting behaviour, suggesting its jaw mechanics and bite force restricted it to smaller prey, thereby challenging traditional views.^[2][17][18]

Her research also explores avian eggshell evolution, with attention to eggshell conductance,^[19] shell thickness,^[20] egg shape^[21] and mimicry,^[22] membrane structure,^[23] and surface texture.^[24][25][26]

Attard leads the "Albatrosses from Space" Darwin Plus project (DPLUS132)^[27] at the British Antarctic Survey, launched in 2022 on the GeoHive platform. This citizen science project initiative uses Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery to monitor wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) colonies across South Georgia.^[28] The project aims to establish population baselines, detect distribution changes, and inform conservation policies on threats such as bycatch.^[29]

In 2022, she was awarded a Darwin Plus grant (DPLUS187) to develop satellite-based monitoring of South Georgia seabird populations, including albatrosses,^[30] mollymawks, shags, and burrowing petrels.^[31]

• Official website
• Marie Attard profile at British Antarctic Survey
• Marie Attard publications indexed by Google Scholar