Thanks to the generous support of the Jasper Loftus-Hills Memorial Fund, Mr Lukian Adams, a 2025 recipient and current Doctor of Philosophy – Science candidate at the University of Melbourne, is expanding the boundaries of freshwater biodiversity research.
His work investigates how fish utilise cold-water patches to survive thermally stressful conditions —an increasingly urgent issue in the face of climate change.
Lukian’s lifelong fascination with freshwater ecosystems and concern for their vulnerability under climate change has shaped his doctoral research. His project explores how fish species persist in thermally stressful environments by seeking out cold-water refuges—an area of study critical to understanding and preserving aquatic biodiversity.
The Jasper Loftus-Hills Memorial Fund has provided Lukian with the financial means to significantly enhance his fieldwork. With this support, he will deploy radio tags to track multiple fish taxa simultaneously, enabling the study of complex interspecific interactions that influence habitat selection. This expanded capability is essential for completing a pivotal chapter of his PhD.
By uncovering the drivers of cold-water habitat use among fish, Lukian’s research will inform conservation strategies aimed at safeguarding freshwater biodiversity.
“This award is a significant vote of confidence in my potential as a researcher,” Lukian shares. “I am deeply grateful for your investment in my work and committed to ensuring that my research contributes meaningfully to our understanding of freshwater ecosystem resilience.”
The Jasper Loftus-Hills Memorial Fund is not only empowering Lukian’s academic journey—it is catalysing research that addresses one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Through this support, donors are helping shape a future where freshwater ecosystems can thrive.
The Jasper Loftus-Hills Award was established with a gift from Mr and Mrs K. Loftus-Hill in memory of their son Jasper Loftus-Hills and is offered to talented graduate researchers who are enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy and are undertaking research in the field of Zoology.