CQU PhD candidate Leonie Barnett acknowledges there is a certain irony that her study is progressing steadily, rather than rapidly.

After all, the keys to her research are snails.

Progress is dictated by the need to support herself with a range of other incomes, including work as a laboratory technician, research worker and demonstrator.

However, Ms Barnett still finds time to squelch around the mudflats and mangroves of the Central Queensland coast, collecting marine snails.

Back in the laboratory, she dissects the snails to examine what parasites they have inside.

"There have been few studies of the ecology of flatworms of marine snails in Australia," she said.

"This study aims to investigate the community ecology of larval trematodes (flatworms) in 3 local species of intertidal snails, especially in relation to the relative complexity of the microhabitats, sites and biodiversity of marine mammals, reptiles, birds or fish that become the final hosts for the flatworms.

"As well, the study aims to expand our knowledge of the parasite life cycles by attempting to match the genetic data of the larval parasites with data from known adult parasites".

Ms Barnett said the CQ region mangroves have a unique blend of tropical and subtropical characteristics.

"Intertidal snails have an important role as scavengers, yet the parasites of Australia's intertidal snails are relatively unknown and there is little life cycle information known in Australia.

"My study is the first study of these snails and their parasite fauna. Adult parasites have previously been reported from birds, fish, aquatic reptiles and mammals, but there has been very little study of intermediate hosts".