Jasmine Low
PhD student
I am a social-ecological scientist interested in science and management interface.
My research is currently focused on cumulative effects and translating ecologys into a management context to help managers make decisions on managing cumulative effects in coastal and marine systems. Translating and integrating science knowledge into a management context is highly important to prevent further decline of our marine ecosystems. My aim is to establish frameworks which enable science to be better integrated and communicated to managers and decision makers.
Alessandra Vallim Lima
PhD student
Soft bottom benthic communities’ structure can be affected by a wide range of predators and in northern New Zealand ray pits are common on many intertidal and subtidal sediments. Those pits are created by eagle rays (Myliobatis tenuicaudatus) foraging behaviours and as a result, bioturbation may locally modify the biogeochemistry, affecting therefore nutrient processing and fauna diversity. The problem is that overfishing is affecting ray population throughout the world without us even understanding the role they play in soft sediment biodiversity, heterogeneity and nutrient cycling. My research therefore, focuses on the impact of ray pits on soft bottom system function.
Supervised by Simon Thrush and Stefano Schenone.
Alex West
PhD student
Ecosystems are complex, with multiple biological, physical, and chemical components interacting to form overall ecosystem function. However, human activity influences ecosystem components, changing their functionality through multiple stressors. The impact of multiple stressors can be difficult to predict, as many of these interactions can be altered in major and in subtle ways, leading to cumulative effects.
Using an intertidal flat, my research is to design an experiment to understand how combinations of stressors lead to cumulative effects, investigating the underlying mechanisms of change in the system and change in ecosystem functionality. This research will help inform scientists, environmental managers and policy makers on where to allocate resources in targeting specific ecosystem components to maintain and restore these systems.
My supervisors are Simon Thrush and Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher. If you wish to get in touch to discuss my research, please contact me -I’d love to hear from you.
I’ve made my way over from Dublin, Ireland. Beyond my life in academia, I enjoy playing football here in Auckland, sampling craft beers and exploring the wondrous environments that New Zealand has to offer.
Eliana Ferretti
PhD student
In many countries, marine ecotourism can generate a range of benefits for both the environment and local communities and is an engine of economic growth. As conservation biology helps conserving the natural resources that both tourism and local communities rely on, the recent COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically impacting both conservation programs and the ecotourism sector.
My research operates at the frontier between ecology and socio-economics to investigate sustainable ways for Pacific and Indigenous communities to emerge from the post-COVID recovery. To do so, the project focuses on marine ecotourism strategies and marine resources co-management in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and South Pacific Small Island Developing States.
Listening to local communities’ needs and highlighting non-western models can help refocus the wellbeing of both people and the environment, thus sustaining conservation efforts for a sustainable environmental and economic recovery.
Supervised by Simon Thrush, Nicolas Lewis and Jenny Hillman.
Simon Thomas
PhD student
My research looks at the multiple stressors associated with climate change, and the cumulative effects these stressors may have on intertidal soft sediment ecosystems. The global climate is undergoing dramatic changes with respect to temperature, sea level, and extreme weather events, which is in turn driving shifts in nutrient and sediment regimes at the terrestrial-marine interface. Soft sediment ecosystems dominate the New Zealand coastline, and play an important functional role for nutrient cycling, primary productivity, and sediment stabilisation. The multiple effects of climate change on these functions are not well understood, though recent research has helped to demystify some of these effects. My goal therefore is to conduct in situ manipulation experiments that simulate future climate change stress. This will provide further insight into the future role of soft sediment in providing ecosystem functions, facilitating improvements in human actions that may help protect this vulnerable ecosystem.
Originally from the UK, it’s been great to have the opportunity to do a PhD abroad. I’ve always been interested in the relationship between human activity and the natural environment, and it’s enlightening to be able to view this relationship in a new context.
My supervisors are Simon Thrush and Ines Bartl. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
Plastic pollution has been an urgent problem in the global marine environment, and benthic sediment is a hotspot for sinking plastic particles.
I started my first experiment about microplastics in my master study at Leigh Marine Laboratory, UoA. My PhD project is now designed to evaluate the impact of microplastic on the estuarine system and understand its accumulative effects on benthic macrofauna,
including their functional roles and interactions. Changes in macrofaunal behaviours will be linked to the ecosystem functions for modelling the impact of microplastics on the functioning, typically nitrogen cycling.
Supervised by Simon Thrush and Alice Della Penna.
Li Yeoh
PhD student
Hi there! My name is Li and I am currently working on a PhD project looking at the recovery of shellfish after Mass Mortality Events. My research hopes to focus on the negative feedback loop in shellfish whereby the loss of larger conspecifics may result in impacts on juvenile growth and development.
Unpacking these feedback loops will help contribute towards the understanding of hysteresis and develop management plans for the sustainability of these important ecosystem engineers.
I am originally from Wellington, having moved up to Auckland for my PhD. Outside of my University life I am heavily involved in a sport called Ultimate frisbee, where I have competed internationally for NZ as well as been involved in coaching the NZU24 national team. You can also win my heart with anything Taylor Swift related.
Tegan Evans
PhD student
My research interests are in marine ecology and conservation, and how we can use science to support more appropriate management of marine environments. The focus of my project is investigating macrobenthic and epifaunal diversity in the soft sediment habitats around Te Hauturu-o-Toi, understanding how community structure varies in relation to habitat complexity and broad-scale environmental drivers, to determine how biodiversity affects ecosystem function. While appreciating the need for science in understanding more about the environment that surround us, my overall goal is to develop ideas that translate to the general public on the importance of ecosystems such as the marine environment around Hauturu.