I am an ecologist and conservation biologist who seeks to answer interesting questions that are important for conservation, using a range of tools. Some of the tools I use include population genomics,
experimental ecology, species distribution models, and stable isotope ecology. A huge part of my ethos is about working with local people where I do my research and being accountable to those communities. I am very passionate about science communication and connecting my research results to land managers and the public. I just finished my PhD at the University of British Columbia 'The ecology, distribution and population genetics of amphibians on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia'. In the past I have studied marine subsidies to freshwater ecosystems, food-web dynamics of a critically endangered sea-lion, co-evolution of sexual reproduction and parasites in a freshwater snail and above-ground below-ground interactions. My desire to understand the complexity of nature likely stems from my childhood. I grew up in Te Tai Poutini (the west coast) of Aotearoa New Zealand surrounded by dense native bush, on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Tasman Sea. Growing up in such a diverse environment has made me very curious to understand biological and geological processes which explain what I see now. My interests out of science include tramping (overnight hiking), climbing, mountain running, kayaking, songwriting, violin, guitar and photography. Prior to UBC, I did my BSc(Hons) in biogeochemistry and ecology with the Freshwater Ecology Research Group at the University of Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand, and have been employed as a contracted researcher at NIWA working with stable isotopes and sea lions (NZ government research institute). |
Updates
February 2023 - Started a Postdoctoral Fellowship to do genomics research at the University of Otago - with Nathan Kenny, Alana Alexander and Catherine Collins. May 2022 - Graduated from the University of British Columbia with a PhD in Forest and Conservation Sciences. April 2022 - Started a citizen science monitoring program on Haida Gwaii. News story here June 2020 - Joined Professor Sally Aitken's 'Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics' to work on my toad genetics chapter. 2019 & 2020 ongoing - Providing advice and training for the Western Toad Monitoring project in Squamish. January 2020 - Presented preliminary PhD results in an oral presentation at the World Congress of Herpetology. Started DNA extractions for my genetics chapter. July 2019 - Completed the genetic sampling on Haida Gwaii for the toad conservation genetics chapter of my PhD. May/June 2019 - 10 day boat trip through Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site on Haida Gwaii to sample toad populations for the genetics chapter of my PhD. August 2018 - Completed my tadpole mesocosm experiment for my ecology/competition chapter of my PhD, with John Richardson. July 2018 - Published a paper from my honours research. March 2018 - Offered a National Geographic Early Career Grant to conduct my PhD research. April - August 2017 - First PhD field season conducting amphibian conservation research on Haida Gwaii, BC. Finished field work for species distribution modelling PhD chapter. September 2017 - Awarded a Killam Doctoral Graduate Scholarship (in title). April 2017 - Awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. January 2017 - Published a paper from my honours research. January 2016 - Started my PhD in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. July 2015 - Accepted a PhD scholarship to study at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, beginning January 2016. December 2014 - April 2015: Working at NIWA NZ (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) as a contracted researcher, investigating the decline of a critically endangered subantarctic sea lion using stable isotope analysis of their teeth to infer temporal changes in diet. December 2014: Graduated with first class honours in Ecology (BSc(Hons). November 2014: Presented my honours research at the Water Symposium of the New Zealand Hydrological Society, New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society and the IPENZ Rivers Group 2014 - unofficial second place for best MSc/BSc(Hons) research talk. October 2014: Presented my honours research at the University of Canterbury Annual Biology Conference - won first place for best BSc(Hons) research talk. August 2014: Presented my honours research at the 9th IsoEcol - International Conference on Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies, 3rd-8th August 2014, Perth. July 2014: Running stats on my honours data and making a poster for the stable isotopes ecology conference in Perth! June 2014: Stable isotope results back from the lab (thanks Dr Travis Horton from Geological Sciences), processing Campbell Island samples soon (thanks EOS Ecology for providing the samples!). Represented the Freshwater Ecology Research Group as a stream ecologist at the Heathcote River Symposium. May 2014: Abstract accepted for IsoEcol2014 (Stable Isotope Ecology Conference in Perth, Australia) - to present a poster on my honours research titled "Detecting marine subsidies in stream communities". April 2014: Graduated with a BSc double majoring in Biology and Geology. March - April 2014: Carried out lab work for my honours project- gutting, drying, grinding and weighing invertebrates (photos here). January 2014: Published my first peer reviewed publication in the NZ Journal of Ecology, see here. November 2013-March 2014: Carried out most of the field work for my honours project. |
All images copyrighted, 2014. Please contact R. Gamlen-Greene for permission to use.