Current activities

Phoebe is interested in applied quantitative ecology with reference to the broad themes of climate change, conservation, and marine restoration. Her current research focuses on restoration of marine coastal environments for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Specifically, her research aims to:

1. draw on natural capital approaches to assess the nature and value of the ecosystem services generated by successful restoration activities, and
2. identify marine restoration actions that will maximise the return-on-investment for both climate change adaptation and mitigation

Background

After completing a BSc in Zoology and Ecology, she then went on to complete an Honours and a Masters of Science by research at Massey University in New Zealand. Her Masters work investigated the role of long-term diet change in the decline of the New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) population. During this time, Phoebe became involved in agricultural research spanning climate change, forage improvement, and animal production emissions. She then used this broad base to attain a lecturing position at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic in New Zealand, tutoring undergraduates (BApplSci) in both Environmental Management and Marine Studies majors. From there, Phoebe moved to the Scottish Association for Marine Science, where she built spatial vulnerability assessments for the aquaculture industry, modelling the impacts of climate change on shellfish.