I’m a PhD student at Victoria University of Wellington and NIWA advised by Ashley Rowden, David Bowden, and Daniel Leduc. I'm interested in studies at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and geology and how processes at this intersection allow life to thrive in harsh and remote marine environments. Previously, I've participated in Arctic research and research at hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, the current focus of my PhD study is on canyon ecosystems.
Specifically I'm hoping to understand the impacts of a large scale turbidity flow – underwater avalanche – on the deep-sea benthic community of Kaikōura Canyon, off the coast of New Zealand. Once one of the most productive deep-sea environments ever measured, the community was wiped out following the turbidity flow triggered by the 2016 Kaikōura Earthquake. Using images, video, and sediment cores collected before and after the turbidity flow event, my project aims to understand if and how this community across the size spectrum of animals (meio-, macro-, and megafauna) can recover from a large-scale disturbance. Insights from the research will be used to inform management of New Zealand’s marine protected areas and speculate on the effects of deep-sea mining.
