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Student Projects

Our amazing students and their projects

Lena Schallenberg

PhD. University of Otago
Supervisors: Carolyn Burns, Susie Wood. 
Lena’s work focuses on tiny (but mighty) picocyanobacteria that form the base of many lake foodwebs. She is aiming to characterise picocyanobacterial diversity and dynamics from a range of contrasting lake types across  New Zealand using epifluorescence microscopy, environmental DNA metabarcoding and genomic techniques.

Maïlys Picard

PhD. Waikato University
Supervisors: Ian Hawes, Susie Wood, Xavier Pochon,  Marcus Vandergoes

Maïlys’s project is using environmental DNA extracted from lake sediment cores to reconstruct historic biological communities and observed how these have changed over the last 1,000 years. Her focus is on exploring the impact of introduced species, in particular trout and perch on lake health. She has completed her first chapter which explored changes in cyanobacterial community composition over time in six lowland lakes with contrasting land-use and invasive species histories.

Julia Short ​

PhD. University of Adelaide
Supervisors: John Tibby, Marcus Vandergoes
Julia’s study is using diatoms to infer and reconstruct the environmental history of lakes, with a focus on lakes in the Canterbury region and Lake Oporoa. Using diatoms, she will establish the response of lakes to changes in land use and varying human activities. The lakes chosen in Canterbury are varied in their ecology, morphology and recreational activity, but are in the same region which should aid in the ecological understanding of lakes . She will explore how palaeolimnological data can be used to inform lake management, restoration and policy

Katie Brasell

PhD. Auckland University
Supervisors: Xavier Pochon, Kevin Simon, Anastasija Zaiko, Jamie Howarth, Susie Wood
Katie’s first study is exploring how the biological communities in Lake Paringa have responded to repeated natural disturbance from earthquakes. Katie will also explore eDNA degradation rates and test different DNA extraction kits and genetic markers to determine which are most effective for detecting bacteria, aquatic plants and fish in sediment core samples. These methods will then be applied to investigate the impacts of land-use change and lake tipping points on a selection of lakes.

Gebiaw Ayele

PhD. Griffith University
Supervisors: David Hamilton, Bofu Yu
Gebiaw’s research uses sediment cores, and data on historic water flows and climate models, to estimate changes in lake water quality and sediment composition over the past 1,000 years. To do this, he will used temperature and rainfall data which will be incorporated into catchment and lake models. He plans to model streamflow and sediment and nutrient inputs into the lakes, which will be validated using the sediment core data. The validated models will then be applied to predict how lake health might change under climate change predictions.

Rose Gregersen

PhD. Auckland University
Supervisors: Kevin Simon, George Perry

Rose’s PhD combines paleolimnology and contemporary ecology to better understand the drivers and mechanisms behind lake ecosystem response to human impacts. Using diatoms, she aims to investigate the effects of historic impacts on lake ecosystem conditions and provide important context to contemporary ecosystem state. Her research also aims to develop novel ways of interpreting community change to better inform lake ecosystem management.

Georgia Thomson-Laing

PhD. Victoria University of Wellington
Supervisors: Jamie Howarth, Susie Wood
Georgia’s study is investigating historical changes in the presence and abundance of culturally and ecologically significant species in New Zealand’s lakes. This research will focus on eels (tuna), and other native fish species and how they respond to natural (e.g. climate, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions) and human induced (changes in land use) disturbances. She will explore shifts in these species using molecular techniques applied to lake bed sediments.

Ethan Yackulic

PhD. Northern Arizona University
Supervisors: Nick McKay
Ethan’s project will focus on developing analytical frameworks to integrate data generated by the hyperspectral scanner, and on analysing hyperspectral datasets at regional and national scales.

Jakob Parrish

Masters in Science. Victoria University of Wellington
Supervisors: Jamie Howarth
Jake’s study is investigating the effectiveness of riparian management in mitigating agricultural run-off at Lake Nganoke, located in southern Wairarapa. He will apply a range of techniques to analyse the sediment cores including geochemical methods, environmental DNA, hyper-spectral scanning, historical accounts and radiometric dating.

Russleigh Parai

Masters in Science. Victoria University of Wellington
Supervisors: Rewi Newnham, Amanda Thomas,
Susie Wood, Xavier Pochon, Charlotte Šunde

Russ’s study focuses on historical knowledge about tuna populations at Lake Moawhitu, aiming to uncover the factors underpinning declining numbers. His approach draws from mātauranga Māori (indigenous knowledge) as well as  data produced from analysis of sediment cores. 

Mckayla Holloway

Masters in Science. Victoria University of Wellington
Mckayla is undertaking a Masters degree in Science and Society. Mckayla is building upon her background in environmental science and visual design to focus on helping scientists convey their findings through stories and data visualisation. She will apply the knowledge and skills gained through her Masters study to better convey the findings from the Lakes380 project to our iwi and public audiences.

Stuart Caird

Masters in Science. Victoria University of Wellington
Supervisors: Andrew Rees, Marcus Vandergoes,
Susie Wood

Stuart is investigating how lake communities respond and recover following volcanic eruptions. He will apply a range of techniques including morphological analysis of organisms, environmental DNA, hyperspectral scanning, and radiometric dating.

Kaeli Lalor

Masters in Science. University of Otago
Supervisors: Chris Moy, Marcus Vandergoes

Kaeli’s research focusses on the integration of iTrax and hyperspectral data to characterise past climate change over the last millennium. Kaeli will be working on cores collected from several alpine lakes in Fiordland and Kahurangi National Parks.

Lughano Mwenibabu

Masters in Science. Lincoln University
Supervisors: Jenny Webster-Brown, Sean Waters
Lughano’s study will focuses on down-core chemical analysis, with an emphasis on exploring the use of trace elements, such as cadmium and zinc, for identifying significant catchment land-use changes.

 

 

 

 

Carrie Page

Masters in Science. Massey University
Supervisors: Ian Henderson, Jonathan Puddick
Carrie will help calibrate GNS’s hyperspectral scanning system against traditional pigment techniques to analyse phytoplankton (algae and cyanobacteria) communities in lake cores. 

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Pouto Peninsula

Northland

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Waikato

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About
  • The Project
  • The Science
    • Field Sampling
    • Laboratory Analysis
    • Student Projects
  • Science Aims
  • Rohe Studies
    • Rangitīkei Iwi Rohe Study
    • Wairarapa Moana iwi rohe study
  • Virtual Experience
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About

  • The Project
  • The Science
    • Field Sampling
    • Laboratory Analysis
    • Student Projects
  • Science Aims
  • Rohe Studies
    • Rangitīkei Iwi Rohe Study
    • Wairarapa Moana iwi rohe study
  • Virtual Experience
  • Social Science
  • Iwi Relationships
  • The Team
    • Advisory Groups
    • Lakes380 Co-lead Institutes​
    • National Collaborators
    • International Collaborators
  • Partners

Resources

  • Contact & Links
  • Blog, News & Publications
  • Video Gallery
  • Results
  • Glossary