Current postgraduate students
Nick Bratanov
The ecology of coastal ecosystems is incredibly complex and rich which makes me incredibly excited to work in them! One such ecosystem are the seagrass meadows which dot the Otago Harbour and Otago Peninsula. Seagrass is important because of the diverse range of other life it supports. My BSc aims to explore how the introduction of black swans from Australia has impacted the animals living beneath the surface of the mud in the seagrass meadows around the Otago Harbour and Peninsula.
Course: Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
Supervisors: Kath Dickinson (Botany), Katja Schweikert (Ecology), Anna Wood (Ecology)
Email brani077@student.otago.ac.nz
Duncan Campbell
I am interested in the field of restoration ecology, not only restoring degraded ecosystems, but also aiming to rebuild the often-impoverished indigenous communities that are associated with them. My research project will implement both scientific and traditional ecological knowledge (mātauraka) to restore depleted pāua stocks in the East Otago Taiāpure.
Course: Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
Supervisor: Gaya Gnanalingam (Marine Sciences)
Email camdu137@student.otago.ac.nz
Zac Clark 
I am undertaking a MSc in Ecology focusing on Ecosystem based management in the Fiordland marine area. I am incorporating a multidisciplinary approach looking at population modeling and bioeconomic modelling of rock lobsters in the marine reserve management zones in Fiordland. With this project I am hoping to contribute to the growing literature around how to best sustainably manage natural resources from an ecosystem and economic perspective.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Steve Wing (Marine Sciences), Viktoria Kahui (Economics)
Email claza498@student.otago.ac.nz
Lachie Davidge
My research interests are in herpetology and ornithology; however, I hope to study or work on wolf behaviour and conservation sometime in the future. I prefer more applied ecology as it keeps me outdoors, active, and allows me to see the animals I love in their natural habitats. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, photography, snowboarding and weightlifting.
Course: Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
Supervisor: Jo Monks (Zoology)
Email davla144@student.otago.ac.nz
Grace Davidson
I am entranced by water and all that lives in it. I love looking at biotic components on a system-wide scale, trying to untangle and comprehend complex interactions. In my MSc research, I am aiming to explore the way salinity affects food web structure in coastal lakes in order to yield insight into how they will be affected by sea level rise.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Travis Ingram (Zoology), Marc Schallenberg (Zoology)
Email davgr250@student.otago.ac.nz
Corey Denham
My MSc in Ecology will focus on the diversity of freshwater invertebrate communities on Stewart Island. I am particularly interested in the Theory of Island Biogeography, and using it to investigate how the species composition of invertebrate communities have changed since Stewart Island's isolation.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisor: Gerry Closs (Zoology) and Jenny Jandt (Zoology)
Email denco453@student.otago.ac.nz
Tom Goodman
The Mackenzie Basin is riddled with cryptic and stealthy introduced predators. Some of these species have been largely ignored until recently, and very little is known of their movements. The European hedgehog (Erinaceous europaeus) makes this list and is quickly becoming one of Aotearoa's most wanted predators. My research delves into the secret lives of hedgehogs. I aim to determine fine-scale movements, densities, and trap interactions to inform a trial eradication taking place at the end of summer 2021. This will occur across three habitat types – riverbed, tussock, and outwash. My research is part of a larger project involving the University, the Department of Conservation and Manaaki Whenua/Landcare Research. My methods and findings will also be used to inform DOC's best practice for hedgehog control.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Phil Seddon (Zoology), Yolanda Van Heezik (Zoology)
Email gooto553@student.otago.ac.nz
Liam Ireland
New Zealand's native frog species are cryptic, with little known about them. My masters looks at the specifically the movements and dispersal ability of Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) using new techniques of marking and tracking. I aim to study at the movements of frogs in relation to habitat structure and weather as well as developing ways of following their movements and identifying them in the field.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Christoph Matthaei (Zoology), Stephanie Godfrey (Zoology), Jennifer Germano (DoC)
Email ireli721@student.otago.ac.nz
Tyler Kleyzen
I am an MSc student with interests in conservation biology and food web structure. My project is looking at the importance of the common smelt in the diet of brown trout along the marine-to-freshwater continuum. The importance of this study is due to sedimentation being a key stressor to smelt, and therefore affecting spawning habitat and egg survival. If smelt is a key species to trout and their population is negatively impacted by these stressors, then trout fisheries could also be impacted negatively.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisor: Travis Ingram (Zoology)
Email klety300@student.otago.ac.nz
Zhuali Lim
I'm studying pollination and nesting behaviour of native bees in Dunedin. Native bees are important insect pollinators despite their small densities. We have 28 native bees in New Zealand. However, we hardly understand them. Studying pollination behaviour of native bees gives us a better scope on conserving them from threats such as habitat destruction and intensive agricultural activities. If you know any potential nesting sites around the University Campus or in your property, please contact me.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Sheri Johnson (Zoology) and Janice Lord (Botany)
Email limzh546@student.otago.ac.nz
Christina McCabe
I'm captivated by the dynamic and complex environments of braided rivers, and bring a passion for spatial relationships to the study of ecological connectivity in these landscapes. I'll be researching how changes in flow regime and the distribution of ephemeral channels influence the strength of ecological connections, aiding the assessment of climate change and river management impacts in braided river environments.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Christoph Matthaei (Zoology)
Email mccch055@student.otago.ac.nz
Lena McNaughton
I am interested in urban ecology where it is becoming increasingly important to address the loss of biodiversity. My project will look at measuring and promoting diversity within cities by utilising private gardens. Using invertebrates as a bio-indicator species, I hope to identify methods to encourage diversity in home owner gardens and promote sustainable practises. Improving diversity will hopefully re-connect fragmented green spaces, increase native bird and wildlife numbers and green the city, encouraging a connection between people, nature and urban areas.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Yolanda van Heezik (Zoology), Phillip Seddon (Zoology)
Email mcnle619@student.otago.ac.nz
Jack Mathieson
My interests growing up included fishing, swimming, tramping and anything outdoors. This lead me to studying Ecology at the University of Otago. I currently work for an aquaculture company called Keewai that has aquaculture ponds of Paranephrops zealandicus (freshwater crayfish) among the unproductive riparian margins of forestry blocks. This has led me to a masters project interested in finding out why some ponds are extremely productive compared to other similar ponds and how we can improve this to boost breeding, growth and survival of not just an ecologically important species but also an important mahika kai species.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Gerry Closs (Zoology)
Email matja092@student.otago.ac.nz
Amirah Osama
My masters aims to look at microplastics in New Zealand lakes. I will be conducting a mesocosm experiment and looking at whether microplastics are transferred through lake food webs and if trophic levels are directly or indirectly affected by microplastics. As well as this, I will be looking at differences in fish behaviour in response to microplastic exposure and if behaviour differs between native and non native fish.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Travis Ingram (Zoology), Christoph Matthaei (Zoology)
Email osaam601@student.otago.ac.nz
Jess Randall
I'm an Honours student with a love for New Zealand's wilder places. I'm particularly interested in alpine ecology and keen to be involved in research that can guide our conservation efforts. My project involves investigating the habitat use and ecology of orange-spotted geckos. Like many of New Zealand's lizard species, these geckos are cryptic and not well understood. For these reasons, the project will hopefully provide useful insights for conservation management and ongoing monitoring of the species, as well as presenting a few interesting challenges along the way!
Course: Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
Supervisor: Jo Monks (Zoology)
Email ranje383@student.otago.ac.nz
Katy Rossiter
My research will aim to answer the question: “How important are seabirds in coastal nutrient cycles and coastal flora along New Zealand's coastline?”. In particular, I'll be investigating seabirds' role as nutrient vectors between land and sea, their impacts on connectivity of coastal ecosystems and how predation upon seabirds by introduced predators can influence these effects.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Steve Wing (Marine Science)
Email katherinerossiter14@gmail.com
Harvey Rubbo
My research will focus on how introduced salmonids impact multiple species of native galaxiids on the West Coast. I am motivated to study this topic because both groups of fish provide culturally and economically significant fisheries to the West Coast, and their ecology is not well understood compared to in neighbouring Canterbury and Otago.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisor: Gerry Closs (Zoology)
Email rubha655@student.otago.ac.nz
Nathan Silcock
I have an interest in freshwater systems as I was surrounded by lakes and rivers growing up, which led me to study Ecology in my undergrad. My master's will aim to look at New Zealand's freshwater shortfin and longfin eel species within wetland environments while working with local tangata whenua.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisor: Travis Ingram (Zoology)
Email silna882@student.otago.ac.nz
Jasmine Sowerby
My masters research is focusing on the effect of land intensification on ecosystem services in rivers and estuaries in the South Island of New Zealand. I am hoping to determine the impacts of multiple stressors such as added nutrients or sedimentation on ecosystem services such as carbon consumption or decomposition.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Christoph Matthaei (Zoology), Candida Savage (Marine Science)
Email sowja963@student.otago.ac.nz
Jacinta Steeds
My research aims to look at conservation management of rare species and communities of native plants in limestone environments where a certain level of disturbance may have been helping the plants to persist in the environment as opposed to inhibiting them. To do this I will be investigating changes at Earthquakes and Gard Rd, North East of Oamaru, using past photography and aerial images. I will also be implementing some manipulations at the study site such as peeling back the grass and monitoring what effect that has on the native species and communities.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Janice Lord
Email steja728@student.otago.ac.nz
Nia Weinzweig
I am a veterinarian with an interest in wildlife population health developed through conservation fieldwork experience and extensive travel. After part time study of conservation medicine and epidemiology I have decided to study for an MSc in ecology at the University of Otago with a focus on disease ecology. I'm particularly interested in the interface between wildlife, domestic animal, and human health.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Steph Godfrey (Zoology)
Email weini151@student.otago.ac.nz
Elliot Weir
I love our native reptiles and am interested in better understanding their role in our ecosystems, particularly their roles in plant reproduction. There is very little research on their roles as pollinators; in fact, no one has actually proven they do pollinate any plants. They are also important seed dispersers, and I am interested in how this differs across different plant species, different gecko species, and even different conservation programs.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisor: Steph Godfrey (Zoology)
Email weiel721@student.otago.ac.nz
Jessica Zuban
I am a MSc student with a background in horticulture and landscape design. My thesis will focus on the effects of regenerative agriculture on soil and plant health. I am going to measure soil carbon, soil and plant nutrient content, and mycorrhizal fungi presence in no-till, mixed crop-livestock production systems.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Janice Lord (Botany)
Email zubje180@student.otago.ac.nz
Completed postgraduate students
Eloise Lancaster
The native ant, Monomorium antarcticum, has roughly 3-5 species under its umbrella. I am investigating the link between the slowed divergence of these species and how they build their nests underground. To do this I am taking casts of ant nests, experimenting with nest construction under different conditions, and aligning colonies to each species via DNA barcoding.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisor: Jenny Jandt (Zoology)
Pluto Liu
I am studying the biogeography of Antarctic terrestrial species using population genetic/genomic methods and GIS spatial analysis, in order to infer the long-term distribution, survival and evolution of those species. We will be looking at their distribution patterns across Antarctica and the relationship with environmental factors, especially temperature and ice cover (<0.5 per cent of Antarctica is free of ice, but those species have survived millions of years!).
Course: Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
Supervisors: Ceridwen Fraser (Marine Science), Fraser Morgan (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research)
Shar Mathias
I am fascinated by ecosystem-wide interactions and their relevance to conservation, and love learning about intricate connections between species. I particularly enjoy big data and using R to analyse datasets. In my research I hope to get a better picture of the underlying factors driving beech tree (Nothofagus spp.) distributions in New Zealand and how climate change will affect this. Forests and alpine regions are some of my favourite ecosystems.
Course: Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
Supervisors: Matt Larcombe (Botany), Kath Dickinson (Botany)
Myrene Otis 
I am researching the movement and behaviour of two colonies of Tawaki/Fiordland Crested Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) breeding in Milford Sound. This project will investigate the foraging ecology of Tawaki breeding in a fiord ecosystem and assess the significance of behavioural states and environmental variables in determining their foraging patterns.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Yolanda van Heezik (Zoology), Phil Seddon (Zoology), Thomas Mattern
Charlotte Patterson
I am investigating the habitat-specific density of the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) within Dunedin, an urban centre, via mark-recapture methods. This density information will then inform a further model-based exploration of methods with which to minimise reinvasion of the Otago Peninsula following eradication.
Course: Master of Science (MSc)
Supervisors: Yolanda van Heezik (Zoology), Phil Seddon (Zoology)