What is your field of research?
I research marine ecology, with a focus on the ecological stability and functioning of rocky shore ecosystems. My work is particularly concerned with how these systems are being affected by climate change, especially through extreme weather events such as marine heatwaves and storms. As part of my PhD, I investigate the resilience of Northeast Atlantic intertidal forests which are seaweed-dominated habitats that play a key role in biodiversity and coastal protection. This research spans a latitudinal gradient from Portugal to Northern Scotland, in collaboration with partners across seven regions, allowing us to explore how environmental conditions influence ecosystem responses to climate-driven stress.
How did you become interested in the field?
My interest in marine ecology started with a love of rockpooling and being by the sea. Over time, this grew into a deeper awareness of how complex and fragile these ecosystems are. Studying marine biology helped me understand how climate change is already affecting our coasts, and that pushed me toward research that can contribute to protecting the marine environment.
How did you come to work at Swansea University?
I joined Swansea University after being awarded a Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarship (SURES) to pursue a PhD in the Coastal Ecology Lab. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to develop my own research project, allowing me to shape the direction of my work around my interests in ecological resilience and climate impacts. A field-based approach was also important to me, and Swansea is close to lots of different beautiful rocky shore habitats, which means I can easily get to a wide range of field sites for my research.
What do you hope to achieve with your research?
My research aims to understand how seaweed-dominated ecosystems respond to environmental stressors like marine heatwaves, storms, and shifting weather patterns. I hope this work will highlight which regions or habitats are most at risk and which are more resilient, so we can target conservation efforts more effectively.
What practical applications could your research have?
My research can help inform conservation by identifying areas where seaweed-dominated habitats are most vulnerable to climate change. Seaweed forests support biodiversity, protect shorelines from erosion, and capture carbon, so understanding their resilience can guide restoration efforts and policymaking. The findings could also help predict future changes in ecosystem functioning under different climate scenarios, supporting both local and global conservation planning.
What is next for your research?
The next step is to look more closely at the drivers of resilience in these seaweed-dominated ecosystems, particularly the role of key species such as grazers, which can have a big influence on how these habitats recover after extreme events. By combining long-term ecological data with field experiments, I aim to identify which factors help some areas withstand or bounce back from climate-driven stress. I also plan to collaborate with partners across different regions to compare patterns and explore how these findings can be applied to conservation and management strategies.
Career History
I completed my BSc in Marine and Freshwater Biology at Aberystwyth University, followed by an MRes in Biosciences, where I studied the behavioural ecology of juvenile European lobsters to aid conservation efforts.
Outside academia, I worked as an Outreach Assistant with the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, supporting public engagement focused on local marine life. I also volunteer as a Regional Representative for Surfers Against Sewage, where I help organise environmental campaigns to protect the UK's coastline.
I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Biosciences at Swansea University.