M.Sc., B.Sc.
Research PG
- About
-
- Email Address
- m.taylor2.21@abdn.ac.uk
- Office Address
- School/Department
- School of Biological Sciences
Biography
I am a second year Ph.D. student in the School of Biological Sciences looking at the diversity, function, and connectivity in Caribbean coral rubble beds. My project is using field surveying and molecular techniques to create the first biodiversity inventory of Caribbean coral rubble beds. I am also working to establish if the function of coral rubble beds can be altered as a result of destruction to nearby intermediate reef habitats such as mangrove forests and seagrass beds. My Ph.D. supervisors are Dr. Kara Layton, Dr. Maria Beger and Dr. Juliano Morimoto.
The inspiration to begin my doctorate came whilst I was living and working on the Caribbean island of Grenada for five years. Through that time I developed a fierce passion for the conservation of tropical marine habitats and as a SCUBA diving instructor I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of my time enjoying the beauty of our underwater world. I am really excited to get stuck into this project and hopefully make a difference to the protection of our oceans.
An example of a Caribbean coral rubble bed.
Qualifications
- M.Sc. (with distinction) Marine Biology2020 - Bangor University
My masters thesis was on the trends in American Somoan coral reef herbivores. I analysed bothherbivorous reef fishes and sea urchins to determine if the spatial and temporal trends of abundance and biomass have changed in the region over the last decade.
I completed key modules in marine fisheries, marine ecology skills, habitat ecology & coastal surveying and research design and planning. I developed skills in boat and land-based coastal surveying techniques and statistical analysis.
- B.Sc. (summa cum laude) Marine, Wildlife and Conservation Biology2018 - St. George's University
During my time at St. George's University, I was the president and treasurer of the Education Conservation Outreach student organisation. I also worked as a teaching assistant and review group facilitator for fellow undergraduate students. I also worked as a research assistant on a couple of microplastic projects which I presented at a number of international conferences. We investigated the prevalence of microplastic present in commercially exploited fish, marine crustaceans and sponges.
External Memberships
- Fellow, Royal Geographical Association
- Reef Conservation UK committee member
- PADI IDC Staff Instructor
- AAUS Scientific Diver
- Research
-
Research Overview
My research interests are in the ecology and biology of marine ecosystems, specifically tropical coral reefs and adjacent habitats (seagrass beds, mangrove forests and coral rubble beds). I am particularly interested in investigting the resilience of marine organisms to adapt to future climate change.
Current Research
My Ph.D. will focus on the biodiversity found within Caribbean coral rubble beds, the function of the ecosystem and how coral rubble beds connect to other tropical marine habitats. I will be using a combination of field surveying, morphological and molecular analysis and modelling to investigate these understudied ecosystems.
Funding and Grants
My 2023 field season is being funded by a Darwin Local Plus grant in collaboration with Turks and Caicos Reef Fund (an NGO I work with in the Caribbean) and the Henrietta Hutton research grant from the Royal Geographical Society. I have also been awarded a travel grant from the Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association for travel in July 2023 to the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity in Penang where I am presenting the first chapter of my Ph.D.
Last year I was a recipient of an International Coral Reef Society graduate fellowship, a IDEA WILD equipment grant, a Gilchrist Educational Trust travel award, a Scottish International Education Trust grant, a Santander Mobility Award, a Genetics Scoiety Heredity Fieldwork grant, and a JW Stephen Fellowship for my work on Caribbean coral rubble beds.
I have previously received funding from the Association of the Marine Laboratories in the Caribbean and the Latin America and Caribbean Congress for Conservation Biology for my microplastics work.
