Kaitlyn Charmley

Hey there, I’m Kate. I’m a MSc. Student at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, under Dr. Katleen Robert. I graduated from the University of Guelph in 2018 with a bachelors degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. I have experience working with the provincial government, non-profits organizations, and in universities. My scientific interests are marine megafauna ecology and the drivers of habitat selection in these species. My current research project is focused on characterizing the environmental drivers of both spatial and temporal variation in megabenthic habitat use in Conception Bay, Newfoundland. I will be creating seasonal habitat classification maps and species distribution maps, with an emphasis on snow crab populations. Understanding the spatio-temporal variation in these species-environment relationships is important because it allows us to create a baseline that we can reference when assessing future environmental changes. It also allows us to predict how affected marine species may respond in the face of these changes. Outside of work, I enjoy scuba diving, reading and travelling. I’m also interested in climate change activism and community outreach.