Episode 141: Dr Jennie Smith (IMAS) - Part 1
Craig's interview guest in this episode is Dr Jennie Smith, who is a Junior Research Fellow in the Dive Fisheries Research Group at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania. Jennie moved to Tasmania from the UK to do her PhD at IMAS; a project focussing on the dynamics of predation of the Southern Rock Lobster on Longspinned Sea Urchins which have extended their range from populations to the north on the mainland down into Tasmanian waters, with very significant impacts on our rocky reefs. She completed her PhD in 2023 and her current research at IMAS is centred around the population dynamics of Blacklip Abalone, with primary focus the populations in northwestern Tasmanian waters. Jennie's strong interest in researching species' range extensions is a key feature and, in this Part 1 episode, we hear Jennie talk of her degree at the University of Sheffield and her Masters project as part of a study examining the potential impacts of climate change on populations of butterflies in the Ecuadorian Andes. She also relates the primary objectives and outcomes of her PhD. Part 2 of Jennie's interview will feature in the next episode of Vibes Under The Sea.