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Nicole Said

Overview of thesis

The only plant in the ocean: Predicting seagrass resilience to ocean warming and marine heatwaves.

The overarching aim of this PhD research is to generate thermal tolerance data for nine seagrass species, as well as assess multiple populations across temperate, sub-tropical and tropical locations. Understanding the thermal tolerance across a range of seagrasses will help identify seagrass species vulnerable to thermal stress and provide justification for prioritising restoration efforts. Further, assessing the thermal tolerance of multiple populations within a single species provides insights for thermal resilience building opportunities to future-proof vulnerable seagrass meadows in the face of global climate change.

Qualifications

  • Master of Science Biological Science, Edith Cowan University, 2015-2017
  • Bachelor of Science (Marine and Freshwater Biology), Edith Cowan University, 2011-2014.
  • Onshore Dive Supervisor, Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS), 2023
  • ADAS Commercial Diver (Part 1), 2018
  • Coxswains Grade 1, 2022

Research

Research Interests

  • Seagrass physiology
  • Climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems
  • Human impacts on coastal ecosystems

Past Research employment history

  • 2022 - Current: Research Associate - Seagrass Physiology, Edith Cowan University, Project: Pressure-response relationships, building resilience and future proofing seagrass meadows
  • 2021-2022:  Senior Marine Scientist, RPS
  • 2020-2021: Aboriginal Tutorial and Mentoring Program, Edith Cowan University
  • 2017-2020: Research Assistant, Edith Cowan University, Project: Conserving Critical Seagrass Habitat for Iconic Wildlife: An Integrated Assessment across the Pilbara.
  • 2016-2018: Research Assistant, Edith Cowan University, Projects: Jurien Harbour Wrack Mitigation Framework, Radioactive Isotopes as tracers of particles in the Southern Ocean, Total Carbon Pool in Mangrove Systems Following Die Back Events

Past Teaching

  • 2020-2021: Unit SCI1183 Origins and Evolution of Life, Edith Cowan University
  • 2016: Unit SCI1192 Physical Environments

Grants

  • Minderoo Foundation Flourishing Oceans. Predicting climate resilience of seagrasses through estimating optimum and maximum temperature ranges, Minderoo Foundation, Flourishing Oceans - Exmouth Research Laboratory, 2023   2024. $10,000

Supervisors

  • Prof. Kathryn McMahon (ECU)
  • Dr. Eben Afrifa-Yamoah (ECU)
  • Dr. Kate Quigley (Minderoo and JCU)

Contact

Nicole Said
PhD student
Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research
School of Science
Email: n.said@ecu.edu.au
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