Take 10 with… Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher

1. Describe your research topic to us in 10 words or less.

Coastal seafloor ecosystem function and disturbance-recovery dynamics.

2. Now explain it in everyday terms!

Beneath our coastal waters, the soft-sediment seafloor supports a diverse community of organisms that play essential roles in global nutrient cycling, carbon processing, and maintaining healthy food webs. These ecosystems are increasingly affected by human activities and climate change.

Using field experiments, I test ecological theories of disturbance-recovery dynamics in seafloor ecosystems to investigate how biodiversity is linked to ecosystem resilience and recovery. For example, I explore how seafloor animals can recolonise damaged areas and how their activity helps the whole system recover. When we know what helps nature bounce back, we know which elements to protect and restore, and we can make good environmental management decisions.

3. Describe some of your day-to-day research activities.

My days are incredibly varied. I might be out in the field collecting samples from intertidal sandflats, analysing data at my computer, writing up results, or working closely with postgraduate students. I also enjoy collaborating in workshops where we bring ecological knowledge into practical frameworks to help environmental managers make ecologically informed decisions.

4. What do you enjoy most about your research?

Nothing in ecology is ever simple – it keeps me constantly thinking and problem-solving, like a detective piecing together how all the interacting parts of an ecosystem fit together. I also find it incredibly rewarding to support postgraduate students as they navigate their own research journeys.

5. Tell us something that has surprised you in the course of your research.

As a child, I had a huge phobia of crabs (even the tiny ones in the sand)! Ironically, during my PhD research, one project involved studying how mud crabs bioturbated (disturbed) the sediment, which meant I had to handle them. It was awful at first, but overcoming that fear was worth it because now my field-based work regularly involves coming into contact with crabs.

6. How have you approached any challenges you’ve faced in your research.

Collaboratively! I believe science should be collaborative and I am lucky enough to work with an amazing team of colleagues who challenge my thinking and keep me intellectually stimulated.

7. What questions have emerged as a result?

There are so many questions about how coastal marine ecosystems function that still need answering and this makes my job endless. But I also try to focus on what we do know, because there’s already enough understanding to make robust decisions in environmental management without getting stuck waiting for every piece of data in the puzzle.

8. What kind of impact do you hope your research will have?

I want to generate knowledge that informs more sustainable environmental management of coastal ecosystems in Aotearoa. My vision is for coastal ecosystem management in Aotearoa to be grounded in ecological science; not just to halt degradation, but to actively support recovery and resilience to ensure these treasured ecosystems thrive for generations to come. I also hope that I can have impact through the young people I work with, inspiring them to do good science to inform environmental management.

9. If you collaborate across the faculty or University, or even outside the University, who do you work with and how does it benefit your research?

I’m really lucky to work closely with fantastic colleagues in the Institute of Marine Science. They’ve helped shape my career and broadened the way I think about ecology. I also collaborate with community groups and coastal scientists across Aotearoa, including in regional councils, research institutes, and other universities. Those partnerships help ensure my research has real-world impact.

10. What one piece of advice would you give your younger, less experienced research self?

I’d tell my younger self to really value the people around you. Your peers become your collaborators and lifelong supporters. And I’d also remind myself that ecology is never simple, so embrace the complexity rather than trying to simplify or tease apart.