Maclean, Janet
Research
Plant-herbivore interactions
I study plant-herbivores interactions in East African savannas. I hope to understand the effects that local herbivore extinctions will have on the plant community, and whether this effect will be different at low rainfall vs. high rainfall sites. I am also working to elucidate the effects of these extinctions on different species of Acacia tree that differ in regard to their level of investment in anti-herbivore defences. I ultimately seek to accurately predict and anticipate vegetation changes that will occur over large, conservation-relevant areas in the face of human-induced extinctions of native wildlife.
I hope that my research will lead to more effective management strategies for East African rangelands, especially in regard to better anticipating the effects of mammalian extinctions. I also hope to add to the body of theoretical research on ecological interactions and the restructuring of communities in the face of disturbances.
I just love to learn new things! After my undergraduate degree I felt that I still had far more questions than answers, and wanted the opportunity to pursue an ecological project in-depth, and to build my academic skill-set that I can then use on more applied ecological issues in the future.
I fell in love with Canada during a year I spent in Ontario on an undergraduate exchange. At the end of my exchange I made a trip through BC, and knew I had to return here and spend more time in this beautiful province. I had heard many excellent things about the friendly and collaborative atmosphere of UBC, and was determined to apply here to grad school, especially when I discovered the fascinating research undertaken by my advisor. UBC has been every bit as welcoming and supportive as I had heard, and I feel extremely lucky to be a part of such a positive academic community.
Canada is a fantastic country to live in, and I've loved every minute of my time here. Vancouver is a culturally diverse and very welcoming place, and I'm sure that people will feel at home here wherever they come from. Seeing so much wildlife in and around the city—coyotes, bald eagles, and even skunks and raccoons, has been especially amazing for me coming from the wildlife-depleted UK!
Vancouver for me is the perfect place to live—beautiful coastline and spectacular mountain views, coupled with vibrant, active city life and all the services and culture you could ever wish for. I especially love having a beer with my fellow graduate students whilst watching the sun go down over the ocean from one of the many beaches around the city.
Field research; conservation projects; hiking; Scottish dancing
After graduating I hope to apply a scientific approach to conservation problems and to combine my academic and field skills to help conserve biodiversity at a global and a local level, working either for a university, a research institute or NGO. I hope to work in bridging the gap between academia, policy, and applied conservation to find real-world solutions to the current threats facing ecosystems worldwide.
