Kate Barkley
I am pursuing a B.S. in biology, a minor in chemistry, a certificate in wildlife ecology and management, and a certificate in conservation biology here at NAU. I expect to graduate in May 2017 and am planning to continue on to graduate school and pursue a M. S. or Ph. D. in marine biology. Born in and raised in southern California, the outdoors has always been an integral part of my life and created a passion for wildlife conservation. My ideal career would be in shark conservation; however, I am also interested in bioremediation, kelp forest ecology, and ichthyology.
Research
Diversity is a vital aspect of the natural world, however, we do not fully understand what affects it. During the 2016-2017 academic year, I will be conducting a study that aims to explore the genetic diversity of a foundation species and its influence on community diversity. I will genetically fingerprint two different species of seagrass (foundation species) from the Saipan lagoon, and take advantage of previously collected community diversity data to test this concept. My data can inform conservation, management, and restoration practices of this highly productive ecosystem of Saipan.