Susan Tilley
Susan Tilley
Susan Tilley is currently in the third year of her PhD program in the department of Biology. “My PhD supervisors are Drs. Luise Hermanutz and Peggy Dixon. In both my honours and doctoral work I have specialized in rare plant conservation.”
“The purpose of my current research is to determine if the population stability of two Newfoundland endemic plant species is threatened by the diamondback moth. Long’s braya and Fernald’s braya have been designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and the provincial government as threatened and endangered, respectively. The world distribution of these arctic plants is restricted to the limestone barrens of the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. The diamondback is an agricultural pest whose hosts are often not available on the Northern Peninsula, which may explain why they have switched hosts to native plants such as braya species. Agricultural pests switching hosts to rare plant species is an unexplored threat to the persistence of rare species. Due to recent changes in climatic conditions, the diamondback moth can reproduce in critical braya habitats, further increasing their damage to the plants.”
Born and raised in St. John’s, NL, Susan completed a B.Sc. (Honours) in 2003 in Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. “The purpose of my honours thesis was to determine if sites that were suitable but unoccupied by a rare plant species were important in the definition of that particular species’ critical habitat. The study species for this project were Long’s braya (endangered) and Fernald’s braya (threatened). After one field season on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland studying these small, endemic plants I was hooked!”
“Immediately following my undergraduate degree, I began graduate studies. I truly love working to conserve rare plant species and I knew that to be useful in this field I would need to complete a graduate level program.”
“Newfoundland is a hotspot for plant diversity. Three of these plants are rare, endemics that are currently being managed by the Limestone Barrens Species-at-Risk Recovery Team. By continuing my education at Memorial University I not only got to work on a project that satisfied my passion for rare plant conservation, but I also received an opportunity to work with this recovery team and thereby apply my research directly to the management of braya species.”
“Having completed my undergraduate degree at Memorial University, I was also well aware of the excellent facilities that the university had to offer to biology students, such as Q.E. library, computer labs, and MUN Botanical Garden. Furthermore, the faculty and support staff are friendly and very helpful with all aspects of research and graduate studies. Their help has been vital throughout my degree, but I especially appreciated it in the beginning as I learned how to access scholarship information, funding for travel to conferences, equipment, and teaching opportunities. Memorial University offers great opportunities to work as a teaching assistant in all course levels. This has allowed me to practice and refine teaching skills that I know will be an asset when I began a career.”
“When not working on my thesis, I enjoy volunteering with the youth group at St. Mary the Virgin Anglican church. I also work part-time at the H.G.R. Mews Community Center as a lifeguard.”
Susan was awarded Memorial University Graduate Fellowship for 2003-2007, the Ecological Society of America Travel Award; the Entomology Society of Canada President’s Prize- Honorable Mention and was on the Faculty of Science Dean’s List, Memorial University for 2002-2003.
“After I complete my degree, I want to continue to be a part of the diverse network that supports the conservation of rare plant species. This network consists of university professors, non-governmental interest groups, and federal and provincial government employees. I would like to work with one of these groups in their efforts to protect and conserve rare plant biodiversity.”