My research sits at the intersection of spatial ecology, remote sensing and quantitative biodiversity science.
My Honours research investigated whether high-resolution hyperspectral imagery and LiDAR data collected during the BioSCape campaign could accurately identify and map Leucadendron argenteum (Silver Tree) populations across Table Mountain National Park. I used Random Forest classification on AVIRIS-NG spectral data and LiDAR-derived structural metrics to build and evaluate a predictive distribution model. The study included spectral region analysis, integration of field validation data, and comparison of multiple machine learning approaches.
I analysed the diel vertical migration of Antarctic krill (Euphausia lucens) using quantitative ecological analyses. The aim was to investigate environmental drivers of vertical distribution and explore how spatial structure influences abundance estimates at inshore versus offshore stations. My work involved data cleaning, spatial interpolation, and modelling relationships between krill density and environmental variables.
A collaborative project modelling the distribution of Adder species (Bitis spp.) across South Africa using multivariate environmental analysis. We built species distribution models, ran ordination analyses, and evaluated how land cover, elevation, and bioclimatic variables influence the community composition and spatial range of multiple Adder species.