Mary Buford (MB) Turnage

PhD @ REC Lab

Understanding the role of hedgerows for wild animal habitat connectivity and use in the Canterbury Plains agroecosystem

MB uses ecological and geospatial approaches to monitor mammalian, avian, and invertebrate wildlife in field margins and interiors across farms in Canterbury. 

She is exploring habitat connectivity and availability offered by hedgerows. This research aims to assess whether wildlife communities are already being supported by hedgerow presence and how wildlife-hedgerow use patterns could be leveraged to optimize native species conservation, invasive species management, and ecosystem service delivery. 

She is also exploring how hedgerows, field use, and overall landscape composition influence aquatic bird activity and overlap with livestock within the farm fields. 

MB is also a member of the Forest Observation and Remote Sensing Technologies (FOReST) research group. Her work is supported by the University of Canterbury and the Brian Mason Scientific and Technical Trust.

Prior to starting at University of Canterbury MB worked on a range of projects including marine mammal rescue and ecology, watershed restoration, invasive species management, and endangered species monitoring in the United States.