Catching skinks in pitfall traps
We held a Q&A with 2024 SCB Graduate Student Research Award winner Diana Methner to learn more about her thesis project, “Are mitigation translocations achieving positive outcomes for lizard conservation in New Zealand and how can we improve them?” Diana is a current PhD student in the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington, and a member of the SCB Oceania Region.
Why did you decide to study biological sciences? What did your path to your current PhD program look like?
Growing up, I had so many great science teachers which really fostered my love for the subject and helped me to excel in all my science classes. When I began college, I planned to work in medicine because it was science-related and would ideally be stable and dependable. However, after taking a few animal courses in my first semester, I realized I did not want to work in medicine. Instead, I looked for a career working in/with nature, because it was something I had always been interested in. I particularly enjoyed herpetology, which became my focus.
After undergrad, I worked a few different science and non-science jobs, figuring out my next steps and chipping away at student loans. I spent that time applying for various graduate positions and emailing professors. After a few years, my favorite undergraduate professor, Professor Jen Moore, had space in her lab, and I accepted a masters position working with wood turtles in Michigan (my home state), which was amazing! After that, I worked a technician job and, thanks to my connection to Jen, I was put in contact with my current advisor, Professor Nicky Nelson, which led to an offer to study lizards in New Zealand, so I took the leap!
Morning views from the island to the mainland
Tell us about the research project you are currently working on, and what inspired you to research this topic in particular? What impact do you hope your research project will have on translocated lizard populations in New Zealand?
My current research is focused on lizard mitigation translocation practices in New Zealand. New Zealand hosts a diversity of endemic lizard fauna; however, they have been heavily impacted by invasive mammalian predators and land-use change activities. Many of these species behave quite cryptically, which can hinder research and conservation efforts. Addressing these threats is no small feat, however mammalian predators have been targeted by small- and large-scale baiting and trapping efforts, like Predator Free New Zealand 2050. The negative effects of land-use change are becoming more apparent. In the last 15 years, there has been an increase in the consideration of lizards during land-use change activities which is bringing awareness to their vulnerabilities and ecological knowledge gaps in this space. Despite this consideration of lizards and resulting mitigation translocations, researchers across the country use a wide variety of methods. There is limited evidence for determining best practice and assessing whether these translocations are achieving no-net-loss outcomes for lizard populations. My research focuses on identifying trends in current translocation practices, testing habitat enhancements, and modeling habitat availability. Through my research, I plan to summarize current practices used across the country and test methods to provide empirical evidence to support translocation practices. I also want to create habitat models that can guide local government and ecologists in selecting candidate sites for pre-translocation surveys, and enhancement, to prepare sites for releases. My goal is to support ecologists in refining their methods and continue setting the basis for further study of mitigation translocation practices. I have always been inspired to work with at-risk species which are often overlooked in research, so working with New Zealand lizards gives me that opportunity. Working in the mitigation translocation space is also helping me to develop valuable skills working collaboratively with multiple agencies and gaining different perspectives on this critical issue.
Selfie with a northern grass skink (Oligosoma polychroma)
What inspires you to stay motivated and optimistic in your career?
I think this is an important question when working in the sciences! I am often questioned about my career choices, and while most folks are pretty interested and think my career path sounds cool, stability and motivation always come up, especially in recent times. Staying in this field and sticking with it to see amazing outcomes is my main motivating factor. I have made so many great friends during my various field jobs and in school, and we are all like-minded, so that’s great for building a good support system. I have had my share of minor breakdown sessions in the field, wondering “What am I doing here?” I could be working a “normal” job where I don’t have to deal with all the uncertainties that can come with scientific field work. But that’s the thing, I don’t want to be stuck doing something more “normal.” I love what I do, having an office outdoors, and doing what I can to help conserve nature, protect species, and educate others. The people working in this field have a passion for what they do, and we support each other, so being a part of that community is an amazing feeling.
Building pens for lizard field experiments
What do you like best about being the co-President of the SCB Victoria University of Wellington Chapter (New Zealand)?
Last year, I was the Secretary/Treasurer, and this year I have moved up to co-President, so I am excited to take a leading role in planning out fun and educational conservation events this year. I really enjoy working with other students and the community to promote conservation within Wellington. New Zealand already has a great conservation space and a ton of community groups, so there are always folks to collaborate with. We have annual events that we partake in or help lead, including Earth Optimism Day (Earth Day), nature bio blitzes, and New Zealand Conservation Week. These are in addition to our primary projects, which involve litter beach cleanups, forest restoration, pest mammal trapping, and penguin nest box monitoring. This year we have a whole new executive team, and we are already starting off great with lots of ideas for engaging our members. Working within our local chapter has also led to connections with the SCB Oceania Region and becoming a student lead on the 2025 International Congress for Conservation Biology Social Subcommittee. In this role, I’m hoping to help lead a great Student Day and other social activities at the conference to engage and connect our international conservation community. I’ll also be representing the SCB Victoria University at Wellington Chapter (New Zealand) and sharing the great work we do in Wellington. I have made some great connections, and working with the SCB Victoria University at Wellington Chapter (New Zealand) has helped me get used to moving across the world and feeling connected with the conservation community here.
What’s next for you in your work? What are you looking forward to?
I just started my second year of three for my PhD, so I have a lot of writing and analysis that I need to start. I am also finishing up some papers from my masters and working on a collaboration paper, so I hope to get those submitted soon. I am currently in the middle of field season, so I’m collecting a lot of data for my thesis, working on a separate field project with the city council, and a new trimester just started, so I’ll be TA-ing a few classes. Then I will only have one more year and one field season before I wrap up my PhD. After this, I plan to continue in academia, so I’ll start looking for a postdoc soon. I’m looking forward to continuing to work in the sciences, wherever that leads me, working towards conserving species and nature, and all the amazing people I’ll meet and work with along the way.
A copper skink (Oligosoma aeneum)
Do you have any advice for future biological scientists?
My best advice is to stick with it if it’s your passion, even if others are doubtful. When you are still in the beginning stages, try different things and get volunteer and research/lab experience so you can figure out what things you do and don’t like to help guide your future planning. If you are in school, get to know your professors, especially if they teach subjects you might want to work in, and ask about opportunities to help in the lab or field. If you don’t have a lot of opportunities for field/lab research or have gaps between seasons, try to do other things that build useful skills. You could do office work, take classes and workshops, be a manager, join community groups, or participate in any other activities really because every job gives you real world skills that you can apply in the sciences. There is a good chance it might be rough sometimes (or many times) and there will be rejections, but everyone gets where they are going at their own pace and every hardship is another lesson that will help you later. It is also important to work on the family and community you build around yourself to help support each other through those hard times and to celebrate all the big and little wins. We need people like you who care about the sciences and the environment and want to see our world flourish for future generations. So, stick with it, you can do it, and we are all here to support you!