Contact details:

E-mail: catriona.duffy.2009@nuim.ie
Phone: 01 708 6392

Address: Room 1.8
St Anne's Building
North Campus

Biography:

Catriona graduated from University College Dublin in 2005 with an Honours degree in Zoology. She went on to complete a Masters in Environmental Resource Management in UCD in 2007, focusing her studies on the effects of free trade on illegal logging in Central America. Catriona then spent a year working on the CARBiFOR II (Carbon sequestration in Irish forest ecosystems) project funded by COFORD. She also holds Teagasc FETAC qualifications in ‘Animal and crop production' and ‘Farm business'. She is now pursuing her doctorate degree under the supervision of Dr Rowan Fealy (NUIM) and Reamonn Fealy (Teagasc).

Thesis Title:

Modelling the effects of climate change on the incidence of pests and diseases: a spatial analysis of the potential impacts on Irish agricultural productivity.

Description of Project:

Climate change has the potential to modify the population dynamics and geographical distribution of pests and diseases. Some pests and pathogens which are currently of minor economic importance to the Irish agricultural industry could significantly impede productivity if released from the limitations imposed by the current Irish climate. Conversely, important species negatively affecting agricultural output at present could become less important in the future. Range expansions of alien species, as well as the direct effects of climate change on host crops or animals, add another layer of complexity to an already complicated system. Catriona's aim is to assess the spatial and temporal effects of climate change on the occurrence of selected pests and diseases in Ireland.

Supervisor:

Dr Rowan Fealy and Reamonn Fealy

Funding:

Teagasc Walsh Fellowship

Presentations:

15th November 2010. ‘Climate change and agriculture: Modelling Spatial and Temporal distributions of agricultural pests and diseases in Ireland'. Teagasc seminar series, Kinsealy research centre, Malahide road, Dublin 17.

27th October 2010. ‘Climate change, agricultural pests and diseases: modelling spatio-temporal distributions for Ireland'. Climate Change Special Interest Group (CCSIG), Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), Sand Hutton, York, North Yorkshire, England.

25th June 2010. Poster presentation: ‘Pests, diseases and climate change: A spatio-temporal analysis of the potential impacts on Irish agricultural productivity'. The Mansion house, Dawson street, Dublin 2.

1st May 2010. ‘Modelling the effects of climate change on the incidence of pests and diseases: A spatio-temporal analysis of the potential impacts on Irish agricultural productivity'. Conference of Irish Geographers (CIG), National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

8th March 2010. . ‘Modelling the effects of climate change on the incidence of pests and diseases'. Postgraduate Research Seminar Series, Department of Geography, NUI Maynooth.

December 7th 2009. ‘Modelling the effects of climate change on the incidence of pests and diseases: a spatial analysis of the potential impacts on Irish agricultural productivity'. Agmet: 25 Years Supporting Agricultural Meteorology in Ireland. The Coach House, Dublin Castle.

16th July 2009. ‘The effects of climate change on pests and diseases in Ireland: Potential impacts for Irish agriculture'.Agmet. Met Éireann Headquarters, Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9.

Teaching:

2011: Second semester: Demonstrator to Leaving Certificate students as part of Leaving Certificate Biology Practicals.

2009: First semester: Tutor to 1st year undergraduate students as part of GY114- Introduction to Physical Geography: Geoscience.

Membership of Professional Bodies:

• The Geographical Society of Ireland
• Royal Entomological Society
• Irish Meteorological Society