I am an applied ecologist with a broad interest in the conservation of terrestrial mammals. My expertise has been built upon studying the populations, distribution and impacts of protected and invasive species to inform management actions. This experience has been gained from across the academic, consultancy, museum and not for profit sectors.

My experience with invasive species ranges from active management on islands to aid seabird conservation to exploring the dynamics of predator recovery in the support of native species. 

My journey to this point in my career has also made me realise the importance of people in species conservation. Without community engagement to support change, conservation action will fail. As a result I now find myself drawn to people and exploring their relationship with invasive and native species and how this impacts species conservation and management actions.  

I have a wide range of interests that include: 

• the use of camera traps to inform species relationships and management
• long-term population dynamics of terrestrial mammals
• relationship between people and wildlife
• implementation of legislation and impacts on management

I am currently involved in the delivery of the following modules at an undergraduate level: 

• EGM114 The Biosphere
• EGM303 Research Methods and Field School

I am the course director for Environmental Management at postgraduate level and deliver the following modules: 

• EGM801 Biodiversity Management
• EGM804 Environmental Impact Assessment

In September 2024, Leaghana Teal-Dawson will be starting her PhD project on:  Human Wildlife Conflict in Ireland: perception versus reality (funded by DfE)