Karen Shearer

Karen Shearer

Scientist – Freshwater Macroinvertebrates and Biomonitoring

Role at Cawthron

Karen is a freshwater scientist, whose main area of expertise is freshwater macroinvertebrate ecology. Her projects relate mainly to biological monitoring and assessments of environmental effects, including land use.

Karen manages the freshwater laboratory and has expertise in freshwater macroinvertebrate identification. She is also involved in freshwater research conducted at Cawthron, including benthic and drifting invertebrate ecology and trout bioenergetics foraging modelling.

Technical skills, experience and interests

  • Benthic macroinvertebrate ecology
  • Aquatic invertebrate drift behaviour and ecology
  • Aquatic algae and invertebrate relationships
  • Freshwater invertebrate taxonomy
  • Biological monitoring
  • Freshwater ecological impact assessment

Professional affiliations

  • New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society
  • New Zealand Entomological Society

Qualifications

  • MSc. University of Canterbury, 1995
  • BSc. University of Canterbury, 1993

Karen Shearer