Our Staff & Associates

Katharine Yagi is currently a Research Associate and Post Doctoral Fellow with 8Trees Inc. and Brock University. She received her B.Sc. in biological science from the University of Guelph in 2008, M.Sc. in biology from Laurentian University in 2010, and her doctorate in 2018 from McGill University in Renewable Resources. Her past research investigates the impacts of habitat change on endangered populations of turtles, snakes, and toads. She is currently pursuing several research projects that study the effects of human activity on amphibian and reptile dispersal, survival and overall population dynamics. 

https://katharinetyagi.wixsite.com/profile

 Cathy Blott is currently an Associate Habitat Restoration Biologist with 8Trees Inc, specializing in hydrological system monitoring. She graduated with an Honours B.Sc. majoring in Biology from the University of Waterloo in 1993, and has 27 years of experience working on wildlife restoration and conservation projects. Some of her responsibilities at 8Trees Inc. include conducting field work, analyze data, prepare reports and proposals, and help younger staff, students and volunteers in the field. Cathy also conducts outreach events and builds partnerships with landowners, municipalities, and agencies to gain support for several ongoing projects. 

Theresa Bukovics currently works for 8Trees Inc. as a Habitat Stewardship Biologist and Volunteer Coordinator. She graduated with her B.Sc. in Ethnobotany, minoring in Anthropology, from the University of Hawaii in 2010, and completed her M.Sc. in Biological Sciences at Brock University in 2016. Her M.Sc. research focused using photographic time series to quantify age-specific changes in morphology and survival in Rhizocarpon geographicum over a 4-yr period at Illecillewaet Glacier, BC. Theresa has since taken an avid interest in the field of herpetology. During her time in the field, Theresa enjoys familiarizing herself with the native flora including rare plants, lichen, and fungi of the Niagara region.

 Erica Yagi completed her M.A. in Communications, Popular Culture and Film at Brock University in 2017. She has been working as an Administrative and Research Assistant for 8Trees Inc. since January 2018. Some of her responsibilities include public communications via social media, and researching scientific articles to help keep the company up-to date on the scientific community, ecology, and new technological advancements. She is currently volunteering with kids with learning disabilities.  

Brie-Anne currently works at 8Trees Inc. as a Field Biologist, where she is the lead biologist investigating the effects of human activity on the dispersal and survival of the Fowler's Toad in Niagara. She first started working in wildlife conservation during her undergraduate degree, when she worked as a summer student with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. She graduated with a B.Sc. in Fish and Wildlife (minoring in Geographic Information Science), from Michigan State University (MSU). After assisting with dendrochronology research at MSU and working with the Wildlife Disease Lab with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Brie-Anne went on to acquire her M.Sc. in 2019 in Environmental Life Science, researching amphibian environmental DNA at Trent University. 

Wynne (left) and Matthew (right) are both undergraduate students at Brock University, working on their own research projects in the lab of Dr. Tattersall https://tattersalllab.com/

Both currently work for 8Trees Inc. as student field technicians, as part of the 8Trees Inc. student mentorship program.

Matthew is an undergraduate student in the Biological Sciences and Environmental Sustainability program (2017) at Brock University, and has graduated with a diploma from Niagara College in the Environmental Field and Laboratory Technician program in 2017. For his undergraduate research project, he is investigating the repeatability of measuring the thermal selection of Northern red-bellied snakes under lab conditions. 

Wynne is currently an undergraduate student at Brock University studying biology and physics. She has several responsibilities in the Tattersall lab, including assisting other graduate students with their projects. Her undergraduate research project investigates insect physiology using respirometry and thermal imaging techniques. Wynne plans to continue research with species at risk and animal physiology throughout her educational career.

 Alanah Joyce is currently a student at the University of Toronto, majoring in Ecology and Evolution and Molecular Biology. She worked for 8Trees Inc. as a student field technician during the spring and summer of 2017, as part of the student mentorship program. 

In 2019-2020 she will be working as a research assistant for Dr. McMean and studying lipid levels and stable isotopes in freshwater fishes through changing seasons. 

Curtis Abney earned his BES from Trinity Western University (in Langley B.C.) in 2014 and graduated from Brock University with an M.Sc. in Biological Sciences in 2019. He worked for 8Trees Inc. from January 2017 to 2019 as a Field Biologist specializing in snake ecology and biology. He has four years’ experience working and teaching in the field, and in the lab.  

Curtis is currently a Biological Control Field Monitor for OKSIR in Vernon, BC.

Byron Garcia graduated from Niagara College with his Protection, Security, and Investigation (Private Security) Diploma in 2016, and graduated from Fleming College with a diploma in Ecosystems Management Technician in 2018. He worked for the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority as a Park Attendant at the Long Beach Conservation Area. He worked for 8Trees Inc. in the summer of 2018 as a Biologist Technician Intern.  

Byron is currently working for Ontario Parks and the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks as a Park Warden at Darlington Provincial Park.