Arlie McCarthy
(She/Her)
Post-doctoral Researcher
Arlie is a marine ecologist, interested in animals like mussels, barnacles and crustaceans that live on the seabed or on human structures like ships. She researches human impacts on marine environments, especially in polar regions.
Her current research focuses on the risk of introducing non-native marine species to Antarctica, especially via biofouling on ships. Warming oceans and reductions in sea ice caused by climate change, combined with increasing human activity within the Southern Ocean, are increasing the chance of non-native species establishing in the Antarctic region. Arlie’s research investigates factors that affect both the transport of non-indigenous species to Antarctic coastlines and the capacity of such species to establish populations, both now and in the future. Arlie’s work has resulted in academic papers and advice to governments in Australia and the UK, and presentations to international organisations.
In her home town of Melbourne, Australia, Arlie completed a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) and a Diploma in Languages (German) at the University of Melbourne and by final year was taking as many marine biology courses as possible. She then moved to Hobart to complete a Master’s degree in Marine and Antarctic Science at the University of Tasmania.
Arlie’s research has taken her around the world: she completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge, UK and the British Antarctic Survey. She now works as a post-doctoral researcher at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) in Oldenburg, Germany, employed by the Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research. Ten years later, her degree in German is coming in handy.
Arlie recharges her soul outside, whether that’s hiking, climbing, playing about at the coast, or watching the local squirrel from her balcony. She is also often found snuggling up on the couch with a good book, dark chocolate, and a cup of tea.
