Sarah Armstrong

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MRes student

25021491@uhi.ac.uk 

MRes: Investigating factors affecting Northern Damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum) dispersal.

Supervisor: Dr Matthew Curran

Academic background

My academic background began when completing a HND in Horticulture with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).  I was interested in land management practices, greening urban spaces and improving them for people and wildlife.  This then led me to complete an honours degree in Wildlife and Conservation Management, with SRUC and Glasgow University, where I really found my passion for the subject.  During this I gained experience in sampling freshwater environments, coastal vegetation sampling and conducting habitat surveys.  This course also had a strong focus on ecological principles, legislation, stakeholder management and conservation site planning. 

For my dissertation, I combined my interest in improving urban green spaces with wildlife conservation and conducted research on the role of urban railways for improving habitat connectivity, in the Southwest of Glasgow.  Since then, I have continued developing skills in field study through volunteering with the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust.  Having thoroughly enjoyed the research and field study elements of my undergraduate degree, as well as having a keen interest in freshwater biodiversity, I began a Masters of Research in Freshwater Biodiversity and Conservation with UHI.  Through this, I am now continuing in the field of habitat connectivity and land use, by investigating the habitat connectivity of Northern Damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum) and factors limiting their dispersal.  This aims to support them as an endangered species by informing existing and future habitat creation projects.

Research interests:

  • Connectivity
  • Ecology
  • Vegetation
  • Land management
  • Urbanisation

Research project highlights:

  • Investigating factors affecting the dispersal of Coenagrion hastulatum. MRes Freshwater Biodiversity and Conservation, UHI Inverness

Past projects:

  • National Amphibian Survey. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, Volunteer. January 2025 – April 2025
  • Investigating Railway Vegetation as a Green Corridor for Supporting Urban Terrestrial Mammals. Undergraduate research project, BSc Wildlife and Conservation Management, SRUC. September 2023 – July 2024