DoctorMarion Donald

As an Adjunct Researcher in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury, my work focuses on community ecology, pollination biology, and the ecological processes that shape species interactions. My research often centres on understanding how insects—particularly bees, flies, moths, and other wild pollinators—respond to environmental change, and how their ecological traits influence both their conservation status and their roles within ecosystems.

I am also a Researcher in Community Ecology at the Bioeconomy Science Institute (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Group), where I lead and collaborate on projects exploring microbial communities, pollinator–plant interactions, and the ecological drivers of biodiversity patterns. My work spans nocturnal moth pollination, museum‑based interaction discovery, and the microbial signatures left in floral nectar. 

My broader goal is to integrate ecological data, trait‑based approaches, and mātauranga‑informed perspectives to better understand and protect Aotearoa New Zealand’s native pollinators and the ecosystems they support.