Ainsley Taggett’s interest in ecosystem recovery began with a disruption close to home, when a beaver dam was removed from her family’s property. As the wetland changed, she watched a once-thriving ecosystem unravel. 

“The wetland was a biodiversity hotspot. Without the dam, we lost many of the species it supported,” Ainsley recalls. “It really highlighted the impact humans can have on the environment.” 

That memory of loss left a lasting impression and shapes Ainsley’s work today. As a graduate student in the Environmental & Life Sciences accelerated master’s program, she studies how ecosystems recover after disturbance. 

Fulfilling fieldwork ramps up research

Ainsley started her undergraduate degree at Trent as a mature student with a clear sense of direction, turning a lifelong connection to the outdoors into a focused academic path. 

“A degree in Ecological Restoration, or ‘the science of hope’, felt like a way to turn my interest in environmental stewardship into practical work,” she said. 

In her second year, a field trip to Sudbury sparked a fascination with mosses and lichen. 

“Non-vascular species like moss and lichen play a foundational role in recovery,” Ainsley explains. "They’re often among the first species to return after disturbance. By stabilizing soil and retaining moisture, they create conditions that allow other species to establish.” 

That interest expanded into an honours thesis involving research on non-vascular species in the Yukon. The research involved a controlled growth chamber trial, which later informed an outdoor revegetation field trial conducted with Yukon Seed and Restoration, and collaborators from the University of Saskatchewan. 

“The more involved I became in the field of restoration, the more questions I had”, said Ainsley. “The accelerated master’s program gave me the opportunity to keep building on my undergraduate research.” 

Lessons from disturbed landscapes

Ainsley’s master’s research today aims to inform restoration strategies by examining moss and lichen recovery in mine-impacted landscapes to determine whether sites are recovering naturally or require active intervention.

“The Sudbury region is arguably the best example of ecosystem recovery from widespread anthropogenic degradation," explains Dr. Shaun Watmough, a professor in the School of the Environment and Ainsley’s research supervisor. “Ainsley's work is instrumental to understanding the rate and processes of natural recovery of wetlands that have been severely impacted by metal and acidic deposition. It highlights the remarkable resilience of our natural world.”

Learning beyond the field

Outside of her research, Ainsley serves as vice-president of Trent’s Society for Ecological Restoration, helping connect students with practical training opportunities, from field workshops to professional certifications.

A former Trent Excalibur cross country athlete, she remains active in sport as an assistant coach with the Fleming Phoenix women’s soccer team, mentoring young athletes.

“Whether in sport or research, you’re constantly learning and adapting,” said Ainsley. “Being able to support others in that process and give back has been really meaningful.”

Learn more about the Environmental & Life Science M.Sc. program and the Accelerated Master’s pathways at Trent University.