Lianna Gendall
Research Associate
Kelp forests are some of the most beautiful, diverse, and productive habitats on earth, yet they face significant threats from climate change and local scale anthropogenic impacts such as pollution, overharvesting and coastal development. These foundation species create vital habitats for marine life, support biodiversity, sequester carbon, enhance fisheries, and hold cultural significance for many coastal communities.
I am a Research Associate at the University of Western Australia with expertise in spatial modelling, GIS, and remote sensing. My research focuses on the spatial modelling of the distirbution and function of these incredible ecosystems, within the context of climate change. I am particularly interested in the impacts of marine heatwaves, the role of kelp forests in carbon sequestration, and translating spatial data and tools into actionable insights for managers and stakeholders. I hold…
Qualifications
2022: MSc Geography. University of Victoria, Canada.
Thesis: Drivers of Change in Haida Gwaii Kelp Forests: Combining Satellite Imagery with Historical Data to Understand Spatial and Temporal Variability.
2020: NASA’s Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) Program – Coastal Ecosystems
2016: BSc Biology. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, Specialization in Animal Biology; Focus on Marine Science
Other
2024: AS/NZ2815 Part 6 Restricted Occupational SCUBA Diver
2022: Canadian Association of Underwater Science SCUBA Dive Certification
2015: PADI Divemaster & Discover Scuba Dive Leader
Achievements and awards
2025: Southern Coast Research Vessel Fleet (SCRVF) — RV Linnaeus
2021: Best 15-minute Talk — Ocean NetColor Conference
2020: Mitacs Accelerate Research Award
2019 University of Victoria Department Award & Grant-Funded Award
2017 Best 15-minute Talk (Runner up) — SFU’s ToxTalks Graduate Symposium
2017, 16, 15 Jason Lang Scholarship for academic excellence
2016 Bamfield Marine Science Centre Fall Program Scholarship
Publications
Starko, S., Pessarrodona, A., Edgeloe, J.M., Montie, S., Attlan, O., Burkholz, C., Edwards, G.E., Forbes, H., Gendall, L., Minne, A., Nair, N., Simpkins, T., van der Mheen, M., Walley, G., Filbee-Dexter, K., & Wernberg, T. (2026). Marine heatwave impacts on kelp growth and tissue condition reveal population-specific thermal tolerance and local adaptation. Marine Ecology Progress Series. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps15171
Gendall, L., Hessing-Lewis, M., Wachmann, A., Schroeder, S.B., Reshitnyk, L., … & Costa M. (2025). From Archives to Satellites: Uncovering Loss and Resilience in the Kelp Forests of Haida Gwaii. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1504701
Man, L., Barbosa, R.V., Reshitnyk, L., Gendall, L., Wachmann., L.,… & Costa, M. (2025) Canopy-forming kelp forests persist in the dynamic subregion of the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1537498
Timmer, B., Reshitnyk, L. Y., Hessing-Lewis, M., Juanes, F., Gendall, L., & Costa, M. (2024). Capturing accurate kelp canopy extent: integrating tides, currents, and species-level morphology in kelp remote sensing. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 12, 1338483; https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1338483
Mora-Soto, A., Schroeder, S., Gendall, L., Wachmann, A., Narayan, G., … & Costa, M. (2024). Kelp dynamics and environmental drivers in the southern Salish Sea, British Columbia, Canada. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11, 1323448: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1323448
Mora-Soto, A., Schroeder, S., Gendall, L., Wachmann, A., Narayan, G., Read, S., … & Costa, M. (2024). Back to the past: long-term persistence of bull kelp forests in the Strait of Georgia, Salish Sea, Canada. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11, 1446380. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1446380
Gendall, L., Schroeder, S.B., Wills, P., Hessing-Lewis, M., Costa M. (2023) A Multi-Satellite Mapping Framework for Floating Kelp Time Series. Remote Sens. 2023, 15(5), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15051276
Starko, S., Neufeld, C.J., Gendall, L., et al. (2022) Microclimate Predicts Kelp Forest Extinction in the Face of Direct and Indirect Marine Heatwave Effects. Ecological Applications, e2673. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2673
Cavanaugh, K.C., Bell, T., Maycira, C., Eddy, N.E., Gendall, L., et al. (2021) A Review of the Opportunities and Challenges for Using Remote Sensing for Management of Surface-Canopy Forming Kelps. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:753531.
Other publications
Gendall, L., Nelson, J.C., Martone, R., Slapcoff, L., Uduman, A., … & McPhie, R.(2022) Megafauna from Space: Using Very High Resolution (VHR) Satellite Imagery to Detect Whales and Sharks. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3248.