A5052521723- Marine animal studies overview
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Marine and Offshore Engineering Studies
- Offshore Engineering and Technologies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Arctic and Russian Policy Studies
- International Maritime Law Issues
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Risk and Safety Analysis
- Graphite, nuclear technology, radiation studies
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
University of the Highlands and Islands
2020-2023
Environmental Research Institute
2020-2023
Southampton Solent University
2017-2020
Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences
2019-2020
University of Edinburgh
2019-2020
University of Southampton
2010-2016
Heriot-Watt University
2007-2009
University of Leeds
2007
Abstract Todd, V. L. G., Pearse, W. D., Tregenza, N. C., Lepper, P. A., and I. B. 2009. Diel echolocation activity of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) around North Sea offshore gas installations. – ICES Journal Marine Science, 66: 734–745. Echolocation clicks were detected with T-PODs, autonomous, passive, acoustic-monitoring devices, deployed from an offshore-exploration-drilling-rig gas-production-platform complex in the Dogger Bank region 2005 to 2006. Echolocation-click trains...
Thousands of oil and gas structures have been installed in the world's oceans over past 70 years to meet population's reliance on hydrocarbons. Over last decade, there has increased concern how handle decommissioning this infrastructure when it reaches end its operational life. Complete or partial removal may not present best option considering potential impacts environment, society, technical feasibility, economy, future asset liability. Re-purposing offshore also be a valid legal under...
Remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) are used extensively by the offshore oil and gas renewables industries for inspection, maintenance, repair of their infrastructure. With thousands subsea structures monitored across world's oceans from shallows to depths greater than 1000 m, there is a great underutilised opportunity scientific use. Through slight modifications ROV operations, augmenting industry workclass ROVs with range equipment, can fuel discoveries, contribute an understanding impact...
This study provides temporo-spatial characterisation of the underwater soundscape in proximity a relatively newly installed offshore gas-production platform North Sea’s Dogger Bank Special Area Conservation, recorded by Static Acoustic Monitoring at different distances from wellhead (70 m, 5 Km and 10 km). Long-Term Spectrogram Analysis percentile Power Spectral Densities demonstrated strong acoustic similarity between sites; no biophonic acoustic-mass phenomena were present. All locations...
Abstract Offshore Oil & Gas (O&G) infrastructure creates artificial reef complexes that support marine communities in oceans. No studies have characterized the first wave of colonization, which can reveal information about habitat attraction and ecological connectivity. Here we used opportunistically-collected industrial Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to investigate fish invertebrate colonization on a new North Sea O&G platform trenching an associated pipeline. We observed...
In oceans and seas worldwide, an increasing number of end-of-life anthropogenic offshore structures (e.g. platforms, pipelines, manifolds, windfarms, etc.) are facing full or partial removal. As part the decommissioning process, studies on potential importance subsea infrastructure to marine megafauna (defined as: cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, large fish – such as sharks, rays, billfishes, tuna, well reptiles, seabirds) lacking. Dedicated scientific Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys...
A decade of visual and acoustic detections marine megafauna around offshore Oil & Gas (O&G) installations in the North Irish Seas are presented. Marine activity was monitored visually acoustically by Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) qualified experienced Mammal Observers (MMO) Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operators respectively, with real-time towed PAM combination industry standard software, PAMGuard. performed during routine O&G industrial operations for underwater noise...
Taxpayers and operators worldwide have significant current liabilities associated with decommissioning of offshore Oil & Gas (O&G) assets. Consequently, is at the forefront industrial, governmental, non-governmental agendas. Decommissioning a highly complex activity health, safety, environmental, social, economic, technical implications. Increasing scientific evidence supports that manmade subsea structures create hard, artificial reef habitats provide ecological social...
Species Distribution Models (SDMs) are used regularly to develop management strategies, but many modelling methods ignore the spatial nature of data. To address this, we compared fine-scale distribution predictions harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) using empirical aerial-video-survey data collected along east coast Scotland in August and September 2010 2014. Incorporating environmental covariates that cover habitat preferences prey proxies, a traditional (and commonly implemented)...
Abstract Offshore Oil and Gas (O&G) infrastructure affords structurally complex hard substrata in otherwise featurless areas of the seafloor. Opportunistically collected industrial ROV imagery was used to investigate colonization a petroleum platform North Sea 1–2 years following installation. Compared pre-construction communities pioneering colonizers, we documented 48 additional taxa, including rare sighting pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). The second wave motile colonizers presented...
The ecosystem modelling complex ‘Ecopath with Ecosim’ has been implemented extensively in the field of marine science; however, despite its widespread application, descriptions functionality remain arcane literature. This study conducts an evaluation software's prediction capacity using eight published Ecopath models. Response six ecosystem-status indicators to four basic input variables which imprecision had added was investigated. Kempton's Q Index and total system throughput emerged as...
Distributions of Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii), common pipistrelle, (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), and soprano pipistrelle pygmaeus) were investigated along altitudinal gradient the Lledr River, Conwy, North Wales, presence assessed in relation to water surface condition, presence/absence bank-side trees, elevation. Ultrasound recordings bats made on timed transects summer 1999 used quantify habitat usage. All species significantly preferred smooth sections river with trees either one...
Abstract Foraging in Daubenton's bats Myotis daubentonii , at two altitudinal locations along a river gradient North Wales was investigated relation to aerial insect density and the of prey on water surface. Prey capture consisted hawking, where taken air, trawling, gaffed invertebrates from Aerial hawking accounted for 86% all attempts, despite availability falling close zero much night. Conversely, surface an order magnitude higher than increased through night due aquatic invertebrate...
Distribution and abundance of two temperate-zone insectivorous bats, Daubenton's (Myotis daubentonii) common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), their potential prey were studied along an altitudinal river gradient in relation to environmental variables including air temperature, wind speed, water surface state, presence or absence bank-side trees. Using a Latin square design at ten different habitat combination types, ultrasound recordings insect sampling carried out quantify bat...
Abstract Offshore Oil and Gas (O&G) exploration production has been cycling from cradle to grave for over 100 years, spanning many generations of marine fauna. Despite global occurrence offshore infrastructure, implications their presence apex predators, including cetaceans, is understudied. We analyzed data autonomous underwater passive‐echolocation‐click detectors (C‐PODs) deployed at an O&G platform control locations investigate acoustic activity harbor porpoises ( Phocoena...
The modelled acoustic characteristics of three Acoustic Harassment Devices (AHDs) deployed from a fully operational salmonid fish farm, located in the Sound Mull, Scotland (UK) are presented, using empirical seabed and water column measurements at same location. In Beaufort Sea state 0, depth range 10--50 m is maximum which AHDs potentially audible to five marine mammal species. species present within this survey region are: harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena (99.1 km), killer whale,...
Little is known about localized, near-field soundscapes during offshore hydrocarbon drilling campaigns. In the Dogger Bank, North Sea, underwater noise recordings were made 41–60 m from drill stem of Noble Kolskaya jack-up exploration rig. The aims to document received levels (RLs) and frequency characteristics rig-associated noise. rig produced sound pressure (SPLs) 120 dB re 1 μPa in range 2–1400 Hz. Over transient periods, RLs varied by 15–20 between softest (holding) noisiest (drilling)...