A5051949127- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessments
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
National Oceanography Centre
2019-2024
University of Southampton
2019-2023
South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute
2022-2023
Submarine canyons are associated with increased biodiversity, including cold-water coral (CWC) colonies and reefs which features of high conservation value that under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Effective spatial management these requires accurate distribution maps a deeper understanding the processes generate observed patterns. Predictive modelling offers powerful tool in deep sea, where surveys constrained by cost technological capabilities. To date, predictive has focussed on...
Video and image data are regularly used in the field of benthic ecology to document biodiversity. However, their use is subject a number challenges, principally identification taxa within images without associated physical specimens. The challenge applying traditional taxonomic keys fauna from has led development personal, group, or institution level reference catalogues operational units (OTUs) morphospecies. Lack standardisation among these problems with observer bias inability combine...
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has become a priority for many states wanting to develop national blue economy plans and meet international obligations in response the increasing cumulative impacts of human activities climate change. In areas beyond jurisdiction (ABNJ), MSP is proposed as part package solutions multi-sectoral management at ocean basin scale. To facilitate planning, maps showing spatial distribution marine biological diversity are required. lacking data, like South Atlantic,...
Vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are at risk from the impacts of deep-sea trawling. Identifying presence VMEs in high seas fisheries management areas has to date relied mainly on records, or habitat suitability models VME indicator taxa (e.g., stony coral species Solenosmilia variabilis Duncan, 1873) as proxies for occurrence cold-water reefs). However, predicted does not necessarily equate a VME. There have been very few attempts determine density thresholds that relate "significant...
Abstract A significant proportion of Southern Ocean seafloor biodiversity is thought to be associated with fragile, slow growing, long-lived, and habitat-forming taxa. Minimizing adverse impact these so-called vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) a conservation priority that often managed by relying on fisheries bycatch data, combined threshold-based rules in which all “indicator” taxa are considered equal. However, VME indicator have different vulnerabilities fishing disturbance more...
Management of deep-sea fisheries in areas beyond national jurisdiction by Regional Fisheries Organizations/Arrangements (RFMO/As) requires identification with Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs). Currently, data, including trawl and longline bycatch are used many RFMO/As to inform the VMEs. However, collection such data creates impacts there is a need collect non-invasive for VME monitoring purposes. Imagery from scientific surveys satisfies this requirement, but currently no established...
Vertical walls of submarine canyons represent features high conservation value that can provide natural areas protection for vulnerable marine ecosystems under increasing anthropogenic pressure from deep-sea trawling. Wall assemblages are spatially heterogeneous, attributed to the environmental heterogeneity over short spatial scales is a typical feature canyons. Effective management and these requires deeper understanding processes affect faunal distribution patterns. Canyons recognised as...
Ecosystem-based conservation that includes carbon sinks, alongside a linked credit system, as part of nature-based solution to combating climate change, could help reduce greenhouse gas levels and therefore the impact their emissions. Blue habitats pathways can also facilitate biodiversity retention, aiding sustainable fisheries island economies. However, robust blue research is often limited at scale regional governance management, lacking both incentives facilitation policy-integration....
Robust impact assessments (IAs) for deep-sea fisheries are essential safeguarding ecosystems against the impacts of bottom fishing. In high seas, United Nations Resolution commitments require States (independently or through Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs)) to conduct IAs evaluate if fishing is putting vulnerable marine (VMEs) at risk. To enhance efficacy future IAs, this study evaluated nine criteria in FAO International Guidelines Deep-Sea High Seas. We find that all...
Abstract Video and image data are regularly used in the field of benthic ecology to document biodiversity. However, their use is subject a number challenges, principally identification taxa within images without associated physical specimens. The challenge applying traditional taxonomic keys fauna from has led development personal, group, or institution level reference catalogues operational units (OTUs) morphospecies. Lack standardisation among these problems with observer bias inability...
Deep-sea environments face increasing pressure from anthropogenic exploitation and climate change, but remain poorly studied. Hence, there is an urgent need to compile quantitative baseline data on faunal assemblages, improve our understanding of the processes that drive assemblage composition in deep-sea environments. The Southwest Atlantic deep sea undersampled region hosts unique globally important assemblages. To date, knowledge these assemblages has been predominantly based ex situ...