Interactions with marine renewable energy developments

Many countries have set ambitious targets for renewable energy, with energy from offshore sources anticipated to form an important part of this; this has led to the proposed installation of wind, wave, and tidal energy converters around the coast. However, these are potentially hazardous to marine mammals and understanding how they perceive and respond to renewable devices is critical to ensure that they can co-exist at the scales currently being envisaged for the industry. My research includes studies of the impacts of wind farm construction on harbour seals and behavioural responses of seals to tidal stream energy devices.

Risk balancing by marine predators

Animals that live under threat of predation have evolved behavioural strategies enabling them to perform essential tasks such as foraging whilst minimising risks.  This balancing of risk involves a range of behavioural adjustments in response to changes in prey availability and perceived threat levels.  I am interested in understanding the cognitive, behavioural, and energetic facets associated with risk balancing and decision making in foraging marine predators.

Use of dynamic habitats by marine predators

In marine systems, tidal and meteorological processes, together with geographical features such as narrow coastal channels effectively create habitats that are in constant flux due to water movements. My research looks to understand the unique challenges and opportunities this creates for marine predators using them.

Research Group 

• Eva Maria Bønnelycke, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "Predicting physiological impacts of disturbance on marine mammals: Implications for population-level effects". Co-supervised with Carol Sparling (SMRU), Chris McKnight (SMRU), and Jo Kershaw (SMRU).
• Philippa Wright, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "The role of habitat and prey quality in marine mammal decision making within a developing offshore wind landscape". Co-supervised with Sophie Smout (SMRU), and Katherine Whyte (BIOSS).
• Angela Amlin, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "Studying Seals with Static Sensors: using remote technologies to inform conservation management". Co-supervised with Luke Rendell (SMRU), and Denise Risch (SAMS).
• Hayley MacLennan, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "Explorations using scientific echosounding of predator-prey interactions in pelagic ecosystems". Co-supervised with Roland Proud (UoStA).
• Alix Rommel, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "Jellies in the deep: quantifying siphonophore abundance and biodiversity in the mesopelagic and siphonophores may bias acoustic estimates of mesopelagic fish biomass". Co-supervised with Paul Fernandez (Heriot Watt University) and Roland Proud (UoStA).
• Thomas Webber, PhD student, Scottish Association for Marine Science. "An oceanic species in coastal habitats: Risso's dolphin distribution in Scottish waters and implictions for conservation management". Co-supervised with Nienke van Geel (SAMS), Denise Risch (SAMS), and Rona Sinclair (Naturescot).
• Jess Montabaranom, Acoustic data analyst. Scottish Government Marine Mammal Scientific Support: Marine Industries Theme.

Alumni

• Izzy Langley, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "Inter-specific Interactions: investigating the role of grey seals in the harbour seal decline". Co-supervised with Debbie Russell (SMRU), Paul Thompson (University of Aberdeen), and Andrew Brownlow (SAC). Current position: Research Fellow at SMRU.
• Julia Sutherland, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "Killer Whale Predation of Seals in the Coastal Waters of Scotland: Investigating the Ecological Drivers and Consequences of an Apex Predator-Prey Interaction". Co-supervised with Saana Isojunno (SMRU), Peter Tyack (SMRU), Joe Onoufriou (Marine Scotland Science), and Karen Hall (NatureScot). Current position: Research Fellow at CREEM.
• Emma Longden, Research Fellow. Marine mammal/tidal turbine interactions project. Current position: PhD Researcher at BAS
• Laura Oller Lopez, Research Technician, Predators and prey around renewable energy developments (PrePARED) project.
• Gemma Veneruso, PhD student, Bangor University. "Investigating disturbance of small cetaceans from offshore anthropogenic developments". Co-supervised with Line Cordes and Lewis LeVay (University of Bangor).
• Katherine Whyte, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "Behavioural responses by seals to offshore energy activities". Co-supervised with Debbie Russell (SMRU), Len Thomas (CREEM), and Carol Sparling (SMRU Consulting). Current position: Statistician at BIOSS
• Michael Oswald, Engineer, Equipment and sensor design for NERC Innovative Monitoring Techniques project. Current position: Lead Software Engineer at Marqeta, Inc
• Laura Palmer, PGRA, Acoustic data analyst for marine mammal/tidal turbine interactions project. Current position: PhD student at University of Bristol.
• Joe Onoufriou, PhD student, University of St Andrews. "Effects of tidal turbines on the movements of marine predators in tidally energetic areas". Co-supervised with Dave Thompson (SMRU), Liz Masden (UHI), Jared Wilson (Marine Scotland), and John Baxter (SNH). Current position: Senior Marine Mammal Scientist at Marine Scotland Science
• Clair Evers, PGRA, Acoustic data analyst for marine mammal/tidal turbine interactions project. Current position: Marine Mammal Biologist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
• Nienke Van Geel, PhD student, Scottish Association for Marine Science. "Predator movements in complex geography: Spatial distribution and temporal occurrence of low-density bottlenose dolphin communities off western Scotland". Co-supervised with Ben Wilson (SAMS). Current position: Research Fellow at SAMS.