Staff details

Teaching interests

Programme Leader BSc (Hons) Marine Biology http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/0732/BSc+(Hons)+Marine+Biology

Ecology of Shallow Water Marine Habitats

Experimental Marine Ecology

Field Ecology

Statistics

 

 

 

Research interests

 

My research focuses on three main topics: the effects of plastic debris in the marine environment, the ecology and conservation of shallow water habitats and habitat modification to enhance biodiversity of marine engineering such as coastal defences and off-shore renewable energy devices.

I have been working on the effects of plastic in the marine environment for over a decade. In 2004 my group showed that waters around the north-east Atlantic had become contaminated by microscopic fragments of plastic or ‘microplastic’ and that the abundance of this material had increased significantly over the last 40 years (Science, vol 304, P. 838). These microplastic fragments some of which were smaller than the diameter of a human hair appear to have formed by the breakdown of everyday items such as plastic bags, bottles, rope and materials used in packaging. My group are at the forefront of research to establish the environmental consequences of this newly described form of debris (e.g. Environmental Science and Technology, 41: 7759-7764).

Over the last decade I have become increasingly interested in the interaction between marine engineering, such as coastal defences and off-shore renewable energy developments (OREDs) and the ecology of shallow water habitats (e.g. Coastal Engineering 52, 1053 – 1071; 52: 1027 – 1051; 52: 1073-1087). Coastal defence structures occupy a substantial portion of some coastlines and the number of OREDs (wind, wave, tidal) is set to increase dramatically over the next decade. Such developments present both threats and opportunities for marine life. My current research through PRIMaRE (Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy) is examining ways to make space for nature by incorporating habitat modifications within marine engineering structures to enhance biodiversity and stocks of commercially important species of fin fish and shellfish.

My over arching research interests are on the ecology and conservation of shallow water habitats. I have numerous peer-reviewed publications on this theme ranging from the effects of commercial collection of ornamental sea shells for the marine curio trade (Biological Conservation, 63: 241-245) to predictions for the future of rocky intertidal habitats over the next 25 years (Environmental Conservation, 29: 168 -191). I have worked extensively on marine biofilms and on the grazers that feed up on them (e.g. Ecology 85: 1372-1382; Ecology, 87: 1169 – 1178; Marine Ecology Progress Series 296: 53-63).

I currently supervise a group comprising three Post Doctoral researchers and eight PhD students.

 

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Current PhD students

Nicolas Biber, Funding: Self

Distribution and effects on microplastics in the environment

2009 – Present

Luke Holmes, Funding: University of Plymouth Studentship

The role of plastic production pellets in the transport and availability of trace metals in the marine environment

2009 – Present

Martin Coombes, Funding: GWR

Coastal defences and biodiversity: examining the interplay between engineering design and ecological response

2007 – present

Juliette Jackson, Funding: Self

Recruitment and succession on coastal defence structures
2006 – present (registered part-time)

 

 PhD Students completed

Gustavo Martins, PhD 2009 Community structure of the Azorean rocky intertidal: interactions between recruitment and exploitation, Funding: FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology)

John Griffin, PhD 2008 Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: tests using rockpools as natural mesocosms, Funding: NERC

Ana Silva, PhD 2008 Predator-prey interactions in rocky intertidal communities, Funding: FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology)

Mark Browne, PhD 2008 Environmental consequences of microscopic plastics in marine habitats, Funding: Leverhulme Trust

Gerardo Gomes-Filho, PhD 2008, Physical and Biological Processes Influencing the Distribution of Barnacles in Estuaries, Funding: CAPES (Brazilian Ministry of Education)

Laure Noel, PhD 2007, Species interactions during succession in rockpools: role of herbivores and physical factors Funding: Self

Emma Sheehan, PhD 2007, Ecological impact of the Carcinus maenas (L.) fishery 'Crab-Tiling' on estuarine fauna, Funding: charitable sources.

Nova Mieszkowska, PhD 2005, Population structures and reproductive cycles of British Trochid Gastropods in relation to climate change, Funding: MARCLIM and Self.

Pippa Moore, PhD 2005, The Role of biological interactions in modyfying the effects of climate change on intertidal assemblages, Funding: PERC, University of Plymouth and Marine Biological Association

Paula Moschella, PhD 2003, Influence of rock type on microbial fouling communities, Funding: EU.

Robert Alcock, PhD 2003, The effects of climate change on rocky shore communities in the Bay of Biscay. 1895 - 2050, Funding: Self.

Malcolm Roberts, PhD 2002, Population dynamics of Patella vulgata and P. depressa in S.W. England, Funding: Self.

 

 

 

Grants & contracts

 

Grants Awarded

 

£216,000 NERC (2006) Consumer responses to habitat depletion: food-refuge interactions in periwinkles. Doncaster CP (PI), Thompson RC (Co-I 1), Hawkins SJ (Co-I 2).

£50,000 NERC (2006) Tied studentship associated with ‘Consumer responses to habitat depletion: food-refuge interactions in periwinkles. Thompson RC (as Director of Studies) with Doncaster CP, Hawkins SJ.

 

£31,869. NERC (2005) Microscopic plastic, the extent of the problem: a new method for separating plastic fragments from natural sediments. Thompson RC (Co-I 1) with Gaunt LF (PI) and Hearn GL (Co-I 2).

 

£196,000. NERC (2004) Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: tests using rockpools as natural mesocosms. Thompson RC (Co-I), with Jenkins SR (PI) and Hawkins SJ (Co-I).

£50,000 NERC (2004) Tied studentship associated with 'Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: tests using rockpools as natural mesocosms'. Thompson RC (as Director of Studies) with Jenkins SR and Hawkins SJ.

 

£181,608. Leverhulme Trust (2003) Lost at sea – where does all the plastic go II? Thompson RC (PI), with Rowland, SJ, Galloway T & Russell AE.

 

£50,000. PERC/MBA Studentship (2001). Assessing and predicting the consequences of climate change for intertidal organisms Thompson RC, Depledge M & Hawkins SJ.

 

£ 14,945. Leverhulme Trust (2001) Lost at sea – where does all the plastic go? Thompson RC (PI) & Russell, AE.

 

£88,543. NERC JREI 1999. Data loggers for recording activity of homing limpets Thompson RC with Hawkins SJ (PI) & Hartnoll RG.

  

£25,469. NERC (1999) The role of boring bivalves in generating spatial and erosional processes. Thompson RC & Hawkins SJ.

 

£30,000. EU (1999) Interactions between substrate type and marine fouling. Thompson RC, Moschella PS & Hawkins SJ.

 

£ 22,665. NERC (1997). Summertime: too much of a good thing for microalgae? Thompson RC, Thomason JC & Hawkins SJ.

 

£ 3,500 Manx Airlines. (1995) Survey of Manx sublittoral habitats Thompson RC, Bates M & Veale LO.

 

£ 2,500 Royal Geographic Society (and others) (1990) Marine curio trade in Tanzania Thompson RC, Newton LC & Parkes EVH.

 

Co-investigator in consortium bids

 

£500,000 A consortium Project funded by English Nature, MAFF, DETR (2001) Assessing and predicting the influence of climatic change on the marine flora and fauna of Britain and Ireland using intertidal indicators.  Thompson RC with Hawkins SJ (PI), Southward AJ, Kendall M, Burrows . & O’Riordan R.

 

£140,000. EU (2000) Environmental Design of Low-Crested Coastal Defences. Thompson RC with Hawkins, S.J. PI, et al.

 

 

 

Creative practice & artistic projects

 

Dominant Wave Theory, A. Hughes (2006) Booth-Clibborn Editions

This book, gives an extensive factual and thought provoking photographic record of debris in the marine environment.  I contributed a scientific forward on the environmental consequences of this debris (P112-115).

 

Littoral Exhibition, University of Plymouth, Uk 

31^st October – 25^th November, 2005

I was one of four scientific contributors to this exhibition which represents the first in what is hoped to be a series of collaborations between the School of media and Photography and the School of Biological Sciences.

 

Weird Worlds Exhibition, Plymouth City Museum, UK

 4 March – 26th April, 2003 (www.geog.plym.ac.uk/weirdworlds/main.htm), I organised the ‘Marine Worlds’ section of this event which was run jointly by the University of Plymouth and City of Plymouth Museums and Art Galleries. I co-ordinated exhibits and seminars from more than 20 contributors throughout SW England. The exhibition catered for all ages and attracted over 6000 visitors.

 

Plymouth City Museum, Plymouth, UK

Contributor of underwater photographs

 

National Museum of Photography, Bradford, UK 

Contributor of underwater photographs

 

 

 

Publications

Plastic debris in the marine environment

 

Thompson RC, Moore C, vom Saal FS & Swan SH (in press). Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

Thompson RC, Swan SH, Moore C & vom Saal FS (in press). Our Plastic Age Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

Thompson RC, Moore CJ, vom Saal FS and Swan S (eds.) Plastics, the environment and human health. Theme Issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (for publication in 2009).

Browne MA, Dissanayake A, Galloway TS, Lowe DM and Thompson RC (2008) Ingested microscopic plastic translocates to the circulatory system of the mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.) Environmental Science and Technology, 42: 5026-5031.

Teuten EL, Rowland SJ, Galloway TS and Thompson RC (2007) Potential for Plastics to Transport Hydrophobic Contaminants. Environmental Science and Technology, 41: 7759-7764.

Browne MA, Galloway T, and Thompson R (2007) Microplastic – an emerging contaminant of potential concern. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 3: 559–566

Thompson R , Moore C, Andrady A, Gregory M, Takada H and Weisberg S (2005) New directions in plastic debris, (Letter). Science. 310: 1117.

Thompson RC, Olsen Y, Mitchell RP, Davis A, Rowland SJ., John AWG, McGonigle D & Russell AE (2004) Lost at sea: Where does all the plastic go? Science 304: 838.

Hoare C & Thompson RC (1997) Microscopic plastic: a shore thing. Marine Conservation, 3(11): 4.

Ecology of Rocky Shores

Griffin JN, Jenkins SR, Gamfeldt L, Jones D, Hawkins SJ & Thompson RC (in press) Spatial heterogeneity increases the importance of species richness for an ecosystem process OIKOS.

Firth LB, Crowe TP, Moore P, Thompson RC & Hawkins SJ (2009) Predicting impacts of climate induced range expansion: an experimental framework and a test involving key grazers on temperate rocky shores. Global Change Biology, 15: 1413 -1422.

Noël L M-L J, Hawkins SJ, Jenkins SR & Thompson RC (2009). Grazing dynamics in intertidal rockpools: connectivity of microhabitats. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 370: 9-17.

Valdivia N, de la Haye KL, Jenkins SR, Kimmance SA, Thompson RC and Molis M (2009). Functional composition, but not richness, affected the performance of sessile suspension-feeding assemblages. Journal of Sea Research, 61: 216-221.

Silva AS, Thompson RC, Boaventura, D, and Hawkins SJ (in press) Predation by small mobile aquatic predators regulates populations of the intertidal limpet Patella vulgata (L.) Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Masterson P, Arenas FA, Thompson RC and Jenkins SR (in press) Interaction of top down and bottom up factors in intertidal rockpools: effects on early successional macroalgal community composition, abundance and productivity. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.

Hawkins SJ, Moore PJ, Burrows MT, Poloczanska E, Mieszkowska N, Herbert RJH, Jenkins SR, Thompson RC, Genner MJ and Southward AJ (2008) Complex interactions in a rapidly changing world: responses of rocky shore communities to recent climate change. Climate Research, 37: 123-133.

Blight AJ and Thompson RC (2008) Epibiont species richness varies between holdfasts of a northern and a southerly distributed kelp species. Journal of the Marine biological Association of the United Kingdom, 88: 469-475.

Griffin J, de la Haye K, Hawkins SJ, Thompson RC and Jenkins S (2008) Predator diversity and ecosystem functioning: density modifies the effect of resource partitioning. Ecology. 89: 298-305.

Pinn EH, Thompson RC and Hawkins SJ (2008) Piddocks (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Pholadidae) increase topographical complexity and species diversity in the intertidal. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 355: 173-182.

Martins GM, Thompson RC, Hawkins SJ, Neto AI and Jenkins SR (2008) Rocky intertidal community structure in oceanic islands: scales of spatial variability. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 356: 15-24.

Moore P, Hawkins SJ & Thompson RC (2007) The role of biological habitat amelioration in altering the relative responses of congeneric species to climate change. Marine Ecology Progress Series 334: 11-19.

Moore P, Thompson RC (2007) and Hawkins S.J. Effects of grazer identity on the probability of escapes by a canopy-forming macroalga. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 344: 170-180.

Martins GM, Hawkins SJ, Thompson RC, Jenkins SR (2007) Community structure and function in intertidal rockpools: effects of pool size and shore height at different successional stages. Marine Ecology Progress Series 329: 43-55.

Jonsson PR, Granhag L, Moschella PS, Åberg P, Hawkins SJ, Thompson RC (2006) Interactions between wave action and grazing control the distribution of intertidal macroalgae, Ecology, 87: 1169 - 1178.

Jonsson PR, Granhag L, Moschella PS, Åberg P, Hawkins SJ, Thompson RC (2006) Algal Refuge, Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America , 87: 112.

  

Thompson RC, Moschella PS, Jenkins SR, Norton TA & Hawkins SJ (2005) Differences in photosynthetic marine biofilms between sheltered and moderately exposed rocky shores Marine Ecology Progress Series 296: 53-63.

Pinn EH, Richardson CA, Thompson RC & Hawkins SJ (2005) Burrow morphology, biometry, age and growth of piddocks (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Pholadidae) on the south coast of England, U.K. Marine Biology 147: 943-953.

Santini G, Tendi C, Righini N, Thompson RC, Chelazzi C (2005) Preliminary observation on intra-specific variability in the temporal organisation of foraging of the limpet patella caerulea. Ethology and Evolution 17: 65-75.

Thompson RC, Norton TA & Hawkins SJ (2004) Physical stress and biological regulation control pattern and process in benthic biofilms. Ecology 85: 1372-1382.

Santini G, Thompson RC, Tendi C, Hawkins SJ, Hartnoll RG, Chelazzi G (2004) Intra-specific variability in the temporal organisation of foraging activity in the limpet Patella vulgata. Marine Biology 144: 1165-1172.

Jenkins SR, Arenas F, Arrontes J, Bussell J, Castro J, Coleman, RA, Hawkins SJ, Kay S, Martinez B, Oliveros J, Roberts, MF, Sousa S, Thompson RC & Hartnoll RG (2001) European-scale analysis of seasonal variability in limpet grazing activity and microalgal abundance. Marine Ecology Progress Series 14: 193-203.

Thompson RC, Norton TA, Roberts MF, & Hawkins SJ (2000) Feast or famine for intertidal grazing molluscs: a mis-match between seasonal variations in grazing intensity and the abundance of microbial resources Hydrobiologia. 440: 357 – 366.

Thompson RC, Jenkins SR, & Bussell JA (2000) A method for recording predator-prey encounters between crabs and limpets using wax replicas Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. 80: 633-638 .

Thompson RC, Tobin ML, Hawkins SJ & Norton TA (1999) Problems in extraction and spectrophotometric determination of chlorophyll from epilithic biofilms: towards a standard method. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. 79: 551-558.

Norton TA, Thompson RC, Pope J, Veltkamp CJ, Banks B, Howard CV & Hawkins SJ (1998) Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and phase contrast light microscopy to examine marine biofilms Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 16: 199-204.

Thompson RC, Norton TA & Hawkins SJ (1998) The influence of epilithic microbial films on the settlement of Semibalanus balanoides cyprids - a comparison between laboratory and field experiments. Hydrobiologia, 375/376: 203-216.

Thompson RC, Johnson L & Hawkins SJ (1997) A method for spatial and temporal assessment of gastropod grazing intensity in the field: the use of radula scrapes on wax discs. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology. 218: 63-76.

Thompson RC, Wilson BJ, Tobin ML, Hill AS & Hawkins SJ (1996) Biologically generated habitat provision & diversity of rocky shore organisms at an hierarchy of spatial scales. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology. 202: 73 - 84.

Conservation of Marine Habitats 

Sheehan EV, Thompson RC, Coleman RA & Attrill MJ (in press) Positive feedback fishery: Population consequences of ‘crab-tiling’ on the green crab Carcinus maenas. Journal of Sea Research

Martins GM, Jenkins SR, Hawkins SJ, Neto AI, Thompson RC (2008) Exploitation of rocky intertidal grazers: population status and potential impacts on community structure and functioning. Aquatic Biology, 3: 1-10.

Branch GM, Thompson RC, Crowe TP, Castilla JC, Langmead O & Hawkins SJ (2008) Rocky intertidal shores: prognosis for the future in: 'Aquatic ecosystems: trends and global prospects' p 209-225. Pollunin, N.V.C.ed. Cambridge University Press, UK

Burcharth H, Vidal C, Moschella PS, Airoldi L, Bulleri F, Ceccherelli VU, Colangelo MA, Thompson RC & Hawkins SJ. (2007) Consideration of legal, physical environmental, socio-economic and aesthetic constraints, in: Environmental design guidelines for low crested coastal structures. Burcharth HF, Hawkins SJ, Zanuttigh B and Lamberti A. Elsevier, Oxford UK, Chapter 5, p 17-24.

Moschella PS, Thompson RC & Hawkins SJ (2007) Environmental considerations in: Environmental design guidelines for low crested coastal structures. Burcharth HF, Hawkins SJ, Zanuttigh B and Lamberti A. Elsevier, Oxford UK, Chapter 9, p 65.

Moschella PS, Frost M, Gacia, Martin D, Thompson RC & Hawkins SJ (2007) Environmental impacts during construction operations in: Environmental design guidelines for low crested coastal structures. Burcharth HF, Hawkins SJ, Zanuttigh B and Lamberti A. Elsevier, Oxford UK, Chapter 10, p 70.

Moschella PS, Paphitis, Plomartis, Collins, Anerg P, Garhang, L, Jonsson P, Frost M, Thompson RC & Hawkins SJ (2007) Case studies in: Environmental design guidelines for low crested coastal structures. Burcharth HF, Hawkins SJ, Zanuttigh B and Lamberti A. Elsevier, Oxford UK, Chapter 11, p 73-136.
 

Moschella PS, Abbiati M, Åberg P, Airoldi L, Anderson, JM, Bacchiocchi F, Bulleri F, Dinesen GE , Frost M, Gaçia E, Granhag L, Jonsson PR’ Satta MP, Sundelöf A, Thompson RC, Hawkins SJ (2005) Low-crested coastal defence structures as artificial habitats for marine life: using ecological criteria in design. Coastal Engineering 52, 1053 - 1071

 

Martin D, Bertasi F, Colangelo MA, de Vries M, Frost M, Hawkins SJ, Macpherson E, Moschella PS, Satta MP, Thompson RC, Ceccherelli VU (2005). Ecological impact of coastal defence structures on sediment and mobile fauna: Evaluating and forecasting consequences of unavoidable modifications of native habitats. Coastal Engineering, 52: 1027 – 1051.

Airoldi L, Abbiati M, Beck M W, Hawkins SJ, Jonsson PR, Martin D, Moschella PS, Sundelöf A, Thompson RC, Åberg P (2005) An ecological perspective on the deployment and design of low- crested and other hard coastal defence structures. Coastal Engineering, 52: 1073-1087.

Mieszkowska N, Leaper R., Moore P, Kendall MA, Burrows MT, Lear D, Poloczanska E, Hiscock K, Moschella PS, Thompson RC, Herbert RJ, Laffoley D, Baxter J, Southward AJ and Hawkins SJ (2005) Marine Biodiversity and Climate Change: Assessing and Predicting the Influence of Climatic Change Using Intertidal Rocky Shore Biota Occasional Publications. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (20) 53p.

Thompson RC, Crowe TP & Hawkins SJ (2002) Rocky intertidal communities: past environmental changes, present status and predictions for the next 25 years. Environmental Conservation, 29: 168 -191.
 

Crowe TP, Thompson RC, Bray S & Hawkins SJ (2000) Impacts of anthropogenic stress on rocky intertidal communities. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery, 7: 273-297.

Veale LO, Bates M & Thompson RC (1997) Using volunteer divers to map sublittoral habitats around the Isle of Man. Proceedings of the Fourth Underwater Science Symposium, 25-26. (peer reviewed proceedings) .

Newton LC, Parkes EVH, & Thompson RC (1993) The effects of shell collecting on the abundance of gastropods on Tanzanian Shores. Biological Conservation, 63: 241-245.

 

Reports & invited lectures

 

Keynote Presentations

Accumulation and environmental consequences of plastic debris in marine habitats, Stralsund, Germany, May 2006. Marine Nature Conservation in Europe 2006 Invited Seminar funded by Bundesamt fur Naturschutz. Thompson RC, Rowland SJ, Galloway TS, Browne MA, Niven S and Teuten E.

Los Martes de L’Oceanographic: The fate and impacts of plastic waste in the sea, Valencia, Spain, March 2006, Invited Lecture funded the British Council programme for Science and Society. Thompson RC, Rowland SJ, Galloway TS, Browne MA, Niven S and Teuten E.

Microscopic plastic particles in the marine environment. Kommunes Internatsjonale miloorganisasjon (Local Authorities International Organisation) 15th International Conference, Lerwick, Shetland, UK, October 2005. Thompson RC, Rowland SJ, Galloway TS, Browne MA and Niven S.

 

The accumulation and environmental consequence of microscopic plastic debris. Plastic debris, rivers to sea conference. California, USA, September 2005. Thompson RC, Rowland SJ, Galloway TS, Browne MA and Niven S.

 

Lost at Sea: Studies on the Fate and Effects of Particles of Plastics. Royal Society of Chemistry International Symposium on Sustainable Plastics: Biodegradability versus Recycling. Manchester, March 2005. Thompson RC, Galloway T, Niven SJ, Browne M, & Rowland SJ.

 

Progress in research on interactions between seaweeds and invertebrates in littoral ecosystems of Europe. Third European Phycological Congress, July 2003. Belfast, UK. Hawkins SJ, Thompson RC and Aberg P.

 

Rocky intertidal communities: past environmental changes, present status and predictions (forecasts?) for the next 25 years. 5th International Conference on Environmental Futures, March 2003. Zurich, Switzerland. Thompson, RC, Crowe T.P. and Hawkins SJ.

 

Climate change and temperate reef ecosystems: integrating time and space. 6th International Temperate Reefs Symposium, January 2003. Christchurch, New Zealand. Hawkins SJ, Burrows MT, Kendall MA, Mieszkowska N, Moore P, Southward AJ, Thompson RC and Leaper R.

 

 

 

 

Conferences organised

 

Climate Change and Aquatic Systems: Past, Present and Future

University of Plymouth, 21-23rd July, 2004

 

 

 

Links

http://www.biology.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/Thompson/RThompson.htm