Role
Academic Research Fellow
Roles on external bodies
Member of the ICES Working Group on Deep-water Ecology (WGDEC)
Research interests
Deep-sea ecology, deep-sea conservation and management, spatial planning, high seas / deep-sea marine protected areas, habitat classification, habitat mapping, predictive species modelling, deep-sea food webs, ecosystem impacts of deep-water fisheries.
Current Projects
Mapping the Deep
The 'Mapping the deep' project will tackle the principle cause of destruction of the UK's cold water coral reefs, coral gardens and other vulnerable habitats (that is destruction caused by contact with bottom trawl gear), by providing maps of their distribution in order that appropriate protection measures such as the creation of marine protected areas, can be taken. These maps will be created using predictive modelling approaches coupled with traditional habitat mapping methods.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wild/projects-2011/united-kingdom/coral-reef/
UoP Research group membership
Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre (MBERC)
Other research
PhD Students
Charlotte Marshall – PhD title “Predictive species modelling as a tool to aid in spatial planning” 2007-2010.
Publications
Peer Reviewed
Howell, K.L., Holt, R., Pulido Endrino, I., Stewart, H. (2011) When the species is also a habitat: comparing the predictively modelled distributions of Lophelia pertusa and the reef habitat it forms. Biological Conservation, in press.
Heymans, J.J., Howell, K.L., Ayers, M., Burrows, M.T., Gordon, J.D.M., Jones, E.G., Neat, F. (2010) Do we have enough information to apply the ecosystem approach to management of deep-sea fisheries? An example from the West of Scotland. ICES Journal of Marine Science. 68, 265-280.
Howell, K.L., Mowles S., and Foggo, A. (2010) Mounting evidence: near-slope seamounts are faunally indistinct from an adjacent bank. Marine Ecology. 31, 52-62.
Howell, K.L. (2010) A benthic classification system to aid in the implementation of marine protected area networks in the deep / high seas of the NE Atlantic. Biological Conservation. 143, 1041–1056.
Howell, K.L., Davies J.S., and Narayanaswamy, B.E. (2010). Identifying deep-sea megafaunal epibenthic assemblages for use in habitat mapping and marine protected area network design. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 90 , pp 33-68 .
Tyler, PA, Emson, RH, Sumida, PY, Howell, KL. (2005) Ophiuroid distribution at sublittoral and bathyal depths round the Faroes, NE Atlantic Ocean. In : North-East Atlantic marine benthic organisms in the Faroes-taxonomy, distribution and ecology. Annales Societatis Scientiarium Faeroensis Supp 41, 175-194.
Howell, K.L., Rogers, A.D., Billett, D.S.M. and Tyler, P.A. (2004) Reproductive isolation among morphotypes of the Atlantic seastar species Zoroaster fulgens (Echinodermata:Asteroidea). Marine Biology 144, 977 – 984.
Howell, K.L., Billett, D.S.M. and Tyler, P.A. (2004) Feeding ecology of deep-sea seastars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea): a pigment biomarker approach. Marine Ecology Progress Series 266, 103-110.
Howell, K.L., Pond, D.W., Billett, D.S.M. and Tyler, P.A. (2003) Feeding ecology of deep-sea seastars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea): a fatty acid biomarker approach. Marine Ecology Progress Series 255, 193-206
Howell, K.L., Billett, D.S.M. and Tyler, P.A. (2002) Depth-related distribution and abundance of seastars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) in the Porcupine Seabight and Porcupine Abyssal Plain, N.E. Atlantic. Deep-Sea Research I, 49, 1901-1920.
Reports
Howell, K.L., Embling, C., Holt, R., Stewart, H.A. (2011) Using predictive modelling to map the distribution of selected habitats listed as MPA search features in Scottish waters. Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report. Unpublished.
Long, D., Howell, K.L., Davies, J., Stewart, H. (2010) JNCC Offshore Natura survey of Anton Dohrn Seamount and East Rockall Bank Areas of Search. Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report 437, 132p.
Howell, K.L., Heymans, J.J., Gordon, J.D.M., Duncan, J., Ayers, M., Jones, E.G (2009) DEEPFISH Project: Applying an ecosystem approach to the sustainable management of deep-water fisheries. Part 1: Development of the Ecopath with Ecosim model. Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban. U.K. Report no. 259a.
Howell, K.L., Heymans, J.J., Gordon, J.D.M., Duncan, J., Ayers, M., Jones, E.G (2009) DEEPFISH Project: Applying an ecosystem approach to the sustainable management of deep-water fisheries. Part 2: A new approach to managing deepwater fisheries. Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban. U.K. Report no. 259b.
Davies, J., Guinan, J., Howell, K., Stewart, H. & Verling, E. (editor) (2008) MESH South West Approaches Canyons Survey (MESH Cruise 01-07-01) Final Report. Mapping European Seabed Habitats (MESH) Project Report. 156p
Howell, K.L., Davies, J.S., Hughes, D.J., and Narayanaswamy, B.E. (2007). Strategic Environmental Assessment / Special Area for Conservation Photographic Analysis Report. Department of Trade and Industry, Strategic Environmental Assessment Report, UK. 163p.
Howell, K.L., Davies J.S., Jacobs, C., and Narayanaswamy B.E. (2007). Broadscale Survey of the Habitats of Rockall Bank, and mapping of Annex I ‘Reef’ Habitat. Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report. 165p.
Narayanaswamy, B.E., Howell, K.L., Hughes, D.J., Davies, J.S., Roberts, J.M., and Black, K.D. (2006). Strategic Environmental Assessment Area 7 Photographic Analysis Report. Department of Trade and Industry, Strategic Environmental Assessment Report, UK, 179p.
Connor, D.W., Allen, J.A., Golding, N, Howell, K.L., Lieberknecht, L.M., Northen, K.O. and Reker, J.B. (2004) The Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland Version 04.05 JNCC, Peterborough. ISBN 1 861 07561 8 (internet version) www.jncc.gov.uk/MarineHabitatClassification
