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Samantha Cox Samantha Cox
Role PhD Student: Physical drivers of predator foraging in the marine environment Supervisors: Dr Simon Ingram, Dr Phil Hosegood, Dr Stephen Votier and Dr Martin Attrill Qualifications & background MSc (Distinction) Applied Marine and Fisheries Ecology. University of Aberdeen 2010-2011 Dissertation title: Predator-prey dynamics driven by fine-scale oceanographic variability in the marine environment. Supervisor: Dr Beth Scott BSc Hons Marine Biology. University of Aberdeen 2004-2008 Dissertation title: Difference in the lipid content of female and male herring Clupea harengus muscle tissue. Supervisor: Dr Tara Marshall Research interests Understanding the manner by which mobile pelagic marine predators such as marine mammals and seabirds utilise their environment is a key question in ecology. In particular, elucidating the methods used by animals to locate and capture their food remains a central theme in research both at theoretical and applied levels. My research focuses on determining the underlying physical oceanographic parameters that characterise and define the foraging habitats of such mobile pelagic marine predators. To address this question I will initially use 3 datasets: 1. Temperature-depth recorders (TDR) deployed at Grassholm breeding colony off Wales will be used to determine the vertical foraging movements of gannets in relation to hydrographic water structure. 2. An at-sea synoptic survey as part of the NERC funded wavehub baseline study will be used to determine underlying physical processes driving variation in foraging abundances of a range of species observed across the region. 3. CPODs deployed over a 4 year period at the wavehub site will be used to determine the influence of the formation and subsequent dissipation of a front on harbour porpoise presence. Grants & contracts NERC studentship 2011-2014 Scottish Fisherman's Trust Award (2010) Publications |
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