Stephen Votier

Dr Stephen Votier

Job title: Lecturer in Marine Ecology, School of Marine Science and Engineering (Faculty of Science and Technology)
Postal address: Room 621, Davy Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA
Telephone: +441752584654
Facsimile: +44 (0)1752 232970
Email: stephen.votier@plymouth.ac.uk

Qualifications & background

BSc (1995) University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

PhD (2001) University of Glasgow

Post-doc (2004) University of Glasgow

Post-doc (2005) University of Sheffield

CSIC Fellowship (2006) Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies

Lecturer in Marine Ecology (2006) University of Plymouth

Roles on external bodies

British Ornithologists Union Rarities Committee
British Birds Rarities Committee
British Ornithologists Union Taxanomic Sub-committee
Editorial Board British Birds

Teaching interests
Module Leader:
Skills in Marine Biological Investigation & Experimentation (BIOL1008)
Aquatic Biology (BIOL3406)

Other module teaching:
Biology of Marine Vertebrates (BIOL3301)
Biological Oceanography (BIOL3108)

Organiser:
Ecology & Marine Biology Seminar Series
First-year eco-systems fieldcourse

Research interests

My principal research interests focus on seabird ecology. More specifically I am interested in understanding how these apex predators repond to gobal change. Although this encompasses a broad church I am particularly interested in factors underlying population dynamics, community ecology and foraging ecology. I am involved with a range of projects including:

Great skuas (Stercorarius skua) as a top predators in the north Atlantic
(with Prof Bob Furness, Univerisity of Glasgow and Dr Stuart Bearhop, UEC)

Modelling the impact of climate and stochastic events on the population dynamics of common guillemots (Uria aalge)
(with Prof Tim Birkhead & Professor Ben Hatchwell, University of Sheffield)

Metapopulation dynamics of Audouin's Gulls (Larus audouinii)
(with Dr Dani Oro, IMEDEA, Mallorca, Spain)

Seabird fishery interactions (Northern Gannets Morus bassanus in Europe & White-capped Albatrosses Thalassarche cauta steadi in subantarctic New Zealand)

(with Dr Stuart Bearhop & Dr Matt Witt, UEC, Dr David Gremillet, CNRS & Dr David Thompson, NIWA, New Zealand)

Avian migration

Avian migration has long fascinated biologists, and I ain't no different. I have recently collaborated on a number of projects investigated the consequences of differing migratory strategies and the influence of carry-over effects. Many of these studies have been elucidated via the applications of stable isotopes.

Post-doctoral Researchers

Samantha Patrick (EU INTERREG Funded CHARM Project) Ecology of apex marine predators in response to environmental change

Post-graduate students

Tony Bicknell (NERC Open CASE) Population structuring and dispersal patterns of a highly pelagic seabird: Implications for Leach's Storm-petrel conservation (2007-2010)

James Grecian (PRIMaRE) Seabirds and offshore development (2008-2011)

Valentina Lauria (Marine Institute) The relative influence of climate change and fishing impact on long-term trends in North Atlantic fish biomass and seabird populations (2008-2011)

Tom Black (University of Edinburgh) Ecology & Evolution of the St Kilda Field Mouse (Main supervisor is Professor Josephine Pemberton)

Lisa Szutowski (MARES) Individual foraging specialisation and seabird fishery interactions: Implications for albatross conservation (2011-2014)

Grants & contracts

2010-2013: NERC Standard Grant (NE/H007466/1)
2008-2010: NERC New Invesigators Grant (NE/GOO1014/1)
2008-2011: Marine Institute Studentship
2008-2011: PRIMaRE Studentship
2007-2010: NERC Open CASE Studentship (NE/F007213/1)
2007: NERC LSMSSC Grant-in-kind
2005-2006: Spanish Council for Scientific Research Fellowship (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies)

Publications

2011

1. Bicknell AWJ, Campbell M, Knight ME, Bilton DT, Newton J, Votier SC (2011) Effects of formalin preservation on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures in Calanoid copepods: implications for the use of Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey samples in stable isotope analyses. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 25, 1794–1800

2. Sangster G, Collinson JM, Crochet P-A, Knox AG, Parkin DT, Svensson L, Votier SC (2011) Taxonomic recommendations for British birds: seventh report. Ibis 153, 883-892

3. Torres LG, Thompson DR, Bearhop S, Votier S, Taylor GA, Sagar PM, Robertson BC (2011) White-capped albatrosses alter fine-scale foraging behaviour patterns when associated with fishing vessels. Marine Ecology Progress Series 428, 289-301

4. Votier SC, Grecian WJ, Patrick S, Newton J (2010) Inter-colony movements, at-sea behaviour and foraging in an immature seabird: results from GPS-PTT tracking, radio-tracking and stable isotope analysis. Marine Biology 158, 355-362

5. Votier SC, Archibald K, Morgan G, Morgan L (2010) The use of plastic debris as nesting material by a colonial seabird and associated entanglement mortality. Marine Pollution Bulletin 62, 168-172

2010

6. Grecian WJ, Inger R, Attrill MJ, Bearhop S, Godley BJ, Witt MJ, Votier SC (2010) Potential impacts of wave-powered marine renewable energy installations on marine birds. Ibis 152, 683-697.

7. Votier SC, Bearhop S, Witt MJ, Inger R, Thompson D & Newton J (2010) Individual responses of seabirds to commercial fisheries revealed using GPS tracking, stable isotopes and vessel monitoring systems. Journal of Applied Ecology 47, 487-497.

8. Calosi P, Bilton DT, Spicer JI, Votier SC & Atfield A. (2010) What determines a species’ geographical range? Thermal biology and latitudinal range size relationships in European diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscisdae). Journal of Animal Ecology 79, 194–204.

2009

9. Votier SC, Hatchwell BJ, Mears M & Birkhead TR (2009) Changes in the timing of egg-laying of a colonial seabird in relation to population size and environmental conditions. Marine Ecology Progress Series 393, 225-233.

10. Trinder M, Hassell D, & Votier SC (2009) Reproductive performance in arctic-nesting geese is influenced by environmental conditions during the winter, breeding and migrations seasons. Oikos 118, 1093-1101.

11. Inger R, Attrill MJ, Bearhop S, Broderick AC, Grecian WJ, Hodgson DJ, Mills C, Sheehan E, Votier SC, Witt M & Godley BJ (2009) Marine Renewable Energy: potential benefits to biodiversity? An urgent call for research. Journal of Applied Ecology 46, 1145-1153.

12. Bicknell TWJ, Reid JB & Votier SC (2009) Probable predation of Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodromma leucorhoa eggs by St Kilda Field Mice Apodemus sylvaticus hirtensis. Bird Study 56, 419-422.

2008

13. Votier SC, Bearhop S, Attrill MJ & Oro D (2008) Is climate change the most likely driver of range expansion for a critically endangered top predator in northeast Atlantic waters? Biology Letters 4, 205-206.

14. Votier SC, Birkhead TR, Oro D, Trinder M, Grantham MJ, Clark JA, McCleery RH & Hatchwell BJ (2008) Recruitment and survival of immature seabirds in relation to oil spills and climate variability. Journal of Animal Ecology 77, 974-983.

15. Votier SC, Heubeck M & Furness RW (2008) Using inter-colony variation in demographic parameters to assess the impact of skua predation on seabird populations. Ibis 150, 45-53.

16. Votier SC, Bearhop S, Fyfe R & Furness RW (2008) Linking temporal and spatial variation in the diet of a marine top predator with commercial fisheries. Marine Ecology Progress Series 367, 223-232.

2007

17. Votier SC, Bearhop S. et al (2007). Seabird predation by great skuas Stercorarius skua - intra-specific competition for food? Journal of Avian Biology 38, 234-246.

18. Votier SC, Kennedy M, Bearhop S, et al. (2007). Supplementary DNA evidence fails to confirm presence of Brown Skuas Stercorarius antarctica in Europe: a retraction of Votier et al. Ibis 149, 619-621.

19. Furness RW, Crane JE, Bearhop S, Garthe S, Kakela A, Kakela R, Kelly A, Kubetzki U, Votier SC & Waldron S (2007). Techniques to link individual migration patterns of seabirds with diet specialization, condition and breeding performance. Ardea 94, 631-638.

2006

20. Votier SC, Crane JE, Bearhop S, de Leon A, McSorley CA, Minguez E, Mitchell IP, Parsons M, Phillips RA & Furness RW (2006). Nocturnal foraging by great skuas Stercorarius skua: implications for conservation of storm-petrel populations. Journal of Ornithology 147, 405-413.

21. Kakela A, Crane JE, Votier SC, Furness RW (2006) Fatty acid signatures as indicators of diet in great skuas Stercorarius skua, Shetland. Marine Ecology Progress Series 319, 297-310.

2005

22. Votier SC, Hatchwell BJ, Beckerman A, McCleery RH, Hunter FM, Pellatt J, Trinder M & Birkhead TR (2005) Oil pollution and climate have wide-scale impacts on seabird demographics. Ecology Letters 8, 1157-1164.

23. Bearhop S, Fielder W, Furness RW, Votier SC, Waldron S, Newton J, Bowen G, Berthold P. & Farnsworth K. (2005) Assortative mating as a mechanism for the rapid evolution of a migratory divide. Science 310, 502-504.

2004

24. Votier SC, Furness RW, Bearhop S, Crane JE, Caldow RWG, Catry P, Ensor K, Hamer KC, Hudson AV, Kalmbach E, Klomp NI, Pfeiffer S, Phillips RA, Prieto I & Thompson DR (2004). Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities. Nature 427, 727 - 730.

25. Votier SC, Bearhop S, Ratcliffe N, Phillips RA & Furness RW (2004)Predation by great skuas at a large Shetland seabird colony. Journal of Applied Ecology 41, 1117-1128.

26. Bearhop S, Hilton G, Votier SC & Waldron S (2004) Stable isotope ratios indicate that body condition in migrating passerines is influenced by winter habitat. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 271(Supp 4), S215-S218.

27. Votier SC, Bearhop S, Newell RG, Orr K, Furness RW & Kennedy M (2004). The first record of Brown Skua Catharacta antarctica in Eurpoe. Ibis 146, 384.

28. Votier SC, Bearhop S, Ratcliffe N & Furness RW (2004) Reproductive consequences for great skuas specializing as seabird predators. Condor 106, 275-287.

2003

29. Bearhop S, Furness RW, Hilton G, Votier SC & Waldron S (2003) A forensic approach to understanding diet and habitat use from stable isotope analysis of (avian) claw material. Functional Ecology 17, 270-275.

30. Votier SC, Bearhop S, MacCormick A, Ratcliffe N & Furness RW (2003). Assessing the diet of great skuas, Catharacta skua, using five different techniques. Polar Biology 26, 20-26.

2002

31. Bearhop S, Waldron S, Votier SC & Furness RW (2002) Factors influencing turnover and fractionation of nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes in avian blood and feathers. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 75, 451-458.

2001

32. Votier SC, Bearhop S, Ratcliffe N & Furness RW (2001) Pellets as indicators of diet in Great Skuas Catharacta skua. Bird Study 48, 373-376.

33. Bearhop S, Thompson DR, Phillips RA, Waldron S, Hamer KC, Gray CM, Votier SC, Ross BP, Furness RW (2001) Annual variation in great skua diets: the importance of commercial fisheries and predation on seabirds revealed by combining dietary analysis. Condor 103: 802-809.