Profiles
Dr Benjamin Ciotti
Lecturer in Marine Biology
School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Lecturer in Marine Biology
Qualifications
PhD (2012) University of Delaware
BSc (2002) University of Liverpool (1st class honours)
Teaching interests
Physiology and behaviour of marine animals
Coastal ecology
Fish biology and fisheries
Molecular biology
Experimental design and statistics
Statistical computing
Field techniques in marine biology
Research interests
I take a broad, integrative approach to reveal variation in the performance of marine organisms in nature. My approach builds on physiological fundamentals, modern molecular tools, field surveys, laboratory experiments and statistical analysis to address contemporary ecological concerns.
A major focus of my research is on the development and application of new biochemical and molecular tools to characterize variation in physiological performance in situ. For example, I am applying RNA-based indices to evaluate the importance of coastal areas as nursery habitats for juvenile fishes. Similarly, I am using molecular markers to elucidate long-term impacts of environmental change on physiological and immune performance in crustaceans.
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
2019 'Within‐generation consequences of post‐settlement mortality for trait composition in wild populations: An experimental test' Ecology and Evolution , DOI Open access
2018 'Sensitivity to near-future CO₂ conditions in marine crabs depends on their compensatory capacities for salinity change' Scientific Reports 8, , DOI Open access
2017 'Infestation of shore crab gills by a free-living mussel species' Marine Biodiversity , DOI Open access
2015 'No evidence for impacts to the molecular ecophysiology of ion or CO 2 regulation in tissues of selected surface-dwelling bivalves in the vicinity of a sub-seabed CO 2 release' International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 38, 193-201 , DOI
2014 'Growth dynamics of European plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. in nursery areas: A review' Journal of Sea Research 90, 64-82 , DOI
2014 'Size variation of 0-group plaice: Are earlier influences on growth potential a contributing factor?' Journal of Sea Research 88, 59-66 , DOI
2013 'Small-scale spatial and temporal heterogeneity in growth and condition of juvenile fish on sandy beaches' Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 448, 346-359 , DOI
2013 'Decline in growth rate of juvenile European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) during summer at nursery beaches along the west coast of Scotland' Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 70, (5) 720-734 , DOI
2013 'Spatial variation in growth rate of early juvenile European plaice Pleuronectes platessa' Marine Ecology Progress Series 475, 213-232 , DOI
2012 'Temporal dynamics in growth and white skeletal muscle composition of the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus during chronic hypoxia and hyperoxia' Journal of Fish Biology 81, (1) 148-164 , DOI
2010 'Development, validation and field application of an RNA-based growth index in juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa' Journal of Fish Biology 77, (10) 2181-2209 , DOI
2009 'Nutrient enrichment and fisheries exploitation: interactive effects on estuarine living resources and their management' Hydrobiologia 629, (1) 31-47 , DOI
2003 'Protists decrease in size linearly with temperature:
ca
. 2.5% °C
−1' Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences 270, (1533) 2605-2611 , DOI
Chapters
2016 'Effects of temperature stress on ecological processes' Stressors in the Marine Environment Oxford University Press 213-227 , DOI