- Room 622, Davy Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584544
- kerry.howell@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Professor Kerry Howell
Professor of Deep-Sea Ecology
School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Professor Kerry Howell can be contacted through arrangement with our Press Office, to speak to the media on these areas of expertise.
- Marine conservation
- Deep-sea biology
- Deep-water fisheries
- Habitat mapping
- Artificial intelligence
- Deep sea mining
- New antibiotics
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
I am deputy programme leader for the BSc (Hons) Marine Biology and Oceanography at the University of Plymouth. I am also an active academic researcher working on various topics related to conservation and sustainable management of the deep sea and High Seas, and marine habitat mapping.
Qualifications
Research expeditions
- RRS Challenger C142 (UK) – (1999) NE Atlantic (trawls, grab, corers, landers)
- RS Discovery D250 (UK) – (2000) NE Atlantic (trawls, grab, corers, landers)
- RRS Discovery D252 (UK) – (2001) NE Atlantic (trawls, grab, corers, landers)
- R/V Seward Johnson II (USA) – (2002) Gulf of Mexico (Manned submersible Johnson SeaLink)
- RV Celtic Voyager (Ireland) – (2005) Irish Sea (bedhop camera system, grabs)
- R/V Endeavour CEND12/05 (UK) – (2005) Eastern English Channel (Towed camera system, grabs, cores)
- FRV Scotia (UK) – (2005) NE Atlantic (Towed camera system)
- MV Franklin 0206 (Sweden) – (2006) NE Atlantic (Seatronics towed camera system)
- FRV Scotia (UK ) – (2006) NE Atlantic (Towed camera system)
- MV Franklin 0406 (Sweden) – (2006) NE Atlantic (Seatronics towed camera system)
- R/V Belgica 2014/16 (Belgium) – (2014) Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic (DS1 Towed camera system)
- R/V Belgica 2015/15 (Belgium) – (2015) Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic (DS2 Towed camera system)
- RVCeltic Explorer CE05011 (Ireland) – (2015) NE Atlantic (ROV Holland I)
- RRS James Cook JC136 (UK) – (2016) NE Atlantic (DeepLinks project, ROV Isis, AUV Autosub6000)
- ILV Granuaile (Ireland) – (2017) NE Atlantic (SeaRovers project, ROV Holland I)
- ILV Granuaile (Ireland) – (2018) NE Atlantic (SeaRovers project, ROV Holland I)
- RRS Discovery (UK) – (2019) St Helena, South Atlantic (Blue Belt Programme, BAS Drop Camera System)
Roles on external bodies
- Member of the NERC Marine Facilities Advisory Board
- NERC peer review college member
- Member of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea's Working Group on Deep-Sea Ecology (2005 to present)
- Co-Chair of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative’s (DOSI) working group on the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2018 to present)
- Co-Chair of the SCOR working group (2020–2022)
- Chair of the Challenger Society Deep Sea Special Interest Group (2018 to present)
Highlights
Research
Research
Research interests
From an academic perspective my research is focused on understanding biodiversity patterns in the deep sea. I am interested in faunal zonation and species turnover with depth, as well as speciation along the depth gradient. More recently I have been investigating patchiness and faunal changes along isobaths, and trying to understand environmental drivers of deep-sea diversity and species distributions.
From an applied perspective my research is focused on sustainable management of the deep-sea ecosystem. In particular I am interested in research to support the design of effective marine protected area networks, including the creation of reliable habitat maps, and models of population connectivity that under-pin the design.
See our group website www.deepseacru.org for more details.
Current Projects
The “One Ocean Hub” is a £20 million project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) from 2019-2024. There are 24 research partners, and 35 project partner organisations. The Hub’s aim is to predict, harness and share equitably environmental, socioeconomic and cultural benefits from ocean conservation and sustainable use. I am one of 10 Co-Directors of the Hub and I Co-Lead the £4 million ‘Marine Non-Fishery Resources’ research programme within the Hub. My specific area of research on the project is focused on understanding and mapping marine (non-fishery) resources, which includes services like recycling of nutrients, carbon storage, oxygen generation, as well as potential biomedical values of marine animals like sponges. The project has a strong capacity building element and we are working with partner nations including South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Seychelles, Fiji, Solomon Island, and the Caribbean region.
This is an interdisciplinary project involving oceanographers, marine biologists, hydrographic surveyors and biogeochemists from the University of Plymouth and the Manta Trust. It is part of a wider programme of research within BIOT . Our aim is to learn what processes and interactions sustain a healthy reef ecosystem. My focus is the mesophotic coral reef systems, their composition, connectivity, drivers of their distribution, and processes maintaining overall health.
UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development / Challenger 150
I am currently coordinating efforts to develop a new 10 year deep-sea science programme for the Decade and to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Challenger Expedition. Please see the SCOR working group, DOSI working group and Challenger Deep-Sea Special Interest Group. Watch this space.......
Application of computer vision and artificial intelligence to seafloor image analysis and species identification.
This aspect of my research is embedded in multiple projects. I am coordinating international efforts to build an image reference archive for deep-sea species to support the future development of AI and CV. I am also trialing the use of AI and CV in AUV and ROV image data.
Deep-sea discovery - mining marine environments for novel biologics
The aim of this research project is to identify and develop potential new antimicrobials produced by the microbiome of sponges that live in the deep sea.
DEEPLINKS - Influence of population connectivity on depth-dependent diversity of deep-sea marine benthic biota .
Knowledge of how populations are connected is central to our understanding of population persistence, isolation, divergence, speciation and radiation. The bathyal region has been identified as the primary site of adaptive radiation in the deep-sea from molecular and morphological studies and is also where the peak in species diversity occurs in many ocean basins. Gene-flow is low over the depth gradient suggesting limited larval exchange occurs in the vertical. Recent research has suggested that larval dispersal potential may vary with depth.This variation, given the limited vertical exchange, may provide a mechanism for population isolation, divergence and speciation in the bathyal region. This study will adopt a multidisciplinary approach to investigate connectivity among deep-sea populations at different depths and spatial scales using: 1) larval dispersal modelling using Lagrangian particle tracking, driven by hydrographic models 2) population genetics/genomics and 3) benthic community analysis, using examples of sessile (scleractinian corals) and limited mobility (echinoid) species as test subjects. We will examine changes in larval dispersal, gene-flow,gene expression and community and taxonomic patterns with depth to identify possible variation in population connectivity down the vertical gradient. We will also examine patterns of connectivity at different spatial scales. Critically we will investigate whether the changes in connectivity from the shelf break to bathyal depths are correlated to current flow as predicted by hydrodynamic models and whether this physical mechanism significantly contributes to current patterns of diversity, potentially driving speciation at large spatial scales or, alternatively, whether other factors are influencing genetic structure.
Other research
Postdocs
Nicola Foster - BIOT Mesopelagic Reefs
Kirsty McQuaid - One Ocean Hub
Nils Piechaud - Mission Atlantic
PhD Students
As Director of Studies
Amelia Bridges - PhD title "Distribution of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the South Atlantic" 2017-2020
Poppy Hesketh Best - PhD title "Deep-sea discovery - mining marine environments for novel biologics" 2017-2020
Giulia La Bianca - PhD title "Using ecosystem services mapping in deep-sea marine spatial planning" 2020-2023
As other supervisor
Matthew Koch - PhD title "Deep-sea discovery - mining marine environments for novel biologics" 2017-2020
Clara Diaz - PhD title "Investigating the distribution and diversity of mesophotic reefs in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)" 2019-2022
Edward Robinson - PhD title " Oceanographic drivers of ecosystem variability in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)" 2019-2022
Jazmin Conway - PhD title "Deep sea sponges as a novel source of biologics" 2020-2023
Masters students
Kyran Graves - ResM title "The application of habitat suitability modelling to mapping biotope distribution in the deep sea to inform spatial management" - 2020-2021
Erin Browne - ResM title "The application of artificial intelligence to benthic species identification" - 2020-2021
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
Molly James - PhD Mechanisms of vertical movement in meroplankton: A primer of dispersal, 2021.
Nils Piechaud - PhD The application of autonomous underwater vehicles to challenges in marine habitat mapping and predictive species distribution modelling, 2019.
Kirsty McQuaid - PhD The application of predictive modelling to marine spatial planning associated with deep-sea mining, 2020.
Rebecca Ross - PhD Investigating the role of larval dispersal models in the development of an 'ecologically coherent' network of deep sea marine protected areas, 2016
Charlotte Marshall - PhD Species distribution modelling to support marine conservation planning, 2011
Jaime Davies - PhD Mapping Deep-Sea Features in UK Waters For Use in Marine Protected Area Network Design. 2011
Rebecca Jefferson - PhD Communicating Marine Environmental Health: Connecting Science, Social and Policy Values, 2010
Grants & contracts
2020: NERC Highlight Topic. Seabed Mining and Resilience to Experimental Impact. (Co-Investigator)
2020: EU H2020. Mission Atlantic. 34 partners from 15 countries. (Co-Investigator)
2019: Global Challenges Research Fund. One Ocean Hub. 24 research partners, and 35 project partner organisations. (Co-Director)
2019: Garfield-Weston Foundation. Conservation strategies for biodiversity hotspots and safe havens in a changing climate: oceanographic drivers of ecosystem variability in the Chagos archipelago. Attrill, M, Hosegood, P, Howell, KL, (Co-Principal Investigator)
2018: Marine Institute Ireland. Contract to process the SeaRovers 2018-19 deep-sea survey data. (Principal Investigator).
2017: Marine Institute Ireland. Contract to process the SeaRovers 2017 deep-sea survey data. (Principal Investigator).
2016: Deep Sea Biology Society. Development of a unified North Atlantic species image catalogue. Howell, KL, Davies JS. (Principal Investigator).
2015: NERC (Standard Research Grant). DeepLinks - Influence of population connectivity on depth-dependent diversity of deep-sea marine benthic biota. Howell, KL, Rogers, A. (Principal Investigator).
2015: UK Seabed Resource Ltd. (Studentship) The application of predictive modelling to marine spatial planning associated with deep-sea mining. Howell, KL, Attrill, M. (Principal Investigator).
2014: NERC (Capital Equipment Call). Deep Search 2 a cost effective deep towed camera platform. Howell, KL, Shirley, M. (Principal Investigator).
2014: EU (EuroFleets2) The application of predictively modelled maps to European spatial planning. Howell, KL, Grehan, A, Kenny, A. (Principal Investigator).
2013: NERC (Studentship) Investigating the role of larval dispersal models in the development of an 'ecologically coherent' network of deep sea marine protected areas. Howell, KL, Nimmo-Smith, WA, Vlasenko, V. (Principal Investigator).
2013: Defra (Research grant) Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) – assessing and predicting their status and function in relation to fishing activities in the North Atlantic. Kenny, A., Howell, KL, (Co-Investigator).
2013: JNCC. Development of a UK deep-sea habitat classification system. Howell, KL, Piechaud, N. (Principal Investigator).
2012: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA). Image Catalog For North Atlantic Deep-Sea Corals. Davies, JA, Howell, KL, Guillaumont, B. (Co-Investigator).
2012: JNCC. Analysis of seabed imagery from the Hebrides Terrace Seamount captured on the JC073 Survey. Howell, KL, Cross, T. (Principal Investigator).
2012: JNCC. Mapping the Deep III. Howell, KL, Ross, RE, Piechaud, N. (Principal Investigator).
2011: Oak Foundation. Mapping the Deep II. Howell, KL, Ross, RE. (Principal Investigator).
2011: BBC Wildlife Fund. Mapping the Deep. Howell, KL, Tyler-Walters, H. (Principal Investigator).
2011: JNCC. Using predictive modelling to map the distribution of selected habitats listed as MPA search features in Scottish waters. Howell, KL, Embling, C, Holt, R, Stewart, HA. (Principal Investigator).
2009: EU (Interreg) CHARM 3 - CHannel integrated Approach for marine Resource Management. Attrill, M, Votier, S. Howell, KL. (Co-Investigator).
2008: CenSeam (mini-grant). Benthic communities of the submarine features of the Rockall Trough: are seamounts special? Howell, KL. (Principal Investigator).
2008: South West Regional Development Agency (Capital items bid). ROV and towed camera system. Attrill, MA, Sheehan, E, Howell KL. (Co-Investigator).
2007: JNCC. (Studentship) Identification of areas of nature conservation importance in deep waters of the UK. Howell, KL. (Principal Investigator).
2006: Natural England. Review of Methods for Managing Ma
2017: Society for Applied Microbiology. Deep-sea discovery - mining marine environments for novel biologics. Upton, M, Howell, KL, (Co-Investigator)
2016: Plymouth University. Pilot study to test the use of photogrammetry to improve identification of benthic species using artificial intelligence. Howell, KL, Shirley, M, Hunt, C, Wadsworth, T. (Principal Investigator).
2016: Deep Sea Biology Society. Development of a unified North Atlantic species image catalogue. Howell, KL, Davies JS. (Principal Investigator).
2015: NERC (Standard Research Grant). DeepLinks - Influence of population connectivity on depth-dependent diversity of deep-sea marine benthic biota. Howell, KL, Rogers, A. (Principal Investigator).
2015: UK Seabed Resource Ltd. (Studentship) The application of predictive modelling to marine spatial planning associated with deep-sea mining. Howell, KL, Attrill, M. (Principal Investigator).
2014: NERC (Capital Equipment Call). Deep Search 2 a cost effective deep towed camera platform. Howell, KL, Shirley, M. (Principal Investigator).
2014: EU (EuroFleets2) The application of predictively modelled maps to European spatial planning. Howell, KL, Grehan, A, Kenny, A. (Principal Investigator).
2013: NERC (Studentship) Investigating the role of larval dispersal models in the development of an 'ecologically coherent' network of deep sea marine protected areas. Howell, KL, Nimmo-Smith, WA, Vlasenko, V. (Principal Investigator).
2013: Defra (Research grant) Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) – assessing and predicting their status and function in relation to fishing activities in the North Atlantic. Kenny, A., Howell, KL, (Co-Investigator).
2013: JNCC. Development of a UK deep-sea habitat classification system. Howell, KL, Piechaud, N. (Principal Investigator).
2012: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA). Image Catalog For North Atlantic Deep-Sea Corals. Davies, JA, Howell, KL, Guillaumont, B. (Co-Investigator).
2012: JNCC. Analysis of seabed imagery from the Hebrides Terrace Seamount captured on the JC073 Survey. Howell, KL, Cross, T. (Principal Investigator).
2012: JNCC. Mapping the Deep III. Howell, KL, Ross, RE, Piechaud, N. (Principal Investigator).
2011: Oak Foundation. Mapping the Deep II. Howell, KL, Ross, RE. (Principal Investigator).
2011: BBC Wildlife Fund. Mapping the Deep. Howell, KL, Tyler-Walters, H. (Principal Investigator).
2011: JNCC. Using predictive modelling to map the distribution of selected habitats listed as MPA search features in Scottish waters. Howell, KL, Embling, C, Holt, R, Stewart, HA. (Principal Investigator).
2009: EU (Interreg) CHARM 3 - CHannel integrated Approach for marine Resource Management. Attrill, M, Votier, S. Howell, KL. (Co-Investigator).
2008: CenSeam (mini-grant). Benthic communities of the submarine features of the Rockall Trough: are seamounts special? Howell, KL. (Principal Investigator).
2008: South West Regional Development Agency (Capital items bid). ROV and towed camera system. Attrill, MA, Sheehan, E, Howell KL. (Co-Investigator).
2007: JNCC. (Studentship) Identification of areas of nature conservation importance in deep waters of the UK. Howell, KL. (Principal Investigator).
2006: Natural England. Review of Methods for Managing Marine Protected Areas. Stevens, T, Jones, P, Howell, KL, Mee, L. (Co-Investigator).
2006: Department for Trade and Industry / Defra. Strategic Environmental Assessment – Area 7 and Special Area for Conservation assessment. Howell, KL, Davies, JS., Hughes, DJ, Narayanaswamy, BE. (Principal Investigator).
2005: Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Sustainable management of deep-water fisheries and their impact on marine biodiversity. Howell, KL, Jones, E, Heymans, S, Gordon, J. (Principal Investigator).
2005: Department for Trade and Industry. Strategic Environmental Assessment – Area 7. Narayanaswamy, BE, Howell, KL, Hughes, DJ, Davies, JS, Roberts, JM, Black, KD. (Co-Investigator).
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
(2022) 'Oceanographic variability drives the distribution but not the density of the aggregation forming deep-sea sponge Pheronema carpenteri' Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 103917-103917 , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Fast and accurate mapping of fine scale abundance of a VME in the deep sea with computer vision' Ecological Informatics 71, , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Performance of deep-sea habitat suitability models assessed using independent data, and implications for use in area-based management' Marine Ecology Progress Series 695, 33-51 , DOI
(2022) 'Depth and latitudinal gradients of diversity in seamount benthic communities' Journal of Biogeography 49, (5) 904-915 , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Climate Mitigation through Biological Conservation: Extensive and Valuable Blue Carbon Natural Capital in Tristan da Cunha’s Giant Marine Protected Zone' Biology 10, (12) , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Impact of growth media and pressure on the diversity and antimicrobial activity of isolates from two species of hexactinellid sponge' Microbiology 167, (12) , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Editorial: Biodiversity, Connectivity and Ecosystem Function Across the Clarion-Clipperton Zone: A Regional Synthesis for an Area Targeted for Nodule Mining' Frontiers in Marine Science 8, , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Benthic Assemblage Composition of South Atlantic Seamounts' Frontiers in Marine Science 8, , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Reconstructing baselines: use of habitat suitability modelling to predict pre-fishing condition of a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem' ICES Journal of Marine Science 78, (8) 2784-2796 , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Predicting sea pen (Pennatulacea) distribution on the UK continental shelf: evidence of range modification by benthic trawling' Marine Ecology Progress Series 670, 75-91 , DOI
(2020) 'Using Habitat Classification to Assess Representativity of a Protected Area Network in a Large, Data-Poor Area Targeted for Deep-Sea Mining' Frontiers in Marine Science 7, , DOI Open access
(2020) 'A Blueprint for an Inclusive, Global Deep-Sea Ocean Decade Field Program' Frontiers in Marine Science 7, , DOI Open access
(2020) 'A decade to study deep-sea life' Nature Ecology & Evolution Publisher Site , DOI Open access
(2020) 'A review of a decade of lessons from one of the world’s largest MPAs: conservation gains and key challenges' Marine Biology , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Comparing Deep-Sea Larval Dispersal Models: A Cautionary Tale for Ecology and Conservation' Frontiers in Marine Science 7, , DOI Open access
(2019) 'A framework for the development of a global standardised marine taxon reference image database (SMarTaR-ID) to support image-based analyses' PLOS ONE 14, (12) e0218904-e0218904 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'UK deep‐sea conservation: Progress, lessons learned, and actions for the future' Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Combining Distribution and Dispersal Models to Identify a Particularly Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem' Frontiers in Marine Science 6, , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Reverse engineering field-derived vertical distribution profiles to infer larval swimming behaviors' Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116, (24) 11818-11823 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Automated identification of benthic epifauna with computer vision' Marine Ecology Progress Series 615, 15-30 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'The distribution of deep-sea sponge aggregations (Porifera) in relation to oceanographic processes in the Faroe-Shetland Channel' Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Silicon isotopic systematics of deep-sea sponge grounds in the North Atlantic' Quaternary Science Reviews 210, 1-14 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Modelling tidally induced larval dispersal over Anton Dohrn Seamount' Ocean Dynamics 68, (11) 1515-1526 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'A strategy for the conservation of biodiversity on mid-ocean ridges from deep-sea mining' Science Advances 4, (7) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'A Multidisciplinary Approach for Generating Globally Consistent Data on Mesophotic, Deep-Pelagic, and Bathyal Biological Communities' Oceanography 31, (3) , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Towards ‘ecological coherence’: Assessing larval dispersal within a network of existing Marine Protected Areas' Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Ecological Role of Submarine Canyons and Need for Canyon Conservation: A Review' Frontiers in Marine Science 4, , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Increasing the Depth of Current Understanding: Sensitivity Testing of Deep-Sea Larval Dispersal Models for Ecologists' PLOS ONE 11, (8) , DOI Open access
(2016) 'The distribution of deep-sea sponge aggregations in the North Atlantic and implications for their effective spatial management' Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers , DOI Open access
(2016) 'The Whittard Canyon - A case study of submarine canyon processes' PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY 146, 38-57 , DOI Open access
(2015) 'The Influence of Data Resolution on Predicted Distribution and Estimates of Extent of Current Protection of Three 'Listed' Deep-Sea Habitats' PLOS ONE 10, (10) , DOI Open access
(2015) 'Benthic Assemblages of the Anton Dohrn Seamount (NE Atlantic): Defining Deep-Sea Biotopes to Support Habitat Mapping and Management Efforts with a Focus on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems' PLOS ONE 10, (5) e0124815-e0124815 , DOI Open access
(2015) 'Combined application of biophysical habitat mapping and systematic conservation planning to assess efficiency and representativeness of the existing High Seas MPA network in the Northeast Atlantic' ICES Journal of Marine Science 72, (5) 1483-1497 , DOI
(2015) 'Estimating dispersal distance in the deep sea: challenges and applications to marine reserves' Frontiers in Marine Science 2, , DOI Open access
(2014) 'The impact of modelling method selection on predicted extent and distribution of deep-sea benthic assemblages' Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 105, (4) 251-261 , DOI
(2014) 'β-diversity of deep-sea holothurians and asteroids along a bathymetric gradient (NE Atlantic)' Marine Ecology Progress Series 508, 177-185 , DOI
(2014) 'Defining biological assemblages (biotopes) of conservation interest in the submarine canyons of the South West Approaches (offshore United Kingdom) for use in marine habitat mapping' Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 104, 208-229 , DOI
(2014) 'The Dangeard and Explorer canyons, South Western Approaches UK: Geology, sedimentology and newly discovered cold-water coral mini-mounds' Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 104, 230-244 , DOI
(2014) 'Marine Litter Distribution and Density in European Seas, from the Shelves to Deep Basins' PLoS ONE 9, (4) e95839-e95839 , DOI Open access
(2014) 'Species distribution modelling to support marine conservation planning: The next steps' MARINE POLICY 45, 330-332 , DOI
(2014) 'Future-proofing marine protected area networks for cold water coral reefs' ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 71, (9) 2621-2629 , DOI
(2014) 'Quality assurance in the identification of deep-sea taxa from video and image analysis: response to Henry and Roberts' ICES Journal of Marine Science 71, (4) 899-906 , DOI
(2013) 'Distribution patterns and sexual segregation in chimaeras: implications for conservation and management' ICES Journal of Marine Science 70, (6) 1198-1205 , DOI
(2013) 'Coral-characterized benthic assemblages of the deep Northeast Atlantic: defining "Coral Gardens" to support future habitat mapping efforts' ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE 70, (3) 511-522 , DOI
(2013) 'Use of predictive habitat modelling to assess the distribution and extent of the current protection of ‘listed’ deep-sea habitats' Diversity Distrib. 19, (4) 433-445 , DOI Open access
(2013) 'First observations of megafaunal communities inhabiting George Bligh Bank, Northeast Atlantic' Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography --- Publisher Site , DOI
(2013) 'Global population divergence of the sea star Hippasteria phrygiana corresponds to the onset of the last glacial period of the Pleistocene' Marine Biology 160, (5) 1285-1296 , DOI
(2013) 'Using species-area relationships to inform baseline conservation targets for the deep North East Atlantic' PLoS One 8, (3) , DOI Open access
(2012) 'Using EUNIS habitat classification for benthic mapping in European seas: Present concerns and future needs' MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 64, (12) 2630-2638 , DOI
(2011) 'When the species is also a habitat: Comparing the predictively modelled distributions of Lophelia pertusa and the reef habitat it forms' Biological Conservation 144, (11) 2656-2665 , DOI
(2011) '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: Journal du Conseil 68, (2) 265-280 , DOI
(2010) 'Mounting evidence: near-slope seamounts are faunally indistinct from an adjacent bank' MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE 31, 52-62 , DOI
(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, (5) 1041-1056 , DOI
(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, (1) 33-68 , DOI
(2005) 'Ophiuroid distribution at sublittoral and bathyal depths round the Faroes, NE Atlantic Ocean' Annales Societatis Scientiarium Faeroensis North-East Atlantic marine benthic organisms in the Faroes-taxonomy, distribution and ecology. Supp 41, 175-194
(2004) 'Feeding ecology of deep-sea seastars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea): a pigment biomarker approach' Marine Ecology Progress Series 266, , DOI
(2004) 'Reproductive isolation among morphotypes of the Atlantic seastar species Zoroaster fulgens (Asteroidea : Echinodermata)' Marine Biology 144, (5) 977-984
(2003) 'Feeding ecology of deep-sea seastars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea): a fatty-acid biomarker approach' Marine Ecology Progress Series 255, , DOI
(2002) 'Depth-related distribution and abundance of seastars (Echinodermata : Asteroidea) in the Porcupine Seabight and Porcupine Abyssal Plain, NE Atlantic' Deep-Sea Research Part I-Oceanographic Research Papers 49, (10) 1901-1920
Chapters
(2020) 'The geomorphology and biology of a submarine canyon system incising Ireland’s shelf edge in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean' Seafloor Geomorphology as Benthic Habitat Elsevier 783-792 , DOI
Reports
(2018) Ascension Island Natural Capital Assessment: Marine ecosystem services report. South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute
(2015) A Deep-sea Section for the Marine Habitat Classification of Britain and Ireland v15.03. Publisher Site
(2014) JC060 Data Analysis: Comprising data from Darwin Mounds (NE Rockall Trough), Rockall-Hatton Basin Polygonal Faults, NW Rockall Bank, and E Rockall Bank Escarpment. Publisher Site
(2013) Definition of epifaunal assemblages for inclusion in a deep sea section of the Marine Habitat Classification of Britain and Ireland. Joint Nature Conservation Committee CONTRACT NO: C13-0223-0672 Publisher Site
(2011) Using predictive modelling to map the distribution of selected habitats listed as MPA search features in Scottish waters. Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report
(2010) JNCC Offshore Natura survey of Anton Dohrn Seamount and East Rockall Bank Areas of Search.
(2009) Broadscale Survey of the Habitats of Rockall Bank, and mapping of Annex I ‘Reef’ Habitat. Publisher Site
(2009) DEEPFISH Project: Applying an ecosystem approach to the sustainable management of deep-water fisheries. Part 1. Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban. U.K. Report no. 259a. Publisher Site
(2009) DEEPFISH Project: Applying an ecosystem approach to the sustainable management of deep-water fisheries. Part 2: A new approach to managing deep-water fisheries. Publisher Site
(2008) MESH South West Approaches Canyons Survey (MESH Cruise 01-07-01) Final Report. Mapping European Seabed Habitats (MESH) Project Report Publisher Site
(2007) Strategic Environmental Assessment / Special Area for Conservation Photographic Analysis Report. Department of Trade and Industry Publisher Site
(2006) Methods for managing Marine Protected Areas: options for establishing and managing a marine protected area system in the UK. Natural England: Peterborough, UK. Publisher Site
(2006) Strategic Environmental Assessment Area 7 Photographic Analysis Report. Department of Trade and Industry Publisher Site
Presentations and posters
'A novel deep-sea sponge bacterium producing two promising antimicrobial candidates' , DOI
'Assessing and optimising culturing methods for the associated-bacteria of two species of deep-sea sponges (class Hexactinellida) for antimicrobial bioprospecting' , DOI
'Characterisation of the microbiome for two hexactinellid sponges and purification of associated antimicrobial agents from their resident microbes' , DOI
Other Publications