Dr Nigel Marley

Biography

I've worked in the University for more than 20 years and have had several roles over that time. I initially worked in the School of Biological Sciences, before moving on to a post a Faculty-level. Both of the posts were in I.T. related posts. Then in 2002 I took the opportunity to move into a more senior position with the Information & Learning Services directorate.

In 2012 the University had a further restructuring and I have now become a qualified Business Analyst with Technology and Information Services.

I am also a member of the Univeristy's Harassment Advisor's network and am currently a member on the Disability Equality Committee and Equality & Diversity Committees.

Qualifications

D.Phil. Taxonomy, systematics and ecology of the phylum Tardigrada

B.Sc.(Hons) Biological Sciences (2:1)

Professional membership

Fellow of the Linnean Society of London: FLS

Professional Member of the British Computing Society: MBCS

Member of Royal Society of Biology: MRSB

Member of Association of University Administrators

Member of International Society for Invertebrate Morphology

Member of British Ecological Society

Member of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom MEM.MBA

Member of Systematics Association

Roles on external bodies

Fauna Europeae

Taxonomic Specialist: Tardigrada

Teaching

Teaching interests

Ecology

Microscopy

Taxonomy

Research

Research interests

Ph.D Research

My programme of research covers the use of current taxonomic characters (claws and buccal aparatus) in the Eutardigrada and the use of cuticular sculpturing as a diagnostic character in Pseudechiniscus-line taxa (Heterotardigrada).

Specifically covering:

Redescription of the buccal aperture of Milnesium tetralamellatum and of the Milnesiidae claw type.
Redescription of the genera Isohypsibius, Thulinia and Pseudobiotus and the species Thulinia augusti (Murray) comb. nov. and Pseudbiotus kathmanae sp. nov. (Work conducted with Prof D.R.Nelson and Prof R. Bertolani.)
The assessment of inter- and intra population morphological variations with the identification of new taxonomic characters for Pseudechiniscus-line taxa.

Other Research Interests

The taxonomy, nomenclature and ecology of tardigrades, phylum Tardigrada.

My work primarily focuses on the alpha and beta taxonomy of the phylum tardigrada, with investigations into the application of taxonomic characters across different ranks and taxa. Additional I have an interest in the biogeography and synecology of taxa. The majority of the taxa used in this research are freshwater and terrestrial taxa.

Other research

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Tardigrada Specimen Collection

This is probably the largest collection in the United Kingdom. It is composed of specimens mounted on microslides using either Faure's medium (older material) or Heinz PVA (newer material). Currently the collections contains approximately 3,500 specimens representing just over 100 species. Material from the following locations are included:

British Isles (United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland): terrestrial, freshwater and marine.

Europe (France, Spain, Canary Islands, Azores, Italy and Denmark)

Asia (Peoples Republic of China, Russia incl. many of the Arctic islands groups, and Japan)

Oceania (Australia and New Zealand)

Africa (Gambia and South Africa)

South America (Venezuela and Ecuador)

North America (USA, including New York, Tennessee, Georgia, California, Oregon and Alaska; Canada, including Ellesmere Island and Newfoundland; Greenland, Disko Bay)

Tardigrada database

The database is not published, although a few alpha edition copies have been distributed for comments and testing. It contains approximately 1850 references and 1000 taxa. References can be searched by authors, journal and keywords. Taxa based information includes full nomenclature listings, authority information, junior and senior synonyms and minor rank taxa details, subspecies, forms etc. Full descriptions will follow in 2003 - 2005. It has a modular construction and currently includes units for Bibliography, Taxonomy and Biogeography. A new unit for web-access has been developed, but not released. Further modules such as a microslide cataloge, a type material register will be added in 2003. The database could represent a medium for producing a new monograph on the phylum, utilising hyperlinks to source documents/files.

Grants & contracts

Systematics Research Fund (administered by the Linnean Society and the Systematics Association).
Awarded: 2nd May 2013. Futher details of expedition to Antarctica will follow later in 2013 for expedition in 2014.

Winston Churchill Memorial Travelling Fellowship to visit the People's Republic of China for one month in 2005. Expedition successfully completed.

E.U. Travel & Research Grants

Improving Human Potential & Access to Infrastructure.

COBICE (Copenhagen Biosystematic Center, Copenhagen, Denmark).

November 2003. Project: "Encystment in Tardigrada."
May & June 2001. Project: "The evaluation of cuticular sculpturing characteristics across a range of Pseudechiniscus-line taxa (Tardigrada), with the re-description of species."

Small Grants

Plymouth Martine Fund - towards attending 9th International Symposium on Tardigrada, Florida, USA July 2003.

Faculty of Science, University of Plymouth - towards attending 8th International Symposium on Tardigrada, Copenhagen, Denmark August 2000.

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth - towards attending 6th International Symposium on Tardigrada, Cambridge, UK, 1994.

Creative practice & artistic projects

Member of the University of Plymouth Choral Society.

Publications

Papers Published

Morek,W., Suzuki, A.C., Schill, R.O., Georgiev, D., Yankova, M., Marley, N.J., and Michalczyk, Ł. (2019) Redescription of Milnesium alpigenum Ehrenberg, 1853 (Tardigrada: Apochela) and a description of Milnesium inceptum sp. nov., a tardigrade laboratory model. Zootaxa 4686 (1), 035–064.

http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4586.1.2

Marley, N.J., Kaczmarek, Ł., Gawlak, M., Bartels, P.J., Nelson, D.R., Roszkowska, M., Stec, D. & Degma, P. (2018) A clarification for the subgenera of Paramacrobiotus Guidetti, Schill, Bertolani, Dandekar and Wolf, 2009, with respect to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Zootaxa 4407 (1), 130–134
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4407.1.9

De Milo, E., Lawton, C., & Marley, N.J. (2016). Tardigrada of Ireland: a review of records and an updated checklist of species including a addition to the Iris fauna. Zookeys, 616: 77-101) https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.616.8222

Marley, N.J., McInnes, S.J. and Sands, C.J. (2011). Phylum Tardigrada: A re-evaluation of the Parachela. Zootaxa, 2819, 51–64 (2011 April 14th). https://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/zt02819p064.pdf

Welter-Schultes, F.W., Eikel, O., Feuerstein, V. et al. [60 coauthors and 39 additional signatories] (2009). Comment on the proposed Amendment of Articles of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature to expand and refine methods of publications. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 66(3):215-219.

Marley, N.J. , Bertolani, R. & Nelson, D.R. (2008) Designation of Pseudobiotus kathmanae Nelson, Marley & Bertolani, 1999 as the type species for the genus Pseudobiotus Nelson, 1980 (Tardigrada). Zootaxa, 1940: 41-47. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01940p047.pdf

Sands, C.J., McInnes, S.J., Marley, N.J., Goodall-Copestake, W., Convey, P. & Linse, K. (2008) Phylum Tardigrada: an "individual" approach. Cladistics, 24: 861–871. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-0031.2008.00219.x/pdf

Marley, N.J. (2008). Biodiversity within the Milnesiidae (Tardigrada). Journal of Morphology 269 (12): 1466-1466. (Abstract) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmor.10683/pdf

McInnes, S.; Marley, N.J.; Sands, C.J. (2008). A Re-Evaluation of the Parachela (Eutardigrada: Tardigrada). Journal of Morphology 269 (12): 1466-1466. (Abstract) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmor.10683/pdf

Sands, C.J., McInnes, S.J., Marley, N.J. , Goodall-Copestake, W.P. , Convey, P., and Linse L. (2008) Polar diversity of the Tardigrada: A combined morphological / molecular approach. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), XXX, July 2008 p. 1 http://www.uam.es/otros/cn-scar//SCAR_IASC_IPY/pdf/17167.pdf

Gibson, J.A.E., Cromer, L., Agius, J.T., McInnes, S.J. & Marley, N.J.(2007).
Tardigrade eggs and exuviae in Antarctic lake sediments: insights into Holocene dynamics and origins of the fauna. Journal of Limnology, 66 (Suppl. 1): 5-11.

Marley, N.J. (2006). A new species of Tardigrada, Platicrista ramsayi sp. nov. from the páramo of Volcán Chiles, Ecuador. Zootaxa, 1166: 35-48. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01940p047.pdf and Corrigenda due to printers error: Zootaxa, 1762: 68. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2006f/zt01172p068.pdf

Russell, P.M., Marley, N.J. & Hockings, M.E. (2001). Do confocal microscopy and tardigrades have a future together? Zoologische Anzeiger, 240: 543-548.

Nickel, K., Miller, R.M. & Marley, N. (2001). Tardigrades of South America: Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo, Peru. Zoologische Anzeiger, 240: 505-509.

Sutcliffe, A.J. & Blake, W. Jr. (plus 7 other contributing authors) (2000). Biological activity on a decaying caribou antler at Cape Herschel, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, High Arctic Canada. Polar Record, 36: 233-246.

Nelson, D.R. & Marley, N.J. (2000). The biology of lotic Tardigrada. Freshwater Biology, 44: 93-108.

Bertolani, R., Marley, N.J. & Nelson, D.R. (1999). Re-description of the genus Thulinia (Eutardigrada, Hypsibiidae) and of Thulinia augusti (Murray, 1907) comb. nov.. Zoologische Anzeiger, 238: 139-145.

Nelson, D.R., Marley, N.J. & Bertolani, R. (1999). Re-description of the genus Pseudobiotus (Eutardigrada, Hypsibiidae) and of the new type species Pseudobiotus kathmanae sp. n. Zoologische Anzeiger, 238: 311-317.

Marley, N.J. & Wright, D.E. (1996). Amphibolus weglarskae Dastych, a new addition to the Tardigrada of Iceland with an updated checklist of Icelandic species (Eohypsibiidae, Eutardigrada). Quekett Journal of Microscopy, 37: 541-545.

Greaves, P.M. & Marley, N.J. (1994). The tardigrade fauna of Bookham Common. The London Naturalist, 73: 185-190.

Marley, N.J. & D.E. Wright (1994). Pyxidium tardigradum Van Der Land, a rarely record symphoriant on Waterbears (Tardigrada). Quekett Journal of Microscopy, 37: 232-233.

Papers in press

Conference Papers

Marley, N.J. & Lee, M. (2015 ) Preliminary results for a meiofauna survey of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. 13th International Symposium on Tardigrada, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, June 2015.

Marley, N.J. (2012). What do you do with a problem like Maria Milnesiidae? 12th International Symposium on Tardigrada,, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, July 2012.

Marley, N.J. (2009). The Tardigrada of Devon and Cornwall, United Kingdom, including three species new to science and seven new additions to the U.K. fauna. 11th International Symposium on Tardigrada, University of Stuttgart, Germany, August 2009.

Ramsay, B.P.L. & Marley, N.J. (2009). Tardigrada communities from high-altitude forest to grassland transition in the Cordillera de Vilcanota Peru. 11th International Tardigrada Symposium, Tubingen, Germany, August 2010. 11th International Symposium on Tardigrada, University of Stuttgart, Germany, August 2009.

Marley, N.J. (2008). Biodiversity within the Milnesiidae (Tardigrada). First International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology, Copenhagen, Denmark, August 2008.

McInnes, S., Marley, N.J. & Sands, C.J. (2008). A Re-Evaluation of the Parachela (Eutardigrada: Tardigrada). First International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology, Copenhagen, Denmark, August 2008.

Sands, C.J., McInnes, S.J., Marley, N.J., Goodall-Copestake, W.P., Convey, P. and Linse, L. (2008). Polar diversity of the Tardigrada: A combined morphological / molecular approach. 3rd Scientific Committee on Antarctic research (SCAR) / International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) International Polar Year (IPY) Open Science Conference, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 2008.

Marley, N.J. (2006). Biodiversity within the Milnesiidae? 10th International Symposium on Tardigrada, University of Catania, Italy, June 2006.

Marley, N.J. (2004). Cosmopolitan taxa in the Phylum Tardigrada - Fact or Fiction? 6th Young Systematists' Forum, Natural History Museum, London, UK, December 2004. http://www.systass.org/ysf/6th_YSF.pdf

Marley, N.J. (2003). Preliminary Results from a Study on Ecuadorian Tardigrada. 9th International Symposium on Tardigrada, University of South Florida, Florida, USA, August 2003.

Marley, N.J. (2000). Tardigrade assemblages from an altitudinal transect in Venezuela. 8th International Symposium on Tardigrada, Copenhagen, Denmark August 2000.

Casey, A., Green, R., Marley, N.J. & Mercer, M.A. (1999). Centralised Timetabling: A bridge too far?. Association of University Administrators Annual Conference, UMIST, Manchester 1999.

Marley, N.J. (1997). Cuticular sculpturing in the Pseudechiniscus suillus species complex, with the description of new taxonomic characteristics.

Bertolani, R., Marley, N.J. and Nelson, D.R. (1997). Some considerations on Thulinia (Eutardigrada, Hypsibiidae), with the re-description of the genus and of Thulinia augusti (Murray, 1907) comb. n.

Marley, N.J., Wright, D.E. and Russell, P.M. (1994). Histological study on the cysts of Amphibolus weglarskae. 6th International Symposium on the Tardigrada. August 1994.

Marley, N.J. and Wright, D.E. (1994). Tardigrada from Northern North America. 6th International Symposium on the Tardigrada.

Posters

De Milio, E., Lawton, C., Marley, N.J. (2015 ) Phylum Tardigrada: a return to Clare Island . 13th International Symposium on Tardigrada, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, June 2015.

Nattress, B., Smith, M., Ramsbottom, J., Marley, N.J. Some records of tardigrades in the county of Yorkshire, England, UK. 13th International Symposium on Tardigrada, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, June 2015.

Marley, N.J. , McInnes, S., & Sands, C.J. (2011) Morphology versus molecular: a meiofaunal conundrum resolved, Second International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA, June 2011.

Marley, N.J. (2002). Bear Hunting in Devon (Tardigrada). Young Systematist's Forum, Natural History Museum, London December 2002. http://www.systass.org/ysf/4th_YSF.pdf

Marley, N.J. (2002). Bear Hunting in Devon (Tardigrada). Joint Meeting of the British Ecological Society & the Freshwater Biological Society, Crewe August 2002.

Russell, P.M., Marley, N.J. & Hockings, M.E. (2000). Do confocal microscopy and tardigrades have a future together? Eighth International Symposium on Tardigrada, Copenhagen, Denmark August 2000.

Marley, N.J. (1998). One species new to science and 8 new additions to the Tardigrada fauna of the British Isles from south west England. 10th International Meiofauna Conference (XIMCO), Plymouth, UK.

Personal

Conferences organised

10th International Meiofauna Conference (XIMCO), Plymouth, UK, July 1998.

Other academic activities

Links

Moderator for the Tardigrada information discussion list: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/tardigrada.html.

Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre (MBERC).

<a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3291-5534" target="orcid.widget" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://orcid.org/sites/default/files/images/orcid_16x16.png" style="width:1em;margin-right:.5em;" alt="ORCID iD icon">orcid.org/0000-0002-3291-5534</a>

Profiles

Business Analyst

IT Product Development and Delivery (Technology & Information Services)