Marine Research Interests

Seagrass meadows globally provide productive fisheries support, this is at subsistence, recreational and commercial levels. Continued productivity is essential for global food security and requires ecosystems that are well managed. Understanding of the trophic dynamics and food web interactions of seagrass meadows is limited; this is particularly acute within Indo-Pacific systems that potentially provide food security for hundreds of millions of people. This research aims to build on existing investigations into the habitat connectivity and trophic dynamics of tropical coastal habitats under conditions of overexploitation and human disturbance.

Carbonate balance of seagrass meadows

On going experiments and investigations led by myself on the capacity of seagrass to provide a buffer to increasing seawater pH have begun to demonstrate the capacity of seagrasses to make large diel changes in seawater pH. This is in agreement with previous research in temperate and sub-tropical regions. Such buffering of seawater pH may have the capacity to influence the calcification of corals as has been seen in calcifying algae. The range of influence of such an effect remains poorly understood in productive tropical reef seagrass systems. This effect also has the potential to grow in the event that photosynthetic rates of seagrass increase as they become released from carbon limitation through ocean acidification.

Long-term viability and climate induced variability of seagrass meadows

The continued viability of intertidal seagrass meadows depends upon their capacity to deal with increasing climate extremes. Although numerous laboratory investigations have sought to determine short-term temperature and light thresholds for seagrasses, there exists limited understanding of the long-term interaction between the complexities of climate variability in the field. Future research would seek to build upon current research using statistical modelling to understand the long-term effect of climate variability and oceanic cycles upon seagrasses, and seek to model findings relative to proposed future climate scenarios.

Managing the marine environmental impacts of renewables

Due to my existing skills and experience lying at the interface of academic research, applied research, and environmental consulting I am keen to develop links with industry at the forefront of the enormous developments of marine renewables throughout the UK and the rest of Europe.