Summary of the Biodiversity and Ecosystems Group
The group undertakes scientific research necessary to support the implementation of an ecosystem approach to the management of marine natural resources. Increasing concern over man’s impact on the marine environment and ecosystem has led to a revolution in management attitude. The traditional single species approach of managing individual stocks of commercial value is being replaced by a more holistic view, where achieving healthy, productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems generally is the main goal. The group undertakes research to quantify the effects of fishing and aquaculture on marine ecosystems and to identify the most appropriate management action required to mitigate these impacts.
Main Activities of the Biodiversity and Ecosystems Group:
Partitioning of prey resources between predators
Processes controlling the numbers and relative abundance of groundfish and benthic invertebrate species which co-exist together
Development of indicators of ecosystem health
Modelling fish community structure
Modelling the effectiveness of management through the use of marine protected areas
Modelling disturbance to the marine ecosystem caused by fishing activity
Determination of marine foodweb structure and quantification of energy flow rates
Attending ICES Working/Study groups
Dr Simon Greenstreet has a BA (hons) in Biology from the University of York and a PhD in estuarine wading bird ecology from the University of Aberdeen. He has 21 year’s post-doctoral experience in marine ecological research specialising in theoretical community ecology and marine predator-prey relationships. His main interests are investigating the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems and understanding the mechanisms by which fishing alters marine ecological processes. He has published widely on the long-term changes in the demersal fish community caused by increasing fishing activity and on the effects of industrial fishing on fish, seal and seabird predator-prey interactions. Recently he has been instrumental in developing Ecological Quality Objectives for the North Sea fish community.
Name: Clare Greathead
Job Title:
Telephone: +44 (0) 1224 295526
e-mail: C.Greathead@marlab.ac.uk
Clare Greathead has a BSc (Hons) in Biological Science from Plymouth Polytechnic and an MSc in Marine Resource Development and Protection from Heriott-Watt University Edinburgh. Her thesis for this was identifying the wider distribution of Sea pens and the impact of Nephrops trawling on them. Between these two study periods, Clare spent 8 yrs on the West Coast involved in a diving business and aquaculture. Since joining FRS in 2000, she has been mainly involved with the impacts of aquaculture on the marine environment and reviewing biodiversity policy issues. Currently she is working towards developing sustainability indicators for aquaculture and video analysis of dump sites and trawled areas. She has 9 publications as first author, including 1 peer reviewed paper.
Name: Helen Drewery (née Fraser)
Job Title:
Telephone: +44 (0) 1224 295439
e-mail: H.Drewery@marlab.ac.uk
Helen Drewery has a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology from the University of Wales, Swansea, and an MSC in Marine and Fisheries Science from the University of Aberdeen. She is currently doing a part-time PhD supervised at the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen and the University of Aberdeen investigating the consumption of food by demersal fish predators and determining the extent to which this is limited by secondary production in benthic prey. Helen has almost 10 years experience in marine ecological research specialising in marine predator-prey relationships. She is currently working on the catchability of demersal fish in survey gears and the implications of catchability on estimating demersal fish biomass and mapping spatial variation in various attributes of the demersal fish community, such as species diversity. Other interests the dynamics of predator-prey interactions in demersal fish predators and the influence of hydrographic variability on sandeel availability to marine top predators.
Name: Emma Guirey
Job Title: Ecological Modeller
Telephone: +44 (0) 1224 295439
e-mail: E.J.Guirey@marlab.ac.uk
Emma Guirey has a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from Warwick University, an MSc in Oceanography from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) and has completed a PhD in Oceanography at NOCS and Glasgow University exploring spatial and temporal structure in oceanic plankton distributions. She is an ecological modeller with a primary interest in marine population dynamics. She is currently focusing on multi-species North Sea fish population modelling, working with collaborators at the department of Statistics and Modelling Science at Strathclyde University. Current interests also include modelling seabird predator-prey interactions as central-place foragers during the breeding season, modelling of biological-physical interactions in sea lochs, and modelling the impact of fishing activity on benthic invertebrate populations and communities.
Name: Gayle Holland
Job Title: Ecological Modeller
Telephone: +44 (0) 1224 295433
e-mail: G.Holland@marlab.ac.uk
Gayle Holland has a BSc (Hons) and an MSc in Marine and Fisheries Science from the University of Aberdeen. She has 3 years experience in fisheries enforcement and 6 years experience in marine ecological research. Her main interests include evaluating the effectiveness of sandeel biomass assessment methods, investigating sandeel seabed habitat preferences and piscivorous fish predator-prey dynamics. Recently she has been working with fisheries discards and landings data with a view to modelling Scottish fishing activity and enhancing our understanding of the impact of the fishing industry on marine ecosystems. Gayle has published in MEPS as a first author and contributed to several other scientific publications.
Name: Victoria Allen
Job Title: Ecological Modeller
Telephone: +44 (0) 1224 295433
e-mail: V.Allen@marlab.ac.uk
Publications (Peer Reviewed, Conference Presentations, ICES Papers and FRS Reports) 2006 - 2008:
Peer Review
Greenstreet, S.P.R. & Rogers, S.I. (2006) Indicators of the health of the fish community of the North Sea: identifying reference levels for an Ecosystem Approach to Management. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 63: 573-593.
Greenstreet, S. P. R., Armstrong, E., Mosegaard, H., Jensen, H., Gibb, I. M., Fraser, H. M., Scott, B. E., Holland, G. J., and Sharples, J. (2006) Variation in the abundance of sandeels Ammodytes marinus off southeast Scotland: an evaluation of area-closure fisheries management and stock abundance assessment methods. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 63: 1530-1550.
Sharples, J., Ross, O. N., Scott, B. E, Greenstreet, S. P. R., and Fraser, H. (2006) Inter-annual variability in the timing of stratification and the spring bloom in a temperate shelf sea. Continental Shelf Research, 26: 733-751.
Greenstreet, S.P.R. (2006) Does the Prohibition of Industrial Fishing for Sandeels have any Impact on Local Gadoid Populations? In Management of Marine Ecosystems, Zoological Society of London Conservation Biology Series No 12 (eds. Boyd, I.L., Wanless, S. and Camphuysen, C.J) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 223-235.
Piet, G.J., Quirijns, F., Robinson, L. and Greenstreet S.P.R. (2007) Potential pressure indicators for fishing and their data requirements. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 110-121.
Guirey, E. J., Bees, M. A., Martin, A. P., Srokosz M. A. and Fasham, M. J. R. (2007) Emergent Features Due to Grid-Cell Biology: Synchronisation in Biophysical Models. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, 69:1401-1422.
Guirey, E.J., Martin, A.P., Srokosz, M.A. and Bees, M.A. (2007) The Prairie Ocean.
Greathead, C.F., Donnan, D., and Mair, J.M (2007) The distribution of the sea pens Virgularia mirabili, Pennatula phosphorea and Funiculina quadrangularis in Scottish waters. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, UK., 87: 000-000 (In Press).
Fraser, H. M., Greenstreet, S. P. R., and Piet, G. J. (2007) Taking account of catchability in groundfish survey trawls: implications for estimating demersal fish biomass. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 1800-181.
Daunt, F., Wanless, S., Greenstreet, S.P.R., Jensen, H., Hamer K.C., & Harris M.P. (2008) The impact of sandeel fishery closure in the northwestern North Sea on seabird food consumption, distribution and productivity. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 65: 362-381.
Fraser, H. M., Greenstreet, S. P. R., Fryer, R. J., and Piet, G. J. (2008) Mapping spatial variation in demersal fish species diversity and composition in the North Sea: accounting for species- and size-related catchability in survey trawls. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: In press.
Greenstreet, S. P. R., and Piet, G. J. (2008) Assessing the sampling effort required to estimate α species diversity in the groundfish assemblage of the North Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series, In press.
Fraser, H. M., Greenstreet, S. P. R. and G. J. Piet (2008) Using MPAs to conserve groundfish biodiversity: the consequences of failing to account for catchability in survey trawls. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: In press.
Greenstreet, S. P. R., Fraser, H. M. and G. J. Piet (2008) Using MPAs to address regional scale ecological objectives in the North Sea: modelling the effects of fishing effort displacement. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: In press.
Greenstreet, S. P. R. (2008) Biodiversity of North Sea fish: why do the politicians care but marine scientists appear oblivious? ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: In press.
Conference Presentations
Greenstreet, S. P. R. (2006) The Ecological Consequences of Fishing Induced Changes in the Demersal Fish Community of the Northwestern North Sea. “University of Ghent PhD Science Symposium”. March 2006, Ghent, Belgium.
Greenstreet, S. P. R. (2006) All sorts of indicators and the story they tell when linked together. “2nd EC INDECO Conference”. May 2006, Athens, Greece.
Fraser, H. M., Greenstreet, S. P. R. and Piet, G. J. (2006) Mapping spatial variation in the species diversity of the demersal fish community of the North Sea: taking account of species- and size-related differential catchability in survey trawls. ICES Symposium “Fishing Technology in the 21st century”. November 2006, Boston, U.S.A.
Greenstreet, S. P. R. (2007) Indicators in Support of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management. 5th Scottish Biodiversity Forum’s Action Plan and Science Group Conference “Incorporating the Ecosystem Approach in the Conservation of Biodiversity”. March 2007, Edinburgh, UK
Robinson, L. A., Greenstreet, S. P. R., Reiss, H. and Fraser, H. M. (2007) Do species identities and biodiversity matter in terms of productivity or is size all that matters?” 42nd European Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS)” August 2007, Kiel, Germany.
Greenstreet, S. P. R., Fraser, H. M. and Piet, G. J. (2007) Using MPAs to Address Global Scale Ecological Objectives in the North Sea: Modelling the Effects of Fishing Effort Displacement. EU/ICES Symposium “MPAs as a Tool for Fisheries Management and Ecosystem Conservation: Emerging Science and Interdisciplinary Approaches.” September 2007, Murcia, Spain.
Fraser, H. M., Greenstreet, S. P. R. and Piet, G. J. (2007) Using MPAs to Conserve Groundfish Biodiversity: the Consequences of Using Flawed Data. EU/ICES Symposium “MPAs as a Tool for Fisheries Management and Ecosystem Conservation: Emerging Science and Interdisciplinary Approaches.” September 2007, Murcia, Spain.
Frederiksen, M., Daunt, F., Greenstreet, S. P.R., Parsons, M., Jensen, H., Hamer, K.C. and Wanless, S. (2007) Effects of the North Sea sandeel closure on breeding seabirds. EU/ICES Symposium “MPAs as a Tool for Fisheries Management and Ecosystem Conservation: Emerging Science and Interdisciplinary Approaches.” September 2007, Murcia, Spain.
Greenstreet, S. P. R. (2007) Fish biodiversity in the North Sea: why do the politicians care but marine scientists appear oblivious? ICES Symposium “Environmental Indicators: Utility in Meeting Regulatory Needs.” November 2007, London, UK.
ICES and OSPAR Papers
Davies, I.M. and Greathead, C. (2006). Estimates of historical (1990 – 2004) inputs of nutrients from finfish farming in UK coastal waters. OSPAR INPUT: 06/03/06
Fisheries Research Services Reports
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Shanks, A.M. & Bucket, B-E. (2006) Trends in fishing activity in the North Sea by U.K. registered fishing vessels landing in Scotland. FRS Collaborative Report, 02/06: 27pp.
Greathead, C., Jackson, J. and Davies, I.M. (2006) Seasonal variations in the relative importance of aquaculture, land run-off and tidal exchange as sources of nutrients in Scottish sea lochs. FRS Internal Report.
Amundrud, T.L., Greathead, C., Gubbins M.J., and Davies I.M. (2006) Locational Guidelines for Fish Farming: Impact of Seasonal Resolution of Nutrient Input on the ECE Model. FRS Internal Report.
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Holland G.J., Fraser, H.M., Robertson, M.R., Doyle, K. & Li, R. (2007) Variation in the abundance, distribution, diet and food consumption rates of gadoid predators in the Wee Bankie/Marr Bank region of the northwestern North Sea, consequences for predator body condition, and the impact of closing the area to sandeel fishing. FRS Collaborative Report, 09/07: 125pp.
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Robinson, L.A., Callaway, R., Reiss, H., Ehrich, S., Piet, G.J., Kröncke, I., Fraser, H.M., Craeymeersch, J., Lancaster, J., Jorgensen, L., Degraer, S. and Goffin, A. (2007) Managing Fisheries to Conserve North Sea Groundfish and Benthic Invertebrate Species Diversity. FRS Collaborative Report, 05/07: 136pp.
Callaway, R., Robinson, L.A., Greenstreet, S.P.R., Reiss, H., Fraser, H.M., Kröncke, I., Craeymeersch, J., DeBoois, I., Robertson, M., Lancaster, J. and Goffin, A. (2007) Methodology for the combined sampling of marine groundfish and benthic invertebrate communities. FRS Collaborative Report, 11/07: 23pp plus annexes.
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Robinson, L.A., Reiss, H., Kröncke, I., Callaway, R., Snelgrove, P., Costello, M., Bergmann, M., Hiddink, J., Fraser, H.M., Craeymeersch, J., Degraer, S., Goffin, A. and Lancaster, J. (2007) Review of theoretical community ecology: implications for marine communities. FRS Collaborative Report, 08/07: 127pp
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Robinson, L.A., Piet, G.J., Craeymeersch, J., Callaway, R., Reiss, H., Ehrich, S., Kröncke, I., Fraser, H.M., Lancaster, J., Jorgensen, L. and Goffin, A. (2007) The ecological disturbance caused by fishing in the North Sea. FRS Collaborative Report, 04/07: 169pp.
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Fraser, H.M., Piet, G.J., Robinson, L.A., Callaway, R., Reiss, H., Ehrich, S., Kröncke, I., Craeymeersch, J., Lancaster, J., Jorgensen, L. and Goffin, A. (2007) Species composition, diversity, biomass and production of the demersal fish community of the North Sea. FRS Collaborative Report, 07/07: 95pp plus annexes.
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Robinson, L.A., Reiss, H., Craeymeersch, J., Callaway, R., Goffin, A., Jorgensen, L., Robertson, M., Kröncke, I., DeBoois, I., Nicolas Jacob and Lancaster, J. (2007) Species composition, diversity, biomass and production of the benthic invertebrate community of the North Sea. FRS Collaborative Report, 10/07: 67pp plus annexes.
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Robinson, L.A., Callaway, R., Reiss, H., Ehrich, S., Piet, G.J., Craeymeersch, J., Kröncke, I., Fraser, H.M., Lancaster, J., Jorgensen, L. and Goffin, A. (2007) Relationships between TACs, fish landings, and fishing effort in the North Sea. FRS Collaborative Report, 06/07: 152pp.
Fraser, H.M. & Greenstreet, S.P.R. (2007) Species composition, diversity and biomass of the demersal fish community off the Scottish west coast. FRS Internal Report, 21/07: 25pp.
Fraser, H.M., Greenstreet, S.P.R. Robertson, M.R., Jacob, N. & Robinson, L.A. (2007) Species composition, diversity, biomass and production of the epibenthic invertebrate community off the Scottish west coast. FRS Internal Report, 20/07: 36pp.
Fraser, H.M., Greenstreet, S.P.R. & Holland G.J. (2007) Consumption of benthic prey by six common demersal fish predators in the North Sea. FRS Internal Report, 22/07: 91pp.
Greenstreet, S.P.R. (2007) Variation in the abundance and distribution of sandeels and clupeids in the Wee Bankie/Marr Bank region of the northwestern North Sea over the period 1997 to 2003. FRS Internal Report, 25/07: 217pp.
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Fraser, H.M., & Holland, G.J. (2007) Variation in the numbers and distribution of seabirds in the Wee Bankie/Marr Bank region of the northwestern North Sea over the period 1997 to 2003. FRS Internal Report, 25/07: 142pp.
Greenstreet, S.P.R., Fraser, H.M., Armstrong, E. & Gibb, I.M. (2008) Monitoring the consequences of the northwestern North Sea sandeel fishery closure. FRS Internal Report,