Biosciences Seminar Speaker - 29 January 2015

Biosciences Seminar Series - Winter 2015
29 January 2015 - 12pm - Zoology Museum (Wallace 129)

(Note Change of Time!)

Biodiversity, benthos and bivalves: 

Linking ecological research to coastal management

Dr. Ruth Callaway

(Swansea University, UK)

Our Biosciences Seminar Series resumes for the winter! The first speaker of the series is Dr Ruth Callaway from our Swansea Biosciences Department. Ruth is an applied marine ecologist, expert in Benthic Ecosystems. She carries out her research as member of the SEACAMS group, a group which aims to design strategic development projects to integrate research and business opportunities around the coast of Wales.


Abstract
The marine and coastal environment is under increasing anthropogenic pressure and many natural resources need to be managed. Vulnerable ecosystems are affected by fishing pressure, estuarine fauna is compromised by excess nutrient input and low-lying coastal habitats face drastic changes due to sea level rise. In this seminar I will talk about projects that explore man-made disturbances on benthic marine communities on different spatial and temporal scales: the effect of trawling on North Sea-wide biodiversity patterns, causes of cockle mortality in a local estuary and the consequences of sea level rise for protected marshes in Pembrokeshire. 

The results informed an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, alerted local fisheries officers that not all problems are easily manageable and triggered discussions about long-term objectives for coastal nature conservation. Some of the work was carried out during the SEACAMS project which focuses on applied research. Opportunities for scientists in the Bioscience department to benefit from projects such as SEACAMS will be outlined. 

Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!

Image by Ruth Callaway.