I have a BSc in Ecology and Conservation from the University of Leeds and an MSc in Marine Conservation from the University of Aberdeen. I am interested in understanding how anthropogenic activities affect marine wildlife, particularly the behaviour and interactions of species. My PhD research will look at the ecological effects of floating offshore wind on fish and marine mammals using a combination of passive and active acoustics.
IFLOW: Impacts of floating offshore wind infrastructure on the distribution and behaviour of fish & marine mammals
PhD aim:
- To understand the spatiotemporal distribution of fish in response to floating offshore wind, and whether these structures may act as attractive foraging locations for top predators, mainly vocalising cetaceans. This is becoming increasingly important as offshore floating infrastructure is expected to expand significantly within highly productive shelf areas globally.
PhD objectives:
- Understand fish biomass densities and cetacean presence in relation to environmental covariates in the absence of floating wind by collecting baseline data at Scottish continental shelf locations suitable for floating offshore wind infrastructure.
- Investigate fish and cetacean distributions surrounding existing floating infrastructure and assess potential FAD effects.
- Evaluate the potential for floating offshore infrastructure to act as de facto marine reserves.
- Help inform marine spatial planning, regulation and policy concerning offshore wind development.
Contact details:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @CaitlinB_Harris
LinkedIn: Caitlin Harris