(she/her)
I previously studied an MSc in international marine science at Heriot-Watt University and a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology also at Heriot-Watt. I have a keen interest in the Arctic, climate change, ocean biogeochemistry, and marine biosecurity. Outside of academia, I am a keen trail runner, cyclist and swimmer and I love being out surfing!
Tracing patterns of vessel movement – understanding secondary spread of fouling marine invasive non-native species in Scotland
PI and Institution:
Rebecca Giesler, University of the Highlands and Islands, Shetland
PhD aim:
To trace patterns of secondary marine invasive species spread and to identify vulnerable sites and pathways.
PhD objectives:
I am aiming to assess methods used to track secondary spread, to use and collect data on vessel movement to establish the relationship between small and large vessel movement in Scotland and perhaps beyond, with invasive non-native species (INNS) spread. This will involve surveying natural sites and marinas to collect an updated inventory of INNS around Scotland, collecting vessel movement data using various approaches, and will also involve assessing harbour use changes, renewable technology deployment and climate change effects which could facilitate INNS arrival and establishment.
I hope to apply scenarios of environmental change so that future INNS arrival can be predicted. This will inform management strategies and will assist in mitigating or preventing the spread of NNS that could have potentially devastating effects on ecosystem services, biodiversity and the economy. It is hopeful that this research could be extended northwards to Arctic regions where ocean changes are occurring at a rapid rate.
Contact details:
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Elinor Spencer
Conferences:
Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland Annual Science Meeting 2024. Presented my work on coccolithophore stoichiometry. This was the results from my MSc thesis which investigated the effects of experimental methods on coccolithophore elemental content. It also briefly showed an updated coccolithophore cellular carbon content to biovolume relationship, which can tell us more about nutrient demands in a changing ocean.