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Biography
Keywords: freshwater ecology, lakes, eutrophication, climate change, phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, harmful algal blooms, WFD, Water Framework Directive, natural capital, ecosystem services, connectivity
I have worked on freshwaters from around the world for over 25 years and have published over 65 ISI papers (h-index 28, >2560 citations) and >75 reports on a range of issues related to water quality, algal blooms and the monitoring and management of water resources. I have particular expertise in biological responses to environmental change in lakes and reservoirs, particularly phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms of cyanobacteria. I was responsible for delivering legally-adopted UK and European water quality targets and phytoplankton assessment schemes for the WFD. I study water quality responses to eutrophication, climate change and river basin management measures. I carry out this research, often collaboratively, analysing UK, European or global-scale datasets and combine these broad-scale studies with experiments in mesocosms and detailed time-series studies from CEH’s long-term lake monitoring programmes, particularly at Loch Leven, Scotland.
Current projects include a global analysis of harmful algal blooms, a new smartphone app for citizen recording of harmful algal blooms, managing impacts of multiple stressors on freshwaters, a case-study of ecosystem services at Loch Leven, and the importance of connectivity in freshwater ecosystems
Mar '17 to Mar '20 Visiting Professor, University of Stirling, UK
Apr ’13 to present day Group Leader, Freshwater Ecology Group (CEH Edinburgh)
Nov ’10 to Oct ‘11 Seconded National Expert to European Commission (JRC Ispra)
May ’01 to Sep ‘10 Freshwater Ecologist, CEH Edinburgh
Aug ‘95 to April ‘01 Lecturer in Environmental Change, ECRC, Dept of Geography, UCL
1985-1988 University of Edinburgh, B.Sc. Biological Sciences (Honours Botany)
1989-1993 University of Liverpool, Ph.D. Experimental Limnology on Four Cheshire Meres
- Member of Canadian NSERC Review Panel on Great Lakes Network (2016)
- Expert reviewer for European Commission on Water Frameowrk Directive Compliance (2012-2016)
- Member of NERC Peer Review College (Aug 2012 – July 2015)
- Member of Scottish Executive Health Department Blue-green Algae Working Group (2002-)
- Associate Editor Journal of Limnology (2011-), Guest Editor Hydrobiologia (2012-13)
- Member of Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) & British Phycological Society (BPS)
- Co-ordinator of Scottish Freshwater Group (2007-2016)
