Telephone: +44 (0) 1631-559346 E-mail: ben.wilson@sams.ac.uk Scientific interests - 3 themes: 1. The fish / marine mammal predator-prey interface Understanding how marine mammal predation has influenced the evolution, behaviour and abundance of marine fish (particularly herring, cod and salmon). And conversely, how fish behaviour and sensory biology shape marine mammal foraging and population processes (particularly bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises and Steller sea lions). These studies have involved a variety of techniques including photo-identification, passive and active hydro-acoustics, telemetry and playbacks and been based in both the lab and the field.

2. Population ecology and conservation

The use of individual identification techniques (photo-identification) to quantify the population abundance, social and health parameters of animal populations, principally coastal cetaceans. My research applies these tools to help understand, and mitigate, the impacts of anthropogenic activities on wild populations.

3. Environmental impacts of marine renewable energy technologies

Providing an understanding to the envionmental interactions between marine renewable devices (wave, tide and wind) and marine fauna. Particularly the physical and acoustic interactions between marine vertebrates (fish, marine mammals and diving birds) and tidal-stream devices.

Current projects

Oceans 2025 Theme 4 (2007-2012)
Theme Leader: SAMS Renewable Energy Research Group

Equitable testing and Evaluation of Marine Energy Extraction Devices in terms of Performance, Cost and Environmental Impact (EquiMar).
Drifting Ears: Acoustic monitoring of the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Fall of Warness tidal-stream test site.

Past Projects

Scottish Bottlenose Dolphin Project (2005-2008)

Teaching / supervising activities

Undergraduate: Teach on UHI Marine Science Degree programme: 

      Marine Resources (2nd yr)

      Marine Zoology (Module leader, 3rd yr)

      Fisheries Ecology (3rd yr)

      Marine Conservation (3rd yr)

      Polar Seas (4th yr)

      Behaviour and Biomechanics (4th yr)

Past postgraduate students (at SAMS):

       Lindsay Wilson - (2009) MPhil - (Acoustic communication and mating in gadoid fish)

       Caroline Carter* - (2008) MSc - (Marine mammals and offshore renewable energy devices) * Passed with Distinction 

      Isaac Forster - (2009) MSc (Analysis of seabird observation and satellite tracking data in the Falkland Islands to assess suitability for proposed Marine Important Bird Areas). 

Educational and career history

BSc Zoology - University of Glasgow 1990,

PhD Zoology - University of Aberdeen 1995

Post docs at the University of Aberdeen (AULFS), University of St. Andrews (SMRU), Simon Fraser University (Canada)

Scientist in Residence - Bamfield Marine Science Centre (Canada)

Research Associate - Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia (Canada)

Member

International Whaling Commission (IWC) - Scientific Committee (2001-2005)

Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) - Conservation Strategy Committee (2005 - 2007)

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) - Scientific Committee (2005 - present)

World Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Cetacean Specialist Group (2001 - present)

Winner of 2004 IgNobel Prize for Biology

Selected Publications (from 2000 onwards)

1. Transregional linkages in the north-eastern Atlantic - an `end-to-end' analysis of pelagic ecosystems. Fox, C, Harris, R, Sundby, S, Achterberg, E, Allen, J. I, Allen, J, Baker, A, Brussaard, CPD, Buckley, P, Cook, EJ., Dye, SR., Edwards, M, Fernand, L, Kershaw, P, Metcalfe, J, Osterhus, S, Potter, T, Sakshaug, E, Speirs, D, Stenevik, E, St. John, M, Thingstad, F & Wilson, B (2009) In, Oceanography and Marine Biology: an annual review.  47: 1-76.
2. Climate change causing starvation in harbour porpoises? Thompson, PM, Ingram, S, Lonergan, M, Northridge, S, Hall, A, Wilson B (2007) Biology Letters 3: 533-535
3. Diving deep in a foraging hotspot: acoustic insights into bottlenose dolphin dive depths and feeding behaviour. Hastie, G. D., Wilson, B. and Thompson, P. M. (2006). Marine Biology 148(5): 1181-1188.
4. Quantifying the influence of sociality on population structure in bottlenose dolphins. Lusseau, D., Wilson, B., Hammond, P. S., Grellier, K., Durban, J. W., Parsons, K. M., Barton, T. R. and Thompson, P. M. (2006). Journal of Animal Ecology 75(1): 14-24.
5. Pacific herring hearing does not include ultrasound. Mann, D. A., Popper, A. N. and Wilson, B. (2005). Biology Letters 1(2): 158-161.
6. Functional mechanisms underlying cetacean distribution patterns: hotspots for bottlenose dolphins are linked to foraging. Hastie, G. D., Wilson, B., Wilson, L. J., Parsons, K. M. and Thompson, P. M. (2004). Marine Biology 144(2): 397-403.
7. Pacific and Atlantic herring produce burst pulse sounds. Wilson, B., Batty, R. S. and Dill, L. M. (2004) Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 271: S95-S97.Parallel influence of climate on the
8. Parallel influence of climate on the behaviour of Pacific killer whales and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Lusseau, D., Williams, R., Wilson, B., Grellier, K., Barton, T. R., Hammond, P. S. and Thompson, P. M. (2004). Ecology Letters 7(11): 1068-1076.
9. Considering the temporal when managing the spatial: a population range expansion impacts protected areas-based management for bottlenose dolphins. Wilson, B., Reid, R. J., Grellier, K., Thompson, P. M. and Hammond, P. S. (2004) Animal Conservation 7: 331-338.
10. Distribution of small cetaceans within a candidate Special Area of Conservation; implications for management. Hastie, G., Barton, T. R., Grellier, K., Hammond, P. S., Swift, R. J., Thompson, P. M. and Wilson, B. (2003). Journal of Cetacean Research & Management 5: 261-266.
11. Abundance of bottlenose dolphins in the bays, sounds, and estuaries of North Carolina. Read, A. J., Urian, K. W., Wilson, B. and Waples, D. M. (2003) Marine Mammal Science 19(1): 59-73.
12. Pacific herring respond to simulated odontocete echolocation sounds. Wilson, B. and Dill, L. M. (2002) Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 59(3): 542-553.Harwood, J. and Wilson, B. (2001).Continental Shelf Research 21(8-10): 1073-1093.
13. The implications of developments on the Atlantic Frontier for marine mammals. Harwood, J. and Wilson, B. (2001).Continental Shelf Research 21(8-10): 1073-1093.
14. Combining power analysis and population viability analysis to compare traditional and precautionary approaches to conservation of coastal cetaceans. Thompson, P. M., Wilson, B., Grellier, K. and Hammond, P. S. (2000). Conservation Biology 14(5): 1253-1263.
15. Changing occurrence of epidermal lesions in wild bottlenose dolphins. Wilson, B., Grellier, K., Hammond, P. S., Brown, G. and Thompson, P. M. (2000) Marine Ecology-Progress Series 205: 283-290.