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Lois Calder

Benthic Ecologist, Ecology Department

Dr Lois Nickell

 

   

 

 

    Telephone: +44 (0)1631 559242
    E-mail: Lois.Calder@sams.ac.uk

   

Scientific interests

  • Organism-sediment relationships including structural, functional and behavioural aspects benthic communities.
  • Megafaunal behaviour, including feeding and burrowing, and consequences for bioturbation, bioirrigation, carbon burial and degradation. 
  • Influence of environmental drivers, such as hypoxia, chemical cues, anthropogenic organic enrichment, in controlling organism behaviour and activity.
  • Integrating ecological community information into measures of bioturbation and bioirrigation and determination of consequences for biogeochemistry.
  • Development of in situ technologies for examination of benthic sediment processes to determine the effects of perturbation in marine coastal environments.

 


Current projects

COBO - E.U. STReP project 505564, Mar 2004 - Feb 2007
Integrating new technologies for the study of benthic coastal ecosystem response to human activity: towards a Coastal Ocean Benthic Observatory. 

 

Coastal ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic perturbation, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem function, stability and resilience.  The COBO partnership (SAMS; Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, University of Copenhagen, University of Potsdam, University of Aberdeen, Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, Alfred-Wegener Institute fur Polar und Meeresforshung, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, University of Göteborg, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unisense A/S & SEA Environmental Decisions) has developed and integrated emerging and innovative technologies from different disciplines (biology, physics, chemistry, imagery) to provide in situ monitoring of sediment habitats.  Our aim is to understand complex interactions between the biota (function and diversity) and their chemical environment. The project encompasses technology development, extensive field and laboratory work, as well as public understanding of science activities.

  

 The Elinor benthic lander

The Elinor lander with oxystat being deployed in Loch Creran

    

Benthic incubation chamber

Benthic incubation chamber with added luminophores to study bioturbation

My role in COBO has been as scientific and administrative co-ordinator and workpackage leader (WP3: Development of Oxystat chamber and nitrate sensors, WP9: Optimisation of individual and integrated technologies & WP13: Co-ordination).  My work has focused on the development of an oxystat device, attached to a benthic incubation chamber, which regulates oxygen within to maintain ambient concentrations of oxygen throughout the deployment.  The chamber lander was then used during integrated field work in Loch Creran for experiments to quantify organism activity (bioturbation and bioirrigation) and responses to perturbation under contrasting conditions of organic enrichment. 


See www.cobo.org.uk for full details of the COBO project.
   

Teaching / supervising activities

  • Lecturer for the University of the Highlands & Islands Millennium Institute (UHI) from 2000. Leading two undergraduate modules, Level 1: Introducing Marine Science and Level 4: Case Study, and contributing to other, Level 2: Marine Pollution, Level 2: Zoology and Level 3: Sediment Processes.
  • SAMS Postgraduate Officer, responsible for postgraduate management including academic reporting and policy development. Member of SAMS Teaching Quality Assurance Committee, liaising with students, supervisors, management and UHI Executive Office. Responsible for designing and implementing policy for student management and training for supervisors and students.



Publications

  • HUGHES D.J., HATTON, A.D., NICKELL, L.A. 2004. Do biogenic sulphur compounds in phytodetritus act as cues for deposit-feeder activity? Field experiments and observations on the echiuran worm Maxmuelleria lankesteri. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 313: 175-189.
  • NICKELL L. A., K.D. BLACK, D.J. HUGHES, J. OVERNELL, T. BRAND, T.D. NICKELL, E.R. BREUER AND S.M. HARVEY. 2003. Bioturbation, sediment fluxes and community structure around a salmon cage farm in Loch Creran, Scotland. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 285-286: 221-233.
  • BURROWS M., L. ROBB, L.A. NICKELL AND D.J. HUGHES. 2003. Topography as a determinant of search paths of fishes and mobile macrocrustacea on the sediment surface. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 285-286: 135-249.
  • PARRY D.M, NICKELL L.A., KENDALL M.A., BURROWS M.T., PILGRIM D.A & JONES M.B., 2002. Comparison of abundance and spatial distribution of burrowing megafauna from diver and remotely operated vehicle observations. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 244: 89-93.
  • PINN E.H., NICKELL L.A., ATKINSON R.J.A. & ROGERSON A., 1999. Comparison of the mouthpart setal fringes of seven species of mud-shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Journal of Natural History, 33: 1461-1485.
  • PINN E.H., NICKELL L.A., ROGERSON A. & ATKINSON R.J.A., 1999. Comparison of the gut morphology and gut microflora of seven species of mud-shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 133: 103-114.
  • GIBSON R.N., PIHL L., BURROWS M.T., MODIN J., WENNHAGE H. & NICKELL L.A., 1998. Diel movements of juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa in relation to predators, competitors, food availability and abiotic factors on a microtidal nursery ground. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 165, 145-159.
  • NICKELL L.A., ATKINSON R.J.A. & PINN E.H., 1998. Morphology of thalassinidean (Crustacea: Decapoda) mouthparts and pereiopods in relation to feeding ecology and grooming. Journal of Natural History, 32, 733-761.
  • NICKELL L.A. & SAYER M.D.J., 1998. Occurrence and activity of mobile macrofauna on a sublittoral reef on the west coast of Scotland: diel and seasonal variation. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 78: 1061-1082.
  • SAYER, M.D.J., THURSTON, S.R., NICKELL, L.A., DUNCAN, G.D. & GALE, A.V., 1996. Use of rebreathers in fish research. In Underwater Research and Discovery (proceedings of the 3rd Underwater Science Symposium), pp. 35-38. Aberdeen: Society for Underwater Technology.
  • NICKELL L.A. & ATKINSON R.J.A., 1995. Functional morphology of burrows and trophic modes of three thalassinidean shrimp species, and a new approach to the classification of thalassinidean burrow morphology. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 128, 181-197.
  • NICKELL L.A., HUGHES D.J. & ATKINSON R.J.A., 1995. Megafaunal bioturbation in organically enriched Scottish sea lochs. In The Biology and Ecology of Shallow Coastal Waters. Proceedings of the 28th European Marine Biology Symposium, 1993. pp. 315-322. Olsen & Olsen, Fredensborg.
  • NICKELL L.A., ATKINSON R.J.A., HUGHES D.J., ANSELL A.D. & SMITH C.J., 1995. Burrow Morphology of the Echiuran Worm, Maxmuelleria lankesteri (Echiura: Bonellidae), and a brief review of burrow morphology of the Echiura. Journal of Natural History, 29, 871-885.
  • NICKELL L.A. & ATKINSON R.J.A., 1994. Observations on the behaviour of Thalassema thalassemum (Echiura: Echiuridae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association ot the UK, 74, 963-966.
  • HUGHES D.J., ANSELL A.D., ATKINSON R.J.A. & NICKELL L.A., 1993. Underwater Television Observations of Surface Activity by the Echiuran Worm, Maxmuelleria lankesteri (Echiura: Bonellidae). Journal of Natural History, 27, 219-249.

 

Reports

  • L.A. NICKELL, 2005. Integrating new technologies for the study of benthic ecosystem response to human activity: towards a Coastal Ocean Benthic Observatory. EU STREP project GOCE-CT-2003-505564, COBO. Year 2 Periodic Activity Report (183 pp.) and Periodic Management Reports (72 pp.)
  • WILDING, T.A., J. DUNCAN, L.A. NICKELL, D.J. HUGHES, S. GONTAREK, K.D. BLACK AND M.D.J. SAYER.  2005. Synthesis of Information on the Benthos of SEA 6 Clyde Sea Area.  Report to the Department of Trade and Industry, Scottish Association for Marine Science Report, 70 pp.
  • WILDING, T.A., L.A. NICKELL, S. GONTAREK AND M.D.J. SAYER.  2005. Synthesis of Information on the Benthos of Area SEA 6.  Report to the Department of Trade and Industry, Scottish Association for Marine Science Report No. 2987c, 74 pp.
  • HARVEY R., L. A. NICKELL, L. ROBB  & M.T. BURROWS, 2004. Environmental Baseline Survey of the Littoral Shores around Dounreay. Phase 2 Survey – April 2004. Report by the Scottish Association for Marine Science to United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Dounreay.
  • ROBB, L.R., L.A.NICKELL, M.T. BURROWS & R. HARVEY, 2004. Environmental Baseline survey of the littoral zone of the shores around Dounreay.  Phase 1 Survey – Nov 2003. Report by the Scottish Association for Marine Science to United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Dounreay.
  • ARCHER S. & NICKELL L.A., 1996. An evaluation of the aquaculture potential of the spiny lobster Palinurus elephas. Final report to the Marine Resource Initiative, DML Internal Report No. 205, 62 pp.
  • M.D.J. SAYER, S.H. MAGILL, S.R. THURSTON, T.A. WILDING, L.A. NICKELL & R.N. GIBSON, 2001.  MF0133:  The factors affecting distribution and abundance of juvenile gadoids in rocky subtidal habitats; Final report of GSG MAFF. Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory Internal Report 233, 202pp.


Educational History

 

  • Ph.D. Deep Bioturbation in Organically Enriched Marine Sediments. Degree awarded Dec. 1992 University of London, UK (working at University Marine Biological Station Millport and Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Scotland)
  • B.Sc. Hons. Zoology 2(i), University of Glasgow, Scotland

 

Career History

 

  • Sept 04 – present: NERC Band 5 Senior Scientific Officer at Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). Ecology Department
  • Oct 1992 – Set 2004: NERC Band 6 Higher Scientific Officer at Scottish Association for Marine Science. Ecology Dept. (01-04), Biodiversity group (98-01), Predator-Prey Interaction group (92-98)
  • Aug - Dec 1987: Management trainee at a salmon hatchery with Marine Harvest Ltd. Work involved general fish husbandry, together with collation of spawning and genetic data for brood and production stock.
  • Mar 1989 - Sept 1991:  Post-graduate demonstrator for University Marine Biological Station Millport on six fortnight-long undergraduate courses in Marine Biology.
  • Aug 1990: Field and lab assistant for Institute of Marine Biology of Crete. Benthic sampling in the southern  Aegean and sorting biological samples.
  • Jun - Aug 1989: Member of the Glasgow University Exploration Society Trinidad and Tobago Expedition, Buccoo Reef Project involving coral transplantation experiments and reef surveys of coral and fish to assess damage. Also implemented a study of burrowing crustaceans in Bon Accord Lagoon.
  • May 1988 – Jun 1989: Scientific diver for the Nature Conservancy Council, surveying benthic habitats, photography and identification of flora and fauna of Loch Riddon, Striven, Sween, Ryan and Isles of Lewis, Harris, Canna and Skye.
  • Apr - Sept 1988: Research Assistant with Aberdeen University. Working with Dr P. Thompson, using radio-telemetry techniques to study feeding movements and diving patterns of common seals in the Moray Firth.
  • Dec 1987 - Apr 1988: Research Assistant at Point Reyes Bird Observatory, California, USA, censusing elephant seal and bird breeding areas on the Farallone Islands, CA, USA.
  • Jun - Aug 1986: Research Assistant with Aberdeen University and the Sea Mammal Research Unit. Working with Dr P. Thompson, using radio-telemetry techniques to study feeding movements, diving patterns and haul-out behaviour of common seals around Orkney.



Other (e.g. measures of esteem)

Chief External Examiner for School of Biological & Earth Science programmes, BSc (Hons) Biology/Applied Biology and BSc Zoology/Applied Zoology, at Liverpool John Moores University.  2004-08.

The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA
T: 01631 559000 F: 01631 559001 E: info@sams.ac.uk

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