Ms Sarah Swan

Manager of the Toxic Phytoplankton Monitoring Programme for classified shellfish harvesting areas (Scotland)

 

Tel: 01631 559223

e-mail: scs@sams.ac.uk

 

Scientific Interests

• Distribution and development of harmful algal blooms

• Taxonomy of potentially toxic phytoplankton

 

Current projects  

• Managing the analyses of water samples collected from shellfish growing areas around Scotland, in order to monitor the presence and geographic distribution of potentially toxic phytoplankton

 

Publications (peer reviewed) 

Davidson K, Miller P, Wilding TA, Shutler J, Bresnan E, Kennington K and Swan S (2008). A large and prolonged bloom of Karenia mikimotoi in Scottish waters in 2006. Harmful Algae, 8, vol 2, 349-361. 

Swan SC, Geffen AJ, Morales-Nin B, Gordon JDM, Shimmield T, Sawyer T and Massutí E (2006). Otolith chemistry: an aid to stock separation of Helicolenus dactylopterus (bluemouth) and Merluccius merluccius (European hake) in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 63, 504-513.

Swan SC, Geffen AJ, Gordon JDM, Morales-Nin B and Shimmield T (2006). Effects of handling and storage methods on the concentrations of elements in deep-water fish otoliths. Journal of Fish Biology, 68, 891-904.

Morales-Nin B, Swan SC, Gordon JDM, Palmer M, Geffen AJ, Shimmield T and Sawyer T (2005). Age-related trends in otolith chemistry of Merluccius merluccius from the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and the western Mediterranean Sea. Marine and Freshwater Research 56(5) 599–607. Full text DOI: 10.1071/MF04151. Published:21 July 2005

Swan SC, Wright PJ, Woodroffe DA, Gordon JDM and Shimmield T. (2004). Evidence for geographical isolation of the early life-stages of the white anglerfish, Lophius piscatorius, based on otolith microchemistry. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 84, 827-830.

Massutí E, Gordon JDM, Moranta J, Swan SC, Stefanescu C and Merrett NR (2004). Mediterranean and Atlantic deep-sea fish assemblages: differences in biomass composition and size-related structure. Scientia Marina, 68 (Suppl. 3), 101–115.

Swan SC, Gordon JDM, Morales-Nin B, Shimmield T, Sawyer T and Geffen AJ (2003). Otolith microchemistry of Nezumia aequalis (Pisces: Macrouridae) from widely different habitats in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 83, 883-886.

Swan SC, Gordon JDM and Shimmield T (2003). Preliminary investigations on the uses of otolith microchemistry for stock discrimination of the deep-water black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) in the North East Atlantic. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science, 31, 221-231.

Morales-Nin B, Canha Â, Casas M, Figuereido I, Gordo LS, Gordon JDM, Gouveia E, Piñeiro CG, Reis S, Reis A, Swan SC (2002). Intercalibration of age readings of deepwater black scabbardfish, Aphanopus carbo (Lowe, 1839). ICES Journal of Marine Science, 59, 352-364.

 

Other Publications

Swan SC and Davidson K (2009). Monitoring Programme for the Presence of Toxin Producing Plankton in Shellfish Production Areas in Scotland. Reporting period: 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009. 44pp + appendix.

Bresnan E, Davidson K, Gowen R, Higman W, Lawton L, Lewis J, Percy L, McKinney A, Milligan S, Shammon T and Swan S (2008). Harmful phytoplankton in UK waters: current and future organisms for concern. In: Relating Harmful Phytoplankton to Shellfish Poisoning and Human Health, pages 11-15. Proceedings of NERC-funded workshop 15 -16 Oct 2007, Davidson K and Bresnan E (eds).

Swan SC and Davidson K (2008). Monitoring Programme for the Presence of Toxin Producing Plankton in Shellfish Production Areas in Scotland. Reporting period: 01 April 2007 – 31 March 2008. 34pp + appendix.

Davidson K, Bresnan E, Kennington K, Swan SC, Fraser S and Miller P (2007). A large and prolonged bloom of Karenia mikimotoi in Scottish waters in 2006. Harmful Algae News, 4 (newsletter).itemIDitemID1349E20(20userIDuserID39E

Swan SC and Davidson K (2007). Monitoring Programme for the Presence of Toxin Producing Plankton in Shellfish Production Areas in Scotland. Reporting period: 01 April 2006 – 31 March 2007. 25pp + appendices.

Swan SC and Davidson K (2006). Monitoring Programme for the Presence of Toxin Producing Plankton in Shellfish Production Areas in Scotland. Reporting period: 01 September 2005 – 31 March 2006. 17pp + appendix. 

Swan SC, Batty RS and Robb L (2004). The Effect of Turbidity and Hypoxia on the Behaviour of Coastal Marine Fishes (ETHOFISH). EC Framework 5, QLRT-2002-00799. SAMS second annual progress report.

Moranta J, Gordon JDM, Massutí E, Swan SC, Stefanescu C, Morales-Nin B and Merrett NR (20itemIDitemID357E03). Differences in biomass composition and size-related structure between Mediterranean and Atlantic deep-sea fish assemblages. In: CIESM, 2003 Mare Incognitum? Exploring Mediterranean deep-sea biology. CIESM Workshop Monographs no. 23, 128 pp, Monaco.userIDu

Gordon JDM and Swan SC (editors) (2002). Otolith microchemistry as a means of identifying stocks of deep-water demersal fish (OTOMIC). EC FAIR 98/4365. Final report for the period from 01-01-1999 to 31-08-2002. 122 pp + appendices.

Swan SC, Gordon JDM and Shimmield T (2001). Preliminary investigations on the uses of otolith microchemistry for stock discrimination of the deep-water black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) in the North East Atlantic. NAFO SCR Doc. 01/94 Serial No. N4482, 12pp.

Gordon JDM and Swan SC (2001). Project No 94/017: Deep-water demersal fishes: data for assessment and biological analysis. In: Dissemination of the Results of  Biological Studies. European Commission, p 9-11.

Gordon JDM, Swan SC, Geffen AJ and Morales-Nin B (2001). Otolith microchemistry as a means of identifying stocks of deep-water demersal fishes (OTOMIC). NAFO SCR Doc. 01/100, Serial No. N4488, 10pp.

Gordon JDM and Swan SC (1999). Developing deep-water fisheries: data for their assessment and for understanding their interaction with and impact on a fragile environment. Final Report, 50 pp + figures and tables. EC FAIR CT95/655.

Gordon JDM, Swan SC, Coggan RA (1998). Age old problems in deep-water fish growth. Second International Symposium on Fish Otolith Research and Application. Book of Abstracts, p81. Poster.

Gordon JDM, Swan SC (1997). The distribution and abundance of deep-water sharks on the continental slope to the west of the British Isles. ICES CM 1997/BB:11 23pp.

Gordon JDM, Swan SC (1997). Deep-water demersal fishes: data for assessment and biological analysis. EC DGXIV/C/1 CT94/017. Final report. 154 pp + appendices.

Gordon JDM,  Swan SC, Coggan RA (1997). Developing deep-water fisheries: data for their assessment and for understanding their interaction with and impact on a fragile environment. First Interim Report, EC FAIR CT95/655.

Cronin M, Davies IM, Newton A, Pirie JM, Topping G, Swan S (1996). Trace metal in deep sea fish from the North Atlantic. ICES CM 1996/E:14, 14pp.

Gordon JDM, Swan SC, Kelly C, Hareide N-R (1995). Age determination of juvenile roundnose grenadier, Coryphaenoides rupestris, a deep-water macrourid fish: a preliminary report. ICES CM1995/G6 (REF D, H).

Gordon JDM, Swan SC (1993). Biological Parameters of Deep-water Fish Species. EC DGXIV Contract. 120 pages + appendices.

 

Educational and scientific career history

• BSc. (Hons) Physics, University of Southampton (1988) 

- Oct-03 to Sep-05: ETHOFISH - EC FP5: QLRT-2002-00799: Behavioural studies of coastal fishes in relation to turbidity and hypoxia

- Jan-99 to Oct-02: OTOMIC - EC FAIR Contract 98/4365: Otolith microchemistry of deep-sea fishes as an aid to stock identification

- May-98 to Apr-00: BASBLACK - EC Study Contract 97/84: Otolith microchemistry, genetic stock discrimination, age estimation of the deep-water fish species Aphanopus carbo (black scabbardfish)

- Feb-97 to Apr-98: DEEP-FISHERIES - EC FAIR Contract 95/655: Age estimation, general biology of deep-sea fish species

- Feb-95 to Jan-97: MAFF DATA - EC Study Contract 94/17: Relational database of historical survey data, deep-water fish ageing

- Jun-93 to Jan-95: MAST 2 - EC Contract MAS2-CT920033: Deep-water fish ageing

- Oct-92 to May-93: BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS - EC Study contract 1992/10: General biology of deep-water fishes

- Aug-88 to May-90: Technician, Department of Geology, University of Southampton