Broadly, I am a marine behavioural biologist interested in the environmental effects of our actions. Most recently my primary research area has been the effects of electromagnetic fields on marine animals and has also included understanding the artificial reef effects of offshore wind farms and benthic monitoring practices.
My present research project is focussed on characterising the electromagnetic fields (EMF) from a high voltage direct current subsea cable and determining behavioural effects in migratory American eels. Our multidisciplinary team are using bespoke equipment to measure the three-dimensional EMF in situ and fine-scale telemetry techniques to assess behavioural interactions of migratory eels as they pass over the cable on their outward migration to sea.
Current research
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Impacts on American Eel Movement and Migration from Direct Current Cables. Funded by BOEM, 2018-2021
Other activities
ICES WGMBRED Member
Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) Synthesis of the Science
Flagship past projects
Benthic and Epifaunal Monitoring During Wind Turbine Installation and Operation at the Block Island Wind Farm, Rhode Island. Funded by BOEM, 2016-2020 (OCS Study BOEM 2020-044).
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Impacts on Elasmobranch (shark, rays, and skates) and American Lobster Movement and Migration from Direct Current Cables. Funded by BOEM, 2015-2017 (OCS Study BOEM 2018-003)
MaREE: Sediment impacts from marine renewables on commercial and biogenic reef builders. Funded by HIE/EU/SFC. 2010-14
Hutchison, Z. L., Secor, D., Gill, A. B., 2020. The interaction between resource species and electromagnetic fields associated with electricity production by offshore wind farms. Oceanography Special Issue. doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2020.409
Hutchison, Z. L., LaFrance Bartley, M., Degraer, S., English, P., Khan, A., Livermore, J., Rumes, B., King, J. W., 2020. Offshore wind energy and benthic habitat changes; lessons from Block Island Wind Farm, USA. Oceanography Special Issue. doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2020.406
Degraer, S., Carey, D. A., Coolen, J.W.P, Hutchison, Z. L., Kerckhof, F., Rumes, B., Vanaverbeke J., 2020. Offshore wind farm artificial reefs affect ecosystem structure and functioning: a synthesis. Oceanography Special Issue. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2020.405
Hutchison, Z. L., Gill, A.B., Sigray, P., He, H., King, J. W., (2020). Anthropogenic electromagnetic fields influence the behaviour of bottom-dwelling marine species. Nature Scientific Reports, 10: 4219. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60793-x
Hutchison, Z. L., Green, D., Burrows, M., T., Jackson, A., Wilson, B., Last, K. (2020). Survival strategies and molecular responses of two marine mussels to gradual burial by sediment. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology, 527; 151346. doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2020.151364
Dannheim, J., Bergström, L., Birchenough, S. N. R., Brzana, R., Boon, A. R., Coolen, J. W. P., Dauvin, J-C., De Mesel, I., Derweduwen, J., Gill, A. B., Hutchison, Z. L., Jackson, A. C., Janas, U., Martin, G., Raoux, A., Reubens, J., Rostin, L., Vanaverbeke, J., Wilding, T. A., Wilhelmsson, D., and Degraer, S., (2020). Benthic effects of offshore renewables: identification of knowledge gaps and urgently needed research, ICES Journal of Marine Science, fsz018.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsz018
Hutchison, Z. L., Hendrick, V. J., Burrows, M. T., Wilson, B., and Last, K., (2016). Buried alive: the behavioural response of the mussels, Modiolus modiolus and Mytilus edulis to sudden burial by sediment. PLOS One, 11(3): e0151471. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151471
Cottrell, R. S., Black, K., Hutchison, Z. L., and Last, K. S., (2016). The influence of organic material and temperature on the burial tolerance of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis: considerations for the management of marine aggregate dredging. PLOS One, 11(1): e0147534. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0147534
Hendrick, V. J., Hutchison, Z. L., and Last, K. S., (2016). Sediment burial intolerance of marine macroinvertebrates. PLOS One, 11(2): e0149114. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149114
Miller, R. G., Hutchison, Z. L., Macleod, A. K., Burrows, M. T., Cook, E. J., Last, K. S., and Wilson, B., (2013). Marine renewable energy development: assessing the Benthic Footprint at multiple scales. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11(8): 433-440. doi.org/10.1890/120089
Tait, K., Hutchison, Z., Thompson, F. L., and Munn, C., (2010). Quorum sensing signal production and inhibition by coral associated vibrios. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 2(1): 145-150. doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-2229.2009.00122.x
Reports
HDR. 2020. Benthic and Epifaunal Monitoring During Wind Turbine Installation and Operation at the Block Island Wind Farm, Rhode Island – Project Report. Final Report to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs. OCS Study BOEM 2020-044. Volume 1: 263 pp; Volume 2:380 pp
Hutchison, Z. L., Sigray, P., He, H., Gill, A. B., King J. W., and Gibson, C., (2018). Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Impacts on Elasmobranch (shark, rays, and skates) and American Lobster Movement and Migration from Direct Current Cables. OCS Study BOEM 2018-003.
Last, K. S., Hendrick, V., Sotheran, I., Foster-Smith, B., Foster-Smith, D., Hutchison, Z. (2012) Assessing the impact of shrimp fishing on Sabellaria spinulosa reef and associated biodiversity in the Wash and North Norfolk SAC, Inner Dowsing Race Bank North Ridge SAC and surrounding areas. Report for Natural England. 49pp.
Thesis
Hutchison, 2015. Behavioural and physiological responses of Modiolus modiolus and Mytilus edulis to sedimentation from marine renewable energy developments. University of Aberdeen in conjunction with SAMS.
Working Group Reports
Technical report on the Working Group on Marine Benthal Renewable Developments (WGMBRED). ICES Scientific Reports. 1:6. 95 pp.
ICES 2019 - OSPAR request to advise on the current state and knowledge of studies into the deployment and environmental impacts of wet renewable technologies and marine energy storage systems. ICES Special Request Advice, Ecoregions in the Northeast Atlantic, April 2019.
ICES. 2017. Interim Report of the WGMBRED, 6–10 March 2017, Gdynia, Poland. ICES CM 2017/SSGEPI:01. 55 pp. ICES. 2019.
ICES. 2016. Interim Report of the WGMBRED, 14–18 March 2016, Delft, Netherlands. ICES CM 2016/SSGEPI:03. 44 pp.
ICES. 2015. Interim Report of the WGMBRED, 21-25 April 2015, Oban, Scotland. ICES CM 2015/SSGEPI:17. 51 pp.
ICES. 2013. Interim Report of the WGMBRED, 19-22 March 2013, Caen, France. ICES CM 2015/SSGEF:17. 27 pp.
Conference Presentations
Hutchison, Z. L., Sigray, P., Roberts, L., Offshore Energy in the U.S. - Learning as We Go. Webinar 5; Effects of Noise and EMF on Benthic Communities. Ronald C. Baird Sea Grant Science Symposium, series developed in conjunction with ICES WGMBRED. (Oral, online) https://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/special-programs/baird/
Hutchison, Z. L., LaFrance Bartley, King, J. W., English P., Grace, S., Khan, A., 2020. Benthic habitat and epifaunal monitoring at the Block Island Wind Farm. NYSERDA State of the Science Workshop on Wildlife and Offshore Wind Energy 2020: Cumulative Impacts, (Oral, online)
Hutchison, Z. L., Gill, A., Staaterman, E., 2020. Physical Habitat Modification. Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), Fisheries and Offshore Wind Energy: Synthesis of the Science Workshop (Oral, online) https://rodafisheries.org/portfolio/synthesis-of-the-science/
Carey, D., Hutchison, Z. L., McCandless, C., Wilber, D., 2020. Finfish, Squid, Shellfish and Community Interactions. Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), Fisheries and Offshore Wind Energy: Synthesis of the Science Workshop (Oral, online). Link as above.
Hutchison, Z. L., LaFrance Bartley, M., King, J. W., English, P., Khan, A., (February 2020). Near-field spatial and temporal benthic monitoring at the Block Island Wind Farm. Ocean Sciences Meeting, San Diego, California, USA (Oral, delivered by Anwar Khan).
Hutchison, Z. L., Gill, A. B., Sigray, P. S., He, H., King, J. W., (August 2019). Anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMF) influence the behaviour of two bottom-dwelling marine species. Conference on Wind and Wildlife, Stirling, Scotland (Oral).
Hutchison, Z. L., Gill, A. B., Sigray, P. S., King, J. W., (August 2019). A dual experimental approach to determine if anguillid eels respond to the electromagnetic field of subsea buried cables. Conference on Wind and Wildlife, Stirling, Scotland (Poster).
Hutchison, Z. L., Gill, A. B., Sigray, P., He, H., King, J. W., (2018). Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) from a buried HVDC cable and the effect on migratory and electro-sensitive species. Environmental Interactions of Marine Renewables (EIMR), Orkney, Scotland (Oral).
Hutchison, Z. L., Burrows, M., Hendrick, V. J., Green, D., Beveridge, C. B., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., Last, K., (2018). The effects of anthropogenic sediment disturbance on benthic macrofauna. Environmental Interactions of Marine Renewables (EIMR),Orkney, Scotland (Poster)
Hutchison, Z. L., Gill, A. B., Sigray, P., King, J. W., (2017). Electromagnetic fields from a buried DC cable and the influence on migratory and electro-sensitive species. Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) Annual Science Meeting, Glasgow, Scotland (Oral).
Hutchison, Z. L., Gill, A. B., Sigray, P., and King, J. W., (2017). Electromagnetic fields from a buried DC cable and the influence on migratory and electro-sensitive species. International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Oral).
Hutchison, Z. L., Gill, A. B., Sigray, P., and King, J. W., (2017). Acoustic tags reveal the influence of electromagnetic fields on migratory and electro-sensitive species in an in situ controlled mesocosm study. International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Oral).
Hutchison, Z. L., Burrows, M. T., Hendrick, V. J., Green, D., Beveridge, C. B., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., Last, K., (2017). The effects of anthropogenic sediment disturbance on benthic macrofauna. International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Poster).
Hutchison, Z. L., Burrows, M. T., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., and Last, K., (2014). Altered sedimentation: gradual burial of two species of biogenic reef-forming mussels. Environmental Interactions of Marine Renewables (EIMR), Stornoway, Scotland (Poster)
Hutchison, Z. L., Burrows, M. T., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., and Last, K., (2014). The potential impact of burial on the benthos due to modern anthropogenic utilisation of the marine environment. Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM), Honolulu, Hawaii (Poster)
Hutchison, Z. L., Burrows, M. T., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., and Last, K., (2012). Responses of biogenic reef forming species to sedimentation. First Biannual Modiolus Meeting, 25-26th January, Heriott Watt, Edinburgh, Scotland (Oral)
Hutchison, Z. L., Burrows, M. T., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., and Last, K., (2012). Responses of benthic species to burial and suspended sediments as a result of renewable energy developments. EIMR International Conference, Orkney, Scotland (Poster)
Hutchison, Z. L. Burrows, M. T., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., and Last, K., (2012). A bivalve's nightmare: buried alive! UHI Postgraduate Conference, September, Oban, Scotland (Poster)
Hutchison, Z. L., Hendrick, V. J., Burrows, M. T., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., and Last, K., (2011). Behavioural and physiological responses in benthic macroinvertebrates to seabed disturbances in an era of renewable energy development. ASAB Easter Meeting, April, 2011, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, England (Poster)
Hutchison, Z. L., Hendrick, V. J., Burrows, M. T., Jackson, A. J., Wilson, B., and Last, K., (2011). Behavioural and physiological responses in benthic macroinvertebrates to seabed disturbances in an era of renewable energy development. PRIMaRE Annual Research Conference, April 2011, Plymouth (Poster, as above)
Stockley, L., Baker-Austin, C., Hutchison, Z. L., Lemm, E., Rangdale, R and Lees, D., (2010). Development of a direct in-situ extraction procedure coupled to real-time PCR for the detection and enumeration of pathogenic vibrios in shellfish matrices. Vibrios in the Environment, Biloxi, USA (Oral).
Tait, K., Hutchison, Z. L., Thompson, F. and Munn, C. B., (2009). Quorum sensing in vibrios associated with corals. Association of Vibrio Biologists. Third International Conference, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Oral).
Tait, K., Hutchison, Z. L., and Munn, C. B., (2007). Quorum sensing signal production in vibrios associated with corals. Association of Vibrio Biologists, Second International Conference, Paris, France (Poster).
Employment history
Since 2020 Honorary Research Fellow. SAMS
Since 2020 Postdoctoral Research Fellow. University of St Andrews
2018-2020 Postdoctoral Research Fellow. University of Rhode Island, USA
2015-2017 Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Cranfield University
2010-2015 Research Assistant. SAMS
Education qualifications
2015 PhD Marine Science. University of Aberdeen in conjunction with SAMS
2010 MSc Aquatic Resources Management. King's College London
2008 BSc (Hons) Marine Biology. University of Plymouth