Expert Details

Base Line Wildlife Survey Techniques, Coral Biology, Molecular Biology, British Bird Identification

ID: 728514 United Kingdom

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Expert trained as a zoologist at undergraduate level then travelled the world gaining valuable biological and ecological field skills with numerous organisations from government bodies to local or national run NGO's. Upon returning to the UK he opted to further his education with a PhD in microbial molecular ecology of coral reefs, learning molecular lab skills and furthering his field studies. During his further time at university he was an active member in numerous teaching and demonstrating of undergraduate courses from ecological survey techniques, bird and insect identification to vertebrate dissections to name a few, along with running field trips in the North East England and Scotland. Work with consultancies on bat and newt surveys along with being an active member in the North East Reptile and Amphibian Group kept his skills varied and his local knowledge on fauna around the UK up to date, whilst becoming ever more specialised in marine biology, principally coral reef ecology.

He has been involved in the North East Reptile and Amphibian group as communication officer offering help and advice to members of the public and the group with regards to local species of Amphibians and reptiles, habitat types, stranded animals etc.Association with E3 consultancy (a North East consultancy firm) with help with bat and newt surveys.He has worked for various government agencies including liaison with the Zimbabwean government on management plans for three national parks, provided resources and man power to aid in the formation of management and strategy plans for the future development of the National Parks, along with associated field based surveys.

Education

Year Degree Subject Institution
Year: 2004 Degree: BS.c Subject: Zoology Institution: Newcastle University

Work History

Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2007 to Present Employer: Undisclosed Title: Instructor / Demonstrator Department: School of Biology
Responsibilities:
He is finishing his final year of PhD on Molecular Microbial Coral Reef Ecology: - aiding the understanding of What controls microbial community structure of the surface mucus layer of corals? work includes joint field and lab based work with use of PCR-DGGE, clone libraries, ABI sequencing and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Currently writing and publishing papers. Has been an active member in the department taking on large amount of teaching responsibilities.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2006 to 2007 Employer: African Encounter/Impact Title: Project Manager, Research Coordinator and Project Developer Department:
Responsibilities:
In charge of running a volunteer organisation working in Hwange and Matopos National Parks in Zimbabwe. Assisting the National Park Research Services with field based research within the park and helping with forming certain management and strategy plans for the future development of the National Parks. Hwange National Parks; Zimbabwe
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2006 to 2006 Employer: MFG (Madagascan Faunal Group) Title: Park Ranger Department:
Responsibilities:
He was the general parks ranger at Ivoloina, conducting maintenance, biodiversity surveys, attending lectures on health, dietary and veterinary procedures within zoos in conjunction with Saint Louis Zoo.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2005 to 2006 Employer: Coral Cay Conservation Title: Expedition Leader and Project Scientist Department:
Responsibilities:
He worked in cooperation with NRCP (Negros Rainforest Conservation Project) - conducting a rapid biodiversity index of the flora and fauna present in the Northern Negros Forest Reserve in association with Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) and Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation Inc on Negros Island in the Philippines, along with running the Malaysian Tropical Forest Conservation Project, a rapid biodiversity index survey on the varied ecological habitats found within the Setiu Wetlands of the state of Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2004 to 2005 Employer: Department of Conservation - New Zealand Title: Researcher Department:
Responsibilities:
Involved in the reintroduction and monitoring of two of the most endangered birds in the world the Black Robin (Petroica traversii) and the Chatham Island Petrel. Chatham Islands, New Zealand along with assisting an ongoing monitoring programme of the North Island Kaka (Nestor meridionalis)
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2004 to 2005 Employer: Massey University - New Zealand Title: Research Assistant Department:
Responsibilities:
Assistance given on numerous projects from monitoring the health status, distribution and breeding habits of Hectors Dolphin, Red crowned Kakariki (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae), North Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis lawryi) and Saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus along with
an experimental test of metapopulation theory using reintroductions of the North Island robin (Petroica austalis longipipes) and Understanding patterns of local extinction within.

Additional Experience

Expert Witness Experience
He has started to do low level consultancy work for E3 ecology on bat and newt surveys, along with numerous field work for various employees.

Career Accomplishments

Associations / Societies
North East Reptile and Amphibian Group - Communication officer
Licenses / Certifications
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Bronze, Silver and Gold - 1999
Publications and Patents Summary
He has presented at numerous conferences on his current work on coral biology including at the International Coral Reef Symposium 2007; on the relationships between water borne and coral bacteria – a new perspective and on Corals, Bacterial Worlds

Presented at the Environmental Marine Biology Conference 2009; on a realistic measure of the supply of bacteria from the water column to the coral surface mucus layer

and at Reef Conservation UK 2009, on bacterial Communities associated with the Surface Mucus Layer of reef corals

Publications in press or review include;
Temporal and Spatial Patterns in Waterborne Bacterial Communities of an Island Reef System and Bacterial assemblages differ between compartments within the coral holobiont

Fields of Expertise

biology, conservation biology, coral reef, ecology, marine microbial ecology, marine microbiology, microbial ecology, terrestrial ecosystem, vertebrate zoology, zoology, bird, bird studies, coral biology, newt, biological survey, marine ecology, bat (mammal), fish, environmental monitoring, environmental data, terrestrial ecology, environmental restoration, environmental management, terrestrial ecosystem assessment, frog, amphibian, invertebrate zoology, animal behavior, habitat, ecological environment, ocean, environmental microbiology, forest vegetation, vertebrate, mammal, marine biology, reptile, microbiology, herpetology, land use environmental impact, ecological risk assessment

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