Article
Biology
Chloe E. Malinka, Laia Rojano-Donate, Peter T. Madsen
Summary: By training harbor porpoises to actively approach and choose between targets in different distances, it was found that they can resolve and discriminate closely spaced targets, suggesting their clutter rejection zone is much shorter than their auditory integration time. The findings also indicate that porpoises adapt their echolocation strategies when facing closer targets to improve discrimination.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karina Dracott, Chloe V. Robinson, Alice Brown-Dussault, Caitlin Birdsall, Lance Barrett-Lennard
Summary: Pacific Harbour Porpoise, a species listed as Special Concern under the Species At Risk Act, occupies a wide range throughout coastal waters of British Columbia. However, there is limited data on their abundance and population trends. This multi-year study used land-based visual surveys and passive acoustic monitoring to fill the data gaps and found strong seasonal and diel trends in the activity of harbour porpoise around Prince Rupert. Despite vessel-related acoustic disturbance, harbour porpoise continue to persist in this highly trafficked area, indicating its importance as a habitat for this species and a certain level of acclimatization to localized disturbance.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jennifer L. K. McCullough, Johanna L. K. Wren, Erin M. Oleson, Ann N. Allen, Zachary A. Siders, Erik S. Norris
Summary: The distribution, abundance, and habitat of cryptic cetacean species such as beaked whales and dwarf/pygmy sperm whales are challenging to study due to their long dive times and limited surface behavior. In this study, acoustic monitoring combined with environmental sampling and satellite data was used to examine the distribution and habitat of these species in the Mariana Archipelago region. The results suggest that differences in oceanographic characteristics between northern and southern regions may impact foraging opportunities and explain the ecological niche for these species within this water mass.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Douglas Gillespie, Laura Palmer, Jamie Macaulay, Carol Sparling, Gordon Hastie
Summary: The study found that harbour porpoises effectively avoid collisions with tidal turbines, with low risk, which has important implications for the development of the tidal energy industry.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Aude Benhemma-Le Gall, Paul Thompson, Nathan Merchant, Isla Graham
Summary: Efforts to meet climate change targets through offshore windfarm expansion pose a potential risk to protected marine mammal populations. This study investigates the effects of pre-piling activities on the occurrence of harbour porpoises. The results highlight the importance of considering disturbance from multiple sources when implementing mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of windfarm construction.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melinda L. Rekdahl, Sarah G. Trabue, Carissa D. King-Nolan, Samantha Strindberg, Howard C. Rosenbaum
Summary: This study investigated the spatiotemporal distribution of harbour porpoise in the NY-NJ Harbour Estuary from 2018-2020. The results showed that harbour porpoises were present at low levels year-round, with seasonal peaks in winter to spring (February to June). Sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration were significant predictors of harbour porpoise presence, but further research is needed to understand this relationship.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexis N. Neff, Dean M. DeNicola, Chris Maltman
Summary: The study found that passive treatment of streams impaired by acid mine drainage is more effective at restoring microbial communities in water and leaf habitats, while sediment microbial communities show poorer recovery. Microbial community composition in different habitats is synergistically affected by habitat type and AMD impact, with community similarity increasing with AMD severity. The absence of certain microbial taxa in sediment communities at treated and untreated AMD sites corresponds to higher NH4+ concentrations, suggesting the presence of iron oxyhydroxide precipitate as a factor.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Palmer, Douglas Gillespie, Jamie D. J. MacAulay, Carol E. Sparling, Debbie J. F. Russell, Gordon D. Hastie
Summary: The study conducted in Scotland showed that harbour porpoises exhibited significant avoidance of a tidal turbine when it was operating, with avoidance increasing with flow speed. The temporal variability in encounter rate highlighted the need for long-term baseline monitoring to understand collision risk more comprehensively. It is important to assess the generality of avoidance rates presented in this study for different sites, turbine types, array sizes, and cetacean species as the tidal industry expands, to balance the benefits of avoidance responses with potential chronic effects of displacement from important habitats.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Mahdi Razaz, Len Zedel, Alex E. Hay, K. Kawanisi
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of using fluvial acoustic tomography (FAT) to assess tidal energy resources. Through experiments and simulations, the study identifies the sources of multiple arrivals and demonstrates the ability of FAT to detect turbulence and measure sound speed.
IEEE JOURNAL OF OCEANIC ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Mats Amundin, Julia Carlstrom, Len Thomas, Ida Carlen, Jonas Teilmann, Jakob Tougaard, Olli Loisa, Line A. Kyhn, Signe Sveegaard, M. Louise Burt, Iwona Pawliczka, Radomil Koza, Bartlomiej Arciszewski, Anders Galatius, Jussi Laaksonlaita, Jamie MacAuley, Andrew J. Wright, Anja Gallus, Michael Dahne, Alejandro Acevedo-Gutierrez, Harald Benke, Jens Koblitz, Nick Tregenza, Daniel Wennerberg, Katharina Brundiers, Monika Kosecka, Cinthia Tiberi Ljungqvist, Ivar Jussi, Martin Jabbusch, Sami Lyytinen, Aleksej Saskov, Penina Blankett
Summary: Knowing the abundance of a population is crucial for assessing its conservation status and developing effective conservation plans. This study estimated the abundance of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise for the first time through passive acoustic monitoring and found that it is critically endangered. Immediate and efficient conservation actions through international cooperation are urgently needed.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Luke Evans, Ian Ashton, Brian Sellar
Summary: This study evaluates the performance of a 1 MW tidal turbine deployed in Scotland and highlights the importance of proper instrument placement and alignment for accurate power performance measurement. The study also quantifies the impact of vertical flow shear on energy production estimates.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Honora Driscoll, Nicholas Salmon, Rene Banares-Alcantara
Summary: The climate crisis is pushing for the transition from high-carbon ammonia to low-carbon and zero-carbon ammonia. Utilizing variable renewable energy for green ammonia production requires expensive energy storage, but tidal stream energy could be an ideal energy source due to its high availability and predictability. This paper explores the feasibility of using tidal stream energy for offshore green ammonia production through a case study on the Pentland Firth, showing promising results in reducing hydrogen storage requirement and decreasing the levelized cost of ammonia.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Seung Ryul Zeon, Jun-Ho Koo, Jong-Woo Park, Hee-Do Jeung, Yong Hyeon Choi, Yoonsik Cho
Summary: This study evaluated the habitat of Manila clam and other benthic organisms in Gomso Bay tidal flat using habitat assessment and habitat suitability index. The findings can serve as a reference for protecting clam resources and optimizing site selection for aquaculture farms.
OCEAN SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Karin Tubbert Clausen, Jonas Teilmann, Danuta M. Wisniewska, Jeppe Dalgaard Balle, Matthieu Delefosse, Floris M. van Beest
Summary: This study reveals that harbour porpoises may be attracted to offshore oil and gas platforms despite elevated underwater noise, likely exploiting higher prey abundance created by the combined effect of artificial reef formation and protected areas around platforms.
ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND EVIDENCE
(2021)
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Rafael Brito de Sousa Veras, Aline Mayara Santos Costa, Diego Leonardo Santos Cosme, Osvaldo Ronald Saavedra, Anthea Carla Czizeweski, Audalio Rebelo Tones Junior, Felipe Mendonca Pimenta
Summary: The article characterizes the Boqueirao Channel in Sao Marcos Bay, Brazil in terms of tidal stream energy, showing significant potential for tidal streams and good technical-economic viability due to its proximity to the coast and a large consumption center.
2021 IEEE REGION 10 CONFERENCE (TENCON 2021)
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Gordon D. Hastie, Deborah J. F. Russell, Steven Benjamins, Simon Moss, Ben Wilson, Dave Thompson
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Ecology
Steven Benjamins, Andrew Dale, Nienke van Geel, Ben Wilson
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2016)
Article
Ecology
Steven Benjamins, Andrew Dale, Nienke van Geel, Ben Wilson
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2016)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gordon D. Hastie, Debbie J. F. Russell, Paul Lepper, Jim Elliott, Ben Wilson, Steven Benjamins, Dave Thompson
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2018)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Clive J. Fox, Steven Benjamins, Elizabeth A. Masden, Raeanne Miller
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2018)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
S. Benjamins, C. J. Fox, K. Last, C. E. McCarty
ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Steven Benjamins, Jane Dodd, James Thorburn, Victoria A. Milway, Ronald Campbell, David M. Bailey
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. R. Findlay, H. D. Ripple, F. Coomber, K. Froud, O. Harries, N. C. F. van Geel, S. V. Calderan, S. Benjamins, D. Risch, B. Wilson
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Steven Benjamins, Elizabeth Masden, Maurizio Collu
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2020)
Review
Environmental Sciences
K. A. Abhinav, Maurizio Collu, Steven Benjamins, Huiwen Cai, Adam Hughes, Bo Jiang, Simon Jude, William Leithead, Cui Lin, Hongda Liu, Luis Recalde-Camacho, Natalia Serpetti, Ke Sun, Ben Wilson, Hong Yue, Bin-Zhen Zhou
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas Regnier, Jane Dodd, Steven Benjamins, Fiona M. Gibb, Peter J. Wright
Summary: This study utilized citizen-science data to estimate growth in the Critically Endangered flapper skate, revealing it to be a long-lived species with relatively late ages at maturity and significant sex-related differences in growth rate and maximum size. Despite its longevity, the population growth rate and recovery might be slower than previously reported.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Steven Benjamins, Georgina Cole, Adam Naylor, James A. Thorburn, Jane Dodd
Summary: The successful incubation of critically endangered flapper skate eggs revealed the high growing degree-days required for hatching, and raised concerns about the vulnerability of skate eggs to anthropogenic disturbance due to their prolonged embryonic development.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natalia Serpetti, Steven Benjamins, Stevie Brain, Maurizio Collu, Bethany J. Harvey, Johanna J. Heymans, Adam D. Hughes, Denise Risch, Sophia Rosinski, James J. Waggitt, Ben Wilson
Summary: Aquaculture and marine renewable energy are key sectors in Europe's Blue Economy, and utilizing Multi-Purpose Platforms (MPPs) to co-locate aquaculture systems and Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) devices is proposed as a solution. A high-resolution spatiotemporal Ecospace model was used to assess the impacts of MPP configurations on the surrounding ecosystem and how these impacts cascade through the food web.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Steven Benjamins, Nienke van Geel, Gordon Hastie, Jim Elliott, Ben Wilson
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART II-TOPICAL STUDIES IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2017)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Violette Harnois, Helen C. M. Smith, Steven Benjamins, Lars Johanning
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MARINE ENERGY
(2015)