Phil Jean-François Bouchet Mres
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Phil Jean-François Bouchet MRes PhD ! " @pjbouchet Quantitative ecologist " http://pjbouchet.github.io ! bit.ly/pjbouchet-GScholar 23 Westfield Road " bit.ly/pjbouchet-Publons Portsmouth PO4 9EP $ bit.ly/pjbouchet-RG United Kingdom % bit.ly/pjbouchet-IStory (+44 0) 7398 342 547 & ! [email protected] 0000-0002-2144-2049 METRICS Peer-reviewed articles: 19 (+4 in review) | h-index: 10 | Citations: 433 PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY I am a quantitative ecologist with a background in marine science, statistical modelling and GIS. I have a strong interest in data analysis and the application of predictive models to real-world wildlife conservation problems, using both frequentist and (increasingly) Bayesian approaches. With over a decade of experience conducting research on marine megafauna species (eg. whales, dolphins, seabirds, fishes and sharks), I have a wide range of practical and numerical skills. My work is predominantly computational, and my portfolio spans numerous ecosystems (coastal, offshore), spatial scales (local to global), bioregions (temperate to tropical), and field techniques (line transects to underwater videography). I am a skilled communicator capable of clearly conveying scientific results and methodologies to both academic and non-specialist audiences through a variety of traditional and emerging media platforms. RESEARCH VISION My current research vision is articulated around three core themes: Model Summary | Statistical models are vital for informing natural resource management and policy- Transferability making in a rapidly changing world. However, their ability to yield reliable predictions under novel environmental scenarios is seldom testable or tested, undermining confidence in their potential to fill ecological knowledge gaps in data-poor habitats and systems. This theme seeks to identify the key drivers of model success or failure in non-analogue conditions to improve the practical utility of model transfers in ecology. Importance | Key areas of application include: disease control and surveillance, mitigation of biological invasions, and forecasting of population responses to environmental change. Key collaborators | University of Salford, University of St Andrews, University of Western Australia. Conservation Summary | Populations of marine mega-vertebrates (eg. cetaceans, seabirds, sharks) are under Ecology increasing pressures from anthropogenic threats and activities including overfishing, bycatch, vessel traffic, or renewable energy developments. Addressing these threats requires quantitative assessments of cumulative risk, in addition to rigorous audits of existing management measures. This theme seeks to resolve the spatio-temporal distributions and behaviours of marine species at a variety of scales to predict human-wildlife conflicts, inform spatial planning, and support evaluations of protected area effectiveness in coastal and pelagic waters. Importance | Key areas of application include: threatened species monitoring, marine protected area evaluation, and conservation planning optimisation. Key collaborators | University of Portsmouth, Bangor University, University of Western Australia, University of St Andrews, Marine Scotland Science, Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Zoological Society of London, Organisation Cetacea. Dr. Phil Bouchet | (+44 0) 7398 342 547 | Email: [email protected] | Web: http://pjbouchet.github.io Theoretical Summary | Effective solutions to conservation challenges in the Anthropocene demand unified Ecology & approaches to field sampling and data analysis that can guarantee maximum transparency and Quantitative consistency in scientific outputs. Innovative modelling approaches are also required to deal with Methods increasingly big and complex datasets. This theme seeks to develop new tools and protocols for enhancing the practice of statistical ecology. Importance | Key areas of application include: novel methods for modelling animal responses to human stressors, abundance estimation for rare and cryptic species, standard operating procedures for ecological modelling, and horizon scans of emerging disciplines such as seascape ecology. Key collaborators | University of St Andrews, Duke University, University of Salford, University of Freiburg, Swiss Federal Research Institute, University of Melbourne, University of Kansas, University of Plymouth, Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. EDUCATION 2011-15 PhD Marine Ecology (Distinction); University of Western Australia (Perth, Australia) Thesis: Submarine topography as a predictor of mobile predator hotspots: Relevance and applications to conservation planning in the pelagic ocean 2008-09 MRes Marine Mammal Science (Distinction) University of St Andrews (St Andrews, Scotland) Thesis - Don’t count your whales before they migrate: Using aerial surveys to assess the status of breeding stock 'D' humpbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Western Australia 2008 Marine Mammal Management course (Distinction) Nova Southeastern University (Fort-Lauderdale, FL, USA) 2007 MSc Marine and Coastal Sciences European Institute of Marine Studies, University of Western Brittany (Brest, France) 2003-06 BSc. Zoology (First class) University of Western Brittany (Brest, France) KEY RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 2019-now Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Ecological & Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews (Scotland, UK) Development of novel methods for modelling and predicting behavioural responses of cetaceans to military sonar exposure. Specific duties include data synthesis and R package development. 2019 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Centre for Ecological & Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews (Scotland, UK) [10 months] Review of extrapolation in density surface models for cetacean species. This role contributed to a collaborative project undertaken with the United States Navy and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and required frequent liaison with overseas partners. Specific duties included data synthesis and R package development. 2018-19 Postdoctoral Marine Top Predator Ecologist, Bangor University (Wales, UK) [4 months] Mapping of risk from two key anthropogenic activities (shipping traffic and fisheries bycatch) to 24 of the most common species of cetaceans and seabirds found across northwestern Europe. This work formed part of the NERC-funded ‘Marine Ecosystems Research Programme’. Duties included the synthesis, analysis and mapping of fishing effort and vessel movement data. 2 Dr. Phil Bouchet | (+44 0) 7398 342 547 | Email: [email protected] | Web: http://pjbouchet.github.io 2016-18 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Western Australia (Australia) & Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme (NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub) Research in model transferability, spatial modelling and marine biodiversity monitoring, including standard operating protocols for pelagic sampling. This role required leading large teams of 10 to 50 collaborators. Specific duties included data collection, synthesis and management; training and supervision of students; stakeholder liaison; data analysis and modelling; preparation of technical reports and peer-reviewed journal articles; website maintenance; production of sampling designs for field campaigns; and communication products (videos, maps, blog posts) for outreach. As part of this role I authored/co-authored 4 peer-reviewed publications and 7 technical reports, with a further 5 articles in various stages of preparation. 2014-16 Data Analyst, WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Australia) Responsible for deriving estimates of (i) the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy of the endemic snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) in northwestern Australia, and (ii) population abundance at a key site (Roebuck Bay) based on vessel-based line transect survey data. Duties included database management, processing of remote sensing imagery, data treatment and mapping using GIS, and extensive programming in R. As part of the research team on this project, I was co-awarded $46,000 in grant funding from the Australian Marine Mammal Centre. The project has resulted in two scientific publications in preparation. 2010-12 Assistant Field Coordinator, Southwest Whale Ecology Study (Australia) Land-based monitoring project investigating the movement patterns, habitat use and acoustic behaviour of baleen whales (mainly pygmy blue Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda and humpback Megaptera novaeangliae). Duties included theodolite tracking; field data collection and database curation; volunteer management; equipment maintenance; community engagement activities and assistance with funding applications, reports, and scientific papers, as appropriate. 2010 Research Assistant, Centre for Whale Research WA Inc. (Australia) Research on baleen whales (mainly pygmy blue Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda and humpback Megaptera novaeangliae), including genetics (biopsy) sampling, photo-identification mark-recapture, line transect counts and behavioural observations. This role also included community engagement activities as a naturalist/tour guide onboard whale watching cruises departing daily from Fremantle, WA during the whales’ southbound migration. 2008 Research Assistant, Centre for Whale Research WA Inc. (Australia) Large-scale biodiversity surveys conducted offshore under contract with industry to characterise the little known migration path of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus