*SAMS Newsletter AUG 02

The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 SAMS ISBN 1475-7214

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN NORTHERN SEAS SEE PAGE 5-7 September 2002 Inaugural UHI Lecture Marine Conservation SAMS AGM 35th International Liege Freshwater Biological Lord Puttnam Focuses Society with Annual Newth Colloquium on Ocean Association Lecture Dynamics and Advanced on Education Annual Conference Symposium for 6 November 2002 Research Workshop 6 September 2002 Sat 26 October 2002 European Freshwater Dead and Dying Seas 5.45 -8.30pm 9am-6pm Dunstaffnage Marine Sciences (SEFS3) Laboratory, Oban Eden Court Theatre, Royal Museum, Edinburgh 5-10 May 2003 13-18 July 2003 Liège, Belgium Inverness Tel: 01989 566017 Nominations for Council University of Edinburgh Members should be sent Tel: 01463 234 234 Fax: +32 4 3662355 Email: [email protected] to Mrs Elaine Walton at www.modb.oce.ulg.ac.be/ www.sefs.info Scottish Marine Group SAMS Colloquium EUCC-The Coastal Union Email: [email protected] & EUROCAST Marine Stewardship 9th Congress of the Next Underwater Littoral 2002 Thu 31 October 2002 University of Stirling The Ramsar Convention International Society for Optics meeting at 22-26 September 2002 on Wetlands 8th Developmental and For information contact: PHOTONEX exhibition Porto, Portugal Conference of the Parties Comparative Immunology Dr Hamish Mair 8-9 October 2003 Tel: 351 22 508 19 07/ Tel: +44 131 451 3314 Wetlands: Water, Life 29 June to 4 July 2003 National Agricultural 351 22 508 19 52 Email: [email protected] and Culture University of St Andrews Centre, Coventry Email: [email protected] For information contact: www.fe.up.pt/eurocoast/ 18-26 November 2002 http://www.st- Michael Wall littoral2002/ Valencia, Spain and.ac.uk/%7Eseeb/comp Email: [email protected] immu/Poster.htm Tel: 01256 844443 For information contact: Dr Val Smith diaryTel: +44 1334 463474 Email: vjs1@st- andrews.ac.uk

contents Front cover photo ©John A Howe, SAMS/UHI Adaptive feeding systems SAMS news Arctic cruise report 03 06 10 in fish farming 04 Obituary Robin Millar 08 Zooplankton vertical migration 11 What do Beaked Whales eat?

The Northern Seas Programme Obituary Jane Foster The European Centre for Marine 05 09 12 Biotechnology

Views expressed in this Newsletter are the views of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of SAMS.

About SAMS SAMS Board The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) is a charity committed President to promoting research and education in marine science. It is based at the Dr Ian Graham-Bryce Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory near Oban, and is a full academic partner Vice Presidents in the UHI Millennium Institute. Professor Sir Frederick Holliday Professor Alasdair D. McIntyre Dr John H. Steele SAMS is funded by an agreement with the Natural Environment Research Professor Sir William Stewart Council for its Northern Seas Programme, by commissioned research for Professor S.A. Thorpe other public and private organisations, and by donations and subscriptions Council from its 600 members from around the world. Mr W.S. Balfour Professor G.S. Boulton Professor P.R. Boyle SAMS Membership Editor Professor M.J. Cowling Dr Anuschka Miller Mrs M. Crawford Ordinary: anyone interested in Dr A.C. Goodlad marine science SAMS, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Professor R. Ormond Subscription - £12. Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK Mr. R. Sankey Tel (+44) (0) 1631 559300 Student: any person under 18, or Dr P. Thompson Fax (+44) (0) 1631 559001 registered students at Higher Professor C.D. Todd Education Institutes Email [email protected] Dr A.W. Tudhope Subscription - £5. To keep up-to-date on events at SAMS, Mrs. J. Twelves visit our website: (Observers Mr A. Munro & Dr P Newton) Corporate: organisations interested in supporting marine science www.sams.ac.uk Board Members Subscription - £60. Professor R. Cormack Professor R. Crofts Unwaged: anyone without a regular Professor A.D. Hawkins wage. Subscription - £5. Professor A. Miller Sir Matthew Farrer For further information and application Designed by Design Links Edinburgh / Glasgow forms please contact the editor. Director Professor Graham B. Shimmield

02 The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 Dear SAMS member

Dr Anuschka Miller, EDITOR

While driving into work this morning decision-makers in Northern Europe with SAMS © A. Miller, listening to the radio I realised just how the scientific knowledge about the dynamics much SAMS – despite its location in the of this marine ecosystem that is required for scenic remoteness of Argyll – participates making informed decisions about how to in one of the most important global debates achieve its sustainable development. of our time. The UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg Also Dr Jo Oliver’s article on her vision this month is focusing world attention once for the European Centre for Marine again on the impacts of economic Biotechnology (see page 12) demonstrates globalisation on human society and our the Association’s commitment to innovative environment, and on developing and approaches to sustainable development of especially the uninitiated reader a first implementing strategies to achieve the marine environment. glimpse of cruise life, both from a scientific sustainable development. The SAMS core and a personal perspective. strategic research programme on the Most marine scientists – excluding those Northern Seas - which takes centre stage who lend themselves to excessive This issue of the Newsletter is the most in this Newsletter (pages 5-7) - has direct seasickness – describe research cruises colourful yet. To portray the advances relevance in this debate as it investigates as one of the highlights and perks of their in marine science in Scotland in all their how the climatically critical ecosystem of job. On pages 6 and 7 two young SAMS glory, we felt it was time to print this northern seas responds to anthropogenic researchers, Drs Murray Roberts and John publication in full colour from now on. and natural changes. With the findings Howe, share some of their memories of a I hope you will gain as much pleasure from this programme, SAMS will be able recent Northern Seas Programme cruise from it as I. ● to contribute to providing society and its into the Arctic Circle. Their article will give SAMSnews Professor Graham B. Shimmield, DIRECTOR

SAMS OWNS AND OPERATES THE Agreement is the provision for NERC help the new building project and the DUNSTAFFNAGE MARINE to fund the £5 million Core Strategic future for Dunstaffnage would not have LABORATORY Research Programme on the Northern been realised. Seas (see page 5 in this Newsletter). On the 1st May 2002, the President of UHI PUBLISHES ITS STRATEGIC PLAN SAMS signed the new Agreement with One aspect following from this change NERC placing the entire management in responsibility has been the increased The beginning of August marks the start and operation of the laboratory back with involvement and support provided by of the university calendar. Over the past SAMS after 13 years under the NERC Highlands and Islands Enterprise. At the four months, the UHI Millennium Institute lease arrangement. Although it has taken time of a UK-wide review of the value and has prepared and submitted its Strategic considerable effort on the part of all links with the Regional Development Plan to the Scottish Higher Education concerned to achieve this Agreement, Agencies and Enterprise Companies by Funding Council (SHEFC). The success I am very optimistic that it represents an Research Councils UK, it is important to of UHI in attracting HE student numbers innovative and flexible arrangement for recognise the vision and expertise now needs the commensurate financial the delivery of international quality marine provided by HIE (and its subsidiary, Argyll support from SHEFC to achieve the vision research at SAMS. Embedded within the and Islands Enterprise), without whose so desperately required by the people of the Highlands and Islands. From the research point of view, Environmental LEFT: The NERC-SAMS Sciences in the UHI will benefit from over Agreement was signed by £400,000 of investment each year over the SAMS President Dr Ian next five years as a consequence of the Graham-Bryce (seated). From left to right: Council Research Assessment Exercise. members Professor Mike Cowling, Dr Alistair Another benchmark is the first

© J.E. McLoughlin, SAMS Goodlad, Mr William Balfour, Mrs Jane Twelves, completions of UHI-supported PhD Dr Paul Thompson, SAMS postgraduate students. From the outset, Director Professor the recognition of postgraduate Graham Shimmield, and Council member education in the Institute has marked Professor Geoffrey its aspiration for university status. Boulton.

The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 03 SAMSnews CONT. SAMS IN THE POLITICAL AND million capital project! Dr Jo Oliver has Unfortunately, the once pleasant gardens PUBLIC EYE been appointed as Project Executive at the front of the laboratory have gone for the European Centre for Marine to be replaced by a levelled building On 1 August SAMS published the Biotechnology. Jo has a distinguished site. In order to get to this stage the Review and Synthesis of the research and commercial venture career contractors had to break and remove Environmental Impacts of Aquaculture to date with Moredun Scientific Ltd and large quantities of concrete (the under the auspices of the Central New Park Management Ltd. The foundations of the second world war Research Unit of the Scottish Executive. experience and ability of Trish and Jo will military base which predated the present This milestone document, co-ordinated significantly enhance the capability and lab) and then provide a stable footing and edited by Dr Kenny Black, provides operation of SAMS, and we wish them for the new building by vibro-compacting an up-to-date and comprehensive view every success with their new careers. about 400 gravel columns into the upper on the state of the environment layers of the sandy sediments that influenced by the marine aquaculture PROGRESS ON THE NEW BUILDING compose the site. Concerns that the industry. The recommendations contained by Dr Ken Jones, Deputy Director vibrations associated with these activities therein will form the basis for future might result in premature demolition of governmental deliberation, and the The developments that have taken place the old buildings have proved unfounded, scientific research agenda. It is timely on the Dunstaffnage site since the last but many staff can justifiably claim that and appropriate that SAMS should take Newsletter have been dramatic, and staff the “earth moved” for them in the last a lead in identifying the challenges for and visitors are now in no doubt that some two months. The steelwork for the new a sustainable industry operating with due major changes to the laboratory facilities building is finally on site and the building environmental criteria, and not shy away are afoot. Behind the scenes there has ‘skeleton’ is being erected – a real from the strong opinions held by the been furious interaction between the milestone in the construction. Contractors proponents in the debate on the future development design team and hope to have a wind- and watertight of the industry. representatives of the scientific groups in building by Christmas, and the move to the laboratory to refine architectural and the new building should take place in NEW STAFF MEMBERS services specifications, whilst, on the autumn 2003. ground, building activity has begun. The rapidly evolving organisation of The building projects is funded by ERDF, SAMS has required two key new posts to A new car park has been constructed AIE, NERC, and private sector finance. be created. Patricia MacDonald joins around the Aquaculture Laboratory, which For readers interested in seeing the SAMS from the SEPA management team has allowed the contractors, the ERDC transformation taking place, the SAMS as our new Financial Controller, in charge Group, to ‘take over’ the construction site website offers a web-cam view of the site of a £4.5 million year turnover and an £8 at the front of the existing building. www.sams.ac.uk ● Obituary: Robin Millar (1916 - 2002) Dr Alistair M Bullock, former director of the SMBA

A graduate of the University of Glasgow, a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh also a knowledgeable and talented Robin Millar joined the staff of the then in 1955 in recognition of his outstanding gardener, not overly impressed with the Scottish Marine Biological Association contribution to marine science, and was current fashion in garden design, but (SMBA) at Millport in 1947 where he awarded a D.Sc. by the University of rather gardened as nature intended. ● specialised in the study of ascidians Glasgow in 1963. and quickly gained an international reputation for his research. He became a Never keen to take centre stage, Robin world authority on the classification and was nonetheless the inspiration to many identification of this complex genus, and scientists as they embarked upon their his advice and expertise were much careers, and was always willing to offer sought by marine scientists throughout them the benefits of his extensive the world. Between the late 1940s and knowledge on a wide range of subjects. the mid 1960s he was also closely There are many scientists, some still in involved with the development of service, others retired, who owe much to oyster cultivation in Scotland. his generosity of spirit, for he gave freely of his time and knowledge. Robin was Deputy Director of the SMBA from 1964 until he retired in An accomplished artist, Robin exhibited 1978, a period which incorporated his watercolours at many art exhibitions. the relocation of the Association’s There is little doubt that, had he so headquarters from Millport to its present wished, he could have had a successful home at Dunstaffnage. He was appointed career as a professional artist. He was

04 The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 Northern Seas Programme “MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN NORTHERN SEAS: NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC INFLUENCES”

Professor Graham Shimmield, Dr David Hughes & Dr Anuschka Miller, SAMS

The Northern Seas, defined as extending northern systems, which are used on the further development of smart from the Irish and northern North Seas extensively by the aquaculture industry. autonomous platforms such as seabed across the Norwegian Sea up to the Owing to the slow turnover of water landers and satellite-linked drifting buoys. marginal Arctic pack-ice zone, are within many fjords, strong water column Collection and storage of data in situ important marine environments gradients can become established and during extended deployments allows a experiencing increasing pressures from pollutants can accumulate in the bottom better understanding of the processes both natural and human impacts. This sediments. Fjords are therefore important that take place in remote areas of the area - which includes territorial waters of model systems that can provide insights ocean than could be obtained with the the UK, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, the into major coastal and oceanic processes, traditional ship-based snapshot Faeroes and Russia – plays an important which would be more complex and measurements that have dominated part in regulating world climate due to expensive to study further offshore. In the oceanography in the past. The close its crucial role in the origin of the Northern Seas Programme fjords are used working relationship between scientists thermohaline circulation and as it acts as to investigate 1) tidal energy dissipation, and engineers at SAMS means that a sink for man-made pollutants carried 2) the response of pelagic microbial research carried out under Themes A north by ocean currents. An improved communities to increased nutrient inputs, and B is increasingly underpinned by understanding of the sensitivity of 3) the relative importance of species-level this steadily advancing technology. Northern Seas to climate change, processes such as herbivore grazing on pollution, and resource exploitation is of benthic community structure, 4) the The Northern Seas Programme is built critical importance to the UK and other factors determining rates of sediment on the solid foundation provided by 30 northern European countries if we are to turnover and contaminant transport by years of marine environmental research balance the need for sustainability with burrowing animals, and 5) the suitability at Dunstaffnage. By taking maximum increasing exploitation. A more detailed of applying proxy indicators for advantage of the facilities, material knowledge and understanding of environmental change to fjordic resources and staff expertise available to ecosystem responses to past climate sediments. SAMS, we aim to provide a body of data changes will be a prerequisite to that will broaden our understanding of providing sound scientific predictions of Theme B studies the interface between the ecology and environment of the the likely ecological consequences of coastal and oceanic realms at the ocean Northern Seas. In the decades to come potentially rapid future climate change. margins. The programme investigates this understanding may help decision- the role of physical submarine features making on issues associated with the A year ago SAMS embarked on a new (seamounts, submarine ridges and management and conservation of core research programme measuring, depressions) and of species composition Northern Seas resources. ● testing and modelling how different and size structure on carbon flow and northern marine systems from coastal biogeochemistry at the benthic boundary fjords to the oceanic margins function, of the continental margins. To deepen our and how they are likely to respond to understanding of the seasonal to decadal natural and anthropogenic environmental changes from the coastal to the oceanic change. The SAMS Northern Seas NE Atlantic, the transport of water, heat, Programme, which is funded for an initial and salt is being regularly monitored five years by the Natural Environment along the Ellett Line between Mull and Research Council, draws on the breadth Rockall. Theme B also incorporates the SAMS © Steve Gontarek, of scientific expertise within SAMS and further building up of knowledge required takes up over 40% of the laboratory staff’s for an ecosystem-based management of time. The programme is based around the deep-water fisheries in the northern closely-linked multidisciplinary studies of Rockall Trough, and the construction of ecosystem function and biogeochemical simple food-web models to improve our cycling and makes use of a range of state- understanding of the effect of fisheries of-the-art marine technology. on the deep-water ecosystem.

The programme consists of three The third theme of the SAMS Northern integrated themes, each comprising Seas Programme is concerned with several focused sub-questions: developing new tools and technologies to measure and model marine ABOVE: Geographic location of the Theme A looks at fjords, important environmental processes. Effort is focused SAMS Northern Seas Programme

The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 05 On top of the world! SAMS SCIENTISTS VENTURE FURTHER NORTH THAN EVER BEFORE

Drs John A Howe & J Murray Roberts, SAMS

This summer SAMS conducted a four-week-long research cruise onboard the RRS hopefully - be recovered on our return, James Clark Ross (JCR) from Scotland to the Arctic. As part of the Northern Seas three weeks later. Programme, the cruise focused on how aspects of the geochemistry, biology and physics of the polar North Atlantic vary in relation to changing environmental Once in the Arctic, the serious business conditions along a transect from 67 to 81oN. Sixteen researchers from SAMS of working each sampling station began. were joined by nine colleagues from the NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory, British Quickly the running order became Geological Survey, University of East Anglia, Scott Polar Research Institute and familiar. First the area was surveyed the UHI’s Environmental Research Institute. The specific objectives were to see using sophisticated multibeam and how the level of contamination from anthropogenic sources varies along the TOPAS echo-sounding equipment. northern transect, how animal burrowing and redistribution of contaminants As the ship moved at 6 knots, these changes with latitude, how the distribution of benthic animals relates to acoustic systems worked together to sediment biogeochemistry, and how past climate changes have influenced provide a detailed picture of both the deep-sea sediments. seafloor and the structures below it so that sampling areas could be identified. Such grand plans can have inauspicious giant box corers for collecting sections of beginnings, and this cruise started with soft seafloor. As Leith slipped away, we Having completed the survey and found a very grey, wet day spent at Leith docks began our safety briefings and were on a suitable site, a routine of water and loading the vessel. The JCR is a purpose- our way north at last. sediment sampling began. Sediment built polar research ship, launched in was collected with box corers, 1990. The ship works in the Antarctic As the ship made her way along the multicorers, megacorers and finally a during our winter, supporting British Norwegian coast, we approached the 6 m long gravity corer. The sediment Antarctic Survey science, and in the first station, by the Sula Ridge. Here we from the box corers was carefully sorted summer months she is found ploughing deployed a photo lander designed to by biologists looking for large animals the Arctic seas. An amazing array of monitor and photograph the seabed capable of turning the sediment over equipment was loaded during that along a 14 km cold-water coral reef rapidly (a process known as bioturbation) depressingly wet day, everything from complex. When the lander was safely as well as for smaller animals which were landers for recording data from the on the seabed, the JCR continued preserved for later work. The mud from seabed in situ to dangerous-looking northwards – the lander would – the smaller multi- and megacorers was © J.M. Roberts, SAMS © Martin Johnson, UEA

ABOVE: The RRS James Clark Ross – here seen from Ny Alesund - took the Northern Seas ABOVE: Kongsfjord research team into the Arctic.

06 The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 divided between the geochemists, for chemical analysis and oxygen consumption profiles, and the biologists, who would try to relate this to the animal communities in the cores. To complement this work on board the ship, a self-

contained lander was lowered to the © J.M. Roberts, SAMS seabed to record the depth of oxygen penetration into the mud. In contrast to the lander that was deployed on the Sula Ridge, this lander was recovered once it had completed the measurements after about 12 hours on the seafloor. Deployment and recovery of such delicate equipment can be difficult depending on the sea state and the composition of the seabed. After several successful deployments, the lander became stuck in the mud at a deep sampling station off Svalbard, and could not be recovered despite much time spent attempting to free it. There it remains, for the time being at least.

Life on board was not all hard graft. Work tended to be very concentrated on the sampling stations. Once these were completed and the ship was on passage TOP: Early morning recovery of the photolander after 3-week deployment on the Sula Ridge. to the next site, scientists and crew had BELOW: Scientists and crew prepare to recover the seabed lander in Kongsfjord. time to catch up on missed sleep, read, watch the waves and stunning Arctic scenery, and enjoy the on-board entertainment. There were bar quizzes and impromptu music performances, not to mention the occasional gin & tonic

made, of course, with real glacial ice! © J.M. Roberts, SAMS Memorable experiences include a visit by a large school of dolphins around the ship on Midsummer’s Night, the last sunset for several weeks as we crossed the Arctic Circle, and the magnificent views as the JCR pushed through the loose pack ice of the Fram Strait in brilliant midnight sunshine. Apart from our adventures at sea, we also paid two splendid visits to the science station at Ny Alesund in Svalbard. This is a collection of international science bases surrounded by a vast wilderness only to be ventured into by those well armed against the attentions of curious polar bears! In 2002 Ny Alesund was the venue for the most northern and least reported match of the Atlantic in 2001, this was a welcome Now back in the laboratory everyone World Cup. Sad to say the SAMS team change! Having completed the Arctic is busy sifting through the information was soundly beaten 3-nil by the work, the long journey back to Stornoway gathered and sorting out the vast Norwegian locals! We made up for this began. Half-way home we revisited the collection of samples. The insight this minor disappointment by taking the JCR Sula Ridge and, much to the relief of the cruise gained into the Arctic environment, further north than she had ever been, as lander team, recovered the photo lander integrating the different perspectives we sampled the Yermak Plateau, north- after its three week deployment. of geologists, chemists, biologists and west of the islands of Svalbard. physicists, will help us to understand The cruise was a great success thanks and monitor the Northern Seas and This cruise was blessed with superb to everyone’s hard work and the skill, ultimately predict the possible impacts weather. For those who had taken part in seamanship and polar experience of of climate change. ● the first Northern Seas cruise to the North the ship’s crew and captain, Chris Elliott.

The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 07 ZooplanktonMy PhD to Project the rescue? The ups and downs of an open-ocean lifestyle

Toby Jarvis, SAMS/UHI remote and beautiful corner of the world The term ‘zooplankton’ refers to any aquatic animal unable to swim horizontally to test its applicability even further. against the prevailing current (from the Greek, ‘planktos’, meaning drifting). Many species can, however, control their vertical position in the water column quite substantially. A remarkably common pattern of vertical movement in the These field trials revealed a variety of zooplankton world involves swimming up into the food-rich surface layers of the interesting results. It was found that the water column at night, and down into the dark, relatively foodless depths during nature of DVM, especially in the Clyde the day. This is known as diel (daily) vertical migration, or DVM for short. DVM is Sea, was variable and often difficult to generally believed to be a trade-off between eating and being eaten: the risk interpret with the conventional sampling from predators is greater in the sunlit surface waters, so zooplankton avoid this methods used. This resulted in an inability layer by day, hiding out in the safer depths where they adopt the philosophy to apply the technique satisfactorily as ‘better hungry than dead’. originally hoped. However, the wealth of biological and physical information Why should this be of interest, you ask? It has actually proven surprisingly difficult gathered, in conjunction with simple Well, the answer is one of scale. It has to establish this. In 1997, it was suggested modelling considerations, has provided been estimated that, over the whole of that simply measuring the dawn/dusk new insights into the nature and global the world’s oceans, roughly a billion tons difference in the body carbon content of significance of DVM and our ability to of zooplankton swim into the surface individual migrants would provide the quantify this significance in future studies. layers each and every night, only to necessary information. In 1999, three very The use of acoustic techniques in the descend again at dawn. The interesting different study sites were chosen for field Clyde Sea, for example, revealed exciting story is this: a proportion of the food trials of this technique: the Clyde Sea in new information regarding the behaviour eaten at the surface at night is released Scotland, the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda, of copepods and krill at this site, and at depth during the day through and Doubtful Sound in New Zealand. A highlighted the usefulness of acoustic excretion, defaecation and respiration. year-long time-series study in the Clyde instruments in the study of zooplankton This food contains important elements Sea built on a rich history of zooplankton in their natural environment. While we can such as carbon which, for the most part, studies in this region, most notably those be sure that zooplankton DVM will indeed originated in the atmosphere. If taken of the Scottish Marine Biological be helping to reduce the levels of sufficiently deep, these elements will be Association since 1894. A three-month greenhouse gases, the high levels of stored in the watery depths for substantial visit to Bermuda, funded by a SAMS individual variability in the physiology and periods of time (maybe thousands of bursary and the Graduate Internship behaviour of individuals have shown that a years). The DVM of these unassuming Program at the Bermuda Biological species-specific approach is required for creatures might therefore be helping to Station for Research, enabled me to test us to be able to quantify its importance. ● reduce atmospheric concentrations of the technique in one of the most heavily Toby Jarvis is a final year SAMS/UHI PhD student carbon dioxide, which, as we all know, documented oceanic environments in working under the supervision of Dr. Geraint is the primary cause of the dreaded the world. A two-month visit to Fiordland Tarling (formerly SAMS, now British Antarctic Survey), Prof. Jack Matthews (SAMS), and Dr. ‘greenhouse effect’. in New Zealand, funded by the Link Graeme Hays (University of Wales, Swansea). Toby Foundation/Anglian Water Fellowship has nearly completed the write-up of his thesis and So will it be zooplankton to the rescue? Award, brought the technique to a will hopefully be one of the first UHI students to obtain a PhD. © Toby Jarvis, SAMS/UHI © Toby © Toby Jarvis, SAMS/UHI © Toby

ABOVE: Krill – here Nyctiphanes australis from New Zealand ABOVE: Calanus finmarchicus – the most common zooplankton - in various stages of maturity. species in the North Atlantic.

08 The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 Obituary: Jane Foster - Marine Geochemist Born Liverpool, 24 January 1966; Died Oban, 18 July 2002.

Dr Tracy Shimmield, SAMS

In July of this year we were all saddened by the premature death of Jane Foster. Jane will be sorely missed in the marine science world locally, nationally and internationally.

Jane’s scientific career started in 1985 at Programme. At SAMS Jane was an Edinburgh University where she studied invaluable member of the geochemistry geology and gained a B.Sc. (Hons.) group participating in deep-sea cruises, degree. She remained at Edinburgh for presenting scientific results at national the following two years working in the and international conferences and geology department with her interest in publishing her research findings in geochemistry eventually taking her back peer reviewed journals. to university to complete an MSc in Geochemistry at the University of Leeds Jane lived life to the full and found in 1993. After gaining her masters Jane happiness and fun in all that she did returned to Edinburgh University to work - including her work. She was a great for Graham Shimmield and Brian Price on person to have at sea in good or rough the Land Ocean Interaction Study - Shelf weather. She worked hard while keeping Edge Study. This marked the beginning of everyone amused with witty anecdotes; her sea-going career, an aspect of her but woe betide the person that took up work at which she excelled and which she the Scrabble or Monopoly challenge, as enjoyed immensely, eventually working in there was no mercy and Jane took no many of the world’s oceans. prisoners! Back on land she was a member of the social club and was always In 1996 Jane moved to Oban as Graham the first to offer to help arrange the many Shimmield’s research assistant working for and varied fun evenings that are a part of NERC at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory. SAMS. These ranged from It’s a Knockout Here her scientific career broadened and and fancy dress parties to Autumn Balls. she studied the geochemistry of sediments off SW Africa (IMAGES), Jane’s death from cancer came all too worked within the Atlantic Database for suddenly. But true to form, Jane’s sense Exchange Processes at the Deep Sea of humour was evident to the end. Floor and the Baltic Sea Study. Besides the many national and international The marine community has lost an scientific programmes, Jane was actively excellent scientist. Friends and colleagues involved in the core strategic science have lost a great friend and a truly lovely within both the Centre for Coastal Marine person. But Jane left us all with some Science and – after joining SAMS in wonderfully happy memories which will August 2001 – the SAMS Northern Seas remain with us always. ●

Scottish Marine Group Postgraduate Student Presentations 27 FEBRUARY 2002 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

It was one of these grey and wet Scottish winter days when Qureshi (The Robert Gordon University), Hector Lizarraga a group of marine scientists – many of them postgraduate (University of Aberdeen/FRS), Rebecca Dean (SAMS/UHI), students – assembled at Aberdeen University for the traditional Jens Rasmussen (University of Aberdeen/FRS) and the two SAMS prize meeting. Every year, SAMS organises a meeting for eventual winners Richard Corner (University of Stirling) and postgraduates to give presentations about their research, and Colin MacLeod (University of Aberdeen). Summaries of the two awards a prize of £100 to the best oral presentation. The Scottish winning presentations are provided on the following two pages. Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) joins this event and very kindly sponsors a prize for the best visual presentation. This year Thanks are due to Dr Selina Stead from the Department of the judges took a long time to pick the winners due to the Land Economy for organisation of the day on the ground, and outstanding performance of so many of the young speakers. of course to Dr Hamish Mair from Heriot-Watt University, who Presentations covering the entire breadth of marine science convenes and organises all Scottish Marine Group meetings. ● were given by Lindsay Wilson (University of St Andrews), Yasser

The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 09 Scottish Marine Group

SAMS PRIZE FOR BEST POSTGRADUATE PRESENTATION Nutrient Loading at a Fish Farm using an Adaptive Feeding System

Richard Corner, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling

When I arrived in Scotland two years ago to start a PhD on the environmental benefits of using adaptive feeding systems in the cage culture of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, I knew little about fish farming and even less about the high feeling that surrounds the issue. Initial concerns, that there might be little new to discover about the environmental impacts of aquaculture, abated when I realised that much of the published research was fairly old and did not evaluate modern technology and husbandry techniques.

While hand feeding still dominates the quantities change very little over two production of Atlantic salmon in Scotland, weeks. Comparisons between samples adaptive feeding systems are increasingly collected in February and October, when being used to improve food conversion fish biomass had increased significantly, ratios and thereby reduce costs. But do are currently under way. these new feeding systems also bring environmental benefits? Adaptive feeding Carbon was found to decrease systems provide the optimum level of exponentially with distance from the cage food that the fish require and should thus centre. There were statistically significant result in reduction of particulate waste differences between samples from under - especially uneaten food pellets - the cage, 5 m distance, and all remaining released from cages. sample sites. Variability in carbon content also decreased with increasing distance decision-makers. Using the Institute of This study investigates the flow of feed, from the cage centre, which highlights Aquaculture’s own spreadsheet model, faeces and particulate matter from a cage the patchy nature of particulate settlement the results from this study suggest that to the seabed at a farm site at Portavadie under and around cages. Mean carbon the model overestimates nutrient loading on Loch Fyne that uses an adaptive sedimentation rate 25 m from the cage directly beneath cages. Further validation feeding system. A series of sediment edge - while low at 1.99 gC m-2 d-1 - was is under way and includes comparisons traps were deployed at increasing still more than seven times higher than with ‘hand fed’ sites, an assessment of distances from a 22 m circular cage for background levels, which suggests that nutrient deposition relative to feed input one tidal cycle. The traps were sampled cage outputs continue to influence the and fish growth, and a benthic survey, every three days. Hydrographic data was seabed beyond 25 m. all of which is required to fully assess collected over the same period. the benefits of using adaptive feeding The results from this study are used in the systems. ● To-date the study has shown that the testing and validation of computer models. Richard Corner is a second year PhD student at the amount of carbon reaching the seabed Particulate tracking models are now University of Stirling, working under the supervision does not vary significantly over the two- regularly used to assess the likely effects of Trevor Telfer (Stirling), Donald Baird (Stirling), James Deverill (Akvasmart), and Kenny Black week sampling period. This is not very of fish farming. The DEPOMOD model is (SAMS). His project is funded by a NERC Case surprising as fish biomass and feed frequently used both by regulators and Award and Akvasmart Limited.

ABOVE: Sediment traps for collection of waste feed faecal material and particulate matter. RIGHT: Distribution of carbon sedimentation rates over one tidal cycle from a sediment trap study. FAR RIGHT: Comparison of model to sediment trap results.

10 The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 Scottish Marine Group

SEPA PRIZE FOR BEST VISUAL PRESENTATION What do Beaked Whales eat? Colin D. MacLeod, UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN The beaked whales are an enigmatic family of oceanic cetaceans and are species to coexist alongside the other amongst the least known of all mammals. Despite making up around one quarter two species. Sowerby’s beaked whales, of all whales and dolphins, little is known about the biology of most beaked for example, are found alongside whales, and several species have never been seen alive. northern bottlenose whales in colder waters in the North Atlantic, while I am studying the ecology of the six that they are generalists and consume Blainville’s beaked whales inhabit beaked whale species that are found pretty much any prey that is locally the same warmer waters as Cuvier’s in the North Atlantic as part of a PhD abundant in the deep oceans. Secondly, beaked whales. in the Zoology Department at Aberdeen Mesoplodon species consistently contain University. The first step in this study is to smaller prey – mostly squid weighing less It is, however, important to understand understand what beaked whales eat. This than 500 grams – than either Cuvier’s that stomach contents analysis only is not an easy task as beaked whales are beaked whales or northern bottlenose reveals the last meal that a whale ate. deep-divers, that have been recorded to whales. Finally, Cuvier’s beaked whales We are currently not in the position to remain under water for over an hour and and northern bottlenose whales not only decide whether this last meal accurately to dive to depths of 1,500 m in search of consume the same prey species, but also represents long-term dietary preferences. food. The most readily available source of show a definite preference for the same To explore this problem, I am preparing information on the diet of beaked whales size of prey; both species commonly to analyse the stable isotope ratios in the comes from analysis of the stomach containing squid estimated to weigh over bones of beaked whales, and to compare contents of animals that wash up dead on a kilogram. This means that these two the results to stomach contents analysis. the shore. Most of this information relates species could compete with each other If stomach contents provides reliable and to only two species, the northern for food. To reduce this competition, representative information on the general bottlenose whale and Cuvier’s beaked however, they inhabit different parts of diet of beaked whales, then stable whale. There is, furthermore, some the North Atlantic: northern bottlenose isotope ratios of their bones should information on stomach contents of whales are found in colder areas, such as display very similar patterns to stomach a number of Mesoplodon species, such the waters of the Atlantic Frontier, the contents data. as Blainville’s beaked whale. Shetland-Faroes Channel and the Norwegian Sea, while Cuvier’s beaked I am planning to conclude this project My work focuses on comparing data from whales live in warmer waters, such as the by relating diet to habitat preferences. stomach contents analysis within and Bay of Biscay, the Mediterranean and Cuvier’s beaked whales and northern between species to see what this tells us around the Canaries. Mesoplodon species bottlenose whales might be expected about beaked whale ecology. So what in contrast do not compete with either to prefer similar habitats, while does such a comparison show? Firstly, northern bottlenose whales or Cuvier’s Mesoplodon species could prefer beaked whales take a wide variety of beaked whales because they target different habitats where their smaller deep-water squid and fish, suggesting smaller prey. This allows Mesoplodon prey is more common. ● © C.D. MacLeod

ABOVE: A newly born Blainville’s Beaked Whale (Mesopodon Densirostris), one of the six beaked whale ABOVE: Blainville’s Beaked Whales tend to eat species in the North Atlantic. relatively smaller deep-water squid and fish.

The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26 11 The European Centre for Marine Biotechnology Dr Jo Oliver, SAMS

For the past two years I have watched from a distance grow. It is intended that the ECMB will as the concept of a European Centre for Marine provide commercial, incubation-style Biotechnology (ECMB) took shape, never thinking that laboratory and office accommodation, it would fall to me to move it from concept stage to attracting organisations wishing to reality. Although undoubtedly the road ahead will be operate from the centre of a marine steep and have its fair share of potholes, I am focused cluster. A tailored package of delighted to be leading a project that involves three business support will be available to all areas I hold dear, namely the marine environment, tenants, along with an extensive range biotechnology, and the commercialisation process. of support services. Moreover groups will have access, on a pay-as-you-go Scotland has a thriving biotechnology As ECMB takes shape over the next two basis, to the well equipped scientific sector, well able to hold its head up in years it will emerge as both a company facilities, thereby reducing, and possibly Europe and the wider world, and yet to in its own right, conducting its own negating, the need for expensive capital date we have paid little attention to our commercial marine biotechnology outlay. It is intended that graduation richly resourced coastline, offshore programme, and as a state-of-the-art space will also be available in the deep-water sites and sea lochs. Marine incubation facility for home-grown and area allowing companies to plan biotechnology is too often interpreted incoming organisations operating in for the long-term. to mean biotechnology as applied to and related to the field of marine the marine environment and as a biotechnology. ECMB will actively encourage networking consequence often appears to be between tenant organisations and will irrelevant to those operating outside The scientific work programme will most seek to form strategic alliances with the field of marine science. In an era likely be governed by the elements of the groups operating from the site and in when biotechnology will impact on each existing SAMS programme that are most complementary geographic regions, and every one of us, I hope to turn this closely aligned with biotechnology, in within Europe and further afield. definition on its head and show that addition to the superb natural resource The aim will be to establish in each marine biotechnology is much more available. When considering these two case a multi-layered relationship where, about deriving biotechnology based factors it is perhaps not surprising that as appropriate, teaching, research, products and solutions from the sea; exploitation of high-value products from and commercial collaboration can be learning from marine flora and fauna micro- and macroalgae comes readily to nurtured. The longer-term aim is to of ways to tackle everyday issues from mind, and work has already been initiated position ECMB as part of a network of healthcare to agriculture. Throughout, in these areas working with groups facilities, with individuals, groups and we need to be ever mindful that we are located elsewhere in Scotland. companies moving freely between centres only temporary guardians of this vast, located across the globe, thereby greatly untapped, natural resource, and our It is now well recognised that business facilitating market penetration and further pursuit of answers must have no lasting incubators greatly increase young enhancing collaborative opportunity. ● environmental impact. company survival rate, providing a supportive environment from which to Dr. Jo Oliver is the newly appointed ECMB Project Executive and a member of the SAMS directorate.

Model of the new SAMS laboratory currently being built at Dunstaffnage. The smaller wing in the front will house ECMB from autumn 2003.

12 The Scottish Association for Marine Science NEWSLETTER 26