Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
- University of St Andrews (Lead Research Organisation)
- Moredun Research Institute (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS (Collaboration)
- Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (Collaboration)
- University of Groningen (Collaboration)
- Marine Scotland Science (MSS) (Collaboration)
- Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (Collaboration)
- NatureScot (Collaboration)
- Voith GmBH (Collaboration)
- Vodafone (Collaboration)
- ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (Collaboration)
- Meteorological Office UK (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- Government of Scotland (Collaboration)
- Wageningen University & Research (Collaboration)
- Edinburgh Napier University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Ailsa Hall (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Boersch-Supan P
(2012)
Elephant seal foraging dives track prey distribution, not temperature: Comment on McIntyre et al. (2011)
in Marine Ecology Progress Series
Bonnet T
(2019)
The role of selection and evolution in changing parturition date in a red deer population.
in PLoS biology
Boogert NJ
(2018)
Stress hormones, social associations and song learning in zebra finches.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Booth C
(2013)
Habitat preferences and distribution of the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena west of Scotland
in Marine Ecology Progress Series
Booth LA
(2020)
Lipid metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi: A review.
in Molecular and biochemical parasitology
Borsley S
(2018)
Switchable selectivity within a series of boronate esters for dynamic covalent exchange in nonaqueous solvents
in Supramolecular Chemistry
Borst A
(2020)
Adsorption of rare earth elements in regolith-hosted clay deposits
in Nature Communications
Boulton R
(2016)
Polyandry is context dependent but not convenient in a mostly monandrous wasp
in Animal Behaviour
Boulton R
(2019)
Local mate competition modifies the costs of mating in a mostly monandrous parasitoid wasp
in Behavioral Ecology
Boulton R
(2018)
Sperm blocking is not a male adaptation to sperm competition in a parasitoid wasp
in Behavioral Ecology
| Description | The population of UK grey seals continues to increase at a national level although trends vary regionally. Populations in Orkney and West Scotland are probably reaching their carrying capacity as numbers plateau. In contrast, harbour seals in many Scottish populations continue to be in serious decline. Whilst the causes of this decline are being investigated, harbour seals in certain regions and seasons are experiencing increased trauma mortality due to predation by grey seals. In addition, exposure of harbour seals to various toxins from harmful algae, through the consumption of fish contaminated with domoic acid and saxitoxin, are a cause of concern. The impact of marine renewable energy developments on marine mammals has been investigated. Collision risk models have been refined. These have been used to estimate the rate of harbour seal collisions with tidal turbine blades in the Pentland Firth. The consequences of collision on trauma and mortality was investigated by simulated blade strikes on seal carcasses. During the construction of wind farms, the redistribution of harbour seals during the pile driving activity lasted only approximately two hours. Although they temporarily avoided the piling noise, the propogation of the noise was such that they were still at significant risk of long term hearing impairment. Some seals were observed to use operational wind turbine foundations as feeding sites. |
| Exploitation Route | The advice on the conservation and management of seals and the results on recent population trends and underlying drivers is reported to UK government as part of NERC's statutory requirements under the Conservation of Seals (1970) Act and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. This is used by UK government and devolved administrations and their associated conservation agencies (NRW, Natural England, SNH and JNCC) to inform policy and management plans. This advice is scrutinised and reviewed annually by the Special Committee on Seals (SCOS), is signed off by NERC and Scottish Ministers and is published on our website. This information is also used by the offshore energy generation, port authority development and oil and gas decommissioning industries in their requirement to carry out environmental impact assessments. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Education Energy Environment Government Democracy and Justice Transport |
| URL | http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/pageset.aspx?psr=411 |
| Description | 1. The very dramatic decline in the abundance of harbour seals in some regions in Scotland, particularly on the east coast and in the Northern Isles is continuing. The slowing of the grey seal population size on the west coast of Scotland has also been maintained, suggesting it has reached carrying capacity. This information, and the drivers behind them, is critical for the UK to fulfil its obligations under the EU Habitats and the Marine Strategy Framework Directives. These results are also used by UK government to set the regional levels of man-induced mortality of seals (known as the potential biological removal limits). 2. Current harbour seal Management Units are consistent with genetic metapopulation data and microsatellite genotype analysis. However, some Units could be combined. Certain populations may also be sink populations because of poor habitat quality and will only be maintained with significant immigration from adjacent source populations. 3. Harbour seal and grey seal pup predation by grey seals is also continuing to be reported and could be a significant source of mortality for some harbour seal populations. These findings are reported to UK government annually and provide the basis for the designation of conservation management areas for harbour seals. 4. Harbour seals continue to be exposed to toxins from harmful algal blooms and combined with potentially decreased fecundity rates are being further investigated as drivers of observed population declines. Again, these findings are reported to UK government as part of the Advice on Matters relating to Seal Populations through the NERC Special Committee on Seals. 5. Human disturbance of harbour seals at their haulout sites has limited impact on their behavioural and energetic status. This information is being used by Marine Scotland and SNH to inform their policies on disturbing harbour seals on land. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Energy,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Advisor to Marine Scotland on selection of harbour porpoise SAC on west coast of Scotland |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Advisor to UK Inter-agency Marine Mammal Working Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Advisory Group European Marine Energy Centre |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Assessment of the Development and Use of Passive Acoustics Advanced Survey Technologies to Support Marine Mammal Stock Assessments |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | CMS Scientific Council Expert Working Group on Culture and Social Complexity |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://www.cms.int/en/legalinstrument/ |
| Description | Committee on Cumulative Effects of Anthropogenic Stressors on Marine Mammals |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://dels.nas.edu/osb |
| Description | Development of seal indicators for MSFD |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The UK leads on the seal indicators for MSFD at a European level through OSPAR. SMRU through ICES organised a workshop to finalise the European-wide indicators and provided analyses of data across Europe for grey seal abundance. This has led to the adoption of the indicators for Biodiversity by OSPAR and submission to the Intermediat Assessment, 2018. |
| Description | Expert Commission of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment to evaluate German Antarctic Research |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | ICES Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Waters Ecoregion (WGBIE) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | ICES Working Group on Marine Mammal Ecology |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://www.ices.dk/community/groups/Pages/WGMME.aspx |
| Description | ICES Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak (WGNSSK) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | ICES/NAFO Working Group on Harp and Hooded Seals |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://www.ices.dk/community/groups/Pages/WGHARP.aspx |
| Description | Intermediate Assessment for MSFD |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Enabling UK Government to respond to its responsibilities under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The Intermediate assessment was successfully completed in 2017. |
| URL | https://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/intermediate-assessment-2017/ |
| Description | International Whaling Commission |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://iwc.int/chemical-pollution |
| Description | Long-term impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | This scientific advisory board oversees the studies which are assessing the impacts of the oil spill on marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. The findings will influence oil spill response practice and oil pollution policy in the US. |
| Description | Marine Mammal Non-Lethal Deterrents |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Policy makers used the information gathered and discussed to inform new and updated legislation on the best, most acceptable methods of dettering marine mammals from frequenting economically important sites, such as fish farms. This has enormous potential to reduce the numbers of marine mammals that are killed at such sites, and thus also potential to enhance environmental sustainability of the mammals in question. |
| Description | NERC Marine Renewable Energy Knowledge Exchange Advisory Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Knowledge exchanged between the developers, regulators and marine mammal scientists has enabled consents for marine renewable energy developments to be granted. Without evidence regarding the likelihood of various impacts (e.g. collision risk, effects of noise) regulators would be much more precautionary in their approach to licences and licence conditions. |
| Description | National Marine Mammal Peer Review Committee, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | This Committee assess the population management advice for various stocks of Beluga, Narwhal, Walrus and grey seals. The outputs are Scientific Advisory Reports for the Canadian Government. |
| Description | Predator prey interactions with grey seals |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | An ICES report outlining the formulation of appropriate seal conservation policy coordinated across Europe |
| URL | http://www.ices.dk/Lists/Glossary/DispForm.aspx?ID=791 |
| Description | Scientific Advisory Committee on Seal Rehabilitation in the Netherlands |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | A revised policy on licensing of seal habilitation centres resulted from this advisory committee. |
| Description | Steering Group for the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | . |
| Description | Steering Group for the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://www.sruc.ac.uk/info/120150/scottish_marine_stranding_scheme |
| Description | Additional funding for Harbour Seal Decline |
| Amount | £17,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 05/2020 |
| Description | Additional pup production surveys of the harbour seal population in the Wash |
| Amount | £7,876 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Statoil |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Norway |
| Start | 08/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | Additional pup production surveys of the harbour seal population in the Wash |
| Amount | £12,507 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Statoil |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Norway |
| Start | 04/2015 |
| End | 12/2016 |
| Description | Aerial Survey Equipment |
| Amount | £350,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2013 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | Aerial thermal imaging survey for harbour seals, 2017 to 2018 |
| Amount | € 159,276 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Ireland |
| Start | 07/2017 |
| End | 11/2018 |
| Description | Behavoural responses by seals to offshore energy activites |
| Amount | £39,969 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 01/2021 |
| Description | Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast Grey Seals Desktop study |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | CASE Studentship |
| Amount | £3,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Resources Wales |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2013 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Capital - Boats, Vehicles and Engines |
| Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | Contribution to air surveys for harbour seals |
| Amount | £13,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARDNI) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 05/2019 |
| Description | Contribution to the investigation of harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) decline in Orkney |
| Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 02/2018 |
| Description | Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Amount | £32,960 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 08/2016 |
| Description | Development of Unmanned Aerial Photography for Seal Photo Identification |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2013 |
| End | 06/2014 |
| Description | Elaborating on passive acoustic algorithms for tracking of harbour porpoises. |
| Amount | £9,929 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 03/2015 |
| Description | Genetic studies of Scottish harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) |
| Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | Grey Seal Habitat Preference and distribution on the West and North UK - Phase 1 |
| Amount | £169,200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | Grey seal abundance during the moult |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SNH |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2013 |
| End | 03/2014 |
| Description | Harbour seal abundance |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SNH |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2013 |
| End | 09/2013 |
| Description | Harbour seal survey recommendations |
| Amount | £5,743 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Statoil |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Norway |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 03/2015 |
| Description | Impacts of Marine Renewable Energy on Harbour Seals in the Moray Firth |
| Amount | £48,667 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2016 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Innovation Funding |
| Amount | £122,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | Man-made structures and Apex Predators: Spatial interactions and overlap (MAPS) |
| Amount | £124,294 (GBP) |
| Organisation | INSITE North Sea |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2016 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship |
| Amount | £131,039 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Union |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | Marine Mammal Scientific Support |
| Amount | £311,129 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Marine mammal collision risks |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SNH |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2013 |
| End | 08/2014 |
| Description | Modelling harbour seal population extinction rates |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Marine Scotland Science (MSS) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2013 |
| End | 02/2014 |
| Description | Movements of grey seals in relation to vessel activity |
| Amount | £25,900 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Marine Scotland Science (MSS) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2014 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | Movements of grey seals in relation to vessel activity |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2014 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | Movements of seals in relation to port developments |
| Amount | £249,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Marine Scotland Science (MSS) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2014 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Description | NERC Innovative Monitoring Approaches |
| Amount | £353,747 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 06/2019 |
| Description | NERC capital investment in new Gatty building |
| Amount | £3,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | National Capability - Multi-Centre Long Term Science |
| Amount | £8,400,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Natural Resources Wales |
| Amount | £7,999 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Resources Wales |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Natural Resources Wales |
| Amount | £4,999 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Resources Wales |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 08/2016 |
| Description | Novel marine mammal tag to measure physiological and energetic consequences of avoiding anthropogenic noise |
| Amount | £94,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 01/2019 |
| Description | ORJIP ADD Stage 1 Phase 2 |
| Amount | £3,185 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Carbon Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2015 |
| End | 08/2015 |
| Description | Photo-ID database for Welsh grey seals |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Resources Wales |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2018 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | RESPONSE |
| Amount | £389,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/J004251/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2011 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | SNH - Putative foraging areas of harbour seals tagged in Scotland |
| Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2017 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | SNH - The consequences of genetic diversity for Scottish Harbour Seals |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 06/2018 |
| Description | SNH Harbour Seal Aerial Surveys |
| Amount | £257,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2014 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Scottish Natural Heritage |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 02/2017 |
| Description | Sea Mammal Research Unit, Marine Mammal Scientific Support - 2015-2020 |
| Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Department | Marine Scotland Directorate |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Seal Diet |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Marine Scotland Science (MSS) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2013 |
| End | 02/2015 |
| Description | Sound of Islay study |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2013 |
| End | 02/2014 |
| Description | Sound of Islay study |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SNH |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2013 |
| End | 08/2014 |
| Description | Survey of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Firth of Tay 2015 |
| Amount | £6,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2015 |
| End | 01/2016 |
| Description | The effects of offshore marine renewable construction and operation on harbour seals |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department of Energy and Climate Change |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2012 |
| End | 02/2014 |
| Description | Trialling methods for tracking the fine scale underwater movements of marine mammals in areas of marine renewable energy |
| Amount | £305,825 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Marine Scotland Science (MSS) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2014 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | Vodafone |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Vodafone |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| Description | Wash Breeding Harbour Seal Survey |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2013 |
| End | 07/2018 |
| Description | Welsh grey seal Photo-ID |
| Amount | £12,959 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Resources Wales |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Title | Development of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Sensor for tissue oxygenation measurements in free swimming seals |
| Description | This non-invasive sensor enables physiologists to understand oxygen management at the tissue level in free diving marine mammals. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This work was presented at an International conference which has resulted in us being approached by a number of institutes and researchers seeking collaboration and the opportunity to used this in their own research. |
| Title | Activity Budgets |
| Description | Previous models of seal activity budgets used movement behaviour to estimate time spent foraging and travelling in trips to sea. However, behavioural data should also be used because one type of movement (slow, tortuous movements) could be associated with multiple activities (e.g. resting and foraging). Thus a Bayesian state-space model was developed that for the first time included both behavioural and movement data to define four states: resting on land, resting at sea, foraging and travelling. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This development allows foraging effort to be more accurately defined which is key to marine spatial planning. These models have already been used in two high profile publications (with a third one in review). |
| Title | Grey seal pup production |
| Description | This database consists of the number of pups counted during the breeding season aeiral surveys carried out by SMRU. The number of white coated pups, moulted pups and dead pups are counted on a colony by colony basis across the UK between 4 and 5 times each season. These counts are incorporated into a population model to produce an overall pup production estimate for each region. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2006 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This long term dataset has been identified as an important input into the biodiversity indicators for assessing Good Environmental Status under the UK's obligations to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive |
| URL | http://www.bodc.ac.uk/partners/research_centres/smru/ |
| Title | Harbour Seal IBM |
| Description | A prototype Individual Base Model is being constructed for harbour seal movement. This has the potential to predict the consequences of anthropogenic and inter-species interactions. Funding has been secured for a two-year Marie Curie fellowship starting in Jan 2018. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Still in prototype status. However the in-house development was the seed that attracted and won a Marie Curie fellowship |
| Title | Harbour seal moult counts |
| Description | This database consists of counts of harbour seals hauled out during their annual moult in August which are counted by thermographic and fixed wing air survey by SMRU. Some sites are counted annually (North sea) and those on rocky haulouts in Scotland are counted synoptically with the aim of counting the entire coastline every 5 years. Each record consists of a location and number of animals counted. Grey seals are also counted which have provided an estimate of population size which is independent from the pup counts. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These harbour seal moult counts over time have been used as an bodiversity indicator for assessing Good Environmental Status enabling the UK to fulfil its obligations under the Marine Strategy and Habitats Directives. |
| URL | http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/pageset.aspx?psr=411 |
| Title | Reproductive success of individually identifiable grey seals |
| Description | Thi dataset consists of mark-recaptures of breeding females on two colonies in Scotland. Known animals (identifiable by markings on their fur) are observed each year and if they return to the colony to breed many are physically captured to assess their condition and to monitor the growth and condition of the pup. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Survival and fecundity estimates from this research (so-called vital rates) are used in estimating the total size of the UK grey seal population from the pup counts obtained during the breeding season. |
| URL | http://www.bodc.ac.uk/partners/research_centres/smru/ |
| Title | Seal Habitat Preference Model |
| Description | This model seeks to predict seal distribution based on habitat preference using empirical data from telemetry tags. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This work is ongoing but was developed in relation to decommissioning of offshore strucutres and will therefore allow informed decisions and assist the regulators involved in offshore structure decommissioning. |
| URL | http://www.insitenorthsea.org/the-insite-science-day-2017/downloads/ |
| Title | Telemetry data cleaning protocol |
| Description | SMRU has deployed over 700 telemetry tags on grey and harbour seals around Britain. A protocol was required to filter historical and new telemetry data in an effective and consistent way. There are two parts to protocol: location fixes associated with large distance error were removed and useful start and end dates were defined. Depending on the tag type, data transmission was through either the Argos satellite system or the mobile phone system. The resulting data differ in locational accuracy: Argos data encompass distance errors of over 2.5 km whereas data received through the mobile phone system are generally of GPS quality (although erroneous locations do occur). For Argos tags, location fixes were filtered by an algorithm using a maximum speed parameter of 2 ms- 1. This resulted in the masking of locations which would require an unrealistic travel speed from the last location. The remaining telemetry locations were corrected for positional error using a linear Gaussian state space Kalman filter built in-house. To clean GPS data, test data prior to deployment was used to define a relationship between provided data parameters (number of satellites and redisual error) and distance error. Using this relationship, locations that were likely to be associated with large error are removed. Tests on land show that 95% of the remaining locations have a distance error of less than 50m. |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | All SMRU data have been through this protocol resulting in the use of consistent data across projects. This protocol has also been adopted by other research groups using the SMRU tags such as the University of La Rochelle, France, the Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, Netherlands, The University of Syndey, and the University of Tasmania, Australia. |
| Title | Usage Maps |
| Description | Using both count and telemetry data, at-sea usage maps have been developed for grey and harbour seals around the British Isles. These quantify uncertainty in usage from various factors including individual variation in animal movements and uncertainty surrounding population size. This results in mean and 95% confidence intervals surrounding estimates of usage. |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These maps are publically available through the Marine Scotland Interactive website and are been used to spatial marine planning, especially with regard to the marine renewable Environmental Impact Assessments. |
| URL | http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/smrudownloader/uk_seal_usage_of_the_sea7f |
| Title | sPOCk (The effect of Pollutants on Cetacean Populations) |
| Description | This individual based model quantifies the flow and effect of pollutants on cetacean populations |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This model is available through our website as a windows based application and is being used by the International Whaling Commission and its member countries. Hall, A.J., McConnell, B.J., Schwacke, L.H., Ylitalo, G.M., Williams, R., Rowles, T.K., 2018. Predicting the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on cetacean populations through impacts on immunity and calf survival. Environmental Pollution 233, 407-418. 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.074 |
| URL | http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/PCBdemo/ |
| Description | Development of fluorimetry logger for continuous plankton recorder |
| Organisation | Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | SMRU Instrumentation Group modified fluorimetry seal tag to work autonomously in the CPR. |
| Collaborator Contribution | SAHFOS deployed and tested these devices on a number of CPRs. |
| Impact | This activity involves SMRU engineers and biologists and SAHFOS ocean modellers. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Effect of biotoxins on seal health |
| Organisation | Marine Scotland Science (MSS) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Toxins from harmful algae are now being found in top predators in Scotland where they may cause adverse health effects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Marine Scotland Science assisted with the laboratory analysis of samples from seals and fish for various toxins. |
| Impact | This collaboration resulted in a PhD thesis which has just been submitted and which will give rise to three publications (one accepted for publication). This is a multi-disciplinary collaboraiton between chemists, algologists and marine mammal scientists. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Fluid dynamic modelling of drag on seals |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of seal morphometrics, seal swimming activity data and telemetry device design |
| Collaborator Contribution | Fluid dynamic modelling of flow characteristics of tagged and untagged seals. |
| Impact | This collaborations is multi-disciplinary. SMRU staff are biologists and engineers. Plymouth are fluid dynamics modellers. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Grey seal mortality and morbidity |
| Organisation | Moredun Research Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | An investigation of the pathogens and links with terrestrial to marine contamination in grey seal pups during the breeding season. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Moredun Research Institute is funded by Scottish Government as the main Animal Health Institute in Scotland. In this study it provided all the pathological and histological support for the study. |
| Impact | This collaboration resulted in a PhD thesis which was successfully defended this year. One paper has been accepted for publication and two more are in preparation. This collaboration was multi-disciplinary involving veterinarians, veterinary pathologists and marine mammal scientists. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Harbour seal genomics |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Sample collection and next generation sequencing of the genome for individuals from contrasting populations and bioinformatic analysis of these data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scottish Natural Heritage contributed funding support and Scottish Government harbour seal decline project facilitated sample collection. |
| Impact | This multidisciplinary study involves geneticists, bioinformaticians, immunologists and ecologists. This study has only recently commenced and the genome sequences for 18 indviduals have been received and are being processed. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Harbour seal population structure |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This work has built on the early studies of genetic population structure in UK harbour seals. All samples collected have now been genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Financial support for this project has made the re-genotyping possible. Additional input from this stakeholder has been invaluable in the utlity of these data for determining harbour seal management regions in Scotland. |
| Impact | A manuscript is in review with Proc. Roy Soc. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Interaction with Met Office for animal-borne data collection |
| Organisation | Meteorological Office UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided Met Office with sea temperature data obtained from telemetered seals in UK waters. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exploration of temperature data to determine if it was of sufficient quantity and quality for incorporation into short term weather forecasting. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary study, SMRU staff are biologists and oceanographers, Met Office staff are meterologists. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | M2M communication channels for tagged seals |
| Organisation | Vodafone |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | SMRU's Instrumentation Group develops electronic tags that relay data via mobile phone technology (GSM). This collaboration permitted the use of more energy efficient M2M sims. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Vodafone and Huawei have offered the use of their new NB-IoT Laboratory. This will accelerate tag development and will that will exploit the Narrow Band Internet of things Infrastructure. Also, Vodafone provided funds for the deployment of SMRU-IG tags in Orkney as part of the Scottish Government Harbour Seal Decline project. |
| Impact | Ten Harbour seals were tagged in Orkney in April 2016. The data are still being analysed. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Marine vertebrates in high tidal areas |
| Organisation | University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration involves investigating the movements of birds and seals in areas of high tidal regions where tidal energy developments are likely to occur. SMRU is providing information on the movements of marine mammals in these areas. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners in this study are providing information on the movements of seabirds in the same high tidal regions as we have data for the seals. |
| Impact | There are no outputs at this time. It is also multi-disciplinary, SMRU staff are biologists and engineers, UHI staff are biologists. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | North sea grey seal genetic population structure |
| Organisation | University of Groningen |
| Department | Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This study has been enhanced by the addition of DNA samples from grey seals in the North Sea at SMRU study sites. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners have contributed DNA genotyping using SNPs and an analysis of how UK grey seals compare with other population around the Northern North Sea. |
| Impact | Data are currently being analysed. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Nutritional stress in harbour seals |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this study was to investigate the evidence for nutritional stress among harbour seals from declining populations in Scotland. Samples were analysed for biomarkers of nutritional stress and changes in body condition during the period of decline continue to be investigated. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In addition to financial contribution by the partners, discussions regarding the significance of the findings for the conservation and management of the species have been ongoing. |
| Impact | Results are currently being analysed. This is not a muti-disciplinary study. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Putative foraging areas of harbour seals tagged in Scotland |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | A report analysing the long-term harbour seal telemetry data in order to identify foraging areas. This will assist SNH in their designation of offshore Special Areas of Conservation for harbour seals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contributed financial support and outlined the policy context. |
| Impact | This is not a multi-disciplinary project. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | The effect of tagging on a large marine vertebrate |
| Organisation | Wageningen University & Research |
| Department | Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES) |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The collaboration is co-fuding for a PhD studentship |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute 50% funding and intellectual input in the form of student supervision |
| Impact | This PhD thesis has been submitted and is a multi-disciplinary project investigating energetic studies on seals in our captive facility. |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | The energetic cost of human disturbance to harbour seals |
| Organisation | Edinburgh Napier University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaborative PhD project is co-supervised by SMRU which give access to the captive seal facility and associate laboratory support. In addition we supply field support. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Glasgow has supplied supervision and Edinburgh Napier University have contributed fluid dynamics modelling expertise and supervision. Scottish Natural Heritage have supplied funding. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary and involves comparative physiologists, animal behavourists and fluid dynamic modellers. A PhD thesis has been submitted. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | The energetic cost of human disturbance to harbour seals |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This collaborative PhD project is co-supervised by SMRU which give access to the captive seal facility and associate laboratory support. In addition we supply field support. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Glasgow has supplied supervision and Edinburgh Napier University have contributed fluid dynamics modelling expertise and supervision. Scottish Natural Heritage have supplied funding. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary and involves comparative physiologists, animal behavourists and fluid dynamic modellers. A PhD thesis has been submitted. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | The energetic cost of human disturbance to harbour seals |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaborative PhD project is co-supervised by SMRU which give access to the captive seal facility and associate laboratory support. In addition we supply field support. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Glasgow has supplied supervision and Edinburgh Napier University have contributed fluid dynamics modelling expertise and supervision. Scottish Natural Heritage have supplied funding. |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary and involves comparative physiologists, animal behavourists and fluid dynamic modellers. A PhD thesis has been submitted. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | The movement and foraging ecology of harbour seals and shags in high tidal energy environments |
| Organisation | Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A PhD studentship is being supervised by the team members. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators are funding this study. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary study which includes bird and seal ecologists and ocean modellers. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Unexplained seal deaths |
| Organisation | Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of factors causing spiral trauma deaths in seals and mitigation options |
| Collaborator Contribution | Reporting of dead seals to SMRU. |
| Impact | Bexton, S., Thompson, D., Brownlow, A., Barley, J., Milne, R., Bidewell, C., 2012. Unusual Mortality of Pinnipeds in the United Kingdom Associated with Helical (Corkscrew) Injuries of Anthropogenic Origin. Aquatic Mammals 38, 229-240. 10.1578/am.38.3.2012.229 |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Unexplained seal deaths - injury simulations |
| Organisation | Voith GmBH |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Simulation of mechanical injuries to model seals |
| Collaborator Contribution | Voith GmBH provided the test facilities and engineering input to allow us to film the model seals as they passed through a ducted propeller at various speeds to see if we could replicate the trauma injuries observed on the seal carcasses |
| Impact | Outcome of this collaboration was unequivocal evidence (video footage in slow motion and damaged model seals) that seals coming into contact with ducted propellers would sustain injuries. However, many of the co-called 'corkscrew' injuries reported by the public were attributable to grey seal predation. |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Title | Electronic tags to relay inter-haulout movements in seals |
| Description | This involves the modification of consumer-grade 'pet-trackers' which are pressure proofed and programmed to attempt a GPS location every seven hours. Thus, the gross movement of seals over a period of months can be determined. The niche for these tags is high volume (and thus cheap) tagging of shallow-diving seals where information on at-sea movements is not essential. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | currently under beta test |
| Title | Feeding Detection |
| Description | The use of accelerometry in electronic tags to detect feeding attempts in seals. This involves the construction of fast and energy-efficient algorithms to detect and store the body jerk signals associated with feeding. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | currently in beta test. |
| Title | Mapping tool for visualising contaminants in marine mammals |
| Description | This webtool displays interactively, the trends over decades in persistent organic pollutants in selected marine mammal species. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Impact | This is work undertaken through the IWC Environmental Concerns Sub Committe and will be openly available shortly. It will enable conservation managers to determine the true impact of regulations to control exposure to chemicals in top predators. |
| Title | SMRUDAS |
| Description | SMRU DAS is the Data Management System developed to accomodate all SMRU data in accordance with the NERC data policy |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | There have been no impacts as yet but we are interfacing this internal system with BODC as our NOC Delivery Partner NC data centre |
| Title | Seal telemetry tags enabled to detect tagged fish |
| Description | SMRU Instrumentation Group in conjunction with Vemco (Canada) have developed a seal-bonre tag which can detect and relay encounters with fish fitted with Vemco acoustic tags. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Impact | In addition to a publication on the technology, this development opens up the possibility of modelling the interactions of top marine predators and their prey. |
| Description | 'Tweeting' seals chart the world's oceans |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | An article on the BBC website on the impact that animal based sensors have on our ability to understand many aspects of the oceans. A decade of information about the world's harshest seas has been gathered together from specially tagged wandering seals. The data, transmitted from remote and icy locations, is now available online to academics around the world. Seals wearing sensors built at the University of St Andrews have produced nearly 400,000 environmental profiles of the Southern Ocean. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Acoustic startle sound system to be tested on Scottish fish farms |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article published in Fish Farmer about the SalmonSafe System being tested at Scottish fish farms to protect them from predation by seals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Aerial surveys of Scotland's grey seal population |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | BBC Landward tomorrow morning, to talk about breeding grey seals and the aerial surveys that SMRU carries out to monitor Scotland's grey seal population |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Antarctic whaling, whale science and sustainability |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 1/2 day workshop with children from Crail Primary School visiting the Scottish Fisheries Museum's exhibition "Poles apart", talking to the children about antarctic whaling, whale science and sustainability. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | BBC Scotland's Landward piece on conflict of interests between salmon netsmen and seals on the east coast, in particular at Crovie and at the Ythan Estuary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The TV broadcast focussed on increased grey seal numbers at the Ythan Estuary and the possible effects on local salmon and sea trout populations and on the fairly tense interactions between salmon netsmen at Crovie protecting their catch, conservationists protecting local seals and scientists trying to quantify the problem, opening a lively debate between the interested parties and the public. Airing conflicting views helped to move the overall discussion forwards and led to an increase in requests for further information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Bottlenose dolphin siganture whistles |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The intial press piece resulted in an increase in requests for information about dolphin communications and social strucutres. The most notable impacts from this activity was an increase in the number of requests for information on dolphin communications and social strucutres and also on sea mammals in general. These requests came from multiple sectors including the media and educational institutions, who wanted to present the information and it's wider context of marine conservation to their psecific audiences, and also individual members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
| Description | Bottlenose dolphin siganture whistles |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The request for interview to be included in a television presentation was triggered by publication of a paper in PNAS. The audience were extrememly engaged with the subject matter and asked a huge number of questions both on and off camera. The subject matter of the intial interview led to more than 30 other requests for interviews, articles and other uses of the information from the media. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
| Description | Britain's Whale Hunters: The Untold Story |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The TV broadcast resulted in an increased public interest in the history of whaling and the research carried out to assess the recovery of whale populations since industrial whaling ceased Several enquiries were made by members of the public regarding research to assess the recovery of whale populations since industrial whaling ceased. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Cheltenham Science Festival: Whales and Dolphins -Their Social Lives |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Despite their underwater habitat, in some ways whales and dolphins are so much like us. They socialise; they chat; they play. Spy in the Pod producer Rob Pilley and biologist and co-author of The Cultural Lives of Whales and Dolphins Luke Rendell, SMRU, joined The One Show's Miranda Krestovnikoff to explore the social lives of the nation's favourite sea creatures. There was a great response from the public with lots of interesting questions asked. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Culture in animals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The interveiw with the journalist helped them to understand how culture in animals can be defined and studied. The journalist was better informed on how to approach the subject of culture in animals and said that they had passed this on to other colleagues. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Dolphin Breaching |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Involvement in a documentary on how dolphins breach and what purpose this behaviour could be serving. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Dolphin Science - BBC media enquiry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Media enquiry for BBC Scotland to participate in a programme about the dolphins, photo-ID work in conservation, and "dolphin science" in the context of a programme for the World Service. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2015 |
| Description | Dolphin Welfare |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | - |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Dolphin communication |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The article in the National Geopgraphic led to further requests for interviews on the subject of dolphin communication from other press and television organizations from countries outside the UK. The subject of dolphin communication was picked up by a number of media outlets, including press and television, bringing the information to a much wider audience than the original article, especially as some of the resulting articles and tv interviews were done in laguages other than English, eg French and German. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
| Description | Dolphin congnition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The interview with the journalist led to a full article in the Sunday Times which was taken up by many other newspapers There were many requests for information from other journalists and the public about dolphin intelligence. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Dolphin intelligence |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The interview was made to gather information for part of a project on animal intelligence and was incorporated into the broadcasted programme. More requests were made for information on dolphin intelligence and the intelligence of other sea mammals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Dundee Science Centre October exhibition 'Our Amazing Oceans' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk provoked lengthy question and answer session High level of interest in ocean sciences expressed by young (8-12 yo) participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Effects of off-shore renewable energy installations on seal hearing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The interviewer was able to create a cohesive press piece about the current state of research into offshore renewable energy installations and their effects on seal hearing. Exposure of the this information to the general public led to an increase in requests for information on offshore renewable energy installations and their effects on seal hearing and also for information on such effects on other sea mammals. The requests came from other media organizations and from the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Elephant seals are revealing a new threat caused by melting Antarctic ice |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over the summer, colleagues in SMRU updated the MEOP website, the portal sharing ocean data collected by SMRU's Ocean profiling tags. The new database, administered by Fabien Roquet of the University of Stockholm, is a major release with more and better data, including some new and exciting high-resolution hydrographic profiles and the publicity generated by the original article led to further coverage, for example in The Washington Post, showcasing the impact of the data, a result of SMRU instrumentation work, on the global ocean science community. Other press coverage was also generated, reaching a wider public audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/08/23/how-elephant-seals-in-antarctic... |
| Description | European Researchers Night at St Andrews University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Particpation in explaining research, it's wider interest and impact, to the general public - topics covered by SMRU affiliated reserachers included "How to survive in a polar ecosystem" and "Hunt and Communicate like a sperm whale" . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Evolution of social learning in whales and dolphins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Particpation in the programme "Start the week" - talking about the evolution of social learning in whales and dolphins, discussing their culture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05r0b31 |
| Description | Farne Islands Management Group workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk was followed by extensive question and answer session from members of the management group and the public that were also present. Members of the Farne Islands Management Group asked if they could visit SMRU. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2013 |
| Description | Fife Science Fair event at the Anstruther Fisheries Musuem |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | There was a substantial increase in attendance of the museum on the day of the event with people traveling from throughout Fife to attend. Visitors asked many questions on whales and the marine environment. Members of the group who set up the event were inspired by this by the experience, especially in terms of the interaction with and feedback from the public, to perform more public outreach activities. Demonstration equipment, posters and artwork created for the event are now being used in these other activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Figures reveal salmon farms that shot seals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Request for input into article for BBC website on howthe number of individual seals that can be removed from the population without causing a decline in the population is calculated and how this is used to determine how many licences may be issued each year, and how many seals may be legally shot. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Film on Animal Mothers for Oxford Scientific Films & ITV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Request for participation in a new series called Animal Mums for ITV focusing on work on dolphins mimicking the signature whistles of close relatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Fish Tags create dinner bell effect for seals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | published paper resulted in over 10 requests for further information, press articles, radio and tv interveiws initial public broadcast sparked more than 10 requests for further information, press articles, radio and tv interveiws |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Grey seal physiology - BBC Countryfile |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | BBC One's Countryfile programme from the Farne Islands talking about adaptations of grey seal physiology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Imagination - Scotland's Festival of Ideas: CULTURE WAVES: HUMAN INTELLIGENCE, WHALES AND DOLPHINS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Lively public debate on how people define intelligence and the impact that humans have on whales and dolphins; how much do they understand us? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.imaginationfestival.co.uk/ |
| Description | Interactions between seal and man-made structures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The initial contact with the media resulted in several magazine and press articles The initial contact with the media resulted in several magazine and press articles in publications which reached a larger section of the public than the initial article. This in turn led to further enquiries from other media representative and the public for more information on interactions between seal and man-made structures. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Interview for an influencer vlog. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | SMRU researchers were interviewed about the work carried out with new technology tracking seals, providing vital information about their lives and the oceans that they live in. The vlog generated interest and follow on articles from the BBC and other new outlets, enabling the results of the work to reach an even wider audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.caseforchange.com/saving-oceans-starts-seals/ |
| Description | Interview for national newspaper. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | SMRU researchers engaged with the discussion about calls from fishermen to cull UK seals, leading to the conclusion that such a cull would not be an effective measure for preserving fish stocks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Interview for radio 4 programme. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview broadcast on the Radio 4 "Today" programme, concerning the effects of disturbance on grey seals during the breeding season. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Isle of May Seals open day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was at an Open Day on the Isle of May. It sparked many questions from and discussion with members of the public. We were asked to participate next year; we were asked for more information from members of the public, the feedback indicated an increase of knowledge and change of views with regard to seals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
| URL | http://isleofmaynnr.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/a-special-day-to-end-the-season/ |
| Description | Isle of May grey seal long term study using photo-identification |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Countrywise ITV documentary broadcast on December the 2th5 2015, featuring a interview with P Pomeroy on Isle of May grey seal long term study, using photo-identification. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week52/countrywise |
| Description | Marine Mammal interactions with tidal turbines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An interview with CNBC London as they're in the process of making a series of 5 short films on the tidal turbine industry. This led to other articles being published on the same topic in the popular press, reaching an even wider public audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Marine Mammals of the world - presentation for schools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | TOur talk sparked an interesting discussion about the application of marine mammal science outside of academia and what attracted us this field of study. The discussion progressed to a wider discussion of ecology and the increasing concern surrounding climate change, human population increase and species decline. In a letter sent by the class teacher, children where reported to have acquired greater appreciation of the potential impacts of human activities in the worlds oceans; and how apex predators, such as marine mammals, provide potential indicator species for these activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Media interview on noise in oceans and its effects on seals. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview for national news programme on the potential effects of ocean noise on hearing loss in UK seals. Publicity of the interview led to several requests for more information, at least 3 further articles in the public press, reaching even wider audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-39786059 |
| Description | Mud to mammals: the University of St Andrews at Dundee Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | The Dundee Science Festival was an exciting opportunity to talk to the public about current research carried out the University of St Andrews. SMRU used lard to show how blubber keeps dolphins warm, how researchers identify the bottlenose dolphins living in the Tay using their fins and how to tell the difference between sea mammals and fish. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Options for filming breeding grey seals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The questioner was better informed about possible options for filming breeding grey seals after speaking to us. If any filming was undertaken then the process would have been undertaken in the best possible conditions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Organization of public festival. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | At the St Andrews Science Discovery Day 2017, SMRU presented two activities, titled 'Who are you and what have you been eating?'. One activity focused on the use of photo-identification to study populations of marine mammals. We had an explanatory poster on how and why we identify individuals of cetacean and seal species using natural markings. The kids & adults could choose to play one or more matching games with sperm whale flukes, killer whale dorsal fins, bottlenose dolphin dorsal fins and harbour or grey seal pelage photographs. The second activity focused on how and why we study seal diet. A series of fake seal scats, made out of play-doh were filled with different grains and seeds, and lab coats and tweezers were provided to each children. After they had found all the fake otoliths in the scat, we could discuss what kind of and how much fish that seal might have been eating. Real otoliths were available to look through a magnifying lens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Our story - Salmon Netting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The radio broadcast increased public interest in the research carried out on the impact of seal predation on salmon populations. Broadcaster wishes to pursue a follow-up programme focussing more on SMRU's research on the diet of seals, the impact on seal predation on fish stocks, and vice versa. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Outreach activities at 2016 Dundee Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dundee Science Festival 2016 took place between 29 October and 13 November, with a key objective to increase science in the community and to widen access to science. SMRU scientists took part, showcasing the work that they do and demonstrating that everyone can engage with, understand and enjoy science. More than 800 people attended the event over two days and we received some excellent feedback implicating us as 'the best thing about this event'. Many requests were made for participation in other events involving the public and schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.dundeesciencecentre.org.uk/dundee-science-festival/dsf-home/ |
| Description | Participation in radio programme. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A radio programme was recorded where Charlotte Marshall and Nicholas Tucker met SMRU experts who presented at the 2017 Mammal Society Autumn symposium, and talked about the present and future problems of marine conservation, as well as how events like the symposium would benefit young researchers and other participants. The programme was turned into podacsts and made available on the internet, reaching a far wider audience than the original broadcast. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Participation of SMRU reserachers in public engagement programme "Cell Block Science". |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Ground-breaking public engagement programme Cell Block Science, including participation of led SMRU researchers, delivered informal science learning to prisoners, The programme was successful and will be continued past the initial trial period. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Polar Explorers - Ocean Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Summer is usually quiet news time and a break from teaching. Not so for Biology staff at St Andrews and the good folks of the Cupar Churches Holiday Club. The latter organised a polar explorer week for kids, and Dr Sonja Heinrich, one of St Andrews' regular polar explorers stepped up to the mark to share some stories of the Great White and its amazing inhabitants with around 40 well-behaved and very enthusiastic 9 to 12 year olds. An extra session was needed to answer the future explorers' diverse and well-informed questions, and both older and younger participants seemed to very much enjoy the stories from the frozen South, and the insights that polar explorers come in all shapes and sizes, and many are flippered, with blubber or fur. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Population control of seals in the UK. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Participation in radio debate about how decisions are made on seal populations levels and any control methods necessary. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pl22c |
| Description | Presentation of talk entitled "Seals in Scotland" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation entitled "Seals in Scotland" given to Fife outdoor activities organization to promote better understanding of the ecology of seals in Scotland, the laws surrounding seals and the current threats to seal populations and what local communities in Scotland could do to improve the situation. There was lots of interest from the audience as to ways to improve interactions with local wildlife and several requests were made for future presentations and more information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Public information exercise about Seal Corkscrew deaths |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We had many interested parties who reported a much better understanding of seal ecology after attending the open-day. Often people were extremely interested in the problems which the local populations face and it gave us a deeper insight into how much more must be done with regards to public awareness. As a direct result of the event and handing out leaflets which had contact information for strandings reporting, two seal strandings were reported which turned out to be a very important data points; the seals both had lesions typical of interaction with boat traffic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Public outreach - Bioblitz 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | St Andrews BioBlitz took place in June. This is the third year of BioBlitz in St Andrews. This years' event was attended by children from Crail and Greyfriars schools, home schoolers, volunteers from postgraduate and undergraduate courses, University staff, visiting specialists, and many enthusiastic members of the public. The event was well attended and sparked a huge amount of interest in the research undertaken at SMRU and also resulted in requests for our participation in other similar outreach activities in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/biooutreach/2016/06/06/bioblitz-2016/ |
| Description | Rockpool visit for Greyfriars Primary School P2, June and May |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Participated at a leader in a rockppol visit for children to explore and understand life at the sea edge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | School visit (Cupar) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 2 staff members and a 5 student volunteers delivered a Polar Explorer workshop to St Columba's Roman Catholic Primary School in Cupar.During the preparations for the project the University staff members (Dr Rebecca Kinnear and Dr Sonja Heinrich) worked with the primary school principal teachers to deliver activities that fit within the School curriculum and supported their 'STEM learning Polar Explorer Programme' activities (https://www.stem.org.uk/welcome-polar-explorer-programme). The entire school was present during the assembly and during the carousel sessions 21 females and 27 males (ages between 6-10) were present. The activity lasted from 9am-12pm and consisted of the following timetable: 9.10-9.40am Assembly: Polar explorer experience -2 Marine Mammal Science MSc students talk about their Antarctic trip and answer questions from the school during morning assembly. 9.40am- 10.40am Carousel session in the hall: Class 1 11am-12pm Carousel session in the hall: Class 2 During the carousel sessions students were split into groups of no more than 8. Each group spent 10- 15 minutes at each work station. There were 4 workstations in total: •Size and morphology - pupils were given the opportunity to see how large organisms in the Antarctic are by observing life size cloth replicas. Topics of discussion included why it is good to be big, streamlining, and the reasons behind colorations. •Feeding Specialists - pupils were provided the opportunity to handle replica skulls of 3 species of seal and observe the dental adaptations of each, and the importance of food choice/nutrition •Keeping warm - pupils manipulated feathers to understand the importance of layers (waterproof/guard and down) and discussed the need for insulation for human polar explorers. Pupils also got the opportunity too experience how marine mammals keep warm by placing their hands in an ice bucket (one with and one without a 'trex glove'). •Sounds - How animals communicate in the Antarctic. Pupils were asked to listen to recordings and guess what animal was making the noise by pointing to a photograph of the animal. Pupils were asked to suggest reasons why the animals may make these sounds. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | School visit (Girvan) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Girvan primary school, south Ayrshire, organized a "World wildlife day" and several SMRU researcher talked about the work carried out by the unit. The school reported that the presentations and activities had inspired the audience of about 1500 children, describing it as "the magical world and findings of Sea Mammal research unit". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | School visit to talk about Marine Mammals for P1 and P2, Greyfriars Primary School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Organized a school visit to engage young children in the science of marine mammals, helping them to understand the huge diversity of life in out oceans and need to protect it. Lots of questions were asked by the children, sparking requests for more information and more eventsin the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Scottish dolphins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The interview with the journalist produced a full article in the Scotsman and on social media platforms. The initial articles were picked up by other media outlets and increased the number of requests for information and interviews on the subject. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
| Description | Sea Mammals and Climate Change |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The presentation(s) on sea mammals and how their lives are affected by climate change sparked lively questions from the audience of school pupils. The hosts of the presentation requested that more talks aimed at engaging school pupils could be done in the future on this and other linked subjects. The hosts also reported very positive feedback from the schools involved. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
| Description | Seal interactions with windfarms |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Articles covering the paper published on seal interactions with wind farms. http://www.donsidepiper.co.uk/news/scottish-headlines/seals-affected-by-turbine-builds-1-3777656 http://www.forfardispatch.co.uk/news/scottish-news/seals-affected-by-turbine-builds-1-3777656 http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/pipe/news/scotland/seals-affected-by-turbine-builds/ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150519210202.htm http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3088618/Wind-turbines-deafen-seals-say-ecologists-new-study.html |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Seal interactions with windfarms and how this might affect their hearing - TV and radio interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Television and radio interviews conducted after publication by SMRU of paper on seal interactions with windfarms. http://news.stv.tv/tayside/1321019-offshore-turbine-construction-noise-may-damage-seals-hearing/ http://www.capitalbay.com/news/815962-offshore-wind-turbine-construction-damages-animals-hearing.html |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Seals avoid wind farms during the noisiest phase of construction |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The European Commission published a publically-accessible article about a SMRU research paper "Avoidance of wind farms by harbour seals is limited to pile driving activities" in Science for Environment Policy, a news service published by the European Commission's Environment Directorate-General. The publication of the report led to several requests for follow-up interviews and publication of other articles in the wider press, reaching an even wider public audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Signature Whistles |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview for radio programme for Radio Scotland's "Out of Doors" on signature whistles and dolphin communication. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Signature Whistles and Dolphin Communication |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Leading on from other radio presentations on the same subject, there was a request for participation in the BBC World Service science documentary slot, Discovery, talking about dolphin communication. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | TV documentary on sea mammal communications |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A television documentary production company approached us to make a documentary featuring research about dolphin social behaviour and communication. This documentary led to several requests for more information, at least 7 further articles in the public press, participation in a 1 hour radio documentary about the effects of ocean noise on cetacean communication for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and requests for future participation in outreach events, reaching even wider audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talk to members of the North East Kayak Club |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk to members of the North East Kayak Club, entitled "Monitoring populations of bottlenose dolphins, harbour seals and grey seals in Scotland: what have we learned so far." The audience were very interested in the methods used and asked for more information, with the potential for other invitations to give talks to the group in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Teaching at a wildlife interactions training course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Wildlife Safe (WISE) schele aims to promote responsible wildlife-watching through training accreditation and awareness-raising (www.wisescheme.org/about/). We participate in the training offered to professional tourguides and others involved in bringing the public into potential proximatey to wildelife around the UK coast, in particular with seals. The information imparted at this activity has a trickle down effect of reaching the public as it is passed on to them through the workshop participants and has led to requests for more information from both participants and the general public (directly). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | The One Show: seals and windfarms. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Particpation in the programme looking at seal behaviour around windfarms. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | The effects of noise on shellfish |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A press release made in support of a research publication resulted in two members of the SMRU Bioacoustics Group being interviewed by regional radio and newspaper reporters, which in turn led to a live interview broadcast on BBC Scotland.Whilst the initial reach of the activity was Scotland via regional newspaper and BBC Scotland, international exposure was achieved through internet articles and blogs. Several direct enquiries were made by members of the public for reprints of the paper and other papers published by the same team. There was an increased public awareness and discussion of the potential impacts of underwater noise. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | The rights and wrongs of culling seals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Participation in a radio debate about if seals should be culled in some areas around the British coast and how such a decision oculd be made. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | These Animals Use Personal Names, But Never Gossip |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Input into news item for online magazine article looking at communication in animals - specific input was on dolphins. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Whale faeces and their association in reducing CO2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The information provided was used in conjunction with other sources to inform the debate about whales' contribution to recovery of oceans through their waste projects. The reporter involved indicated that this information was extremely useful and they will consider us as experts for future articles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Whales 'adapt to sea warming' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Sunday Times article reviewing looking PLoS-ONE paper published by SMRU personnel, on how whales have dramatically changed their feeding habits in response to global warming, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Whales 'adapt to sea warming' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Regional press article on how whales adapt to changing climate, especially with regard to warming sea temperatures. This spraked requests from other print media for further information and with the subsequent publiching of other articles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Workshop for renewable energy industry on predator-prey interactions of grey seals. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A workshop was held to explore the predator-prey interactions of grey seals in UK waters. Monitoring these and other behaviours are important during the development of offshore energy projects and there were lively discussions around the behaviours and their outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | World Mobile Congress |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was a stand at the World Mobile Congress within the area sponsored by the GSMA entitled Innovation City. Our stand was visited by hundreds of people within the four days of the congress (108,000 attendees) with numerous media interactions, television interviews and vists by VIPs (including the King of Spain!). We showcased the 'connected seals' technology how innovations in the technology will lead to smaller tags and enable us to answer questions such as what is causing the decline in some Scottish harbour seal populations. Interest in our stand was huge and the message was clearly well received, being highlighted on numerous mobile technology websites, including being listed as one of the 'top best things to see at the World Mobile Congress 2017'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.mobileworldcongress.com/ |
| Description | participation in Radio 4 programme "Shared Planet" for episode on "Ocean Pollutants" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The Radio 4 programme looked at the effects of world population growth and demands on agriculture increase, and how can we control the amount of damaging chemicals entering rivers and then being taken into the sea. Many of these agricultural and industrial chemicals are long lasting and highly toxic and, although officially banned, substances like DDT and PCBs are still in use in some areas. As pressure grows to control diseases in order to feed a growing world, solutions have to be found to stop these harmful chemicals damaging wildlife. Tackling how the problems of keeping our coastal waters free of toxins while still protecting wildlife exposed the public to research carried out by SMRU and led to increased requests for further information from schools, NGOs and other organizations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2016 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03jznqc |
| Description | participation in radio programme "Darkwave" for the Canadian Broadcasting Company |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The programme was an hour long presentation and discussion on how whales are currently threatened by human activity, and how their language is eroding through the effects of noise and climate change and a SMRU scientist participated as one of the invited experts in this area. The episode originally aired September 28, 2016, and led to several requests for interviews and publication of popular press articles, leading to wider exposure of the public to this important area of research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/darkwave-underwater-languages-at-the-brink-of-extinction-1.3780863 |
| Description | radio interviews based on Interactions between seal and man-made structures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The discussion part of the radio presentations was very lively as the audience were clearly very interested in the subject matter. The radio presentations were of such interest to the public that we have now had requests to present our information on interactions between seal and man-made structures on television early next year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |