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Professor Paul Thompson

Professor Paul Thompson
Professor Paul Thompson
Professor Paul Thompson

Chair in Zoology

About
Email Address
paul.thompson@abdn.ac.uk
Office Address
Lighthouse Field Station
Cromarty Campus
George Street
Cromarty
Ross-shire
IV11 8YJ

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School/Department
School of Biological Sciences
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Biography

I'm a Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, based at the University's Lighthouse Field Station where my group conducts long-term ecological studies of marine top predators and their responses to environment change.

Our work aims to improve the evidence-base required to sustainably manage protected seabird and marine mammal populations, with a particular focus on interactions with fisheries and offshore energy developments. 

 

Qualifications

  • PhD Zoology 
    1987 - University of Aberdeen 

    Distribution and abundance of common seals

  • BSc Biology 
    1982 - University of York 

External Memberships

Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 

Latest Publications

  • At-sea distribution of seals on the Northwest European Shelf: towards transboundary conservation and management

    Carter, M. I., Aarts, G., van Beest, F. M., Bivins, M., Brasseur, S., Dietz, R., Duck, C., Galatius, A., Gilles, A., Haelters, J., Hastie, G. D., Jessopp, M. J., Morris, C. D., Moss, S. E. W., Nabe-Nielsen, J., Nachtsheim, D. A., Schaffeld, T., Schop, J., Siebert, U., Teilmann, J., Thompson, D., Thompson, P., Vincent, C., Russell, D. J. F.
    Journal of Applied Ecology, e70236
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Clinical Chemistry Reference Intervals for Health Assessment in Wild Adult Harbour Seals

    Hall, A. J., Russell, D. J. F., Thompson, P., Milne, R., Moss, S. E. W., Armstrong, H. C., Kershaw, J.
    Animals, vol. 15, no. 23, 3429
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Reduced adult survival estimated in areas of decline of harbour seal populations in Scotland

    Arso Civil, M., Tapp, S., Dickens, J., Langley, I., Hiley, H., Terrapon, M., Hague, E., Hewitt, R., Cordes, L. S., Graham, I., Cheney, B., Thompson, P., Hall, A. J., Sparling, C. E.
    Ecology and Evolution, vol. 15, no. 10, e72349
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Advancing seabird diet studies through buccal swabbing for DNA metabarcoding

    Evans, L. G., Harris, S. M., Thompson, P., Ellison, A., Cordes, L. S.
    Ecology and Evolution, vol. 15, no. 7, e71606
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Global Tracking of Marine Megafauna Space Use Reveals How to Achieve Conservation Targets

    Sequeira, A. M. M., Rodríguez, J. P., Marley, S. A., Calich, H. J., van der Mheen, M., VanCompernolle, M., Arrowsmith, L. M., Peel, L. R., Queiroz, N., Vedor, M., da Costa, I., Mucientes, G., Couto, A., Humphries, N. E., Abalo-Morla, S., Abascal, F. J., Abercrombie, D. L., Abrantes, K., Abreu-Grobois, F. A., Afonso, A. S., Afonso, P., Ahonen, H., Åkesson, S., Alfaro-Shigueto, J., Andrews, R. D., Angelier, F., Antonopoulou, M., Arata, J. A., Araujo, G., Arauz, R., Arcos, J. M., Arregui, I., Arrizabalaga, H., Auger-Méthé, M., Bach, S., Bailleul, F., Baird, R. W., Balazs, G. H., Barco, S. G., Barnett, A., Baverstock, W., Baylis, A. M. M., Beard, A., Bécares, J., Belda, E. J., Bell, I., Bennison, A., Benson, S. R., Bernal, D., Berumen, M. L., Bessudo, S., Bezerra, N. P. A., Blaison, A. V., Blanco, G. S., Block, B. A., Bolton, M., Bond, M. E., Bonfil, R., Braun, C. D., Broderick, A. C., Brooke, M. d. L., Brooks, A. M. L., Brooks, E. J., Bruno, I. M., Burns, J. M., Byrne, M. E., Campana, S. E., Campbell, H. A., Campbell, R. A., Carlisle, A., Carmichael, R. H., Carroll, G., Casale, P., Ceia, F. R., Chapman, D. D., Chapple, T. K., Charrassin, J., Chiaradia, A., Chisholm, J., Clarke, C. R., Clay, T. A., Cleguer, C., Clingham, E., Clua, E. E. G., Cochran, J. E. M., Constantine, R., Cooper, R. W., Crochelet, E., Cronin, M., Cuevas, E., DaCosta, K. P., Dagorn, L., Daly, R., Davis, R. W., de Bruyn, P. J. N., Delgado-Trejo, C., Dellinger, T., Derville, S., Diamant, S., DiMatteo, A., Dodge, K. L., Doherty, P. D., Double, M. C., Dove, A. D. M., Doyle, T. K., Drew, M. J., Dubbs, L. L., Duffy, C. A. J., Dutton, P. H., Edwards, E. W. J., Einoder, L. D., Erdmann, M. V., Espinoza, E., Esteban, N., Fagundes, A. I., Feare, C., Ferguson, S. H., Ferreira, L. C., Ferretti, F., Filmalter, J., Finucci, B., Fischer, G. C., Fitzpatrick, R. J., Fontes, J., Formia, A., Fossette, S., Francis, M. P., Friedlaender, A. S., Furtado, M., Gallagher, A. J., Garrigue, C., Gennari, E., Gilchrist, H. G., Godley, B. J., Goldsworthy, S. D., Gollock, M., Carman, V. G., Grecian, W. J., Green, J. R., Guinet, C., Gustafson, J., Guttridge, T. L., Guzman, H. M., Hamer, D., Hamer, K. C., Hammerschlag, N., Hammill, M. O., Harman, L., Harrison, E., Hart, C. E., Harris, A. E., Hastie, G., Hazin, F. H. V., Heard, M., Hearn, A. R., Heide-Jørgensen, M. P., Henry, L., Henry, R. W., Hernandez, V. G., Herrera, A. E., Hindell, M. A., Holdsworth, J. C., Holmes, B. J., Howey, L. A., Hoyos Padilla, E. M., Huckstadt, L. A., Hueter, R. E., Lara, P. H., Hussey, N. E., Huveneers, C., Hyland, K., Irion, D. T., Jacoby, D. M. P., Jaeger, A., Jaidah, M. Y., Jessopp, M., Jewell, O. J. D., Johnson, R., Jones, C. G., Jonsen, I. D., Jordan, L. K. B., Jorgensen, S. J., Kato, A., Ketchum, J. T., Kitaysky, A. S., Klimley, A. P., Kock, A. A., Koen, P., Archila, F. L., Lana, F. O., Lane, J. V., Le Corre, M., Lea, M., Lea, J., Leat, E. H. K., Lee, O. A., Levenson, J. J., Ley-Quiñonez, C. P., Llewellyn, F., Lockhart, G., Lopez, G. G., Mendilaharsu, M. L., Lowther, A. D., Luschi, P., Lutcavage, M. E., Lyon, W. S., Macena, B. C. L., Mackay, A. I., Madden, C. A., Mallory, M. L., Mangel, J. C., Manning, M., Mansfield, K. L., March, D., Marco, A., Marcoux, M., Acuña-Marrero, D., Marsh, H., Marshall, H., Mate, B., McAllister, J. D., McGuire, R. L., McKenzie, J., McLeay, L., McMahon, C. R., Modest, M., Morris, J., Muelbert, M. M. C., Namboothri, N., Nichols, W. J., Nicoll, M. A. C., Norman, B. M., Norris, K., Olsen, E., Oppel, S., Orlowski, S., Pagano, A. M., Page, B., Paiva, V. H., Palacios, D. M., Papastamatiou, Y. P., Parker, D. M., Pattiaratchi, C., Peckham, H., Peñaherrera-Palma, C. R., Pepperell, J. G., Phillips, R. A., Pierce, S. J., Pikesley, S. K., Pilcher, N. J., Pinet, P., Pinkerton, M., Pirotta, E., Plot, V., Powell, A. N., Powers, K. D., Prebble, C. E. M., Preston, T. J., Prieto, R., Prosdocimi, L., Quinn, J. L., Quintero, L. M., Raclot, T., Ramirez, I., Ramírez-Macías, D., Ramos, J. A., Read, A. J., Ream, R., Rees, A. F., Reina, R. D., Reisinger, R. R., Revuelta, O., Reynolds, S. D., Richardson, A. J., Riekkola, L., Riet-Sapriza, F. G., Robinson, D. P., Robinson, P. W., Rocha, C. F. D., Rogers, T. L., Rohner, C. A., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Ross, M., Rowat, D. R. L., Ruhomaun, K., Sagar, P. M., Samoilys, M. A., Sanchez, S., Sandoval-Lugo, A. G., dos Santos, E. A. P., Santos, A. M., Scales, K. L., Schofield, G., Semmens, J. M., Setyawan, E., Shaffer, S. A., Shanker, K., Sheaves, M., Shillinger, G. L., Shivji, M. S., Sianipar, A., Silk, J. R. D., Silva, M. A., Sim, J., Simpson, S. J., Skomal, G., Slip, D. J., Smale, M. J., Soler, G. A., Soria, M., Sousa, L. L., Southall, E. J., Stahl, J., Stehfest, K. M., Sterling, J. T., Stevens, J. D., Stevens, G. M. W., Stewart, J. D., Swaminathan, A., Takahashi, A., Tatayah, V., Thiebot, J., Thompson, P. M., Thorrold, S. R., Thums, M., Tomás, J., Torres, L. G., Towner, A., Trathan, P. N., Tyminski, J. P., Sagarminaga van Buiten, R., Van Dam, R. P., Vandeperre, F., Varo-Cruz, N., Vaudo, J. J., Vely, M., Villegas-Amtmann, S., Vincent, C., Waayers, D., Wanless, S., Watanabe, Y. Y., Watt, C. A., Weber, S. B., Weber, N., Weise, M. J., Welch, L., Wells, R. S., Werry, J. M., Wetherbee, B. M., White, T. D., Whiting, S. D., Whiting, A. U., Wiebkin, A., Wienecke, B., Wildermann, N. E., Wiley, D. N., Will, A., Williams, S., Windstein, M., Wischnewski, S., Witt, M. J., Womersley, F. C., Wood, A. G., Wright, L. J., Xavier, J. C., Yamamoto, T., Yurkowski, D. J., Zarate, P. M., Zavala-Norzagaray, A., Zerbini, A. N., Costa, D. P., Harcourt, R., Meekan, M. G., Hays, G. C., Sims, D. W., Duarte, C. M., Eguíluz, V. M.
    Science, vol. 388, no. 6751, pp. 1086-1097
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

View My Publications

Prizes and Awards

Marsh Award for Marine and Freshwater Conservation, 2015

Research

Research Overview

Current research aims to assess how natural and anthropogenic environmental variations influence the behaviour, physiology and dynamics of marine mammal and seabird populations. These questions have been approached by conducting long-term and comparative studies of key populations; primarily in Scottish waters but including some work overseas. These studies have been used to address a range of applied and theoretical questions, often requiring an inter-disciplinary approach and regularly involving collaboration with other research groups both in the UK and abroad. Topics of particular interest have included interactions between wildlife populations and fisheries, the impact of anthropogenic noise on marine mammal biology, seal foraging and breeding strategies, and effects of changing prey stocks and climate change on the population dynamics of marine top predators.  

Research Areas

Biological and Environmental Sciences

View Research Area

Research Specialisms

  • Ecology
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Marine Sciences
  • Acoustics
  • Environmental Impact Assessment

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

Current Research

Population ecology of marine mammals and seabirds; individual-based studies of focal populations of northern fulmars, harbour seals and bottlenose dolphins. 

Moray Firth Marine Mammal Monitoring Programme [MMMP];  co-produced strategic research and monitoring programme to meet consent conditions for regional offshore wind developments.  

PrePARED; consortium project on predator and prey responses to offshore structures, aimed at understanding cumulative environmental impacts and benefits of offshore windfarms. 

SEATRACK; international collaboration to understand the at-sea distribution of seabirds in the NE Atlantic.

Knowledge Exchange

Knowledge exchange activities have involved regular consultancy work for industry and contributions to UK and International advisory groups. Current activities include membership of the DEFRA Strategic Underwater Noise Group and a Marine Scotland Strategic Marine Mammal Research Programme Steering Group. 

Public engagement activities have built upon work at the Lighthouse Field Station, which has featured in a broad range of TV and Radio programmes and been the focus of Arts-Science collaborations such as SUBLIME.  

Collaborations

Population ecology of marine mammals and seabirds; involves collaboration with the University of St Andrews Sea Mammal Research Unit and the University of Bangor.

Moray Firth Marine Mammal Monitoring Programme [MMMP]; involves collaboration with the University of St Andrews Sea Mammal Research Unit and CEFAS.

PrePARED; consortium led by Marine Scotland Science, including University of Exeter, SMRU Consulting, BIOSS, CEH, Nature Scot, Natural England & University of Aarhus.  

SEATRACK; collaboration led by the Norwegian Polar Institute, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and Norwegian Environment Agency. SEATRACK involves multiple partners working at over 50 seabird colonies encircling the Labrador, Greenland, Barents, Norwegian, North and Irish Seas. 

Supervision

I've supervised around 25 PhD students who have gone on to work in a wide range of research, conservation and management roles.

You can find out more about their research projects and subsequent careers on the Lighthouse Field Station webpages. 

I'm no longer taking on PhD students as a primary supervisor but remain open to involvement in supervisory teams for interesting project that relate to my current interests.   

Funding and Grants

2022-2025, The Crown Estate Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme, PrePARED

2021-2022, BEIS, Cetacean responses to decommissioning noise.

2014-2022, Beatrice Offshore Wind Ltd, Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd, Marine Scotland, The Crown Estate, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Marine Mammal Monitoring Programme for Moray Firth windfarm developments 

2012-2024, Scottish Natural Heritage, Site condition monitoring for the Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation

2015-2016, DECC, Assessing cetacean responses to pile driving noise

2011-2012, Marine Scotland, Assessment of methods for monitoring marine mammals at marine renewable energy developments 

2010-2012, Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd & Beatrice Offshore Wind Ltd, Development of a framework for assessing the impact of windfarm construction marine mammal populations.  

2009-2013, DECC, Assessing the impact of seismic survey noise on cetaceans

Teaching

Teaching Responsibilities

The Lighthouse Field Station research programme has provided unique opportunities for >30 cohorts of UG and PGT students to experience research-led teaching within marine mammal ecology and conservation.

In particular, Cromarty-based Honours and Masters projects have provided unique field-based training opportunities; resulting in a strong record for graduate recruitment and many alumni obtaining important leadership roles in the UK and overseas. Undergraduates can also visit the Field Station for the Biodiversity Field Course (BI25F7). 

Several Aberdeen-based courses at levels 1-5 draw upon Lighthouse research, with contributions to Frontiers in Biology (BI1009), Fundamentals in Marine Biology (BI25Z2), Animal Population Ecology (ZO4920), Marine Biodiversity (ZO4820), Marine Conservation Management (ZO5809) and Marine EIA (ZO5510).

Since 2017, I have been developing more online material for blended delivery, and exploring digital approaches to enable virtual access to remote fieldwork. From April 2022, I may continue to appear in some of these digital resources, but my previous teaching commitments will be undertaken by Dr Jo Kershaw.     

Publications

Page 3 of 9 Results 51 to 75 of 201

  • Predicting the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on marine populations

    Nabe-Nielsen, J., van Beest, F. M., Grimm, V., Sibly, R. M., Teilmann, J., Thompson, P. M.
    Conservation Letters, vol. 11, no. 5, 12563
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Responses of bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises to impact and vibration piling noise during harbour construction

    Graham, I. M., Pirotta, E., Merchant, N. D., Farcas, A., Barton, T. R., Cheney, B., Hastie, G. D., Thompson, P. M.
    Ecosphere, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 1-16
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Diurnal variation in harbour porpoise detection – potential implications for management

    Williamson, L. D., Brookes, K. L., Scott, B. E., Graham, I. M., Thompson, P. M.
    Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 570, pp. 223-232
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A new approach to estimate fecundity rate from inter-birth intervals

    Arso Civil, M., Cheney, B., Quick, N. J., Thompson, P. M., Hammond, P. S.
    Ecosphere, vol. 8, no. 4, e01796
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Can the Camera Lie? A Nonpermanent Nick in a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

    Quick, N. J., Cheney, B. J., Thompson, P. M., Hammond, P. S.
    Aquatic Mammals, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 156-161
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • State-space modelling of geolocation data reveals sex differences in the use of management areas by breeding northern fulmars

    Edwards, E. W. J., Quinn, L. R., Thompson, P. M.
    Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 1880–1889
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Phenological sensitivity to climate across taxa and trophic levels

    Thackeray, S. J., Henrys, P. A., Hemming, D., Bell, J. R., Botham, M. S., Burthe, S., Helaouet, P., Johns, D. G., Jones, I. D., Leech, D. I., Mackay, E. B., Massimino, D., Atkinson, S., Bacon, P. J., Brereton, T. M., Carvalho, L., Clutton-Brock, T. H., Duck, C., Edwards, M., Elliott, J. M., Hall, S. J. G., Harrington, R., Pearce-Higgins, J. W., Hoye, T. T., Kruuk, L. E. B., Pemberton, J. M., Sparks, T. H., Thompson, P. M., White, I., Winfield, I. J., Wanless, S.
    Nature, vol. 535, no. 7611, pp. 241-245
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Echolocation detections and digital video surveys provide reliable estimates of the relative density of harbour porpoises

    Williamson, L. D., Brookes, K. L., Scott, B. E., Graham, I. M., Bradbury, G., Hammond, P. S., Thompson, P. M.
    Methods in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 762-769
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Validating the use of intrinsic markers in body feathers to identify inter-individual differences in non-breeding areas of northern fulmars

    Quinn, L. R., Meharg, A. A., van Franeker, J. A., Graham, I. M., Thompson, P. M.
    Marine Biology, vol. 163, pp. 1-12
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Underwater noise modelling for environmental impact assessment

    Farcas, A., Thompson, P. M., Merchant, N. D.
    Environmental impact assessment review, vol. 57, pp. 114-122
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Soundscape and Noise Exposure Monitoring in a Marine Protected Area Using Shipping Data and Time-Lapse Footage

    Merchant, N. D., Pirotta, E., Barton, T. R., Thompson, P. M.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings

  • Investigating individual growth rates in wild bottlenose dolphins using remote laser photogrammetry

    Cheney, B., Wells, R. S., Thompson, P. M.
    21st Biennial Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Predicting the effects of human developments on individual dolphins to understand potential long-term population consequences

    Pirotta, E., Harwood, J., Thompson, P. M., New, L., Cheney, B., Arso, M., Hammond, P. S., Donovan, C., Lusseau, D.
    Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences, vol. 282, no. 1818, 20152109
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of activity budgets in sympatric grey and harbour seals

    Russell, D. J. F., McClintock, B. T., Matthiopoulos, J., Thompson, P. M., Thompson, D., Hammond, P. S., Jones, E. L., MacKenzie, M. L., Moss, S., McConnell, B. J.
    Oikos, vol. 124, no. 11, pp. 1462-1472
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Mark-resight estimates of seasonal variation in harbor seal abundance and site fidelity

    Cordes, L. S., Thompson, P. M.
    Population Ecology, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 467-472
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Parallel declines in survival of adult Northern Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis at colonies in Scotland and Ireland

    Cordes, L. S., Hedworth, H. E., Cabot, D., Cassidy, M., Thompson, P. M.
    Ibis, vol. 157, no. 3, pp. 631-636
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Estimating spatial, temporal and individual variability in dolphin cumulative exposure to boat traffic using spatially explicit capture-recapture methods

    Pirotta, E. E., Thompson, P. M. P., Cheney, B. B., Donovan, C. R. C., Lusseau, D. M. D.
    Animal Conservation, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 20-31
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Integrating passive acoustic and visual data to model spatial patterns of occurrence in coastal dolphins

    Thompson, P. M., Brookes, K. L., Cordes, L. S.
    ICES Journal of Marine Science, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 651-660
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Quantifying the effect of boat disturbance on bottlenose dolphin foraging activity

    Pirotta, E., Merchant, N. D., Thompson, P. M., Barton, T. R., Lusseau, D.
    Biological Conservation, vol. 181, pp. 82-89
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Long-term trends in the use of a protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in population status.

    Cheney, B., Corkrey, R., Durban, J. W., Grellier, K., Hammond, P. S., Islas-Villanueva, V., Janik, V. M., Lusseau, S. M., Parsons, K. M., Quick, N. J., Wilson, B., Thompson, P. M.
    Global Ecology and Conservation, vol. 2, pp. 118-128
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Assessing environmental impacts of offshore wind farms: lessons learned and recommendations for the future.

    Bailey, H., Brookes, K. L., Thompson, P. M.
    Aquatic Biosystems, vol. 10, no. 8, pp. 1-13
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The importance of developing modeling frameworks to inform conservation decisions: a response to Lonergan

    Matthiopoulos, J., Smout, S., Caillat, M., Cordes, L., Mackey, B., Thompson, P.
    Oecologia, vol. 175, no. 4, pp. 1069-1071
    Contributions to Journals: Editorials

  • Variation in harbour porpoise activity in response to seismic survey noise

    Pirotta, E., Brookes, K. L., Graham, I. M., Thompson, P. M.
    Biology Letters, vol. 10, no. 5, 20131090
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Mark-recapture modeling accounting for state uncertainty provides concurrent estimates of survival and fecundity in a protected harbor seal population

    Cordes, L. S., Thompson, P. M.
    Marine Mammal Science, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 691-705
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Importance of accounting for phylogenetic dependence in multi-species mark-recapture studies

    Abadi, F., Barbraud, C., Besson, D., Bried, J., Crochet, P., Delord, K., Forcada, J., Grosbois, V., Phillips, R. A., Sagar, P., Thompson, P., Waugh, S., Weimerskirch, H., Wood, A. G., Gimenez, O.
    Ecological Modelling, vol. 273, pp. 236-241
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
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