Bridget Sparrow-Scinocca, postgraduate researcher, CDT SuMMeR: Cohort 2

I graduated with a BSc from the University of Toronto and an MSc in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation from Imperial College London. I completed thesis research at the Zoological Society of London, studying the use of deep-sea imagery to understand ecosystem dynamics and identified a vulnerable marine ecosystem in the Davis Strait, Greenland. Recently, I have completed deep-sea contract work for Cefas, JNCC and the Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada while working as a bat conservation ecologist at the Toronto Zoo.

I have always had a fascination with aquatic ecology. I conducted field work projects at both Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre in British Columbia and at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado. These experiences inspired me to focus on studying behavioural ecology, community ecology and functional ecology. A particular interest of mine is how interactions between marine invertebrates and their environments shape a species distribution and daily function. Some of my previous experiences have included studying bats and deep-sea invertebrates.

Offshore renewable wind industry installations (OWF) are projected to increase 5-fold by 2030 and yet it is not well understood how this affects the structure and function of seabed ecosystems. Benthic communities play an essential role in the wholistic functioning of the ecosystem, and in turn influence the provisioning of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, storage, and nutrient cycling.

Benthic community structure needs to be documented so that the effect of anthropogenic and environmental change on the functioning of ecosystems can be assessed in terms of their overall biodiversity net-gain. This project aims to conduct a biological trait-based analysis to identify trends in community functioning derived from benthic invertebrate species that influence species-environment interactions. The project will use publicly available benthic datasets, focusing on current and developing OWF across UK continental shelf regions. Species abundances and sediment data will be matched with species traits to describe community structure and function across both spatial and temporal scales in OWF. This project will then focus on developing functional metrics for understanding how changes to the benthos affect ecosystem provisioning.

Functional ecosystem attributes will be modelled and mapped to understand habitat specific processes and services which will aid in protecting marine resources.

Project outputs will aid in the decision-making process for condition assessments, offsetting measures and licensing requirements to ensure the protection of sustainable marine resources. To satisfy renewable energy requirements, necessary alterations to the seabed are crucial. Balancing these impacts is vital to safeguard our marine ecosystems.

I applied for the CDT SuMMeR program as I believe it is imperative to conduct scientific research that has real world impact in a reasonable timeframe. I believe the best way to achieve this is through conducting interdisciplinary research, and this is a cornerstone of the CDT SuMMeR program. It allows for training and collaboration between a network of experts in the field of marine sustainability, industry and government. This project provides me with opportunities to work with experts in renewable energy, ecosystem services and benthic taxonomy and also learn from other PhD students across the UK.