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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

  • Characterising underwater noise and changes in harbour porpoise behaviour during the decommissioning of an oil and gas platform

    Fernandez Betelu, O., Graham, I., Malcher, F., Webster, E., Cheong, S., Wang, L. P., Iorio-Merlo, V., Robinson, S., Thompson, P.
    Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 200, 116083
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Vessel noise prior to pile driving at offshore windfarm sites deters harbour porpoises from potential injury zones

    Benhemma-Le Gall, A., Thompson, P., Merchant, N., Graham, I.
    Environmental impact assessment review, vol. 103, 107271
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Decadal increase in vessel interactions by a scavenging pelagic seabird across the North Atlantic

    Darby, J. H., Clairbaux, M., Quinn, J. P., Thompson, P., Quinn, L., Cabot, D., Strøm, H., Thórarinsson, T. L., Kempf, J., Jessopp, M. J.
    Current Biology, vol. 33, no. 19, pp. 4225-4231.e3
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds

    Clark, B. L., Carneiro, A. P., Pearmain, E., Rouyer, M., Clay, T., Cowger, W., Phillips, R. A., Manica, A., Hazin, C., Eriksen, M., Gonzalez-Solis, J., Adams, J., Albores-Barajas, Y., Alfaro-Shiqueto, J., Alho, M., Araujo, D., Arcos, J. M., Arnould, J., Barbosa, N., Barbraud, C., Beard, A., Beck, J., Bell, E., Bennet, D., Berlincourt, M., Conceicao Biscoito, M. J., Bjørnstad, O., Bolton, M., Jones, K. B., Borg, J., Bourgeois, K., Bretagnolle, V., Bried, J., Briskie, J., Brooke, M., Brownlie, K., Bugoni, L., Calabrese, L., Campioni, L., Carey, M., Carle, R. D., Carlile, N., Carreiro, A. R., Catry, P., Catry, T., Cecere, J., Ceia, F. R., Cherel, Y., Choi, C., Cianchetti-Benedetti, M., Clarke, R., Cleeland, J., Colodro, V., Congdon, B., Danielsen, J., De Pascalis, F., Deakin, Z., Dehnhard, N., Dell'Omo, G., Delord, K., Descamps, S., Dilley, B. J., Dinis, H., Dubos, J., Dunphy, B., Emmerson, L., Fagundes, A. I., Fayet, A. L., Felis, J., Fischer, J., Freeman, A., Fromant, A., Gaibani, G., García,, D., Gjerdrum, C., Soeli Gomes, I., Forero, M., Granadeiro, J. P., Grecian, W. J., Grémillet, D., Guilford, T., Hallgrimsson, G. T., Halpin, L., Hansen, E., Hedd, A., Helberg, M., Helgason, H. H., Henry, L., Hereward, H., Hernández-Montero, M., Hindell, M., Hodum, P., Imperio, S., Jaeger, A., Jessopp, M. J., Jodice, P., Jones, C. G., Jones, C., Jónsson, J. E., Kane, A., Kapelj, S., Kim, Y., Kirk, H., Kolbeinsson, Y., Kraemer, P., Krüger, L., Lago, P., Landers, T., Lavers, J., Le Corre, M., Leal, A., Maite, L., Madeiros, J., Magalhães, M., Mallory, M. L., Masello, J., Massa, B., Matsumoto, S., McDuie, F., McFarlane Tranquilla, L., Medrano, F., Metzger, B., Militão, T., Montevecchi, W. A., Montone, R., Navarro-Herrero, L., Neves, V., Nicholls, D., Nicoll, M. A. C., Norris, K., Oppel, S., Oro, D., Owen, E., Padget, O., Paiva, V. H., Pala, D., Pereira, J. M., Péron, C., Petry, M., Pina, A., Pina, A. T., Pinet, P., Pistorius, P., Pollet, I., Porter, B., Poupart, T., Christopher D, P., Proaño, C., Pujol-Casado, J., Quillfeldt, P., Quinn, J., Raine, A., Raine, H., Ramírez, I., Ramos, J. A., Ramos, R., Ravache, A., Rayner, M., Reid, T., Robertson, G. T., Rocamora, G., Rollinson, D., Ronconi, R. A., Rotger, A., Rubolini, D., Ruhomaun, K., Ruiz, A., Russell, J. M., Ryan, P. G., Saldanha, S., Sanz-Aguilar, A., Sardà Serra, M., Satgé, Y., Sato, K., Schäfer, W., Schoombie, S., Shaffer, S., Shah, N., Shoji, A., Shutler, D., Sigurðsson, I. A., Silva, M. A., Small, A., Soldatini, C., Strøm, H., Surman, C., Takahashi, A., Tatayah, R. V., Taylor, G., Thomas, R., Thompson, D., Thompson, P., Thórarinsson, T. L., Vicente-Sastre, D., Vidal, E., Wakefield, E. D., Waugh, S., Weimerskirch, H., Wittmer, H., Yamamoto, T., Yoda, K., Zavalaga, C., Zino, F., Dias, M. P.
    Nature Communications, vol. 14, 3665
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Variation in foraging activity influences area-restricted search behaviour by bottlenose dolphins

    Fernandez Betelu, O., Iorio-Merlo, V., Graham, I., Cheney, B., Prentice, S., Cheng, X., Thompson, P.
    Royal Society Open Science, vol. 10, no. 6, 221613
    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

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  • Epidermal diseases in bottlenose dolphins: impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors

    Wilson, B., Arnold, H., Bearzi, G., Fortuna, C. M., Gaspar, R., Ingram, S., Liret, C., Pribanic, S., Read, A. J., Ridoux, V., Schneider, K., Urian, K. W., Wells, R. S., Wood, C., Thompson, P. M., Hammond, P. S.
    Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences, vol. 266, pp. 1077-1083
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Estimating size and assessing trends in a coastal bottlenose dolphin population

    Wilson, B., Hammond, P. S., Thompson, P. M.
    Ecological Applications, vol. 9, pp. 288-300
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Geographical variation in temporal and spatial vocalization patterns of male harbour seals in the mating season

    Van Parijs, S. M., Hastie, G. D., Thompson, P. M.
    Animal Behaviour, vol. 58, pp. 1231-1239
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Pattern and prevalence of predator damage on adult Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., returning to a river system in north-east Scotland

    Thompson, P. M., Mackay, F.
    Fisheries Management and Ecology, vol. 6, pp. 335-343
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Prevalence and intensity of the ectoparasite Echinophthirius horridus on harbour seals (Phoca vitulina): Effects of host age and inter-annual variability in host food availability

    Thompson, P. M., Corpe, H. M., Reid, R. J.
    Parasitology, vol. 117, no. 4, pp. 393-403
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Evidence for infanticide in bottlenose dolphins: An explanation for violent interactions with harbour porpoises?

    Patterson, I. A., Reid, R. J., Wilson, B., Grellier, K., Ross, H. M., Thompson, P. M.
    Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 265, no. 1402, pp. 1167-1170
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The influence of body size and sex on the characteristics of harbour seal foraging trips

    Thompson, P. M., Mackay, A., Tollit, D. J., Enderby, S., Hammond, P. S.
    Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 76, no. 6, pp. 1044-1053
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Modification and deployment of a sonobuoy for recording underwater vocalizations from marine mammals

    Van Parijs, S. M., Thompson, P. M., Hastie, G. D., Bartels, B. A.
    Marine Mammal Science, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 310-316
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A rapid non-invasive technique for distinguishing harbor seals (Phoca Vitulina) in their first year from older age classes

    Corpe, H. M., Thompson, P. M., Porter, L. J.
    Marine Mammal Science, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 372-379
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Variations in harbour seal Phoca vitulina diet and dive-depths in relation to foraging habitat

    Tollit, D. J., Black, A. D., Thompson, P. M., Mackay, A., Corpe, H. M., Wilson, B., Van Parijs, S. M., Grellier, K., Parlane, S.
    Journal of Zoology, vol. 244, no. 2, pp. 209-222
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Habitat use by bottlenose dolphins: Seasonal distribution and stratified movement patterns in the Moray Firth, Scotland

    Wilson, B., Thompson, P. M., Hammond, P. S.
    Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 1365-1374
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Changes in haematological parameters in relation to prey switching in a wild population of harbour seals

    Thompson, P. M., Tollit, D. J., Corpe, H. M., Reid, R. J., Ross, H. M.
    Functional Ecology, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 743-750
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Prey selection by harbour seals, Phoca vitulina, in relation to variations in prey abundance

    Tollit, D., Greenstreet, S., Thompson, P.
    Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 75, no. 9, pp. 1508-1518
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Distribution and activity of male harbour seals during the mating season

    Van Parijs, S. M., Thompson, P. M., Tollit, D. J., Mackay, A.
    Animal Behaviour, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 35-43
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Skin lesions and physical deformities in bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth: Population prevalence and age-sex differences

    Wilson, B., Thompson, P., Hammond, P.
    Ambio, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 243-247
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Molecular scatology: The use of molecular genetic analysis to assign species, sex and individual identity to seal faeces

    Reed, J. Z., Tollit, D. J., Thompson, P. M., Amos, W.
    Molecular Ecology, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 225-234
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Estimating harbour seal abundance and status in an estuarine habitat in north-east Scotland

    Thompson, P. M., Tollit, D. J., Wood, D., Corpe, H. M., Hammond, P. S., Mackay, A.
    Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 43-52
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Species and size differences in the digestion of otoliths and beaks: Implications for estimates of pinniped diet composition

    Tollit, D. J., Steward, M. J., Thompson, P. M., Pierce, G. J., Santos, M. B., Hughes, S.
    Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 105-119
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Changes in surfacing patterns of bottlenose dolphins in response to boat traffic

    Janik, V. M., Thompson, P. M.
    Marine Mammal Science, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 597-602
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Brucella species infection in North Sea seal and cetacean populations

    Ross, H. M., Jahans, K. L., MacMillan, A. P., Reid, R. J., Thompson, P. M., Foster, G.
    Veterinary Record, vol. 138, no. 26, pp. 647-648
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Plasma progesterone concentrations measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay useful for diagnosing pregnancy in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)

    Gardiner, K. J., Boyd, I. L., Racey, P. A., Reijnders, P. J., Thompson, P. M.
    Marine Mammal Science, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 265-273
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Comparative distribution, movements and diet of harbour and grey seals from the Moray Firth, N.E. Scotland

    Thompson, P. M., Mcconnell, B. J., Tollit, D. J., Mackay, A., Hunter, C., Racey, P. A.
    Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 33, no. 6, pp. 1572-1584
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Seasonal and between-year variations in the diet of harbour seals in the Moray Firth, Scotland

    Tollit, D. J., Thompson, P. M.
    Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 74, no. 6, pp. 1110-1121
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The effect of weather conditions on harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) haulout behaviour in the moray firth, northeast Scotland

    Grellier, K., Thompson, P. M., Corpe, H. M.
    Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 74, no. 10, pp. 1806-1811
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Natal dispersal of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from breeding sites in Orkney, Scotland

    Thompson, P. M., Kovacs, K. M., McCocConnell, B. J.
    Journal of Zoology, vol. 234, no. 4, pp. 668-673
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
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