Research Group

Professor Jim Wilson's research interests can be grouped into three main categories:

Ecophysiology of bivalves.
The interest encompasses all bivalves (marine and freshwater), although especially the Tellinidae as a group and particularly in the impact of factors such as climate change or pollution.
Estuarine and coastal quality assessment.
This involves quality indices at all levels of organization (e.g. EROD, SFG), particularly in the context of rapid and effective means of communication to non-specialists for integrated coastal zone monitoring (ICZM). This work includes the testing and application of two system-level indices, the Biological Quality Index and the Pollution Load Index, conceived and developed at TCD as well as bioindicators like mussels or fish.
System function (especially Dublin Bay) and ecological network analysis (ENA).
This work is based on studies of the transfer efficiency and assimilation efficiencies of energy and other substances (e.g. nutrients N, P) between compartments to construct food webs. This research includes models of systems and processes, along with the impact of invasive species and climate change, where the efficiency of the system as a whole can be quantified by ENA.

Dr Frank Jeal's interests are in the fisheries biology of skates and rays. He has also general interests in marine biology and in the taxonomy and life history of the minor phyla. Of special interest are corals, coral reefs, and coral reef biology.

Research Associates

Conor Nolan is a research associate working in the area of applied fisheries biology. He has specific interests in the ecological implications of developing fisheries, cetacean interactions with commercial fisheries, deep-sea fish species, elasmobranch and squid biology. He is an expert on the rationale and the methododology for collection of fishery dependent data and at-sea observer programmes.

Mark Holmes is based in the Natural History Museum, Dublin, and is an expert in the taxonomy of the Crustacea, particularly the Amphipoda and Ostracoda. He has described many species new to Ireland.

Martin Robinson has just moved from directing the Natural Resources and Sustainability unit at GMIT to the North Atlantic Fisheries College in Scotland. His particular interest is in fisheries management including food quality.

Russell Poole is based at the Marine Institute, Newport . His principal focus is salmon, sea trout and brown trout and the sustainable development of all aspects of their fisheries. He is a major collaborator with the Parasitology Group in Zoology.