Dr James Waggitt
T&R Lecturer in Marine Biology/Ecology
Affiliations
Contact info
Address
Room 412
Westbury Mount
School of Ocean Sciences
Bangor University
Isle of Anglesey
LL59 5AB
Email: j.waggitt@bangor.ac.uk
Phone: 01248 388767
Background
I completed a degree in BSc Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology at the University Of Plymouth in 2009, and then an MRes in Marine Biology at the same institute in 2010. My MRes research focussed on northern gannet Morus bassanus foraging ecology, investigating individual differences in foraging distributions and strategies, and was supervised by Dr Steve Votier. I then completed a PhD in Marine Ecology at the University of Aberdeen in 2015. My PhD research investigated deep-diving seabirds’ use of tidal-stream environments with the aim of understanding potential interactions with tidal stream turbines, and was primarily supervised by Dr Beth Scott. During my PhD I was involved in the NERC funded CORPORATES, FLOWBEC and RESPONSE projects which aim to understand environmental impacts from marine renewable energy installations, and also aid marine spatial planning. I joined the School of Ocean Sciences as a research officer within the NERC funded Marine Ecosystems Research Program (MERP) in June 2015. During this project, I worked alongside Dr Peter Evans and Prof Jan Hiddink to map the distributions of numerous cetacean and seabird species across the North-East Atlantic. I became a lecturer in August 2017. In addition to my research at the School, I am a scientific advisor to the Sea Watch Foundation. This NGO is dedicated to the conservation of cetaceans.
Research
My research focusses on understanding how behavioural and environmental factors influence the distributions of cetaceans and seabirds in space and time. This research is truly multi-disciplinary and involves close collaborations with statisticians, oceanographers and engineers to understand which and how physical processes influence behaviour and movement. This increased understanding can predict spatial and temporal overlap with offshore developments, and responses to climate change - both facilitating effective marine spatial planning.
External Responsibilities
British Ecological Society (BES) Grant Reviewer.
ICES Biodiversity Working Group.
ICES Marine Mammal Ecology Working Group.
ICES Joint Cetacean Data Protocol (JDCP) Working Group.
ICES Seabird Working Group.
Sea Watch Foundation Trustee.
Sea Watch Foundation Consultant.
Websites
- 2019
- Published
The Ornithodolite as a tool to quantify animal space use and habitat selection; a case study with birds diving in tidal waters
Cole, E-L., Waggitt, J., Hedenstrom, A., Piano, M., Holton, M., Borger, L. & Shepard, E., Jan 2019, In: Integrative Zoology. 14, 1, p. 4-16Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2018
- Published
Fine-scale hydrodynamic metrics underlying predator occupancy patterns in tidal stream environments
Lieber, L., Nimmo-Smith, A., Waggitt, J. & Kregting, L., 1 Nov 2018, In: Ecological Indicators. 94, part 1, p. 397-408Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The effects of bottom trawling and primary production on the biological traits composition of benthic assemblages
Howarth, L. M., Waggitt, J. J., Bolam, S. G., Eggleton, J., Hiddink, J. & Somerfield, P. J., 23 Aug 2018, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 602, p. 31-48Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Combined measurements of prey availability explain habitat-selection in foraging seabirds
Waggitt, J., Cazenave, P. W., Evans, P., Howarth, L., Van der Kooij, J. & Hiddink, J., 1 Aug 2018, In: Biology Letters. 14, 8, 20180348.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Regional-scale patterns in harbour porpoise occupancy of tidal stream environments
Waggitt, J., Dunn, H., Evans, P. G. H., Hiddink, J., Holmes, L. J., Keen, E., Murcott, B. D., Piano, M., Robins, P., Scott, B. E., Bond, J. & Veneruso, G., 1 Mar 2018, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. p. 701-710Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2017
- Published
Comparative studies reveal variability in the use of tidal stream environments by seabirds
Waggitt, J. J., Robbins, A. M. C., Wade, H. M., Masden, E. A., Furness, R. W., Jackson, A. C. & Scott, B. E., Jul 2017, In: Marine Policy. 81, p. 143-152Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Multisensor Acoustic Tracking of Fish and Seabird Behavior Around Tidal Turbine Structures in Scotland
Williamson, B. J., Fraser, S., Blondel, P., Bell, P. S., Waggitt, J. J. & Scott, B. E., 17 Jan 2017, In: IEEE JOURNAL OF OCEANIC ENGINEERING. 42, 4, p. 948-965Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2016
- Published
Research priorities for assessing potential impacts of emerging marine renewable energy technologies: Insights from developments in Wales (UK)
Roche, RC., Walker-Springett, K., Robins, PE., Jones, J., Veneruso, G., Whitton, TA., Piano, M., Ward, SL., Duce, CE., Waggitt, JJ., Walker-Springett, G., Neill, S., Lewis, M. & King, J., 1 Dec 2016, In: Renewable Energy. 99, December, p. 1327-1341 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Quantifying pursuit-diving seabirds’ associations with fine-scale physical features in tidal stream environments
Waggitt, J., Cazenave, P. W., Torres, R., Williamson, B. J. & Scott, B. E., Dec 2016, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 53, 6, p. 1653-1666Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Predictable hydrodynamic conditions explain temporal variations in the density of benthic foraging seabirds in a tidal stream environment
Waggitt, J. J., Cazenave, P. W., Torres, R., Williamson, B. J. & Scott, B. E., Nov 2016, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 73, 10, p. 2677-2686Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Trade-offs in marine protection: multispecies interactions within a community-led temperate marine reserve
Howarth, L. M., Dubois, P., Gratton, P., Judge, M., Christie, B., Waggitt, J. J., Hawkins, J. P., Roberts, C. M. & Stewart, B. D., 28 Sept 2016, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 74, 1, p. 263-276Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A Self-Contained Subsea Platform for Acoustic Monitoring of the Environment Around Marine Renewable Energy Devices-Field Deployments at Wave and Tidal Energy Sites in Orkney, Scotland
Williamson, B. J., Blondel, P., Armstrong, E., Bell, P. S., Hall, C., Waggitt, J. J. & Scott, B. E., Jan 2016, In: IEEE JOURNAL OF OCEANIC ENGINEERING. 41, 1, p. 67-81Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2015
- Published
Confusion reigns? A review of marine megafauna interactions with tidal stream environments
Benjamins, S., Dale, A. C., Hastie, G., Waggitt, J. J., Lea, M-A., Scott, B. & Wilson, B., 2015, Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. Vol. 53. p. 1-54Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
- 2014
- Published
An evaluation of the use of shore-based surveys for estimating spatial overlap between deep-diving seabirds and tidal stream turbines
Waggitt, J., Scott, B. E. & Bell, P. S., Dec 2014, In: International Journal of Marine Energy. 8, p. 36-49 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Seabirds and Marine Renewables: Are we Asking the Right Questions?
Scott, B. E., Langton, R., Philpott, E. & Waggitt, J., Feb 2014, Marine Renewable Energy Technology and Environmental Interactions. Springer, p. 81-92 11 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Using a spatial overlap approach to estimate the risk of collisions between deep diving seabirds and tidal stream turbines: A review of potential methods and approaches
Waggitt, J. J. & Scott, B. E., Feb 2014, In: Marine Policy. 44, p. 90-97Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Testing for sub-colony variation in seabird foraging behaviour: ecological and methodological consequences for understanding colonial living
Waggitt, J. J., Briffa, M., Grecian, W. J., Newton, J., Patrick, S. C., Stauss, C. & Votier, S. C., 2014, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 498, p. 275-285Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2012
- Published
Sex-specific foraging behaviour in northern gannets Morus bassanus: incidence and implications
Stauss, C., Bearhop, S., Bodey, T. W., Garthe, S., Gunn, C., Grecian, W. J., Inger, R., Knight, M. E., Newton, J., Patrick, S. C., Phillips, R. A., Waggitt, J. J. & Votier, S. C., 2012, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 457, p. 151-162Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review