Overview
Sophie is a PhD student at the University of Exeter, working in collaboration with the MBA and Cefas. Her project, “Evaluating and maximising the environmental benefits of seaweed farming in the Southwest”, focuses on quantifying the habitat value and biodiversity supported by seaweed farms. The aim of this work is to inform the regulation and development of ecosystem-based approaches to aid in the expansion of seaweed cultivation around the UK.
Previously, Sophie studied MSci Marine Biology at the University of Exeter, where she conducted diverse research projects on the effects of clutch relocation on loggerhead sea turtles, and the development of a low-cost in situ method to quantify estuarine-air CO2 fluxes. After graduating, Sophie worked as a research assistant on the Atlantic Meridional Transect Ocean Flux from Satellite Campaign (AMT4OceanSatFlux) funded by the European Space Agency. This project estimated Atlantic Ocean CO2 exchange using satellite and in situ data to enhance monitoring and validate current predictions of the ocean carbon sink. Outside of academia, Sophie is passionate about science communication and wildlife film making.
Qualifications
MSci Marine Biology, University of Exeter, 2019
Research
Research interests
Sophie's broad research interests lie in marine ecology and climate science: quantifying human impacts on the ocean and working towards sustainable solutions.
Research projects
Project Title: Evaluating and maximising the environmental benefits of seaweed farming (mariculture)
Supervisors: Prof. Charles Tyler, Dr. Ross Brown, Dr. Ian Ashton, Dr. Dan Smale (MBA), Prof. Grant Stentiford (CEFAS), Dr. David Bass (CEFAS)
Funding Bodies: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marine Biological Association (MBA), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers’ Fisheries Charitable Trust
Project Description: Sophie is a PhD student at the University of Exeter. Her research aims to investigate the benefits of commercial seaweed farming for enhancing local biodiversity and environmental conditions, in the South West UK. She will identify the potential of farms to create spawning and nursery habitats, assess the invertebrate communities they support, and monitor how farms influence physical conditions and dissolved nutrient chemistry. Sophie hopes to understand and maximise the potential of seaweed as a sustainable food source for the future growth of the industry. Her PhD is in partnership with the Marine Biological Association (MBA), the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Services (CEFAS), SWEEP, the Fishmonger’s Charitable Trust and the Cornish Seaweed Company. Sophie will be conducting field work at a Cornish Seaweed Company’s farm in Cornwall working alongside the company to maximise benefits for both their harvest and the local environment.
Links
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Key publications
Corrigan S, Brown AR, Ashton IGC, Smale DA, Tyler CR (2022). Quantifying habitat provisioning at macroalgal cultivation sites. Reviews in Aquaculture, 14(3), 1671-1694.
Publications by category
Journal articles
Corrigan S, Brown AR, Tyler CR, Wilding C, Daniels C, Ashton IGC, Smale DA (2023). Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques.
Life,
13(1), 209-209.
Abstract:
Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques
Seaweed farming in Europe is growing and may provide environmental benefits, including habitat provisioning, coastal protection, and bioremediation. Habitat provisioning by seaweed farms remains largely unquantified, with previous research focused primarily on the detrimental effects of epibionts, rather than their roles in ecological functioning and ecosystem service provision. We monitored the development and diversity of epibiont assemblages on cultivated sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) at a farm in Cornwall, southwest UK, and compared the effects of different harvesting techniques on epibiont assemblage structure. Increases in epibiont abundance (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 100.56, p < 0.001) and diversity (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 27.25, p < 0.001) were found on cultivated kelps over and beyond the growing season, reaching an average abundance of >6000 individuals per kelp plant with a taxonomic richness of ~9 phyla per kelp by late summer (August). Assemblages were dominated by crustaceans (mainly amphipods), molluscs (principally bivalves) and bryozoans, which provide important ecological roles, despite reducing crop quality. Partial harvesting techniques maintained, or increased, epibiont abundance and diversity beyond the farming season; however, these kelp plants were significantly fouled and would not be commercially viable in most markets. This paper improves understanding of epibiont assemblage development at European kelp farms, which can inform sustainable, ecosystem-based approaches to aquaculture.
Abstract.
Corrigan S, Brown AR, Ashton IGC, Smale DA, Tyler CR (2022). Quantifying habitat provisioning at macroalgal cultivation sites. Reviews in Aquaculture, 14(3), 1671-1694.
Publications by year
2023
Corrigan S, Brown AR, Tyler CR, Wilding C, Daniels C, Ashton IGC, Smale DA (2023). Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques.
Life,
13(1), 209-209.
Abstract:
Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques
Seaweed farming in Europe is growing and may provide environmental benefits, including habitat provisioning, coastal protection, and bioremediation. Habitat provisioning by seaweed farms remains largely unquantified, with previous research focused primarily on the detrimental effects of epibionts, rather than their roles in ecological functioning and ecosystem service provision. We monitored the development and diversity of epibiont assemblages on cultivated sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) at a farm in Cornwall, southwest UK, and compared the effects of different harvesting techniques on epibiont assemblage structure. Increases in epibiont abundance (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 100.56, p < 0.001) and diversity (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 27.25, p < 0.001) were found on cultivated kelps over and beyond the growing season, reaching an average abundance of >6000 individuals per kelp plant with a taxonomic richness of ~9 phyla per kelp by late summer (August). Assemblages were dominated by crustaceans (mainly amphipods), molluscs (principally bivalves) and bryozoans, which provide important ecological roles, despite reducing crop quality. Partial harvesting techniques maintained, or increased, epibiont abundance and diversity beyond the farming season; however, these kelp plants were significantly fouled and would not be commercially viable in most markets. This paper improves understanding of epibiont assemblage development at European kelp farms, which can inform sustainable, ecosystem-based approaches to aquaculture.
Abstract.
2022
Corrigan S, Brown AR, Ashton IGC, Smale DA, Tyler CR (2022). Quantifying habitat provisioning at macroalgal cultivation sites. Reviews in Aquaculture, 14(3), 1671-1694.
Sophie_Corrigan Details from cache as at 2023-06-04 14:11:09
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