Publications by year
In Press
Witt M, Godley B, Pikesley S (In Press). A novel approach to estimate the distribution, density and at-sea risks of a
centrally-placed mobile marine vertebrate.
Biological Conservation Full text.
Nelms S, Godley B, Richardson P, Eyles L, Solandt J-L, Selley H, Witt M (In Press). Investigating the distribution and regional occurrence of anthropogenic litter in English Marine Protected Areas using 25 years of citizen-science beach clean data.
Environmental Pollution Full text.
Godley BJ, Witt MJ, Galloway TS, Nelms SE, Coombes C, Foster LC, Lindeque PK (In Press). Marine anthropogenic litter on British beaches: a 10-year nationwide assessment using citizen science data.
Science of the Total Environment Full text.
Duncan E, Davies A, Brooks A, Wahidunnessa Chowdhury G, Godley B, Jambeck J, Maddalene T, Napper I, Nelms S, Rackstraw C, et al (In Press). Message in a bottle: open source technology to track the movement of plastic pollution.
PLoS One Full text.
2021
Zantis LJ, Carroll EL, Nelms SE, Bosker T (2021). Marine mammals and microplastics: a systematic review and call for standardisation.
Environmental Pollution,
269Abstract:
Marine mammals and microplastics: a systematic review and call for standardisation
© 2020 the Author(s) Microplastics receive significant societal and scientific attention due to increasing concerns about their impact on the environment and human health. Marine mammals are considered indicators for marine ecosystem health and many species are of conservation concern due to a multitude of anthropogenic stressors. Marine mammals may be vulnerable to microplastic exposure from the environment, via direct ingestion from sea water, and indirect uptake from their prey. Here we present the first systematic review of literature on microplastics and marine mammals, composing of 30 studies in total. The majority of studies examined the gastrointestinal tracts of beached, bycaught or hunted cetaceans and pinnipeds, and found that microplastics were present in all but one study, and the abundance varied between 0 and 88 particles per animal. Additionally, microplastics in pinniped scats (faeces) were detected in eight out of ten studies, with incidences ranging from 0% of animals to 100%. Our review highlights considerable methodological and reporting deficiencies and differences among papers, making comparisons and extrapolation across studies difficult. We suggest best practices to avoid these issues in future studies. In addition to empirical studies that quantified microplastics in animals and scat, ten studies out of 30 (all focussing on cetaceans) tried to estimate the risk of exposure using two main approaches; i) overlaying microplastic in the environment (water or prey) with cetacean habitat or ii) proposing biological or chemical biomarkers of exposure. We discuss advice and best practices on research into the exposure and impact of microplastics in marine mammals. This work on marine ecosystem health indicator species will provide valuable and comparable information in the future.
Abstract.
Nelms SE, Duncan EM, Patel S, Badola R, Bhola S, Chakma S, Chowdhury GW, Godley BJ, Haque AB, Johnson JA, et al (2021). Riverine plastic pollution from fisheries: Insights from the Ganges River system.
Science of the Total Environment,
756, 143305-143305.
Full text.
Napper IE, Baroth A, Barrett AC, Bhola S, Chowdhury GW, Davies BFR, Duncan EM, Kumar S, Nelms SE, Hasan Niloy MN, et al (2021). The abundance and characteristics of microplastics in surface water in the transboundary Ganges River. Environmental Pollution, 116348-116348.
2019
Elliott BW, Read AJ, Godley BJ, Nelms SE, Nowacek DP (2019). Critical information gaps remain in understanding impacts of industrial seismic surveys on marine vertebrates.
Endangered Species Research,
39, 247-254.
Abstract:
Critical information gaps remain in understanding impacts of industrial seismic surveys on marine vertebrates
© the authors 2019. Anthropogenic noise is increasing throughout the world's oceans. One major contributor is industrial seismic surveys-a process typically undertaken to locate and estimate the quantity of oil and gas deposits beneath the seafloor-which, in recent years, has increased in magnitude and scope in some regions. Regulators permit this activity despite widespread uncertainties regarding the potential ecological impacts of seismic surveys and gaps in baseline information on some key species of conservation concern. Research to date suggests that impacts vary, from displacement to direct mortality, but these effects remain poorly understood for most species. Here, we summarize potential effects of seismic surveys, describe key knowledge gaps, and recommend broad-scale research priorities for 3 impacted taxonomic groups: fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles. We also suggest further technological advances, improved mitigation measures, and better policy and management structures to minimize the ecological impacts of seismic surveys in light of scientific uncertainty.
Abstract.
Full text.
Nelms SE, Barnett J, Brownlow A, Davison NJ, Deaville R, Galloway TS, Lindeque PK, Santillo D, Godley BJ (2019). Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory?.
Scientific Reports,
9(1).
Abstract:
Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory?
© 2019, the Author(s). Plastic pollution represents a pervasive and increasing threat to marine ecosystems worldwide and there is a need to better understand the extent to which microplastics (
Abstract.
Full text.
Nelms SE, Parry HE, Bennett KA, Galloway TS, Godley BJ, Santillo D, Lindeque PK (2019). What goes in, must come out: Combining scat-based molecular diet analysis and quantification of ingested microplastics in a marine top predator.
Methods in Ecology and Evolution,
10(10), 1712-1722.
Abstract:
What goes in, must come out: Combining scat-based molecular diet analysis and quantification of ingested microplastics in a marine top predator
© 2019 the Authors. Methods in Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley. &. Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society Microplastics (plastic particles
Abstract.
Full text.
2018
Nelms SE, Galloway TS, Godley BJ, Jarvis DS, Lindeque PK (2018). Investigating microplastic trophic transfer in marine top predators.
Environmental Pollution,
238, 999-1007.
Abstract:
Investigating microplastic trophic transfer in marine top predators
© 2018 the Authors Microplastics are highly bioavailable to marine organisms, either through direct ingestion, or indirectly by trophic transfer from contaminated prey. The latter has been observed for low-trophic level organisms in laboratory conditions, yet empirical evidence in high trophic-level taxa is lacking. In natura studies face difficulties when dealing with contamination and differentiating between directly and indirectly ingested microplastics. The ethical constraints of subjecting large organisms, such as marine mammals, to laboratory investigations hinder the resolution of these limitations. Here, these issues were resolved by analysing sub-samples of scat from captive grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and whole digestive tracts of the wild-caught Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) they are fed upon. An enzymatic digestion protocol was employed to remove excess organic material and facilitate visual detection of synthetic particles without damaging them. Polymer type was confirmed using Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Extensive contamination control measures were implemented throughout. Approximately half of scat subsamples (48%; n = 15) and a third of fish (32%; n = 10) contained 1-4 microplastics. Particles were mainly black, clear, red and blue in colour. Mean lengths were 1.5 mm and 2 mm in scats and fish respectively. Ethylene propylene was the most frequently detected polymer type in both. Our findings suggest trophic transfer represents an indirect, yet potentially major, pathway of microplastic ingestion for any species whose feeding ecology involves the consumption of whole prey, including humans. Microplastic trophic transfer in marine top predators is poorly understood; this study using captive seals found that half of the scat sub-samples and a third of the wild caught fish they were fed on contained 1-4 microplastics, indicating transfer from prey to predator.
Abstract.
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2016
Nelms SE, Duncan EM, Broderick AC, Galloway TS, Godfrey MH, Hamann M, Lindeque PK, Godley BJ (2016). Plastic and marine turtles: a review and call for research.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE,
73(2), 165-181.
Author URL.
Full text.
Nelms SE, Piniak WED, Weir CR, Godley BJ (2016). Seismic surveys and marine turtles: an underestimated global threat?.
Biological Conservation,
193, 49-65.
Abstract:
Seismic surveys and marine turtles: an underestimated global threat?
© 2015 the Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Seismic surveys are widely used in marine geophysical oil and gas exploration, employing airguns to produce sound-waves capable of penetrating the sea floor. In recent years, concerns have been raised over the biological impacts of this activity, particularly for marine mammals. While exploration occurs in the waters of at least fifty countries where marine turtles are present, the degree of threat posed by seismic surveys is almost entirely unknown. To investigate this issue, a mixed-methods approach involving a systematic review, policy comparison and stakeholder analysis was employed and recommendations for future research were identified. This study found that turtles have been largely neglected both in terms of research and their inclusion in mitigation policies. Few studies have investigated the potential for seismic surveys to cause behavioural changes or physical damage, indicating a crucial knowledge gap. Possible ramifications for turtles include exclusion from critical habitats, damage to hearing and entanglement in seismic survey equipment. Despite this, the policy comparison revealed that only three countries worldwide currently include turtles in their seismic mitigation guidelines and very few of the measures they specify are based on scientific evidence or proven effectiveness. Opinions obtained from stakeholder groups further highlight the urgent need for directed, in-depth empirical research to better inform and develop appropriate mitigation strategies. As seismic surveying is becoming increasingly widespread and frequent, it is important and timely that we evaluate the extent to which marine turtles, a taxon of global conservation concern, may be affected.
Abstract.
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