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First genetic evidence that invasive bullhead (Cottus L. 1758) in Scotland is of English origin and the difficulty of resolving the European Cottus species taxonomy (2020)
Journal Article
McLeish, J., Briers, R., Dodd, J., & Rueckert, S. (2020). First genetic evidence that invasive bullhead (Cottus L. 1758) in Scotland is of English origin and the difficulty of resolving the European Cottus species taxonomy. Journal of Fish Biology, 96(3), 617-630. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14247

The European bullhead (Cottus gobio) is widely distributed across Europe and within the UK is native to England and Wales, where it is protected under the Habitats Directive. In Scotland, however, the species is considered invasive and thriving popul... Read More about First genetic evidence that invasive bullhead (Cottus L. 1758) in Scotland is of English origin and the difficulty of resolving the European Cottus species taxonomy.

At what spatial scale should risk screenings of translocated freshwater fishes be undertaken – river basin district or climo-geographic designation? (2018)
Journal Article
Dodd, J., Vilizzi, L., Bean, C., Davison, P. I., & Copp, G. H. (2019). At what spatial scale should risk screenings of translocated freshwater fishes be undertaken – river basin district or climo-geographic designation?. Biological Conservation, 230, 122-130

To inform aquatic conservation policy and management decisions, translocated freshwater fish species, i.e. those native to part but not all of Great Britain (GB), were assessed with the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK) at two spa... Read More about At what spatial scale should risk screenings of translocated freshwater fishes be undertaken – river basin district or climo-geographic designation?.

Non-native Bullhead in Scotland: Molecular and Morphological Identification and Parasite Links with Native Fauna (2018)
Thesis
McLeish, J. Non-native Bullhead in Scotland: Molecular and Morphological Identification and Parasite Links with Native Fauna. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1253308

The arrival of a non-native species to has the potential to shape native communities by influencing ecological interactions such as predation, foraging, competition and disease transfer. A designation of invasive is applied to an introduced non-nativ... Read More about Non-native Bullhead in Scotland: Molecular and Morphological Identification and Parasite Links with Native Fauna.

The functional response and resilience in small waterbodies along land-use and environmental gradients (2018)
Journal Article
Thornhill, I. A., Biggs, J., Hill, M. J., Briers, R., Gledhill, D., Wood, P. J., Gee, J. H. R., Ledger, M., & Hassall, C. (2018). The functional response and resilience in small waterbodies along land-use and environmental gradients. Global Change Biology, 24(7), 3079-3092. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14149

There is growing recognition of the essential services provided to humanity by functionally intact ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems are found throughout agricultural and urban landscapes and provide a wide range of ecosystem services, but globally t... Read More about The functional response and resilience in small waterbodies along land-use and environmental gradients.

Measuring the role of seagrasses in regulating sediment surface elevation (2017)
Journal Article
Potouroglou, M., Bull, J. C., Krauss, K. W., Kennedy, H. A., Fusi, M., Daffonchio, D., Mangora, M. M., Githaiga, M. N., Diele, K., & Huxham, M. (2017). Measuring the role of seagrasses in regulating sediment surface elevation. Scientific Reports, 7, Article 11917. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-12354-y

Seagrass meadows provide numerous ecosystem services and their rapid global loss may reduce human welfare as well as ecological integrity. In common with the other ‘blue carbon’ habitats (mangroves and tidal marshes) seagrasses are thought to provide... Read More about Measuring the role of seagrasses in regulating sediment surface elevation.

Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes (2016)
Journal Article
Hill, M. J., Biggs, J., Thornhill, I., Briers, R. A., Gledhill, D. G., White, J. C., Wood, P. J., & Hassall, C. (2017). Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes. Global Change Biology, 23(3), 986-999. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13401

Urbanization is a global process contributing to the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats. Many studies have focused on the biological response of terrestrial taxa and habitats to urbanization. However, little is known regarding the consequence... Read More about Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes.

Nematode eel parasite found inside acanthocephalan cysts - a "Trojan horse" strategy? (2014)
Journal Article
Emde, S., Rueckert, S., Kochmann, J., Knopf, K., Sures, B., & Klimpel, S. (2014). Nematode eel parasite found inside acanthocephalan cysts - a "Trojan horse" strategy?. Parasites & vectors, 7(1), 504. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-014-0504-8

Background

The invasive eel parasite Anguillicoloides crassus (syn. Anguillicola crassus) is considered one of the major causes for the decline of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) panmictic population. It impairs the swim bladder function and... Read More about Nematode eel parasite found inside acanthocephalan cysts - a "Trojan horse" strategy?.

Invertebrate communities and environmental conditions in a series of urban drainage ponds in Eastern Scotland: implications for biodiversity and conservation value of SUDS. (2013)
Journal Article
Briers, R. A. (2013). Invertebrate communities and environmental conditions in a series of urban drainage ponds in Eastern Scotland: implications for biodiversity and conservation value of SUDS. CLEAN - Soil, Air, Water, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201300162

Increasing use is being made of constructed wetlands to store and treat urban drainage prior to release into watercourses. Known as sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) in the UK these have potential to support and enhance freshwater biodiversit... Read More about Invertebrate communities and environmental conditions in a series of urban drainage ponds in Eastern Scotland: implications for biodiversity and conservation value of SUDS..

Invasive Ponto-Caspian Amphipods and Fish Increase the Distribution Range of the Acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus tereticollis in the River Rhine (2012)
Journal Article
Emde, S., Rueckert, S., Palm, H. W., & Klimpel, S. (2012). Invasive Ponto-Caspian Amphipods and Fish Increase the Distribution Range of the Acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus tereticollis in the River Rhine. PLOS ONE, 7(12), Article e53218. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0053218

Non-indigenous species that become invasive are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide. In various freshwater systems in Europe, populations of native amphipods and fish are progressively displaced by highly adaptive non-indigenous sp... Read More about Invasive Ponto-Caspian Amphipods and Fish Increase the Distribution Range of the Acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus tereticollis in the River Rhine.

Decomposition of mangrove roots: Effects of location, nutrients, species identity and mix in a Kenyan forest (2010)
Journal Article
Huxham, M., Langat, J., Tamooh, F., Kennedy, H., Mencuccini, M., Skov, M. W., & Kairo, J. (2010). Decomposition of mangrove roots: Effects of location, nutrients, species identity and mix in a Kenyan forest. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 88(1), 135-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2010.03.021

Mangrove trees may allocate >50% of their biomass to roots. Dead roots often form peat, which can make mangroves significant carbon sinks and allow them to raise the soil surface and thus survive rising sea levels. Understanding mangrove root product... Read More about Decomposition of mangrove roots: Effects of location, nutrients, species identity and mix in a Kenyan forest.

Parasite fauna of bream Abramis brama and roach Rutilus rutilus from a man-made waterway and a freshwater habitat in northern Germany (2007)
Journal Article
Rückert, S., Klimpel, S., & Palm, H. (2007). Parasite fauna of bream Abramis brama and roach Rutilus rutilus from a man-made waterway and a freshwater habitat in northern Germany. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 74, 225-233. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao074225

Fifty specimens each of bream Abramis brama and roach Rutilus rutilus were examined for metazoan parasite fauna and trichodinid ciliates; 25 specimens of each species were collected from the Kiel Canal, a man-made waterway, and a nearby freshwater la... Read More about Parasite fauna of bream Abramis brama and roach Rutilus rutilus from a man-made waterway and a freshwater habitat in northern Germany.

The effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on microbes decomposing the emerging macrophyte Scirpus lacustris in prairie aquatic systems. (2003)
Thesis
Verma, B. The effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on microbes decomposing the emerging macrophyte Scirpus lacustris in prairie aquatic systems. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/7312

Emergent macrophytes, like Scilpus lacustris, are the foundation of the very
high biological productivities of wetlands in the Northern Prairies of North America.
Fungi and bacteria are the primary organisms that sequester carbon and nutrients from... Read More about The effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on microbes decomposing the emerging macrophyte Scirpus lacustris in prairie aquatic systems..

Seasonal variations in nutrient levels in Bemersyde Moss, Borders Region, Scotland. (2001)
Journal Article
Velander, K., & Mocogni, M. (2001). Seasonal variations in nutrient levels in Bemersyde Moss, Borders Region, Scotland. The naturalist, 126, 17-26

Nutrient levels were monitored over a twelve month period in Bemersyde Moss, a shallow wetland in southern Scotland. The Moss is used by a variety of waterfowl, both as a winter roost by approximately 100-250 greylag geese (Anser anser) and in summer... Read More about Seasonal variations in nutrient levels in Bemersyde Moss, Borders Region, Scotland..

Competition between the nymphs of two regionally co-occurring species of Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae): Competition and habitat in co-occurring Notonecta (1999)
Journal Article
Briers, R. A., & Warren, P. H. (1999). Competition between the nymphs of two regionally co-occurring species of Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae): Competition and habitat in co-occurring Notonecta. Freshwater Biology, 42(1), 11-20. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2427.1999.00448.x

1. Two species of freshwater invertebrate predator, Notonecta maculata and N. obliqua, showed a negative association in a series of small, man-made ponds in the Peak National Park, Derbyshire, U.K. The present study examines the potential role of int... Read More about Competition between the nymphs of two regionally co-occurring species of Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae): Competition and habitat in co-occurring Notonecta.

The European Water Framework Directive: a new era in the management of aquatic ecosystem health? (1998)
Journal Article
Pollard, P., & Huxham, M. (1998). The European Water Framework Directive: a new era in the management of aquatic ecosystem health?. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 8(6), 773-792. https://doi.org/10.1002/%28SICI%291099-0755%281998110%298%3A63.0.CO%3B2-R

1. The forthcoming European Commission Water Framework Directive will introduce catchment management throughout Europe, and could have major impacts on the conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. The Directive is outlined, and the propose... Read More about The European Water Framework Directive: a new era in the management of aquatic ecosystem health?.

The effect of acidification on epilithic algae in the Loch Ard catchment. (1991)
Thesis
Kinross, J. H. The effect of acidification on epilithic algae in the Loch Ard catchment. (Thesis). Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/2811

A survey of epilithic filamentous algae was carried out at 15 sites on 10 streams with a range of mean pH from 4.37 to 6.67 in the Loch Ard area of the Trossachs, between 1986 and 1988. Monitoring of physical and chemical parameters was carried out i... Read More about The effect of acidification on epilithic algae in the Loch Ard catchment..