Leanne Hepburn - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Leanne Hepburn

Research paper thumbnail of Coral reefs in the pearl of the Gulf – Bahrain

CRC Press eBooks, May 30, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of A Bayesian Belief Network to assess rate of changes in coral reef ecosystems

Environmental Modelling and Software, Jun 1, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Seasonal changes in community composition and trophic structure of fish populations of five salt marshes along the Essex coastline, United Kingdom

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, Nov 1, 2009

European intertidal salt marshes are important nursery sites for juvenile fish and crustaceans. D... more European intertidal salt marshes are important nursery sites for juvenile fish and crustaceans. Due to the increasing threat of habitat loss, the seasonal changes of salt marsh fish communities need to be understood in order to appreciate the ecological and economic importance of the saltmarsh habitat. This study was the first in Great Britain to investigate the seasonal changes of

Research paper thumbnail of Patterns of Sponge Abundance Across a Gradient of Habitat Quality in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia

The Open Marine Biology Journal, Oct 12, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Bleaching threatens positive carbonate budgets on Bahraini reefs

Research Square (Research Square), Apr 24, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Movements and burrowing activity in the Antarctic bivalve molluscs Laternula elliptica and Yoldia eightsi

Polar Biology, May 1, 2004

... At DML, individuals were transferred from the holding aquarium to a glass-sided aquarium tank... more ... At DML, individuals were transferred from the holding aquarium to a glass-sided aquarium tank containing a deep layer of sand, where their activity could be monitored using time-lapse video-recording (Ansell and Rhodes 1997). ...

Research paper thumbnail of What makes a habitat a home? Habitat associations of juvenile European sea bass, <scp><i>Dicentrarchus labrax</i></scp>, in estuarine nurseries

Journal of fish biology, Jun 3, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Pandemic pedagogy in Life Sciences

International journal for innovation education and research, Sep 1, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Bacterial Community Legacy Effects Following the Agia Zoni II Oil-Spill, Greece

Frontiers in Microbiology, Jul 17, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of European native oysters and associated species richness in the presence of non‐native species in a southern North Sea estuary complex

Conservation science and practice, Jan 13, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Coral reefs of the Wakatobi: processes of reef growth and loss

Nova Science Publishers eBooks, 2010

Coral reef accretion (net reef growth) is the result of complex and dynamic interactions between ... more Coral reef accretion (net reef growth) is the result of complex and dynamic interactions between reef building organisms, bioeroders and the environment. Coral calcification often forms the 'measureable' portion of net reef growth, and is dependent upon the successful symbiotic relationship between cnidaria and photosynthetic dinoflagellate microalgae (Symbiodinium spp.). Light is thus a crucial resource for coral growth. Processes of reef loss include abiotic (storms, disturbance events and climate change) and biotic (bioeroders and corralivores) factors. To assess reef accretion, an understanding of the relationship between coral growth and loss, environmental variables and biotic eroders is vital. Reef systems that have both high biodiversity and varied environmental conditions are prime 'study grounds' to assess these complex interactions. An important example is the Wakatobi National Park (WNP), which is a centre for biodiversity but also has active long-term projects across a range of environments. This chapter examines the underlying physiology of the coral symbiotic relationship, and how this relates to reef growth by using studies from both the WNP and other systems. Understanding these processes remains a critical first step in any reef management strategy plan, but current methods by which reef growth can be assessed often lack the resolution and accuracy needed to relate to changes of environment. Consequently, this chapter discusses benefits and limitations of certain techniques used to assess reef growth. Ultimately, accurate coral growth measurements will improve our ability to model future ecosystem change, and should therefore be a priority research area to support future reef management and conservation strategies. Processes of reef loss are then discussed with regard to the impact of bioeroders, environmental perturbations and anthropogenic stressors upon primary and secondary reef framework. © 2010 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved

Research paper thumbnail of Relative mobility determines the efficacy of MPAs in a two species mixed fishery with conflicting management objectives

Fisheries Research, Nov 1, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Enhancing employability through hospital placements for Biomedical Science students

International Journal for Innovation Education and Research

Collaboration between Universities and hospitals has provided the National Health Service (NHS) w... more Collaboration between Universities and hospitals has provided the National Health Service (NHS) with many excellent Biomedical Scientists through the placement year scheme. Here, we document the number of students joining the placement scheme and the number and type of hospital departments offering student placements over a 10-year period. Prior to 2012, students were able to join fully-funded placements through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Since then, there has been a fluctuation in numbers completing a placement year at the University of Essex, but the employability of these graduates remains consistently higher than our 3-year graduates. We demonstrate the positive impact of completing a placement year in an NHS hospital laboratory for students, and the contribution to university metrics in good degrees and graduate outcomes as well as the provision of much needed, qualified biomedical science staff to hospitals.

Research paper thumbnail of Bleaching threatens positive carbonate budgets on Bahraini reefs

Bleaching events impact coral reef functionality and carbonate budget dynamics, which is reflecte... more Bleaching events impact coral reef functionality and carbonate budget dynamics, which is reflected in reduced reef framework accretion, hindering reef ability to keep pace with sea level rise projections. Reefs in the Arabian Gulf exist in harsh environmental conditions with seasonal temperatures ranging between 16–36◦C. Despite the high thermal thresholds (~ 35◦C) of corals in this region, extensive bleaching and high coral mortality has been reported regionally in 2017. We quantify reef carbonate budgets at a near shore and an offshore reef site in Bahrain in May 2017 and 2018 to assess the impacts of the 2017 severe bleaching event on the budgetary state. Results indicate an overall decrease in hard coral cover from 14.2 ± 5.5% to 8.5 ± 1.4% and a decline in the net carbonate budget state from 3.6 ± 2.2 to 0.3 ± 0.3 kg CaCO3 m− 2 y− 1 at the shallow nearshore Fasht Al Adhm reef indicating a shift from a positive budgetary state to nearly a collapse, whilst the deeper offshore Ree...

Research paper thumbnail of European native oysters and associated species richness in the presence of non‐native species in a southern North Sea estuary complex

Conservation Science and Practice, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of INVESTIGATION INTO THE DIETARY HABITS OF THE EURASIAN OTTER (Lutra lutra) IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX

Monitoring throughout the county of Essex has shown annual widening of otter distribution. There ... more Monitoring throughout the county of Essex has shown annual widening of otter distribution. There is, however, room for expansion and some areas remain un- colonised. This paper reports a snapshot study of spraints collected from within the areas of known distribution, providing additional insight on a growing population. Prey remains were identified to family level and data used to calculate trophic breadths over the range of stream orders. Investigative comparisons were used to detect changes in diet with stream order. Further consideration was given to the importance of crayfish predation(e.g. the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus).Within the sample (n= 54) from four stream orders (Strahler 2-5), fish occurred most frequently (67%). Other groups included; invertebrates 20%, birds 7% and mammals 6%. Crayfish comprised 4% of the sample. There were no significant differences between Trophic Niche Breadth and stream order (H* =2.73, P>0.05), a finding strengthened by subsequ...

Research paper thumbnail of Offsetting: moving towards an evidence-based metric for biodiversity assessment

Research paper thumbnail of Bacterial Community Legacy Effects Following the Agia Zoni II Oil-Spill, Greece

Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of From individual vital rates to population dynamics: An integral projection model for European native oysters in a marine protected area

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Relative mobility determines the efficacy of MPAs in a two species mixed fishery with conflicting management objectives

Research paper thumbnail of Coral reefs in the pearl of the Gulf – Bahrain

CRC Press eBooks, May 30, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of A Bayesian Belief Network to assess rate of changes in coral reef ecosystems

Environmental Modelling and Software, Jun 1, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Seasonal changes in community composition and trophic structure of fish populations of five salt marshes along the Essex coastline, United Kingdom

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, Nov 1, 2009

European intertidal salt marshes are important nursery sites for juvenile fish and crustaceans. D... more European intertidal salt marshes are important nursery sites for juvenile fish and crustaceans. Due to the increasing threat of habitat loss, the seasonal changes of salt marsh fish communities need to be understood in order to appreciate the ecological and economic importance of the saltmarsh habitat. This study was the first in Great Britain to investigate the seasonal changes of

Research paper thumbnail of Patterns of Sponge Abundance Across a Gradient of Habitat Quality in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia

The Open Marine Biology Journal, Oct 12, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Bleaching threatens positive carbonate budgets on Bahraini reefs

Research Square (Research Square), Apr 24, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Movements and burrowing activity in the Antarctic bivalve molluscs Laternula elliptica and Yoldia eightsi

Polar Biology, May 1, 2004

... At DML, individuals were transferred from the holding aquarium to a glass-sided aquarium tank... more ... At DML, individuals were transferred from the holding aquarium to a glass-sided aquarium tank containing a deep layer of sand, where their activity could be monitored using time-lapse video-recording (Ansell and Rhodes 1997). ...

Research paper thumbnail of What makes a habitat a home? Habitat associations of juvenile European sea bass, <scp><i>Dicentrarchus labrax</i></scp>, in estuarine nurseries

Journal of fish biology, Jun 3, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Pandemic pedagogy in Life Sciences

International journal for innovation education and research, Sep 1, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Bacterial Community Legacy Effects Following the Agia Zoni II Oil-Spill, Greece

Frontiers in Microbiology, Jul 17, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of European native oysters and associated species richness in the presence of non‐native species in a southern North Sea estuary complex

Conservation science and practice, Jan 13, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Coral reefs of the Wakatobi: processes of reef growth and loss

Nova Science Publishers eBooks, 2010

Coral reef accretion (net reef growth) is the result of complex and dynamic interactions between ... more Coral reef accretion (net reef growth) is the result of complex and dynamic interactions between reef building organisms, bioeroders and the environment. Coral calcification often forms the 'measureable' portion of net reef growth, and is dependent upon the successful symbiotic relationship between cnidaria and photosynthetic dinoflagellate microalgae (Symbiodinium spp.). Light is thus a crucial resource for coral growth. Processes of reef loss include abiotic (storms, disturbance events and climate change) and biotic (bioeroders and corralivores) factors. To assess reef accretion, an understanding of the relationship between coral growth and loss, environmental variables and biotic eroders is vital. Reef systems that have both high biodiversity and varied environmental conditions are prime 'study grounds' to assess these complex interactions. An important example is the Wakatobi National Park (WNP), which is a centre for biodiversity but also has active long-term projects across a range of environments. This chapter examines the underlying physiology of the coral symbiotic relationship, and how this relates to reef growth by using studies from both the WNP and other systems. Understanding these processes remains a critical first step in any reef management strategy plan, but current methods by which reef growth can be assessed often lack the resolution and accuracy needed to relate to changes of environment. Consequently, this chapter discusses benefits and limitations of certain techniques used to assess reef growth. Ultimately, accurate coral growth measurements will improve our ability to model future ecosystem change, and should therefore be a priority research area to support future reef management and conservation strategies. Processes of reef loss are then discussed with regard to the impact of bioeroders, environmental perturbations and anthropogenic stressors upon primary and secondary reef framework. © 2010 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved

Research paper thumbnail of Relative mobility determines the efficacy of MPAs in a two species mixed fishery with conflicting management objectives

Fisheries Research, Nov 1, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Enhancing employability through hospital placements for Biomedical Science students

International Journal for Innovation Education and Research

Collaboration between Universities and hospitals has provided the National Health Service (NHS) w... more Collaboration between Universities and hospitals has provided the National Health Service (NHS) with many excellent Biomedical Scientists through the placement year scheme. Here, we document the number of students joining the placement scheme and the number and type of hospital departments offering student placements over a 10-year period. Prior to 2012, students were able to join fully-funded placements through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Since then, there has been a fluctuation in numbers completing a placement year at the University of Essex, but the employability of these graduates remains consistently higher than our 3-year graduates. We demonstrate the positive impact of completing a placement year in an NHS hospital laboratory for students, and the contribution to university metrics in good degrees and graduate outcomes as well as the provision of much needed, qualified biomedical science staff to hospitals.

Research paper thumbnail of Bleaching threatens positive carbonate budgets on Bahraini reefs

Bleaching events impact coral reef functionality and carbonate budget dynamics, which is reflecte... more Bleaching events impact coral reef functionality and carbonate budget dynamics, which is reflected in reduced reef framework accretion, hindering reef ability to keep pace with sea level rise projections. Reefs in the Arabian Gulf exist in harsh environmental conditions with seasonal temperatures ranging between 16–36◦C. Despite the high thermal thresholds (~ 35◦C) of corals in this region, extensive bleaching and high coral mortality has been reported regionally in 2017. We quantify reef carbonate budgets at a near shore and an offshore reef site in Bahrain in May 2017 and 2018 to assess the impacts of the 2017 severe bleaching event on the budgetary state. Results indicate an overall decrease in hard coral cover from 14.2 ± 5.5% to 8.5 ± 1.4% and a decline in the net carbonate budget state from 3.6 ± 2.2 to 0.3 ± 0.3 kg CaCO3 m− 2 y− 1 at the shallow nearshore Fasht Al Adhm reef indicating a shift from a positive budgetary state to nearly a collapse, whilst the deeper offshore Ree...

Research paper thumbnail of European native oysters and associated species richness in the presence of non‐native species in a southern North Sea estuary complex

Conservation Science and Practice, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of INVESTIGATION INTO THE DIETARY HABITS OF THE EURASIAN OTTER (Lutra lutra) IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX

Monitoring throughout the county of Essex has shown annual widening of otter distribution. There ... more Monitoring throughout the county of Essex has shown annual widening of otter distribution. There is, however, room for expansion and some areas remain un- colonised. This paper reports a snapshot study of spraints collected from within the areas of known distribution, providing additional insight on a growing population. Prey remains were identified to family level and data used to calculate trophic breadths over the range of stream orders. Investigative comparisons were used to detect changes in diet with stream order. Further consideration was given to the importance of crayfish predation(e.g. the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus).Within the sample (n= 54) from four stream orders (Strahler 2-5), fish occurred most frequently (67%). Other groups included; invertebrates 20%, birds 7% and mammals 6%. Crayfish comprised 4% of the sample. There were no significant differences between Trophic Niche Breadth and stream order (H* =2.73, P>0.05), a finding strengthened by subsequ...

Research paper thumbnail of Offsetting: moving towards an evidence-based metric for biodiversity assessment

Research paper thumbnail of Bacterial Community Legacy Effects Following the Agia Zoni II Oil-Spill, Greece

Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of From individual vital rates to population dynamics: An integral projection model for European native oysters in a marine protected area

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Relative mobility determines the efficacy of MPAs in a two species mixed fishery with conflicting management objectives