Dr. Seiderer's work at The University of Cape Town included studies on kelp beds and their interactions with key consumer species including bivalves, ascidians, lobsters and fish. She has a distinguished series of over 25 research papers, including many on marine microbiology. Subsequent research has centred on analysis of the impact of industrial wastes discharges, sand & gravel extraction and other activities on seabed resources. She was appointed a Director of Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd in 1990 and has actively participated in senior advisory work since 1989. She has contributed to over 15 publications on environmental impact studies as well as to approximately 50 reports to clients on ecological surveillance worldwide.

Consultant Experience:

Muffy has been project leader responsible for surveys in Southern Africa and the Asia Pacific region for the past 12 years and specialises in analysis of marine community structure, especially in relation to the impact of trade wastes and spoils deposition on biological resources in coastal waters. She is an experienced SCUBA diver & underwater photographer with scientific diving experience in Canada and the Benguela Upwelling System and has wide experience in coastal resource protection in relation to Industrial and Resort Developments. She has participated in research cruises on oceanographic research vessels in the Antarctic, carrying out surveys off Bouvet Island, Ob and Lena Seamounts, and off Marion Island. She has carried out comprehensive surveys of coastal resources in Malaysia and the Caribbean.

Current research carried out by Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. has been funded through the US Government Minerals Management Service, the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) through the Minerals Industry Research Organisation (MIRO). This has led to a number of research publications in the international literature and to contributions to international conferences during the past 5 years.

Muffy has recently diversified into the preparation and production of fully interactive electronic reports. Viewers of these reports are able to interview the GIS tables, access the raw data, view the environmental conditions and sampling procedures by means of pop-up photographs or video links, and zoom in to areas of interest such as details of swathe bathymetry. These details have until now only been available as A1 size paper charts.

Recent Publications:

ROBINSON, J.E., NEWELL, R.C., SEIDERER, L.J., & SIMPSON, N.M. 2005. Impacts of aggregate dredging on sediment composition and associated benthic fauna at an offshore dredge site in the southern North Sea. Marine Environmental Research. 60: 51-68.

NEWELL, R.C., SEIDERER, L.J., ROBINSON, J.E., SIMPSON, N.M., PEARCE, B. & REEDS, K.A. 2004. Impacts of overboard screening on seabed and associated benthic biological community structure in relation to marine aggregate extraction. Technical Report to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and Minerals Industry Research Organisation (MIRO). Project No SAMP.1.022. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, St.Ives. Cornwall. Pp. 152.

NEWELL, R.C., SEIDERER, L.J., SIMPSON, N.M., & ROBINSON , J.E. 2004. Impacts of Marine Aggregate Dredging on Benthic Macrofauna off the South Coast of the United Kingdom. Journal of Coastal Research. 19: 217-227.

NEWELL, R.C., SEIDERER, L.J., SIMPSON, N.M & ROBINSON, J.E. 2002. Impact of marine aggregate dredging and overboard screening on benthic biological resources in the central North Sea: Production Licence Area 408, Coalpit. Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. Technical Report No ERI/402 to the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA). 72 pp. (CD-Rom version 116 pp).

HITCHCOCK, DR., NEWELL, R.C. & SEIDERER, L.J. 2002. Integrated report on the impact of marine aggregate dredging on physical and biological resources of the sea bed. US Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, International Activities and Marine Minerals Division (INTERMAR), Washington DC. (Contract No 14-35-01-CT-30980).

NEWELL, R.C., SEIDERER, L.J., & ROBINSON, J.E. 2001. Animal: sediment relationships in coastal deposits of the Eastern English Channel. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK. 81:1-9.

NEWELL, R.C., HITCHCOCK, D.R., & SEIDERER, L.J. 1999. Organic enrichment association with outwash from marine aggregates dredging: A probable explanation for surface sheens and enhanced benthic production in the vicinity of dredging operations. Mar. Poll. Bull. 38(9): 809-818.

SEIDERER, L.J & NEWELL, R.C. 1999. Analysis of the relationship between sediment composition and benthic community structure in coastal deposits: Implications for marine aggregate dredging. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Journal of Marine Science. 56: 757-765.

email: muffy@seasurvey.co.uk | Key Personnel | Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd.