Dr Lindsay Jane (Muffy) Seiderer

Managing Director
British & South African

EXPERTISE

  • Disturbance Ecology
  • Project Management
  • Strategic Advice

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • University of Cape Town. Ph.D.
  • University of Cape Town. B.Sc. (Hons) Zoology

 

Dr Lindsay Jane (Muffy) Seiderer, Managing Director of Marine Ecological Surveys Limited (part of the Gardline Group of Companies) carried out research at The University of Cape Town, including studies on kelp beds and their interactions with key consumer species such as bivalves, ascidians, lobsters and fish. The study of marine bacterial trophic interactions was initiated at the University of Cape Town and she set up and ran the marine microbiological unit within the Zoology Department in order to capitalise on this new field of research. She has a distinguished series of over 30 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 Limited in 1990 and has actively participated in senior advisory work since then. She has contributed to many publications on environmental impact studies as well as technical reports to clients on ecological surveillance worldwide.

Dr Seiderer has recently diversified into the preparation of interactive multi-disciplinary electronic reports. She leads the consultation unit within MESL dealing with all aspects of stakeholder participation.

 

Consultant Experience

Dr Seiderer has been project leader responsible for surveys in Southern Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and UK waters, 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. Her knowledge and expertise in benthic survey technique and design has recently been incorporated into the Guidelines for the Conduct of Benthic Studies at Marine Aggregate Extraction Sites - 2nd Edition. She is an experienced SCUBA diver & underwater photographer with scientific diving experience in Canada and the Benguela Upwelling System. 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, and has wide experience in coastal resource protection in relation to infrastructure developments. These include port developments, aggregate dredging and offshore windfarm developments. She has been responsible for strategic advice and 10 year operational monitoring of the London Gateway Port Project. Muffy co-project managed the 2010-2011 benthic resource characterisation study for the East Anglian Offshore Windfarm project in which almost 800 baseline benthic samples and seabed images were acquired & analysed in order to provide the client with robust scientific information against which the effects of the development may be measured in the future.

 

KEY EXPERIENCE

  • Responsible for all of the marine environmental resource monitoring for the London Gateway Port Project in the Thames estuary.
  • Provision of key strategic advice to the London Gateway Port Project through the EAG to which the developer, the consultants and the Regulators are signatories.
  • Ongoing design of programmes to assess the spatial and temporal effects of disturbance on the seabed, and the extent to which the disturbed communities are likely to recover.
  • Provision of advice and survey expertise to all users of the seabed.

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

PEARCE, B. TAYLOR, J. & SEIDERER, L.J. 2007. Recoverability of Sabellaria spinulosa Following Aggregate Extraction. Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund MAL0027. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, 24a Monmouth Place, BATH, BA1 2AY. 87pp.  ISBN 978-0-9506920-1-2

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.

NEWELL, R.C., SEIDERER, L.J. & HITCHCOCK, D.R. 1998. The impact of dredging works in coastal waters: a review of the sensitivity to disturbance and subsequent recovery of biological resources on the seabed.  Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 36:127-178.

HITCHCOCK, D.R., NEWELL, R.C., & SEIDERER, L.J., 1998. “Investigation of benthic and surface plumes associated with marine aggregate mining in the United Kingdom - final report”. Contract Report for the U.S.Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service. Contract Number 14-35-0001-30763. Coastline Surveys Ltd

JACKSON, S., PLACE, A.R. & SEIDERER, L.J. 1992. Chitin digestion and assimilation by seabirds. The Auk 109(4): 758-770.

HARRIS, J.M., SEIDERER, L.J. & LUCAS, M.I. 1991. Gut microflora of two saltmarsh detritivore Thalassinid Prawns, Upogebia africana and Callianassa kraussi. Microbial Ecology 21: 277-296.

NEWELL, R.C., MAUGHAN. D.W., TRETT, M.W., NEWELL, P.F. & SEIDERER, L.J. 1991. Modification of benthic community structure in response to acid-iron wastes discharge. Mar. Pollut, Bull. 22, 112-118.

NEWELL, R.C., MAUGHAN, D.W., SEIDERER, L.J., TRETT, M.W. & NICHOLSON, C.G. 1991. Assessing the impact of liquid wastes discharge in the sea. A case study off Amanzimtoti, near Durban, Natal, South Africa. S. Afr. J. Mar. Sci. 10, 383-396

SEIDERER, L.J. & NEWELL, R.C. 1988. Exploitation of phytoplankton as a food resource by the kelp bed ascidian, Pyura stolonifera. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 50, 107-115.

SEIDERER, L.J., NEWELL, R.C., DAVIS, C.L. & ROBB. F.T. 1987. Digestive enzymes of the anchovy, Engraulis capensis, in relation to diet. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 35, 15-23.

LUCAS, M.I., NEWELL, R.C., SHUMWAY, S.E., SEIDERER, L.J. & BALLY, R. 1987. Particle clearance and yield in relation to bacterio-plankton and suspended particle availability in estuarine and open coast populations of the mussel, Mytilus edulis. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 36, 215-224.

SEIDERER, L.J., NEWELL, R.C., SCHULTES, K., ROBB, F. & TURLEY, C.M. 1987. Novel bacteriolytic activity associated with the style microflora of the mussel Mytilus edulis (l).

J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 110, 213-224.

MUIR, D.G., SEIDERER, L.J., DAVIS, C.L., PAINTING, S.J. & ROBB, F.T. 1986. Filtration, lysis and absorption of bacteria by mussels Choromytilus meridionalis collected under upwelling and downwelling conditions. South African Journal of Marine Science, 4: 169-179.

SEIDERER, L.J. & ROBB, F.T. 1986. Adaptive features of a bacteriolytic enzyme from the style of the mussel Choromytilus meridionalis in response to environmental fluctuations. IFREMER, Actes de Colloques, 3: 427-433.

SEIDERER, L.J., NEWELL, R.C., TURLEY, C.M. & ROBB, F.T. 1986. The significance of bacteriolytic activity associated with the gut microflora of the mussel, Mytilus edulis. Proc. 4th Internat.Symp. Microbial Ecol. Ljubljana, Jugoslavia.

SEIDERER, L.J. & NEWELL, R.C. 1985. Relative significance of phytoplankton, bacteria and plant detritus as carbon and nitrogen resources for the kelp-bed filter feeder, Choromytilus meridionalis. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 22, 127-139.

SEIDERER, L.J., DAVIS, C.L., ROBB, F.T. & NEWELL, R.C. 1984. Utilisation of bacteria as a nitrogen resource by the kelp bed mussel, Choromytilus meridionalis Krauss. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 15, 104-116.

SEIDERER, L.J., HAHN, B.D. & LAWRENCE, L. 1982. Rock-lobsters, mussels and man: A mathematical model. Ecological Modelling 17, 225-241.

SEIDERER, L.J., NEWELL, R.C. & COOK, P.A. 1982.  Quantitative significance of style enzymes from two marine mussels (Choromytilus meridionalis Krauss and Perna perna Linnaeus) in relation to diet. Mar. Biol. Letters 3, 257-271.

GRIFFITHS, C.L. & SEIDERER, L.J. 1980. Rock-lobsters and mussels – limitations and preferences in a predator-prey interaction. J.exp.mar.Biol.Ecol., 44: 95-109.

NEWELL, R.C., LUCAS, M.I., VELIMIROV, B. & SEIDERER, L.J. 1980. Quantitative significance of dissolved organic losses following fragmentation of kelp (Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida).  Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 2, 45-59.

SEIDERER, L.J. & NEWELL, R.C. 1979.  Adjustment of the activity of α-amylase extracted from the style of the black mussel Choromytilus meridionalis (Krauss) in response to thermal acclimation. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 39, 79-86.