Academic Qualifications:
Jan 2006 - Present: Ph.D. 'The Ecology of Sabellaria spinulosa Reefs': University of Plymouth.
2002: BSc (Hons) Marine Biology (2:1): University of Plymouth
 
Career Synopsis:
2005 - present: Research Director - Marine Ecological Surveys Limited
2003 - 2005: Senior Marine Ecologist - Marine Ecological Survey Limited
2002 - 2003: Marine Ecologist - Marine Ecological Surveys Limited
2001 - 2002: National Marine Aquarium diver and diving supervisor
1999 - 2001: Co-ordinator of "Projecto Ambiental" Tenerife
 
Consultant Experience:
Since joining the Marine Ecological Surveys Limited (MESL) team in 2002, Bryony has been involved in the design, sample collection, identification of fauna and statistical analysis of a wide range of intertidal and subtidal surveys for both research and commercial projects. She has led numerous major research projects concerned with the impact of marine aggregate dredging on benthic communities in coastal waters, and is currently lead scientist on our six current research projects funded through the Marine Aggregate Sustainability Fund (MALSF).

• MEPF 08/P39 Impacts of Aggregate Extraction on Adjacent Sabellaria spinulosa Aggregations and Other Benthic Fauna
• MEPF 08/02 2007 REC Data Projects: Analysis & Interpretation South Coast Region
• MEPF REC 08/04 East Coast Regional Environmental Characterisation (REC Survey)
• MEPF 08/P40 Dredging Impacts Verified in Relation to Scientific Evidence (DIVERSE)
• MEPF 08/P75 Best Practice Workshop and Guidelines on Aggregate Ecological Assessment

Bryony has extensive experience of carrying out survey work in intertidal, estuarine and coastal habitats. She has led and participated in numerous offshore surveys primarily involving grab-sampling, 'scientific' beam trawling, commercial otter trawling and underwater video / camera work. Bryony also has considerable experience with Hydrographic and Geophysical surveying techniques including Side Scan Sonar, Swathe Bathymetry, Boomer, ADCP, Current Meters, Water Samplers and CTD profilers, which she has used to investigate the links between marine community structures and environmental conditions. More recently Bryony has used a combination of these techniques to develop protocols for mapping marine habitats. Bryony holds her HSE Professional Scuba Diver Certificate (Part IV equivalent) as well as her PADI Advanced Open Water and Photographer specialist certificates, Oxygen administration and First Aid at Work certificate.
Bryony is currently studying for a Ph.D., investigating Sabellaria spinulosa aggregations in order to gain a better understanding of their ecology and in particular their importance as part of marine food webs. The information gathered will be used to draft conclusions on best practices for their management and conservation. As part of her research Bryony has recently completed a research projects investigating the Recoverability of Sabellaria spinulosa following aggregate extraction, based at Hastings Shingle Bank.
Bryony has a thorough working knowledge of all Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. Since joining MESL, Bryony has been managing our data warehouse using the "UNICORN" database software and has developed a number of linked databases to store the large amounts of data that are generated throughout the year.
In 2003 Bryony attended a PRIMER workshop in Plymouth and since then has used the programme extensively in the analysis of benthic and epibenthic data as part of routine EIA's (Environmental Impact Assessments) as well as in her research. Building on her expertise in this area, Bryony attended a further statistical training course entitled "Detecting Biological and Environmental Changes: Design and Analysis Of Monitoring and Experiments" in March 2008. The course covered advanced PRIMER and PERMANOVA analysis as well aspects of experimental design. In addition to this formal training Bryony has received one to one coaching and advice from Bob Clarke during various workshop sessions and has received more general statistics training through her PhD course and on an informal basis from Dr Peter Henderson of Oxford University & PICES Conservation Ltd.
 
Selected Research Publications:

• PEARCE, B. 2008. The Significance of Benthic Communities for Higher Levels in the Marine Food-Web at Aggregate Dredge Sites Using the Ecosystem Approach. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, 24a Monmouth Place, BATH, BA1 2AY. 70pp. ISBN 978-0-9506920-4-3.
• Marine Ecological Surveys Limited. 2008. Marine Macrofauna Genus Trait Handbook. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, 24a Monmouth Place, BATH, BA1 2AY. 184pp. ISBN 978-0-9506920-2-9.
• 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
• Marine Ecological Surveys Limited. 2007. Predictive Framework for Assessment of Recoverability of Marine Benthic Communities Following Cessation of Aggregate dredging. Technical Report to the Centre of Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Project No MEPF 04/02. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, 24a Monmouth Place, BATH, BA1 2AY. Pp. 115 + electronic appendices pp. 466.
• PEARCE, B. TAYLOR, J. & SEIDERER, L.J. 2006. Recoverability of Sabellaria spinulosa Following Aggregate Extraction. In. Marine Aggregate Extraction: Helping to Determine Good Practice. Eds Newell, R.C. & Garner, D.J. Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) Conference Proceedings: September 2006.
• JAMES, J.W.C., COGGAN, R.A., BLTHE-SKYRME, V.J. MORANDO, A., BIRCHENOUGH, S.N.R., BEE, E., LIMPENNY, D.S., VERLING, E., VANSTAEN, K., PEARCE, B., JOHNSTON, C.M., ROCKS, K.F., PHILPOT, S.L. and RESS, H.L. 2007 Eastern English Channel Marine Habitat Map. Sci.Ser.Tech.Rep., Cefas Lowestoft, 139: 191pp.
• 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.

Selected Technical Reports:

• MARINE ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS LIMITED. 2006. Hastings Shingle Bank Area 366-370. Benthic Monitoring Report. Report Prepared for the Resource Management Association (CEMEX Marine Ltd, Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd & United Marine Dredging Ltd).
• MARINE ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS LIMITED. 2006. Hastings Shingle Bank Area 366-370. Benthic Baseline Report. Report Prepared for the Resource Management Association (CEMEX Marine Ltd, Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd & United Marine Dredging Ltd).
• MARINE ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS LIMITED 2006. Benthic Biological Assessment of Ashlett Creek. Report prepared for EGS International Ltd.
• MARINE ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS LIMITED. 2005. Thanet Offshore Windfarm: Benthic and Intertidal Resource Survey. Report prepared for Royal Haskoning Limited.
• MARINE ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS LIMITED. 2005. QinetiQ Bincleaves Marina, Portland Harbour: Biological Resource Assessment. Report prepared for Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Co Ltd.