EXPERTISE

• Research and commercial report writing
• Benthic taxonomist
• Seabed imagery analysis and editing – specifically relating to Sabellaria spinulosa research
• Ornithological knowledge – specifically seabirds
• Proof-reading

QUALIFICATIONS

• MSc Environmental Biology: Conservation and Resource Management (with merit), Swansea University (2008)
• BSc (Hons) Marine Biology (2:1), Swansea University (2007)

Sheryl Earnshaw, a Research Assistant at Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd (part of the Gardline Group of Companies), has over two years experience in the fields of marine biology and ecology.

Sheryl assists the Research Director and Senior Marine Ecologists at MES with the preparation of research projects, publications and applications for funding. Sheryl has growing expertise in fieldwork, data analysis and interpretation, particularly population dynamics, and invertebrate and fish taxonomy including stomach content analysis of demersal fish species. She has excellent written and verbal communication with expertise in producing commercial reports and assisting with the production of research documents, including basic GIS knowledge. She has excellent research capabilities including extensive literature searches and reviews, exploration of funding avenues, production of tenders for research projects, and proof-reading. Sheryl also has survey experience using a variety of survey equipment, and is proficient at sample processing in a laboratory environment.

KEY EXPERIENCE

• Production of and contributions to several commercial and research reports including: faunal analysis and interpretation – particularly population dynamics of the cockle Cerastoderma edule; fish gut analysis; seabird distribution for the East Coast Regional Environmental Characterisation (REC); pre-assessment of a shrimp fishery using MSC guidelines
• Experience of performing literature searches and producing literature reviews
• Exploration of funding avenues and production of tenders for research projects
• Excellent proof-reading skills including proofing sections of the Regional Environmental Characterisations (RECs) Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd were involved in
• Experience of using PRIMER, TWINSPAN, SPSS and Reference Manager Software as well as basic training in GIS
• Experience of using video editing software to assess seabed imagery and produce still images from footage for Sabellaria spinulosa research
• Survey experience: Trawl (epibenthic), grab (benthic) and underwater camera surveys including lead surveyor on Sizewell and Culver Sands grab surveys
• Marine Benthic Taxonomy – proficient in sample processing, working towards Level 4 Taxonomy with in-house training scheme
• Cockle sample processing – ageing, measuring and weighing cockles as part of a monitoring scheme
• Project management within the laboratory of samples from a mudflat survey investigating the available bird feeding resource
• Previously survey coordinator for Sabellaria spinulosa research in the aggregate licence Area 447

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Green, M., Hill, J.M., Pearce, B., Woodcock, T., Earnshaw, S., & Ball, K. 2011. Pre-assessment report for the east coast brown and pink shrimp fisheries - the Wash, the Humber and the north Norfolk coast. Prepared for Lynn Shellfish Ltd, John Lake Shellfish Ltd and Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA). Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, 3 Palace Yard Mews, Bath, BA1 2NH.

Marine Ecological Surveys Limited. 2010. A Post-dredge Comparative Assessment of the Biology of the Maplin Sands Cockle Population. Post-dredge report 2010. Report No. PNOLGC1110.

Marine Ecological Surveys Limited. 2010. A Baseline Assessment of the Temporal & Spatial Variability of the Maplin Sands Cockle Population. Pre-dredge report 2010. Report No: PNOLGC0310.

Ornithology section for the East Coast Regional Environmental Characterisation (REC) project: Limpenny, S.E., Barrio Frojan, C., Cotterill, C., Foster-Smith, R.L., Pearce, B., Tizzard, L., Limpenny, D.S., Long, D., Walmsley, S., Baker, K., Meadows, W.J., Rees, J., Hill, J.M., Wilson, C., Leivers, M., Churchley, S., Russell, J., Birchenough, A.C., Green, S.L., & Law, R.J. 2011. The East Coast Regional Environmental Characterisation. Report No: Cefas Open report 08/04. Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). 1-287 pp.)

Pearce, B., Hill, J.M., Griffin, R., Earnshaw, S. & Pitts, J. 2011 (in press). Sabellaria spinulosa Reef Ecology and Ecosystem Services. A report for The Crown Estate. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited. 3 Palace Yard Mews, Bath, BA1 2NH. 82pp.

MSc Thesis: The effect of mining discharge on the invertebrate composition in a stream in Swansea, South Wales. Result: 61%

BSc Thesis: Sublittoral benthic mollusc study of western inner Swansea Bay – post closure of the sewage outfall off Mumbles Head. Result: 68%.