Elinor Spencer
PhD Student
Elinor Spencer has recently commenced her research as a SUPER DTP PhD student under the primary supervision of Dr. Becky Giesler at the UHI Shetland Scalloway site. Her research will address key knowledge gaps in the pathways of secondary spread of marine invasive non-native species in Scottish marine regions, as well as identifying some of the most at-risk sites and routes for invasives transport and settlement. This research will test some of the presently used methods of sampling and surveying to update Scotland’s invasives database and will research future scenario impacts such as climate change, deployment of renewable technologies, and changes in harbour use. The aim is to provide an updated picture on invasives in Scotland and to incentivise more regular monitoring for invasives in Scotland.
Elinor’s Marine Science MSc thesis research was conducted at Heriot Watt University. A meta-analysis of coccolithophore stoichiometry was conducted to update coccolithophore carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus to biovolume relationships. Furthermore, she analysed the effects of experimental methods on coccolithophore elemental content. This work formed part of the Heriot-Watt/Lyell Centre programme called CoccoTrait and is still ongoing. Her interests focus on the effects of climate change on ocean ecology and biogeochemistry, especially in rapidly changing systems such as the Arctic and North Atlantic.
