Click on the links below to download reports from successful and completed MASTS Small Grants Scheme awards.

MASTS Aquatic Stressors Forum Travel Grants 2022

• ASSG19: International Congress on the Biology of Fish (Mark Hartl, Heriot Watt University)
• ASSG21: Oral presentation at ECSA 59: Multiple stressor impacts on intertidal microphytobenthos (James Rimmer, University of St Andrews)
• ASSG25: Cold-water coral larvae noise exposure experiment (Laurence de Clippele, University of Edinburgh)
• ASSG26: Travel and attendance at International Conference for Marine Bioinvasions XI (Rebecca Giesler, UHI)
• ASSG27: WIOMSA symposium – Discussing the impacts of shipping noise on marine mammals in the Indian Ocean (Maeva Terrapon, University of St Andrews)
• ASSG28: Presenting MASTS Aquatic Stressors Research at an International Conference: International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) (Emily Hague, Heriot Watt University)
• ASSG29: The role of lipids in the resilience of corals to bleaching (Nora van Xylander, University of St Andrews)
• ASSG32: Tadpoles as biomonitoring tools to assess Endocrine Disruption in Polluted Ponds (Catherine Whatley, UWS)

MASTS Emerging from Lock-down grants 2022

With awards of up to £5,000, we would like to congratulate the following recipients of the MASTS 2021 Emerging from Lockdown small grants round.

• EFLSG1: The role of calcareous biomolecules in the dissolution of coral reef skeletons: a material science approach (Nicola Allison, St Andrews University)
• EFLSG2: How vulnerable are Scottish loch-head salt marshes to climate change? (Thorsten Blake, Glasgow University)
• EFLSG3: Species identification in the deep and dark: using Loch Etive’s Bonawe Deep as a proving ground for new technology (Andrew Brierley, University of St Andrews)
• EFLSG5: Proteomic approach to characterise the functional differences between blubber layers in harbour porpoises (Davina Derous, University of Aberdeen)
• EFLSG7: The Role of Exopolymeric Substances (EPS) in the Formation of Marine Snow (Tony Gutierrez, Heriot Watt University)
• EFLSG8: Quantifying the significance of macroalgal detritus for marine food webs and blue carbon sequestration in Scottish sea lochs (Richard Gwynne-Jones, University of Aberdeen)
• EFLSG9: Insights into marine vessel traffic and marine mammal usage of a busy urban waterway (Emily Hague, Heriot Watt University)
• EFLSG12: Integrating genomics and metabolomics to understand climate change response in marine species (Kara Layton, University of Aberdeen)
• EFLSG14: Novel whole genome sequencing of Scottish maerl species (Connie Simon-Nutbrown, Heriot Watt University)
• EFLSG17: Demystifying data logging platforms and their sensors. A short course in platform, design, programming and construction (Rene Swift, University of St Andrews)

2021

Working Group Support Funds (June 2021)

• Zoe Hutchison (University of St Andrews) – £500 to facilitate engagement with the ICES WG on Marine Benthal and Renewable Energy Developments (WGMBRED).
• Beth Scott (University of Aberdeen) – £500 to facilitate engagement with the European Marine Board Working Group on Marine Renewable Energy.
• Tania Mendo (University of St Andrews) – £500 to facilitate engagement with the ICES WG on Spatial Fisheries Data (WGSFD)
• Marija Sciberras (Heriot Watt University) – £1000 to facilitate Chairing the ICES Working Group on Sea Fisheries Benthic Impact and Trade-offs (WGFBIT).

MASTS International Research Initiative Funds (June 2021)

• Joanne Porter (Heriot Watt University) – £5,000 for UK-Indonesia Network for supporting Marine Renewable Energy Development in Tropical Waters. This funding from MASTS has helped to leverage an additional £30k from the British Council.
• Gill Braulik (University of St Andrews) – £5,000 for Establishing a Network to address cetacean conservation in the Somali Sea and Gulf of Arden.

MASTS Technology Small Grant Round April 2021

• T1: Micro-Caster: a low cost winch for robotic kayaks (Phil Anderson, SAMS)
• T2: Very-high-sensitivity light-intensity measurement in the deep sea (Andrew Brierley, University of St Andrews)
• T3: A lab on a chip: Using nano-plasmonic tongues for building miniaturised ecosystem sensors (Greig Govenlock, University of St Andrews)
• T4: Testing a potential low cost conductivity method for determining salinity (Mark James, University of St Andrews)
• T5: Killer whale predation of seals in the coastal waters of Scotland: investigating the ecological drivers and consequences of an apex predator-prey interaction (Julia Sutherland, University of St Andrews)

MASTS Marine Biogeochemistry Forum Small Grant Round March 2021

• MBFSG52: Fragile Cold-Water Coral Reefs: 3D Analysis of Lophelia pertusa’s Aragonite Crystal Structure (Kelsay Barnhill, Edinburgh University)
• MBFSG53: Investigating the Carbon Storage of Marine Sediments in the Moray Firth Region (Kirsty Black, University of St Andrews)
• MBFSG55: Tracing the source: Terrestrial carbon in marine sediments off the east coast of Scotland (Corallie Hunt, University of St Andrews)
• MBFSG56: Blue Carbon Sources in Scottish Maerl Beds (Kelly James, Glasgow University)
• MBFSG59: Investigating geochemical indicators of past coral bleaching on the Belizean Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (Sophie Plant, Glasgow University)

2020

MASTS Coastal Forum Small Grant Round June 2020

• CSG1: Do organic contaminants influence the formation of calcium carbonate structures in simulated biological environments? (Nicola Allison, St Andrews University)
• CSG3: 360 Survey of the coastal environment (Miguel Barbosa, University of St Andrews)
• CSG4: Inclusion of oxygen measurements in survey of greenhouse gas emissions from the human-impacted Clyde estuary: a potential CH4 and N20 source (Alison Brown, University of Glasgow)
• CSG6: Effects of electromagnetic fields from renewable energy subsea power cables on post disturbance recovery of coastal invertebrates (Erica Chapman, St Abbs Marine Station)
• CSG12: Effects of climate change on biomarker responses in coastal species (Mytilus sp.) (Glenn Jessen, Heriot Watt University)
• CSG19: Maerl, horse mussel and/or seagrass 3m core sample analysis – blue carbon audit of Orkney (Jack Sheehy, Heriot Watt University)
• CSG20: Investigating the spawning period of a Priority Marine Feature (flame shells) using ferry plankton samplers (Danielle Sloan, University of Aberdeen)
• CSG22: Expansion and upgrade of the internationally important long-term Scottish Coastal Observatory monitoring network (Helen Smith, Marine Scotland Science)

MASTS Marine Biogeochemistry Forum Small Grant Round March 2020

• MBFSG41: MASTS Biogeochemistry at Reef Conservation UK 2020 (Seb Hennige, Edinburgh University)
• MBFSG44: Quantifying North Atlantic Current carbon transport (Clare Johnson, SAMS)
• MBFSG46: Quantifying real-time inorganic carbon production through respiration and calcification by Ostrea edulis (Hannah Lee, Heriot Watt University)
• MBFSG48: Maerl, horse mussel and/or seagrass 3m core sample analysis – blue carbon audit of Orkney (Jack Sheehy, Heriot Watt University)

2019

MASTS Marine Stressors Forum Small Grant Round June 2019

• MSSG13: Investigating the effects of climate change on baseline biomarker performance utilising a multiple stressor approach (Glenn Jessen, Heriot Watt University)
• MSSG18: Quantifying metal bioaccumulation in Nephrops norvegicus larvae exposed to cadmium and pile-driving noise (Craig Stenton, ENU)
• MSSG14: Contaminant pressure benchmark workshop to support UK marine sensitivity assessments (Ellen Last, JNCC)

MASTS Oil & Gas Environmental Research Forum Small Grant Round April 2019

• OGSG10: Investigating invasive species settlement in relation to material properties of concrete (Elizabeth Mills, Dundee University)
• OGSG12: Assessing the use of industry-collected ROV footage for ecological analysis (Michael Redford, SAMS)
• OGSG13: Presentation at the “Structures in the Marine Environment” conference (Sally Rouse, SAMS)
• OGSG14: Impact of marine oil snow on temperate shallow-water sponge Halichondria panicea (Johanne Vad, Edinburgh University)

MASTS Numerical & Experimental Hydrodynamic Modelling Forum Small Grant Round April 2019

• NHMSG13: Attendance at the European Wave & Tidal Energy Conference (Anna Garcia-Teruel, Edinburgh University)
• NHMSG14: IV International Summer School on Dynamics of Estuarine & Nearshore Systems (Soizic Garnier, Strathclyde University)
• NHMSG17: Using the S2P3 1D physial-biological oceanographic model to investigate the influence of moon phase on phytoplankton bloom dynamics (Beth Scott, Aberdeen University)
• NHMSG19: Investigating the internal structure of turbidites by focusing upon erosion and deposition processes during their formation (Jonathan Wilkin, Dundee University

2018

Small Grants Round – December 2018

• SG478: Attendance at Species on the Move conference, July 2019 (Paul Fernandes, Aberdeen)
• SG488: ICP 2019 – CO2 sources and sinks from the Northern high latitude oceans – a story of abrupt climate change (Eloise Littley, St Andrews)
• SG489: Attendance at Benthic Ecology Meeting 2019 (Cornelia Simon-Nutbrown, HW)
• SG499: Bats as coastal foragers (Steven Benjamins, SAMS)
• SG501: Identification and ecological role of epibiotic bacteria on developing marine invertebrate eggs (Petra Harsanyi, St Abbs Marine Station)
• SG506: Liver lipidome of an unwanted phenotype of seawater-farmed rainbow trout (Bernat Morrow, Stirling)
• SG508: Understanding the mechanistic interaction between noise and heavy metal co-exposure in Nephrops norvegicus larvae (Craig Stenton, ENU)
• SG509: Probing elemental and macromolecular diversity of calcareous microalgae: new insights for marine ecology and bioprospecting of coccolithophores (Naomi Villot, HW)
• SG512: Oceanographic Mooring KE Workshop (Matthew Geldart, MSS)

Marine Renewable Energy Forum INORE travel grants round – June 2018

• Mohammed Alaa Almoghayr (ICIT) – view short report

OGER Forum small grants round – June 2018

Marine Biogeochemistry Forum small grants round – June 2018

• MBFSG34: Understanding microbial oil-degradation processes in the deep sea using an in-situ stable isotope probing (SIP) pulse-chase experiment (Tony Gutierrez & Andrew Sweetman, Heriot Watt)
• MBFSG36: Geochemical reconstructions of ocean acidification from coralline algae – insights from the Great Barrier Reef (Ellen Macdonald, Glasgow)

MASTS Sustainable Aquaculture Forum Student Bursary Grant Round March 2018

• SASG11: Characterising the mitochondrial genome in the marine invasive Didemnum vexillum: implications for management (Maria Kamouyiaros, Aberdeen)
• SASG12: Isolation and characterisation of shark single domain antibodies capable of binding salmonid alphavirus E2 protein (Danish Munir, Aberdeen)

PHASE II

Small Grants Round – April 2018

• SG436: Incorporating Fisher’s knowledge and uncertainty analyses into the development of ecosystem models (Jacob Bentley, SAMS)
• SG439: Scientific Drilling in the North Pacific Ocean (William Gray, St Andrews)
• SG442: Scotland’s blue carbon: unlocking the potential of national sample archives (Corallie Hunt, St Andrews)
• SG445: Mechanisms of deep-water blue carbon sequestration in the world’s largest maerl bed (Beau Marsh, Heriot Watt)
• SG450: Understanding the effects of electromagnetic field emissions from Marine Renewable Energy Devices on the commercially important edible crab (Kevin Scott, St Abbs Marine Station)
• SG452: Effects of anthropogenic boat noise and variable salinity on Nephrops norvegicus larvae (Craig Stenton, ENU)
• SG455: Effects of noise playbacks on sediment flocculation and settlement (Matt Wale, ENU)
• SG457: Microbiome profiling of planktonic foraminifera: understanding ecological dependancies in a changing climate (Claire Bird, Stirling)
• SG460: Estimating European lobster density using baited remote underwater video compared to traditional techniques (Matthew Coleman, Heriot Watt)
• SG464: Karotyping the lifecycle of Palmaria palmata to confirm a new phase of the lifecycle that is currently undescribed (Philip Kerrison, SAMS)
• SG469: Underwater PTT tag monitoring system for flapper skate (James Thorburn, St Andrews)
• SG472: NoWPaS 2019 workshop (Ross Glover, Aberdeen University)
• SG473: Workshop on scientific input for, and research on, marine planning (Tim Stojanovic on behalf of the MPG Forum)

2017

MASTS Oil & Gas Environmental Research Forum Small Grant Round June 2017

• OGSM1: Oil and Gas Pipeline Installation Monitoring, Modelling (OGPIMM) in the coastal zone/marine environment (David Green, Aberdeen)
• OGSG3: Effect of hydrocarbons and dispersants on model shallow-water sponges Halichondria panicea (Johanne Vad, Heriot Watt)

MASTS Marine Stressors Forum Small Grant Round June 2017

• MSSG9: Benthic Ecosystem Response to Increasing Aquaculture Stress (Elena Lo Giudice Cappelli, St Andrews)
• MSSG11: Ecotoxicology of sunscreen on tropical corals in a changing ocean (Alice Tagliati, Heriot Watt)

MASTS Marine Renewable Energy Forum Small Grant Round May 2017

• MESG16: Exposure of Early Life Stage Marine Invertebrates to Playbacks of Marine Renewable Energy Installation Vibrations (Edward Bolger, ENU)
• MESG17: Ecology of Black Guillemots in Relation to Marine Renewable Energy Developments (Daniel Johnston, UHI)

MASTS Marine Biogeochemistry Forum Small Grant Round May 2017

• MBFSG22: The impact of ocean acidification and rising seawater temperatures on the DIC chemistry of coral calcification fluids (Nicola Allison, St Andrews)
• MBFSG28: Multiple stressors and their primary productivity impacts (Bonnie Lewis, Glasgow)
• MBFSG32: Carbon source to sink journey: Tracing the drivers of saltmarsh sedimentary carbon storage (Ben Taylor, St Andrews)
• MBFSG33: The influence of seafloor geometry on sediment biogeochemistry (Robert Turnewitsch, SAMS)

MASTS Coastal Processes & Dynamics Forum Small Grant Round May 2017

• CPDSG12: Role of the world’s deepest living algae in Pitcairn Island’s blue carbon store (Heidi Burdett, Heriot Watt)
• CPDSG14: UAV Remote Sensing for Spatio-Temporal Monitoring of Phenological Change of Saltmarsh Vegetation (David Green, Aberdeen University)
• CPDSG18: The effect of particle density on the source, transport and distribution of sediment in coastal environments (Craig Smeaton, St Andrews University)

MASTS Sustainable Aquaculture Forum Small Grant Round May 2017

• SASG5: TRAFALGAR: PreASSEMBLE – Short Term Scientific Mission (Yacine Badis, SAMS)
• SASG6: Investigation of the seasonal microbiome of Atlantic Salmon gills, including trauma associated dysbiosis (Morag Clinton, St Andrews)
• SASG8: Novel sequencing approaches to characterize viral diseases in salmon aquaculture: an undergraduate research experience (Daniel Macqueen, Aberdeen)
• SASG9: Plasma proteome of an unwanted phenotype of steelhead trout (Bernat Morro, Stirling)

MASTS Numerical Hydrodynamic Modelling Forum Small Grant Round May 2017

• NHMSG7: Internal wave dynamics of the marginal ice zone (Magda Carr, St Andrews University)

MASTS Technology, Platforms & Sensors Forum Small Grant Round May 2017

• TPSSG24: Acoustic Observation Model (Roland Proud, St Andrews University)
• TPSSG25: Filling the White Ribbon (Craig Smeaton, St Andrews University)

MASTS Deep Sea Forum Small Grant Round May 2017

• DSSG30: Fireworms: Community Size Structure Analysis (Bhavani Narayanaswamy, SAMS)
• DSSG31: Geochemical Signatures within the Contourite Depositional System of Gulf of Cádiz – Paleoclimate Indicators (Zeinab Smillie, Heriot Watt)
• DSSG32: The influence of seafloor geometry on sediment biogeochemistry (Robert Turnewitsch, SAMS)

MASTS Small Grant Round May 2017

• SG392: Effect of mycotoxins in fish gills using targeted transcriptomics and untargeted phosphoproteomic approaches (Amaya Albalat, Stirling University & other partners)
• SG394: SK8CAMERA1 – Testing a baited timelapse camera lander to observe flapper (common) skates (Steven Benjamins, SAMS)
• SG395: Exposure of Marine Invertebrate Larvae to Underwater Speaker Playbacks of Noise Pollution Sources in the Field (Edward Bolger, ENU)
• SG396: Coral reefs and environmental niche construction: quantifying patterns and variability (Viviana Brambilla, St Andrews University)
• SG397: Impact of a multiple stressor environment on the light harvesting capacity of mesophotic algae (Heidi Burdett, Heriot Watt)
• SG398: Specialist equipment for microplastics extraction (Angela Capper, Heriot Watt)
• SG400: Not so homogenous after all? Use of stable isotopes to identify regional population within European Lobsters (Matthew Coleman, Heriot Watt)
• SG401: Does advection of harmful algae impact Shetland Aquaculture? (Paul Dees, SAMS)
• SG402: Effects of Anthropogenic Noise on the Embryogenesis of Squids, Loligo spp. (Karen Diele, ENU & other partners)
• SG403: Continuous Monitoring of Marine Soundscapes: Assessing Anthropogenic Noise Near Breeding Seabird Colonies (Karen Diele, ENU & other partners)
• SG405: Pilot study into the use of accelerometry to characterise Atlantic salmon fin biting behaviour and energy expenditure (Maureen Ellis, Stirling University)
• SG406: Nanopore sequencing the causative virus of infectious salmon anaemia – a problem disease for Scottish salmon aquaculture (Michael Gallagher, Aberdeen University)
• SG407: Estimation of Genetic Components in aberrant formation of the gilthead sea bream otoliths in response to high pCO2 (Daniel Garcia, St Andrews University)
• SG411: Informing population models with evolutionary theory to infer species’ conservation status (Cat Horswill, Glasgow University)
• SG412: Research and collaboration visit to Palau Community College (Mark James, St Andrews University)
• SG413: Learning a new non-lethal technique for the routine identification of sea lice in stomach fluid samples taken through the mouth of lumpfish (Enrique Pino Martinez, Stirling University)
• SG415: Fish cell lines for viral diagnostics: genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of a CRISPR/Cas9 knock out salmonid cell line (Sam Martin, Aberdeen University)
• SG416: Molecular analysis of Vitamin D utilisation in triploid Atlantic salmon (Elspeth McStay, Stirling University)
• SG417: Improving the evidence base for scallop diving fisheries management (Tania Mendo, St Andrews University)
• SG421: Assessing Social Attitudes to the Marine Environment in the UK and Portugal (Tavis Potts, Aberdeen University)
• SG422: Improving Current Hatchery Procedures for Juvenile Cyclopterus lumpus (Lumpfish) (Sonia Rey Planellas, Stirling University)
• SG425: Sediment coring the Eden Estuary to facilitate accounting of its carbon storage benefit (Ben Taylor, St Andrews University)
• SG428: Long term tracking of a Critically Endangered apex predator, the flapper skate (James Thorburn, Marine Scotland)
• SG431: Dynamics of Scapa Flow; Tide Gauge (David Woolf, Heriot Watt)
• SG433: Exploring the evolutionary adaptation of bacteria to the ecosystem engineering activities of infauna (Adam Wyness, St Andrews University)

MASTS Marine Stressors Forum Small Grant Round March 2017

• MSSG5: Balancing sub-lethal impacts of environmental stressors: enhanced survival in a multiple stressor world? (Jinhua Mao, Glasgow University)
• MSSG6: Ecotoxicology of sunscreen on tropical corals in a changing ocean (Alice Tagliati, Heriot Watt University)
• MSSG3: Effects of aquatic noise on the European sea urchin Echinus esculentus in different temperature contexts (Karen Diele, ENU)

2016

MASTS Numerical Hydrodynamic Modelling Forum Small Grant Round November 2016

• NHMSG1: Dispersal of aquaculture pathogens – finding parallels between hemispheres (Tom Adams, SAMS)
• NHMSG2: Modelling feedbacks between morphology and hydrodynamics (Thorsten Balke, Glasgow University)
• NHMSG3: Scottish Shelf Model FVCOM workshop (Louise Campbell, Marine Scotland Science)
• NHMSG5: Numerical modelling of hydrodynamic transport of larval sea lice in North European coastal waters (Alexander Murray, Marine Scotland Science)

MASTS Small Grants Round November 2016

• SG367: Understanding light enhanced calcification in corals (Nicola Allison, St Andrews University)
• SG369: Open Source Marine Data Storage Tags: Getting from A to B (Michael Bell, Heriot Watt)
• SG371: Microplastics in seals (Angela Capper, Heriot Watt)
• SG384: Nutritional evaluation of seafood available to consumers in the UK (Matthew Sprague, Stirling University)
• SG387: Workshop on “Parasites of commercially important marine fish species and their potential as population biological tags (Campbell Pert, Marine Scotland Science) Download workshop report and book of abstracts
• SG391: Investigating saltmarsh sedimentary carbon sources and particle size composition: Tracing the source to sink journey (Ben Taylor, St Andrews)

MASTS Small Grants Round June 2016

• SG325: Microplastics in the final ocean frontier (Winnie Courtene-Jones, SAMS)
• SG327: 6th International Symposium Deep-Sea Corals (Laurence de Clippele, Heriot Watt)
• SG330: Impact of high CO2 levels in seawater on wild cod otolith cystallization (Daniel Garcia e la Serrana Castillo, St Andrews)
• SG334: Ecology of Black Guillemots in relation to MPAs and Marine Renewable Energy developments (Daniel Johnston, UHI)
• SG335: International statistical ecology conference attendance (Esther Jones, St Andrews)
• SG336: Oral presentation at ISEC in Seattle (Andronikas Kafas, Aberdeen University)
• SG338: A novel experiment to test Atlantic salmon’s immunocompetence to the parasite Anisakis simplex under increased temperature (Alex Kent, Edinburgh Napier University)
• SG344: Neuropeptide hormones as indicators of social and reproductive states and stress in the bottlenose dolphin (Kelly Robinson, St Andrews)
• SG345: Investigation into the larval behaviour of Ostrea edulis (Ana Rodgriguez, Heriot Watt)
• SG349: Using large spatial scale phytoplankton data to compare between phenotypic and genetic diversity (Sofie Spatharis, Glasgow University)
• SG352: Ecotoxicology in marine sediments (Johanne Vad, Heriot Watt)
• SG363: Elucidating shark evolution via comparative transcriptomics (Antony Redmond, Aberdeen University)
• SG364: A pan-Arctic assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by coralline algae reefs (Kathryn Schoenrock, Glasgow University)

MASTS Marine Biogeochemistry Forum Small Grants Round – May 2016

• MBFSG10: Variability of water isotope concentration in the FSC (William Austin, St Andrews)
• MBFSG17: Crumbling reefs: real world impacts of ocean acidification on skeletal structure and framework of cold-water coral reefs (Seb Hennige, Heriot Watt)

2015

Technology, Platforms & Sensors Forum Funding Round – October 2015

• TPSSG12: Phytoplankton community ID from small autonomous and robotic systems (Lars Boehme, St Andrews)
• TPSSG13: Marine data acquisition for Palaeolandscape reconstruction at the World Heritage Sites, Orkney (Richard Bates – St Andrews & John Howe – SAMS)
• TPSSG14: Sediment sensor (George Maniatis, Glasgow)
• TPSSG15: Glucose monitor (Ailsa Hall, St Andrews)
• TPSSG18: Building and evaluating recorders for seabird vocalisations at nesting sites with differing degrees of human disturbance (Karen Diele, Edinburgh Napier)

Coastal Process & Dynamics Form Grant Round – October 2015

• CPDSG3: Iron BREW: Iron Beyond River Etive Water (Kirsty Crocket, SAMS)
• CPDSG4: Radiometric and optically stimulated luminescence dating of saltmarsh sediments in Nigg Bay (Charlotte Francoz, Glasgow)
• CPDSG7: Wave Power: Wireless, submersible wave recorders to improve, build and enable coastal dynamics research capacity in Scotland (Larissa Naylor, Glasgow)

Small Grants Funding Round – June 2015

• SG255: Travel expenses for Invited keynote Speaker for Biohazards Session at MASTS ASM 2015 (Elizabeth Cook, SAMS)
• SG256: Oral presentation at the 14th International Deep Sea Symposium (Laurence De Clippele, HW)
• SG262: Complex animal culture: humpback whale song as a model system (Ellen Garland, St Andrews)
• SG263: Digitisation of historical fish spawning distribution maps in UK waters (Kate Gormley, HW)
• SG264: Impacts of climate change on sulphur biogeochemistry in coral reef systems (Tamara Green, St Andrews)
• SG265: Support to attend IODP Exp342 postcruise meeting (Rosanna Greenop, St Andrews)
• SG270: Support for attending the 9th international conference on Marine Bioinvasions, Sydney (Chris Nall, UHI)
• SG278: External competition in the marine energy sector and the effects on the Scottish economy (Marcello Graziano, SAMS) See working paper that resulted from this work – “Historic paths and future expectations: the macroeconomic impacts ofthe offshore wind technologies in the UK“
• SG279: Relevant scales in space and time: understanding the ecosystem consquences of offshore renewables (Tom Wilding, SAMS)
• SG283: Autonomous range-testing the world’s first cold-water reef passive acoustic telemtry array (Lea-Anne Henry, HW)

Marine Planning & Governance Forum Small Grant Round – August 2015

• MPGSG1: Scoping the Regional Marine Planning Process in Scotland (Tim Stojanovic, St Andrews)
• MPGSG2: Integrating Ecosystem Services into emergent Marine Spatial Plans (Jacqueline Tweddle, Aberdeen

Marine Energy Outreach Grant Round – August 2015

• MESG14: Marine renewable energy educational board game (Jennifer Loxton, UHI)
• MESG15: Fuelling the future – biofuels from Kelps (Christine Rolin, UHI)

Fisheries Science Forum Grants to attend an ICES Working Group or Conference – August 2015

• FSSG17: ICES ASC 2015 Copenhagen (Kate Johnson, Heriot Watt)

Technology, Platforms & Sensors Forum Funding Round – October 2014

• TPSSG3: Understanding microbial oil-degradation procesess in the ocean using an in-situ based microbial chamber (Tony Gutierrez, Heriot Watt)
• TPSSG4: Microarray assessment for the detection and quantification of toxin-producing phytoplankton species in Scottish coastal waters (Guillaume Hermann, MSS)
• TPSSG10: Extending an aerial remote sensing platform using three digital sensors (Robert Schick, St Andrews)

Sustainable Aquaculture Forum Funding Round – March 2015

• SASG0: http://www.masts.ac.uk/media/36054/sasg0-masts-report-2015-um-v3.pdf (Una McCarthy, Marine Scotland Science)
• SASG1: Transgene-Free Algal Genome Remodelling (Yacine Badis, SAMS)
• SASG3: Glider study on the advective transport of harmful phytoplanknton in the UK shelf seas (Beatrix Siemering, SAMS)
• SASG4: Seafood and democracy workshop (Marcello Graziano, SAMS)

Fisheries Science Forum Student Funding Round – May 2015

• FSSG1: Investigation of MRI as a method of detecting parasites in fishery products (Miguel Bao, Aberdeen)
• FSSG3: ICES annual science conference attendance to present MASTS funded research as part of the “Advancement of stock assessment methods for sustainable fisheries” session (Tanja Buch, Aberdeen)
• FSSG11: Analysis of smooth-hound discards in Scottish waters (Jessica Monhart, Aberdeen)
• FSSG12: Present analysis of fishing vessel acoustic data at PhD conference in Nantes and attend WGFAST meeting (Roland Proud, St Andrews)
• FSSG14: Effectiveness of escape panels for reducing undersized catch in the Orkney brown crab fishery (Elisabet Rodrigues, Heriot Watt)

Marine Biogeochemistry Forum Small Grant Round – May 2015

• MBFSG3: Photochemical and microbial degradation of particulate terrigenous organic matter in intertidal sediments (Evina Gontikaki, Aberdeen)
• MBFSG4: Investigation into the carbon biogeochemistry of Caribbean mesophotic coral reefs (Tamara Green, St Andrews)
• MBFSG5: Investigating the effects of flow on the biogeochemistry of an Orkney maerl reef (Jen Loxton, UHI)
• MBFSG8: Saltmarsh restoration and blue carbon subsidisation (Ben Taylor, St Andrews)

2014

Technology, Platforms & Sensors Forum Funding Round – October 2014

• TPSSG3: Understanding microbial oil-degradation procesess in the ocean using an in-situ based microbial chamber (Tony Gutierrez, Heriot Watt)
• TPSSG4: Microarray assessment for the detection and quantification of toxin-producing phytoplankton species in Scottish coastal waters (Guillaume Hermann, MSS)
• TPSSG10: Extending an aerial remote sensing platform using three digital sensors (Robert Schick, St Andrews)

October 2014 Small Grant Funding Round

• SG229: Producing seascapes: communities and marine spatial planning in Sweden and Scotland (Ruth Brennan, SAMS)
• SG230: Support to attend the 2015 Aquatic Sciences Meeting (Heidi Burdett, St Andrews)
• SG233: Attendance at Association of American Geographers 2015 (Marcello Graziano, SAMS)
• SG236: Attendance at World Aquaculture Society Conference 2015 (Philip Kerrison, SAMS)
• SG243: Underpinning the development of indicator species in high-energy environments (Andrew Want, Heriot Watt)
• SG244: NoWPaS 2015 Workshop (Beatrix Berdal, Stirling)
• SG247: Microarray for the detection and quantification of toxin-producing phytoplankton species in Scottish coastal waters (Guillaume Hermann, Marine Scotland Science)
• SG248: Tracking prospecting movements of Northern gannets: linking individual behaviour to metapopulation dynamics (Jana Jeglinski, Glasgow)

Coastal Zone Forum Student Grants – September 2014

• CZSG4: Vulnerability and adaptation of coastal communities in the Scottish Islands to the impacts of climate change (Fiona Cunningham, St Andrews)
• CZSG10: Vulnerability of M.modiolus biogenic reefs to climate change: a population-based approach for effective marine management (Clara Mackenzie, Heriot Watt)
• CZSG19: An economic valuation of coastal flood defences in the Eden Esturay Fife, using Discrete Choice Analysis (Kate Wade, St Andrews)
• CZSG20: The effect of underwater noise on marine invertebrates (Matt Wale, Edinburgh Napier)

Marine Biodiversity, Function & Services Theme Small Grant Round – September 2014

• BFSSG7: Assessing the presence of microplastics in the Scottish coast (Ana Catarino, Heriot Watt)
• BFSSG9: Evaluating shared values: building a platform (Jasper Kenter, SAMS) See publication
• BFSSG12: Genetic connectivity of Modiolus modiolus biogenic reefs: the role of MPAs (Joanne Poter, Heriot Watt)
• BFSSG14: Comparison of target gene expression profiles in deep-water corals after exposure to environmental stress (Laura Wicks, Heriot Watt)

Deep Sea Forum Grant Round – September 2014

• DSSG18: Improved mixing estimates of water masses in the FSC through enhanced spatial sampling of delta18O and nutrients (William Austin, St Andrews and Bee Berx, Marine Scotland Science)
• DSSG22: Trench connection internship (Alan Jamieson, Aberdeen)
• DSSG25: Parasites of the deep (Sonja Rueckert, Edinbugh Napier)
• DSSG26: Phylogenetic analysis of Valvifera from the Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge (Natalia Serpetti, SAMS)
• DSSG28: A new approach for measuring the sediment tracer thorium-234 in deep sea samples (Robert Turnewitsch, SAMS)

Marine Energy Forum Grant Round – September 2014

• MESG3: Tracking Atlantic Salmon migration from the Berriedale River through the Pentland and Moray Firths (Diego Delvillar, UHI)
• MESG5: Advancing our understanding of oil spill biodegradative processes using an in-situ based system (Tony Gutierrez, Heriot Watt University)
• MESG6: Faster, higher, farther: do offshore windfarms affect long-distance prospecting movements of immature gannets? (Jana Jeglinski, Glasgow University)
• MESG8: Marine Energy Paper Writing Retreat (Karen Alexander and Raeanne Miller, SAMS)Final report
• MESG9: SWAN wave modelling software (Rory O’Hara-Murray, MSS)
• MESG10: To what extent are marine renewable devices and vessels acting as stepping stones for colonisation of marine invasive species? (Joanne Porter, Heriot Watt University). This has resulted in three published papers: 1) Porter et al (2015) First records of marine invasive non-native Bryozoa in Norwegian coastal waters from Bergen to Trondheim. Bioinvasions Records 4 (3) 157-169; 2) Loxton et al (2017) Distribution of the invasive bryozoan Schizoporella japonica in Great Britain and Ireland and a review of its European distribution. Bioivasions Records; 3) Want et al (2017) Biodiversity characterisation and hydrodynamic consequences of marine fouling communities on marine renewable energy infrastructure in the Orkney Islands Archipelago, Scotland, UK. Bioinvasions.
• MESG11: Fisheries use of Oil and Gas infrastructure on the UK continental shelf – what is the impact of decommissioning on the North Sea ecosystem? (Sally Rouse, SAMS)

Dynamics and Properties of Marine Systems Grant Round – July 2014

• DPMSSG1: Production of DMS, DMSP and DMSO by tropical corals under projected climate change (Tamara Green & Heidi Burdett, St Andrews University)
• DPMSSG2: Testing and refining a novel sonar technique for improved mapping of benthic habitats and Priority Marine Features in Scotland (Marie-Lise Schlappy, UHI)
• DPMSSG3: Understanding 400 years of Pacific coral reef bleaching: will corals adapt to future climate change? (Nick Kamenos, Glasgow University & Seb Hennige, Heriot Watt University)

May 2014 Funding Round

• SG190: Examining the dispersion and fate of terrestrially-derived organically-bound dissolved iron from source to sea (Tim Brand, SAMS)
• SG192: Occurence and seasonal variation of algal toxin from Balsfjord, northern Norway (Silje Jensen, St Andrews)
• SG193: Contribution to aquarium construction for investigation of climate change impacts on stress response in Modiolus modiolus (Clara Mackenzie, Heriot Watt)
• SG199: Plenary talk at Gordon Research Conference “Unifying Ecology Across Scales” (Maria Dornelas, St Andrews)
• SG209: Support for attending the 10th International sea lice conference, Portland, Maine (Nabeil Salama, Marine Scotland Science)
• SG214: Workshop – Spatial ecology of elasmobranchs (Lea-Anne Henry, Heriot Watt and James Thorburn, Aberdeen)
• SG215: Workshop – Scotland’s Marine Protected Area Network: A participatory approach to designing guidelines for climate change management and monitoring (Charlotte Hopkins, Glasgow)
• SG218: Towards a latitudinal model for biogenic reefs to inform the management of these priority habitats in a changing climate (Rebecca Grieve, Heriot Watt)
• SG219: Deep corals, deep learning: noval application of advanced neural network analysis for environmental monitoring (Lea-Anne Henry, Heriot Watt) See poster presented at Deep Sea Coral Symposium 2016 in Boston.

Deep Sea Forum Grant Round – March 2014

• DSSG14: Anthropgenic contaminants (PCBs and PBDEs) at full ocean depth (Alan Jamieson, Aberdeen)
• DSSG15: Genome size variation in deep-sea amphipods (Stuart Piertney, Aberdeen)
• DSSG16: Phylogenetics of heat-shock proteins in deep-sea amphipods (Heather Ritchie, Aberdeen)

Marine Energy Forum Grant Round – March 2014

• MESG1: Biogenic structures and their interaction with marine renewables and climate (Rebecca Grieve, Heriot Watt)
• MESG2: Publication fee for “Marine non-native species in northern Scotland: implications for the marine renewable industry” paper (Chris Nall, UHI)

Marine Biodiversity Function and Services Theme Grant Round – March 2014

• BFSSG1: Effect of saltmarsh plants on bivalve diet (Claire Gollety, St Andrews)
• BFSSG2: Will ocean acidification affect dimethylsulphonioproprionate and dimethylsulphide production in the coastal anemone Anemonia viridis?(Philip Kerrison, SAMS)

2013

November 2013 Funding Round

• SG164: Support for attendance at the ASLO Annual Conference (Julie Hope, St Andrews)
• SG166: Support to attend the Ocean Science Meeting (Nick Kamenos, Glasgow)
• SG168: Support for attendance at the International Temperate Reefs Symposium (Flora Kent, Heriot Watt)
• SG170: Suport to attend the International Conference for Coelenterate Biology (Anna Kintner, St Andrews)
• SG174: Support to present research findings related to benthic productivity on artificial structures (Sally Rouse, SAMS)
• SG178: Workshop support – Seagrasses and sea level rise: current knowledge, gaps and new methodologies (Mark Huxham, Napier)
• SG183: The first fluorination enzyme from the sea (Hai Deng, Aberdeen). These results were published in the international journal: Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 2014, 12, 4828-4831.
• SG185: Vulnerability of Modiolus reefs to climate change: from mechanisms to management startegies (Clara Mackenzie, Heriot Watt)
• SG188: Genetic patterning of sociality in Icelandic Killer Whales (Sara Tavares, St Andrews)

June 2013 Funding Round

• SG92: Ecopath Modelling Training Course (Karen Alexander, SAMS)
• SG94: Water mass variability in the Faroe Shetland Channel 2009-2013, based on stable isotope analysis of historic samples (William Austin, St Andrews and Bee Berx, Marine Scotland)
• SG98: Conference visit: FSBI Symposium on deep sea fish biology (Philippe Boersch-Supan, St Andrews)
• SG100: Training in the identification, culturing and manipulation of free-living and pathogenic amoebae (Catherine Collins, Marine Scotland)
• SG102: Purchase of RP-HPLC column for fractionating marine microbial extracts (Andrew Desbois, Stirling)
• SG104: Attend the 20th biennial conference for the society of marine mammology to present on beaked whale social structure (Charlotte Dunn, St Andrews)
• SG106: Tree removal and peatland restoration impacts on water quality in the Halladale River Atlantic salmon spawning sites (Paul Gaffney, UHI)
• SG115:Marine bioacoustics workshop at Friday Harbour Laboratories (Laura Hobbs, SAMS)
• SG116: Radiometric dating of seagrass sediments using short-lived isotopes (Mark Huxham, Napier)
• SG131: Comparative genome analysis of the marine pathogenic bacteria Francisella noatunensis (Gustavo Ramierez-Parades, Stirling)
• SG139: Visit to Lews Castle College (Simon Waldman, Heriot Watt)
• SG142: A workshop: Researching Scottish Elasmobranchs – opportunities for a combined approach (James Thorburn, Aberdeen & Lea-Anne Henry, Heriot Watt)
• SG152: Atlantic Ocean pH reconstruction before and during the industrial era (Murray Roberts, Heriot Watt)
• SG153: Quantifying a novel endocrinological indicator of stress and sociality in a large marine predator(Kelly Robinson, St Andrews) Download the publication here.
• SG154: Photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins in the Sound of Barra to assess community size, survival and calving rates (Nienke Van Geel, SAMS)

Deep Sea Forum Small Grant Round – April 2013

• DSSG1: Microsatellite genotyping of the mesopelagic hatchetfish Argyropelecus aculeatus from the southwest Indian Ocean (Philippe Boersch-Supan, St Andrews)
• DSSG4: Nitrogen assimilation pathways in two dominant demosponge species inhabiting the North East Cold-Water Coral Reefs (Georgios Kazanidis, Aberdeen)
• DSSG7: Trophic ecology and physiological adaptations of the deep sea morid,Antimora rostrata: investigating size based trends (Dan Mayor, Aberdeen)
• DSSG9: Synergistic effects of temperature and hydrostatic pressure on the membrane lipids of benthic marine organisms (David Pond, SAMS) A publication in the Journal of Experimental Biology (2017, 220, 3916-3926) resulted from this work – read it here – Metabolic costs imposed by hydrostatic pressure constrain bathymetric range in the lithodid crab Lithodes maja
• DSSG10: Diversity of Bryozoa from offshore and deep water in the North East Atlantic Ocean (Joanne Porter, Heriot Watt)
• DSSG11: A bacterial dipeptide as potential high pressure osmolyte (Herdayanto Putro, Aberdeen)
• DSSG13: Recent sediment dynamics in hadal trenches (Robert Turnewitsch, SAMS)

2012

October 2012 Funding Round

• SG54: Balanced truck for fieldwork equipment transportation (Claire Golléty, St Andrews)
• SG63: 27th Annual European Cetacean Society Conference, Setubal (Portugal) (Enrico Pirotta, Aberdeen)
• SG66: Installation of a common marine algal culture facility (Armin Sturm, Stirling)
• SG67: Study of community structure and ecosystem functioning of restored saltmarshes in the Eden estuary (Kate Wade, St Andrews)
• SG68: Attend ICES Training Programme Stock Assessment (Kate Walker, ICIT)
• SG69: Scottish Coral Reefs: Threats and Solutions in a Changing Ocean. (Laura Wicks, Heriot Watt)
• SG71: Patterns and processes of intraspecific divergence and their relevance to aquatic biological diversity (Anne Magurran, St Andrews)
• SG75: Study of the effects of plastic ingestion in Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)
  using tissue proteomics (Amaya Albalat, Glasgow and Stirling)
• SG79: Investigating global genome change in relation fisheries induced evolution of age at maturation in Atlantic cod (Alice Doyle, Stirling)
• SG80: Modern sequencing techniques to study ancient fish: Comparative mtDNA analyses to reveal genetic diversity in the lantern shark Etmopterus spinax (Sienna Gray, Strathclyde)
• SG85: Carbonate Characterisation of Scotland’s Coastal Waters (Jen Loxton, Heriot Watt)
• SG88: Observing colloidal matter in coastal seawater samples with the help of a new SEM-EDXA protocol (Francois Muller, UHI)

June 2012 Funding Round

• SG30: Developing hydrodynamic modelling capacity in Orkney Waters (Susana Baston, Heriot Watt)
• SG31: 13th International Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, New Zealand (3-7th December 2012) View conference poster. (Adam Chivers, SAMS)
• SG32: Intraspecific variation in the molecular physiology of the cold water coral Lophelia pertusa in response to global climate change (Penelope Donohue, Glasgow)
• SG33: To attend ICES training course on AD Model Builder and Stock Assessment (Feb 2013) (Clive Fox, SAMS)
• SG34: High-resolution probing of the microbiota living associated with the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa in the North Atlantic. (Tony Gutierrez, Heriot Watt)
• SG35: Investigation of biological mediation of fine sediments by microbial polymers and bio-physical dynamics of natural and engineered sediments. (Julie Hope, St Andrews)
• SG36: Is Scotland’s PA Network resilient to climate change, how will this network affect the human communities who interact with it? (Charlotte Hopkins, Glasgow)
• SG37: Developing deep-sea ecosystem principles to enhance understanding for ecological values beyond the academic community (Niels Jobsvogt, Aberdeen)
• SG38: Characterising putative dendritic cell markers in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (Petronella Johansson, Aberdeen)
• SG39: Attendance at the Third International Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World to be held in Monterey, California, 24-27 September 2012 (Nick Kamenos, Glasgow)
• SG40: Investigation of colonial hydroid settlement on artificial substrates near salmon aquaculture installations (Anna Kintner, St Andrews)
• SG41: Who killed the goose barnacles? (Bhavani Narayanaswamy, SAMS)
• SG42: Methanogens associated with anaerobic digestion of seaweeds. (Oluwatosin Obata, Aberdeen)
• SG44: Understanding benthic productivity on artificial structures: maximising the benefit of marine renewable energy devices. (Sally Rouse, SAMS)
• SG46: Oral presentation at the 14th International Behavioural Ecology Congress, Lund
  University, Sweden (Hannah Watson, Glasgow)
• SG47: Present research at the 3rd Symposium on Oceans in a High CO2 World, Monterey USA. Download Poster 1 and Poster 2. (Laura Wicks, Heriot Watt)

2011

November 2011 Funding Round

• SG1: In-situ trace metal analysis of cultured coral L. pertusa (Richard Abell, SAMS)
• SG2: Implementation of SUNTANS model to Orkney Waters (Susana Baston, Heriot Watt)
• SG5: What lies beneath: probing the cultural depths of nature conservation conflict in the Outer Hebrides(Ruth Brennan, SAMS)
• SG6: 2012 Ocean Sciences Meeting: Might climate play a role in urchin-mediated export of DMSP in eastern Canada (Heidi Burdett, Glasgow)
• SG8: Novel assessments of West of Scotland demersal stocks (Robin Cook, Strathclyde)
• SG9: Ocean Sciences Conference 2012, USA (Penelope Donohue, Glasgow)
• SG10: Promotion of MASTS scallop modelling project at ICES Working Group on Integrated Physical-biological and Ecosystem modelling (Wendy Gentleman, Strathclyde)
• SG11: Assessing the ecological impact of beach clearing on coastal biodiversity in Scotland (Caroline Griffin, Stirling)
• SG13: Reducing nutrient impact of finfish farms, the potential of the sea cucumber Holothuria forskali for solid biowaste remediation (Adam Hughes, SAMS)
• SG15: The Impact of Biotoxin Exposure from Harmful Algae to Scottish Harbour Seals (Silje-Kristin Jensen, St Andrews)
• SG17: Novel application of x-ray microtomography to assess the impacts of ocean acidification on benthic foraminiferal calcification (Nikki Khanna, St Andrews)
• SG18: Attendance of Esil 2012 in Roscoff(Frithjof Kuepper, Aberdeen)
• SG19: Seascape genomics, spatial ecology & sustainability of Basking Sharks (Lilian Lieber, Aberdeen)
• SG20: Assessing the potential impacts of marine renewable energy developments on black guillemots in the Pentland Firth (Elizabeth Masden, UHI)
• SG21: Attendance at the 6th World Fisheries Congress, Edinburgh (Fiona McIntyre, Aberdeen)
• SG22: ECSA Local Meeting: Scottish Sea Lochs and Adjacent Waters(Axel Miller, SAMS)
• SG24: The advent of animals: sponge-like organisms from 700-800 million year old ancient marine rocks (Tony Prave, St Andrews)
• SG25: Field sampling of marine zooplankton in the Northwestern North Sea and Faroe-Shetland Channel (Dougie Speirs, Strathclyde)
• SG28: Attendance at the Third International Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World to be held in Monterey, California, 24-27 Sept 2012 (Chad Widmer, St Andrews)