Marine Scotland Science: directory

Dr Dafne Eerkes-Medrano 

Planning and Environmental Advice Programme
Ecology and Conservation Group
Marine Biodiversity Science Advisor

E-mail: Dafne.Eerkes-Medrano@gov.scot

Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, UK

Details of specialism

As a member of the Ecology and Conservation Group at Marine Scotland Science my primary research focuses on food-webs and the links between pelagic components of north east Scotland food-webs in a context of environmental change. I also work on biodiversity of Scottish marine species and have been involved in research understanding deep sea communities in the deep waters off Scotland. My research has applications in climate change and ecosystem monitoring. I strive to contribute to the Scottish Government’s scientific understanding of marine ecosystems towards appropriate and adaptive management of these systems. 

My particular focuses currently include:

• trophic interactions in pelagic ecosystems
• the role of biodiversity in the performance of ecosystem components
• community ecology
• all of the above in context of the environment and possible environmental change

Main policy links

• biodiversity
• foodwebs 

External committees and responsibilities

• MSS representative for the MASTS Executive Committee
• member of the ICES Working Group on Biodiversity Science
• member of the ICES Working Group on Zooplankton Ecology
• member of the ICES Working Group on Integrated Morphological and Molecular Taxonomy

Papers of relevance

Eerkes-Medrano D, Drewery J, Burns F, Cárdenas P, Taite M, McKay D, Stirling D and Neat F (2019) A community assessment of the demersal fish and benthic invertebrates of the Rosemary Bank Seamount marine protected area (NE Atlantic).  Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 156, 103180.

Eerkes-Medrano D, Fryer RJ, Cook KB and Wright PJ (2017) Are simple environmental indicators of food web dynamics reliable: Exploring the kittiwake-temperature relationship. Ecological Indicators 75, 36-47.  

McIntyre FD, Drewery J, Eerkes-Medrano D and Neat FC (2016) Distribution and diversity of deep-sea sponge grounds on the Rosemary Bank Seamount, NE Atlantic. Marine Biology 163(6), 143.