Dr Carol Sparling
Director of the Sea Mammal Research Unit
Research areas
My work focuses on the ecology, conservation and management of marine mammal populations, with particular emphasis on understanding population status and trends, assessing human impacts, and developing evidence to support policy and management. My work spans long-term monitoring, population dynamics, conservation science and applied research on issues including disturbance, underwater noise and predator–prey interactions. I have extensive experience in delivering policy-relevant science for government and other stakeholders, with a strong interest in linking high-quality research to practical conservation outcomes.
PhD supervision
- Eva-Maria Bønnelycke
Selected publications
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Open access
Evaluating the risk of collision of seals swimming within metres of operating tidal turbines
Montabaranom, J., Gillespie, D., Sparling, C., Longden, E. & Hastie, G., 3 Feb 2026, In: Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 36, 2, e70326.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
How to deter seals? A manually triggered acoustic deterrent study
Harris, R. N., Coram, A. J., Tapp, S. & Sparling, C. E., 6 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Marine Mammal Science. Early View, p. 1-8 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Reduced adult survival estimated in areas of decline of harbour seal populations in Scotland
Arso Civil, M., Tapp, S., Dickens, J., Langley, I., Hiley, H. M., Terrapon, M., Hague, E., Hewitt, R. C., Cordes, L. S., Graham, I. M., Cheney, B. J., Thompson, P. M., Hall, A. & Sparling, C. E., Oct 2025, In: Ecology and Evolution. 15, 10, p. 1-20 20 p., e72349.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Seals exhibit localised avoidance of operational tidal turbines
Montabaranom, J., Gillespie, D. M., Longden, E., Rapson, K., Holoborodko, A., Sparling, C. E. & Hastie, G. D., 1 Feb 2025, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 62, 2, p. 242-252 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Animal displacement from marine energy development: Mechanisms and consequences
Hemery, L. G., Garavelli, L., Copping, A. E., Farr, H., Jones, K., Baker-Horne, N., Kregting, L., McGarry, L. P., Sparling, C. & Verling, E., 20 Mar 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 917, 170390.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Marine Mammal Scientific Support Research Programme: Fisheries Interactions Annual Report 2023/24
Harris, R., Sparling, C. E., Tapp, S., Gillespie, D. M., Coram, A. J. & Durbach, I. N., 31 May 2024, 10 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
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Marine Mammal Scientific Support Research Programme: Marine Industries Annual Report 2023/24
Montabaranom, J., Sparling, C. E., Hastie, G. D., Gillespie, D. M., Longden, E. & Rapson, K., 31 May 2024, 14 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
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Marine mammal scientific support research programme MMS/003/20: harbour seal decline annual report 2023/24
Sparling, C. E., Arso Civil, M., Jacobson, E. K. & Hall, A. J., 31 May 2024, Sea Mammal Research Unit. 12 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
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Towards improved conservation of the east coast of Scotland bottlenose dolphin population: quantifying and understanding a major range expansion into northeast England
Ellis, G., Arso Civil, M., Cheney, B., Sinclair, R., Humphrey, O., Hammond, P. & Sparling, C., 11 Jan 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
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Open access
Automated detection and tracking of marine mammals in the vicinity of tidal turbines using multibeam sonar
Gillespie, D. M., Hastie, G. D., Montabaranom, J., Longden, E., Rapson, K., Holoborodko, A. & Sparling, C. E., 1 Nov 2023, In: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 11, 11, 12 p., 2095.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review