Prof David Paterson

Prof David Paterson

Executive Director of MASTS

Professor

Researcher profile

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 3467
Email
dp1@st-andrews.ac.uk

 

Research areas

Ecology, biodiversity and dynamics of marine systems

My research concerns the ecology and dynamics of marine systems with a strong focus on the "biodiversity-ecosystem function" debate and the dynamics of marine microbiota. This work is supported by extensive field studies and laboratory mesocosms often using multiple stressors. This adds aspects of climate change research including the combined effects of temperature and CO2 on system response. The primary productivity of coastal systems is an important functional response and is also under investigation using fluorescence techniques. This work includes interdisciplinary studies of "biogenic stabilisation" by microbes and microphytobenthos, through the extracellular polymers produced by biofilms that increase the critical threshold for sediment re-suspension. We have also developed novel techniques to measure the stability of sediments in situ, and the relative adhesion capacity of different biofilms and surfaces. Recently, we have also been using molecular techniques to examine the effects of both natural (e.g. bioturbation) and anthropogenic (e.g. toxins, plastics, climate change) stressors on marine microbial systems. This is now encompassing work with industry on the ecology of man-made offshore structures (oil and gas installations and wind farms). 

PhD supervision

  • Toms Ekmanis
  • Gracie Wilson

Selected publications

  • Open access

    A new approach for assessing the radioecological risk associated with the legacy discharge of oil derived natural radioactivity in the UK North Sea

    Dal Molin, F., Hunt, D., Dewar, A., Lozach, S., Phillips, C., Thomas, B., Warford, L., Parker, J. E., Walker, J., Chocholek, M., Paterson, D. M., Woodward-Rowe, H. & Hicks, N., Mar 2025, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 212, p. 1-10 10 p., 117585.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access

    BioTIME 2.0: expanding and improving a database of biodiversity time series

    Dornelas, M., Antão, L. H., Bates, A. E., Brambilla, V., Chase, J. M., Chow, C. F. Y., Fontrodona-Eslava, A., Magurran, A. E., Martins, I. S., Moyes, F., Sagouis, A., Adu-Acheampong, S., Acquah-Lamptey, D., Adam, D., Ajani, P. A., Albaina, A., Almaraz, P., An, J., Anderson, R. S. & Anderson, M. J. R. & 465 others, Antunes, A. Z., Arismendi, I., Armbrecht, L., Aros-Mardones, P., Ashtamoorthy, S. K., Ayyappan, N., Badihi, G., Bailey, J. J., Baird, A. H., Baird, M. E., Balakrishnan, S. V., Barão-Nóbrega, J. A. L., Barash, A., Barbosa, M., Barlow, J., Bässler, C., Beaumont, M., Beenaerts, N., Begot, T. O., Beiroz, W., Beldade, R., Bell, D. M., Bellgrove, A., Belmaker, J., Benedetti-Cecchi, L., Benkwitt, C. E., Berkum, P.M.-V., Bestelmeyer, B. T., Betts, M. G., Billah, M. K., Bjorkman, A. D., Błażewicz, M., Bloch, C. P., Blowes, S. A., Bode, A., Bogoni, J. A., Bolger, T., Bonebrake, T. C., Bonsdorff, E., Bottarin, R., Brokensha, L. N., Brooker, R. W., Brooks, A. J., Bruelheide, H., Bueno, T. A., Laguionie, C., Campagnoli, M. L., Cant, J., Caramaschi, E. P., Caron, A., Carroll, T., Caruso, T., Carvajal-Quintero, J., Castaldelli, G., Castañeda-Moya, E., Castilho, P. V., Cechin, S. Z., Chaikin, S., Chandrashekara, U. M., Chase, T. J., Chen, C. A., Cherem, J. J., Choi, S.-W., Christensen, E. M., Christianini, A. V., Chu, J. W. F., Coad, P., Van Colen, C., Comte, L., Cooper, E. J., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Cosson, E., Cotano, U., Crevecoeur, L., Crow, S. K., Cumming, G. S., Daga, V. S., Damasceno, G., Daskalova, G. N., Davies, C. H., Davis, R. A., Day, F. P., De-La-Zerda, S., Deacon, A. E., de Castro-Arrazola, I., Degraer, S., Deonarinesingh, K., Diaz-Ricaurte, J. C., Dickman, C. R., Dirilgen, T., Dolan, C. J., Duffy, J. E., Dunn, T. E., Durigan, G., Dwyer, C., Earl, S., Edelist, D., Edgar, G. J., Edmondson, S., Elgin, A. K., Ellingsen, K. E., Elmendorf, S. C., Eriksen, R. S., Ernest, S. K. M., Escribano, R., Eterovick, P. C., Evans, B. S., Everett, J. D., Evtimova, V., Exton, D. A., Fairbairn, A. J., Fantacini, F. M., Farah, F. T., Farneda, F. Z., Favila, M. E., Fernandez-Fournier, P., Fernández-Zapata, B., Ferreira, D. F., Ferronato, C., du Feu, C. R., Fidelis, A., Fifield, D. A., Filho, V. P., Filho, W. M., Fitt, R. N. L., Flechtmann, C. A. H., Fraser, W. R., Fraser, D. L., Freixas, L., Fryxell, J., Fundakowski, G. J., Gabara, S. S., Gallois, E., Criado, M. G., García-Berthou, E., Garrabou, J., Gates, A. R., Gatti, R. C., Gavioli, A., Gavriel, T., Gendreau-Berthiaume, B., Giam, X., Gjerdrum, C., Glemnitz, M., Godbold, J. A., Gómez-Gras, D., Gonçalves, R. B., Goold, A., Gordon, R. R., Goren, M., Goulart, F. V. B., Gould, W. A., Grabowski, M. M., Graham, N. A. J., Graipel, M. E., Grange, L. J., Greenville, A. C., Grossman, G. D., Guinder, V. A., Haase, P., Haskins, G. N., Havstad, K., Hermanutz, L., Hickford, M. J. H., Hidalgo, P., Higuchi, P., Hoey, A. S., Van Hoey, G., Hofgaard, A., Holeck, K. T., Hollister, R. D., Holmes, R. T., Hoogenboom, M. O., Hortal, J., Horton, T., Hsieh, C.-H., Huffard, C. L., Huikkonen, I.-M., Hurlbert, A. H., Hynes, J., Irz, P., Macedo Ivanauskas, N., Iwayama, A., James, D. K., Jandt, U., Jażdżewska, A. M., Jocque, M., Johnston, S. T., Jones, S. E. I., Jones, F. A. M., Jones, J. A., Jucevica, E., Kagainis, U., Kagami, M., Kang, J., Ke, X., Keeley, E. C., Kinnear, R., Klanderud, K., Klinck, U., van Klink, R., Klotz, S., Knockaert, C., Knutsen, H., Koivula, M., Kortz, A., Kriegel, P., Kuo, C.-Y., Kushner, D. J., Kyerematen, R., Lagarde, R., Lancaster, L. T., Landau, O. F., Van Landuyt, W., Larson, E. R., Lazarus, M., Lee, C. M., Lefcheck, J. S., Lembrechts, J. J., Ferreira de Lima, R. A., Lima, R. G., Lima, N. G. S., Linares, C., Lindstrom, S. C., Lloret, F., Lloyd, J. D., Lobato, C. M. C., Lodge, D. M., Long, P. R., López-Abbate, C., López-Baucells, A., Louzada, J., Louzao, M., Lugliè, A., Luiz, M. R., Macdonald, S. E., Madin, J. S., Magalhães, A. L. B., Mahabir, R., Maphisa, D., Martin, T. E., Martins, M., Martone, P. T., Matesanz, S., Matsuzaki, S.-I. S., Matthews, T. J., Matthews, I. M., Maxwell, C. J., McFarland, K. P., McGill, B. J., McKnight, D. M., McWilliam, M. J., Meador, J., Meesenburg, H., Meier, K., Melecis, V., Meserve, P. L., Meyer, C. F. J., Michelsen, A., Miiller, N. O. R., Milardi, M., Milchakova, N., Miller, R. J., Millett, J., Moens, T., Montag, L. F. A., Moore, J., Müller, J., Murali, A., Murray, S. A., Myers-Smith, I. H., Myster, R. W., Nakamura, M., Nayar, S., Neat, F., Nelson, J. A., Nelson, M. P., Nikolov, B. P., Nouioua, R., Nsor, C. A., O'Connor, M., Obodai, E. A., Offland, A. M., Ogaya, R., Ogura, H., Okey, T. A., Olden, J. D., Oliveira-Santos, L. G. R., Oliver, J. C., Olsen, E. M., Onipchenko, V. G., Oro, D., Ozolins, D., Pabis, K., Padedda, B. M., Palacio, F. X., Paquette, A., Pardede, S. T., Paterson, D. M., Pausina, S., Pélissier, R., Pennings, S. C., Penuelas, J., Pereira, F. W., Peroni, N., Picó, S., Pilotto, F., Pinheiro, H. T., Pizarro, O., Pizzolotto, R., Pomati, F., Pompeu, P. S., Ponton, D., Post, E., Poulet, N., Pöyry, J., Presley, S. J., Prins, H. H. T., Provoost, P., Prudic, K. L., Punjayil, V., Pyšek, P., Querner, P., Quimbayo, J. P., Ramnarine, I. W., Reed, D. C., Reich, P. B., Remillard, S. M., Richards, C., Richardson, A. J., van Rijn, I., Rivera-Monroy, V. H., Rixen, C., Robinson, K. P., Rocha, R., Rodrigues, R. R., Rodrigues, C., de Roos, B., de Rossa-Feres, D. D. C., Rosselli, L., Rothlisberg, P. C., Rubio, A., Rudstam, L. G., Ruz, C. S., Rybicki, N. B., Van Ryckegem, G., Rypel, A. L., Sadler, J. P., Saito, V. S., Sal, S., Salomão, R. P., Sanders, N. J., Santos, F. A. M., dos Santos, T. G., Sarker, S. K., Scanga, S. E., Schaub, M., Schmidt, J., Schmidt, I. K., Schooley, R. L., Schultz, A., Scotti, A., Serpell-Stevens, A., Serrano, F. C., Shadwick, E. H., Shaft, M., Sherry, T. W., Shimabukuro, E. M., Siciński, J., Sievers, C., da Silva, F. R., da Silva, A. C., Silveira, J. M., Siqueira, T., Sivadasan, A. K., Sivan, P. T. P., Skuja, A., Slaughter, A. L., Slingsby, J. A., Smith, J. R., Soares, B. E., Solan, M., Souza, F. M., Souza, G. B. G., Sprague, J. L., Stachow, U., Stadt, J. J., Stallings, C. D., Stanchev, R. H., Stanley, E. H., Starzomski, B. M., Sterza, J. M., Stevens, M., Stiles, F. G., Stoll, S., Stuart-Smith, R. D., Súarez, Y. R., Super, L., Supp, S. R., Sutela, T., Suthers, I. M., Suuronen, A., Swadling, K. M., Szydlowski, D. K., Taki, H., Taylor, S. J. S., Tedesco, P. A., Teichert, N., Terui, A., Thiede, G. P., Thimonier, A., Thomas, O., Thompson, P. A., Thorn, S., Tiemann, J. S., Toledo, L. F., Tolvanen, A., Toniato, M. T. Z., Torre, I., Tortato, M. A., Totsu, K., Trant, A., Twilley, R. R., Urabe, H., Valade, P., Valdivia, N., Vallejo, M. I., Valone, T. J., Vanaverbeke, J., Vasconcelos, T. S., Vehanen, T., Venturoli, F., Verheye, H. M., Vermeulen, H. J. W., Verstraeten, A., Vianna, M., Vieira, R., Vieira-Alencar, J. P. S., Vilella, M., Vitule, J. R. S., Van Vu, L., Waide, R. B., Warren, P. S., Wayman, J. P., Webb, S. L., Weigel, B., Welti, E. A. R., West, F., Westermann, F., Whalen, M. A., White, E. P., Widdicombe, C. E., Williams, R., Williamson, M., Willig, M. R., Wipf, S., Woehler, E. J., Woldering, A., Woods, K. D., Xu, W.-B., Yahel, R., Yang, Z., Zawada, K. J. A., Zornosa-Torres, C. & Zvuloni, A., May 2025, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 34, 5, p. 1-18 18 p., e70003.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Differential mediation of biogeochemical processes through bioturbation by fiddler and sesarmid mangrove crabs

    Yang, Y., Liang, Q., Peng, Y. & Paterson, D. M., Feb 2025, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 211, p. 1-12 12 p., 117431.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Response of natural estuarine microphytobenthic biofilms to multiple anthropogenic stressors

    Rimmer, J. E. V., Blight, A. J., Chocholek, M. & Paterson, D. M., 15 Dec 2025, In: Environmental Pollution. 387, 127285.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Biomineralization of heavy metals based on urea transport and hydrolysis within a new bacterial isolate, B. intermedia TSBOI

    Hu, X., Yu, C., Li, X., Zou, J., Du, Y. & Paterson, D. M., 5 May 2024, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials . 469, p. 1-11 11 p., 134049.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access

    Developing expert scientific consensus on the environmental and societal effects of marine artificial structures prior to decommissioning

    Knights, A. M., Lemasson, A. J., Firth, L. B., Bond, T., Claisse, J., Coolen, J. W. P., Copping, A., Dannheim, J., De Dominicis, M., Degraer, S., Elliott, M., Fernandes, P. G., Fowler, A. M., Frost, M., Henry, L.-A., Hicks, N., Hyder, K., Jagerroos, S., Jones, D. O. B. & Love, M. & 19 others, Lynam, C. P., Macreadie, P. I., Marlow, J., Mavraki, N., McLean, D., Montagna, P. A., Paterson, D. M., Perrow, M., Porter, J., Russell, D. J. F., Bull, A. S., Schratzberger, M., Shipley, B., van Elden, S., Vanaverbeke, J., Want, A., Watson, S. C. L., Wilding, T. A. & Somerfield, P., Feb 2024, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 352, 16 p., 119897.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access

    Haven or hell? A perspective on the ecology of offshore oil and gas platforms

    Fortune, I. S., Madgett, A. S., Bull, A. S., Hicks, N., Love, M. S. & Paterson, D., 18 Apr 2024, In: PLOS Sustainability and Transformation. 3, 4, 32 p., e0000104.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

  • Open access

    Multidecadal changes in coastal benthic species composition and ecosystem functioning occur independently of temperature-driven community shifts

    Armitage, P., Burrows, M. T., Rimmer, J. E. V., Blight, A. J. & Paterson, D. M., 27 Aug 2024, In: Global Change Biology. 30, 8, 19 p., e17482.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access

    To what extent can decommissioning options for marine artificial structures move us toward environmental targets?

    Knights, A. M., Lemasson, A. J., Firth, L. B., Beaumont, N., Birchenough, S., Claisse, J., Coolen, J. W. P., Copping, A., De Dominicis, M., Degraer, S., Elliott, M., Fernandes, P. G., Fowler, A. M., Frost, M., Henry, L.-A., Hicks, N., Hyder, K., Jagerroos, S., Love, M. & Lynam, C. & 17 others, Macreadie, P. I., McLean, D., Marlow, J., Mavraki, N., Montagna, P. A., Paterson, D. M., Perrow, M. R., Porter, J., Bull, A. S., Schratzberger, M., Shipley, B., van Elden, S., Vanaverbeke, J., Want, A., Watson, S. C. L., Wilding, T. A. & Somerfield, P. J., Jan 2024, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 350, 8 p., 119644.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access

    Biological–physical interactions are fundamental to understanding and managing coastal dynamics

    Solan, M., Spencer, T., Paterson, D. M., Unsworth, C. A., Christie, E. K., Blight, A. J., Brown, J., Brooks, H., Lichtman, I. D., Wei, X., Li, X., Thorne, P., Leyland, J., Godbold, J. A., Thompson, C., Williams, M. E., Plater, A., Moller, I. & Amoudry, L. O., 12 Jul 2023, In: Royal Society Open Science. 10, 7, 6 p., 230155.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

 

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