Emily Southall studied Applied Biology at the University of Greenwich and took an MSc in Environmental Impact Assessment (Anglia) before working in the conservation sector for the Wildlife Trusts and English Nature. In 1997 Emily began a Ph.D in ecology where she investigated spatial analysis techniques to elucidate temporal patterns and succession of plant communities (the Ecology of Poor Fen & Willow Carr on Goss Moor NNR).

Emily has worked at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth as a Post-doctoral Research Assistant since 2001. Her current research focuses on how large pelagic fish such as basking sharks locate sufficient prey in an apparently featureless environment like the ocean. Basking shark movements are investigated in relation to a number of environmental factors using satellite transmitting tags, remote sensing imagery and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Other research interests include the feeding behaviour and habitat selection of juvenile dogfish.

CONTACT DETAILS

email: ejso@mba.ac.uk

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Southall, E.J., Sims, D.W., Witt, M.J., & Metcalfe, J.D. (2006) Seasonal space-use estimates of basking sharks in relation to protection and political-economic zones in the north-east Atlantic. Biological Conservation, 132, 33-39.

Southall, E.J., Sims, D.W., Metcalfe, J.D., Doyle, J.I., Fanshawe, S., Lacey, C., Shrimpton, J., Solandt, J.L., & Spccdie, C.D. (2005) Spatial distribution patterns of basking sharks on the European shelf: preliminary comparison of satellite-tag geolocation, survey and public sightings data. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 85, 1083-1088.

Southall, E.J. & Sims, D.W. (2003) Shark skin: a function in feeding. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B - Biological Sciences, 270, S47-S49.