Emeritus Professor Alasdair Edwards
Professor of Coral Reef Ecology

Introduction

From 1980-86 I worked largely on reef fish systematics and biogeography. In 1987 I was appointed to a Leverhulme Teaching Fellowship to help establish the MSc in Tropical Coastal Management. This led to a lectureship in 1990 and a Senior Lectureship in 1994. My research focus changed to the science underpinning coastal management in the tropics, research on fishery and other human impacts on reefs, applications of remote sensing technologies to management, and latterly the natural recovery processes of reefs and restoration science. I chaired the Restoration and Remediation Working Group of the GEF/World Bank Coral Reef Targeted Research programme from 2004-2010.

Qualifications

1988 MSc Computing Science, University of Newcastle
1979 PhD Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
1978 MA University of Cambridge
1974 BA (Honours) Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge

Memberships

Fellow of the Society of Biology (CBiol, FSB)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
European Countries Biologists Association (EurProBiol)
International Society for Reef Studies
Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Research Interests

My current research focuses on a) spatial and temporal patterns of recovery of coral reefs from physical damage and mass bleaching events, b) how reef restoration technologies can assist natural recovery processes, c) how gear changes and reserves can assist sustainable fisheries development, and d) the systematics and biogeography or reef fish.

Other Expertise

Use of satellite and airborne remote sensing for the mapping and assessment of coastal habitats and resources.

Current Work

I have recently finished running three international research projects:

Coral reef restoration and remediation: this is one of six integrated programmes of research which form part of the GEF/World Bank funded Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management project. Following the Asian tsunami tragedy in 2004 the Restoration and Remediation Working Group (RRWG) issued an Advisory Brief on reef restoration for governments, agencies and NGOs in the region. In 2007 we produced Reef Restoration Concepts and Guidelines which is now also available in French, Bahasa Indonesia and Spanish, followed in 2010 by a Reef Rehabilitation Manual. The research of RRWG members Alasdair Edwards, Edgardo Gomez (Philippines), James Guest (Singapore), Andrew Heyward (Australia) and Buki Rinkevich (Israel) was recently featured in Science.

Developing ubiquitous restoration practices for Indo-Pacific reefs: European Commission funded Framework 6 project led by Prof. Buki Rinkevich, National Institute of Oceanography (Israel), working primarily with Prof. Edgardo Gomez (University of the Philippines, Marine Science Institute). Others partners include Conzorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (Italy), National University of Singapore and Phuket Marine Biological Center (Thailand).


Developing reserves for biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries: a Darwin Initiative project with Shoals Rodrigues funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Also involved as
UK advisers are Dr Fiona Gell (Isle of Man), Dr Charles Anderson (Atoll Research).

Postgraduate Supervision

Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler is studying for a PhD working on the behavioural ecology of Alfred's manta (Manta alfredi) in the Maldives.

Esteem Indicators

Chair of the Restoration and Remediation Working Group (RRWG) of the GEF/World Bank Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management programme 2004-2010.

Projects

Postgraduate Teaching

MST8021 Fisheries resources assessment & management
MST8011 Critical appraisal of coastal production systems