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Head of Microbial and Molecular Biology Department

In addition to my role in the management of department, I maintain a range of active research interests. These focus on the response of marine microbes to environmental forcing with particular focus on coastal marine phytoplankton and, in particular, harmful algae.

I employ a range of techniques including laboratory phytoplankton culture, inshore and offshore boat based field work, mesocosms and mathematical modelling.

Current topics of interest include:

  • Harmful algae: Processes governing the initiation of harmful algal blooms, in particular of Alexandrium tamarense and Pseudo-nitzschia spp, that can cause shellfish poisoning in Scottish and other waters, and the ichthyotoxic Karenia mikimotoi.
  • Coastal phytoplankton ecology: how does topography and physical forcing influence phytoplankton distribution and productivity
  • Inorganic and organic nutrients: How does availability of allochonous and autochonous dissolved organic matter govern marine microbial food webs interactions.
  • Protozoology: Modelling protozoan/phytoplankton interaction.

 

At the Scottish Marine Institute I am a member of the...

 I am also a user of the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa and our analytical capabilities.

 

Education / Career

2009   Appointed Head of Microbial and Molecular Biology Department, SAMS
2006   Promoted Senior Lecturer in Microbial Ecology, SAMS
1998   Appointed Lecturer in Microbial Ecology, SAMS
1998   Appointed NERC Research Fellow, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
1995   Appointed PDRA U. Wales Swansea / U. Strathclyde
1993   Appointed PDRA U. Wales, Swansea
1993   Awarded PhD Mathematical modelling of phytoplankton/protozoan interactions, U. Strathclyde
1989   Awarded BSc (Hons) 1st Class in Applied Physics, U. Strathclyde

Projects

Current research projects

The neurotoxin-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium is common in Scottish waters, with contamination of shellfish with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins having occurred on an annual basis in recent years. Alexandrium in Scottish waters is dominated by Alexandrium tamarense and previously it was thought that this was exclusively the highly toxic North American (group I) ribotype. However, the identification of both toxic and non toxic cells within a single water sample has been demonstrated in Scottish waters.

A NERC (CASE) PhD studentship (Lisa Eckford-Soper) is investigating the growth  and competitive dynamics of toxic and non toxic ribotpes of Alexandrium tamarense.

  • Topographic influence on phytoplankton in shelf seas

As part of the NERC Oceans 2025 programme we are investigating the relationship between undersea banks and phytoplankton productivity and community composition. Research cruises have been conducted to Jones Bank in the Celtic Sea and Barra Head in the Hebridean Sea.

Grants

Grant capture since 2000
 

Publications

Key publications
Harmful Algae 
  • Touzet N., Davidson K., Pete R., Flanagan K., McCoy GR., Amzil Z., Maher M., Chapelle A. & Raine R (2010) Co-occurrence of the West European (Gr. III) and North American (Gr. I) ribotypes of Alexandrium tamarense (Dinophyceae) in Shetland, Scotland. Protist  161: 370-384 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2009.12.001
  • Davidson K, Miller PI, Wilding T, Shutler J, Bresnan E, Kennington K, Swan S (2009) A large and prolonged bloom of Karenia mikimotoi in Scottish waters in 2006. Harmful Algae 8:349-361  doi:10.1016/j.hal.2008.07.007

Click here to download a 2007 workshop report about relating harmful phytoplankton to shellfish poisoning and human health.

 

Nutrient forcing of marine microbes
  • Pete R, Davidson K, Hart M, Gutierrez T, Miller AEJ. (2010) Diatom derived dissolved organic matter as a driver of bacterial productivity: the role of nutrient limitation. J. Exp. Mar Biol. Ecol. 391:20-26
  • Davidson K, Gilpin, LC, Hart MC, Fouilland E, Mitchell E, Alvarez Calleja I, Laurent C, Miller AEJ, Leakey RJG (2007)  The influence of the balance of inorganic and organic nitrogen on the trophic dynamics of microbial food webs. Limnology and Oceanography 52:2147-2163

 

Protozoology
  • Davidson K, Sayegh F, Montagnes DJS (2011) Oxyrrhis marina based models as a tool to interpret protozoan population dynamics.  J. Plankton Res 33:651-663
  • Montagnes DJS, Barbosa AB, Boenigk J, Davidson K, Jürgens K, Macek M, Parry J, Roberts EC, Šimek K (2008) Selective feeding behaviour of free-living protists: views on, and avenues for, continued study. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 53:83-98
  • Flynn, K.J., Davidson, K. and Cunningham A. (1996) Prey selection and rejection by a microflagellate; implications for the study and operation of microbial food webs. J. Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 196:357-372.

External

External activities / measures of esteem

Committee/panel activities

  • Member of NERC peer review college
  • Member of ICES Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics
  • Member of DEFRA Health and Biologically Diverse Seas Evaluation Group
  • Organiser of Crown Estate Karenia mikimotoi workshop, Edinburgh 2007
  • Chair of NERC Harmful Algae & Human Health workshop, SAMS 2007
  • National organizing committee: Challenger Society Conference 2006

 

Editorial responsibilities

  • Editorial board of Protistology 2002-9
  • Reviewer for Marine Ecology Progress Series 1997-2005
  • Peer reviews for a range of academic journals

 

Invited lectures

2010

  • Harmful algal blooms & eutrophication: NERC SOFI Oceans 2025 Marine Environment and Human Health workshop, Weymouth. February 2010


2009

  • Mathematical modelling of the 2006 Karenia mikimotoi bloom in Scottish Water: Joint symposium of ICES Working groups on Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics and Physical Biological Interactions.  Huelva, Spain March 2009, (Davidson, Gillibrand, Bresnan)
  • Marine microbial dynamics in Coastal waters: NERC SOFI Oceans 2025 Marine Optics workshop, Glasgow. March 2009


2008

  • Forecasting harmful algal blooms in Scottish waters: FINAL Project wrap up meeting. December 2008. IFREMER Brest, France.
  • Forecasting the initiation of harmful algal blooms: BSPB Annual Conference, April 2008, Gregynog, Wales, UK
  • Modelling the cross shelf transport of Karenia mikimotoi: ICES working group on Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics, March 2008, Galway, Ireland
  • Relating harmful phytoplankton to shellfish poisoning and human health: Environment and Human Health Programme science day, February 2008, NERC, Swindon, UK


2007

  • Forecasting the initiation of harmful algal blooms: Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers Annual Conference, October 2007, Oban, UK
  • Methods of selective protistan grazing: Special Session. SAME 10 conference, September 2007, Faro, Portugal.
  • An exceptional bloom of Karenia mikimotoi in Scottish waters in 2006: ICES working group on Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics, April 2007, Riga, Latvia.
  • Harmful Algae in Scottish Waters: Public Seminar, January 2007, North Highland College, Thurso, UK.


2006

  • Pseudo-nitzschia in Scottish Waters: Seminar, April 2006, IFREMER, Brest, France.
  • Harmful Marine Phytoplankton in UK waters: Algae in Aquaculture and Algal Biotechnology (AlGINET) Conference. January 2006, Oban, UK


2005

  • Monitoring Harmful Phytoplankton: Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers Annual Conference, October 2005, Oban, UK
  • Harmful algal blooms with a focus on Scottish waters. Food Standards Agency Scotland, July 2005,  Dunstaffnage Marine lab, Oban, UK
  • The role of prey nutritional status in governing protozoan nitrogen regeneration efficiency. Stoichiometry session EURO ASLO, June 2005, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
  • Pseudo-nitzschia in Scottish Waters: Seminar Marine Laboratory Aberdeen, February 2005, Aberdeen, UK.


2004

  • Nitrogen sources and microbial food web dynamics: SAMS Seminar, October 2004, Oban, UK.
  • Organic and inorganic nitrogen: their relative influence on microbial food web dynamics. Trondheim Marine Systems Research Infrastructure user meeting, April 2004, Norway.

 

Pre 2004

  • Microzooplankton modelling: NERC Marine Productivity workshop. October 2000, Birmingham, UK.
  • Diatom growth studies in Mesocosm experiments: Trondheim Marine Systems Large Scale Facility user meeting, December 1999, Norway.
  • Predatory dynamics of the microflagellate Paraphysomonas vestita: New Directions in Marine Science. October 1999, Dunstaffnage Marine Lab, Oban, UK
  • The behaviour of phagotrophic flagellates within the microbial food web: a quantitative analysis. Seminar at the Centre for Population Biology, Silwood Park, September 1996.
  • Modelling microbial predator prey interactions: BSSP autumn meeting "A protozoologists guide to modelling" Linnean Society, September 1999, London, UK.
  • Quantifying the predatory behaviour of heterotrophic flagellates: British Section, Society of Protozoologists, March 1995, Liverpool, UK.
  • Models of microbial predator/prey dynamics: To the Russian Protozoological Society, February 1996, St Petersburg, Russia.

 

Media coverage

  • Radio Sheltand/Orkney interview on harmful algae available here

 

Professional memberships

  • Member of the International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae
  • Member of the American Society for Limnology and Oceanography
  • Member of the Higher Education Academy

 

Teaching

Students/teaching

Current research students

 

Past research students (alumni)

  • Grigorios Moschonas (sandwich student, U. Bangor, 2010)
  • Jonathon Curry (summer student, U. Swansea, 2010)
  • Christian Lonborg, PhD student, graduated 2009
  • Romain Pete, PhD student, graduated 2008
  • Aditee Mitra, PhD student, graduated 2006
  • Johanna Fehling, PhD student, graduated 2004

 

Module leadership: BSc (Hons) Marine Science

  • Basic Mathematics (year 1)
  • Microbial Ecology (year 3)
  • Previous module leader for Mathematics and Statistics (year 1: 2000 - 2005); Statistics and Experimental Design (year 2: 2001 - 1004); Project (year 3: 2002 - 2006); Marine Modelling (year 4: 2002 - 2007)

 

Other lecturing: BSc (Hons) Marine Science

  • Field Course (year 1)
  • Mathematics and Statistics (year 1)
  • Marine and Estuarine Systems (year 2)
  • Ocean Carbon Cycling (year 4)

 

Academic management

  • Programme Leader of the BSc (Hons) Marine Science: 1999 - 2009
  • Subject Network Leader for Marine Science within UHI Millennium Institute: 2004 - 2009
  • Deputy head of SAMS Education: 2005 - 2009

 

External teaching responsibilities

  • External examiner for MSc Aquatic Ecosystem Management at Edinburgh Napier University
  • External examiner for three PhD candidates (University of Liverpool; University of Essex; NUI Galway)
 
My contact details

Dr Keith Davidson SAMS

Dr Keith Davidson

E: keith.davidson@sams.ac.uk

T: +44 (0)1631 559 256

F: +44 (0)1631 559 001

Scottish Marine Institute

Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK

 

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