Dr Paul Tett is a biological oceanographer studying the dynamics of planktonic micro-organisms (phytoplankton and pelagic protozoans) by observation and mathematical modelling. This work has practical application in relation to eutrophication - the increase in organic production resulting from enrichment with nitrogen and phosphorus.

Paul is also interested in the measurement of phytoplankton by optical methods, and in linking physical and biological process in the deep ocean, shelf seas, and sea lochs.

From 2000-2003 he was coordinator of the European OAERRE project, which studied the processes involved in eutrophication in enclosed coastal waters. He is now applying results from this project to the sea lochs of western Scotland with the aim of aiding the regulation of fish-farm environmental impact

Summary of research expertise and experience

• Identification and ecology of phytoplanktonic algae and their response to physical and chemical conditions in a) Scottish sea lochs, b) UK coastal waters, especially the North Sea and western Scottish waters, and c) most of the oceans, but especially the waters of the Canaries archipelago

• Nutrient cycling and eutrophication, including simple 'screening models' for eutrophication
• Modelling of marine ecosystems, especially microbial and nutrient-biogeochemical processes linked to physics, including experience of embedding biological models in 1D and 3D physical transport models with sediment resuspension
  
• Marine bio-optics, including electronic-optical methods for measurement

Current expertise and capability

• Eutrophication assessment and prediction
• Diagnosing undesirable disturbance
• Modelling of marine ecosystems

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

• Department of Microbial and Molecular Biology
• People and the Sea Research Theme
  
• Modelling group