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PhD student

Research interests

My research interests include population biogeography, larval transport and dispersal, and the environmental impacts of marine renewable energy devices. More specifically, I am interested in the mechanisms by which larval transport and dispersal influence connectivity among benthic populations, and their secondary effects on biogeography.

As the development of offshore renewable energy technology may significantly alter the availability of benthic habitats in the marine environment. My current research focuses on the role these structures might play in altering patterns of larval dispersal and population connectivity of intertidal organisms, particularly acorn barnacles.

I am also fascinated by taxonomy and its long history as a science, and intrigued by the area of deep-sea biology.

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

 

Education / career

Project

Offshore renewable energy structures as artificial islands: implications for dispersal, population connectivity, and biogeography of coastal species

Extensive construction of offshore structures for renewable energy generation will radically alter the geographical availability of shallow water and intertidal hard surfaces around the UK. While the absolute area of new habitats may be small, their location may be strategically important. In some areas, new hard habitats may be placed in areas of otherwise predominantly soft sediments, such as Morecambe Bay or the Norfolk coast. Elsewhere, offshore constructions may span existing marine vicariance boundaries, such as the North Channel in the Irish Sea. In either case, colonization of such structures may create ‘stepping stones’ for the spread of previously limited species ranges. New habitat may also be far from existing biological communities; only those species with significant long range dispersal ability may be able to colonize structures far from shore.

This project will investigate the role of dispersal in population connectivity of intertidal species by linking spatially explicit physical models of larval transport to models of population dynamics for key taxa. Recruitment and colonization will be measured in the field. Since experimental creation of coastal habitat rarely happens, opportunities to understand the mechanisms limiting dispersal and geographical distributions are rare. We anticipate the findings to have wide applicability to the design of well-connected MPA networks, a current UK policy objective. Good models of horizontal transport on coastal shelves will also be of considerable interest to physical oceanographers.

 

Supervisors

Dr Mike Burrows (Director of Studies)

Dr Clive Fox

Dr Mark Inall

 

Funder

SuperGen Marine Consortium

 

University

UHI Millennium Institute (with Aberdeen University)

Other info

Other activities

Publications

  • Miller, R. 2010. Rocky Shore Creatures. Northern Lighthouse Board Journal. Christmas 2010 issue, p.20

 

Presentations and posters

  • Miller, R., Burrows, M., Fox, C. and Inall, M. (2011) Variation in larval buoyancy as an influence on transport and dispersal: implications for colonisation of offshore renewable energy structures. Oral presentation at the 2011 World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, Aberdeen
  • Miller, R., Burrows, M., Fox, C., Inall, M. (2011). Variation in larval buoyancy as an influence on transport and dispersal - implications for colonisation of offshore renewable energy structures. Poster presentation at the 2011 UK Energy Research Council Annual Assembly, Coventry
  • Miller, R. 2010. Offshore renewable energy structures as artificial islands: investigating the role of dispersal in population connectivity. The Marine Biological Association Postgraduate Conference. Glasgow, 17 May 2010 
  • Miller, R., Burrows, M., Fox, C., Inall, M. (2010). Offshore renewable energy structures as artificial islands: implications for population connectivity, and biogeography of coastal species. Poster presentation at the SuperGen Marine Annual Assembly, Edinburgh
  • Miller, R.G., Burrows, M.T., Fox, C.J., and Inall, M. (2010). Offshore renewable energy structures as artificial islands: investigating the role of dispersal in population connectivity. Poster presentation at the 2010 Marine Biological Association Postgraduate Conference, Glasgow
  • Alexander, K., Macleod, A., Miller, R. (2009). The ecological impacts of offshore energy extraction. Poster presentation at the SuperGen Marine Annual Assembly, Edinburgh, 2009

 

Prizes and awards

  • Winner of the National Environment Research Council's Environment YES (Young Entrepreneurs Scheme) Competition, December 2010. More...
  • Best Presentation Award, UHI Postgraduate Conference, Moray College, November 2010

 

Outreach

I am a strong believer in the promotion of science beyond the classroom, and to a wider audience, and I frequently participate in workshops to engage school children in marine science. My other outreach activities include:

  • Registered and trained STEM ambassador, North of Scotland
  • Outreach volunteer, Festival of the Sea 2010, Oban
  • Volunteer, The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2009, Oceans on Wheels exhibit, London

 
 
My contact details

Raeanne Miller SAMS

Miss Raeanne Miller

E: raeanne.miller@sams.ac.uk

T: +44 (0)1631 559 232

F: +44 (0)1631 559 001

Scottish Marine Institute

Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK