Projects per year
Personal profile
Research expertise
My research centres on marine microbes, in particular phytoplankton, their grazers and their cycling of nutrients. Work over the last 10 years has concentrated on harmful phytoplankton and their implications for shellfish and finfish aquaculture and human health.
I have a background in physics but have become increasingly interested in phytoplankton since I first started to attempt to model their growth as an undergraduate.
I now have wide interests related to marine microbes and marine biogeochemistry in terms of better understanding the factors that govern cell growth, interactions between organisms and the cycling of carbon and nutrient in marine pelagic environments.
Currently the main focus of my research is related to harmful algal blooms (HABs). These events are caused by a range of phytoplankton genera and can negatively impact human, other mammal or fish health through the production of natural biotoxins and other mechanisms. My research centers of how the physical/chemical/biological environment governs these HAB events. We are using this increased understanding to develop methods, including models and other risk assessment tools, that provide early warning of HAB events for aquaculture, regulators and the public.
Current projects
Combining Autonomous observations and Models for Predicting and Understanding Shelf seas (CAMPUS): This project aims to deliver an improved evidence-base for ecosystem-based marine management and to identify a cost-effective optimised observing network. Funded by NERC. 2018-21.
Predicting Risk and Impact of Harmful Events on the Aquaculture Sector (PRIMROSE): This project with partners in Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Spain and Portugal is developing common methodologies for better harmful algal bloom and biotoxin early warning for European aquaculture. Funded by NWE Interreg. 2017-20
Arctic Productivity in the seasonal Ice Zone (Arctic PRIZE): We are investigating the seasonally and spatially varying relationship between sea ice, water column structure, light, nutrients and phytoplankton productivity and the roles they play in structuring energy transfer to pelagic zooplankton and benthic megafauna. Funded by NERC. 2017-21
Satellite-based water quality bulletins for shellfish farms to support managememt decisions (Shelleye-2): We are evaluating the use of satellites for high biomass harmful algal bloom identification and early warning. Funded by NERC. 2017-19
Risk Assessing Harmful Algal Generated Biotoxin Events: We produce weekly HAB and biotoxin risk assessments that are made available through the habreports.org web site. Funded by the European Fisheries Fund. 2017-19
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Strathclyde
Award Date: 1 Jan 1993
Bachelor of Science, University of Strathclyde
Award Date: 1 Jan 1989
Keywords
- Prosperity from Ecosystems
- harmful algal blooms
- Marine Processes and Climate
- marine phytoplankton
- nutrient cycling
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
Projects
- 1 Finished
-
NPP WATER: Warning of Algal Toxin Events to Support Aquaculture in the Northern Periphery Programme Coastal Zone Region
Raine, R., Shelmerdine, R. L., Stone, D., Davidson, K., Gard, E., Naustvoll, L., Henderson, R. & Gubbins, M.
1/01/09 → 31/12/13
Project: Research
Research output
-
Current Status of Forecasting Toxic Harmful Algae for the North-East Atlantic Shellfish Aquaculture Industry
Fernandes-salvador, J. A., Davidson, K., Sourisseau, M., Revilla, M., Schmidt, W., Clarke, D., Miller, P. I., Arce, P., Fernández, R., Maman, L., Silva, A., Whyte, C., Mateo, M., Neira, P., Mateus, M., Ruiz-villarreal, M., Ferrer, L. & Silke, J., 10 Jun 2021, In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 8, 25 p., 666583.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Citations (Scopus)10 Downloads (Pure) -
Diversity and regional distribution of harmful algal events along the Atlantic margin of Europe
Bresnan, E., Arévalo, F., Belin, C., Branco, M. A. C., Cembella, A. D., Clarke, D., Correa, J., Davidson, K., Dhanji-rapkova, M., Lozano, R. F., Fernández-tejedor, M., Guðfinnsson, H., Carbonell, D. J., Laza-martinez, A., Lemoine, M., Lewis, A. M., Menéndez, L. M., Maskrey, B. H., Mckinney, A., Pazos, Y. & 8 others, , 12 Feb 2021, In: Harmful Algae. 102, 32 p., 101976.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
16 Citations (Scopus) -
HABreports: Online early warning of harmful algal and biotoxin risk for the shellfish and finfish aquaculture industries
Davidson, K., Whyte, C., Aleynik, D., Dale, A., Kurekin, A., Mcneill, S., Miller, P., Porter, M. & Saxon, R., 9 Apr 2021, In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 8, 19 p., 631732.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Citations (Scopus)6 Downloads (Pure) -
LC-MSn profiling reveals seasonal variation in the composition of Osmundea pinnatifida (Hudson) Stackhouse
Biancacci, C., McDougall, G. J., Allwood, J. W., Day, J. G., Davidson, K. & Stanley, M. S., 8 May 2021, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Applied Phycology. 2021, 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus) -
Low Contribution of the Fast-Sinking Particle Fraction to Total Plankton Metabolism in a Temperate Shelf Sea
Garcia-Martin, E. E., Davidson, K., Davis, C., Mahaffey, C., Mcneill, S., Purdie, D. & Robinson, C., 6 Sep 2021, In: Global Biogeochemical Cycles. 35, 9, 12 p., 2021GB007015.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure) -
Offshore aquaculture of finfish: Big expectations at sea
Morro, B., Davidson, K., Adams, T., Falcone, L., Holloway, M., Dale, A., Aleynik, D., Thies, P. R., Khalid, F., Hardwick, J., Smith, H., Gillibrand, P. & Rey-Planellas, S., 2 Nov 2021, In: Reviews in Aquaculture. 25 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure) -
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture
Gianella, F., Burrows, M., Swan, S., Turner, A. D. & Davidson, K., 22 Dec 2021, In: Frontiers in Marine Science.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile30 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
-
Aquaculture UK 2022
Keith Davidson (Participant)
3 May 2022 → 5 May 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
-
HABreports: Online early warning of harmful algal and biotoxin risk for the Scottish shellfish and finfish aquaculture industries
Keith Davidson (Speaker)
23 Feb 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
-
My-HABs HAB early warning webinar for Malaysian Dept of FIsheries
Keith Davidson (Participant)
31 Mar 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
-
International Conference for Harmful Algae 2021 (Mexico & on line)
Keith Davidson (Member of programme committee)
17 Oct 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference
-
The Off-aqua project
Keith Davidson (Speaker), Max Holloway (Speaker), Thomas Adams (Speaker), Jon Hardwick (Speaker) & Bernat Morro (Speaker)
26 Oct 2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
-
TAB meeting
Keith Davidson (Member)
29 Nov 2017Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Research and Teaching at External Organisation
-
Future Directons for HAB management
Keith Davidson (Speaker)
1 Sep 2017Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Press / Media
-
Student praise for college staff
Keith Davidson, Andrew Dale, Mei-Li Roberts, David Worthington, Eleanor Brown, Sìleas NicLeòid, Laura Hobbs, Eddy (Eddie) Graham, Michael Ross, Alasdair MacLeod & John Howe
28/07/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
-
SEAFOOD SHETLAND RECEIVES GRANT FOR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM PROJECT
15/07/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
-
Harmful algal bloom warning system will be first of its kind in UK
5/07/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
-
Argyll academic recognised with Professorship
Keith Davidson, Mark Inall & John Howe
19/05/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
-
Geologist who created maritime course forOban made a professor
Keith Davidson, Mark Inall & John Howe
18/05/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
-
Oban scientist recognised for groundbreaking research
Keith Davidson & Bhavani Narayanaswamy
28/05/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
-
Will lockdown give farmers a better view of blooms?
27/04/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Impacts
-
FSA Phytoplantkon Monitoring
Keith Davidson (Participant), Sarah Swan (Participant) & Callum Whyte (Participant)
Impact: Economic Impacts
-
HAB bulletins
Keith Davidson (Participant), Callum Whyte (Participant) & Arlene Ditchfield (Participant)
Impact: Economic Impacts