Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Expertise
I am interested in the effects of human activities on marine organisms at behavioural and physiological levels.
As humans change the face of our planet so animals have to adapt or go extinct – I hope even in a small way to help avoid the latter.
Underlying my work is a fascination of clock biology or chronobiology i.e. how animals tell the time. This has led me from studying the chronobiology of worms in muddy estuaries to zooplankton across the entire Arctic Ocean – I have surprisingly found that both demonstrate an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time.
I see myself as a 'practical' scientist and enjoy answering difficult questions by developing new technologies, often in very hostile places, in order to better link the biology with the physics of the natural environment.
Consultancy and industry experience
I have led a number of commercial projects over the last ten years with a value totaling >£600K. Initial work focused on assessing the consequences of anthropogenic sediments from aggregate dredging on benthic macroinvertebrates (funded by the MALSF programme). As part of this a novel mesocosm was built, the Vortex Resuspension Tank (VORTs), with the capacity to simulate sediment plumes. Using this system two further projects (SabSPIN / SabALV) were commissioned, this time assessing the impacts of seawater chlorination on sensitive and protected biogenic reef habitats. Following this, four further projects (TROMyt1-4) were commissioned by CEFAS/EDF Energy all aimed at determining the impact of chlorination/sediment on the fouling blue mussel. Collectively these projects have provided highly relevant and scientifically robust data to the marine aggregate industry (where the UK is the largest producer in the world) and a multi-billion pound new UK nuclear power station development. The VORT mesocosms were also used as part of a large multi-partner study (MaREE) to assess the impacts of sediment from the marine renewable industry.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Finished
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CACHE: Calcium in a Changing Environment
Michalek, K. (CoI), Last, K. (PI), Wilding, T. (CoPI) & Green, D. (CoPI)
EU FP7 Peoples Programme - Marie Curie ITN "CACHE"
1/11/13 → 31/10/17
Project: Research
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A gap analysis on modelling of sea lice infection pressure from salmonid farms. I. A structured knowledge review
Moriarty, M., Murphy, J. M., Brooker, A. J., Waites, W., Revie, C. W., Adams, T. P., Lewis, M., Reinardy, H. C., Phelan, J. P., Coyle, J. P., Rabe, B., Ives, S. C., Armstrong, J. D., Sandvik, A. D., Asplin, L., Karlsen, Ø., Garnier, S., Norði, G., Gillibrand, P. A. & Last, K. S. & 1 others, , 2024, In: AQUACULTURE ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS. 16, 2024, p. 1-25 25 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
A gap analysis on modelling of sea lice infection pressure from salmonid farms. II. Identifying and ranking knowledge gaps: output of an international workshop
Murphy, J. M., Moriarty, M., Brooker, A. J., Waites, W., Revie, C. W., Adams, T. P., Lewis, M., Reinardy, H. C., Phelan, J. P., Coyle, J. P., Rabe, B., Ives, S. C., Armstrong, J. D., Sandvik, A. D., Asplin, L., Karlsen, Ø., Garnier, S., Norði, G., Gillibrand, P. A. & Last, K. S. & 1 others, , 18 Jan 2024, In: AQUACULTURE ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS. 16, p. 27-42 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Behavioural and physiological impacts of low salinity on the sea urchin Echinus esculentus
Barrett, N. J., Harper, E. M., Last, K. S., Reinardy, H. C. & Peck, L. S., 15 Jan 2024, In: Journal of Experimental Biology. 227, 2, 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Citations (Scopus)30 Downloads (Pure) -
Determination of zooplankton absorption spectra and their potential contribution to ocean color
McCarry, C. L., Basedow, S. L., Davies, E. J., Last, K. S. & McKee, D., 29 Oct 2024, In: Optics Express. 32, 23, p. 41314-41334 21 p., 537062.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)1 Downloads (Pure) -
High uptake of sympagic organic matter by benthos on an Arctic outflow shelf
Cautain, I., Last, K., Bluhm, B. A., Renaud, P. E., McKee, D. & Narayanaswamy, B., 8 Aug 2024, In: PLoS ONE.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Revealing the profound influence of diapause on gene expression: Insights from the annual transcriptome of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus
Payton, L., Last, K. S., Grigor, J., Noirot, C., Hüppe, L., Conway, D. V. P., Dannemeyer, M., Wilcockson, D. & Meyer, B., 7 Jun 2024, In: Molecular ecology. 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile17 Downloads (Pure) -
Model-informed classification of broadband acoustic backscatter from zooplankton in an in situ mesocosm
Dunn, M., Mcgowan-Yallop, C., Pedersen, G., Falk-Petersen, S., Daase, M., Last, K., Langbehn, T. J., Fielding, S., Brierley, A. S., Cottier, F., Basedow, S. L., Camus, L. & Geoffroy, M., 7 Dec 2023, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 81, 7, p. 1371-1384 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)6 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
Activities
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Synchronized swimming in the sea? It¿s not all moonshine.
Last, K. (Contributor)
2011Activity: KE and Outreach activities › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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SAC Student Visit
Last, K. (Participant)
2010 → …Activity: KE and Outreach activities › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
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P3-5 Workshop - The Sea - making Scotland Greener
Last, K. (Participant)
2010 → …Activity: KE and Outreach activities › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Schools engagement
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Little Learners Nursery - visit to SAMS Aquarium
Last, K. (Participant)
2009 → …Activity: KE and Outreach activities › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Schools engagement
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Unknown workshop
Last, K. (Participant)
2008 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Hosting 2 bursary pupils from HIgh schools in LOmand and Edinburgh
Last, K. (Participant)
2008 → …Activity: KE and Outreach activities › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Schools engagement
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Unknown workshop
Last, K. (Participant)
2007 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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From apps to traps, these innovations offer hope in the battle against sea lice plaguing aquaculture industry
6/01/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Ireland : Scottish Conference Tackles Sea Lice Issues
23/11/24
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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High-tech holds the key to battling sea lice, scientists say
22/11/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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SCIENTISTS ADDRESS SEA LICE ISSUES AT NATIONAL WORKSHOP
22/11/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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First phase of controversial sea lice framework under way in Scotland
9/02/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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New study seeks to fill ‘major gaps’ in understanding of sea lice
31/01/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research