James Thorburn
james thorburn

Dr James Thorburn

Associate Professor

  J.Thorburn2@napier.ac.uk

   

Biography

I am an Associate Professor in Marine Ecology, the People, Culture and Environment Lead for the School of Applied Sciences, and convenor of the University's Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body. I lead research on the spatial ecology and biology of large marine vertebrates in the School of Applied Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University. This research centres on conserving and managing threatened marine species, particularly elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays), and the spatial and environmental factors influencing their distribution, behaviour, and ecology. My work integrates field-based research with spatial modelling, telemetry, and habitat assessment, with the goal of informing evidence-based conservation policy and practice. I am the Principal Investigator on multiple national projects, working in close collaboration with academic, NGO, and government partners to improve conservation outcomes through interdisciplinary research. I actively shape national and international conservation initiatives and provide expert advice on developing species management and protection strategies at both levels. Through collaborations and invited roles with international organisations, my research informs conservation policy and practice beyond the UK, enhancing the global impact of my work.

I have extensive experience in elasmobranch biology and ecology, ethical field research, and applying quantitative spatial techniques to conservation planning. I support early-career researchers and community engagement through research-led teaching and public science. I actively enhance the research culture and mentoring across the university and contribute to strategic leadership through my roles in institutional research governance and development. I completed my PhD at the University of Aberdeen on Aspects of movement, habitat use and connectivity in two North East Atlantic sharks: spurdog Squalus acanthias and tope Galeorhinus galeus.

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  • Member of the Royal Society

 

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18 results

A research toolbox for regional data collection to support the conservation of large batoids: A case study on the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius)

Journal Article
Loca, S. L., Garbett, A., Houghton, J. D. R., Thorburn, J., Ó Cadhla, O., Clarke, M., Hannon, G., Pothanikat, L., Mayo, P. A., Gallagher, R., Hoppner, M. D. J., & Collins, P. C. (online)
A research toolbox for regional data collection to support the conservation of large batoids: A case study on the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius). Conservation Science and Practice, Article e70052. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70052
Elasmobranchs, specifically skate species (superorder Batoidea), are at risk of extinction, with over one‐third currently listed as Endangered, exacerbated due to their k‐sele...

Using citizen science photographs to identify reproductive events in an oviparous elasmobranch

Journal Article
Mawer, R., Dodd, J., Thorburn, J., Burns, N. M., & Bailey, D. M. (online)
Using citizen science photographs to identify reproductive events in an oviparous elasmobranch. Journal of Fish Biology, https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70044
Identifying critical habitats is important for the effective management of vulnerable species. Critical habitats, such as mating or nursery grounds, support populations during...

Particle algorithms for animal movement modelling in receiver arrays

Journal Article
Lavender, E., Scheidegger, A., Albert, C., Biber, S. W., Illian, J., Thorburn, J., Smout, S., & Moor, H. (online)
Particle algorithms for animal movement modelling in receiver arrays. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.70028
Particle filters and smoothers are sequential Monte Carlo algorithms used to fit non‐linear, non‐Gaussian state‐space models. These algorithms are well placed to fit process‐o...

patter: Particle algorithms for animal tracking in R and Julia

Journal Article
Lavender, E., Scheidegger, A., Albert, C., Biber, S. W., Illian, J., Thorburn, J., Smout, S., & Moor, H. (online)
patter: Particle algorithms for animal tracking in R and Julia. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.70029
State‐space models are a powerful modelling framework in movement ecology that represents individual movements and the processes connecting movements to observations. However,...

An Assessment of Demersal Elasmobranch Occurrence and Associated Habitats Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

Journal Article
Taylor, J., Howe, J. A., Thorburn, J., Fox, C. J., McGonigle, C., & Rybanska, P. (2025)
An Assessment of Demersal Elasmobranch Occurrence and Associated Habitats Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). Marine Ecology, 46(1), Article e70000. https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.70000
To implement effective management and conservation strategies, an understanding of the spatial ecology, habitat preferences and movement of demersal elasmobranchs is required....

Current methods and best practice recommendations for skate and ray (Batoidea) research: capture, handling, anaesthesia, euthanasia, and tag attachment

Journal Article
Orrell, D. L., Andrzejaczek, S., Armstrong, A. O., Barbosa Martins, A., Branco, I., Charvet, P., Chin, A., Elston, C., Espinoza, M., Greenway, E. S. I., McCully Phillips, S. R., Mickle, M. F., Murray, T. S., Silva, J. F., Thorburn, J., & Wosnick, N. (2025)
Current methods and best practice recommendations for skate and ray (Batoidea) research: capture, handling, anaesthesia, euthanasia, and tag attachment. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 35(1), 117-144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-024-09918-3
Skates and rays (Batoidea) play a significant ecological role, contributing to ecosystem services through bioturbation and acting as vital intermediate components of the troph...

Fine-scale residency and temperature-driven habitat selection in a migratory shark species

Journal Article
Thorburn, J., Gagnon, É., Martin, J., Henry, L.-A., Wright, P., Dodd, J., James, M., & Neat, F. (2025)
Fine-scale residency and temperature-driven habitat selection in a migratory shark species. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 108(4), 483-500. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-024-01640-0
Many marine species exhibit complex and diverse movements that vary across spatial and temporal scales. These movements must be accounted for when designing effective manageme...

Particle algorithms for animal movement modelling in autonomous receiver networks

Preprint / Working Paper
Lavender, E., Scheidegger, A., Albert, C., Biber, S., Illian, J., Thorburn, J., Smout, S., & Moor, H. Particle algorithms for animal movement modelling in autonomous receiver networks

)
Lavender, E., Scheidegger, A., Albert, C., Biber, S., Illian, J., Thorburn, J., Smout, S., & Moor, H. Particle algorithms for animal movement modelling in autonomous receiver networks
1. Particle filters and smoothers are powerful sequential Monte Carlo algorithms used to fit non-linear, non-Gaussian state-space models. These algorithms are well placed to f...

Patter: particle algorithms for animal tracking in R and Julia

Preprint / Working Paper
Lavender, E., Scheidegger, A., Albert, C., Biber, S. W., Illian, J., Thorburn, J., Smout, S., & Moor, H. Patter: particle algorithms for animal tracking in R and Julia

)
Lavender, E., Scheidegger, A., Albert, C., Biber, S. W., Illian, J., Thorburn, J., Smout, S., & Moor, H. Patter: particle algorithms for animal tracking in R and Julia
In the field of movement ecology, state-space models have emerged as a powerful modelling framework that represents individual movements and the processes that connect movemen...

Inshore and offshore marine migration pathways of Atlantic salmon post-smolts from multiple rivers in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Ireland

Journal Article
Rodger, J. R., Lilly, J., Honkanen, H. M., del Villar, D., Kennedy, R., Maoiléidigh, N. Ó., Boylan, P., Rosell, R., Morris, D. J., O'Neill, R., Waters, C., Cotter, D., Wilkie, L., Barkley, A., Green, A., Beck, S. V., Ribbens, J., Henderson, J., Parke, D., Kettle-White, A., …Adams, C. E. (2025)
Inshore and offshore marine migration pathways of Atlantic salmon post-smolts from multiple rivers in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. Journal of Fish Biology, 106(5), 1422-1439. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15760
The migratory behavior of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolts in coastal waters is poorly understood. In this collaborative study, 1914 smolts, from 25 rivers, in four c...

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