Robert Briers

Dr Robert Briers

Associate Professor

r.briers@napier.ac.uk

About me
Activity
Outputs
Projects
Post Grad

Biography

Dr Rob Briers is an Associate Professor of Ecology in the School of Applied Sciences. Rob is an ecologist with a particular emphasis on aquatic systems, quantitative methods and all things spatial.
He employs a combination of field-, laboratory- and modelling-based approaches to a range of pure and applied ecological questions in freshwater, terrestrial and marine ecosystems and across a range of spatial scales. Current research interests focus on the use of stable isotopes to examine patterns of distribution and reproduction of migratory salmonids, spatial modelling of carbon storage in mangrove ecosystems and patterns of invertebrate diversity and community composition in pond ecosystems.
Prior to joining Edinburgh Napier, Rob undertook a NERC-funded post-doc at Aberystwyth University using a combination of novel techniques (stable isotopes and harmonic radar tracking) to examine dispersal patterns of adult aquatic insects in upland streams. Prior to this he gained a PhD from the University of Sheffield on metapopulation ecology of backswimmers.

School

School of Applied Sciences

Research Groups

Animal and Plant Science Research Group

Themes

Sustainable Communities

Research Areas

Esteem

Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

British Ecological Society representative on Scottish Environment LINK
Co-convenor of Constructed Wetlands Research Group
Member of British Ecological Society Scottish Policy Group
Invited Participant in NERC UKPOPNET Working Group on Protected Area Management
Member of the Scottish Biodiversity Information Forum
Member of the Ponds Advisory Council

External Examining/Validations

External Examiner for MRes Aquatic Ecology by Research, Queen Mary University of London
External Examiner for MSc Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Queen Mary University of London

Research Degree External Examining

External Examiner for PhD Candidate: Queen Mary, University of London
External Examiner for MPhil Candidate: University of Sheffield
External Examiner for PhD Candidate: University of Sheffield
External Examiner for PhD Candidate: University of Leeds

Conference Activity

Conference Presentation: British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Edinburgh
Chair of The Wildlife Information Centre Autumn Conference session
Convenor of Royal Entomological Society International Symposium
Conference Presentation: Edinburgh Consortium for Rural Research
Invited Conference Presentation: Second International Sea Trout Symposium, Dundalk
Conference Presentation: Constructed Wetlands Research Group Meeting
Conference Presentation: British Ecological Society Annual Meeting
Invited Conference Presentation: European Pond Conservation Network Conference
Invited Speaker: University of Sheffield Departmental Seminar
Conference Presentation: European Pond Conservation Network Conference, Toulouse
Invited Conference Presentation: International Association of Landscape Ecology Conference
Conference Presentation: British Ecological Society Annual Meeting
Conference Presentation: European Pond Conservation Network Conference, Geneva
Conference Presentation: British Ecological Society Annual Meeting
Oral Presentation at Ecology Across Borders Conference (BES/GFÖ/NecoV/EEF)

Fellowships and Awards

Outstanding Publication Award from Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Section of INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Freshwater / Marine Origins of Trout Fry in the Tweed Catchment
Exploratory study of Freshwater / Marine Origins of Trout Fry in the Deveron Catchment
Validation of Stable Isotope Analysis: Tweed and Deveron

Non-executive Directorship

Director of The Wildlife Information Centre (Biological Records Centre for South-East and Central Scotland)

Invited Speaker

Invited Key Speaker at Second International Sea Trout Symposium, Dundalk
Invited Speaker at European Pond Conservation Network Conference, Valencia
Invited Speaker at University of Sheffield Departmental Seminar Series
Invited speaker at North American Benthological Society Conference
Invited speaker: Queen Mary University of London Departmental Seminar
Invited Speaker: International Association of Landscape Ecology Conference

Reviewing

Reviewer: Freshwater Biology
Reviewer: Lake and Reservoir Research and Managment
Reviewer: Freshwater Biology
Reviewer: Hydrobiologia
Reviewer: Water Research
Reviewer: Diversity
Reviewer: Biological Conservation
Reviewer: Landscape Ecology
Reviewer: Hydrobiologia
Grant Reviewer: NERC
Grant Reviewer: BBSRC
Reviewer: Hydrobiologia
Reviewer: Fundamental and Applied Limnology
Reviewer: Landscape Ecology
Reviewer: Biological Conservation
Reviewer: Hydrobiologia
Reviewer: Biological Conservation
Reviewer: Freshwater Biology
Reviewer: Hydrobiologia
Reviewer: Aquatic Ecology
Reviewer: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research
Reviewer: Ecological Applications
Reviewer: Hydrobiologia
Reviewer: Journal of Animal Ecology
Reviewer: Landscape Ecology
Reviewer: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London
Reviewer: Archiv fur Hydrobiologie
Reviewer: Biological Conservation
Reviewer: Ecology
Reviewer: Landscape Ecology
Reviewer: Aquatic Conservation
Reviewer: Biological Conservation
Reviewer: Hydrobiologia
Reviewer: Journal of Animal Ecology
Reviewer: Oecologia
Reviewer: Aquatic Conservation
Reviewer: Conservation Biology
Reviewer: Functional Ecology
Reviewer: Aquatic Microbial Ecology
Reviewer: Biological Conservation
Reviewer: Ecography
Reviewer: Journal of Environmental Management
Reviewer: Landscape and Urban Planning
Grant Reviewer: International Foundation for Science
Reviewer: Ecology of Freshwater Fish
Reviewer: Environmental Science and Policy
Grant Reviewer: BBSRC
Reviewer: Landscape Research
Reviewer: Ecology of Freshwater Fish

Media Activity

Research featured on BBC One Scotland Landward Programme

The functional response and resilience in small waterbodies along land-use and environmental gradients.

Thornhill, I. A., Biggs, J., Hill, M. J., Briers, R., Gledhill, D., Wood, P. J., …Hassall, C. (in press). The functional response and resilience in small waterbodies along land-use and environmental gradients. Global Change Biology, ISSN 1354-1013
Thornhill, I. A., Biggs, J., Hill, M. J., Briers, R., Gledhill, D., Wood, P. J., …Hassall, C. (in press). The functional response and resilience in small waterbodies along land-use and environmental gradients. Global Change Biology, ISSN 1354-1013

There is growing recognition of the essential services provided to humanity by functionally intact ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems are found throughout agricultural and urba...

2018
Community heterogeneity of aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban ponds at a multi-city scale

Hill, M., Biggs, J., Thornhill, I., Briers, R., Ledger, M., Gledhill, D., …Hassall, C. (2018). Community heterogeneity of aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban ponds at a multi-city scale. Landscape Ecology, ISSN 0921-2973
Hill, M., Biggs, J., Thornhill, I., Briers, R., Ledger, M., Gledhill, D., …Hassall, C. (2018). Community heterogeneity of aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban ponds at a multi-city scale. Landscape Ecology, ISSN 0921-2973

Purpose Urbanisation is a leading cause of biotic homogenisation in urban ecosystems. However, there has been little research examining the effect of urbanisation and biotic h...

2018
Developing an empirical approach to optimal camera-trap deployment at mammal resting sites: evidence from a longitudinal study of an otter Lutra lutra holt

Findlay, M., Briers, R., Diamond, N., & White, P. (2017). Developing an empirical approach to optimal camera-trap deployment at mammal resting sites: evidence from a longitudinal study of an otter Lutra lutra holt. European journal of wildlife research, 63(6), ISSN 1612-4642
Findlay, M., Briers, R., Diamond, N., & White, P. (2017). Developing an empirical approach to optimal camera-trap deployment at mammal resting sites: evidence from a longitudinal study of an otter Lutra lutra holt. European journal of wildlife research, 63(6), ISSN 1612-4642

The study of nocturnal mammals relies on indirect evidence or invasive methods involving capture and tagging of individuals. Indirect methods are prone to error, while capture...

2017
Using stable isotopes to assess the distribution of reproduction by migratory and resident Salmo trutta within river systems: some complicating factors

Briers, R., Campbell, R., Galt, K., Walters, M., & Holmes, J. (in press). Using stable isotopes to assess the distribution of reproduction by migratory and resident Salmo trutta within river systems: some complicating factors. In Sea Trout Science and Management
Briers, R., Campbell, R., Galt, K., Walters, M., & Holmes, J. (in press). Using stable isotopes to assess the distribution of reproduction by migratory and resident Salmo trutta within river systems: some complicating factors. In Sea Trout Science and Management

Understanding the distribution of spawning resident and migratory trout in a river system is important for fishery management. In most cases this information is lacking or onl...

2017
Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes.

Hill, M. J., Biggs, J., Thornhill, I., Briers, R. A., Gledhill, D. H., White, J. C., …Hassall, C. (2017). Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes. Global Change Biology, 23(3), (986-999). doi:10.1111/gcb.13401. ISSN 1354-1013
Hill, M. J., Biggs, J., Thornhill, I., Briers, R. A., Gledhill, D. H., White, J. C., …Hassall, C. (2017). Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes. Global Change Biology, 23(3), (986-999). doi:10.1111/gcb.13401. ISSN 1354-1013

Urbanization is a global process contributing to the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats. Many studies have focused on the biological response of terrestrial taxa and h...

2016
Evaluating, predicting and mapping belowground carbon stores in Kenyan mangroves.

Gress, S. K., Huxham, M., Kairo, J. G., Mugi, L. M., & Briers, R. A. (2016). Evaluating, predicting and mapping belowground carbon stores in Kenyan mangroves. Global Change Biology, 23(1), (224-234). doi:10.1111/gcb.13438. ISSN 1354-1013
Gress, S. K., Huxham, M., Kairo, J. G., Mugi, L. M., & Briers, R. A. (2016). Evaluating, predicting and mapping belowground carbon stores in Kenyan mangroves. Global Change Biology, 23(1), (224-234). doi:10.1111/gcb.13438. ISSN 1354-1013

Despite covering only approximately 138,000 km2, mangroves are globally important carbon sinks with carbon density values 3 to 4 times that of terrestrial forests. A key chall...

2016
Eutrophication

Briers, R. (2015). Eutrophication. In Encyclopedia of Sustainable Tourism, 226. CAB International Publishing. ISBN 9781780641430
Briers, R. (2015). Eutrophication. In Encyclopedia of Sustainable Tourism, 226. CAB International Publishing. ISBN 9781780641430

No abstract available.

2015
Eurasian lynx natal den site and maternal home-range selection in multi-use landscapes of Norway: Habitat selection by denning Eurasian lynx

White, S., Briers, R. A., Bouyer, Y., Odden, J., & Linnell, J. D. C. (2015). Eurasian lynx natal den site and maternal home-range selection in multi-use landscapes of Norway: Habitat selection by denning Eurasian lynx. Journal of zoology : proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 297(2), (87-98). doi:10.1111/jzo.12260. ISSN 1469-7998
White, S., Briers, R. A., Bouyer, Y., Odden, J., & Linnell, J. D. C. (2015). Eurasian lynx natal den site and maternal home-range selection in multi-use landscapes of Norway: Habitat selection by denning Eurasian lynx. Journal of zoology : proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 297(2), (87-98). doi:10.1111/jzo.12260. ISSN 1469-7998

In carnivores, securing suitable den sites with associated early maternal home ranges is important for successful reproduction, and understanding natal den site selection is e...

2015
Applying climate compatible development and economic valuation to coastal management: A case study of Kenya's mangrove forests.

Huxham, M., Emerton, L., Kairo, J., Munyi, F., Abdirizak, H., Muriuki, T., …Briers, R. A. (2015). Applying climate compatible development and economic valuation to coastal management: A case study of Kenya's mangrove forests. Journal of Environmental Management, 157, (168-181). doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.04.018. ISSN 0301-4797
Huxham, M., Emerton, L., Kairo, J., Munyi, F., Abdirizak, H., Muriuki, T., …Briers, R. A. (2015). Applying climate compatible development and economic valuation to coastal management: A case study of Kenya's mangrove forests. Journal of Environmental Management, 157, (168-181). doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.04.018. ISSN 0301-4797

Mangrove forests are under global pressure. Habitat destruction and degradation persist despite longstanding recognition of the important ecological functions of mangroves. He...

2015
The development and testing of a multiple-use zoning scheme for Scottish waters.

Mcwhinnie, L., Briers, R. A., & Fernandes, T. F. (2014). The development and testing of a multiple-use zoning scheme for Scottish waters. Ocean and Coastal Management, 103, (34-41). doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.11.004. ISSN 0964-5691
Mcwhinnie, L., Briers, R. A., & Fernandes, T. F. (2014). The development and testing of a multiple-use zoning scheme for Scottish waters. Ocean and Coastal Management, 103, (34-41). doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.11.004. ISSN 0964-5691

Marine Spatial Planning attempts to develop integrated planning frameworks for the management of activities within marine ecosystems and support sustainable development. This ...

2015
Structural and functional indices show similar performance in marine ecosystem quality assessment

Culhane, F. E., Briers, R. A., Tett, P., & Fernandes, T. F. (2014). Structural and functional indices show similar performance in marine ecosystem quality assessment. Ecological Indicators, 43, (271-280). doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.03.009. ISSN 1470-160X
Culhane, F. E., Briers, R. A., Tett, P., & Fernandes, T. F. (2014). Structural and functional indices show similar performance in marine ecosystem quality assessment. Ecological Indicators, 43, (271-280). doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.03.009. ISSN 1470-160X

Reliable ecosystem quality assessment of marine environments is increasingly important due to mounting pressures attributable to human activities. Biotic indices are widely us...

2014
Making predictions of mangrove deforestation: a comparison of two methods in Kenya.

Rideout, A. J. R., Joshi, N. P., Viergever, K. M., Huxham, M. & Briers, R. A. (2013). Making predictions of mangrove deforestation: a comparison of two methods in Kenya. Global Change Biology. 19, 3493-3501. doi:10.1111/gcb.12176. ISSN 1354-1013
Rideout, A. J. R., Joshi, N. P., Viergever, K. M., Huxham, M. & Briers, R. A. (2013). Making predictions of mangrove deforestation: a comparison of two methods in Kenya. Global Change Biology. 19, 3493-3501. doi:10.1111/gcb.12176. ISSN 1354-1013

Deforestation of mangroves is of global concern given their importance for carbon storage, biogeochemical cycling and the provision of other ecosystem services, but the links ...

2013
Mapping of mangrove forest land cover change along the Kenya coastline using Landsat imagery.

Kirui, B. K. Y., Kairo, J. G., Bosire, J. O., Viergever, K. M., Rudra, S., Huxham, M. & Briers, R. A. (2012). Mapping of mangrove forest land cover change along the Kenya coastline using Landsat imagery. Ocean and Coastal Management. 83, 19-24. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.12.004. ISSN 0964-5691
Kirui, B. K. Y., Kairo, J. G., Bosire, J. O., Viergever, K. M., Rudra, S., Huxham, M. & Briers, R. A. (2012). Mapping of mangrove forest land cover change along the Kenya coastline using Landsat imagery. Ocean and Coastal Management. 83, 19-24. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.12.004. ISSN 0964-5691

Mangroves in Kenya provide a wide range of valuable services to coastal communities despite their relatively small total area. Studies at single sites show reductions in exten...

2012
Invertebrate communities and environmental conditions in a series of urban drainage ponds in Eastern Scotland: implications for biodiversity and conservation value of SUDS.

Briers, R. A. (2012). Invertebrate communities and environmental conditions in a series of urban drainage ponds in Eastern Scotland: implications for biodiversity and conservation value of SUDS. CLEAN - Soil, Air, Water. , n/a-n/a. doi:10.1002/clen.201300162. ISSN 1863-0650
Briers, R. A. (2012). Invertebrate communities and environmental conditions in a series of urban drainage ponds in Eastern Scotland: implications for biodiversity and conservation value of SUDS. CLEAN - Soil, Air, Water. , n/a-n/a. doi:10.1002/clen.201300162. ISSN 1863-0650

Increasing use is being made of constructed wetlands to store and treat urban drainage prior to release into watercourses. Known as sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) i...

2012
Population differentiation and temporal changes of carotenoid pigments and stable isotope ratios in the offspring of anadromous and non-anadromous trout Salmo trutta.

Briers, R. A., Waterman, J. O., Galt, K. & Campbell, R. N. B. (2011). Population differentiation and temporal changes of carotenoid pigments and stable isotope ratios in the offspring of anadromous and non-anadromous trout Salmo trutta. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. 22, 137-144. doi:10.1111/eff.12011. ISSN 0906-6691
Briers, R. A., Waterman, J. O., Galt, K. & Campbell, R. N. B. (2011). Population differentiation and temporal changes of carotenoid pigments and stable isotope ratios in the offspring of anadromous and non-anadromous trout Salmo trutta. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. 22, 137-144. doi:10.1111/eff.12011. ISSN 0906-6691

Trout (Salmo trutta) exhibit anadromous and non-anadromous forms which are commonly sympatric. Offspring of the two forms can be separated by differences in characteristics su...

2011
Aquatic insects: challenges to populations

Lancaster, J. & Briers, R. A. (Eds.). (2007). Aquatic insects: challenges to populations. doi:10.1079/9781845933968.0000. ISBN 9781845933968
Lancaster, J. & Briers, R. A. (Eds.). (2007). Aquatic insects: challenges to populations. doi:10.1079/9781845933968.0000. ISBN 9781845933968

This book considers some of the potential influences on individuals and populations (e.g. environmental stresses, parasites, cannibalism, dispersal limitations), the 'cunning ...

2007
The ecological effectiveness of protected areas: The United Kingdom.

Gaston, K. J., Charman, K., Jackson, S. F., Armsworth, P. R., Bonn, A. & Briers, R. A. (2006). The ecological effectiveness of protected areas: The United Kingdom. Biological Conservation. 132, 76-87. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.03.013. ISSN 0006-3207
Gaston, K. J., Charman, K., Jackson, S. F., Armsworth, P. R., Bonn, A. & Briers, R. A. (2006). The ecological effectiveness of protected areas: The United Kingdom. Biological Conservation. 132, 76-87. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.03.013. ISSN 0006-3207

Given the importance placed on protected areas, determining their effectiveness in representing and maintaining biodiversity is a core issue in conservation biology. Nonethele...

2006
Optimal Selection of a Connected Reserve Network.

Önal, H. & Briers, R. A. (2006). Optimal Selection of a Connected Reserve Network. Operations Research. 54(2), 379-388. doi:10.1287/opre.1060.0272. ISSN 0030-364X
Önal, H. & Briers, R. A. (2006). Optimal Selection of a Connected Reserve Network. Operations Research. 54(2), 379-388. doi:10.1287/opre.1060.0272. ISSN 0030-364X

Spatial considerations are important in conservation reserve design. A particularly important spatial requirement is the connectivity of selected sites. Direct connections bet...

2006
Phenotype-environment matching in the shore crab (Carcinus maenas)

Todd, P. A., Briers, R. A., Ladle, R. J. & Middleton, F. (2006). Phenotype-environment matching in the shore crab (Carcinus maenas). Marine Biology. 148(6), 1357-1367. doi:10.1007/s00227-005-0159-2. ISSN 0025-3162
Todd, P. A., Briers, R. A., Ladle, R. J. & Middleton, F. (2006). Phenotype-environment matching in the shore crab (Carcinus maenas). Marine Biology. 148(6), 1357-1367. doi:10.1007/s00227-005-0159-2. ISSN 0025-3162

The shore crab (Carcinus maenas) exhibits a range of carapace pattern polymorphisms, but little is known regarding their function or maintenance. If patterns represent some fo...

2005
Spatial patterns in pond invertebrate communities: separating environmental and distance effects

Briers, R. A. & Biggs, J. (2005). Spatial patterns in pond invertebrate communities: separating environmental and distance effects. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 15(6), 549-557. doi:10.1002/aqc.742. ISSN 1052-7613
Briers, R. A. & Biggs, J. (2005). Spatial patterns in pond invertebrate communities: separating environmental and distance effects. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 15(6), 549-557. doi:10.1002/aqc.742. ISSN 1052-7613

1.The nature and extent of spatial pattern in communities has important implications for their dynamics and conservation. Previous studies of pond ecosystems, over relatively ...

2005
Designing a conservation reserve network with minimal fragmentation: A linear integer programming approach

Önal, H. & Briers, R. A. (2005). Designing a conservation reserve network with minimal fragmentation: A linear integer programming approach. Environmental modeling & assessment. 10(3), 193-202. doi:10.1007/s10666-005-9009-3. ISSN 1420-2026
Önal, H. & Briers, R. A. (2005). Designing a conservation reserve network with minimal fragmentation: A linear integer programming approach. Environmental modeling & assessment. 10(3), 193-202. doi:10.1007/s10666-005-9009-3. ISSN 1420-2026

In the biological conservation literature, the optimum reserve site selection problem has often been addressed by using the prototype set covering and maximal covering formula...

2005
The lateral extent of the subsidy from an upland stream to riparian lycosid spiders

Briers, R. A., Cariss, H. M., Geoghegan, R. & Gee, J. H. R. (2005). The lateral extent of the subsidy from an upland stream to riparian lycosid spiders. Ecography. 28(2), 165-170. doi:10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.04020.x. ISSN 0906-7590
Briers, R. A., Cariss, H. M., Geoghegan, R. & Gee, J. H. R. (2005). The lateral extent of the subsidy from an upland stream to riparian lycosid spiders. Ecography. 28(2), 165-170. doi:10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.04020.x. ISSN 0906-7590

Adult aquatic insects emerging from streams can subsidize riparian food webs, but little is known of the spatial extent of these subsidies. Stable isotope (15N) enrichment of ...

2005
Quantifying two-dimensional dichromatic patterns using a photographic technique: case study on the shore crab (Carcinus maenas L.)

Todd, P. A., Ladle, R. J., Briers, R. A., & Brunton, A. (2005). Quantifying two-dimensional dichromatic patterns using a photographic technique: case study on the shore crab (Carcinus maenas L.). Ecological research, 20(4), (497-501). doi:10.1007/s11284-004-0034-5. ISSN 0912-3814
Todd, P. A., Ladle, R. J., Briers, R. A., & Brunton, A. (2005). Quantifying two-dimensional dichromatic patterns using a photographic technique: case study on the shore crab (Carcinus maenas L.). Ecological research, 20(4), (497-501). doi:10.1007/s11284-004-0034-5. ISSN 0912-3814

Contrasting patterns of pigmentation, such as those associated with crypsis and aposematism, are common in many taxa. In order to determine why patterning varies among individ...

2005
Effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation on growth and phenology of stream insects

Briers, R. A., Gee, J. H. R. & Geoghegan, R. (2004). Effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation on growth and phenology of stream insects. Ecography. 27(6), 811-817. doi:10.1111/j.0906-7590.2004.04005.x. ISSN 0906-7590
Briers, R. A., Gee, J. H. R. & Geoghegan, R. (2004). Effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation on growth and phenology of stream insects. Ecography. 27(6), 811-817. doi:10.1111/j.0906-7590.2004.04005.x. ISSN 0906-7590

Climatic variation associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) influences terrestrial and marine ecosystems, but its effects on river and stream ecosystems are less w...

2004
Inter-population dispersal of adult stoneflies detected by stable isotope enrichment.

Briers, R. A., Gee, J. H. R., Cariss, H. M., & Geoghegan, R. (2004). Inter-population dispersal of adult stoneflies detected by stable isotope enrichment. Freshwater Biology, 49, (425-431). doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2004.01198.x. ISSN 0046-5070
Briers, R. A., Gee, J. H. R., Cariss, H. M., & Geoghegan, R. (2004). Inter-population dispersal of adult stoneflies detected by stable isotope enrichment. Freshwater Biology, 49, (425-431). doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2004.01198.x. ISSN 0046-5070

1. Dispersal of adult stream insects may be of considerable importance in regional population dynamics and colonisation of new sites, but quantifying the rate and extent of di...

2004
Riparian forestry management and adult stream insects

Briers, R. A., & Gee, J. H. R. (2004). Riparian forestry management and adult stream insects. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8(3), (545-549). doi:10.5194/hess-8-545-2004. ISSN 1027-5606
Briers, R. A., & Gee, J. H. R. (2004). Riparian forestry management and adult stream insects. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8(3), (545-549). doi:10.5194/hess-8-545-2004. ISSN 1027-5606

The impacts of coniferous plantation forestry on the biology of upland streams in the UK are firmly established. Whilst benthic communities have been well studied, very little...

2004
Range limits and parasite prevalence in a freshwater snail

Briers, R. A. (2003). Range limits and parasite prevalence in a freshwater snail. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 270(Suppl_2), (S178-S180). doi:10.1098/rsbl.2003.0046. ISSN 0962-8452
Briers, R. A. (2003). Range limits and parasite prevalence in a freshwater snail. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 270(Suppl_2), (S178-S180). doi:10.1098/rsbl.2003.0046. ISSN 0962-8452

Geographical range limits are thought to be set by species' physiological or ecological adaptation to abiotic factors, but the importance of biotic factors such as parasitism ...

2003
Indicator taxa for the conservation of pond invertebrate diversity

Briers, R. A., & Biggs, J. (2003). Indicator taxa for the conservation of pond invertebrate diversity. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 13(4), (323--330). doi:10.1002/aqc.576. ISSN 1052-7613
Briers, R. A., & Biggs, J. (2003). Indicator taxa for the conservation of pond invertebrate diversity. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 13(4), (323--330). doi:10.1002/aqc.576. ISSN 1052-7613

1.Ponds are a valuable resource for the conservation of freshwater biodiversity, but are often extremely numerous in a given area, making assessment of the conservation value ...

2003
Flight activity of adult stoneflies in relation to weather

Briers, R. A., Cariss, H. M., & Gee, J. H. R. (2003). Flight activity of adult stoneflies in relation to weather. Ecological Entomology, 28(1), (31--40). doi:10.1046/j.1365-2311.2003.00480.x. ISSN 0307-6946
Briers, R. A., Cariss, H. M., & Gee, J. H. R. (2003). Flight activity of adult stoneflies in relation to weather. Ecological Entomology, 28(1), (31--40). doi:10.1046/j.1365-2311.2003.00480.x. ISSN 0307-6946

1. Dispersal of adult aquatic insects between streams may have important consequences for local and regional population dynamics, but little is known about how dispersal is af...

2003
Range size and environmental calcium requirements of British freshwater gastropods

Briers, R. A. (2003). Range size and environmental calcium requirements of British freshwater gastropods. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 12(1), (47--51). doi:10.1046/j.1466-822X.2003.00316.x. ISSN 1466-822X
Briers, R. A. (2003). Range size and environmental calcium requirements of British freshwater gastropods. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 12(1), (47--51). doi:10.1046/j.1466-822X.2003.00316.x. ISSN 1466-822X

Calcium is an essential requirement for the successful growth and development of gastropod molluscs. Data for British freshwater gastropods were used to examine the relationsh...

2003
Selection of a minimum{–}boundary reserve network using integer programming

Ö}nal, H., & Briers, R. A. (2002). Selection of a minimum{–}boundary reserve network using integer programming. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 270(1523), (1487--1491). doi:10.1098/rspb.2003.2393. ISSN 0962-8452
Ö}nal, H., & Briers, R. A. (2002). Selection of a minimum{–}boundary reserve network using integer programming. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 270(1523), (1487--1491). doi:10.1098/rspb.2003.2393. ISSN 0962-8452

In the conservation literature, heuristic procedures have been employed to incorporate spatial considerations in reserve network selection with the presumption that computatio...

2003
Incorporating spatial criteria into optimal reserve network selection.

Onal, H. & Briers, R. A. (2002). Incorporating spatial criteria into optimal reserve network selection. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 269, 2437-2441. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2183. ISSN 0962-8452
Onal, H. & Briers, R. A. (2002). Incorporating spatial criteria into optimal reserve network selection. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 269, 2437-2441. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2183. ISSN 0962-8452

Considering the spatial location of sites that are to be selected for inclusion in a protected reserve network may be necessary to facilitate dispersal and long-term persisten...

2002
Incorporating connectivity into reserve selection procedures.

Briers, R. A. (2002). Incorporating connectivity into reserve selection procedures. Biological Conservation. 103, 77-83. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(01)00123-9. ISSN 0006-3207
Briers, R. A. (2002). Incorporating connectivity into reserve selection procedures. Biological Conservation. 103, 77-83. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(01)00123-9. ISSN 0006-3207

Methods for selecting sites to be included in reserve networks generally neglect the spatial location of sites, often resulting in highly fragmented networks. This restricts t...

2002
Population turnover and habitat dynamics in Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) metapopulations

Briers, A. R., & Warren, P. H. (2000). Population turnover and habitat dynamics in Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) metapopulations. Oecologia, 123(2), (216--222). doi:10.1007/s004420051008. ISSN 0029-8549
Briers, A. R., & Warren, P. H. (2000). Population turnover and habitat dynamics in Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) metapopulations. Oecologia, 123(2), (216--222). doi:10.1007/s004420051008. ISSN 0029-8549

Simple metapopulation models assume that local populations occur in patches of uniform quality habitat separated by non-habitat. However field metapopulations tend to show con...

2000
Competition between the nymphs of two regionally co-occurring species of Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae): Competition and habitat in co-occurring Notonecta

Briers, R. A., & Warren, P. H. (1999). Competition between the nymphs of two regionally co-occurring species of Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae): Competition and habitat in co-occurring Notonecta. Freshwater biology, 42(1), (11-20). doi:10.1046/j.1365-2427.1999.00448.x. ISSN 1365-2427
Briers, R. A., & Warren, P. H. (1999). Competition between the nymphs of two regionally co-occurring species of Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae): Competition and habitat in co-occurring Notonecta. Freshwater biology, 42(1), (11-20). doi:10.1046/j.1365-2427.1999.00448.x. ISSN 1365-2427

1. Two species of freshwater invertebrate predator, Notonecta maculata and N. obliqua, showed a negative association in a series of small, man-made ponds in the Peak National ...

1999
biotic: Calculation of Freshwater Biotic Indices. R package version 0.1.2

Briers, R. (2016). biotic: Calculation of Freshwater Biotic Indices. R package version 0.1.2. https://github.com/robbriers/biotic
Briers, R. (2016). biotic: Calculation of Freshwater Biotic Indices. R package version 0.1.2. https://github.com/robbriers/biotic

The biotic package calculates a range of commonly used UK freshwater invertebrate biotic indices, based on family level identification. Indices that can be calculated are BMW...

2016

Effects of aquatic noise on the European sea urchin Echinus esculentus in different temperature contexts

Marine Alliance for Science & Technology for Scotland (Hosted by St Andrew's University)

£2000

Experiment with single and combined noise and temperature stress treatments

2017 to 2018

Current Post Grad projects

Previous Post Grad projects

Non-Napier PhD or MSc by Research supervisions

PhD Completion: Dr Lauren McWhinnie

Robert Briers

Dr Robert Briers

Biography

Esteem

Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

External Examining/Validations

Research Degree External Examining

Conference Activity

Fellowships and Awards

Non-executive Directorship

Invited Speaker

Reviewing

Media Activity

The functional response and resilience in small waterbodies along land-use and environmental gradients.

Community heterogeneity of aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban ponds at a multi-city scale

Developing an empirical approach to optimal camera-trap deployment at mammal resting sites: evidence from a longitudinal study of an otter Lutra lutra holt

Using stable isotopes to assess the distribution of reproduction by migratory and resident Salmo trutta within river systems: some complicating factors

Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes.

Evaluating, predicting and mapping belowground carbon stores in Kenyan mangroves.

Eutrophication

Eurasian lynx natal den site and maternal home-range selection in multi-use landscapes of Norway: Habitat selection by denning Eurasian lynx

Applying climate compatible development and economic valuation to coastal management: A case study of Kenya's mangrove forests.

The development and testing of a multiple-use zoning scheme for Scottish waters.

Structural and functional indices show similar performance in marine ecosystem quality assessment

Making predictions of mangrove deforestation: a comparison of two methods in Kenya.

Mapping of mangrove forest land cover change along the Kenya coastline using Landsat imagery.

Invertebrate communities and environmental conditions in a series of urban drainage ponds in Eastern Scotland: implications for biodiversity and conservation value of SUDS.

Population differentiation and temporal changes of carotenoid pigments and stable isotope ratios in the offspring of anadromous and non-anadromous trout Salmo trutta.

Aquatic insects: challenges to populations

The ecological effectiveness of protected areas: The United Kingdom.

Optimal Selection of a Connected Reserve Network.

Phenotype-environment matching in the shore crab (Carcinus maenas)

Spatial patterns in pond invertebrate communities: separating environmental and distance effects

Designing a conservation reserve network with minimal fragmentation: A linear integer programming approach

The lateral extent of the subsidy from an upland stream to riparian lycosid spiders

Quantifying two-dimensional dichromatic patterns using a photographic technique: case study on the shore crab (Carcinus maenas L.)

Effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation on growth and phenology of stream insects

Inter-population dispersal of adult stoneflies detected by stable isotope enrichment.

Riparian forestry management and adult stream insects

Range limits and parasite prevalence in a freshwater snail

Indicator taxa for the conservation of pond invertebrate diversity

Flight activity of adult stoneflies in relation to weather

Range size and environmental calcium requirements of British freshwater gastropods

Selection of a minimum{–}boundary reserve network using integer programming

Incorporating spatial criteria into optimal reserve network selection.

Incorporating connectivity into reserve selection procedures.

Population turnover and habitat dynamics in Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) metapopulations

Competition between the nymphs of two regionally co-occurring species of Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae): Competition and habitat in co-occurring Notonecta

biotic: Calculation of Freshwater Biotic Indices. R package version 0.1.2

Effects of aquatic noise on the European sea urchin Echinus esculentus in different temperature contexts

Current Post Grad projects

Morphological variation, population structure and habitat utilisation of the mahseer, Tor putitora in the Mahakali river, western Nepal - Ian Martin, Dr Robert Briers (Director Of Studies), Dr Sonja Rueckert, Dr Amy Poole, Dr Linda Gilpin

Exploring the causes of Red Vent Syndrome in wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from coastal waters around Scotland - Alexander Kent, Dr Sonja Rueckert, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor), Dr Karen Diele, Dr Linda Gilpin

Development of evidence-based techniques to assess the use and function of structures associated with Eurasion otters - Melanie Findlay, Dr Patrick White, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor), Dr Kathy Velander

Multi-scale habitat selection in Scotland's only popularion of western Taiga Bean Geese, Anser fabalis fabalis, on the Slamanna Plateau, central Scotland. - Michael Thornton, Dr Patrick White, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor), Dr Nick Wheelhouse

Responses of aquatic invertebrates to underwater sound across different life history stages - Edward Bolger, Dr Karen Diele, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor)

Coriander yield decline: investigating causes and potential treatments - Amanda Jones, Prof Ian Singleton, Dr Fiona Stainsby, Dr Robert Briers (Additional Supervisor), Dr Kiril Sharapov

Conservation genetics of Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) in Oman - Mataab Al Ghafri, Dr Patrick White, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor), Dr Susan Brown

Effects of combined aquatic noise and chemical pollution on early stage marine invertebrates in different temperature contexts - Dr Karen Diele, Dr Robert Briers (Additional Supervisor), Dr Stephanie Fohring

Previous Post Grad projects

Geographical variation in life history response to stress in the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis. - Dr Iain Reid, Dr Robert Briers (Director Of Studies)

Mapping belowground carbon and developing new tools to estimate carbon stores in Kenyan and Tanzanian mangroves - Selena Gress, Dr Robert Briers (Director Of Studies), Prof Mark Huxham

An overview of diffuse pollution inputs and their impacts upon organisms in the River Almond, Scotland - David Lawson, Dr Robert Briers (Director Of Studies), Dr Linda Gilpin, Dr Donald Morrison

The use of benthic communities in environmental health assessment - Fiona Culhane, Dr Robert Briers (Director Of Studies)

Measuring and modelling the primary production of a sea lough in Northern Ireland - Elisa Capuzzo, Dr Linda Gilpin, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor)

Non-native bullhead in South-East Scotland: Molecular and morphological identification and parasite links with native fauna - Jenny Mcleish, Dr Sonja Rueckert, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor), Dr Karen Diele

The impacts of tree harvesting on the carbon balance and functioning of mangrove forests - Joseph Langat, Prof Mark Huxham, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor)

The effects of anthropogenic noise playbacks on marine invertebrates - Matthew Wale, Dr Karen Diele, Dr Robert Briers (Second Supervisor), Dr Sonja Rueckert

Non-Napier PhD or MSc by Research supervisions