Ciarán McLaverty
@ciaranmc.bsky.social
Marine & Historical Ecology | Ecosystem Effects of Fishing | Seabed Ecology | Human Pressures
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Exeter @exetermarine.bsky.social
Dad of 2 🙉s | 🇮🇪
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FB5YjQIAAAAJ&hl=e
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Exeter @exetermarine.bsky.social
Dad of 2 🙉s | 🇮🇪
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FB5YjQIAAAAJ&hl=e
Pinned
Ciarán McLaverty
@ciaranmc.bsky.social
· Nov 20
Time for a change!
Hey👋 I'm Ciaran and I research the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems
I collect ecological data to examine how bottom trawling impacts seabed communities 🦀🐛🐟 & I now work with historical data to estimate human disturbance to shelf sea sediments back in time 🌍
Hey👋 I'm Ciaran and I research the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems
I collect ecological data to examine how bottom trawling impacts seabed communities 🦀🐛🐟 & I now work with historical data to estimate human disturbance to shelf sea sediments back in time 🌍
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
... just look at these 👀 Just a handful of the incredible new #PhD opportunities at the lab.
Visit our website to see them all, and apply!
🔗 pml.ac.uk/Working-with...
#PhDs #PhDopportunities #hiring #Plymouth #PhDlife
Visit our website to see them all, and apply!
🔗 pml.ac.uk/Working-with...
#PhDs #PhDopportunities #hiring #Plymouth #PhDlife
November 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
... just look at these 👀 Just a handful of the incredible new #PhD opportunities at the lab.
Visit our website to see them all, and apply!
🔗 pml.ac.uk/Working-with...
#PhDs #PhDopportunities #hiring #Plymouth #PhDlife
Visit our website to see them all, and apply!
🔗 pml.ac.uk/Working-with...
#PhDs #PhDopportunities #hiring #Plymouth #PhDlife
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
What can we learn from a stranded whale? 🐋🧪
This female fin whale stranded in Cornwall and sadly didn't survive. Since then, she has been buried in a @cornwall.exeter.ac.uk research field, until now...
@exetermarine.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Learn more: news.exeter.ac.uk/environment-...
This female fin whale stranded in Cornwall and sadly didn't survive. Since then, she has been buried in a @cornwall.exeter.ac.uk research field, until now...
@exetermarine.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Learn more: news.exeter.ac.uk/environment-...
November 18, 2025 at 1:05 PM
What can we learn from a stranded whale? 🐋🧪
This female fin whale stranded in Cornwall and sadly didn't survive. Since then, she has been buried in a @cornwall.exeter.ac.uk research field, until now...
@exetermarine.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Learn more: news.exeter.ac.uk/environment-...
This female fin whale stranded in Cornwall and sadly didn't survive. Since then, she has been buried in a @cornwall.exeter.ac.uk research field, until now...
@exetermarine.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
Learn more: news.exeter.ac.uk/environment-...
New study warning of the decline in taxonomic skills and what it means for conservation and management.
"Taxonomy is a foundation of marine science, and it is in trouble"
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lsTbEs4JV...
"Taxonomy is a foundation of marine science, and it is in trouble"
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lsTbEs4JV...
authors.elsevier.com
October 18, 2025 at 5:42 AM
New study warning of the decline in taxonomic skills and what it means for conservation and management.
"Taxonomy is a foundation of marine science, and it is in trouble"
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lsTbEs4JV...
"Taxonomy is a foundation of marine science, and it is in trouble"
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lsTbEs4JV...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
Dear OPI community! We’re thrilled to announce that the Call for Abstracts and ECR Funding Award submissions are now open for the OPI XI Conference, hosted by the University of Victoria on beautiful Vancouver Island, Canada 🇨🇦, 15–19 June 2026!
tinyurl.com/3cjhzf4h
#marineecology #conference
tinyurl.com/3cjhzf4h
#marineecology #conference
Oceans Past XI: Abstract and Funding Award Submission
The Oceans Past Initiative connects scholars and practitioners interested in documenting and understanding changes in marine systems and human-ocean interactions in past decades, centuries and millenn...
tinyurl.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Dear OPI community! We’re thrilled to announce that the Call for Abstracts and ECR Funding Award submissions are now open for the OPI XI Conference, hosted by the University of Victoria on beautiful Vancouver Island, Canada 🇨🇦, 15–19 June 2026!
tinyurl.com/3cjhzf4h
#marineecology #conference
tinyurl.com/3cjhzf4h
#marineecology #conference
📣Opportunity to join the Convex Seascape Survey as Postdoctoral Research Associate 🧪
▶️Collate and map data on seabed disturbing impacts from offshore industry. Analyses will aim to estimate effects of disturbance on organic carbon stored within seabed sediments.
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
▶️Collate and map data on seabed disturbing impacts from offshore industry. Analyses will aim to estimate effects of disturbance on organic carbon stored within seabed sediments.
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Powered by MHR
jobs.exeter.ac.uk
October 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
📣Opportunity to join the Convex Seascape Survey as Postdoctoral Research Associate 🧪
▶️Collate and map data on seabed disturbing impacts from offshore industry. Analyses will aim to estimate effects of disturbance on organic carbon stored within seabed sediments.
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
▶️Collate and map data on seabed disturbing impacts from offshore industry. Analyses will aim to estimate effects of disturbance on organic carbon stored within seabed sediments.
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
New research from Queens University shows the critically endangered flapper skate continues its slide to extinction. The lead author, Patrick Collins, told me that it's not too late but decisive action is needed.
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
One of the largest Irish animals is at imminent risk of further decline — new report
The flapper skate is critically endangered and are top predators and their absence, like taking wolves from a forest, can lead to impacts cascading through the ecosystem. It is hard to imagine that a ...
www.irishexaminer.com
September 9, 2025 at 8:09 AM
New research from Queens University shows the critically endangered flapper skate continues its slide to extinction. The lead author, Patrick Collins, told me that it's not too late but decisive action is needed.
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
Fresh off the press! Our perspective in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com discusses the wealth of information on biodiversity contained in historical sources, and its integration for long-term ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation. A thread on the paper and what led to it:
rdcu.be/eEcIt
rdcu.be/eEcIt
September 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Fresh off the press! Our perspective in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com discusses the wealth of information on biodiversity contained in historical sources, and its integration for long-term ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation. A thread on the paper and what led to it:
rdcu.be/eEcIt
rdcu.be/eEcIt
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
The #ConvexSeascapeSurvey is in Canada! A collaboration between @ulaval.ca @exetermarine.bsky.social and @unisouthampton.bsky.social is investigating the role of animals that live in mud on the #seafloor in helping bury #BlueCarbon and keep our #climate healthy.
August 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The #ConvexSeascapeSurvey is in Canada! A collaboration between @ulaval.ca @exetermarine.bsky.social and @unisouthampton.bsky.social is investigating the role of animals that live in mud on the #seafloor in helping bury #BlueCarbon and keep our #climate healthy.
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
This verified report of two sturgeon in Irish waters is pretty incredible considering the species is critically endangered & considered functionally extinct in Ireland due to no evidence of breeding. share.google/jyn5MHKpQHjT...
Caviar-producing sturgeon found in Irish waters for first time in 40 years
Fishermen off Valencia Island have astonished marine experts by catching a fish long thought extinct in Irish waters.
share.google
July 13, 2025 at 3:55 PM
This verified report of two sturgeon in Irish waters is pretty incredible considering the species is critically endangered & considered functionally extinct in Ireland due to no evidence of breeding. share.google/jyn5MHKpQHjT...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
Sustainable seafood guide🐟 🦑🦞🐚: 1883 edition
"Crack on - herring🐟 stocks cannot be impacted by human activity"
(They collapsed in the ~mid 20th century)
Thankfully, we now have robust science-based management @icesmarine.bsky.social
@projectfishistory.bsky.social @oceanspast.bsky.social
"Crack on - herring🐟 stocks cannot be impacted by human activity"
(They collapsed in the ~mid 20th century)
Thankfully, we now have robust science-based management @icesmarine.bsky.social
@projectfishistory.bsky.social @oceanspast.bsky.social
July 4, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Sustainable seafood guide🐟 🦑🦞🐚: 1883 edition
"Crack on - herring🐟 stocks cannot be impacted by human activity"
(They collapsed in the ~mid 20th century)
Thankfully, we now have robust science-based management @icesmarine.bsky.social
@projectfishistory.bsky.social @oceanspast.bsky.social
"Crack on - herring🐟 stocks cannot be impacted by human activity"
(They collapsed in the ~mid 20th century)
Thankfully, we now have robust science-based management @icesmarine.bsky.social
@projectfishistory.bsky.social @oceanspast.bsky.social
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
NEW PAPER: We discovered some v old but v detailed kelp data in MBA archive (Mary Parke's surveys from the 1940s!! 🤯🤯) and resurveyed some 80 years later. Found that Laminaria hyperborea popns in SW England in decline, likely to due warming.... onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
June 9, 2025 at 12:09 PM
NEW PAPER: We discovered some v old but v detailed kelp data in MBA archive (Mary Parke's surveys from the 1940s!! 🤯🤯) and resurveyed some 80 years later. Found that Laminaria hyperborea popns in SW England in decline, likely to due warming.... onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
We're meeting today to kick off our new NERC-funded project on the 'Impacts of bottom trawling on seabed carbon storage'. It's a consortium project to establish how the disturbance associated with bottom trawling modifies C storage, cycling and air/sea CO2 fluxes.
gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref...
gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref...
June 9, 2025 at 7:41 AM
We're meeting today to kick off our new NERC-funded project on the 'Impacts of bottom trawling on seabed carbon storage'. It's a consortium project to establish how the disturbance associated with bottom trawling modifies C storage, cycling and air/sea CO2 fluxes.
gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref...
gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
NEW in @science.org Global tracking #MarineMegafauna shows <8% of areas used overlap w/ existing MPAs, while >75% of important areas overlapped by threats like #fishing #shipping & ocean warming - 30x30 goal will be insufficient for their conservation www.megamove.org @thembauk.bsky.social
Global tracking of marine megafauna space use reveals how to achieve conservation targets
The recent Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) sets ambitious goals but no clear pathway for how zero loss of important biodiversity areas and halting human-induced extinction of thre...
science.org
June 5, 2025 at 6:41 PM
NEW in @science.org Global tracking #MarineMegafauna shows <8% of areas used overlap w/ existing MPAs, while >75% of important areas overlapped by threats like #fishing #shipping & ocean warming - 30x30 goal will be insufficient for their conservation www.megamove.org @thembauk.bsky.social
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
For West Cork locals and lovers: A mussel farm, which would bottom-dredge a massive 23 hectares within the precious Kinsale harbour, has been granted a licence. Meeting this Sunday to organise appeals.
June 6, 2025 at 9:48 AM
For West Cork locals and lovers: A mussel farm, which would bottom-dredge a massive 23 hectares within the precious Kinsale harbour, has been granted a licence. Meeting this Sunday to organise appeals.
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
Great talk by @ciaranmc.bsky.social at #OOSC about his ongoing Convex Seascape Survey work on mapping the expansion of trawling and associated sediment disturbance 🌊🌊 @exetermarine.bsky.social @ruththurstan.bsky.social @profcallum.bsky.social
June 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Great talk by @ciaranmc.bsky.social at #OOSC about his ongoing Convex Seascape Survey work on mapping the expansion of trawling and associated sediment disturbance 🌊🌊 @exetermarine.bsky.social @ruththurstan.bsky.social @profcallum.bsky.social
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
Fantastic talk by @ciaranmc.bsky.social on the big stage at #OOSC! Showcasing his ongoing Convex Seascape Survey research mapping historical trawling expansion and associated seabed disturbance @exetermarine.bsky.social @profcallum.bsky.social
June 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Fantastic talk by @ciaranmc.bsky.social on the big stage at #OOSC! Showcasing his ongoing Convex Seascape Survey research mapping historical trawling expansion and associated seabed disturbance @exetermarine.bsky.social @profcallum.bsky.social
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
The One Ocean Science Congress (#OOSC) begins in just two days! If you are unable to attend in person but would like to follow some of the discussions, all plenary sessions will be live-streamed.
On day 1: Opening session, 3 June 09:00-10:00 CEST: youtube.com/live/XOSGl7P...
#ScienceForTheOcean 🌊
On day 1: Opening session, 3 June 09:00-10:00 CEST: youtube.com/live/XOSGl7P...
#ScienceForTheOcean 🌊
June 1, 2025 at 4:55 AM
The One Ocean Science Congress (#OOSC) begins in just two days! If you are unable to attend in person but would like to follow some of the discussions, all plenary sessions will be live-streamed.
On day 1: Opening session, 3 June 09:00-10:00 CEST: youtube.com/live/XOSGl7P...
#ScienceForTheOcean 🌊
On day 1: Opening session, 3 June 09:00-10:00 CEST: youtube.com/live/XOSGl7P...
#ScienceForTheOcean 🌊
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
What is an ecologically or biologically significant area?
How do we prioritise one seagrass bed over another, or a seagrass bed over a seamount?
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
How do we prioritise one seagrass bed over another, or a seagrass bed over a seamount?
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
What is an ecologically or biologically significant area? - npj Ocean Sustainability
npj Ocean Sustainability - What is an ecologically or biologically significant area?
www.nature.com
June 1, 2025 at 5:53 AM
What is an ecologically or biologically significant area?
How do we prioritise one seagrass bed over another, or a seagrass bed over a seamount?
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
How do we prioritise one seagrass bed over another, or a seagrass bed over a seamount?
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
My first paper is out! 🥳🐠🐟
Fish are important benthic bioturbators too! Great new #ConvexSeascapeSurvey paper from our @exetermarine.bsky.social PhD student Mara Fischer. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A functional assessment of fish as bioturbators and their vulnerability to local extinction
The seabed is one of the key ecological interfaces on the planet, exerting a major influence on global biogeochemical cycles. Biological processes suc…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 30, 2025 at 10:27 AM
My first paper is out! 🥳🐠🐟
Cool new study from Sophie Ward on the Convex Seascape Survey Project - the team used a paleotidal model to trace the formation of carbon-rich seabed sediment deposits over thousands of years.
eos.org/research-spo...
eos.org/research-spo...
Mapping the Ocean Floor with Ancient Tides - Eos
A new study uses a paleotidal model to trace the formation of carbon-rich mud deposits over thousands of years.
eos.org
May 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Cool new study from Sophie Ward on the Convex Seascape Survey Project - the team used a paleotidal model to trace the formation of carbon-rich seabed sediment deposits over thousands of years.
eos.org/research-spo...
eos.org/research-spo...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
The amount of carbon released by seabed fishing worldwide is uncertain and must be urgently investigated, researchers say
Read our press release 👉 news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-e...
Full paper 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
@exeter.ac.uk @exetermarine.bsky.social
Read our press release 👉 news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-e...
Full paper 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
@exeter.ac.uk @exetermarine.bsky.social
Climate cost of global trawling still uncertain
The amount of carbon released by seabed fishing worldwide is uncertain and must be urgently investigated, researchers say. Convex Seascape Survey scientists are studying the impact of fishing methods ...
news.exeter.ac.uk
March 25, 2025 at 10:41 AM
The amount of carbon released by seabed fishing worldwide is uncertain and must be urgently investigated, researchers say
Read our press release 👉 news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-e...
Full paper 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
@exeter.ac.uk @exetermarine.bsky.social
Read our press release 👉 news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-e...
Full paper 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
@exeter.ac.uk @exetermarine.bsky.social
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
Rare opportunity.... a permanent observational oceanography position on offer at GEOMAR, one of the world's leading oceanographic centers
www.geomar.de/en/karriere/...
www.geomar.de/en/karriere/...
Scientist (m/f/d) in Observational Physical Oceanography
www.geomar.de
March 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Rare opportunity.... a permanent observational oceanography position on offer at GEOMAR, one of the world's leading oceanographic centers
www.geomar.de/en/karriere/...
www.geomar.de/en/karriere/...
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
Are you an early career researcher in #marine #science interested in learning more about scientific publishing and editing?
Apply to be mentored with ICES JMS!
www.ices.dk/news-and-eve...
#ECS
@icesmarine.bsky.social
Apply to be mentored with ICES JMS!
www.ices.dk/news-and-eve...
#ECS
@icesmarine.bsky.social
IJMS Mentorship for Early Career Scientists
www.ices.dk
December 16, 2024 at 9:00 PM
Are you an early career researcher in #marine #science interested in learning more about scientific publishing and editing?
Apply to be mentored with ICES JMS!
www.ices.dk/news-and-eve...
#ECS
@icesmarine.bsky.social
Apply to be mentored with ICES JMS!
www.ices.dk/news-and-eve...
#ECS
@icesmarine.bsky.social
Reposted by Ciarán McLaverty
🌊 Calling all researchers! We’re inviting abstract submissions for our #EGU25 session: "Blue Carbon Accumulation & Storage in Continental Shelf Sediments (BG4.11)."
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
#ClimateScience #BlueCarbon #MarineResearch
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
#ClimateScience #BlueCarbon #MarineResearch
Session BG4.11
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org
December 19, 2024 at 2:11 PM
🌊 Calling all researchers! We’re inviting abstract submissions for our #EGU25 session: "Blue Carbon Accumulation & Storage in Continental Shelf Sediments (BG4.11)."
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
#ClimateScience #BlueCarbon #MarineResearch
meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
#ClimateScience #BlueCarbon #MarineResearch
Herring - the “king of fishes” - was once a hugely abundant species across the North Atlantic.
Nice article by @whittledaway.bsky.social depicting its decline in Irish waters
www.irishtimes.com/science/2024...
Nice article by @whittledaway.bsky.social depicting its decline in Irish waters
www.irishtimes.com/science/2024...
The demise of the humble herring, on which so much of life relies
Once abundant in Irish waters, overfishing and climate change have decimated their numbers - affecting not just the fishing industry but the Northeast Atlantic ecosystem
www.irishtimes.com
December 19, 2024 at 1:45 PM
Herring - the “king of fishes” - was once a hugely abundant species across the North Atlantic.
Nice article by @whittledaway.bsky.social depicting its decline in Irish waters
www.irishtimes.com/science/2024...
Nice article by @whittledaway.bsky.social depicting its decline in Irish waters
www.irishtimes.com/science/2024...