Biological Sciences

Profile

Research Interests

• Environmental and endocrine control of reproduction in marine invertebrates.
• Ecotoxicology.
• Effects of pollutants and other human impacts (bait collection) on invertebrate reproduction.
• The role of chemical signalling in marine invertebrates.
• Marine invertebrate aquaculture.

Teaching Interests

• Animal physiology
• Diversity of animal form and function.
• Marine zoology.
• Ecophysiology of marine invertebrates.
• Polycheate aquaculture.
• Residential marine field course.

Research Grants

English Nature/Environment Agency
The use of chemical signal molecules to manage aquatic pests: evaluation of the capacity of pheromones for eradication of invasive non-native crayfish (with Dr M. G. Bentley).

University of Portsmouth Bursary
The effect of heavy metals on reproduction and development in the ragworm Nereis virens.

Nuffield Foundation
The environmental control of spawning in lugworms.

Leverhulme Trust
Reducing the impact of the marine aquarium trade: regeneration of fan worms by propogation

Royal Society
School Partnmership grant with Newbridge Junior School: Inside Seaside.

Current PhD Research Topics

• The effects of copper on the gametogenesis, reproduction and larval development of the King ragworm Nereis virens.
• Can signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) be controlled using pheromone traps?
• The effect of freshwater inputs on macrobenthos in the Solent Area, and subsequent effects on bird use and distribution

Collaborations

Dr M. G. Bentley, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK 

Prof. P. J. W. Olive, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK

Dr U. Hoeger, Johannes-Gutenberg Universitaet, Institut fuer Zoologie, Mainz, Germany

Dr C. Lewis, Department of Biodiversity, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Dr N. Bury, Aquatic Biology Research Group, Kings College, London

Recent Publications

More recent publications

Publications Before 2008

Watson G.J., Hannah L.C. Gaudron S.M., Betteley K.A., and Bentley M.G. (2008). Extension of the breeding season and its effects on fertilization and development in two species of lugworm (Arenicola marina and A. defodiens). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 354, 17-27.

Gaudron, S. M., Watson, G.J. and. Bentley, M. G. (2007). Induction of pairing in male scale worm Harmothoe imbricata (Polychaeta: Polynoidae) by chemical signals. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK, 87, 5581-2

Watson, G.J., Farrell, P., Stanton, S. and Skidmore, L.C. (2007). The effects of bait collection on Nereis virens populations and macrofaunal communities in the Solent, UK. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK 87: 703-716.

Stebbing, P. D., Elwis, A, Watson, G. J., Bentley, M. G (2006). A possible mechanism for the displacement of Austropotamobius pallipes by Pacifastacus leniusculus. Freshwater Crayfish 15: 130-138.

Watson, G. J., Hamilton, K. M. and Tuffnail, W. (2005). Chemical alarm signalling in the polychaete Nereis (Neanthes) virens (Sars) (Annelida: polychaeta). Animal behaviour. 70: 1125-1132.

Watson, G. J., M, Gaudron, S. M., Bentley, M. G. and Hardege, J. D. (2003). The role of chemical signals in the spawning of marine invertebrates. J. E.xp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. in submission

Stebbing, P. D., Bentley, M. G. and Watson, G. J. (2003). Mating behaviour and evidence for a female released courtship pheromone in the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus. J. Chem. Ecol. 29: 465-475.

Lewis, C, Olive, P. J. W., Bentley M. G. and Watson, G. J. (2002). Does seasonal reproduction occur at the optimum temperature for fertilization in the polychaetes Arenicola marina L. and Nereis virens Sars. Invert. Reprod. And Develop. 41: 61-71.

Bentley, M. G. and Watson, G. J. (2000). Making scents of sex underwater. Biologist, 47: 251-254.

Watson, G. J., Langford, F. M, Gaudron, S. M. and Bentley, M. G. (2000). Factors influencing spawning and pairing in the scale worm Harmothoe imbricata (Polychaetea: Polynoidae). Biol. Bull., 199 : 50-59.

Watson, G. J., Williams, M. E. and Bentley, M. G. (2000). Can synchronous spawning be predicted from environmental parameters? A case study of the lugworm Arenicola marina (L.). Mar. Bio1,, 36: 1003-1017.

Watson G. J., Cadman, P. S., Paterson, L. A. and Bentley, M. G. (1998). Control of oocyte maturation, sperm activation and spawning in two lugworm species: Arenicola marina and A. defodiens. . Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 175: 167-176.

Watson G. J. and Bentley, M. G. (1998). Oocyte maturation and post-fertilization development of Arenicola marina (L.) (Annelida: Polychaeta). Invert. Reprod. and Develop., 33 : 35-46.

Watson G. J. and Bentley, M. G. (1998). Action of CMF (Coelomic Maturation Factor) on oocytes of the polychaete Arenicola marina (L.) J. Exp. Zool., 281 : 65-71.

Watson G. J. and Bentley, M. G. (1997). Evidence for a coelomic maturation factor controlling oocyte maturation in the polychaete Arenicola marina (L). Invert. Reprod. and Develop., 31 : 297-306

Conferences and other articles

Presentation of work orally and with posters at the International Conference on Invertebrate Reproduction and Development (1995 and 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007), Marine Aquarium Conference (2006), International Polychaete Conference (2004), Aquatic Life Cycles Conference, Scottish Marine Group, and Society of Experimental Biology. Exhibition of work at the Royal Society ‘New Frontiers in Science’ public exhibition.

Links to Research Pages:

Aquaculture of marine invertebrates

Ecotoxicology

Chemical signalling

Polychaete worms