Meet the team

Current Research

My research is in benthic ecological pattern and process particularly related to both anthropogenic and natural disturbance. I am assessing disturbance related effects across a range of scales, from megafaunal and meiofaunal communities to individual organism physiology. Most of my research is field based, principally with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Some of my current research is listed in more detail below.

Benthic Ecology

I have studied the megafaunal communities from the seashore to 2000 meters in depth in the Faroe-Shetland Channel and Norwegian Sea. The ecosystems in this area are highly diverse and spatially variable owing to the rapid changes in physical oceanography as warm Atlantic water overlays cold Arctic water. I first started work in the Faroe-Shetland Channel investigating the natural variations in the deep-water communities along the channel axis using a towed camera platform. Through my work with the SERPENT project I have led many ROV studies and been involved in several other investigations of the megafauna around the hydrocarbon fields throughout this area.

I also focused on a number of other areas including the Arctic (east Greenland, Iceland and the Barents Sea), Antarctica (Weddell Sea), west Africa (Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Angola, Nigeria), southern Europe (Portugal) and the tropical Americas (Bonaire, Bahamas and Atlantic Venezuela). This work has used a variety of techniques to assess benthic ecology including ROVs, AUVs, SCUBA diving, camera platforms, satellite imaging and vessel-based sampling.

Disturbance in the Deep Sea

The effects of both natural and anthropogenic disturbance across a range of scales has also been of interest to me. I concentrated on the effects of disturbance from oil and gas drilling activities in the deep-sea, or at least beyond the reach of divers. Through working closely with the key companies working in these areas with SERPENT, we have been able to access many newly disturbed and some recovering sites with highly capable work class ROVs. My initial interest was in describing the broad-scale community-level responses to disturbance but I am now principally using in situ experimental techniques, made possible with the manipulation capacity of the ROVs, to try and understand the responses of key benthic organisms to disturbance. I am also interested in experimentally assessing important ecosystem functions, such as bioturbation, and investigating how these are affected by disturbance. In addition, I have worked on iceberg and sediment related disturbance in the polar regions.

Underwater Imaging

Ecological information that can be gained from seabed imaging, principally through photographs and video has also been of great interest. I developed and evaluated methodologies for image analysis from a variety of platforms to successfully investigate aspects of megafaunal communities throughout the world's oceans. My current work on broad-scale assessment and characterisation of marine communities uses acoustic and conventional imaging (habitat mapping and landscape ecology).

Carbon transfer to the deep-sea

At present I am engaged on a number of projects assessing the role of gelatinous organisms in carbon transfer to the deep sea. I think this represents an important and often ignored source of carbon for deep-water communities.

Other Details

I am currently a senior researcher in the DEEPSEAS group at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. I have run the SERPENT project since 2006. I have a PhD in deep-water polar community ecology from the University of Southampton, a MSc in marine resource management (with distinction) from Heriot-Watt University and a BSc in marine biology (first class) from the University of Wales, Bangor. I am a trained commercial SCUBA diver.

Publications

Peer reviewed

Gooday, A. J., Alt, C., Jones, D. O. B., Shale, D., Marsden, K. and Brasier, M. D. (accepted) The ecology and biogeography of Discospirina tenuissima (Foraminifera) in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Deep-Sea Research II.

Gates, A. R., Jones, D. O. B., Cartes, J. E. (accepted) In situ video observations of benthic megafauna and fishes from the deep eastern Mediterranean Sea off Egypt. African Journal of Marine Science.

Relles, N. J., Jones, D. O. B., Mishra, D. (2012) Creating landscape-scale maps of coral reef cover for marine reserve management from high resolution multispectral remote sensing. GIScience & Remote Sensing. 49(2):251–274. DOI: 10.2747/1548-1603.49.2.251

Lebrato, M., Pitt, K. A., Sweetman, A. K., Jones, D. O. B., Cartes, J. E. (2012) Jelly-falls historic and recent observations: a synthesis to drive future research directions. Hydrobiologia. DOI: 10.1007/s10750-012-1046-8

Hirai, J. & Jones, D. O. B. (2012) The temporal and spatial distribution of krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) at the deep seabed of the Faroe-Shetland Channel, UK: a potential mechanism for rapid carbon flux to deep sea communities. Marine Biology Research. 8(1):48-60. DOI:10.1080/17451000.2011.594891

Jones, D. O. B., Cruz-Motta, J. J., Bone, D, Kaariainen, J. I. (2012) Effects of oil drilling activity on the deep-water megabenthos of the Orinoco fan, Venezuela. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. 92(2): 245–253. DOI: 10.1017/S0025315411001123

Lebrato, M., Pahlow, M., Oschlies, A., Pitt, K. A., Jones, D. O. B., Molinero, J-C. and Condon, R. H. (2011) Depth attenuation of organic matter export associated with jelly falls. Limnology & Oceanography. 56:1917-1928. DOI: 10.4319/lo.2011.56.5.1917

Hughes, S. J. M., Jones, D. O. B., Hauton, C., Gates, A. R. & Hawkins, L. E. (2010) An assessment of drilling disturbance on Echinus acutus var. norvegicus based on in-situ observations and experiments using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 395(1-2): 37-47

Lebrato, M., Iglesias-Rodriguez, D., Feely, R., Greeley, D., Jones, D. O. B., Suarez-Bosche, N., Lampitt, R., Cartes, J., Green, D., Alker, B. (2010) Global contribution of echinoderms to the marine carbon cycle: a re-assessment of the oceanic CaCO3 budget and the benthic compartments. Ecological Monographs. 80(3): 441-467

Lebrato, M. & Jones, D. O. B. (2009) Mass deposition event of Pyrosoma atlanticum carcasses off Ivory Coast (West Africa). Limnology and Oceanography. 54(4): 1197–1209

Jones, D. O. B. (2009) Using existing industrial remotely operated vehicles for deep-sea science. Zoologica Scripta 38(s1): 41-47

Jones, D. O. B., Bett, B. J., Wynn, R. B. and Masson, D. G. (2009) The use of towed camera platforms in deep-water science. International Journal of the Society for Underwater Technology. 28(2): 41-50

Dowdeswell, J. A., Evans, J., Mugford, R., Griffiths, G., McPhail, S. D., Millard, N., Stevenson, P., Brandon, M. A., Banks, C., Heywood, K. J., Price, M. R., Dodd, P. A., Jenkins, A., Nicholls, K. W., Hayes, D., Abrahamsen, E. P., Tyler, P. A., Bett, B. J., Jones, D. O. B., Wadhams, P., Wilkinson, J. P., Stansfield, K., Ackley, S. (2008) Instruments and Methods: Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and investigations of the ice-ocean interface: deploying the Autosub AUV in Antarctic and Arctic waters. Journal of Glaciology. 54(187): 661–672

Jones, D. O. B., Bett, B. J. and Tyler, P. A. (2007) Depth related changes to density, diversity and structure of benthic megafaunal assemblages in the Fimbul ice shelf region, Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Polar Biology. 30:1579-1592

Jones, D. O. B., Bett, B. J. and Tyler, P. A. (2007) Depth related changes in the arctic epibenthic megafaunal assemblages of Kangerdlugssuaq, East Greenland. Marine Biology Research. 3: 191-204

Jones, D. O. B., Wigham, B. D., Hudson, I. R. and Bett, B. J. (2007) Anthropogenic disturbance of deep-sea megabenthic communities investigated using Remotely Operated Vehicles (Faroe-Shetland Channel, NE Atlantic). Marine Biology. 151: 1731-1741 Download

Jones, D. O. B., Bett, B. J. and Tyler, P. A. (2007) Megabenthic ecology of the deep Faroe-Shetland Channel: a photographic study. Deep-Sea Research Part I. 54: 1111-1128

Jones, D. O. B., Hudson, I. R. and Bett, B. J.(2006) Effects of physical disturbance on the cold-water megafaunal communities of the Faroe-Shetland Channel. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 319: 43-54 Download

Staudigel, H., Hart, S. R., Pile, A. J., Bailey, B. E., Baker, E. T., Brooke, S., Connelly, D. P., Haucke, L., German, C. R., Hudson, I. R., Jones, D. O. B., Koppers, A. A. P., Konter, J. G., Lee, R., Pietsch, T. W., Tebo, B. M., Templeton, A. S., Zierenberg, R., Young, C. M. (2006) Vailulu'u Seamount, Samoa: Life and death on an active submarine volcano. PNAS 103: 6448-6453

Jones, D. O. B., McPhail, S. D., Bett, B. J., Flewellen, C. and Conquer, M. (2005) Seabed photography from an autonomous underwater vehicle. Journal of Marine Science and Environment. C3: 29-36

Hudson, I. R., Jones, D. O. B. and Wigham, B. D. (2005) A review of the uses of work-class ROVs for the benefits of science: Lessons learned from the SERPENT project. International Journal of the Society for Underwater Technology. 26(3): 51-56

Laurenson, C., Hudson, I. R., Jones, D. O. B., Priede, I. G. (2004) Deepwater observations of monkfish, Lophius piscatorius, in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean by means of a remotely operated vehicle. Journal of Fish Biology 65: 947-960

Other publications

Jones, D. O. B., Mrabure, C. & Gates, A. R. (2011) Using industrial remotely operated vehicles in stand-by time for deep-water biodiversity assessment: a case study from offshore Nigeria. Proceedings of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference, Denver, Colorado, USA, 30 October–2 November 2011. SPE 146439

Lebrato, M. & Jones, D. O. B. (2011) Expanding the oceanic carbon cycle: Jellyfish biomass in the biological pump. Biochemist. June 2011

Gates, A. R., Jones, D. O. B., Benfield, M., Roterman, C.N., Kröger, K., et al (2011) SERPENT Cruise Reports 2008-2010. National Oceanography Centre Cruise Report No. 02. 509pp

Jones, D. O. B. and Gates, A. R. (2010) Deep-sea life of Scotland and Norway. Ophiura press, UK. ISBN 978-0-9565832-0-8

Jones, D. O. B. (2008) Exploring the last uncharted realm. Explorers Journal. Winter 2008.

Jones, D. O. B., McPhail, S. D., Bett, B. J., Flewellen, C. and Conquer, M. (2008) Seabed photography from an autonomous underwater vehicle. In: Collins, K. J. and Griffiths, G.(Eds) Proceedings of the International Workshop on Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Science in Extreme Environments held at the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, 11-13 April 2007. London: Society for Underwater Technology. p 35-47

Gates, A. R., Jones, D. O. B., Benfield, M. R., Kaariainen, J., (2008) SERPENT Cruise Reports 2007. National Oceanography Centre, Southampton Cruise Report Series No. 30. 158 pp.

Jones, D. O. B. (2008) Exploration of the Deep Reefs of Bonaire. Explorers Club Flag Report. 44. Available online

Jones, D. O. B., Park, I. F. J. & Gates, A. R.(2008) Techniques for Monitoring the Recovery of Deep, Cold-Water Habitats Following Physical Disturbance From Drilling Discharges. Proceedings of the SPE International Conference on Health, Safety, and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, 15-17 April 2008, Nice, France. 111629-MS.

Guerin, A. J., Jensen, A. C. & Jones, D. O. B. (2007) Artificial reef properties of North Sea oil and gas production platforms. Oceans '07 Proceedings, Aberdeen, Scotland. 18-21 June 2007.

Jones, D. O. B., Kaariainen, J. I., Maclaren, E. K., Robertson, K., Pile, A. J. and Hudson, I. R. (2007) SERPENT Cruise Reports July 2002 to December 2006. National Oceanography Centre, Southampton Cruise Report Series No. 17. 248 pp.

Hudson, I. R. and Jones, D. O. B. (2006) SERPENT: Video and Images from Global Oil and Gas Operations. In: Charlesworth, M. E.(Ed) Marine and Coastal Photographs and Videos: their availability, uses and curation. Marine Environmental Data Action Group of the Inter-Agency Committee on Marine Science and Technology. Liverpool. Download.

Jones, D. O. B., Bett, B. J. & Tyler, P. A. (2006). Ecological controls on density and diversity of polar megabenthos. 11th International Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, 9-14 July 2006. Book of Abstracts. p 124.

Jones, D. O. B., Hudson, I. R. & Bett, B. J. (2006). Knowledge transfer between deep-sea science and industry: Case studies from the DIEPS project. 11th International Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, 9-14 July 2006. Book of Abstracts. 124 pp.

Wigham, B. D., Hudson, I. R., Jamieson, A. J., Jones, D. O. B. & Bailey, D. M. (2006). Oxygen consumption of the abyssal urchin Echinocrepis rostrata: BICS field trials at station M, NE Pacific. 11th International Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, 9-14 July 2006. Book of Abstracts. 124 pp.

Maclaren, E. K., Hudson, I. R. and Jones, D. O. B. (2005) What lies beneath? The oil and gas industry lets deep-sea biologists explore the deep, with captivating results. NERC Planet Earth Magazine. Winter 2005:16-18.

Jones, D. O. B. (2005) Ecological controls on density, diversity and community structure in polar megabenthos. Ph.D. Thesis, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton.

Jones, D. O. B., Bett, B. J., Tyler, P. A. and Clarke, A., (2005) Physical controls on diversity and standing stock of polar megabenthos. SOC Research and Consultancy report No. 101. 26 pp.

Jones, D. O. B. and Hudson, I. R. (2005) In situ deepwater science onboard an offshore drilling installation. Marine Scientist.

Jones, D. O. B., Bett, B. J. and Tyler, P. A. (2005) Physical controls on diversity and abundance of polar megabenthos. 40th European Marine Biology Symposium 21-25 August 2005. Book of Abstracts. p 22.

Mustard, A. and Jones, D. O. B. (2004) Remotely Operated Photography. Underwater Photography. 19. Download.

Jones, D. O. B. (2004) Integration of ROV video survey with Geographical Information System Software. SOC Research and Consultancy report No. 86.

Jones, D. O. B. and Hudson, I. R. (2004) Industry helps science drill for knowledge.  Underwater Contractor International. Download.

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