Dr Christopher Lowe

Lecturer, Biosciences

+44 (0) 1792 513116

c.d.lowe@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 015
Ground Floor
Margam Building
Singleton Campus

Research Links

About

I am a lecturer in Marine Biology with a broad background of work in the intertidal and subtidal environment. I am interested in the use of sound, electrical and light energy to investigate marine life in situ.

I coordinate the Biosciences First Year and I am Head of the Marine Biology degree program at Swansea University. I am also the academic lead for the University's research vessels I teach a large part of the second year of the Marine Biology degree course, mainly focusing on boat based and field marine ecology as well as oceanography.

Areas Of Expertise

Environmental remote sensing through light and sound
Bio-optical oceanography
Plankton dynamics
Modelling human/environment interactions.
Environmental management and assessment.
EU and UK environmental policy and legislation

Publications

Research Highlights

Callaway, R., Shinn, A., Grenfell, S., Bron, J., Burnell, G., Cook, E., Crumlish, M., Culloty, S., Davidson, K., Ellis, R., Flynn, K., Fox, C., Green, D., Hays, G., Hughes, A., Johnston, E., Lowe, C., Lupatsch, I., Malham, S...., & Shields, R. (2012). Review of climate change impacts on marine aquaculture in the UK and Ireland. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 22(3), 389-421.
https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2247, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13078
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.2247/abstract
Lowe, C., Gilbert, A., & Mee, L. (2014). Human–environment interaction in the Baltic Sea. Marine Policy, 43, 46-54.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2013.03.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31991
Gari, S., Newton, A., Icely, J., & Lowe, C. (2014). Testing the application of the Systems Approach Framework (SAF) for the management of eutrophication in the Ria Formosa. Marine Policy, 43, 40-45.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2013.03.017, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31992
Reis, J. & Lowe, C. (2012). Capacity development of European coastal and marine management – gaps and bridges. Ocean & Coastal Management, 55, 13-19.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.09.010, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31994
Lowe, C. (n.d.) Determination of planktonic primary production parameters in the Atlantic Ocean using in situ inherent optical properties
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31995

All Research

Journal Articles

Lowe, C., Tregenza, N., Allen, C., Blow, G., Nuuttila, H., Bertelli, C., Mendzil, A., Stamp, T., Sheehan, E., Davies, P., Gordon, J., Bolland, J., Britton, J., Main, R., Velterop, R., Crundwell, C., Schofield, A., & Clarke, D. (2022). A novel method for identifying coded tags recorded on aquatic acoustic monitoring systems. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(11)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10500-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61252
Lowe, A., Pararajasingam, A., Ali, F., Dawood, S., Lowe, C., & Stone, N. (2021). A new virtual inpatient dermatology electronic referral service: a timely solution in the COVID‐19 pandemic and beyond?. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 35(7), e430-e432.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17257, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60013
Unsworth, R., Bertelli, C., Cullen-Unsworth, L., Esteban, N., Jones, B., Lilley, R., Lowe, C., Nuuttila, H., & Rees, S. (2019). Sowing the Seeds of Seagrass Recovery Using Hessian Bags. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00311, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51930
Lowe, C., Gilbert, A., & Mee, L. (2014). Human–environment interaction in the Baltic Sea. Marine Policy, 43, 46-54.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2013.03.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31991
Gari, S., Newton, A., Icely, J., & Lowe, C. (2014). Testing the application of the Systems Approach Framework (SAF) for the management of eutrophication in the Ria Formosa. Marine Policy, 43, 40-45.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2013.03.017, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31992
Callaway, R., Shinn, A., Grenfell, S., Bron, J., Burnell, G., Cook, E., Crumlish, M., Culloty, S., Davidson, K., Ellis, R., Flynn, K., Fox, C., Green, D., Hays, G., Hughes, A., Johnston, E., Lowe, C., Lupatsch, I., Malham, S...., & Shields, R. (2012). Review of climate change impacts on marine aquaculture in the UK and Ireland. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 22(3), 389-421.
https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2247, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13078
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.2247/abstract
Reis, J. & Lowe, C. (2012). Capacity development of European coastal and marine management – gaps and bridges. Ocean & Coastal Management, 55, 13-19.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.09.010, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31994

Other Research Outputs

Lowe, C. (n.d.) Determination of planktonic primary production parameters in the Atlantic Ocean using in situ inherent optical properties
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31995

Taught Modules

BIO112 Life in the Oceans

This module introduces students to the largest biome on the planet and the huge variety of life it contains; over 71% of the Earth¿s surface is covered by ocean and its health is intricately connected with our own. Lectures will consider the formation of ocean basins and key oceanographic processes within them before moving onto the chemical and physical properties of water. The module will introduce students to primary production in the ocean, the huge diversity of life within marine food chains, and key processes in nutrient cycling. Marine ecosystems will be discussed in detail, with focus on those found around the UK, before considering the interaction between humans and the oceans and the challenges faced by marine organisms in an ocean changing because of our activities.
BIO245 Boat Based Marine Biology

In this boat-based, hands on module students will spend several sessions at sea using the University's Research Vessel, the Mary Anning. Although subject to weather conditions, students should expect to spend six, four hour sessions at sea. The Mary Anning is an 18m purpose built catamaran that was designed from the keel up as a survey and teaching vessel and as such is an ideal resource to give students hands on experience of working at sea with a variety of pieces of equipment. Students will assist with deployment of equipment, learn how to handle and identify organisms encountered, and return them to the sea so as to minimise harm to these organisms. Students will be introduced to sampling techniques used in marine biological research and commercial surveys. They will be given theoretical information on different sampling gears and gear selection followed by practical use of these gears on the Mary Anning. Assessment is 100% coursework based around survey operations and reporting common in both academic and commercial settings.
BIO260 Marine Biology Field Course

This residential field course comprises practical work employing shore-based techniques to sample littoral and benthic marine habitats. Students will learn techniques for the identification of marine organisms and gain experience in the analysis and presentation of ecological data.
BIO262 Oceanography

To understand the life that lives in our oceans, we need to understand those oceans and the processes which take place in them. This module will introduce students to the world's oceans, covering the physical, chemical and biological makeup of the open seas. Topics will consider the formation of the ocean basins, how water moves around these basins and the variations in the ocean's environment which dictate what life can live where. We will also consider long term changes in our environment and the impact that humans are having on this. Through four practical exercises, students will gain hands on experience with oceanographic instrumentation in the laboratory and at sea.
BIO346 Professional Skills in Marine Biology

This module will introduce students to the professional techniques utilised to monitor and study marine life in a variety of marine and coastal habitats and in relation to conservation management and biodiversity monitoring in the United Kingdom. The course places a strong emphasis on marine ecological census techniques. Students will learn key skills relevant to the marine ecology sector including protected and economically-important species (especially marine mammals, fish, shellfish, coastal birds) and Phase 1 habitat surveys. Students will also learn about the biotic and abiotic factors that define different UK habitats and relevant regulations that protect them. The module provides an introduction to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and a range of impacts on the marine environment including energy generation and coastal development. Participants in this module will work in groups to discuss case study surveys and EIAs, including a presentation reporting findings from rapid ecological surveys for a case study EIA. The class will be responsible for collecting key survey data for a Preliminary Environmental Appraisal Report (PEAR) for a proposed commercial development in Carmarthen Bay. During a field course, small groups will work as marine environmental consultancy companies responding to an Invitation to Tender with survey design, planning, cost estimation, data collection and analysis. A focus of the module is on developing key transferable skills that enhance employability such as survey design and planning, problem solving, data analysis, report writing, evaluation, communication and teamwork. This will be a residential field course.

Dr Christopher Lowe

Telephone number

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Other Research Outputs

Taught Modules

BIO112 Life in the Oceans

BIO245 Boat Based Marine Biology

BIO260 Marine Biology Field Course

BIO262 Oceanography

BIO346 Professional Skills in Marine Biology