Dr Nick Fleming

I am passionate and enthusiastic about teaching and draw upon my multidisciplinary background using a variety of commercial and research led examples to deliver key concepts in marine biology and zoology.

I am module leader for the Level five modules; BI5138 Conservation Technologies, exploring how conservationists are increasingly looking towards support from innovative technological solutions to the global problems caused by increasing anthropogenic activity and how they can alter the natural environment. BI5158 Physical and Biological Oceanography, where we discover key oceanographic processes underpinning how all life exists in our oceans.

I also deliver the BI7156 Marine Environmental Impact Assessment module on the Applied Marine Biology Masters programme. This module provides a detailed understanding to the approach, use and process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to mitigate and protect marine biodiversity against human impacts on the marine and coastal zone environment.

I also teach on a number of other undergraduate and postgraduate modules across all of our degree programmes in the department.

My research uses an integrated approach to understand factors affecting marine ecosystems, including marine food webs, trophic ecology and nutrient cycling in marine environments with an emphasis on gelatinous plankton predators (i.e. jellyfish). I also consider the effects environmental and anthropogenic stressors have on marine biodiversity and how this might influence ecosystem function, connectivity and services. More specifically, I explore the spatial, temporal and trophic (ecological) role of marine taxa (from plankton to apex predators) in the structure and function of marine ecosystems at both broad and fine-scales. To address questions related to these topics, I use a combination of experimental lab work (including Stable isotopes and genetic techniques), field studies, and modeling (including spatial analysis and food web modeling). I am particularly interested in applying novel technologies and approaches including contemporary biochemical and molecular techniques and the use of citizen scientists in the collection of data to answer questions related to marine ecology.

Within my lab we have successfully explored the feasibility of culturing jellyfish as a sustainable bioresource for the development of biomedical products in collaboration with a bioprospecting biotechnology commercial partner. Following a successful poster presentation at the Aquatic Systems Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2023 in Palma de Mallorca, we are now working on publishing our findings.

Postgraduate supervision

I welcome applications from potential PhD or research MSc students interested in marine ecology and conservation, especially marine food webs, trophic ecology and nutrient cycling in marine environments. If you are interested in joining my lab please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Peer-reviewed Publications

Jaspers, C., …. Fleming, N.E.C., et al. (2018). Ocean current connectivity propelling secondary spread of a marine invasive comb jelly across western Eurasia. Global Ecology and Biogeography. DOI: 10.1111/geb.12742.

Fleming, N.E.C., Houghton, J.D.R., Newton, J., Harrod, C. (2015). Not all jellyfish are equal: isotopic evidence for inter- and intraspecific variation in jellyfish trophic ecology. PeerJ. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1110.

Fleming, N.E.C., Harrod, C, Griffin D.C., Newton, J., Houghton, J.D.R. (2014). Scyphozoan jellyfish provide short-term reproductive habitat for hyperiid amphipods in a temperate near-shore environment. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 510, 229–240. DOI: 10.3354/meps10896.

Fleming, N.E.C., Harrod, C., Houghton, J.D.R. (2013). Identifying potentially harmful jellyfish blooms using shoreline surveys. Aquaculture Environment Interactions. 4: 263–272. DOI: 10.3354/aei00086.

Collins, P.C., Kennedy, B., Copley, J., Boschen, R., Fleming, N. et al. (2013). VentBase: Developing a consensus among stakeholders in the deep-sea regarding environmental impact assessment for deep-sea mining – A workshop report. Marine Policy. 46, 334–336. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2013.03.002.

Fleming, N.E.C., Houghton, J.D.R., Magill, C.L., Harrod, C., (2011). Preservation methods alter stable isotope values in gelatinous zooplankton: implications for interpreting trophic ecology. Marine Biology. 158, 2141–2146. DOI: 10.1007/s00227–011–1714–7.

Delannoy, C.M.J., Houghton, J.D.R., Fleming, N.E.C., Ferguson, H.W., (2011). Mauve Stingers (Pelagia noctiluca) as carriers of the bacterial fish pathogen Tenacibaculum maritimum. Aquaculture. 311, 255 – 257. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2010.11.033.

Technical Reports

Fleming, N.E.C., Johnson, M.F., Rice, S.P., Penning, W.E. and Dijkstra J.T. (2014). Maintaining the health and behavioural integrity of plants and animals in experimental facilities: guidelines for the transfer of invertebrates into hydraulic facilities. Deliverable D7.2 EC contract number 261520, HYDRALAB – IV.

Fleming, N.E.C., Johnson, M.F., Rice, S.P., Evertsen, A.J.O., Paul, M. and Penning, W.E. (2014). Maintaining the health and behavioural integrity of plants and animals in experimental facilities: guidelines for the transfer of plants & algae into hydraulic facilities. Deliverable D7.3 EC contract number 261520, HYDRALAB – IV.

McKnight, J. C., Fleming, N.E.C., & Houghton, J.D.R. (2010) Solent Seal Tracking Programme Provisional Report Appendix II. In: Chesworth, J. C., Leggett, V. L. and Rowsell, E. S. 2010. Solent Seal Tagging Project Summary Report. Wildlife Trusts’ South East Marine Programme, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Hampshire.

Fleming N.E.C., Bannister, R.C.A., (2008). Stock assessment and Tagging of European Lobster Homarus gammarus (L.) off the Yorkshire Coast. A progress report for the Buckland Foundation. Pp11.

Fleming N.E.C., (2008). Status of the European Lobster Homarus gammarus (L.) stocks in relation to the lobster fishery off the Yorkshire Coast – 2008. Research Initiative Report. North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee. Town Hall Bridlington.

Burlinson, F & Fleming N.E.C., (2006). Monitoring of brine discharge at Aldbrough gas caverns – June 27th 2006. Report (v3) to SSE (Hornsea Ltd.). Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies, University of Hull.

• PhD Marine Biology, Queen’s University Belfast (Dec 2013)

Thesis title: Gelatinous zooplankton in the North East Atlantic: distribution, seasonality and trophic ecology

During my doctoral research at Queen’s University, Belfast (QUB) I investigated the spatial, temporal and trophic (ecological) role of macro- (gelatinous) zooplankton in the trophic structuring of temperate inshore marine systems at both broad and fine-scales. This research was primarily driven by the over-simplification or exclusion of jellyfish from many fisheries and ecosystem models. I used a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating shoreline/pelagic surveys, hydrodynamic modelling and stable isotope analysis (SIA). During my PhD, I gained successful funding (totalling £15,000) from the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC).

• MPhil (part–time) Fisheries Marine Ecology, University of Hull (July 2008)

Thesis title: The Growth and Production Ecology of Mytilus edulis (L.) in the Wash

For my MPhil l I investigated the growth and production ecology of Mytilus edulis (L.) in the Wash, U.K. as part of the “Wash Mussel Restoration Project” run in conjunction with English Nature, Environment Agency, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, Ecomaris Ltd and The Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS) & Department of Biological Sciences, University of Hull. My research explored the variation in growth, secondary production and P/B ratios between local sites within the Wash and other U.K. locations. The findings of my research were used to provide suggestions for sustainable management options to fisheries committees. A copy of my MPhil thesis is housed at the Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority's headquarters.

• BSc (Hons) Marine Biology, University of Wales, Swansea (July 2003)

Dissertation title: Recruitment dynamics of intertidal organisms

During my honours degree in Marine Biology I was awarded a bursary placement (2002) to research Chthamalid barnacle settlement within the "Supply-side Ecology" Research Group under the supervision of Prof. Stuart Jenkins (now Bangor University) at the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth (M.B.A.). From this placement I was able to propose and use the data collected for my final year dissertation. I investigated recruitment dynamics of intertidal barnacle species Chthamalus stellatus & C. montagui and is acknowledged in a peer-reviewed publication (Jenkins, 2005).

• Fellowship of the Higher Education Authority (FHEA) – Swansea University (Nov 2019)

I successfully gained my Fellowship of the Higher Education Authority in November 2019 whilst employed at Swansea University through Swansea Academy of Learning and Teaching (SALT).