Mac Robertson Scholarship Report 2011
Katherine Dunlop: Recipient to assist with travel to Clipperton Island, Tropical Eastern Pacific
Research Details
I am currently a third year PhD student and marine
biology researcher, originally from Dumfries and
Galloway, Scotland. I kindly received a Mac Robertson
scholarship during the Summer of my second year to allow
me to travel to Mexico with my research equipment,
where I would meet a vessel that would take me to on an
expedition to Clipperton Island in the Tropical Eastern
Pacific, 1, 250km from the Mexican Coast.
Figure. 1. Kathy Dunlop deploying a baited camera system in
the waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula.
My research involves the development of new remote sensing techniques that can be used to
monitor marine fish populations in a non-destructive manner. My methodologies are based on a
remote baited underwater camera (BUC) system. BUC systems represent an efficient method to
survey marine scavengers and carnivores. The method was developed in order to study
previously inaccessible marine environments such as the abyssal plains, and is now used in a wide
range of coastal systems. BUCs are non-destructive and relatively inexpensive, as are dive
surveys, but also offer a greater depth range and a permanent record of the survey. A BUC
system has been developed at the University of Glasgow and has been found to be an effective
technique to investigate inshore fish populations around Scotland and the Red Sea.
Mathematical models have also been developed in conjunction with the BUC to produce
abundance estimates of fish populations. These were adapted from previous models describing
the abundance of abyssal scavengers from data collecting by BUCs on fish staying time,
swimming speed and arrival rates specific to the inshore fish species surveyed. The effect of bait
plume dispersal dynamics were interpreted using fluid mechanics modelling software and applied
to the camera data.
The Clipperton Expedition and My Research
The Clipperton Project is a not-for-profit international initiative that aims to raise awareness of
the environmental impact of human activities on some of the world’s most remote and
uninhabited places. The project aims to achieve this through multidisciplinary work and research
primarily between artists and scientists.
I was awarded the role as the UK scientist on the project’s first expedition to Clipperton, based
upon my proposal to use my BUC system and scuba diver surveys to monitor the shallow reef
fish assemblages around the island. As well as allowing me to gather baseline data on the reef
fish and sharks present in this poorly studied area I would also be able to test the potential
application of the camera system in a tropical Pacific reef. The methodology used involved a
baited underwater time-lapse camera systems which was deployed from a small boat and was left
on the reef for a period of one hour. The data collected via this system was compared to that
collected by a diver transect surveys to determine which aspects of the reef fish assemblages the
different methods effectively monitored. Previous research of mine from the Red Sea indicated
that the BUC was effective at sampling mobile predator species on the reef which are effective
indicators of the health of the whole reef ecosystem.
One of the aims of The Clipperton Project is to find new approaches to inspire audience to
become more engaged with science and as well as generating valuable scientific data the images
from my project are being used as an artistic medium by which to present the findings and
experiences of Clipperton. Images of a pristine ecosystem are currently being used to inspire and
provide an understanding of what stands to be lost and why action is required.
Expedition Details
My travel plans were changed during a research post that I was conducting previously to the
Clipperton expedition with the British Antarctic Survey at Rothera research station on the
Antarctic Peninsula, where I was conducting the research project “The impact of iceberg
scouring on scavenger communities; an assessment using a baited underwater camera system in
the West Antarctic Peninsula”. I was originally planning to return to the UK and take a return
flight from Glasgow to Mexico City; however BAS requested that I remained longer so that I
could present my research to the UK Science Minister. In return BAS agreed to pay for my
travel to La Paz, Baja California where I met the sailing aboard which I would travel to
Clipperton Island. The trip to and from the island took us one week each way , during when I
got to know my fellow crew which was made up of both scientists. The time travelling allowed
us to learn about our separate disciplines and develop potential collaborations. On reaching the
island I quickly began collecting data for my research project with the help of Manon Fourierre,
a marine biologist from La Paz University. We chose a single area to work in that was near to
the support vessel to ensure that diving was conducted under safe circumstances. I conducted
BUC deployments while my colleague the transect surveys (Figure. 2). Prior to analysis we were
surprised by the complete lack of sharks in our surveys as the area is considered rich in sharks.
Also the BUC system appeared to congregate large numbers of mobile predator in keeping with
previous BUC research.
Figure.2. Manon Fourierre, La Paz University, conducting a diver transect
survey on the reef of Clipperton Atoll, Eastern Pacific.
As well as the success of our scientific research project, achieved under harsh environmental and
logistical conditions, I also began developing ideas for future art and science collaborations to
facilitate the communication of scientific findings. On return to Mexico I spent several weeks
presenting at press conferences (hosted by the British Council), helping the making of the
expedition documentary, visiting schools to teach about marine biology research and to talk
about our experiences. The scholarship funds were therefore used to allow me to travel back
from Mexico City to Glasgow.
Impact
The provision of the scholarship enable me to take up this incredible research post and The
Clipperton Project staff were so impressed by my contribution that I have recently been
appointed their Science Coordinator. I contributed to four public outreach events at Glasgow
Science Festival through this role and am now working towards an exhibition at Glasgow
Sculpture Studios which aims to investigate the impact of displaying scientific findings via
different mediums.
The data collected represents the first scientific underwater camera work in the area and this
work will be incorporated into my thesis and in the future Manon and I will combine our data
towards a scientific publication. Conducting my field work at Clipperton Island improved my
skills in producing valid research under the harshest of conditions. I have also made some
valuable collaborative relationships between my research group and the marine science group in
La Paz as well as with local artists who I am continuing to work with developing public outreach
programmes for marine science.
More information on The Clipperton Project and my involvement in the expedition can be found at
www.theclippertonproject.com.