People

Joe Dawson

Research Assistant
School of Life Sciences
 Joe Dawson

Profile

Ask me about
  • Marine Management
  • Fish Biology & Phenology
  • Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Biography

My primary research interests involve using biomarkers to track fish movement and phenology, and how this data can inform species management. Specifically, I principally work with otoliths (small, calcified structures used for auditory functions) which can be used to age and track movements of fish. My masters project involved ageing 0-group seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in North Wales, which found a mismatch between the fisheries closure period, meant to protect aggregations of spawning adults, and peak spawning. Currently I am applying this on a wider scale to the rest of the UK to see if this trend is seen across the population. I also manage the Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrument which we have on campus, used to analyse concentrations of trace elements. I am happy to be contacted about any of these topics.

Qualifications

  • MScRes Ocean Science Bangor University (2023)

  • BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology University of Exeter (2018)

Contact

j.dawson@essex.ac.uk

Location:

Colchester Campus