DETAIL
Miss Trudy Russell BSc, MSc, CertEd.
Contact Details
Name: Miss Trudy Russell
Job Title: Marine biology lecturer
Address: Falmouth Marine School, Killigrew Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3QS
Tel: 01326310328
Email: trudy.russell@falmouthmarineschool.ac.uk
Work History
2007 to Present: Marine biology lecturer & OPAL Biodiversity Mentor
2006 to 2007: Open Water Scuba Instructor Seafans Scuba School
Research Details
Falmouth Harbour Commission has liaised with Falmouth Marine School in order to sponsor a set of student projects. These projects are to give the Harbour Commission an overview of the environmental habitats in and around the Fal estuary. This area has enormous potential as a research site and for fieldwork trips, with a number of species and coastal processes students are unable to observe easily without professional links e.g. Harbour Pilot Boats, in the coastal zone surrounding Falmouth. The scope for these projects is large and involves the Cornwall Wildlife Trust,Cornwall Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority, Marine Biological Association, Natural England, Cornish Fish Producers Association, Cornwall Seal Group, A+P, Fal and Helford SAC and Marine Discovery.
In my part of the study I focused on supporting students to conduct a series of benthic habitat assessments to support the research requirements of the Harbour commissioners and develop the skills of the students involved. This program will allowed us to continue and develop the work mapping the biodiversity of the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation that began in the previous academic year. As a result of the European legislation in the area the Harbour Commission are obliged to ensure their activities within the area are not detrimental to the health of the listed habitats and species. To enable them to meet this requirement we have continued the baseline surveys assessing the health and diversity of the habitats. Surveys used bathymetric mapping, video exploration & grab sampling. A dedicated programme of benthic habitat assessments has allowed the students taking part in the project to safely develop their practical abilities increasing their enjoyment of the course and their employability.
Aims
1. Series of benthic habitat assessments for important habitats within the Fal SAC
2. Development of student work related research projects and practical activities
3. Increased understanding of Maerl distribution and biology in Fal SAC
4. Develop safe program of scientific diving that can make this activity available for use by other Cornwall College sites
The findings have been reported back to the various stakeholders to increase the depth of knowledge available for the management scheme which requires regular inputs to meet the legislative requirements for the protected area. The project website www.fame.me.uk has been created to allow worldwide dissemination of the project findings.
The FaME team have presented their activities at a range of dissemination events including UPC Teaching & Learning Conference, Falmouth Marine School Research Day, Higher Education Authority Conference & The European Sector Port Operators Conference.
My previous research project investigated the marine biodiversity of the Roseland Peninslua.
Aims
1. To undertake baseline littoral and sublittoral surveys between Zone Point and Dodman Head for use by the college and external organisations including Seasearch, MarLIN and the UK Biodiversity Network.
2. To determine the potential of the stretch of coast between Zone Point and Dodman Head for student research and experiential student learning.
3. To assess the potential of the sublittoral zone between Zone Point and Dodman Head for diving tourism.
4. To demonstrate to the local communities the biodiversity of their local coast.
Selected Publications
Couvillion, M., Caple, J., Endsor, S., Karcher, M., Russell, T., Storey, D. & Ratnicks, F. (2007) Nest-mate recognition template of guard honeybees (Apis melifera) is modified by waxcomb transfer. Biology Letters 3 228 - 230.
Trudy's details were last updated on 28th Jun 2012
