Staff Profiles

Dr Jose Maria Fariñas Franco

B.Sc., PhD

Biography

I am a marine ecologist and scientific diver with more than 16 years experience in industry and research, managing multidisciplinary ecological projects, from scoping and environmental appraisals, to baseline and monitoring studies including offshore surveys and academic research projects.
After graduating in 2001 with an Honours B.Sc. Degree in Environmental Science at the University of León, in NW Spain, I relocated to Galway to work as an environmental consultant. In 2008 I moved to Belfast to conduct my doctoral research in Queen's University under the supervision of Dr. Dai Roberts. During my PhD, and as a researcher within the Modiolus Restoration Research Group, I studied the population biology and biodiversity of the reef forming mussel Modiolus modiolus. This work included extensive scientific diving mapping the extent of the horse mussel reefs, while developing ecological restoration techniques, from translocation and creation of artificial reefs to setting up an experimental hatchery. During this work I documented the full larval cycle of the species, from fertilisation to settled pediveliger. My postdoctoral research continued in Scotland, working with another horse mussel enthusiast, Dr. Bill Sanderson and colleagues at Heriot-Watt University, in a variety of habitat mapping and ecological restoration projects, namely developing biodiversity indicators for biogenic reefs (JNCC),studying horse mussel reefs in Scapa Flow (Orkney) and scoping the feasibility of restoring native oysters to the Dornoch Firth (DEEP Project).
In 2016 I became an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Zoology at NUIG. In 2017 I began my post as PDRA based at the School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute working with Dr. Ronan Sulpice (https://sulpice-lab.com). As part of the GENIALG Project I am currently investigating the effects of algal aquaculture (e.g. the sugar kelp Saccharina latissima and the sea lettuce Ulva spp.) on coastal ecosystems, focusing on the interaction between algae and ancillary structures with local biodiversity and faunal community assemblages.

Research Interests

The main theme of my research is the effect that anthropogenic pressures (aquaculture, resource extraction, fishing) have on marine benthic ecosystems, largely a result from my experience and first hand observations as an marine environmental consultant and offshore surveyor in Ireland, the UK and overseas. My main academic and research interests are:

the biodiversity and functioning of marine biodiversity hotspots, particularly seaweed habitats and biogenic reefs created by shellfish, identifying and quantifying the ecosystem services they provide including climate change amelioration, coastal protection, their role as blue carbon sinks and nursery grounds for commercial species and essential fish habitats (efh) and the development of restorative ecological approaches following anthropogenic impact (e.g. benthic trawling).
The mapping of seabed habitats to help designing and managing marine protected areas (MPAs)
The biology and ecology of the horse mussel M. modiolus, native European oyster Ostrea edulis, and other biogenic reef forming bivalves and the development of conservation and ecological restoration techniques to enhance or recover ecosystem services.
Currently I am actively investigating the effects of seaweed farming and seaweed harvesting on coastal ecosystems, especially biodiversity, and the ecosystem services provided by seaweed aquaculture.

Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2018)	'Missing native oyster (Ostrea edulis L.) beds in a European Marine Protected Area: Should there be widespread restorative management?' Fariñas-Franco, JM;Pearce, B;Mair, JM;Harries, DB; MacPherson, RC; Porter, JS; Reimer, PJ; Sanderson, WG (2018) 'Missing native oyster (Ostrea edulis L.) beds in a European Marine Protected Area: Should there be widespread restorative management?'. Biological Conservation, 221 :293-311 [DOI] [Details]
	(2018)	'The relevance of reproduction and recruitment to the conservation and restoration of keystone marine invertebrates: A case study of sublittoral Modiolus modiolus reefs impacted by demersal fishing' Fariñas-Franco, JM; Roberts, D (2018) 'The relevance of reproduction and recruitment to the conservation and restoration of keystone marine invertebrates: A case study of sublittoral Modiolus modiolus reefs impacted by demersal fishing'. Aquatic Conservation: Marine And Freshwater Research, 28 (3):672-689 [DOI] [Details]
	(2018)	'Protection alone may not promote natural recovery of biogenic habitats of high biodiversity damaged by mobile fishing gears' Fariñas-Franco, JM; Allcock, Allcok, L.; Roberts, D. (2018) 'Protection alone may not promote natural recovery of biogenic habitats of high biodiversity damaged by mobile fishing gears'. Marine Environmental Research, 135 :18-28 [DOI] [Details]
	(2016)	'Phenotypic differences may limit the potential for habitat restoration involving species translocation: a case study of shape ecophenotypes in different populations of Modiolus modiolus (Mollusca: Bivalvia)' Fariñas-Franco, JM;Sanderson, WG;Roberts, D (2016) 'Phenotypic differences may limit the potential for habitat restoration involving species translocation: a case study of shape ecophenotypes in different populations of Modiolus modiolus (Mollusca: Bivalvia)'. Aquatic Conservation-Marine And Freshwater Ecosystems, 26 :76-94 [DOI] [Details]
	(2014)	'Early faunal successional patterns in artificial reefs used for restoration of impacted biogenic habitats' Fariñas-Franco, JM;Roberts, D (2014) 'Early faunal successional patterns in artificial reefs used for restoration of impacted biogenic habitats'. Hydrobiologia, 727 :75-94 [DOI] [Details]
	(2014)	'Repeated mapping of reefs constructed by Sabellaria spinulosa Leuckart 1849 at an offshore wind farm site' Pearce, B;Fariñas-Franco, JM;Wilson, C;Pitts, J;deBurgh, A;Somerfield, PJ (2014) 'Repeated mapping of reefs constructed by Sabellaria spinulosa Leuckart 1849 at an offshore wind farm site'. Continental Shelf Research, 83 :3-13 [DOI] [Details]
	(2013)	'The substantial first impact of bottom fishing on rare biodiversity hotspots: a dilemma for evidence-based conservation' Cook, RL; Fariñas-Franco, JM; Gell, FR; Holt, RHF; Holt, T; Lindenbaum, C; Porter, JS; Seed, R; Skates, LR; Stringell, TB; Sanderson, WG (2013) 'The substantial first impact of bottom fishing on rare biodiversity hotspots: a dilemma for evidence-based conservation'. Plos One, 8 (8) [DOI] [Details]
	(2013)	'Community convergence and recruitment of keystone species as performance indicators of artificial reefs' Fariñas-Franco, JM; Allcock, AL; Smyth, D; Roberts, D (2013) 'Community convergence and recruitment of keystone species as performance indicators of artificial reefs'. Journal Of Sea Research, 78 :59-74 [DOI] [Details]
	(2013)	'Identifying optimal sites for natural recovery and restoration of impacted biogenic habitats in a special area of conservation using hydrodynamic and habitat suitability modelling' Elsasser, B;Fariñas-Franco, JM;Wilson, CD;Kregting, L;Roberts, D (2013) 'Identifying optimal sites for natural recovery and restoration of impacted biogenic habitats in a special area of conservation using hydrodynamic and habitat suitability modelling'. Journal Of Sea Research, 77 :11-21 [DOI] [Details]
	(2003)	'Conchoderma auritum (L.) (Cirripedia) recorded from a sperm whale Physeter catodon L. washed up at Claddaghduff, Co. Galway' O'Connor, B;Fariñas-Franco, JM (2003) 'Conchoderma auritum (L.) (Cirripedia) recorded from a sperm whale Physeter catodon L. washed up at Claddaghduff, Co. Galway'. Irish Naturalists Journal, 27 (6) [Details]

Published Reports

	Year	Publication
	(2014)	JNCC Report No : 523 Marine Strategy Framework Directive Indicators for Biogenic Reefs formed by Modiolus modiolus , Mytilus edulis and Sabellaria spinulosa Part 1 : Defining and validating the indicators September 2014. Fariñas-Franco, JM;Pearce, B;Porter, JS;Harries, D;Mair, JM;Woolmer, AP (2014) JNCC Report No : 523 Marine Strategy Framework Directive Indicators for Biogenic Reefs formed by Modiolus modiolus , Mytilus edulis and Sabellaria spinulosa Part 1 : Defining and validating the indicators September 2014. JNCC, Peterborough. [Details]
	(2014)	North Cava Island and Karlsruhe horse mussel bed assessment. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 760. Sanderson, WG;Hirst, NEE;Fariñas-Franco, JM;Grieve, RCC;Mair, JM;Porter, JS;Stirling, DAA (2014) North Cava Island and Karlsruhe horse mussel bed assessment. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 760. SNH, Edinburgh. [Details]
	(2011)	Modiolus Restoration Research Project: Final Report and Recommendations. Roberts, D;Allcock, AL;Fariñas-Franco, JM;Gorman, E;Maggs, C;Mahon, AM;Smyth, D;Strain, E;Wilson, CD (2011) Modiolus Restoration Research Project: Final Report and Recommendations. Queen's University Belfast, Belfast. [Details]
	(2007)	Benthic surveys of sandbanks in the Irish Sea. Irish Wildlife Manual No 29. Roche, C; Lyons, DO; Fariñas-Franco, J; O’Connor, B (2007) Benthic surveys of sandbanks in the Irish Sea. Irish Wildlife Manual No 29. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin. [Details]

Professional Associations

Association	Function	From / To
Royal Society of Biology	Chartered Biologist and Member	/
Marine Biological Association	Member	/
British Phycological Society	Member	/

Employment

Employer	Position	From / To
National University of Ireland Galway	Adjunct Lecturer in Zoology	01-MAR-16 /
Queen's University Belfast	Research Associate	01-FEB-08 / 05-NOV-12
National University of Ireland Galway	Postdoctoral Researcher	01-JUN-17 /
Heriot Watt University Edinburgh	Postdoctoral Research Associate in Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Enhancement	31-JUL-14 /

Education

	Year	Institution	Qualification	Subject
	2001	University of Leon	BACHELOR OF SCIENCE	Environmental Biology
	2012	Queen's University Belfast	PhD	The importance of keystone species in the ecological restoration of marine habitats: A case study using the reef forming mollusc Modiolus modiolus