Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Staff Profile

Emeritus Professor Alasdair Edwards

Professor of Coral Reef Ecology

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6898
  • Personal Website:
  • Address: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
    Ridley Building
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    Â鶹´«Ã½ Upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Introduction

From 1980-86 I worked largely on reef fish systematics and biogeography. In 1987 I was appointed to a Leverhulme Teaching Fellowship to help establish a MSc in Tropical Coastal Management. This led to a university Lectureship in 1990, a Senior Lectureship in 1994, and a Personal Chair in 2010. During this time my research focus changed to the science underpinning coastal management in the tropics, research on fishery and other human impacts on coral reefs, applications of remote sensing technologies to coastal management, and latterly the natural recovery processes of reefs and coral reef restoration science. I chaired the Restoration and Remediation Working Group of the GEF/World Bank funded Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management programme from 2004-2010.

Qualifications

1988 MSc Computing Science, University of Â鶹´«Ã½
1979 PhD Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
1978 MA University of Cambridge
1974 BA (Honours) Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge

Memberships

Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Fellow of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (FMBA)
Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS) 
International Coral Reef Society
Society for Ecological Restoration

Research


Research Interests

My current research focuses on a) spatial and temporal patterns of recovery of coral reefs from physical damage and mass bleaching events, b) how reef restoration technologies can assist natural recovery processes, c) how gear changes and reserves can assist sustainable fisheries development, and d) the systematics and biogeography or reef fish.

Other Expertise

Use of satellite and airborne for the mapping and assessment of coastal habitats and resources.

Current Work

I am currently assisting part-time on Dr James Guest's European Union Horizon 2020 funded  project looking at whether human assisted evolution of corals can improve reef restoration outcomes.

I was involved in running three international research projects just prior to (semi-)retirement in 2010:

Coral reef restoration and remediation: this was one of six integrated programmes of research which form part of the GEF/World Bank funded project. Following the Asian tsunami tragedy in 2004 the Restoration and Remediation Working Group (RRWG) issued an on reef restoration for governments, agencies and NGOs in the region. In 2007 we produced which is now also available in , followed in 2010 by a . The research of RRWG members Alasdair Edwards, Edgardo Gomez (Philippines), James Guest (Singapore), Andrew Heyward (Australia) and Buki Rinkevich (Israel) was featured in .

: European Commission funded Framework 6 project led by Prof. Buki Rinkevich, National Institute of Oceanography (Israel), working primarily with Prof. Edgardo Gomez (University of the Philippines, Marine Science Institute). Others partners include Conzorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (Italy), National University of Singapore and Phuket Marine Biological Center (Thailand).

: a project with local NGO Shoals Rodrigues funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Also involved as
UK advisers are Dr Fiona Gell (Isle of Man), Dr Charles Anderson (Atoll Research).

Postgraduate Supervision

My last PhD student, Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler, successfully completed her study on the behavioural ecology of Alfred's manta (Manta alfredi) in the Maldives in 2013.

Esteem Indicators

Coordinating Editor for the journal Restoration Ecology.

Member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Coral Specialist Group 2017-2020.

Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of (a leading conservation organization for the protection and restoration of coral reefs) from 2016-2019.

Chair of the Technical Steering Committee of the GEF/World Bank (CCRES) project 2015-2018.

Member of IFRECOR () International Panel of experts on reef habitat classification in French Overseas Territories.

Chair of the Restoration and Remediation Working Group (RRWG) of the GEF/World Bank programme 2004-2010. 

Teaching

Postgraduate Teaching

Taught on MST8011 (Critical appraisal of coastal production systems) until 2018.

Publications

  • Articles

    • Humanes A, Lachs L, Beauchamp E, Bukurou L, Buzzoni D, Bythell J, Craggs JRK, de la Torre Cerro R, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Martinez HM, Palmowski P, van der Steeg E, Sweet M, Ward A, Wilson AJ, Guest JR. . Nature Communications 2024, 15(1), 8703.
    • Lachs L, Humanes A, Pygas DR, Bythell JC, Mumby PJ, Ferrari R, Figueira WF, Beauchamp E, East HK, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Martinez HM, Sommer B, van der Steeg E, Guest JR. . Communications Biology 2023, 6(1), 400.
    • Humanes A, Lachs L, Beauchamp EA, Bythell JC, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Martinez HM, Palmowski P, Treuman A, van der Steeg E, van Hooidonk R, Guest JR. . Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2022, 289(1981), 20220872.
    • Baird AH, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Harii S, Hatta M, Lachs L, Mera H, Sinniger F, Abrego D, Ben-Zvi O, Bronstein O, Cabaitan PC, Cumbo VR, Eyal G, Eyal-Shaham L, Feldman B, Figueiredo J, Flot J-F, Grinblat M, Heyward A, Hidaka M, Hirose M, Iguchi A, Isomura N, Kinzie RA, Kitanobo S, Kuba A, Levy O, Loya Y, Mezaki T, Mohamed AR, Morita M, Nojima S, Nozawa Y, Prasetia R, Puill-Stephan E, Ramirez-Portilla C, Rapuano H, Rosenberg Y, Sakai Y, Sakai K, Shlesinger T, Terraneo TI, Yakovleva I, Yamamoto HH, Yamazato K. . Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies 2022, 24(1), 41-49.
    • Ferrari R, Lachs L, Pygas DR, Humanes A, Sommer B, Figueira WF, Edwards AJ, Bythell JC, Guest JR. . Trends in Ecology and Evolution 2021, 36(12), 1093-1101.
    • Courtney TA, Guest JR, Edwards AJ, Dizon RM. . Coral Reefs 2021, 40, 1631-1635.
    • Bouwmeester J, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Bauman AG, Berumen ML, Baird AH. . Coral Reefs 2021, 40, 1411-1418.
    • Lachs L, Bythell JC, East HK, Edwards AJ, Mumby PJ, Skirving WJ, Spady BL, Guest JR. . Remote Sensing 2021, 13(14), 2677.
    • Baird AH, Guest JR, Edwards AJ, Bauman AG, Bouwmeester J, Mera H, Abrego D, Alvarez-Noriega M, Babcock RC, Barbosa MB, Bonito V, Burt J, Cabaitan PC, Chang C-F, Chavanich S, Chen CA, Chen C-J, Chen W-J, Chung F-C, Connolly SR, Cumbo VR, Dornelas M, Doropoulos C, Eyal G, Eyal-Shaham L, Fadli N, Figueiredo J, Flot J-F, Gan S-H, Gomez E, Graham EM, Grinblat M, Gutierrez-Isaza N, Harii S, Harrison PL, Hatta M, Ho NAJ, Hoarau G, Hoogenboom M, Howells EJ, Iguchi A, Isomura N, Jamodiong EA, Jandang S, Keyse J, Kitanobo S, Kongjandtre N, Kuo C-Y, Ligson C, Lin C-H, Low J, Loya Y, Maboloc EA, Madin JS, Mezaki T, Min C, Morita M, Moya A, Neo S-H, Nitschke MR, Nojima S, Nozawa Y, Piromvaragorn S, Plathong S, Puill-Stephan E, Quigley K, Ramirez-Portilla C, Ricardo G, Sakai K, Sampayo E, Shlesinger T, Sikim L, Simpson C, Sims CA, Sinniger F, Spiji DA, Tabalanza T, Tan C-H, Terraneo TI, Torda G, True J, Tun K, Vicentuan K, Viyakarn V, Waheed Z, Ward S, Willis B, Woods RM, Woolsey ES, Yamamoto HH, Yusuf S. . Scientific Data 2021, 8(1), 35.
    • Humanes A, Beauchamp EA, Bythell JC, Carl MK, Craggs JR, Edwards AJ, Golbuu Y, Lachs L, Martinez HM, Palmowski P, Paysinger F, Randle JL, van der Steeg E, Sweet M, Treumann A, Guest JR. . Frontiers in Marine Science 2021, 8, 669995.
    • Brown BE, Dunne RP, Somerfield PJ, Edwards AJ, Simons WJF, Phongsuwan N, Putchim L, Anderson L, Naeije C. . Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 1-12.
    • Keith SA, Maynard JA, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Bauman AG, VanHooidonk R, Heron SF, Berumen ML, Bouwmeester J, Piromvaragorn S, Rahbek C, Baird AH. . Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2016, 283(1830), 20160011.
    • Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Heyward AJ, Villanueva RD, Baria MV, Bollozos ISF, Golbuu Y. . Marine Ecology Progress Series 2015, 525, 105-116.
    • Brown BE, Dunne RP, Edwards AJ, Sweet MJ, Phongsuwan N. . Marine Biology 2015, 162(2), 479-483.
    • Sale PF, Agardy T, Ainsworth CH, Feist BE, Bell JD, Christie P, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mumby PJ, Feary DA, Saunders MI, Daw TM, Foale SJ, Levin PS, Lindeman KC, Lorenzen K, Pomeroy RS, Allison EH, Bradbury RH, Corrin J, Edwards AJ, Obura DO, SadovydeMitcheson YJ, Samoilys MA, Sheppard CRC. . Marine Pollution Bulletin 2014, 85, 8-23.
    • VanDover CL, Aronson J, Pendleton L, Smith S, Arnaud-Haond S, Moreno-Mateos D, Barbier E, Billett D, Bowers K, Danovaro R, Edwards A, Kellert S, Morato T, Pollard E, Rogers A, Warner R. . Marine Policy 2014, 44, 98-106.
    • Guest JR, Baria MV, Gomez ED, Heyward AJ, Edwards AJ. . Coral Reefs 2014, 33(1), 45-55.
    • Hardman ER, Edwards AJ, Raffin JSJ. . Fisheries Research 2013, 139, 35-42.
    • Kitchen-Wheeler AM, Ari C, Edwards AJ. . Environmental Biology of Fishes 2012, 93(4), 557-575.
    • Mumby PJ, Steneck RS, Edwards AJ, Ferrari R, Coleman R, Harborne AR, Gibson JP. . Marine Ecology - Progress Series 2012, 445, 13-24.
    • Guest JR, Baird AH, Maynard JA, Muttaquin E, Edwards AJ, Campbell SJ, Yewdall K, Affendi YA, Chou LM. . PLoS One 2012, 7(3), e33353.
    • Mumby PJ, Iglesias-Prieto R, Hooten AJ, Sale PF, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Edwards AJ, Harvell CD, Gomez ED, Knowlton N, Hatziolos ME, Kyewalyanga MS, Muthiga N. . Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 2011, 9(2), 94-96.
    • Guest JR, Dizon RM, Edwards AJ, Franco C, Gomez ED. . Restoration Ecology 2011, 19(2), 234-242.
    • Luiz OJ, Edwards AJ. . Biological Conservation 2011, 144(12), 2873-2881.
    • Villanueva RD, Edwards AJ, Bell JD. . Restoration Ecology 2010, 18(6), 803-809.
    • Baria MVB, Guest JR, Edwards AJ, Aliño PM, Heyward AJ, Gomez ED. . Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 2010, 394(1-2), 149-153.
    • Villanueva RD, Edwards AJ. . Coral Reefs 2010, 29(1), 105-105.
    • Carpenter KE, Abrar M, Aeby G, Aronson RB, Banks S, Bruckner A, Chiriboga A, Cortés J, Delbeek JC, DeVantier L, Edgar GJ, Edwards AJ, Fenner D, Guzmán HM, Hoeksema BW, Hodgson G, Johan O, Licuanan WY, Livingstone SR, Lovell ER, Moore JA, Obura DO, Ochavillo D, Polidoro BA, Precht WF, Quibilan MC, Reboton C, Richards ZT, Rogers AD, Sanciangco J, Sheppard A, Sheppard C, Smith J, Stuart S, Turak E, Veron JEN, Wallace C, Weil E, Wood E. . Science 2008, 321(5888), 560-563.
    • Vicentuan KC, Guest JR, Baria MV, Cabaitan PC, Dizon RM, Villanueva RD, Alino PM, Edwards AJ, Gomez ED, Heyward AJ. . Coral Reefs 2008, 27(1), 83.
    • Dizon RM, Edwards AJ, Gomez ED. . Aquatic Conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems 2008, 18(7), 1140-1148.
    • Graham NAJ, McClanahan TR, MacNeil MA, Wilson SK, Polunin NVC, Jennings S, Chabanet P, Clark S, Spalding MD, Letourneur Y, Bigot L, Galzin R, Öhman MC, Garpe KC, Edwards AJ, Sheppard CRC. . PLoS One 2008, 3(8), e3039.
    • Floeter SR, Rocha LA, Robertson DR, Joyeux JC, Smith-Vaniz WF, Wirtz P, Edwards AJ, Barreiros JP, Ferreira CEL, Gasparini JL, Brito A, Falcón JM, Bowen BW, Bernardi G. . Journal of Biogeography 2008, 35(1), 22-47.
    • Gill AC, Edwards AJ. . Zootaxa 2006, (1320), 43-48.
    • Edwards AJ. . Coastal Region and Small Island Papers 2005, 18, i-vi, 1-253.
    • Gill AC, Edwards AJ. . Smithiana Bulletin 2004, 3, 1-47.
    • Mumby PJ, Edwards AJ, Arias-Gonzalez JE, Lindeman KC, Blackwell PG, Gall A, Gorczynska MI, Harborne AR, Pescod CL, Renken H, Wabnitz CCC, Llewenyn G. . Nature 2004, 427(6974), 533-536.
    • Gill AC, Edwards AJ. . Zootaxa 2003, 291, 1-7.
    • Gill AC, Edwards AJ. . Bulletin of the Natural History Museum: Zoology 2002, 26(1), 19-26.
    • Mumby PJ, Edwards AJ. . Remote Sensing of Environment 2002, 82(2-3), 248-257.
    • Mumby PJ, Chisholm JRM, Edwards AJ, Clark CD, Roark EB, Andrefouet S, Jaubert J. . Marine Biology 2001, 139(1), 183-189.
    • Edwards AJ, Clark S, Zahir H, Rajasuriya A, Naseer A, Rubens J. . Marine Pollution Bulletin 2001, 42(1), 7-15.
    • Mumby PJ, Chisholm JRM, Edwards AJ, Andrefouet S, Jaubert J. . Marine Ecology - Progress Series 2001, 222(0), 209-216.
    • Gill AC, Edwards AJ. . Records of the Australian Museum 1999, 51(2), 141-160.
    • Edwards AJ, Clark S. . Marine Pollution Bulletin 1999, 37(8-12), 474-487.
    • Clark S, Edwards AJ. . Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 1999, 9(1), 5-21.
    • Last KS, Olive PJW, Edwards AJ. . Invertebrate Reproduction and Development 1999, 35(2), 141-145.
    • E. P. Green,P. J. Mumby,A. J. Edwards,C. D. Clark,A. C. Ellis. The assessment of mangrove areas using high resolution multispectral airborne imagery. Journal of Coastal Research 1998, 14(2), 433-443.
    • E. P. Green,C. D. Clark,P. J. Mumby,A. J. Edwards,A. C. Ellis. Remote sensing techniques for mangrove mapping. International Journal of Remote Sensing 1998, 19(5), 935-956.
    • P. J. Mumby,E. P. Green,C. D. Clark,A. J. Edwards. Digital analysis of multispectral airborne imagery of coral reefs. Coral Reefs 1998, 17(1), 59-69.
    • P. J. Mumby,C. D. Clark,E. P. Green,A. J. Edwards. Benefits of water column correction and contextual editing for mapping coral reefs. International Journal of Remote Sensing 1998, 19(1), 203-210.
    • P. J. Mumby,E. P. Green,A. J. Edwards,C. D. Clark. Measurement of seagrass standing crop using satellite and digital airborne remote sensing. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 1997, 159, 51-60.
    • E. P. Green,P. J. Mumby,A. J. Edwards,C. D. Clark,A. C. Ellis. Estimating leaf area index of mangroves from satellite data. Aquatic Botany 1997, 58(1), 11-19.
    • P. J. Mumby,E. P. Green,A. J. Edwards,C. D. Clark. Coral reef habitat-mapping: how much detail can remote sensing provide?. Marine Biology 1997, 130(2), 193-202.
    • P. J. Mumby,A. J. Edwards,E. P. Green,C. W. Anderson,A. C. Ellis,C. D. Clark. A visual assessment technique for estimating seagrass standing crop. Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 1997, 7(3), 239-251.
    • E. P. Green,P. J. Mumby,A. J. Edwards,C. D. Clark. A review of remote sensing for the assessment and management of tropical coastal resources. Coastal Management 1996, 24(1), 1-40.
    • S. Clark,A. J. Edwards. Coral transplantation as an aid to reef rehabilitation: Evaluation of a case study in the Maldive Islands. Coral Reefs 1995, 14(4), 201-213.
    • S. Clark,A. J. Edwards. Use of Artificial Reef Structures to Rehabilitate Reef Flats Degraded by Coral Mining in the Maldives. Bulletin of Marine Science 1994, 55(2-3), 724-744.
    • A. J. Edwards. New Records of Fishes from the Bonaparte Seamount and Saint-Helena Island, South-Atlantic. Journal of Natural History 1993, 27(2), 493-503.
    • A. J. Edwards,A. D. Shepherd. Environmental Implications of Aquarium-Fish Collection in the Maldives, with Proposals for Regulation. Environmental Conservation 1992, 19(1), 61-72.
    • A. J. Edwards,C. W. Glass. The Fishes of Saint-Helena-Island, South-Atlantic Ocean .1. The Shore Fishes. Journal of Natural History 1987, 21(3), 617-686.
    • A. J. Edwards,C. W. Glass. The Fishes of Saint Helena Island, South-Atlantic Ocean .2. The Pelagic Fishes. Journal of Natural History 1987, 21(6), 1367-1394.
    • J. Adams,A. J. Edwards,H. Emberton. Sexual Size Dimorphism and Assortative Mating in the Obligate Coral Commensal Trapezia-Ferruginea Latreille (Decapoda, Xanthidae). Crustaceana 1985, 48(MAR), 188-194.

  • Authored Books

    • Edwards AJ, Gomez ED. . St Lucia, Australia, 2007.
    • Green EP, Mumby PJ, Edwards AJ, Clark CD, Edwards AJ. . Paris: UNESCO, 2000.

  • Book Chapter

    • Edwards AJ. . In: Carpenter, KE; De Angelis, N, ed. The Living Marine Resources of the Eastern Central Atlantic. Volume 4: Bony fishes part 2 (Perciformes to Tetradontiformes) and Sea turtles. Rome: FAO, 2016, pp.2711-2732.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Byfield V, Dobson M, Donlon C, Edwards A, Robinson I, Sychev V, Whittle C. . In: International Conference: 50 Years of Education and Awareness Raising for Shaping the Future of the Oceans and Coasts. 2010, St Petersburg, Russia: RSHU.
    • Edwards AJ, Hooper TL (eds.). . In: Workshop on a Regional Perspective on MPAs in the Western Indian Ocean. 2009, Rodrigues Island, Mauritius: Â鶹´«Ã½ and Marine Education Trust.
    • Byfield V, Shillington F, Kirugara D, Bernard S, Dobson M, Edwards A, Donion C, Scott L, Ahanahanzo J. . In: European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP. 2007, Montreux: European Space Agency.
    • Byfield V, Donlon C, Dasilva JC, Shillington F, McNeall D, Quartly GD, Dobson M, Edwards AJ. . In: European Space Agency, (Special Publication): MERIS (A) ATSR Workshop. 2005, Frascati, San Francisco, USA: European Space Agency.
    • Byfield V, Donlon C, Da Silva JC, Shillington F, Chang N, Quartly D, McNeall M, Dobson AJ, Edwards AJ. . In: European Space Agency, (Special Publication): 2004 Envisat and ERS Symposium. 2005, Salzburg, Austria: European Space Agency.

  • Edited Book

    • Edwards AJ, ed. . St Lucia, Australia: The Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management Program, 2010.

  • Editorial

    • Edwards A. . Marine Pollution Bulletin 1999, 37(8-12), 371-372.

  • Letter

    • Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mumby PJ, Hooten AJ, Steneck RS, Greenfield P, Gomez E, Harvell DR, Sale PF, Edwards AJ, Caldeira K, Knowlton N, Eakin CM, Iglesias-Prieto R, Muthiga N, Bradbury RH, Dubi A, Hatziolos ME. . Science 2008, 320(5874), 315-316.

  • Report

    • Edwards AJ. . Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne, UK: Centre for Tropical Coastal Management Studies, 1989. Report to Commonwealth Expert Group on Sea-Level Rise and Government of Maldives.

  • Reviews

    • Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mumby PJ, Hooten AJ, Steneck RS, Greenfield P, Gomez E, Harvell CD, Sale PF, Edwards AJ, Caldeira K, Knowlton N, Eakin CM, Iglesias-Prieto R, Muthiga N, Bradbury RH, Dubi A, Hatziolos ME. . Science 2007, 318(5857), 1737-1742.
    • Edwards AJ, Gill AC, Abohweyere PO. . Journal of Natural History 2003, 37(18), 2213-2267.
    • Mumby PJ, Green EP, Edwards AJ, Clark CD. . Journal of Environmental Management 1999, 55(3), 157-166.