麻豆传媒

I'm a quantitative marine ecologist within the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and Vice Chair (marine theme) for IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA - ).

I have primarily worked on understanding the ecology of organisms that live on or near the seafloor spanning coastal to deep sea ecosystems, although I have also worked on distribution patterns of top predators such as whales and sharks. Using a combination of experimental and statistical modelling approaches, my research has focussed on developing quantitative science that aims to inform strategic policy approaches to managing the marine environment.



PhD: 麻豆传媒 (2016)

MSc: 麻豆传媒 (2012)

BSc (Hons): Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh (2009)

Research Overview

My research has focussed on understanding spatial patterns and drivers of biodiversity at different spatial scales, including understanding how anthropogenic impacts (e.g., effect of multiple stressors such bottom-fishing and climate change) may affect these patterns. Ultimately, I’m most interested in understanding how this information can be used for effective marine spatial planning and risk assessment, including considerations of how ecologically, economically and culturally important ecosystems can be protected at present and moving forward in the face of a changing climate.

My interdisciplinary NUAcT fellowship, Using Spatial Estimates of Ecosystem Services for Equitable Conservation of Multiple Values Under a Changing Climate, will focus on:

• developing novel methods for predicting spatial patterns of biodiversity that can more robustly predict into future climatic conditions by accounting for biological interactions. 
• Using these biodiversity predictions, to quantify current and future spatial patterns in coastal ecosytem services and ecosystem service bundles for use in collaborative decision-making processes.

External Funding

• Principal investigator (2024 - 2027): "Identifying priority areas for effective nature-based solutions to mitigating the impacts of climate of change". Part of the Stronger Shores programme ().
• Principal investigator (2023 - 2024): "Developing a maintenance framework, guidance and case studies for the New Zealand Community Classification". Funded by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
• Co-leader (2019 – 2023, with Dr Joanne Ellis from the University of Waikato): “Communicating risk and uncertainty to aid decision-making”. Phase II of The Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge.
• Project manager and science leader (2020 – 2022): “Understanding ecosystem degradation and recovery”. Funding from NIWA Coasts & Oceans Research Programme 5.
• Project manager and science leader (2019 – 2021): “Development of a New Zealand Marine Habitat Classification”. Funded by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
• Project manager and science leader (2018 – 2019): “Improving information on the distribution of seabirds and marine mammals”. Funded by Fisheries New Zealand (New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries).
• Project manager and science leader (2018 – 2019): “Mapping key ecological areas in the New Zealand marine environment”. Funded by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

Teaching

NES8010 - Quantitative Ecological Research Methods (PG module)

NES8321 - Designing and Evaluating Conservation Areas (PG Module)

Postgraduate Research Supervision

Completed

Dr Savanah Goode, University of Victoria, Wellington. (2023) Thesis title: Resilience of seamount benthic communities to fishing disturbance

Dr Stephanie Watson, University of Waikato. (2024) Thesis title: Marine stressor and receptor interactions: A new approach to incorporate cumulative effects into marine spatial management

Dr Edoardo Zelli, University of Waikato. (2025) Thesis title: Protecting the deep: The combined impact of climate change and bottom trawling on VME indicator taxa in New Zealand and implications for management

Dr Claire Shellem, University of Waikato. (2025) Thesis title:Multiple stressor effects of climate change and coastal runoff on fjord ecosystems

In progress

Elizabeth Harrison, University of Waikato. PhD: The effects of cumulative stressors on the ecosystem service potential and restoration of infaunal estuarine bivalves.

Grady Petersen, University of Victoria, Wellington. PhD: Development of a spatially Bayesian network model to identify shifts in ecosystem function in estuaries

Huw James, 麻豆传媒. PhD: Assessing the environmental and ecological drivers of interannual variability in the life histories and population dynamics of icefishes around the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia

Katarina Scaife, 麻豆传媒. PhD: Oxygen availability as driver of community composition in shallow aquatic habitat.

Ben Hall, 麻豆传媒. PhD: Quantifying changes in marine ecosystem services in a changing climate.

Yaofa Ren, 麻豆传媒. PhD: Embedding equity into research on and management for ecosystem services and disservices

Miaad Al Maamari, 麻豆传媒. PhD: Assessment of shark catches in Oman small scale fisheries

Sarah Tubbs, 麻豆传媒. PhD: Interdisciplinary conservation of coastal cetaceans in Cambodia.

Sylvie Tranter, 麻豆传媒. PhD: Utilising a marine biodiversity metric to support conservation in Small Island Developing States

• Articles

  • Bennion M, Rowden A, Anderson O, Bowden D, Clark M, Althaus F, Williams A, Geange S, Tablada J, Stephenson F. . Fisheries Management and Ecology 2025, 32(1), e12751.
  • Brough T, Stephenson F, Leunissen E, Lundquist C. . Diversity and Distributions 2025, 31(2), e70006.
  • Ellis J, Macpherson E, Thrush S, Fisher K, Pilditch C, Jorgensen E, Low J, Stephenson F, Allison A, Geange S, Hewitt J. . Biological Conservation 2025, 302, 111000.
  • Kitchel ZJ, Maureaud AA, Fredston A, Shackell N, Merigot B, Thorson JT, Pecuchet L, Palacios-Abrantes J, Palomares MLD, Acon AE, Belchier M, Bono G, Carbonara P, Collins MA, Cubillos LA, Fairweather TP, Follesa MC, Garcia Ruiz C, Farriols Garau MT, Garofalo G, Isajlovic I, Kathena JN, Koen-Alonso M, Maiorano P, Manfredi C, Mifsud J, O'Driscoll RL, Sbrana M, Solmundsson J, Spedicato MT, Stephenson F, Werner K-M, Yepsen DV, Zupa W, Pinsky ML. . PLOS Climate 2025, 4(7), e0000659.
  • Hall B, Bennion M, Lam-Gordillo O, Fitzsimmons C, Stephenson F. . Biodiversity and Conservation 2025, 34, 3481-3510.
  • Zelli E, Ellis J, Pilditch C, Rowden AA, Anderson OF, Geange SW, Bowden DA, Stephenson F. . Journal of Environmental Management 2025, 373, 122635.
  • Maureaud AA, Kitchel Z, Fredston A, Guralnick R, Palacios-Abrantes J, Palomares MLD, Pinsky ML, Shackell NL, Thorson JT, Alemany D, Amador K, Bandara RMWJ, Belmaker J, Beukhof ED, Bograd SJ, Camara ML, Carbonara P, Chaikin S, Collins MA, Eddy TD, Edelist D, Fock HO, Frelat R, Friedland K, Gruss A, Hidalgo M, Jouffre D, Kide SO, Koen-Alonso M, Knuckey I, Kotwicki S, Lavender E, Lindegren M, Llope M, Mannocci L, Mason JG, Masski H, McLean M, Merillet L, Mihneva V, Nunoo FKE, O'Driscoll RL, O'Leary C, Pecuchet L, Petrova E, Ramos JE, Sobrino I, Solmundsson J, Soni V, Spies I, Spedicato MT, Stephenson F, Thiam N, Tserkova F, Tserpes G, Tzanatos E, van Denderen D, Vasilakopoulos P, Webb T, Yepsen DV, Ziegler P, Zupa W, Merigot B. . Conservation Science and Practice 2025, 7(6), e70035.
  • Ellis-Smith BG, Needham HR, Stephenson F, Hillman JR, Lohrer AM, Ellis JI, Pilditch CA. . New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 2025, 59(5), 1303-1323.
  • Goode SL, Rowden AA, Clark MR, Bowden DA, Stephenson F. . Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 2025, 220, 104488.
  • Rowden AA, Anderson OF, Stephenson F, Geange SW, Milardi M. . ICES Journal of Marine Science 2025, 82(2), fsae173.
  • Zelli E, Ellis J, Pilditch C, Rowden AA, Anderson OF, Geange SW, Holland LP, Stephenson F. . Ocean and Coastal Management 2025, 269, 107768.
  • Yeoh LH, Thrush SF, Hewitt JE, Stephenson F, Pilditch CA, Gladstone-Gallagher RV. . Marine Ecology Progress Series 2025, 763, 27-39.
  • Bulmer R, Paul-Burke K, Ranapia M, Ellis J, Bluett C, O'Brien T, Burke J, Petersen G, Stephenson F. . Ocean & Coastal Management 2024, 258, 107402.
  • Stephenson F, Bowden DA, Rowden AA, Anderson OF, Clark MR, Bennion M, Finucci B, Pinkerton MH, Goode S, Chin C, Davey N, Hart A, Stewart R. . Biodiversity and Conservation 2024, 33, 3103-3127.
  • Harrison E, Stephenson F, Rullens V, Pilditch C, Ellis J. . Ocean and Coastal Management 2024, 259, 107486.
  • Stephenson F, Tablada J, Rowden AA, Bulmer R, Bowden DA, Geange SW. . Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 2024, 34(3), e4114.
  • Gordo-Vilaseca C, Costello MJ, Coll M, Juterbock A, Reiss H, Stephenson F. . Nature Communications 2024, 15, 5637.
  • Ozaki R, Stephenson F, Pinkerton M, Finucci B, Green L, Penna AD, Sila-Nowicka K. . Journal of Biogeography 2024, 51(11), 2117-2135.
  • Bennion M, Anderson OF, Rowden AA, Bowden DA, Geange SW, Stephenson F. . Fisheries Management and Ecology 2024, 31(4), e12700.
  • Rullens V, Stephenson F, Townsend M, Lohrer AM, Hewitt JE, Pilditch CA, Ellis JI. . Diversity and Distributions 2024, 30(6), e13823.
  • Kim H, Peterson GD, Cheung WWL, Ferrier S, Alkemade R, Arneth A, Kuiper JJ, Okayasu S, Pereira L, Acosta LA, Chaplin-Kramer R, den Belder E, Eddy TD, Johnson JA, Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen S, Kok MTJ, Leadley P, Leclere D, Lundquist CJ, Rondinini C, Scholes RJ, Schoolenberg MA, Shin Y-J, Stehfest E, Stephenson F, Visconti P, van Vuuren D, Wabnitz CCC, Jose Alava J, Cuadros-Casanova I, Davies KK, Gasalla MA, Halouani G, Harfoot M, Hashimoto S, Hickler T, Hirsch T, Kolomytsev G, Miller BW, Ohashi H, Gabriela Palomo M, Popp A, Paco Remme R, Saito O, Rashid Sumalia U, Willcock S, Pereira HM. . Global Environmental Change 2023, 82, 102681.
  • Gordo-Vilaseca C, Stephenson F, Coll M, Lavin C, Costello MJ. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2023, 120(4), e2120869120.
  • Armoudian M, Stevens G, Stephenson F, Ellis J. . Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 2023, 33(6), 606-619.
  • Stephenson F, Rowden AA, Anderson OF, Ellis JI, Geange SW, Brough T, Behrens E, Hewitt JE, Clark MR, Tracey DM, Goode SL, Petersen GL, Lundquist CJ. . Journal of Environmental Management 2023, 346, 118938.
  • Stephenson F, Hamilton ONP, Torres LG, Kozmian-Ledward L, Pinkerton MH, Constantine R. . Diversity and Distributions 2023, 29(7), 804-820.
  • Lohrer T, Hewitt JE, Lohrer AM, Parsons DM, Ellis JI, Stephenson F. . Ocean and Coastal Management 2023, 239, 106595.
  • Douglas EJ, Hewitt J, Lohrer AM, Stephenson F. . Ecosphere 2023, 14(1), e4373.
  • Stephenson F, Brough T, Lohrer D, Leduc D, Geange S, Anderson O, Bowden D, Clark MR, Davey N, Pardo E, Gordon DP, Finucci B, Kelly M, Macpherson D, McCartain L, Mills S, Neill K, Nelson W, Peart R, Pinkerton MH, Read GB, Robertson J, Rowden A, Schnabel K, Stewart A, Struthers C, Tait L, Tracey D, Weston S, Lundquist C. . Earth System Science Data 2023, 15(9), 3931-3939.
  • Stephenson F, Rowden AA, Tablada J, Tunley K, Brough T, Lundquist CJ, Bowden DA, Geange S. . Ocean and Coastal Management 2023, 242, 106688.
  • Rullens V, Townsend M, Lohrer AM, Stephenson F, Pilditch CA. . Science of the Total Environment 2022, 808, 152147.
  • Lavin CP, Gordo-Vilaseca C, Stephenson F, Shi Z, Costello MJ. . Environmental Biology of Fishes 2022, 105(10), 1431-1446.
  • Lavin CP, Gordo-Vilaseca C, Costello MJ, Shi Z, Stephenson F, Gruss A. . Environmental Biology of Fishes 2022, 105(10), 1415-1429.
  • Rullens V, Mangan S, Stephenson F, Clark DE, Bulmer RH, Berthelsen A, Crawshaw J, Gladstone-Gallagher RV, Thomas S, Ellis JI, Pilditch CA. . New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 2022, 56(3), 353-370.
  • Rullens V, Stephenson F, Hewitt JE, Clark DE, Pilditch CA, Thrush SF, Ellis JI. . Science of the Total Environment 2022, 842, 156877.
  • Mouton TL, Stephenson F, Torres LG, Rayment W, Brough T, McLean M, Tonkin JD, Albouy C, Leprieur F. . Biological Conservation 2022, 267, 109484.
  • Clark DE, Gladstone-Gallagher RV, Hewitt JE, Stephenson F, Ellis JI. . Conservation Science and Practice 2022, 4(3), e12636.
  • Anderson OF, Stephenson F, Behrens E, Rowden AA. . Global Change Biology 2022, 28(22), 6556-6576.
  • Bulmer RH, Stephenson F, Lohrer AM, Lundquist CJ, Madarasz-Smith A, Pilditch CA, Thrush SF, Hewitt JE. . Journal of Environmental Management 2022, 301, 113576.
  • Stephenson F, Gladstone-Gallagher RV, Bulmer RH, Thrush SF, Hewitt JE. . Diversity and Distributions 2022, 28(7), 1373-1390.
  • Watson SL, Stephenson F, Pilditch CA, Lundquist CJ. . Ocean and Coastal Management 2022, 230, 106355.
  • Stephenson F, Rowden AA, Brough T, Petersen G, Bulmer RH, Leathwick JR, Lohrer AM, Ellis JI, Bowden DA, Geange SW, Funnell GA, Freeman DJ, Tunley K, Tellier P, Clark DE, Lundquist CJ, Greenfield BL, Tuck ID, Mouton TL, Neill KF, Mackay KA, Pinkerton MH, Anderson OF, Gorman RM, Mills S, Watson S, Nelson WA, Hewitt JE. . Frontiers in Marine Science 2022, 8, 792712.
  • Goetz KT, Stephenson F, Hoskins A, Bindoff AD, Orben RA, Sagar PM, Torres LG, Kroeger CE, Sztukowski LA, Phillips RA, Votier SC, Bearhop S, Taylor GA, Thompson DR. . Frontiers in Marine Science 2022, 9, 782923.
  • Douglas EJ, Gammal J, Needham HR, Stephenson F, Townsend M, Pilditch CA, Lohrer AM. . Ecosystems 2022, 25(8), 1670-1681.
  • Mouton TL, Leprieur F, Floury M, Stephenson F, Verburg P, Tonkin JD. . Ecography 2022, 2022(3), e06148.
  • Stephenson F, Leathwick JR, Geange S, Moilanen A, Pitcher CR, Lundquist CJ. . Ocean and Coastal Management 2021, 212, 105855.
  • Hewitt JE, Bulmer RH, Stephenson F, Thrush SF. . Global Change Biology 2021, 27(10), 2213-2224.
  • Stephenson F, Rowden AA, Anderson OF, Pitcher CR, Pinkerton MH, Petersen G, Bowden DA. . ICES Journal of Marine Science 2021, 78(8), 2830-2843.
  • Parsons DM, Hartill BW, Broekhuizen N, McKenzie JR, Stephenson F, Petersen GL, Lundquist CJ. . Ocean and Coastal Management 2021, 208, 105636.
  • Clark DE, Stephenson F, Hewitt JE, Ellis JI, Zaiko A, Berthelsen A, Bulmer RH, Pilditch CA. . Marine Ecology Progress Series 2021, 666, 1-18.
  • Goode SL, Rowden AA, Bowden DA, Clark MR, Stephenson F. . Frontiers in Marine Science 2021, 8, 765407.
  • Finucci B, Duffy CAJ, Brough T, Francis MP, Milardi M, Pinkerton MH, Petersen G, Stephenson F. . Frontiers in Marine Science 2021, 8, 665337.
  • Rullens V, Stephenson F, Lohrer AM, Townsend M, Pilditch CA. . Ocean and Coastal Management 2021, 209, 105697.
  • Stephenson F, Hewitt JE, Torres LG, Mouton TL, Brough T, Goetz KT, Lundquist CJ, MacDiarmid AB, Ellis J, Constantine R. . Ecosphere 2021, 12(7), e03633.
  • Bowden DA, Anderson OF, Rowden AA, Stephenson F, Clark MR. . Frontiers in Marine Science 2021, 8, 632389.
  • Maureaud AA, Frelat R, Pecuchet L, Shackell N, Merigot B, Pinsky ML, Amador K, Anderson SC, Arkhipkin A, Auber A, Barri I, Bell RJ, Belmaker J, Beukhof E, Camara ML, Guevara-Carrasco R, Choi J, Christensen HT, Conner J, Cubillos LA, Diadhiou HD, Edelist D, Emblemsvag M, Ernst B, Fairweather TP, Fock HO, Friedland KD, Garcia CB, Gascuel D, Gislason H, Goren M, Guitton J, Jouffre D, Hattab T, Hidalgo M, Kathena JN, Knuckey I, Kide SO, Koen-Alonso M, Koopman M, Kulik V, Leon JP, Levitt-Barmats Y, Lindegren M, Llope M, Massiot-Granier F, Masski H, McLean M, Meissa B, Merillet L, Mihneva V, Nunoo FKE, O'Driscoll R, O'Leary CA, Petrova E, Ramos JE, Refes W, Roman-Marcote E, Siegstad H, Sobrino I, Solmundsson J, Sonin O, Spies I, Steingrund P, Stephenson F, Stern N, Tserkova F, Tserpes G, Tzanatos E, van Rijn I, van Zwieten PAM, Vasilakopoulos P, Yepsen DV, Ziegler P, Thorson JT. . Global Change Biology 2021, 27(2), 220-236.
  • Stephenson F, Mill AC, Scott C, Stewart GB, Grainger MJ, Polunin NVC, Fitzsimmons C. . Marine Policy 2017, 88, 189-203.

• Letter

  • Sumaila UR, Skerritt D, Villasante S, Thambisetty M, Howard R, Glymour MM, Schneider LS, Selkoe DJ, Skerritt DJ, Schuhbauer A, Schuhbauer A, Villasante S, Cisneros-Montemayor AM, Cisneros-Montemayor AM, Sinan H, Sinan H, Burnside D, Burnside D, Abdallah PR, Abe K, Addo KA, Adelsheim J, Adewumi IJ, Adeyemo OK, Adger N, Adotey J, Advani S, Afrin Z, Aheto D, Akintola SL, Akpalu W, Alam L, Alava JJ, Allison EH, Amon DJ, Anderies JM, Anderson CM, Andrews E, Angelini R, Anna Z, Antweiler W, Arizi EK, Armitage D, Arthur RI, Asare N, Asche F, Asiedu B, Asuquo F, Badmus L, Bailey M, Ban N, Barbier EB, Barley S, Barnes C, Barrett S, Basurto X, Belhabib D, Bennett E, Bennett NJ, Benzaken D, Blasiak R, Bohorquez JJ, Bordehore C, Bornarel V, Boyd DR, Breitburg D, Brooks C, Brotz L, Campbell D, Cannon S, Cao L, Campo JCC, Carpenter S, Carpenter G, Carson RT, Carvalho AR, Castrejon M, Caveen AJ, Kai MNC, Chan MA, Chapin FS, Charles T, Cheung W, Christensen V, Chuku EO, Church T, Clark C, Clarke TM, Cojocaru AL, Copeland B, Crawford B, Crepin A-S, Crowder LB, Cury P, Cutting AN, Daily GC, Da-Rocha JM, Das A, De La Puente S, De Zeeuw A, Deikumah SKS, Deith M, Dewitte B, Doubleday N, Duarte CM, Dulvy NK, Eddy T, Efford M, Ehrlich PR, Elsler LG, Fakoya KA, Falaye AE, Fanzo J, Fitzsimmons C, Flaaten O, Florko KRN, Aviles MF, Folke C, Forrest A, Freeman P, Freire KMF, Froese R, Frolicher TL, Gallagher A, Garcon V, Gasalla MA, Gephart JA, Gibbons M, Gillespie K, Giron-Nava A, Gjerde K, Glaser S, Golden C, Gordon L, Govan H, Gryba R, Halpern BS, Hanich Q, Hara M, Harley CDG, Harper S, Harte M, Helm R, Hendrix C, Hicks CC, Hood L, Hoover C, Hopewell K, Horta E Costa BB, Houghton JDR, Iitembu JA, Isaacs M, Isahaku S, Ishimura G, Islam M, Issifu I, Jackson J, Jacquet J, Jensen OP, Ramon JJ, Jin X, Jonah A, Jouffray J-B, Juniper SK, Jusoh S, Kadagi I, Kaeriyama M, Kaiser MJ, Kaiser BA, Kakujaha-Matundu O, Karuaihe ST, Karumba M, Kemmerly JD, Khan AS, Kimani P, Kleisner K, Knowlton N, Kotowicz D, Kurien J, Kwong LE, Lade S, Laffoley D, Lam ME, Lam VWL, Lange G-M, Latif MT, Billon PL, Le Brenne V, Le Manach F, Levin SA, Levin L, Limburg KE, List J, Lombard AT, Lopes PFM, Lotze HK, Mallory TG, Mangar RS, Marszalec D, Mattah P, Mayorga J, Mcausland C, Mccauley DJ, Mclean J, Mcmullen K, Meere F, Mejaes A, Melnychuk M, Mendo J, Micheli F, Millage K, Miller D, Mohamed KS, Mohammed E, Mokhtar M, Morgan L, Muawanah U, Munro GR, Murray G, Mustafa S, Nayak P, Newell D, Nguyen T, Noack F, Nor AM, Nunoo FKE, Obura D, Okey T, Okyere I, Onyango P, Oostdijk M, Orlov P, Osterblom H, Owens D, Owens T, Oyinlola M, Pacoureau N, Pakhomov E, Abrantes JP, Pascual U, Paulmier A, Pauly D, Pelebe ROE, Penalosa D, Pennino MG, Peterson G, Pham TTT, Pinkerton E, Polasky S, Polunin NVC, Prah E, Ramirez J, Relano V, Reygondeau G, Robadue D, Roberts C, Rogers A, Roumbedakis K, Sala E, Scheffer M, Segerson K, Seijo JC, Seto KC, Shogren JF, Silver JJ, Singh G, Soszynski A, Splichalova D-V, Spring M, Stage J, Stephenson F, Stewart BD, Sultan R, Suttle C, Tagliabue A, Tall A, Talloni-Alvarez N, Tavoni A, Taylor DRF, Teh LSL, Teh LCL, Thiebot J-B, Thiele T, Thilsted SH, Thumbadoo RV, Tigchelaar M, Tol RSJ, Tortell P, Troell M, Uzmanolu MS, Van Putten I, Van Santen G, Villasenor-Derbez JC, Wabnitz CCC, Walsh M, Walsh JP, Wambiji N, Weber EU, Westley F, Williams S, Wisz MS, Worm B, Xiao L, Yagi N, Yamazaki S, Yang H, Zeller D. . Science 2021, 374(6567), 544-544.

• Note

  • Gladstone-Gallagher RV, Hewitt JE, Low JML, Pilditch CA, Stephenson F, Thrush SF, Ellis JI. . Biological Conservation 2024, 292, 110516.

• Review

  • Fusi M, Stephenson F, Navarrete SA, Tapia FJ, Largier JL, Marasco R, Rueger T, MacDonald C, Daffonchio D, Fernandez M, Wieters EA, Booth J, Daghio M, Sugden H, Scaife K, Evans DM, Moore P, Baldanzi S. . Trends in Ecology and Evolution 2025, 40(8), 791-804.