Dr Nick Fleming
Senior Lecturer in Zoology, Programme Leader BSc Marine Biology
Dr Fleming joined University of Chester in 2020 as a senior lecturer and is now the programme leader for the BSc Marine Biology degree pathway. He is a marine biologist with an interest in marine ecology and conservation, broadly encompassing pelagic and trophic ecology and the processes driving marine ecosystem functioning.
A fascination for the oceans led to a Marine Biology Degree from the University of Wales, Swansea, an MPhil from University of Hull exploring Marine Fisheries Ecology and a PhD in Marine Ecology from Queens University, Belfast specialising in the distribution, seasonality and trophic ecology of gelatinous zooplankton (jellyfish) in the North East Atlantic. Subsequent post-doctoral positions, considered the trophic ecology of elasmobranchs in the Irish Sea, assessing the impacts of gelatinous zooplankton on the commercial fisheries in the Bay of Biscay and stress responses of benthic marine organisms as well as exploring the ecological and environmental impacts of marine renewables on marine ecosystems.
Passionate and enthusiastic about teaching, Dr Fleming draws upon a multidisciplinary background to deliver key concepts in marine biology and zoology in subject areas relating to marine ecosystems, climate change and marine resource management, together with embedding employability skills.
Dr Fleming is interested in how environmental and anthropogenic stressors affect marine biodiversity and how this might influence ecosystem function, connectivity and services. He uses an integrated approach to understand factors affecting marine ecosystems, including marine food webs, trophic ecology and nutrient cycling in marine environments. To address questions related to these topics he uses a combination of experimental lab work (including Stable isotopes and genetic techniques), field studies, and modelling (including spatial analysis and food web modelling).
Dr Fleming's current interests include applying novel technologies and approaches including contemporary biochemical and molecular techniques and the use of citizen science for the collection of data to answer questions related to marine ecology, for example his lab has successfully explored the feasibility of culturing jellyfish as a sustainable bioresource for the development of biomedical products in collaboration with a commercial partner.
Peer-reviewed PublicationsJaspers, C., …. Fleming, N.E.C., et al. (2018). Ocean current connectivity propelling secondary spread of a marine invasive comb jelly across western Eurasia. Global Ecology and Biogeography. DOI: 10.1111/geb.12742.
Fleming, N.E.C., Houghton, J.D.R., Newton, J., Harrod, C. (2015). Not all jellyfish are equal: isotopic evidence for inter- and intraspecific variation in jellyfish trophic ecology. PeerJ. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1110.
Fleming, N.E.C., Harrod, C, Griffin D.C., Newton, J., Houghton, J.D.R. (2014). Scyphozoan jellyfish provide short-term reproductive habitat for hyperiid amphipods in a temperate near-shore environment. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 510, 229–240. DOI: 10.3354/meps10896.
Fleming, N.E.C., Harrod, C., Houghton, J.D.R. (2013). Identifying potentially harmful jellyfish blooms using shoreline surveys. Aquaculture Environment Interactions. 4: 263–272. DOI: 10.3354/aei00086.
Collins, P.C., Kennedy, B., Copley, J., Boschen, R., Fleming, N. et al. (2013). VentBase: Developing a consensus among stakeholders in the deep-sea regarding environmental impact assessment for deep-sea mining – A workshop report. Marine Policy. 46, 334–336. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2013.03.002.
Fleming, N.E.C., Houghton, J.D.R., Magill, C.L., Harrod, C., (2011). Preservation methods alter stable isotope values in gelatinous zooplankton: implications for interpreting trophic ecology. Marine Biology. 158, 2141–2146. DOI: 10.1007/s00227–011–1714–7.
Delannoy, C.M.J., Houghton, J.D.R., Fleming, N.E.C., Ferguson, H.W., (2011). Mauve Stingers (Pelagia noctiluca) as carriers of the bacterial fish pathogen Tenacibaculum maritimum. Aquaculture. 311, 255 – 257. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2010.11.033.
Technical Reports
Fleming, N.E.C., Johnson, M.F., Rice, S.P., Penning, W.E. and Dijkstra J.T. (2014). Maintaining the health and behavioural integrity of plants and animals in experimental facilities: guidelines for the transfer of invertebrates into hydraulic facilities. Deliverable D7.2 EC contract number 261520, HYDRALAB – IV.
Fleming, N.E.C., Johnson, M.F., Rice, S.P., Evertsen, A.J.O., Paul, M. and Penning, W.E. (2014). Maintaining the health and behavioural integrity of plants and animals in experimental facilities: guidelines for the transfer of plants & algae into hydraulic facilities. Deliverable D7.3 EC contract number 261520, HYDRALAB – IV.
McKnight, J. C., Fleming, N.E.C., & Houghton, J.D.R. (2010) Solent Seal Tracking Programme Provisional Report Appendix II. In: Chesworth, J. C., Leggett, V. L. and Rowsell, E. S. 2010. Solent Seal Tagging Project Summary Report. Wildlife Trusts’ South East Marine Programme, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Hampshire.
Fleming N.E.C., Bannister, R.C.A., (2008). Stock assessment and Tagging of European Lobster Homarus gammarus (L.) off the Yorkshire Coast. A progress report for the Buckland Foundation. Pp11.
Fleming N.E.C., (2008). Status of the European Lobster Homarus gammarus (L.) stocks in relation to the lobster fishery off the Yorkshire Coast – 2008. Research Initiative Report. North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee. Town Hall Bridlington.
Burlinson, F & Fleming N.E.C., (2006). Monitoring of brine discharge at Aldbrough gas caverns – June 27th 2006. Report (v3) to SSE (Hornsea Ltd.). Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies, University of Hull.