Dr. Philine zu Ermgassen
Email: psez2@cam.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1223 336617
Research Interests
Habitats created by oysters are threatened the world over, with loss globally estimated at approximately 85% (Beck et al. 2009). In the United States oyster restoration techniques are now well established, with the success of many small and medium restoration projects leading to the establishment large-scale restoration goals. Now that large-scale restoration is becoming a reality, it is time to start thinking about the long-term goals of restoration. How much restoration is required?
As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, I am working on a Nature Conservancy lead project, in collaboration with a team of regional experts. We are building a framework for setting ecologically meaningful oyster restoration goals. Along the way we have uncovered and collated the wealth of data on the historic condition of oyster reefs in the United States, and improved our understanding of the historical ecology of the system. We are now working towards a better quantification of the ecosystem services attributed to healthy oyster habitat, such as denitrification, filtration and fisheries production. This is the primary focus of my current research.
Past research
I completed my PhD Thesis on “Freshwater non-indigenous species in Great Britain and their interactions with the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha” in the Aquatic Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge in early 2010. As time allows, I still dabble in the field of invasion biology, and tutor a variety of conservation and ecology based university courses.
I am a Junior Research Fellow at Fitzwilliam college and a Research Associate at St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge.
Publications
- P.S.E. zu Ermgassen, Spalding M.D., Grizzle R., Brumbaugh R.D. Quantifying the loss of a marine ecosystem service: filtration by the eastern oyster in US estuaries. (In press) Estuaries and Coasts DOI: 10.1007/s12237-012-9559-y
- P.S.E. zu Ermgassen, Spalding M.D., Blake B., Coen L.D., Dumbauld B., Geiger S., Grabowski J.H., Grizzle R., Luckenbach M., McGraw K., Rodney W., Ruesink J.L., Powers S.P., Brumbaugh R.D. (2012) Historical ecology with real numbers: Past and present extent and biomass of an imperilled estuarine ecosystem. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 279:3393-3400 DOI:10.1098/rspb.2012.031
- P. zu Ermgassen, Spalding M., Brumbaugh R. (2011) Development of national scale oyster reef restoration goals. Final Report for Grant #1047, to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Washington, DC. 12pp.
- zu Ermgassen, P.S.E. & Aldridge D.C. (2011) Predation by the invasive American signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana, on the invasive zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha Pallas: the potential for control and facilitation. Hydrobiologia, 658, 303-315. doi:10.1007/s10750-010-0500-8
- Brumbaugh, R.D., Beck M. W., Hancock B., Meadows A. W., Spalding M. & zu Ermgassen, P.S.E. (2010) Changing a management paradigm and rescuing a globally imperilled habitat. National Wetlands Newsletter, 32, 16-20.
- zu Ermgassen, P.S.E. & Aldridge, D.C. (2010) The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) impacts European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus) load in a host freshwater mussel (Unio pictorum). Hydrobiologia, 654, 83-92. doi:10.1007/s10750-010-0371-z
- zu Ermgassen, P.S.E. & Spalding M. (2010) Shellfish reefs United States oyster restoration case study - enhancing fisheries. pp. 56-57 in Nelleman C. (Editor). Dead Planet, Living Planet. Biodiversity and ecosystem restoration for sustainable development. A Rapid Response Assessment. United Nations Environment Programme, GRID-Arendal. Link
- zu Ermgassen, P.S.E. (2009) RIVPACS and the Water Framework Directive under climate change. RCEP09(234). Short report to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. Link
- Keller, R.P., zu Ermgassen, P.S.E. & Aldridge, D.C. (2009) Vectors and timing of freshwater invasions in Great Britain. Conservation Biology, 23, 1526-1534. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01249.x
- Elliott, P. & zu Ermgassen, P.S.E. (2008) The Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) in the River Thames, London, England. Aquatic Invasions, 3, 54-60. doi:10.3391/ai.2008.3.1.9
