Dr Mads Solgaard Thomsen
Email: mads.solgaard.thomsen@gmail.com
Professional Affiliations
Post-doc:
Marine Department, National Environmental Research Institute
University of Aarhus, P.O. Box 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
Adjunct Lecturer: Costal Marine Ecosystems Research Group, School of Natural Sciences
Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Western Australia 6027
Phone +61 8 6304 5703
Contract Researcher:
Sillimanlab
Department of Zoology, University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611
Qualifications
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Ph.D. Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, USA (2004). Thesis title: Macroalgal distribution patterns and ecological performances in a tidal coastal lagoon, with emphasis on the non-indigenous Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides.
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M.Sc. Environmental Biology & Geography, Roskilde University, Denmark (1998). Thesis title: Studies on the ecology of Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt in Limfjorden, Denmark.
Research Interests
I am an ecologist that study coastal plant and animal communities in Northern Europe, North America and Australasia. My research focuses on how anthropogenic stressors (invasions by non-native species, nutrient pollution, catchment alterations, climate change) impact the structure, productivity and biodiversity of aquatic communities. I combine manipulative experiments, analysis of long-term monitoring data and literature based meta-analysis to test how patterns in biological communities are generated and maintained. I am particular interested in ‘facilitation processes’ that increasingly are found to influence community structures, and therefore should be included in coastal management and conservation. This research provides predictions on how coastal habitats will respond to anthropogenic stressors and recommendations for conservation strategies needed to ameliorate their impacts.
Some Current Research Projects
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Marine invasive species. I study a broad range of questions in relation to invasions; How abundant are invaders and how do abundance pattern change with scale? What are the impacts of invaders? What makes some communities more susceptible to invasions than other? Do invaders have superior traits? Can biogeography and classical succession ecology be linked with invasion biology?
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Gracilaria - a model invader. Gracilaria species can be prolific macroalgae in low energy shallow temperate coastal systems. Several Gracilaria species have been introduced to new regions, probably via oyster transplantations. Gracilaria species are stress resistant and may be facilitated by native invertebrates. Distribution patterns, recruitment, growth, biological interactions and ecological impacts are compared between introduced and native Gracilaria species on different continents to better understand marine invasions.
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Caulerpa ecology. Several species of Caulerpa (macroalgae) have received international attention, being considered among the world’s 'worst' biological invaders. Distribution patterns and ecological traits of invasive and non-invasive Caulerpa species are compared from their place of origin to better understand what traits make some species invasive compared to other.
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Ecology of estuarine drift algae. Drift algae often accumulate into large mats in low energy soft-bottom systems, particular where eutrophication occurs. These accumulations can, in high densities and/or if they decompose, have adverse effects on seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, mussel beds and other benthic animals. I study origin, stability, decomposition thresholds, and impacts on estuarine ecosystems.
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Invertebrate-algae facilitation. Facilitation processes are increasingly included into ecological theory. I study how ubiquitous invertebrates, such as polychaetes and mollusks, create biogenic mini-reefs in soft-bottom systems (islands of hard substrata suitable for inhabitation by sessile species). The appreciation of facilitation processes and productive biogenic mini-reefs are important for conservation and management of soft-bottom estuaries and lagoons.
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Biomechanical and hydrodynamic links to biological distribution patterns. Tidal currents and storm waves often dislodge macroalgae or prune them down in size. Research projects involve linking hydrodynamic forces and biomechanical properties to ecological distribution patterns of marine macroalgae.
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Impacts of anthropogenic stressors on Australasian salt marshes. Impacts of anthropogenic stressors on intertidal salt marshes have long been investigated in North America and Europe. In comparison, less is known about impacts in Australasian salt marshes. Manipulative experiments are used to test if anthropogenic stressors, for example nutrient enrichment, affect species distribution and zonation in Australasian salt marshes.
Links to key collaborators
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