DR. RICHARD KAZIMIERZ FRANK UNSWORTH
Personal
Work address: Department of Bioscience, Swansea University,
Singleton Park, Swansea SA28PP
Telephone:
01792 602133
Mobile:
07795311166
Email:
r.k.f.unsworth@swansea.ac.uk
Nationality:
British
Overview
My expertise lies the ecological and environmental structuring processes of
seagrass systems (intertidal and subtidal marine angiosperms), focusing on the
interrelationships between foundation species, habitat, and associated
productive fauna. I have more than twelve years’ experience of research and
consulting work in marine systems in the UK and worldwide. Based within the
SEACAMS team at Swansea, I currently lead a range of projects related to the
ecosystem service value of seagrass meadows, kelp forests and modiolus beds,
and have a project centred on the restoration of seagrass in Europe. I have
worked as an environmental consultant on some of the World’s largest marine
and coastal dredging projects (Australia) and have extensive experience of
Environmental Impact Assessment. I have produced more that 50 academic and
consulting papers and reports, I am an editor at PLoS One and I am the vicepresident of the World Seagrass Association.
Employment History
May 11 – present
Aug 10 - May 11
Sept 08 –Aug 10
July 07 – Sept 08
June 03 – Aug 07
Marine Ecology Research Officer and University Lecturer, SEACAMS
Employer: Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA28PP
 Leading marine ecological knowledge transfer projects between Swansea
University and local businesses.
 Undertaking applied marine ecological research projects in partnership
with local SMEs, projects include studies of habitat nursery function,
habitat restoration technology and marine tourism
 Lead externally funded research projects (including staff supervision)
 Teaching and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students
 Peer reviewed research publication
Senior Lecturer in Marine Ecology
Employer: University of Glamorgan, UK
 Lead externally funded research projects
 Teaching and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students
 Leading an undergraduate tropical field trip module to Borneo
 Peer reviewed research publication
Fisheries Biologist
Employer: Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns, Australia
 Lead externally funded marine ecological consulting projects
 Lead field scientist for the Great Barrier Reef seagrass monitoring
program
 Applied research
 Provision of consulting advice to major industrial clients
 Peer reviewed research publication
Marine Environmental Consultant
Employer: Sinclair Knight Merz, Brisbane, Australia
 Team member of externally funded marine ecological consulting projects
 Provision of consulting advice to major industrial clients
Marine Research Coordinator, Lecturer, Project Supervisor, And PhD Scholar
Employer: Operation Wallacea and University of Essex, UK
 Coordinate Wakatobi MNP coral reef monitoring program
 Undertake PhD research
 Staff supervision and management
 Lecturing and teaching assistance at University of Essex
pre May 03
Other previous positions
 Laboratory Analyst (Alcontrol Geochem, Chester, UK)
 Benthic Ecologist (Hebog Environmental, Bangor)
 Research assistant (Heriot-Watt University, Orkney)
Education
May 04 – April 07
2000 – 2001
1996 – 1999
University of Essex
PhD (in Marine Ecology)
Thesis: Aspects of the ecology of Indo-Pacific Seagrass Systems
 Significant remote field work (Indonesia)
 Publication of all chapters as peer review articles
University of Wales, Bangor
MSc Marine Environmental Protection
Thesis: Use of sterol and PAH biomarkers for understanding marine sediment
contamination
BSc (Hons) Biological Science2(ii)
Skills
Technical
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Qualifications
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Ecological monitoring program design
Fisheries and fish assemblage assessment
Marine environmental impact assessment –
Marine plant photosynthesis
Seawater and sediment chemical analysis
ArcGIS marine habitat mapping (DDV, aerial analysis, diver, ROV)
Ecological statistics - SPSS, Minitab, PRIMER, SigmaPlot
Use of Access databases
PADI Dive Master
RYA Powerboat Level 2 Certificate
Marine Radio Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) (AMC)
DoT approved Sea Survival certificate (RYA)
HSE 1st Aid at Work
1st Aid Far From Help (Wilderness Medical Training)
Full UK driving licence
Selected Publications
Unsworth RKF et al. (2012) Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and the Conservation of Seagrass
Meadows. Chapter 8 In: Lockwood et al. (eds) (2012) Coastal Conservation. Cambridge University
Press.
Unsworth RKF et al. (2012) Tropical seagrass meadows modify seawater carbon chemistry:
implications for coral reefs impacted by ocean acidification. Environmental Research Letters 7: 02402
Rasheed MA, Unsworth RKF (2011) Long-term climate associated dynamics of a tropical seagrass
meadow: implications for the future. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 422: 93-103
Unsworth RKF et al. (2010) Recognising the necessity for Indo-Pacific seagrass conservation.
Conservation Letters 3: 63-73
Unsworth RKF et al. (2010) Economic and subsistence values of the standing stocks of seagrass
fisheries: benefits of no-fishing marine protected area management. Ocean and Coastal Management
53: 218-224
Unsworth RKF, McKenna SA, Rasheed MA (2010) Seasonal dynamics, productivity and resilience of
seagrass at the Port of Abbot Point: 2008-2010. DEEDI Report for North Queensland Bulk Ports
McKenzie LJ, Unsworth RKF, Waycott M (2010) Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program: Intertidal
Seagrass, Final Report for the sampling period 1st September 2009 – 31st May 2010. Fisheries
Queensland, Cairns (136pp)
Sofonia JJ, Unsworth RKF (2010) Development of water quality thresholds for the protection of
benthic primary producers. Journal of Environmental Monitoring 12: 159-63