Dr Rupert Perkins
RG

Reader

School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

: PerkinsR@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 29208 75026
: Main Building, Room 1.33A, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT

: Media commentator
: Available for postgraduate supervision

I am a biologist and specialise in microalgal and cyanobacteria productivity in freshwater and marine systems. I am especially interested in finding practical applied solutions to water industry needs regarding water quality supply issues. This involves working closely with and within Water Companies to listen to their needs concerning water quality issues linked with biological causes, especially cyanobacteria. I have spent time seconded to the Welsh water and worked as their Catchment Limnologist and still work closley with them on the widespread global issue of poor water quality linked to cyanobacterial metabolites (MIB and geosmin) which cause poorTaste and Odour (T&O) supplied to customers or resulting in expensive treatment costs.

I am also active in areas of algal biotechnology reserach (marennine production by "blue" diatoms), marine eutrophication and cold climate microbial productivity (Greenland Fjords and glacial algal productivity.

I am a pssionate teacher and lecture on modules on marine biology and data analysis on the Geography degree programmes at Cardiff University.

I am the School Director for equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, an important focus I am also passionate about.

Date
Type

2024

Watson, S. E., Taylor, C. H., Bell, V., Hooper, A. S., Bellamy, T. R., Kille, P. and Perkins, R. G. 2024. Utilising eDNA methods and interactive data dashboards for managing sustainable drinking water. Sustainability 16(5), article number: 2043. (10.3390/su16052043)

2023

Amaral, R. et al. 2023. Ion-driven communication and acclimation strategies in microalgae. Chemical Engineering Journal 473, article number: 144985. (10.1016/j.cej.2023.144985)
Broadwell, E. L. M., Pickford, R. E., Perkins, R. G., Sgouridis, F. and Williamson, C. J. 2023. Adaptation versus plastic responses to temperature, light, and nitrate availability in cultured snow algal strains. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 99(9), article number: fiad088. (10.1093/femsec/fiad088)
Hooper, A., Kille, P., Watson, S., Christofides, S. and Perkins, R. 2023. The importance of nutrient ratios in determining elevations in geosmin synthase (geoA) and 2-MIB cyclase (mic) resulting in taste and odour events. Water Research 232, article number: 119693. (10.1016/j.watres.2023.119693)
Wallington, H., Hendry, K., Perkins, R., Yallop, M. and Arndt, S. 2023. Benthic diatoms modify riverine silicon export to a marine zone in a hypertidal estuarine environment. Biogeochemistry 162, pp. 177-200. (10.1007/s10533-022-00997-7)

2022

Slavin, E. I. et al. 2022. The effects of surface mixers on stratification, dissolved oxygen, and cyanobacteria in a shallow eutrophic reservoir. Water Resources Research 58(7), article number: e2021WR030068. (10.1029/2021WR030068)

2020

Williamson, C. J. et al. 2020. Algal photophysiology drives darkening and melt of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117(11), pp. 5694-5707. (10.1073/pnas.1918412117)

2019

Gore, S., Renforth, P. and Perkins, R. 2019. The potential environmental response to increasing ocean alkalinity for negative emissions. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 24(7), pp. 1191-1211. (10.1007/s11027-018-9830-z)
Hendry, K. R. et al. 2019. The biogeochemical impact of glacial meltwater from Southwest Greenland. Progress in Oceanography 176, article number: 102126. (10.1016/j.pocean.2019.102126)
Perkins, R. G. et al. 2019. Managing taste and odour metabolite production in drinking water reservoirs: The importance of ammonium as a key nutrient trigger. Journal of Environmental Management 244, pp. 276-284. (10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.04.123)

2018

Perkins, R., Williamson, C., Lavaud, J., Mouget, J. and Campbell, D. A. 2018. Time-dependent upregulation of electron transport with concomitant induction of regulated excitation dissipation in Haslea diatoms. Photosynthesis Research 137, pp. 377-388. (10.1007/s11120-018-0508-x)
Xu, K., Lavaud, J., Perkins, R., Austen, E., Bonnanfant, M. and Campbell, D. A. 2018. Phytoplankton σPSII and excitation dissipation; implications for estimates of primary productivity. Frontiers in Marine Science 5, article number: 281. (10.3389/fmars.2018.00281)
Williamson, C. J. et al. 2018. Photoacclimation and photoregulation strategies of Corallina (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) across the NE Atlantic. European Journal of Phycology 53(3), pp. 290-306. (10.1080/09670262.2018.1442586)

2017

Williamson, C. J., Perkins, R., Voller, M., Yallop, M. L. and Brodie, J. 2017. The regulation of coralline algal physiology, an in situ study of Corallina officinalis (Corallinales, Rhodophyta). Biogeosciences 14(19), pp. 4485-4498. (10.5194/bg-14-4485-2017)
Perkins, R. G., Bagshaw, E., Mol, L., Williamson, C. J., Fagan, D., Gamble, M. and Yallop, M. L. 2017. Photoacclimation by Arctic cryoconite phototrophs. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 93(5), article number: fix018. (10.1093/femsec/fix018)

2011

Perkins, R. G. et al. 2011. The application of variable chlorophyll fluorescence to microphytobenthic biofilms. In: Suggett, D. J., Borowitzka, M. A. and Prášil, O. eds. Chlorophyll a Fluorescence in Aquatic Sciences: Methods and Applications. Developments in Applied Phycology Vol. 4. London: Springer, pp. 237-275.
Spears, B. M., Carvalho, L., Perkins, R. G., Kirika, A. and Paterson, D. M. 2011. Long-term variation and regulation of internal phosphorus loading in Loch Leven. Hydrobiologia 681(1), pp. 23-33. (10.1007/s10750-011-0921-z)

2010

Perkins, R. G. et al. 2010. Vertical cell movement is a primary response of intertidal benthic biofilms to increasing light dose. Marine Ecology Progress Series 416, pp. 93-103. (10.3354/meps08787)
De Raedemaecker, F., Miliou, A. and Perkins, R. G. 2010. Fish community structure on littoral rocky shores in the Eastern Aegean Sea: effects of exposure and substratum. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 90(1), pp. 35-44. (10.1016/j.ecss.2010.08.007)
Spears, B. M., Carvalho, L., Perkins, R. G., O'Malley, M. B. and Paterson, D. M. 2010. The contribution of epipelon to total sediment microalgae in a shallow temperate eutrophic loch (Loch Leven, Scotland). Hydrobiologia 646(1), pp. 281-293. (10.1007/s10750-010-0187-x)

2008

Hennige, S. J., Smith, D. J., Perkins, R. G., Consalvey, M., Paterson, D. M. and Suggett, D. J. 2008. Photoacclimation, growth and distribution of massive coral species in clear and turbid waters. Marine ecology progress series 369, pp. 77-88. (10.3354/meps07612)
Spears, B. M., Carvalho, L., Perkins, R. G. and Paterson, D. M. 2008. Effects of light on sediment nutrient flux and water column nutrient stoichiometry in a shallow lake. Water Research 42(4-5), pp. 977-986. (10.1016/j.watres.2007.09.012)
Jesus, B., Mouget, J. and Perkins, R. G. 2008. Detection of diatom xanthophyll cycle using spectral reflectance. Journal of Phycology 44(5), pp. 1349-1359. (10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00583.x)
Mouget, J., Perkins, R. G., Consalvey, M. and Lefebvre, S. 2008. Migration or photoacclimation to prevent high irradiance and UV-B damage in marine microphytobenthic communities. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 52(3), pp. 223-232. (10.3354/ame01218)

2007

Perkins, R. G., Kromkamp, J. C. and Reid, R. P. 2007. Importance of light and oxygen for photochemical reactivation in photosynthetic stromatolite communities after natural sand burial. Marine ecology progress series 349, pp. 23-32. (10.3354/meps07087)

2006

Perkins, R. G., Mouget, J., Lefebvre, S. and Lavaud, J. 2006. Light response curve methodology and possible implications in the application of chlorophyll fluorescence to benthic diatoms. Marine Biology 149(4), pp. 703-712. (10.1007/s00227-005-0222-z)

2005

Underwood, G. J. C., Perkins, R. G., Consalvey, M. C., Hanlon, A. R. M., Oxborough, K., Baker, N. R. and Paterson, D. M. 2005. Patterns in microphytobenthic primary productivity: Species-specific variation in migratory rhythms and photosynthesis efficiency in mixed-species biofilms. Limnology and Oceanography 50(3), pp. 755-767. (10.4319/lo.2005.50.3.0755)

2004

Perkins, R. G., Sun, H., Watson, J., Player, M. A., Gust, G. and Paterson, D. M. 2004. In-line laser holography and video analysis of eroded floc from engineered and estuarine sediments. Environmental Science & Technology 38(17), pp. 4640-4648. (10.1021/es040011i)

My main collaborations concern drinking water reservoir management working closely with the water supply industry, but am also interested in other areas of microalgal research including biotechnology, coastal eutrophication and cold climate marine productivity:

UK Water Industry: I collaborate closely with many UK Water Companies. This has included a NERC funded secondment to DCWW welsh water with whom I have worked closely since 2016 on reservoir management with a special focus on Taste and Odour metabolites resulting in poor water quality and requiring expensive treatment to avoid customer complaints. I co-lead the Reservoir Management Special Interest Group which is the successor to the UK Water Industry Taste and Odour Working Group which was establishment though my work with Welsh Water. Through various linked PhD projects I also work closely with Bristol Water and Anglian water and recently with Yorkshire water, Jersey Water and United Utlitities. I am also working with overseas water supply companies on tatse and dour and general reservoir management (New York, USA and Sanasa, Brazil). I am currently working with several water companies on an OfWat Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC) grant on using eDNA for Taste and Odour monitoring in drinking water reservoirs

Algal biotechnology: I am a work package lead on a Horizons 2020 Marie Curie project investigating the production of marrenine pigments by “blue diatoms” Haslea. This project (GHANA) is the sequel to a previous EU H2020 project (Biovadia). The project has 21 partners from 14 countries. I lead on investigating the photophysiology of Haslea diatoms in order to maximise productivity and pigment production. The project is lead by Universite du Maine (Le Mans) with whom I work closely as well as having made several secondments to work at Mount Allison University, Canada.

Coastal Eutrophication: I am a work package lead on a Global Challenges Research Fund project collaborating with Hanoi university of Science and Technology (HUST) studying cultural eutrophication in HaLong Bay.

Cold climate research: I am a partner with IcyLab, a Bristol University project investigating productivity in the vicinity of the Labrador current around Greenland. I have worked on two cruises using variable chlorophyll fluorescence and molecular (eDNA) methods to determine spatial patterns in Greenland Fjord productivity. I have also collaborated with workers from several other UK Universities on glacial microbial community productivity (ice algae and cryoconite) in Svalbard and Greenland, principally collaborating with Bristol university as a partner on the Black and Bloom project.

As a passionatre teacher I lecture on several modules and lead or assist on several field trips. The latter I feel is by far the best way to learn: learning by hands on experience.

My current teaching includes:-

Year 1: EA1308 Understanding the Living Planet. I teach on photosynthesis and freshwater and marine ecosystems. How do sepcies adapt and aclclimate to their environments and what controls biodicersity and species dominance?

Year2: EA2311 Coastal Systems. I am module lead and teach on a wide range of marine ecosystems and species ranging from esturaies and rocky shores to coral reefs and marine mammals.

Year 2 EA2307 Geographical Field Skills and Data Analysis. I teach data analysis skills, principally statistics.

Year3 / Final Year EA3211 Marine Conservation Science. I am module lead and sole contributor covering how science is used in marine conserbation. What is the quality of data avaliable, how can it be used, how does it vary relative to spatial scales of conservation management. The module uses fisheries and biodiversity as case studies to teach data analysis and use in conservation management.

Marine Geography Final Year field course (Greece/Spain). I am module lead and established this field course in Greece in which the areas of Marine Geography, primarily coastal biodiversity, hydrographic survey, water qaulity and coastal management, are synthesised to demonstrate how Marine Geographers skkillsets encompass the full rnage on required for understanding and managing coastal marine systems.

Marine Geography Second Year Field Course (Malta/Jersy). I am a main contributor teaching on coastal biodiversity through hands on survey techniques (snorkel surveys in Malata, rocky shore intertidal surveys in Jersey).

I supervise a wide range of final year BSc and MESci reserach projects ranging from freshwater reservoir systems to coral reefs and marine mammals.

Senior Lecturer – School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University (2004 – current)
Senior Research Fellow - University of St. Andrews (June 2001 – July 200)
Senior PDRA – Department of Biology, University of Essex (January 1999 – January 2001)
Ph.D. - Department of Biology, University of Essex (October 1994 – October 1997)
BSc. (Hons) Department of Biology University of Essex (October 1991 – July 1994)

Professional memberships

I am a memebr of the British Phycological Society and work on their Outreach and engagemnent Committee.

I am co-lead of the Water security allainace UK Water industry Reservoir Management Special Interest Group

Academic positions

Cardiff University Sept 2004 – Current. Senior Lecturer in Marine Biosciences.
University of St. Andrews, June 2001 – July 2004. Senior Research Fellow
University of Essex, January 1999 – January 2001. Senior PDRA

Committees and reviewing

I am an Associate Editor of the European Journal of Phycology and the journal Marine Policy.

I have reviewed manuscripts fopr journals such as Water research, Limnology and Oceanopgraphy, Marine Ecology Progress (MEPS), Esuraine Coastal shelf Science and many others.

I am a member of the NERC Peer review College and have reviewed =grants for the US NSF and Portuguese FCT.

Catchment Management

Cyanobacterial taste and odour metabolites (MIB and geosmin)

Harmful algal blooms

Reservoir and lake nutrient dynamics

Algal productivty

Photophysiology

Current supervision

Annalise Hooper

Research student

Inge Elfferich