Aidan Hunter
Ecological Modeller
I am an ecological modeller researching impacts of marine micro-plastics upon the zooplankton-mediated carbon pump by using data to inform simulations of plastic-zooplankton interactions. I acquired my PhD in fish population modelling from the University of Strathclyde mathematics department in 2017. Then, as a post-doc researcher, I developed models of marine ecosystems and plankton dynamics at the Universities of Strathclyde and Southampton, before moving to BAS to work in the CUPIDO project.
Research interests
My current research, modelling zooplankton interactions with micro-plastic, aims to quantify this pollutant’s impact upon carbon export in the Southern Ocean. This involves creating models to simulate zooplankton dynamics and carbon fluxes, and using data to tune these models to specific study systems.
More generally, I’m interested in ecological modelling, particularly models that explicitly represent direct human impacts such as harvesting or pollution.
Data assimilation methods to tune ecological models – my favourites are Bayesian algorithms.
Publications from NERC Open Research Archive
2025
Tarling, Geraint A. ORCID record for Tarling, Geraint A.. Abrahamsen, E. Povl ORCID record for Abrahamsen, E. Povl. Aksenov, Yevgeny ORCID record for Aksenov, Yevgeny. Anderson, Madeline P.B.C. ORCID record for Anderson, Madeline P.B.C.. Arrowsmith, Carol. Baker, Chelsey A. ORCID record for Baker, Chelsey A.. Barry, Chris ORCID record for Barry, Chris. Belcher, Anna ORCID record for Belcher, Anna. Benavides, Mar. Bischof, Milo J.D. Boland, Emma J.D. ORCID record for Boland, Emma J.D.. Bowes, Mike ORCID record for Bowes, Mike. Brearley, J. Alexander ORCID record for Brearley, J. Alexander. Brown, Peter J. ORCID record for Brown, Peter J.. Burson, Amanda ORCID record for Burson, Amanda. Buzzard, Sammie C. Callaghan, Nathan ORCID record for Callaghan, Nathan. Coët, Arthur. Cook, Kathryn B. ORCID record for Cook, Kathryn B.. Coombs, Sarah. Evans, Chris D. ORCID record for Evans, Chris D.. Fielding, Sophie ORCID record for Fielding, Sophie. Ford, Elaina. Fournier, Isabelle ORCID record for Fournier, Isabelle. Freer, Jennifer J. ORCID record for Freer, Jennifer J.. Garcia-Martin, E. Elena ORCID record for Garcia-Martin, E. Elena. Ghosh, V.R. Dipin. Giering, Sarah L.C. ORCID record for Giering, Sarah L.C.. Grant, Alanna ORCID record for Grant, Alanna. Griffiths, Huw J. ORCID record for Griffiths, Huw J.. Hamilton, Ruta. Hendry, Katherine R. ORCID record for Hendry, Katherine R.. Hill, Simeon L. ORCID record for Hill, Simeon L.. Hubot, Nathan. Hunter, Aidan ORCID record for Hunter, Aidan. Johnston, Nadine M. ORCID record for Johnston, Nadine M.. Katavouta, Anna ORCID record for Katavouta, Anna. Kitson, Ezra ORCID record for Kitson, Ezra. Leng, Melanie J. ORCID record for Leng, Melanie J.. Lewis, Isabel H. Linse, Katrin ORCID record for Linse, Katrin. Lofts, Stephen ORCID record for Lofts, Stephen. Manno, Clara ORCID record for Manno, Clara. Martin, Adrian P. ORCID record for Martin, Adrian P.. Marzocchi, Alice ORCID record for Marzocchi, Alice. Mawji, Edward. Mayor, Daniel J. ORCID record for Mayor, Daniel J.. McKenzie, Rebecca M. ORCID record for McKenzie, Rebecca M.. Meijers, Andrew J.S. ORCID record for Meijers, Andrew J.S.. Meredith, Michael P. ORCID record for Meredith, Michael P.. Munday, David R. ORCID record for Munday, David R.. Pereira, M. Glória ORCID record for Pereira, M. Glória. O'Brien, Alexandra V.E. ORCID record for O'Brien, Alexandra V.E.. Olszewska, Justyna P. ORCID record for Olszewska, Justyna P.. Painter, Stuart C. Palmieri, Julien ORCID record for Palmieri, Julien. Patel, Shailee. Pickard, Amy E. ORCID record for Pickard, Amy E.. Richt, Jessica J.R. Rynders, Stefanie ORCID record for Rynders, Stefanie. Sanders, Rachael N.C. ORCID record for Sanders, Rachael N.C.. Saunders, Ryan A. ORCID record for Saunders, Ryan A.. Shepherd, Andrew. Slater, Thomas. Spears, Bryan M. ORCID record for Spears, Bryan M.. Stowasser, Gabriele ORCID record for Stowasser, Gabriele. Swiggs, Amy E. Taylor, Laura R. ten Hoopen, Petra ORCID record for ten Hoopen, Petra. Thorpe, Sally E. ORCID record for Thorpe, Sally E.. Timms-Wilson, Tracey M. van Soest, Maud A.J. Venables, Hugh J. ORCID record for Venables, Hugh J.. Wright, Zoe. Yool, Andrew ORCID record for Yool, Andrew. Young, Emma ORCID record for Young, Emma. (2025) BIOPOLE: biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functioning in changing polar systems and their global impacts.
Hunter, Aidan ORCID record for Hunter, Aidan. Thorpe, Sally E. ORCID record for Thorpe, Sally E.. McCarthy, Arlie H. ORCID record for McCarthy, Arlie H.. Manno, Clara ORCID record for Manno, Clara. (2025) Microplastic hotspots mapped across the Southern Ocean reveal areas of potential ecological impact.
2024
Lampe, Vanessa. Hunter, Aidan ORCID record for Hunter, Aidan. Ward, Ben Andrew. Nöthig, Eva‐Maria. Engel, Anja. Ellingsen, Ingrid Helene. Schartau, Markus. (2024) A Lagrangian Model‐Based Analysis of Protist Plankton Variability and Its Impact on Organic Matter Dynamics Along Transit Pathways Through the Fram Strait.
2023
Béjard, Thibauld M. Rigual-Hernández, Andrés S. Flores, José A. Tarruella, Javier P. Durrieu de Madron, Xavier. Cacho, Isabel. Haghipour, Neghar. Hunter, Aidan ORCID record for Hunter, Aidan. Sierro, Francisco J. (2023) Calcification response of planktic foraminifera to environmental change in the western Mediterranean Sea during the industrial era.