Paul Gillespie
Marine Scientist – Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems
Qualifications
- Post-Doctoral Fellow. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, 1974–1977
- Post-Doctoral Fellow. Cawthron Institute, 1971–1973
- Post-Doctoral Fellow. Oregon State University, 1970–1971
- PhD (Microbiology/Oceanography). Oregon State University, 1971
- MSc (Bacteriology). South Dakota State University, 1967
- BSc (Bacteriology). South Dakota State University, 1965
Role at Cawthron
Paul is a marine scientist in the Coastal and Freshwater Group. He is the manager of a research investigation into land catchment effects on coastal and estuarine ecosystems. He has a particular expertise in water quality, benthic microbial processes, nutrient dynamics and primary production.
Technical skills, experience and interests
- Microbial ecology of aquatic habitats and the effects of nutrient enrichment on microbial processes
- Collection of benchmark data (physical, chemical, biological) for development of methods for environmental quality assessment
- State of enrichment of New Zealand lakes according to microbial characteristics
- Studies of phytoplankton and benthic microalgal production, ecology in coastal environments, estimates of autotrophic and heterotrophic processes on intertidal flats
- Identification of the comparative state of enrichment of a variety of natural and disturbed intertidal habitats and to develop a national protocol for the assessment and monitoring of estuarine health
- Effects of land use activities on the coastal marine environment and biological resources of Tasman Bay
- Development of the river plume ecosystem approach as a major step towards integrated coastal management
- Site evaluations for marine farm developments
- A wide range of coastal impact assessments, including large-scale herbicide spraying of invading Spartina grass in salt marsh habitats, marine farming, wastewater outfalls, land disposal of sewage sludge, log harvesting and sedimentation, harbour maintenance activities and ferry wake disturbances
- Presentation of expert evidence at environmental planning tribunals and consent hearings
- External peer review services for ecological investigations
- Knowledge transfer record includes 40 publications in refereed scientific journals and more than 120 reports to clients.
Professional affiliations
- American Society for Limnology and Oceanography
- American Society for Microbiology
- New Zealand Marine Sciences Society
Publication links
- Šunde C, Berthelsen A, Sinner J, Gillespie PA, Stringer, K and Floerl, L 2017. IMPACTS OF VEHICLE ACCESS AT DELAWARE (WAKAPUAKA) INLET.
- Berthelsen A, Gillespie PA, Clement D and Peacock L 2015. State of the environment monitoring of Wairau Estuary. Prepared for Marlborough District Council. 62 pages plus appendices.
- Newcombe EM, Clark D, Gillespie PA, Morrisey DJ and MacKenzie LA 2015. Assessing the state of the marine environment in Tasman Bay and Golden Bay. Prepared for Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council. 70 pages plus appendix.
- Newcombe EM and Gillespie PA 2015. Marlborough’s coastal water quality classification: Standards for shellfish gathering and contact recreation classes. Prepared for Marlborough District Council. 27 pages.
- Gillespie PA 2013. Preliminary assessment of the environmental status of the Whangamoa Inlet, Nelson.. Cawthron Report 2446. Prepared for Nelson City Council, under Envirolink (1418-NLCC76). 18 pages plus appendix.
- Gillespie PA, Clement D, Clark D and Asher R 2012. Nelson haven fine-scale benthic baseline 2012. Cawthron Report 2209. Prepared for Nelson City Council. 22 pages plus appendices.
- Cornelisen CD, Gillespie PA, Kirs M, Young RG, Forrest RW, Barter PJ , Knight BR and Harwood VJ 2011. Motueka River plume facilitates transport of ruminant faecal contaminants into shellfish growing waters, Tasman Bay, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research 45(3): 477-495.
- Gillespie PA, Forrest RW, Knight BR, Cornelisen CD and Young RG 2011. Variation in nutrient loading from the Motueka River into Tasman Bay, New Zealand, 2005-2009: Implications for the river plume ecosystem. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 45(3): 497-512.
- Fenemor AD, Phillips C, Allen WJ, Young RG, Harmsworth GR, Bowden WB, Basher L, Gillespie PA, Kilvington M, Davies-Colley RJ, Dymond J, Cole A, Lauder G, Davie T, Smith RA, Markham S, Deans NA, Atkinson M and Collins A 2011. Integrated catchment management – interweaving social process and science knowledge. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 45(3): 313-331.
- Kirs M, Harwood VJ, Fidler AE, Gillespie PA, Fyfe WA, Blackwood AD and Cornelisen CD 2011. Source tracking faecal contamination in an urbanised and rural waterway in the Nelson-Tasman region, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 45, 43-58.
- Gillespie PA, Forrest RW, Peake BM, Basher LR, Clement D, Dunmore R and Hicks DM 2011. Spatial delineation of the depositional footprint of the Motueka River outwelling plume in Tasman Bay, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 45:3, 455-475.
- Keeley N, Forrest BM, Hopkins GA, Gillespie PA, Knight BR, Webb SC, Clement D and Gardner J 2009. Review of the ecological effects of farming shellfish and other non-finfish species in New Zealand. Cawthron Report 1476. Prepared for New Zealand's Ministry of Fisheries.
- Gillespie PA, Clement D and Asher R 2009. Delaware inlet fine-scale benthic baseline 2009. Cawthron Report 1594. Prepared for Nelson City Council. 28 pages.
- Asher R, Clark K and Gillespie PA 2008. Waimea Inlet sponge gardens. Cawthron Report 1467. Prepared for Tasman District Council. 18 pages.
- Clark K, Gillespie PA, Forrest RW and Asher R 2008. State of the environment monitoring of Waimea Inlet: Broad scale habitat mapping November 2006. Cawthron Report 1473. Prepared for Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council.
- Fenemor A, Deans N, Davie T, Allen W, Dymond J, Kilvington M, Phillips C, Basher L, Gillespie PA, Young RG, Sinner J, Harmsworth G, Atkinson M and Smith R 2008. Collaboration and modelling - Tools for integration in the Motueka catchment, New Zealand. Water Sa 34(4): 448-455 .
- Forrest BM, Keeley N, Gillespie PA, Hopkins GA, Knight BR and Govier D 2007. Review of the ecological effects of marine finfish aquaculture: final report. Prepared for Ministry of Fisheries. 71 pages.
- Forrest BM, Gillespie PA, Cornelisen CD and Rodgers KM 2007. Multiple indicators reveal river plume influence on sediments and benthos in a New Zealand coastal embayment. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41(1): 13-24.
- Tuckey B, Gibbs MT, Knight BR and Gillespie PA 2006. Tidal circulation in Tasman and Golden Bays: Implications for river plume behaviour. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 40(2): 305-324.
- Christensen PB, Glud RN, Daalsgaard T and Gillespie PA 2003. Impacts of longline mussel farming on oxygen and nitrogen dynamics and biological communities of coastal sediments. Aquaculture 218 (1-4): 567-588.
- MacKenzie LA, Sims I, Beuzenberg V and Gillespie PA 2002. Mass accumulation of mucilage caused by dinoflagellate polysaccharide exudates in Tasman Bay, New Zealand. Harmful Algae 1. 69-84.
- Robertson BM, Gillespie PA, Asher R, Frisk S, Keeley N, Hopkins GA, Thompson SJ and Tuckey BJ 2002. Estuarine environmental assessment and monitoring: A national protocol. Sustainable Management Fund Contract 5096. Prepared for supporting Councils and the Ministry for the Environment. Part A. Development, Part B. Appendices, and Part C. Application. Part A. 93 pages. Part B. 159 pages. Part C. 40 pages plus field sheets.
- Gillespie PA, Asher R and Doyle M 2001. Impact of the Nelson (Bell Island) regional sewage discharge on Waimea Inlet: Part I1. Nutrient enrichment potential of receiving waters. Cawthron Report 680. Prepared for Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit and Tasman District Council.
- Gillespie PA and Asher R 2001. Impact of the Nelson (Bell Island) regional sewage discharge on Waimea Inlet: April 2001 receiving water survey. Cawthron Report 695. Report to Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit and Tasman District Council.
- Gillespie PA, Maxwell PD and Rhodes L 2000. Microphytobenthic communities of subtidal locations in New Zealand: taxonomy, biomass and food web implications. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 34(1): 41-53.
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