Dr Nina Wootton
Post-doctoral Researcher
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I am a marine ecologist and post-doctoral researcher in the Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories. I work broadly across environmental issues in the marine space, including science communication and education. Currently I am working across multiple projects to do with marine plastic pollution, as well as recently enhancing my research in blue carbon and restoration. I also have strong skills and passion for communicating science effectively, and enjoy sharing my research with stakeholders, students and the general public.
I am a diverse and flexible researcher, with a number of key areas where my research is currently focused.
Marine plastic pollution
Plastics broadly are recognised as causing havoc to the marine ecosystem. My research focuses on plastic particularly from a seafood angle, where we quantify the amount of plastic and microplastic found in seafood species globally; analyse the potential effects of plastic on seafood species and fisheries and work with the seafood industry to help develop solutions to this growing plastic problem. Within the Gillanders Lab group we have a range of plastic related projects, including quantifying plastic in mangroves and seagrass, developing methods to analyse the chemical components of plastic in the marine environment, and learning more about the plasticsphere. We are currently working on developing a set of standard operating procedures for best practices of microplastic sampling in Australia.
Blue carbon ecosystems
Coastal carbon ecosystems (seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh) can sequester and store carbon at much higher quantities than terrestrial areas. I work alongside a team of researchers from around Australia (led by Deakin University) to develop a best practice guide to assessing the success of coastal wetland restoration projects using a framework known as Environmental Economic Accounting (EEA). I am particularly focused on developing the cultural account, to ensure the accounting system can appropriately account for Indigenous benefits and services of coastal carbon ecosystems.
Science education
Sharing knowledge and information to the general public, and particularly school students is something that I am particularly passionate about. I work alongside a team of researchers from the School of Social Sciences to teach school students about out fabulous blue backyard. This project, named 'Finding the Fab Five', travels to regional and remote schools around South Australia to help young people understand the importance of our marine environment, what we are doing to protect it, and how First Nations' People have been protecting their Sea Country for thousands of years. As part of the school workshops, students create artworks to display their learnings - you can find an online gallery of some of the artworks here.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2022 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Associate The University of Adelaide 2022 - ongoing Research Officer The University of Adelaide -
Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2019 - 2021 The Univeristy of Adelaide Australia PhD 2017 - 2017 The University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours) 2014 - 2016 The Univeristy of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2024 Nursey-Bray, M., Wootton, N., Holland, S., Page, K., & Gillanders, B. M. (2024). Site unseen: Engaging communities on marine protected areas. Biological Conservation, 292, 11 pages.
2024 Wootton, N., Nursey-Bray, M., Holland, S., & Gillanders, B. M. (2024). Better understanding ocean awareness: Insights from young people. Marine Policy, 164, 8 pages.
2024 Wootton, N., Gillanders, B. M., Leterme, S., Noble, W., Wilson, S. P., Blewitt, M., . . . Reis-Santos, P. (2024). Research priorities on microplastics in marine and coastal environments: An Australian perspective to advance global action. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 205, 11 pages.
2023 Ogunola, S. O., Reis-Santos, P., Wootton, N., & Gillanders, B. M. (2023). Investigating microplastic contamination and biomagnification in a remote area of South Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 74(11), 917-927.
Scopus12023 Wootton, N. (2023). Book details: Field guide to the seashores of South-Eastern Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 147(2), 1-3.
2022 Wootton, N., Nursey-Bray, M., Reis-Santos, P., & Gillanders, B. M. (2022). Perceptions of plastic pollution in a prominent fishery: Building strategies to inform management. Marine Policy, 135, 1-9.
Scopus17 WoS62022 Ogunola, S. O., Reis-Santos, P., Wootton, N., & Gillanders, B. M. (2022). Microplastics in decapod crustaceans sourced from Australian seafood markets.. Mar Pollut Bull, 179, 1-9.
Scopus21 WoS9 Europe PMC22022 Wootton, N., Sarakinis, K., Varea, R., Reis-Santos, P., & Gillanders, B. M. (2022). Microplastic in oysters: A review of global trends and comparison to southern Australia. Chemosphere, 307(4), 9 pages.
Scopus35 WoS12 Europe PMC52021 Wootton, N., Ferreira, M., Reis Santos, P., & Gillanders, B. M. (2021). A Comparison of Microplastic in Fish From Australia and Fiji. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 12 pages.
Scopus51 WoS282021 Wootton, N., Reis Santos, P., Dowsett, N., Turnbull, A., & Gillanders, B. M. (2021). Low abundance of microplastics in commercially caught fish across southern Australia. Environmental Pollution, 290, 1-11.
Scopus48 WoS25 Europe PMC62021 Wootton, N., Reis Santos, P., & Gillanders, B. M. (2021). Microplastic in fish – A global synthesis. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 31(4), 753-771.
Scopus103 WoS48
Funding body | Project title | Investigators | Years | Amount |
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Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water - Ghost Nets Innovative Grants | Toys for Turtles: Reducing marine debris through education and outreach | N. Wootton, B.M. Gillanders, M. Nursey-Bray | 2023-2025 | $297,470 |
Fisheries Research Development Corporation | Attendance at the 2022 Microplastics and Seafood: Human Health Symposium in the UK | N. Wootton | 2022 | $9,400 |
National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) | Advancing national standards and best practices to monitor key marine values and pressures | R. Przeslawski, B.M. Gillanders, P. Reis Santos, N. Wootton | 2022-2023 | $110, 273 |
Fisheries Research Development Corporation | A global review on implications of plastic in seafood | B.M. Gillanders, N. Wootton, P. Reis Santos | 2022-2023 | $60,513 |
Fisheries Research Development Corporation | A preliminary assessment of the prevalence of micro plastics in Australian seafood | B.M. Gillanders, N. Dowsett, N. Wootton | 2019-2020 | $145,666 |
Association of Commonwealth Universities | Blue Charter Fellowship | N. Wootton | 2018-2019 | $13,178 |
Nature Foundation South Australia | Quantifying fish assemblages in South Australian marine parks | N. Wootton, B.M. Gillanders | 2017 | $2,500 |
- I have lectured the 3rd year course Frontiers in Marine Biology (coordinated by Prof. Bronwyn Gillanders and Dr Patrick Reis-Santos) giving a lecture titled 'Plastic Pollution in the Marine Envrionment'
- I demonstrated practicals in the 2nd year Zoology course for 3 years (2018-2020)
- I have delivered tutorials into the 2nd year Zoology course
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2024 Co-Supervisor Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on marine organisms Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Danielle Giuretis
Connect With Me
External Profiles