Dr Chiara Bertelli

Research Officer

Biosciences

c.m.bertelli@swansea.ac.uk

Basic Welsh Speaker

Post Grad - 036
Ground Floor
Wallace Building
Singleton Campus

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9799-2522

ResearchGate

ResearcherID

Scopus

About

I am a marine biologist with over 15 years’ experience of coastal and marine ecological survey and research including boat-based marine mammal, fisheries and passive acoustic survey, SCUBA and snorkel surveys of temperate coastal habitats (mainly seagrass) as well as tropical coral reef surveys (Caribbean and Indo-Pacific). My interests include seagrass ecology, benthic invertebrate and fish ID, acoustic monitoring of cetaceans, BRUVs, marine conservation, monitoring and management in of the coastal seascape for conservation and restoration. My PhD looked at environmental drivers of change in seagrass meadows mainly in the UK but also in seagrass meadows in Brazil. More recently I have been working on habitat suitability modelling (HSM) in collaboration with Project Seagrass for Sky Ocean Rescue and WWF, Natural England and now as part of the SMMR ReSOW project using HSM for aiding decision making for seagrass restoration sites.

Areas Of Expertise

Seagrass ecology
Benthic and fish survey
Benthic invertebrate taxonomy
Rocky shore ecology
Marine mammal survey
Passive acoustic monitoring
Data analysis using R and Primer
Habitat Suitability Models

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

My teaching focus is mainly applied and field based. I teach on the marine biology field courses: BIO260 Marine Biology Field Course; BIO327 Tropical Marine Ecology Field Course and BIO346 Professional Skills in Marine Biology and also BIO112 Life in the Oceans.

Research

Publications

Research Highlights

Bertelli, C. & Unsworth, R. (2018). Light Stress Responses by the Eelgrass, Zostera marina (L). Frontiers in Environmental Science, 6
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00039, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa47936
Bertelli, C. & Unsworth, R. (2014). Protecting the hand that feeds us: Seagrass (Zostera marina) serves as commercial juvenile fish habitat. Marine Pollution Bulletin
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.011, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa15690
Callaway, R., Grenfell, S., Bertelli, C., Mendzil, A., & Moore, J. (2014). Size, distribution and sediment biodeposition of prolific bivalves in small estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2014.04.004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19120
Grenfell, S., Callaway, R., Grenfell, M., Bertelli, C., Mendzil, A., Tew, I., Callaway, R., Bertelli, C., & Mendzil, A. (2016). Will a rising sea sink some estuarine wetland ecosystems?. Science of The Total Environment, 554-555, 276-292.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.196, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26708
Bertelli, C., Robinson, M., Mendzil, A., Pratt, L., & Unsworth, R. (2017). Finding some seagrass optimism in Wales, the case of Zostera noltii. Marine Pollution Bulletin
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.018, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa36005
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X17306884

All Research

Journal Articles

Unsworth, R., Jones, B., Bertelli, C., Coals, L., Cullen‐Unsworth, L., Mendzil, A., Rees, S., Taylor, F., Walter, B., & Evans, A. (2024). Ten golden rules for restoration to secure resilient and just seagrass social‐ecological systems. Plants, People, Planet, 0
https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10560, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68142
Unsworth, R., Bertelli, C., Coals, L., Cullen-Unsworth, L., den Haan, S., Jones, B., Rees, S., Thomsen, E., Wookey, A., & Walter, B. (2023). Bottlenecks to seed-based seagrass restoration reveal opportunities for improvement. Global Ecology and Conservation, 48, e02736
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02736, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65215
Bertelli, C., Bennett, W., Karunarathna, H., Reeve, D., Unsworth, R., & Bull, J. (2023). High-resolution wave data for improving marine habitat suitability models. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1004829, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62254
Bertelli, C., Bennett, W., Karunarathna, H., Reeve, D., Unsworth, R., & Bull, J. (2023). High-resolution wave data for improving marine habitat suitability models. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1004829, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67876
Unsworth, R., Rees, S., Bertelli, C., Esteban, N., Furness, E., & Walter, B. (2022). Nutrient additions to seagrass seed planting improve seedling emergence and growth. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1013222, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61661
Vieira, V., Lobo-Arteaga, J., Santos, R., Leitão-Silva, D., Veronez, A., Neves, J., Nogueira, M., Creed, J., Bertelli, C., Samper-Villarreal, J., & Pettersen, M. (2022). Seagrasses benefit from mild anthropogenic nutrient additions. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.960249, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62177
Bertelli, C., Stokes, H., Bull, J., & Unsworth, R. (2022). The use of habitat suitability modelling for seagrass: A review. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.997831, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61575
Lowe, C., Tregenza, N., Allen, C., Blow, G., Nuuttila, H., Bertelli, C., Mendzil, A., Stamp, T., Sheehan, E., Davies, P., Gordon, J., Bolland, J., Britton, J., Main, R., Velterop, R., Crundwell, C., Schofield, A., & Clarke, D. (2022). A novel method for identifying coded tags recorded on aquatic acoustic monitoring systems. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(11)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10500-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61252
Alotaibi, N., Kenyon, E., Bertelli, C., Al-Qthanin, R., Mead, J., Parry, M., & Bull, J. (2022). Environment predicts seagrass genotype, phenotype, and associated biodiversity in a temperate ecosystem. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.887474, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60535
Bertelli, C., Bull, J., Cullen-Unsworth, L., & Unsworth, R. (2021). Unravelling the Spatial and Temporal Plasticity of Eelgrass Meadows. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.664523, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57627
Bertelli, C., Creed, J., Nuuttila, H., & Unsworth, R. (2020). The response of the seagrass Halodule wrightii Ascherson to environmental stressors. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 238, 106693
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106693, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53879
Bertelli, C. & Unsworth, R. (2018). Light Stress Responses by the Eelgrass, Zostera marina (L). Frontiers in Environmental Science, 6
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00039, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa47936
Bertelli, C., Robinson, M., Mendzil, A., Pratt, L., & Unsworth, R. (2017). Finding some seagrass optimism in Wales, the case of Zostera noltii. Marine Pollution Bulletin
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.018, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa36005
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X17306884
Grenfell, S., Callaway, R., Grenfell, M., Bertelli, C., Mendzil, A., Tew, I., Callaway, R., Bertelli, C., & Mendzil, A. (2016). Will a rising sea sink some estuarine wetland ecosystems?. Science of The Total Environment, 554-555, 276-292.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.196, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26708
Bertelli, C. & Unsworth, R. (2014). Protecting the hand that feeds us: Seagrass (Zostera marina) serves as commercial juvenile fish habitat. Marine Pollution Bulletin
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.011, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa15690
Callaway, R., Grenfell, S., Bertelli, C., Mendzil, A., & Moore, J. (2014). Size, distribution and sediment biodeposition of prolific bivalves in small estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2014.04.004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19120

Other Research Outputs

Bertelli, C. (2021). Investigating the responses of seagrasses to environmental drivers of water quality around the UK and Brazil
https://doi.org/10.23889/SUthesis.57002, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57002

Taught Modules

BIO260 Marine Biology Field Course

This residential field course comprises practical work employing shore-based techniques to sample littoral and benthic marine habitats. Students will learn techniques for the identification of marine organisms and gain experience in the analysis and presentation of ecological data.
BIO327 Tropical marine ecology field course

This field based module will provide students with an introduction to the ecology of tropical marine systems and teach students the key practical skills required by tropical marine biologists. Students will obtain training in how to design, implement and report scientifically robust marine research. The module will complement the level three marine field course and help develop key skills in field based marine biology. Students will learn skills in marine ecology and taxonomy, in-water marine sampling and surveys, and impact assessment. This module will be mostly practical based but will also include theory lectures, workshops and feedback sessions. It would be structured around seven days of directed practical activities and a three day small group based mini-project. The field course will utilise snorkeling and intertidal walking as the major means of sampling throughout directed practicals.
BIO346 Professional Skills in Marine Biology

This module will introduce students to the professional techniques utilised to monitor and study marine life in a variety of marine and coastal habitats and in relation to conservation management and biodiversity monitoring in the United Kingdom. The course places a strong emphasis on marine ecological census techniques. Students will learn key skills relevant to the marine ecology sector including protected and economically-important species (especially marine mammals, fish, shellfish, coastal birds) and Phase 1 habitat surveys. Students will also learn about the biotic and abiotic factors that define different UK habitats and relevant regulations that protect them. The module provides an introduction to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and a range of impacts on the marine environment including energy generation and coastal development. Participants in this module will work in groups to discuss case study surveys and EIAs, including a presentation reporting findings from rapid ecological surveys for a case study EIA. The class will be responsible for collecting key survey data for a Preliminary Environmental Appraisal (PEA) Report in accordance with CIEEM for a proposed commercial development in Carmarthen Bay. During a field course, small groups will work as marine environmental consultancy companies responding to an Invitation to Tender with survey design, planning, cost estimation, data collection and analysis. A focus of the module is on developing key transferable skills that enhance employability such as survey design and planning, problem solving, data analysis, report writing, evaluation, communication and teamwork. This will be a residential field course.

Dr Chiara Bertelli

Email address

Welsh language proficiency

Twitter Account

LinkedIn Account