Dr Hanna Nuuttila

Honorary Research Fellow

Biosciences

h.k.nuuttila@swansea.ac.uk

Research Links

About

I am a marine scientist with over 15 years of experience in marine mammal research and conservation in the industry – science interface and stakeholder engagement for the sustainable use of marine resources.

In my past projects I have assessed impacts and possibilities of marine renewable energy devices and developed and refined marine mammal monitoring methods from passive acoustics to aerial surveys and DNA sampling. More recently I have been involved in seagrass restoration and am currently engaged in a multi-method study researching co-benefits of climate change mitigation, exploring the possibilities of coastal conservation and restoration projects in increasing socio-economic and ecological resilience through community participation.

As a practical marine scientist with advanced boating, diving and expedition logistics expertise I am fortunate to contribute to several marine projects and marine biology teaching at Swansea University.

Personal Blog: https://hknuuttila.wixsite.com/roadtonowhere

Areas Of Expertise

Marine ecology
Marine mammal ecology and conservation
Marine renewable energy
Passive acoustic monitoring
Community conservation
Transformative climate change adaption and mitigation

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

I have keen interest in teaching solid practical marine biology skills to students from boating, snorkelling and diving to survey design and planning successful fieldwork. I am a dive instructor, HSE diver and the acting Dive Project Manager at Swansea. I am also RYA powerboat instructor and ex RNLI-volunteer , a first aid instructor, CAA approved drone pilot and a commercial skipper. I believe good seamanship and strong knowledge of marine logistical challenges enables more efficient, productive and safer research in the marine and coastal environment.

Research Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

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
Nuuttila, H., Brundiers, K., Dähne, M., Koblitz, J., Thomas, L., Courtene‐Jones, W., Evans, P., Turner, J., Bennell, J., & Hiddink, J. (2018). Estimating effective detection area of static passive acoustic data loggers from playback experiments with cetacean vocalisations. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9(12), 2362-2371.
https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13097, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa46127
Nuuttila, H., Bertelli, C., Mendzil, A., & Dearle, N. (2017). Seasonal and diel patterns in cetacean use and foraging at a potential marine renewable energy site. Marine Pollution Bulletin
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.051, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa36725
Nuuttila, H., Courtene-Jones, W., Baulch, S., Simon, M., & Evans, P. (2017). Don’t forget the porpoise: acoustic monitoring reveals fine scale temporal variation between bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise in Cardigan Bay SAC. Marine Biology, 164(3)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3081-5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa32034
Nuuttila, H. & Mendzil, A. (2015). Development of videographic methods for measuring distance from vantage point to porpoise sightings in Ramsey Sound. In Marine Energy Pembrokeshire Annual Industry Seminar 2015Marine Energy Pembrokeshire Annual Industry Seminar 2015.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20543
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279885499_Development_of_videographic_methods_for_measuring_distance_from_vantage_point_to_porpoise_sightings_in_Ramsey_Sound

All Research

Journal Articles

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
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
Unsworth, R., Bertelli, C., Cullen-Unsworth, L., Esteban, N., Jones, B., Lilley, R., Lowe, C., Nuuttila, H., & Rees, S. (2019). Sowing the Seeds of Seagrass Recovery Using Hessian Bags. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00311, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51930
Nuuttila, H., Brundiers, K., Dähne, M., Koblitz, J., Thomas, L., Courtene‐Jones, W., Evans, P., Turner, J., Bennell, J., & Hiddink, J. (2018). Estimating effective detection area of static passive acoustic data loggers from playback experiments with cetacean vocalisations. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9(12), 2362-2371.
https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13097, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa46127
Nuuttila, H., Bertelli, C., Mendzil, A., & Dearle, N. (2017). Seasonal and diel patterns in cetacean use and foraging at a potential marine renewable energy site. Marine Pollution Bulletin
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.051, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa36725
Nuuttila, H., Courtene-Jones, W., Baulch, S., Simon, M., & Evans, P. (2017). Don’t forget the porpoise: acoustic monitoring reveals fine scale temporal variation between bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise in Cardigan Bay SAC. Marine Biology, 164(3)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3081-5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa32034
Sostres Alonso, M. & Nuuttila, H. (2014). Detection rates of wild harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins using static acoustic click loggers vary with depth. Bioacoustics, 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09524622.2014.980319, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19380
Nuuttila, H., Thomas, L., Hiddink, J., Meier, R., Turner, J., Bennell, J., Tregenza, N., & Evans, P. (2013). Acoustic detection probability of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, with static acoustic dataloggers in Cardigan Bay, Wales. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 134(3), 2596
https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4816586, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19381
Nuuttila, H. (2013). Identifying Foraging Behaviour of Wild Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) with Static Acoustic Dataloggers. Aquatic Mammals, 39(2), 147-161.
https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.39.2.2013.147, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19382
Simon, M., Nuuttila, H., Reyes-Zamudio, M., Ugarte, F., Verfub, U., & Evans, P. (2010). Passive acoustic monitoring of bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise, in Cardigan Bay, Wales, with implications for habitat use and partitioning. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 90(08), 1539-1545.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315409991226, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19383
Pigott, A., Nuuttila, H., Thomas, M., Smith, F., Palser, M., Holmes, E., Murray, T., Bohata, K., & Elias, O. (n.d.) "No one talks about it": using emotional methodologies to overcome climate silence and inertia in Higher Education. Frontiers in Sociology, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1456393, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68094

Conference Contributions

Nuuttila, H., Bertelli, C., & Lowe, C. (2015). Developing marine mammal monitoring at marine renewable energy sites. In THE NOC ASSOCIATION 5th ANNUAL MEETING March 2015
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20544
Nuuttila, H. (2015). Design challenges for a floating hydrophone array for locating and tracking marine mammals at high tidal energy sites. In Marine Energy Pembrokeshire Annual Industry Seminar 2015
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20542
Nuuttila, H. & Mendzil, A. (2015). Development of videographic methods for measuring distance from vantage point to porpoise sightings in Ramsey Sound. In Marine Energy Pembrokeshire Annual Industry Seminar 2015Marine Energy Pembrokeshire Annual Industry Seminar 2015.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20543
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279885499_Development_of_videographic_methods_for_measuring_distance_from_vantage_point_to_porpoise_sightings_in_Ramsey_Sound

Other Research Outputs

Nuuttila, H., Mendzil, A., & Mendzil, A. (2014). Development of marine mammal observation methods for fixed vantage point surveys in Ramsey sound
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20541
http://coast.pembrokeshire.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/LCRIRamseyDistancePorpoiseInterimReportDec14V2.pdf
Nuuttila, H. (2012). Static acoustic monitoring of cetaceans in Cardigan Bay, Wales
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19384

Key Grants and Projects

Co-benefits of combating climate change: building socio-economic and ecological resilience through coastal community conservation AXA Research Fellowship 2020 - 2022

, 125 000 EURO

Career History

Post-doctoral Research Officer, (SEACAMS 1 & 2) , Swansea University

July 2013 - January 2020