Paul Van Ruth
Research Scientist – Microalgae
Areas of expertise:
Phytoplankton and zooplankton ecology, productivity and taxonomy, biological oceanography
Countries of work experience:
Australia
Overview of experience and qualifications:
Paul van Ruth is an experienced phytoplankton ecologist who has worked in several positions that have helped him develop a good familiarity with marine phytoplankton and zooplankton assemblages, particularly those of the shelf and gulf waters of South Australia. Throughout his career, Paul has designed and performed a variety of experiments to inform understanding of phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics.
Paul was awarded a PhD from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Adelaide in July 2009. Paul’s PhD work involved the study of phytoplankton productivity and zooplankton grazing in the shelf waters of the eastern Great Australian Bight. The project involved field sampling and experimentation aboard the RV Ngerin, and investigated factors that could potentially limit phytoplankton productivity in South Australian waters via an examination of spatial and temporal variations in primary productivity, nutrient stoichiometry, biogeochemistry, irradiance, and zooplankton grazing, and the meteorological and oceanographic factors that may drive this variation.
From 2006-2008 Paul worked as phytoplankton ecologist on an Aquafin CRC project examining spatial and temporal variations in phytoplankton abundance and community composition, primary productivity and zooplankton grazing in the Lincoln Offshore Sub-tidal Aquaculture Zone in southern Spencer Gulf, South Australia. Of particular interest was the dynamics of harmful algae in the region, and the potential for harmful algal blooms.
Paul has published in peer reviewed journals, and technical and consultancy reports, and has presented his research at numerous international conferences. He is currently working as the MISA Research Scientist –Microalgae at SARDI Aquatic Sciences, on projects that are aimed at providing further insight into phytoplankton/zooplankton dynamics, with particular emphasis on harmful algae.
Professional appointments:
2008-Present: MISA Research Scientist, Micro-algae, SARDI Aquatic Sciences
2006-2008: Aquafin CRC Postdoctoral fellow, SARDI Aquatic Sciences
Research and Consulting:
2006-2008: SARDI Aquatic Sciences, Phytoplankton Ecologist
Marine Environment and Ecology program
Project title: Risk and Response – understanding the Tuna Farming Environment
Co-investigator on FRDC project No. 2005/059 Aquafin CRC project No. 4.6
2002-2005: SARDI Aquatic Sciences, Research Officer
Wild Fisheries program
Project title: Implementation of Age structured Stock assessment model for Sardine (Sardinops sagax) in South Australia
FRDC project No. 2000/125
Project title: Development and Evaluation of Egg-based Stock Assessment Methods for Blue Mackerel (Scomber australasicus) in Southern Australia
FRDC project No. 2002/061
Project title: Establishing ecosystem-based management for the South Australian Pilchard Fishery: developing ecological performance indicators and reference points to assess the need for ecological allocations
FRDC project No. 2005/031
2002: Flinders University of S.A., Research Officer
Investigating remediation of piggery waste for use in aquaculture
Selected publications:
van Ruth, P.D. (2008) Plankton in Gulf St Vincent and Investigator Strait. In Natural History of Gulf St Vincent. Shepherd, S.A., Bryars, S., Kirkegaard, I., Harbison, P., and Jennings, J.T. (eds.) Royal Society of South Australia inc. pp 317-323.
van Ruth, P., Thompson, P., Blackburn, S., and Bonham, P. (2008) Temporal and spatial variability in phytoplankton abundance and community composition, and pelagic biogeochemistry in the tuna farming zone in Tanner, J.E. and J. Volkman (Eds.) 2008. Aquafin CRC - Southern Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture Subprogram: Risk and Response – Understanding the Tuna Farming Environment. Technical report, Aquafin CRC Project 4.6, FRDC Project 2005/059. Aquafin CRC, Fisheries Research & Development Corporation and South Australian Research & Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No F2008/000646-1, SARDI Research Report Series No 344, 287 pp.
van Ruth, P., Thompson, P., Bonham, P., and Jones, E. (2008) Primary productivity and zooplankton ecology in the Lincoln Offshore Subtidal Aquaculture Zone. Technical report, Aquafin CRC Project 4.6, FRDC Project 2005/059. Aquafin CRC, Fisheries Research & Development Corporation and South Australian Research & Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No F2008/000789-1, SARDI Research Report Series No 343, 58 pp.
Middleton J. F., Arthur, C., van Ruth, P., Ward, T., McClean, J., Maltrud, M., Gill, P. and Middleton, S. (2007) ENSO effects and upwelling along Australia’s southern shelves. Journal of Physical Oceanography 37: 2458-2477.
Ward, T. M., McLeay, L. J., Dimmlich, W. F., Rogers, P. J., McClatchie, S., Matthews, R., Kampf, J. and van Ruth, P. D. (2006). Pelagic ecology of a northern boundary current system: effects of upwelling on the production and distribution of sardine (Sardinops sagax), anchovy (Engraulis australis) and southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in the Great Australian Bight. Fisheries Oceanography 15(3): 191-207.
Contact:
Dr Paul van Ruth
SARDI Aquatic Sciences
Tel: 08 8207 5421
Mobile: 0413 886 360
E-mail: paul.vanruth@sa.gov.au