Dr Maria C. Baker

Room 496/09,National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, European Way,

Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
Phone: +44 2380 596352
FAX: +44 (0)2380 593052
E-mail: mb11@noc.soton.ac.uk

Scientific Resume

• Jan 2005 to date: Research Fellow: Deepseas Group, Ocean Biogeochemistry & Ecosystems (School of Ocean and Earth Sciences)
• Jan 2004 to 2005: Microbiology Department, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester
• Jan 2002 to Nov 2002: Marine Surveyor, Seastar Survey, Southampton
• Jan 2001 to Dec 2001: Research Fellow: Deepseas Group, George Deacon Division for Ocean Processes, Southampton Oceanography Centre
• Jan 1998 to Jan 2001: Ph.D (Fertilization kinetics in commercial shellfish)
• Sep 1996 to Jan 1998: Research Assistant for Prof. Paul Tyler (Reproduction of hydrothermal vent invertebrates), Southampton.
• Sep 1993 to Jun 1996: BSc Oceanography with Marine Biology (1st Class), Southampton

Research Interests

My main scientific interests are in the life history biology, including reproductive histology and fertilization kinetics, of marine invertebrates from both shallow water and the deep sea (molluscs, echinoderms and polycheates). I have a particular interest in organisms from chemosynthetic environments. I also have an active interest in deep-sea conservation and management issues.

Current Activities

• Co-Project Manager for ChEss (Biogeography of deep-water chemosynthetic ecosystems) – A Census of Marine Life (CoML) Field Programme. ChEss aims to facilitate a global study of the distribution, abundance and diversity of species in deep-water hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and other chemosynthetic ecosystems for the Census of Marine Life initiative. Directed from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, ChEss aims to improve our knowledge of the biogeography of chemosynthetic ecosystems and the processes driving them.

Publications

• Baker, M. & German, C. Going for Gold! Who will win the race to exploit ores from the deep? Ocean Challenge Journal. In Press.
• Tyler, P.A., Pendlebury, S., Mills, S.W., Mullineaux, L., Eckelbarger, K.J., Baker, M. and Young, C.M. (2008) Reproduction of gastropods from vents on the East Pacific Rise and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Journal of Shellfish Research, 27, (1), 107-118.
• Tyler, Paul, Young, Craig M., Dolan, Emily, Arellano, Shawn M., Brooke, Sandra D. and Baker, Maria (2007) Gametogenic periodicity in the chemosynthetic cold mussel 'Bathymodiolus' childressi. Marine Biology, 150, (5), 829-840. (doi:10.1007/s00227-006-0362-9)
• Baker, M., Ebbe, B., Hoyer, J., Menot, L., Narayanaswamy, B., Ramirez-Llodra, E. and Steffensen, M. (2007) Deeper than light, Bergen, Norway, Bergen Museum Press, 85pp.
• Tyler, P., Young, C., Dolan, E., Arellano, S., Brooke, S. & Baker, M. (2006) Gametogenic periodicity in the chemosynthetic cold-seep mussel “Bathymodiolus” childressi. Marine Biology
• Baker, M.C., Ramirez-Llodra, E., Tyler, P.A. & German, C.R. (2006). ChEss – A Censu of Marine Life Project. Polar Field Programme. Interridge News Vol 15 p.36
• Baker, M.C., Ramirez-Llodra, E., Tyler, P.A. & German, C.R. (2005). Exploration and biogeography of deep-water chemosynthetic ecosystems at the global scale: the ChEss project for the Census of Marine Life. Deep-Sea Newsletter 35: 13-15.
• Baker, M.C., Bett, B.J., Masson, D.G., German, C.R., Parson, L.M. and Tyler, P.A., 2005. Deep-ocean environment of the Chile Margin and Chile Triple Junction. National Oceanography Centre Southampton Research and Consultancy Report (No. 3). 27pp and DVD GIS database
• Gubbay, S., Baker, M.C. & Bett, B. J. (2002). The Darwin Mounds and the Dogger Bank – Case studies of the management of two potential “Special Areas of Conservation” in the offshore environment. WWF
• Gubbay, S., Baker, M.C., Bett, B.J. & Konnecker, G. (2002). The Offshore Directory. Review of a selection of habitats, communities and species of the north-east Atlantic. WWF
• Bett, B.J., Masson, D.G., Long, D., Stoker, M., Addy, J., Baker, M.C., Billett, D.S.M., Le Bas, T.P., Bulat, J. & Gillespie, E.J. (2001). Geoscience-Bioscience Synergy: Angola Block 18. Commercial in confidence (Report to BP). 44pp.
• Baker, M.C. (2001). Fertilization success in commercial shellfish. Ph.D thesis. School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Southampton, U.K. 173pp & appendices
• Baker, M.C. & Tyler, P.A. (2001). Fertilization success in the commercial gastropod Haliotis tuberculata. MEPS 211: 205-213
• Baker, M.C. & Bett, B.J. (2001). Deep-sea mud. In: Offshore directory, review of a selection of habitats, communities and species of the North East Atlantic. S. Gubbay (ed.) Worldwide Fund for Nature, U.K.
• Baker, M.C., Bett, B.J. Billett, D.S.M. & Rogers, A. (2001). The status of natural resources on the high-seas. Part 1: An environmental perspective. WWF International & IUCN.
• Bett, B.J., Masson, D.G., Long, D., Stoker, M., Addy, J., Baker, M.C., Billett, D.S.M., Le Bas, T.P., Bulat, J. & Gillespie, E.J. (2001). Geoscience-Bioscience Synergy: Angola Block 18. Report to BP. 44pp.
• Jollivet, D., Empis, A., Baker, M.C., Hourdez, S., Comtet, T., Jouin-Toulmond, C., Desbruyeres, D. & Tyler, P. (2000). Reproductive biology, sexual dimorphism, and population structure of the deep sea hydrothermal vent scale-worm, Branchipolynoe seepensis (Polychaeta: Polynoidae). JMBA 80: 55-68
• Horton, T. & Baker, M.C. (in press). “In Too Deep?” Marine Conservation Society Magazine.
• Baker, M.C. & Tyler, P.A. (in prep.). Theoretical, laboratory and field determination of fertilization success in the edible sea urchin, Psammechinus miliaris.