Rick Stafford

Professor Rick Stafford

  • Associate Dean Research, Innovation and Enterprise
  • Christchurch House C213, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
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Research

Rick is an interdisciplinary scientist working in areas as diverse as marine conservation, ecosystem functioning, law and policy and politics. He has worked at Bournemouth University for 11 years, with previous experience at other UK universities, universities in Hong Kong and Ecuador and within government and government agencies (Cefas, and a recent secondment to Defra).

Rick’s research focusses on effective governance and management of MPAs (in the UK and internationally), the role of artificial reefs in enhancing biodiversity (with respect to marine infrastructure including breakwaters and offshore wind in the UK, and for localised ecosystem service provision internationally), blue carbon and links from these areas into government policy. He also has developed new approaches to modelling and understanding complex systems, and applies these techniques in multi- and interdisciplinary settings.

He has expertise in quantitative methods in ecology, is a fellow of the Royal Statistics Society, and has developed and applied techniques for modelling complex socio-ecological-economic systems using modified Bayesian belief networks, which have been applied to projects for the JNCC and Defra as well as in a number of recent publications.

Rick is principal investigator on two artificial reef projects and co-investigator on another (~£1,000,000 funding in total). He has authored recent policy documents for the British Ecological Society on Nature-Based Solutions and Protected Areas (with focus on the marine aspects of both), and presented evidence to many government agencies, including for the Blue Carbon POST note, the CCC report into Blue Carbon and as an oral witness to the House of Lords Select Committee Inquiry into Nature-Based Solutions...

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Journal Articles

  • Croker, A., Stafford, R., Kountouris, Y., 2026. Belief Network Assessment of Fire Management in East African Savannas Under Socioeconomic and Climate Change. Geo: Geography and Environment, 13.
  • Boakes, Z., Cahyarini, S.Y., Sulaiman, A., Stafford, R., Razak, T.B., Brandl, S.J., 2026. Evaluating the success of coral reef restoration programs requires consideration of ecosystem functioning. Restoration Ecology, 34 (1).
  • Boakes, Z., Hall, A.E., Sulaiman, A., Cahyarini, S.Y., Stafford, R., 2025. Long-term monitoring describes unique fish communities across natural and artificial reef habitats in Indonesia. Marine Biology, 172 (11).
  • Jackson, J.A., Stafford, R., Cvitanović, M., Cantarello, E., 2025. Predicting Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture in the Southwest United Kingdom. Sustainability Switzerland, 17 (9).
  • Stafford, R., Alexander, J., Axon, S., Boakes, Z., Cantarello, E., Croker, A.R., Cvitanović, M., Almela, V.D., Ginige, T., Harris, N., Jones, E.A., Kountouris, Y., Lilleker, D., Russell, F., Sokolnicki, J.R., Upson, S.J., Vincent, E., 2025. Evaluating post 2024 election scenarios for the UK based on political party manifestos. Plos One, 20 (5 MAY).
  • Herbert, R.J.H., Bone, J.R., Hall, A.E., Hawkins, S.J., Stafford, R., 2025. Ecological impact of single and semi-contiguous artificial rockpool installations on the assemblages and species richness of vertical seawalls. Ecological Engineering, 210.
  • Almela, V.D., Croker, A.R., Stafford, R., 2024. Creating simple predictive models in ecology, conservation and environmental policy based on Bayesian belief networks. Plos One, 19 (12).
  • Bone, J.R., Stafford, R., Hall, A.E., Herbert, R.J.H., 2024. Vertical arrays of artificial rockpools on a seawall provide refugia across tidal levels for intertidal species in the UK. Science of the Total Environment, 951.
  • García-Rodríguez, O., Hardouin, E.A., Pedreschi, D., Richards, M.B., Stafford, R., Searle, J.B., Stewart, J.R., 2024. Contrasting Patterns of Genetic Diversity in European Mammals in the Context of Glacial Refugia. Diversity, 16 (10).
  • Bone, J.R., Hall, A.E., Stafford, R., Mir, N.F., Benny, J., Herbert, R.J.H., 2024. Artificial rockpools create habitat refugia on seawalls at high tide. Ecological Engineering, 206.
  • Bone, J.R., Hall, A.E., Stafford, R., Herbert, R.J.H., 2024. Inconsistent bioreceptivity of three mortar mixes in subtidal sites. Ecological Engineering, 204.
  • Stafford, R., 2024. 2024 UK General Election manifesto commitments: implications for the economy, environment, and society. Research Square.
  • Boakes, Z., Stafford, R., Bramer, I., Cvitanović, M., Hardouin, E.A., 2024. The importance of urban areas in supporting vulnerable and endangered mammals. Urban Ecosystems, 27 (3), 883-894.
  • O'Shea, R., Capuzzo, E., Hemming, V., Grebe, G., Stafford, R., van den Burg, S.W.K., Wood, D., Watson, G., Wells, V., Johnson, T., Erbs, S., W. van Hal, J., Binnerts, B., Collins, A.M., Howe, C., 2024. Managing offshore multi-use settings: Use of conceptual mapping to reduce uncertainty of co-locating seaweed aquaculture and wind farms. Journal of Environmental Management, 358.
  • Jones, E.A., Paige, L., Smith, A., Worth, A., Betts, L., Stafford, R., 2024. Potential for Carbon Credits from Conservation Management: Price and Potential for Multi-Habitat Nature-Based Carbon Sequestration in Dorset, UK. Sustainability Switzerland, 16 (3).
  • Gillingham, P.K., Britton, J.R., Jones, G., Miller-Rushing, A., Stafford, R., Slater, H., 2024. Climate change adaptation for biodiversity in protected areas: An overview of actions. Biological Conservation, 289.
  • Jones, P.J.S., Stafford, R., Hesse, I., Khuu, D.T., 2024. Incentive diversity is key to the more effective and equitable governance of marine protected areas. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11.
  • Dominguez Almela, V., Croker, A.R., Stafford, R., 2024. Creating simple predictive models in ecology, conservation and environmental policy based on Bayesian belief networks. PLoS One, 19 (12), e0305882.
  • Boakes, Z., Suryaputra, I.G.N.A., Hall, A.E., Franklin, D.J., Stafford, R., 2023. Nutrient dynamics, carbon storage and community composition on artificial and natural reefs in Bali, Indonesia. Marine Biology, 170 (10).
  • Boakes, Z., Mahyuni, L.P., Hall, A.E., Cvitanovic, M., Stafford, R., 2023. Can Coral Reef Restoration Programmes Facilitate Changes in Environmental Attitudes? A Case Study on a Rural Fisher Community in North Bali, Indonesia. Human Ecology, 51 (5), 891-905.
  • Carroll, T., Stafford, R., Gillingham, P.K., Bullock, J.M., Brown, D., Brown, M., Walls, R.M., Diaz, A., 2023. Correlated biodiversity change between plant and insect assemblages resurveyed after 80 years across a dynamic habitat mosaic. Ecology and Evolution, 13 (6).
  • Yoris-Nobile, A.I., Slebi-Acevedo, C.J., Lizasoain-Arteaga, E., Indacoechea-Vega, I., Blanco-Fernandez, E., Castro-Fresno, D., Alonso-Estebanez, A., Alonso-Cañon, S., Real-Gutierrez, C., Boukhelf, F., Boutouil, M., Sebaibi, N., Hall, A., Greenhill, S., Herbert, R., Stafford, R., Reis, B., van der Linden, P., Gómez, O.B., Meyer, H.S., Franco, J.N., Almada, E., Borges, M.T., Sousa-Pinto, I., Tuaty-Guerra, M., Lobo-Arteaga, J., 2023. Artificial reefs built by 3D printing: Systematisation in the design, material selection and fabrication. Construction and Building Materials, 362.
  • Bone, J.R., Stafford, R., Hall, A.E., Herbert, R.J.H., 2022. Biodeterioration and bioprotection of concrete assets in the coastal environment. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 175.
  • Sokolnicki, J., Woodhatch, A., Stafford, R., 2022. Assessing Environmentally Effective Post‑COVID Green Recovery Plans for Reducing Social and Economic Inequality. Anthropocence Science.
  • Boukhelf, F., Sebaibi, N., Boutouil, M., Yoris-Nobile, A.I., Blanco-Fernandez, E., Castro-Fresno, D., Real-Gutierrez, C., Herbert, R.J.H., Greenhill, S., Reis, B., Franco, J.N., Borges, M.T., Sousa-Pinto, I., van der Linden, P., Gómez, O.B., Meyer, H.S., Almada, E., Stafford, R., Danet, V., Lobo-Arteaga, J., Tuaty-Guerra, M., E. Hall, A., 2022. On the Properties Evolution of Eco-Material Dedicated to Manufacturing Artificial Reef via 3D Printing: Long-Term Interactions of Cementitious Materials in the Marine Environment. Sustainability Switzerland, 14 (15).
  • Silva, F., Coward, F., Davies, K., Elliott, S., Jenkins, E., Newton, A.C., Riris, P., Vander Linden, M., Bates, J., Cantarello, E., Contreras, D.A., Crabtree, S.A., Crema, E.R., Edwards, M., Filatova, T., Fitzhugh, B., Fluck, H., Freeman, J., Klein Goldewijk, K., Krzyzanska, M., Lawrence, D., Mackay, H., Madella, M., Maezumi, S.Y., Marchant, R., Monsarrat, S., Morrison, K.D., Rabett, R., Roberts, P., Saqalli, M., Stafford, R., Svenning, J.C., Whithouse, N.J., Williams, A., 2022. Developing Transdisciplinary Approaches to Sustainability Challenges: The Need to Model Socio-Environmental Systems in the Longue Durée. Sustainability Switzerland, 14 (16).
  • Stafford, R., 2022. Comment on "seaweed ecosystems may not mitigate CO2emissions" by Gallagher et al. (2022). ICES Journal of Marine Science, 79 (5), 1701-1702.
  • Boakes, Z., Hall, A.E., Ampou, E.E., Jones, G.C.A., Suryaputra, I.G.N.A., Mahyuni, L.P., Prasetijo, R., Stafford, R., 2022. Coral reef conservation in Bali in light of international best practice, a literature review. Journal for Nature Conservation, 67.
  • Boakes, Z., Luh Putu, M., Hall, A., Jones, G., Cvitanovic, M., Stafford, R., 2022. Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour to assess how coral reef conservation programs can generate positive environmental behaviours. A qualitative case study on a rural fisher community in north Bali, Indonesia. PLoS One.
  • Hui, E., Stafford, R., Matthews, I.M., Smith, V.A., 2022. Bayesian networks as a novel tool to enhance interpretability and predictive power of ecological models. Ecological Informatics, 68.
  • Bone, J.R., Stafford, R., Hall, A.E., Herbert, R.J.H., 2022. The intrinsic primary bioreceptivity of concrete in the coastal environment – A review. Developments in the Built Environment, 10.
  • Bone, J.R., Stafford, R., Hall, A.E., Boyd, I., George, N., Herbert, R.J.H., 2022. Estuarine Infauna Within Incidentally Retained Sediment in Artificial Rockpools. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8.
  • Boakes, Z., Hall, A.E., Jones, G.C.A., Prasetijo, R., Stafford, R., Yahya, Y., 2022. Artificial coral reefs as a localised approach to increase fish biodiversity and abundance along the North Bali coastline. AIMS GEOSCIENCES, 8 (2), 303-325.
  • Newton, A.C., Britton, R., Davies, K., Diaz, A., Franklin, D.J., Herbert, R.J.H., Hill, R.A., Hodder, K., Jones, G., Korstjens, A.H., Lamb, A., Olley, J., Pinder, A.C., Roberts, C.G., Stafford, R., 2021. Operationalising the concept of ecosystem collapse for conservation practice. Biological Conservation, 264.
  • Reis, B., van der Linden, P., Pinto, I.S., Almada, E., Borges, M.T., Hall, A.E., Stafford, R., Herbert, R.J.H., Lobo-Arteaga, J., Gaudêncio, M.J., Tuaty-Guerra, M., Ly, O., Georges, V., Audo, M., Sebaibi, N., Boutouil, M., Blanco-Fernandez, E., Franco, J.N., 2021. Artificial reefs in the North –East Atlantic area: Present situation, knowledge gaps and future perspectives. Ocean and Coastal Management, 213.
  • Stafford, R., Boakes, Z., Hall, A., Jones, G., 2021. The Role of Predator Removal by Fishing on Ocean Carbon Dynamics. Anthropocene Science, 1.
  • Jones, E.A., Stafford, R., 2021. Neoliberalism and the Environment: Are We Aware of Appropriate Action to Save the Planet and Do We Think We Are Doing Enough? Earth Switzerland, 2 (2), 331-339.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Lau, S.L.Y., Davies, M.S., Stafford, R., Seuront, L., Hutchinson, N., Hui, T.T.Y., Williams, G.A., 2021. Behavioral repertoire of high-shore littorinid snails reveals novel adaptations to an extreme environment. Ecology and Evolution, 12, 7114-7124.
  • Vos, D., Stafford, R., Jenkins, E.L., Garrard, A., 2021. A model based on Bayesian confirmation and machine learning algorithms to aid archaeological interpretation by integrating incompatible data. Plos One, 16 (3 March 2021).
  • Ly, O., Yoris-Nobile, A.I., Sebaibi, N., Blanco-Fernandez, E., Boutouil, M., Castro-Fresno, D., Hall, A.E., Herbert, R.J.H., Deboucha, W., Reis, B., Franco, J.N., Teresa Borges, M., Sousa-Pinto, I., van der Linden, P., Stafford, R., 2021. Optimisation of 3D printed concrete for artificial reefs: Biofouling and mechanical analysis. Construction and Building Materials, 272.
  • Winch, K., Stafford, R., Gillingham, P., Thorsen, E., Diaz, A., 2021. Diversifying environmental volunteers by engaging with online communities. People and Nature, 3 (1), 17-31.
  • Hall, A.E., Herbert, R.J.H., Stafford, R., 2021. Temporal and spatial variation in adult and juvenile mobile fauna associated with natural and artificial coastal habitats. Marine Biology, 168 (2).
  • Jenkins, E.L., Predanich, L., Al Nuimat, S.A.M.Y., Jamjoum, K.I., Stafford, R., 2020. Assessing past water availability using phytoliths from the C4 plant Sorghum bicolor: An experimental approach. Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, 33.
  • Stafford, R., Croker, A.R., Rivers, E.M., Cantarello, E., Costelloe, B., Ginige, T., Sokolnicki, J., Kang, K., Jones, P.J.S., McKinley, E., Shiel, C., 2020. Evaluating optimal solutions to environmental breakdown. Environmental Science and Policy, 112, 340-347.
  • Jenkins, E., Jamjoum, K., Nuimat, S., Stafford, R., Nortcliff, S., Mithen, S., 2019. Corrigendum to “Identifying ancient water availability through phytolith analysis: An experimental approach” (Identifying ancient water availability through phytolith analysis: An experimental approach (2016) 73 (82–93), (S0305440316300930), (10.1016/j.jas.2016.07.006)). Journal of Archaeological Science, 110.
  • Stafford, R., Jones, P.J.S., 2019. We should not separate out environmental issues, but the current approach to plastic pollution can be a distraction from meaningful action. A response to Avery-Gomm et al. Marine Policy, 107.
  • Stafford, R., Jones, P.J.S., 2019. Viewpoint – Ocean plastic pollution: A convenient but distracting truth? Marine Policy, 103, 187-191.
  • Pitt, J., Gillingham, P.K., Maltby, M., Stafford, R., Stewart, J.R., 2019. Changing cultures, changing environments: A novel means of investigating the effects of introducing non-native species into past ecosystems. Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, 23, 1066-1075.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Rolán-Alvarez, E., Dahlén, S.S., Davies, M.S., Estévez, D., Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., 2019. The causal relationship between sexual selection and sexual size dimorphism in marine gastropods. Animal Behaviour, 148, 53-62.
  • Stafford, R., 2019. Sustainability: A flawed concept for fisheries management? Elementa, 7 (1).
  • García-Rodríguez, O., Andreou, D., Herman, J.S., Mitsainas, G.P., Searle, J.B., Bonhomme, F., Hadjisterkotis, E., Schutkowski, H., Stafford, R., Stewart, J.R., Hardouin, E.A., 2018. Cyprus as an ancient hub for house mice and humans. Journal of Biogeography, 45 (12), 2619-2630.
  • Carroll, T., Gillingham, P.K., Stafford, R., Bullock, J.M., Diaz, A., 2018. Improving estimates of environmental change using multilevel regression models of Ellenberg indicator values. Ecology and Evolution, 8 (19), 9739-9750.
  • Griffin, R.L., Green, I., Stafford, R., 2018. Accumulation of marine microplastics along a trophic gradient as determined by an agent-based model. Ecological Informatics, 45, 81-84.
  • Stafford, R., 2018. Lack of evidence that governance structures provide real ecological benefits in marine protected areas. Ocean and Coastal Management, 152, 57-61.
  • Hines, H.N., Morriss, H., Saunders, K., Williams, R.L., Young, S.L., Stafford, R., 2017. Localized versus regional adaptation in limpet shell morphology across the Iberian Peninsula. Marine Ecology, 38 (6).
  • Ng, T.P.T., Lau, S.L.Y., Seuront, L., Davies, M.S., Stafford, R., Marshall, D.J., Williams, G.A., 2017. Linking behaviour and climate change in intertidal ectotherms: insights from littorinid snails. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 492, 121-131.
  • Spiers, E.K.A., Stafford, R., Ramirez, M., Vera Izurieta, D.F., Cornejo, M., Chavarria, J., 2016. Potential role of predators on carbon dynamics of marine ecosystems as assessed by a Bayesian belief network. Ecological Informatics, 36, 77-83.
  • Cartwright, S.J., Bowgen, K.M., Collop, C., Hyder, K., Nabe-Nielsen, J., Stafford, R., Stillman, R.A., Thorpe, R.B., Sibly, R.M., 2016. Communicating complex ecological models to non-scientist end users. Ecological Modelling, 338, 51-59.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Williams, G.A., Davies, M.S., Stafford, R., Rolán-Alvarez, E., 2016. Sampling scale can cause bias in positive assortative mating estimates: evidence from two intertidal snails. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 119 (2), 414-419.
  • Jenkins, E., Jamjoum, K., Nuimat, S., Stafford, R., Nortcliff, S., Mithen, S., 2016. Identifying ancient water availability through phytolith analysis: An experimental approach. Journal of Archaeological Science, 73, 82-93.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Williams, G.A., Davies, M.S., Stafford, R., Rolán-Alvarez, E., 2016. Sampling scale can cause bias in positive assortative mating estimates: evidence from two intertidal snails. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Davies, M.S., Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., 2016. Fighting for mates: the importance of individual size in mating contests in rocky shore littorinids. Marine Biology, 163 (3), 1-9.
  • Stafford, R., Clitherow, T.J., Howlett, S.J., Spiers, E.K.A., Williams, R.L., Yaselga, B., Zeas Valarezo, S., Vera Izurieta, D.F., Cornejo, M., 2016. An integrated evaluation of potential management processes on marine reserves in continental Ecuador based on a Bayesian belief network model. OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT, 121, 60-69.
  • Howlett, S.J., Stafford, R., Waller, M., Antha, S., Mason-Parker, C., 2016. Linking protection with the distribution of grouper and habitat quality in Seychelles. Journal of Marine Biology, 2016, 1.
  • Kragh, G., Stafford, R., Curtin, S., Diaz, A., 2016. Environmental volunteer well-being: Managers' perception and actual well-being of volunteers. F1000research, 5.
  • Stafford, R., Williams, R.L., Herbert, R.J.H., 2015. Simple, policy friendly, ecological interaction models from uncertain data and expert opinion. Ocean and Coastal Management, 118, 88-96.
  • Williams, R.L., Stafford, R., Goodenough, A.E., 2015. Biodiversity in urban gardens: Assessing the accuracy of citizen science data on garden hedgehogs. Urban Ecosystems, 18 (3), 819-833.
  • Stafford, R., Williams, R.L., Herbert, R.J.H., 2015. Simple, policy friendly, ecological interaction models from uncertain data and expert opinion. Ocean and Coastal Management.
  • Stafford, R., Ng, T.P.T., Williams, G.A., Davies, M.S., 2015. A biologically relevant rapid quantification of physical and biological stress profiles on rocky shores. Ecological Informatics, 25 (1), 43-48.
  • Stafford, R., Ng, T.P.T., Williams, G.A., Davies, M.S., 2014. A biologically relevant rapid quantification of physical and biological stress profiles on rocky shores. Ecological Informatics.
  • Williams, R.L., Stafford, R., Goodenough, A.E., 2014. Biodiversity in urban gardens: assessing the accuracy of citizen science data on garden hedgehogs. Urban Ecosystems.
  • Ahmed, B.Y., Husnain, O., Stafford, R., Howard, M., Gujar, A.S., Moradiya, V., Patel, K.K., Sihotra, S., 2013. Hyperphosphorylation of CREB in human dopaminergic neurons: a kinetic study of cellular distribution of total CREB and phospho-CREB following oxidative stress. Neuroreport, 24 (13), 757-762.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Saltin, S.H., Davies, M.S., Johannesson, K., Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., 2013. Snails and their trails: The multiple functions of trail-following in gastropods. Biological Reviews, 88 (3), 683-700.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Saltin, S.H., Davies, M.S., Johannesson, K., Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., 2013. Snails and their trails: the multiple functions of trail-following in gastropods. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc, 88 (3), 683-700.
  • Stafford, R., Hart, A.G., Goodenough, A.E., 2013. A visual method to identify significant latitudinal changes in species' distributions. Ecological Informatics, 15, 74-84.
  • Williams, R.L., Goodenough, A.E., Hart, A.G., Stafford, R., 2013. Using Long-Term Volunteer Records to Examine Dormouse (Muscardinusavellanarius) Nestbox Selection. PLoS One, 8 (6), e67986.
  • Stafford, R., Smith, V.A., Husmeier, D., Grima, T., Guinn, B.-A., 2013. Predicting ecological regime shift under climate change: New modelling techniques and potential of molecular-based approaches. CURRENT ZOOLOGY, 59 (3), 403-417.
  • Stafford, R., Davies, M.S., Williams, G.A., 2012. Misinterpreting the potential benefits of aggregation for reducing desiccation in the intertidal: A simple analogy. Marine Ecology, 33 (4), 512-515.
  • Hart, A., Stafford, R., Goodenough, A., Morgan, S., 2012. The role of citizen science and volunteer data collection in zoological research. International Journal of Zoology.
  • Higby, L.K., Stafford, R., Bertulli, C.G., 2012. An evaluation of ad hoc presence-only data in explaining patterns of distribution: Cetacean sightings from whale-watching vessels. International Journal of Zoology.
  • Lloyd, J.R., Maldonado, M.A., Stafford, R., 2012. Methods of developing user-friendly keys to identify green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) from photographs. International Journal of Zoology.
  • Stafford, R., Goodenough, A.E., Slater, K., Carpenter, W., Collins, L., Cruickshank, H., Downing, S., Hall, S., McDonald, K., McDonnell, H., Overs, B., Spiers, L., Stetter, M., Zitzer, H., Hart, A.G., 2012. Inferential and visual analysis of ethogram data using multivariate techniques. Animal Behaviour, 83, 563-569.
  • Goodenough, A.E., Hart, A.G., Stafford, R., 2012. Regression with Empirical Variable Selection: Description of a New Method and Application to Ecological Datasets. Plos One, 7.
  • Stafford, R., Davies, M.S., Williams, G.A., 2012. Cheats in a cooperative behaviour? Behavioural differences and breakdown of cooperative behaviour in aggregating, intertidal littorinids (Mollusca). Marine Ecology-an Evolutionary Perspective, 33, 66-74.
  • Williams, R.L., Goodenough, A.E., Stafford, R., 2012. Statistical precision of diet diversity from scat and pellet analysis. Ecological Informatics, 7, 30-34.
  • Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., Davies, M.S., 2011. Robustness of Self-Organised Systems to Changes in Behaviour: An Example from Real and Simulated Self-Organised Snail Aggregations. Plos One, 6.
  • Goodenough, A.E., Hart, A.G., Stafford, R., Elliot, S.L., 2011. Contrasting temporal changes in lay-date distributions in co-occurring populations of Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major. Bird Study, 58, 221-225.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Davies, M.S., Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., 2011. Mucus trail following as a mate-searching strategy in mangrove littorinid snails. Animal Behaviour, 82, 459-465.
  • Rees, S.G., Goodenough, A.E., Hart, A.G., Stafford, R., 2011. Testing the effectiveness of capture mark recapture population estimation techniques using a computer simulation with known population size. Ecological Modelling, 222, 3291-3294.
  • Stafford, R., Hart, A.G., Collins, L., Kirkhope, C.L., Williams, R.L., Rees, S.G., Lloyd, J.R., Goodenough, A.E., 2010. Eu-Social Science: The Role of Internet Social Networks in the Collection of Bee Biodiversity Data. Plos One, 5 (12), 1-7.
  • Stafford, R., Catlin-Groves, C.L., 2010. Open source E-learning in higher education: Problems, solutions and long-term sustainability of the approach. 2010 International Conference on Information Society I Society 2010, 479-480.
  • Kirkhope, C.L., Williams, R.L., Catlin-Groves, C.L., Rees, S.G., Montesanti, C., Jowers, J., Stubbs, H., Newberry, J., Hart, A.G., Goodenough, A.E., Stafford, R., 2010. Social networking for biodiversity: The BeeID project. 2010 International Conference on Information Society I Society 2010, 625-626.
  • Goodenough, A.E., Hart, A.G., Stafford, R., 2010. Is adjustment of breeding phenology keeping pace with the need for change? Linking observed response in woodland birds to changes in temperature and selection pressure. Climatic Change, 102, 687-697.
  • Goodenough, A.E., Stafford, R., Catlin-Groves, C.L., Smith, A.L., Hart, A.G., 2010. Within- and among-observer variation in measurements of animal biometrics and their influence on accurate quantification of common biometric-based condition indices. Annales Zoologici Fennici, 47, 323-334.
  • Hart, A.G., Stafford, R., Smith, A.L., Goodenough, A.E., 2010. Evidence for contemporary evolution during Darwin's lifetime. Current Biology, 20, R95.
  • Stafford, R., 2010. Crossing fitness valleys during the evolution of limpet homing behaviour. Central European Journal of Biology, 5, 274-282.
  • Stafford, R., Hart, A.G., Collins, L., Kirkhope, C.L., Williams, R.L., Rees, S.G., Lloyd, J.R., Goodenough, A.E., 2010. Eu-Social Science: The Role of Internet Social Networks in the Collection of Bee Biodiversity Data. Plos One, 5.
  • Catlin-Groves, C.L., Kirkhope, C.L., Goodenough, A.E., Stafford, R., 2009. Use of confidence radii to visualise significant differences in principal components analysis: Application to mammal assemblages at locations with different disturbance levels. Ecological Informatics, 4, 147-151.
  • Stafford, R., 2008. A computational approach to ecological and economic sustainable harvest management strategies in a multi-species context, with implications for cod recovery plans. Ecological Informatics, 3, 105-110.
  • Stafford, R., Davies, M.S., Williams, G.A., 2008. Parameterization and Prediction of Community Interaction Models Using Stable-State Assumptions and Computational Techniques: an Example From the High Rocky Intertidal. Biological Bulletin, 215, 155-163.
  • Stafford, R., Davies, M.S., Williams, G.A., 2008. Self-organization of intertidal snails facilitates evolution of aggregation behavior. Artificial Life, 14, 409-423.
  • Stafford, R., Davies, M.S., Williams, G.A., 2007. Computer simulations of high shore littorinids predict small-scale spatial and temporal distribution patterns on rocky shores. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 342, 151-161.
  • Stafford, R., Rind, F.C., 2007. Data mining neural spike trains for the identification of behavioural triggers using evolutionary algorithms. Neurocomputing, 70, 1079-1084.
  • Stafford, R., Santer, R.D., Rind, F.C., 2007. The role of behavioural ecology in the design of bio-inspired technology. Animal Behaviour, 74, 1813-1819.
  • Stafford, R., Santer, R.D., Rind, F.C., 2007. A bio-inspired visual collision detection mechanism for cars: Combining insect inspired neurons to create a robust system. Biosystems, 87, 164-171.
  • Santer, R.D., Rind, F.C., Stafford, R., Simmons, P.J., 2006. Role of an identified looming-sensitive neuron in triggering a flying locust's escape. Journal of Neurophysiology, 95, 3391-3400.
  • Stafford, R., 2006. Influence of gene-linkage and recombination of evolutionary algorithms on the rate of evolution, genetic diversity and the response of evolving populations to disturbance. Ecological Informatics, 1, 349-354.
  • Yue, S., Rind, F.C., Keil, M.S., Cuadri, J., Stafford, R., 2006. A bio-inspired visual collision detection mechanism for cars: Optimisation of a model of a locust neuron to a novel environment. Neurocomputing, 69, 1591-1598.
  • Stafford, R., Davies, M.S., 2005. Spatial patchiness of epilithic biofilm caused by refuge-inhabiting high shore gastropods. Hydrobiologia, 545, 279-287.
  • Santer, R.D., Stafford, R., Rind, F.C., 2004. Retinally-generated saccadic suppression of a locust looming-detector neuron: investigations using a robot locust. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 1, 61-77.
  • Attrill, M.J., Stafford, R., Rowden, A.A., 2001. Latitudinal diversity patterns in estuarine tidal flats: indications of a global cline. Ecography, 24, 318-324.

Chapters

  • Hall, A.E., Herbert, R.J.H., Stafford, R., Jones, G., Greenhill, S., Pinto, I.S., Reis, B., van der Linden, P., Boutouil, M., Sebaibi, N., Deboucha, W., Tuaty-Guerra, M., Lobo-Arteaga, J., Yoris-Nobile, A.I., Blanco-Fernandez, E., Castro-Fresno, D., Puente-Trueba, A., Guinda-Salsamendi, X., 2024. 3D printed habitat enhancement units: Key features to incorporate within multifunctional infrastructure. Coasts Marine Structures and Breakwaters 2023 Resilience and Adaptability in A Changing Climate. 969-984.
  • Cuadri, J., Linan, G., Stafford, R., Keil, M.S., Roca, E., 2005. A bioinspired collision detection algorithm for VLSI implementation. In: Carmona, R.A., LinanCembrano, G., eds. Bioengineered and Bioinspired Systems II. 238-248.
  • Stafford, R., Davies, M.S., 2005. Examining refuge location mechanisms in intertidal snails using artificial life simulation techniques. In: Capcarrere, M.S., Freitas, A.A., Bentley, P.J., Johnson, C.G., Timmis, J., eds. Advances in Artifical Life, Proceedings. 520-529.

Conferences

  • Hall, A., Herbert, R., Stafford, R., 2019. 3D Printed Artificial Reefs in the Atlantic Region (3DPARE). In: Young Coastal Scientists & Engineers Conference 14/05/2019 Glasgow, UK.
  • Herbert, R.J.H., Blanco Fernández, E., Boutouil, M., Guerra, M., Hall, A.E., Pinto, I.S., Stafford, R., Parham, D., Castro Fresno, D., 2018. Do Artificial Reefs have a role in the restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the NE Atlantic? In: International Marine Conservation Congress 5 22/06/2018 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
  • Stafford, R., 2017. Lack of evidence for ecological benefits of community involvement and governance of MPAs. In: Marine Protected Areas Conference 15/05/2017 Poole.
  • Jordan, A., Lowe, S., Haigh, N., Stafford, R., 2017. The Environment In The EU Post-Brexit (Panel Discussion). In: Environment After Brexit: Building an Agenda for UK Environmental Law and Business 11/04/2017 Bournemouth, UK.
  • Jordan, A., Lowe, S., Haigh, N., Stafford, R., 2017. The Environment In The EU Post-Brexit (Panel Discussion). In: Environment After Brexit: Building an Agenda for UK Environmental Law and Business 11/04/2017 Bournemouth, UK.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Lau, S.L.Y., Seuront, L., Davies, M.S., Stafford, R., Marshall, D.J., Williams, G.A., 2016. Linking behaviour and climate change: insights from intertidal snails. In: The 16th congress of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology 28/07/2016 Exeter, UK.
  • Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., Davies, M.S., 2016. In desiccating environments snail aggregation is adaptive because it lowers water loss. An analogy showing why this statement is very difficult to validate. In: World Congress of Malacology 18/07/2016 Penang, Malaysia.
  • Kragh, G., Stafford, R., Curtin, S., Diaz, A., 2016. Understanding motivations of citizen scientists. In: First International ECSA Conference 2016: Citizen Science – Innovation in Open Science, Society and Policy 19/05/2016 Berlin, Germany.
  • Kragh, G., Stafford, R., Curtin, S., Diaz, A., 2015. Understanding volunteers in ecology: relationships between motivation, well-being and project outcomes. In: BES Annual Meeting 13/12/2015 Edinburgh, UK.
  • Stafford, R., Spiers, E.K.A., 2015. Predators reduce carbon production in multi-trophic level marine ecosystems. In: British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 13/12/2015 Edinburgh, UK.
  • Stafford, R., 2015. Using Python for ecological models. In: BES Annual Meeting 13/12/2015 Edinburgh, UK.
  • Kragh, G., Stafford, R., Curtin, S., Diaz, A., 2015. Understanding participants in citizen science: relationships between motivation, well-being and project outcomes. In: Science for the environment 01/10/2015 Aarhus, Denmark.
  • Stafford, R., 2015. An integrated approach to marine ecosystem management in mainland Ecuador/ Un enfoque integrado de la gestión de los ecosistemas marinos en el Ecuador continental. In: Marine Biodiversity and Conservation 03/09/2015 Santa Elena, Ecuador.
  • Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., Davies, M.S., 2015. Understanding decision-making and evolution in marine snails using computational techniques. In: Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conference 30/08/2015 Liverpool, UK.
  • Stafford, R., Ginige, T., 2015. Embedding predictive tools into marine environmental management policy and legislation. In: International Conference on Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation of Marine Ecosystems 2015 01/06/2015 The University of Hong Kong.
  • Ng, T.P.T., Saltin, S.H., Davies, M.S., Johannesson, K., Stafford, R., Williams, G.A., 2014. Sex on the beach: a cocktail of behavioural repertoires which drive size-assortative mating in rocky shore littorinids. In: 10th International Temperate Reef Symposium 12/01/2014 Perth, Australia.
  • Stafford, R., Ng., P.T.T., Williams, G.A., Davies, M.S., 2014. Adaptive Physiology at a local scale, and implications for species distribution models under climate change scenarios. In: Estuarine Coastal Sciences Association 54th Conference. 12/05/2014 Sesimbra, Portugal.
  • Stafford, R., Williams, R.L., Herbert, R.J.H., 2014. Creating predictive models of community structure and change in marine systems by combining sparse data and expert opinion. In: Estuarine Coastal Sciences Association 54th Conference. 11/05/2014 Sesimbra, Portugal.
  • Stafford, R., Gardner, E., 2013. Synthesising diverse and sparse data in ecology. In: INTECOL 2013 18/08/2013 London.
  • Stafford, R., 2012. Re-inventing the wheel: changing scientists', rather than the public's, attitudes to ecological data collection. In: European Congress on Conservation Biology 03/09/2012 Glasgow.

Reports

Internet Publications

Posters

  • Bone, J., Hall, A., Herbert, R., Stafford, R., 2019. Artificial rock pools for ecological enhancement of coastal infrastructure (MARINEFF). In: Institute of Civil Engineers Coastal Management 2019.
  • Hall, A., Herbert, R., Stafford, R., 2019. 3D Printed Artificial Reefs in the Atlantic Region (3DPARE). In: ICE Coastal Management 2019.

Preprints

  • Dominguez Almela, V., Croker, A., Stafford, R., 2024. Creating simple predictive models in ecology, conservation and environmental policy based on Bayesian belief networks.
  • Capuzzo, E., Hemming, V., Grebe, G., Stafford, R., Burg, S.V.D., Wood, D., Watson, G., Wells, V., Johnson, T., Erbs, S., Hal, J.V., Binnerts, B., Collins, A., Howe, C., O´Shea, R., 2023. Use of Conceptual Mapping in the Offshore Multiuse Setting: Implications for complex biosystems development.
  • Jones, E.-A., Paige, L.M., Smith, A., Worth, A.D., Betts, L., Stafford, R., 2023. Assessing Carbon Sequestration Rates from Conservation Management: Price and Potential for Multi-Habitat Nature-Based Carbon Sequestration in Dorset, UK.
  • Stafford, R., Boakes, Z., Hall, A., Jones, G., 2021. The role of predator removal by fishing on ocean carbon dynamics.
  • Jones, E.-A., Stafford, R., 2021. Neoliberalism and the Environment: Are We Aware Of Appropriate Action to Save the Planet and Do We Think We Are Doing Enough?
  • Reis, B., van der Linden, P., Sousa Pinto, I., Almada, E., Borges, M.T., Hall, A., Stafford, R., Herbert, R.J.H., Lobo-Arteaga, J., Gaudêncio, M.J., Tuaty-Guerra, M., Ly, O., Georges, V., Audo, M., Sebaibi, N., Boutouil, M., Blanco-Fernandez, E., Franco, J., 2021. Artificial Reefs in the North-East Atlantic Area: Present Situation, Knowledge Gaps and Future Perspectives.

Others

  • Ginige, T., Green, I., Demir, M., Cindrak, R., Bowen, H., Cope, R., McMullen, J., Stafford, R., 2021. Environment Bill 2020: Smoke and Mirrors. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmpublic/Environment/memo/EB51.htm: Parliament. Published online.

Grants

  • Restoring Coral Reefs in Bali (Earthwatch Institute, 01 Apr 2023). Awarded
  • Restoring Coral Reefs in Bali (Earthwatch Institute, 01 Apr 2023). Awarded
  • Survey, taxonomic and data analysis skills in aquatic ecology (NERC, 01 Nov 2013). Awarded
  • MARINEFF - MARine INfrastructures EFFects (European Commission). Awarded
  • Artificial Reef 3D Printing for Atlantic Area (European Commission). Awarded
  • Synthesising, analysing and interpreting diverse evidence and data in marine conservation and marine protected area management. (Natural Environment Research Council [2006-2012]). Awarded

Qualifications

  • PGCHE in Higher Education Teaching (Univeristy of Gloucestershire, 2008)
  • PhD in Marine Ecology and Ecological Modelling (University of Sunderland, 2002)
  • BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology (Plymouth University, 1999)

Memberships

  • Society for Conservation Biology, Member (2012-),
  • British Ecological Society, Member (2008-),
The data on this page was last updated at 22:00 on February 14, 2026.