Dr Richard Noble

Researcher

Hull International Fisheries Institute

Department of Biological Sciences

The University of Hull
HU6 7RX UK
Tel: +44 (0)1482 466429

Fax: +44 (0)1482 465458

Email: R.A.Noble@hull.ac.uk

Research Interests

I have a diverse research interest in the field of fish ecology and environmental management. My research includes: fisheries science; the role of fish communities in wetland conservation; ecological assessment of rivers and lakes using fish assemblages; the role of hydro-morphology in structuring fish communities and population dynamics; and the management and rehabilitation of aquatic environments for fish. In addition to this I have developed an interest in qualitative reasoning modelling in ecology and the role conceptual modelling can play in the enhancement of environmental science education.

Brief CV

I came to Hull to study my degree in Aquatic Ecology and have stayed here ever since. After my degree I was lucky enough to undertake a PhD for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds studying the dynamics of fish communities in wetland nature reserves and the role they could play in the conservation management of the bittern. Following my PhD I was employed as a researcher in the Hull International Fisheries Institute (HIFI), a specialist research group in the Department of Biological Science.

During my time in HIFI I have been involved in a number of projects linked to the conservation of species and rehabilitation of rivers in the UK. Many of these projects have been collaborative research with, or consultancy funded by, the Environment Agency and national conservation bodies.  I have been recently involved in undertaking conservation condition assessments for lamprey species, shad species, bullhead and salmon in many of the rivers designated as SACs in England and Wales. 

My recent activities have also included research concerning the ecological assessment requirements associated with the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and Habitats Directive. This work has included the pan-European EFI+ (6th Framework) and FAME (5th Framework) EU projects which developed a standardised fish-based method for ecological assessment of European rivers.  These projects involved consortia of institutions including many leading European Universities and national government research bodies.

I am also involved in research projects exploring artificial intelligence based qualitative modelling of ecological systems. This work has involved international collaboration in two EU funded projects.  Firstly, the 6th Framework, NATURNET-REDIME project that developed qualitative modelling of concepts in ecosystems and sustainable development, contributing towards implementing the European Union’s Strategy for Sustainable Development.  Secondly, the 7th Framework DynaLearn project that is developing engaging and informed tools for learning conceptual system knowledge about environmental sciences.  This project is aimed at developing educational materials and software for secondary and university level education focused on learning by modelling in environmental sciences.

As a member of the Department of Biological Sciences I am involved in delivering aspects of the applied ecology and fisheries modules to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. I am also involved in student supervision and tutorials.

In addition to my work at the university I am actively involved in the Institute of Fisheries Management (the leading professional body in the fisheries sector) and a Chartered Environmentalist with the Society for the Environment. Within the Institute of Fisheries Management I have become involved in developing and delivering local workshops and training courses for fisheries managers.

Selected Publications

Noble, R. A. A., Bredeweg, B., Linnebank, F., Salles, P., Cowx, I. G. (2009). A qualitative model of limiting factors for a salmon life cycle in the context of river rehabilitation. Ecological Informatics 4, 299-319.

Acreman, M., Dunbar, M., Hannaford, J., Mountford, O., Wood, P., Holmes, N., Cowx, I. G., Noble, R. A. A., Extence, C., Aldrick, J., King, J., Black, A. & Crookhall, D. (2008). Developing environmental standards for abstractions from UK rivers to implement the EU Water Framework Directive. Hydrological Sciences Journal 53, 1105-1120.

Bredeweg, B., Salles, P., Bouwer, A., Liem, J., Nuttle, T., Cioaca, E., Nakova, E., Noble, R. A. A., Caldas, A. L. R., Uzunov, Y., Varadinova, E. & Zitek, A. (2008). Towards a structured approach to building qualitative reasoning models and simulations. Ecological Informatics 3, 1-12.

Noble R. A. A., Cowx I. G. & Starkie A. (2007). Development of fish-based methods for the assessment of ecological status in English and Welsh rivers. Fisheries Management and Ecology 14, 495-508.

Pont, D., Hugueny, B., Beier, U., Goffaux, D., Melcher, A., Noble, R. A. A., Rogers, C., Roset, N. & Schmutz, S. (2006). Assessing river biotic condition at the continental scale: a European approach using functional metrics and fish assemblages. Journal of Applied Ecology 43, 70-80.

More publications

Teaching

External links

Institute of Fisheries Management

Society for the Environment

DynaLearn Project

EFI+ Project

FAME Project