Employment

Post Doctoral Research Assistant, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban, 2003 The effect of commercial aquaculture acoustic devices (CAADs) on Scottish marine wildlife. The impact of the Artificial reef on harbour porpoises Rearing protocols for Atlantic Halibut larvae during transition from endogenous to exogenous nutrition.

Researcher, BBC/John Downer Productions Ltd., Bristol, 1998 Sole researcher for BBC "Wildlife on One Special": Spy in the Den - Lions of the Serengeti (Boulder Cam Episode). Worked also on an episode of the "Supernatural" series.

Guest Investigator, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), 1997 - 1998 Researched the occurrence of stereotyped call sequences in a captive killer whale's (Orcinus orca) repertoire, in relation to wild killer whale pod-specific calls (PI: Dr. William Watkins).
Participated in second leg of the US Navy-funded Low Frequency Active (LFA) research project in Central California which assessed the effects of naval low frequency anti-submarine detection sonar on the behaviour of grey whales, Eschrichtius robustus, (PI: Dr. Peter Tyack).

Research Assistant, University of Durham, 1996
Based on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, south Wales. Studied the effects of the Sea Empress oil spill on the breeding ecology of kittiwakes, Rissa tridactyla, (supervised by Dr. Keith Hamer). Funding provided by Dyfed Wildlife Trust and the Texaco Oil Company.

Field Researcher, Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), Galápagos, 1995 -1996 Museum work: a complete taxonomic revision of the fish specimens in the CDRS museum.
Participated in three (one-week) marine biodiversity cruises aboard R/V Beagle. Work included scientific diving, underwater transect/collection work for fish and holothurians etc. Took part in a five-week cruise. Leg. I. Scientific Observer on R/V Seward Johnson (Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, FL). Monitored deep-sea sample collections around the Galápagos archipelago. Descended in Johnson Sea-Link submersible three times (PI: Dr. John McCosker). Leg II. Filming/diving with Discovery Channel team with Al Giddings.

Biologist, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Bonn, 1995 The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals or "Bonn Convention". Work included a detailed review of the status of small cetaceans in the Baltic (e.g. ASCOBANS) and the preparation of various Memoranda of Understandings for protected bird species such as the slender-billed curlew and the Great bustard.

Consultant Biologist, The Society of Protection of Marine Mammals, Hamburg, 1994-1995
Compiled Technical reports such as the status of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Baltic, general biological translation work etc. Occasional office work for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Volunteer, IFAW, 1994 (June-Aug) Based in Mediterranean (Ligurian) Sea. Participated in research on the fin (Balaenoptera edeni) and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) populations, on board the Song of the Whale (PI: Dr. Jonathan Gordon).

Education

Ph.D. Ecology, 1998-2002, University of Leeds, School of Biology
Aspects of the ecology of Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii), the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), the soprano pipistrelle (P. pygmaeus) and their potential prey in relation to altitude.

M.Sc. Oceanography, 1996-1997, WHOI/Southampton Oceanography Centre (SOC) Thesis (Distinction): Acoustics of the killer whale, Orcinus orca.

B.Sc. Hons. Marine Biology, 1991-1994, University of Liverpool
Thesis (Distinction): Interspecific and intraspecific aggression in the sea anemones of the British Isles, recently published in MEPS.

Further Skills & Qualifications

- UKOOA & Norwegian offshore medical certificate (exp. 09/07)
- Universal OPITO/OLF basic survival certificate (exp. 09/07)
- HSE PART IV Commercial (Scuba); PADI Divemaster (CMAS ***); PADI Rescue Diver;   British Sub-Aqua Club Dive leader (>400 dives logged). BSAC Assistant Club Instructor.
- Languages: German (fluent), Spanish (rusty-fluent), basic French, Latin and modern Greek.
- National Safety Council (USA) Advanced First Aid, CPR and Oxygen Administration certified   and HSE First Aid at Work (Current).
- British Trust for Ornithology trainee bird ringing permit
- VHF marine radio operator licence.
- Full (clean) British driving licence.

Prizes/Achievements

- 2004 Highlands and Islands Business Start-up Grant (£3500) and diving award (£2000).
- 2003 Scottish Association for Marine Science Bursary Award: Effects of artificial reef installation on harbour porpoises.
- 1996 Southampton University Masters 'Student of the Year' for the SOC web home page.
- 1994 Bild und Umwelt (German newspaper) conservation prize for Norwegian orca work.
- 1991 Edward Forbes prize for Marine Biology top student in year, University of Liverpool

Publications

Published/In Press (Peer-reviewed)

Lepper, P. A., V. L. G. Turner, A. D. Goodson, and K. D. Black (2004). Source levels and spectra emitted by three commercial aquaculture anti-predation devices. Proceedings of the Seventh European conference on Underwater Acoustics, ECUA. Delft, the Netherlands, 5-8th July.

Turner, V. L. G., Lynch, S. M., Paterson, L., León-Cortés, J. L. & Thorpe, J. P. (2003). Aggression as a function of genetic relatedness in the sea anemone Actinia equina (Anthozoa:Actiniaria). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 247: 85-92.

Published (Non Peer-Reviewed)

Turner, V. L. G. (2001a). Killer whale facts. Mammalaction News, 94: 5-6.

Turner, V. L. G. (2001b). Sexual segregation and differential habitat use by Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii) in Wharfedale. National Trust Nature Conservation 6 (1):7-8.

K. C. Hamer & Turner, V. L. G. (1997). The breeding ecology of kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) on Skomer Island: the effects of the Sea Empress oil spill. The Island Naturalist, 33: 3-5.

Published (Popular)

Turner, V. L. G. 1998. Tales from the Bush - "What Darwin Never Saw" BBC Wildlife Magazine

Graner, F., and Turner, V. L. G. 1994. Songs of the Sea. Killer whale recordings from Arctic Norway. Free cassette with the BBC Wildlife Magazine.

In Prep 2005:

Lepper, P. A., and Turner, V. L. G. Source level and signal classification of four makes of commercial aquaculture acoustic devices in field conditions. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

Turner, V. L. G., D. A. Waters, and C. Vollrath (2004). Strategy switching in trawling bats and the evolution of gaffing. Acta Chiroptologica.

Turner, V. L. G., J. L. León-Cortés, and D. A. Waters. In Prep. The distribution and abundance of insects and bats (Myotis daubentonii Kuhl 1819, Pipistrellus pipistrellus Kuhl 1819, P. pygmaeus Leach 1825 and Nyctalus spp. Schreber 1774) in relation to small-scale variations in riparian habitat. Canadian Journal of Zoology.

Turner, V. L. G. The vocal underwater repertoire of a captive Icelandic killer whale (Orcinus orca) - evidence of vocal mimicry? Bioacoustics.

Technical Reports

Turner, V. L. G. 1994. Summary of current research into the interaction of cetaceans with non-passive gillnets, with emphasis on the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Report for die Gesellschaft zum Schutz der Meeresäugetiere, Hamburg.