Area of Work

I am the Principal Scientist for Offshore Renewables and lead the Offshore Renewables Group. We research the effects of offshore renewable developments on seabirds and marine mammals. We work with academics, industry, and government on long-term research projects and prioritised projects developing software tools for Environmental Impact Assessment. My research interests are in spatial statistics, movement modelling, and applied ecology. I have a background in implementing novel methods to investigate the spatial and movement ecology of marine top predators, working on large datasets of tracking, environmental, and biological data. Part of my role within BioSS focuses on business development activities, supporting the development of our research strategy.

Publications

1. De Souza, N, Newman, K., Jones, E.L., Green, J., Donovan, C., Butler, A. (2026) Effects of displacement from Offshore Renewable Developments in the non-breeding season (DisNBS). WP3 Quantifying Uncertainty. Report to ORJIP.
2. Jones, E.L., Hague, A., Skeate, E.R., Perrow, M.R., Searle, K.R., Scott-Hayward, L.A., Couto, A., Daunt, F., Miller, S., Delacombe, K., Wooldridge, T. & Butler, A. (2025) Synthesis of Evidence - Closing the Loop: Feasibility study to determine a feedback approach for post-consent monitoring to reduce consenting risk in future assessments. BioSS/The James Hutton Institute. Link
3. Hague, A., Skeate, E., Miller, S., Wooldridge, T., Delacombe, K., Butler, A., Jones, E.L. (2025). Summary Report of Stakeholder Interviews – Closing the Loop: Feasibility study to determine a feedback approach for post-consent monitoring to reduce consenting risk in future assessments. BioSS/The James Hutton Institute. Link
4. Hague, A., Couto, A., Miller, S., Wooldridge, T., Delacombe, K., Butler, A., Jones, E.L. (2025). Summary report of focused group workshop - Closing the Loop: Feasibility study to determine a feedback approach for post-consent monitoring to reduce consenting risk in future assessments. BioSS/The James Hutton Institute. Link
5. Jones, E.L., Hague, A., Booth, C, Skeate, E.R., Perrow, M.R., Searle, K.R., Scott-Hayward, L.A., Couto, A., Daunt, F., Miller, S., Lorenzo-Arribas, A.L.A, Hull, S., Sparling, C.E., Hastie, G.D., Delacombe, K. & Butler, A. (2025) Recommendations and Roadmap – Closing the Loop: Feasibility study to determine a feedback approach for post-consent monitoring to reduce consenting risk in future assessments. BioSS/The James Hutton Institute. Link
6. Jones, E.L., Hague, A., Booth, C, Skeate, E.R., Perrow, M.R., Searle, K.R., Scott-Hayward, L.A., Couto, A., Daunt, F., Miller, S., Lorenzo-Arribas, A.L.A, Hull, S., Sparling, C.E., Hastie, G.D., Delacombe, K. & Butler, A. (2025) Recommendations and Roadmap – Closing the Loop: Feasibility study to determine a feedback approach for post-consent monitoring to reduce consenting risk in future assessments. BioSS/The James Hutton Institute. Link
7. Butler, A., Jones, E.L. (2025) Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments (AssESs): Project Executive Summary. Link
8. Furness, R.W., Searle, K., Daunt, F., Jones, E.L., Delacombe, K. and Butler, A. (2025). Uncertainty and approaches to evaluating uncertainty (WP1). AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments. The Carbon Trust. Link
9. Butler, A., Matthiopoulos, J., Lorenzo-Arribas, Searle, K., Delacombe, K. and Jones, E.L. (2025) Summary report of sensitivity analysis (WP2). AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments. The Carbon Trust. Link
10. Hague, A., Miller, S.C., Jones, E.L., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Delacombe, K. and Butler, A. (2025). Summary report of stakeholder engagement (WP3). AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments. The Carbon Trust. Link
11. Butler, A., Lorenzo-Arribas, A.L.A., Hague, A., Searle, K., Daunt, F., Furness, R.W., Matthiopoulos, J., Miller, S.C., Couto, A.S., Delacombe, K. and Jones, E.L. (2025) Recommendations and Roadmap (WP4). AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments. The Carbon Trust. Link
12. Bogdanova, M.I…., Jones, E.L., McCluskie A. & Daunt, F. (2025) Seabird GPS tracking in 2023 in relation to offshore wind farms in the Forth/Tay region. Report to EDF Renewables and SSE Renewables, NG-CEH-ECF-REP-0009. Issue 1.3
13. Whyte, K, Duncan, R., Bogdanova, M.I., Buckingham, L., Bennett, S., Franklin, K., Searle, K.R., Green, J., Daunt, F., Jones, E.L., Butler, A. (2025). Evidence of Offshore Wind – Lot 2: Auk foraging ecology in the non-breeding season (Aukestra): 1st analysis report. Issue number 1.1. 19/03/25
14. Bogdanova, M.I., Furness, R.W., Buckingham, L., Jones, E.L. et al. Evidence of Offshore Wind - Lot 2: Auk foraging ecology in the non-breeding season (Aukestra): 2nd tag deployment, data collection and analysis plan. (2025) Issue number 1.1. 19/03/25
15. ECOWINGS topic sheet 01. (2025) Compensatory measures for Offshore Wind Farm impacts on seabirds. (Mar-25) ECOWINGS_TopicSheet01_FINAL.pdf
16. Production of Cumulative Effects Framework for Key Ecological Receptors. (2025) Searle, K. R., D. C. Mobbs, Jones, E. L. et al. Report to Marine Scotland
17. Akeresola, R. A., Butler, A., Jones, E. L., King, R., Elvira, V., Black, J., & Robertson, G. (2024). Validating hidden Markov models for seabird behavioural inference. Ecology and Evolution, 14(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11116
18. Jones, E.L., Whyte, K., Mobbs, D., Searle, K.R., Butler, A., Couto, A., Cook, A.S.C.P, Thaxter, C., Buckingham, L., Bogdanova, M.I., Daunt, F. (2024) Apportioning seabirds seen-at-sea (AppSaS): Apportioning in the non-breeding season tool (ANBS). User Guide to the ANBS tool. Report to ORJIP. Link
19. Daunt, F., Jones, E.L., Cook, A.S.C.P, Thaxter, C., Buckingham, L., Whyte, K., Ewing, D., Mobbs, D., Couto, A., Bogdanova, M.I., Searle, K.R., Butler, A. (2024). AppSaS – Apportioning seabirds seen-at-sea - Project executive summary, Report to ORJIP. Link
20. Butler, A. Buckingham, L., Thaxter, C., Jones, E.L., Whyte, K., Cook, A.S.C.P., Bogdanova, M.I., Ewing, D.,    Searle, K.R., Daunt, F. (2024) AppSaS – Apportioning seabirds seen-at-sea WP3 – Method evaluation, Report to ORJIP. Link
21. Jones, E.L., Whyte, K., Mobbs, D., Searle, K.R., Butler, A., Couto, A., Cook, A., Thaxter, C., Buckingham, L., Bogdanova, M.I. & Daunt, F. Feb-24. AppSaS – Apportioning seabirds seen-at-sea WP4 – Tool development, Report to ORJIP Link
22. PrePARED (2024). PrePARED – The First Two Years. Report from the PrePARED Annual Knowledge Exchange Meeting 2024 (AKEM24). PrePARED Report No. 3, April 2024 Link
23. Bogdanova, M.I.,…, Jones E.L.,… Daunt, F.  (2023) Evidence of Offshore Wind - Lot 2 - Auk Foraging Ecology in the Non-Breeding: tag deployment, data collection and analysis plan
24. Bogdanova, M.I…., Jones, E.L., McCluskie A. & Daunt, F. (2024) Seabird behaviour and space use at sea: implications for interactions with offshore wind farms. Report to EDF Renewables and SSE Renewables, NG-CEH-ECF-REP-0008. Issue 1.3
25. Searle, K.R., O’Brien, S.H., Jones, E.L., Cook, A.S.C.P., Trinder, M.N., McGregor, R.M., Donovan, C., McCluskie, A., Daunt, F. & Butler, A. (2023) Resolving uncertainty: a framework for improving treatment of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments for protected marine birds, ICES J. Mar. Sc. 82:4 https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsad025
26. Bogdanova, M.I..., Jones, E.L., McCluskie A. & Daunt, F. (2022) Seabird GPS tracking on the Isle of May, Fowlsheugh and St Abbs Head in 2021 in relation to offshore wind farms in the Forth/Tay region. Report to EDF Renewables and SSE Renewables, NNG-CEH-ECF-REP-0004
27. Mendo, T…Jones, E.L., James, M.A. (2022) Assessing discards in an illegal small-scale fishery using fisher-led reporting. Rev. Fish. Biol. Fisheries https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-022-09708-9
28. O’Hanlon, N.J…Jones, E.L. et al (2021) Feasibility study of large-scale deployment of colour-ringing on black-legged kittiwake populations to improve the realism of demographic models assessing the population impacts of offshore wind farms. Peterborough, JNCC Report no. 684, p116
29. Searle, K.R., Jones, E.L., Trinder, M., McGregor, R., Donovan, C., Cook, A., Daunt, F., Humphries, L., Masden, E., McCluskie, A. & Butler, A. 2021. JNCC Report on the Correct treatment of uncertainty in ornithological assessments. JNCC Report No. 677, JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.
30. Searle, K. R., Jones, E.L., Bogdanova, M., Wilson, L., Bolton, M., Elston, D., Fang, Z., Daunt, F. & Butler, A. (2021) Study to examine the feasibility of extending SeabORD to the entire breeding season. Report to Marine Scotland Science, ISSN: 2043-7722
31. Ewing D, Jones E.L. & Butler A. (2020). Baseline monthly seabird densities in the Marr & Berwick Banks offshore wind farms using aerial survey data.          
32. James, M., Mendo, T., Jones, E.L., Orr, K., McKnight, A. & Thompson, J. (2018). AIS data to inform small scale fisheries management and marine spatial planning. Marine Policy, 91, 113-121, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.02.012
33. Hanson, N., Jones, E.L. & Harris, R.N. (2018) Multi-decadal and ontogenetic trophic shifts inferred from stable isotope ratios of pinniped teeth. Oikos, 127, 1, 134-146, https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.04441
34. Russell, D.J.F., Jones E.L. & Morris, C.D. (2017) Updated Seal Usage Maps: The estimated at-sea distribution of grey and harbour seals. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science, 8, 25. https://doi.org/10.7489/2027-1
35. Jones, E.L., Sparling, C.E., McConnell, B.J., Morris, C. & Smout, S. (2017) Fine-scale harbour seal usage for informed marine spatial planning. Scientific Reports, 7(11581), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11174-4
36. Jones, E.L., Hastie, G.D., Smout, S., Onoufriou, J., Merchant, N.D., Brookes, K.L., & Thompson, D. (2017) Seals and shipping: quantifying population risk and individual exposure to vessel noise. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54, 6, 1930-1940, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12911
37. Jones, E.L., Smout, S., Russell, D.J.F., Pinn, E., & McConnell, B.J. (2017) Review of analytical approaches for identifying usage and foraging areas at sea for harbour seals. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
38. Jones, E.L. & Russell, D.J.F. (2017) Updated grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) usage maps in the North Sea. Department of Energy and Climate Change.
39. Jones, E.L., Smout, S., Blight, C.J., Sparling, C.E., & McConnell, B.J. (2016) Fine-scale harbour seal at-sea usage around Orkney and the North coast of Scotland. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science, 7, 27. Marine Scotland. https://doi.org/10.7489/1876-1
40. Russell, D.J.F., Hastie, G.D., Thompson, D., Janik, V.M., Hammond, P.S., Scott-Hayward, L.A.S., Matthiopoulos, J., Jones, E.L. & McConnell, B.J. (2016) Avoidance of wind farms by harbour seals is limited to pile driving activities. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 6, 1642-1652. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12678
41. Jones, E.L., Rendell, L.E., Pirotta, E., & Long, J.A. (2016) Novel application of a quantitative spatial comparison tool to species distribution data. Ecological Indicators, 70, 67-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.05.051
42. Jones, E.L., Morris, C.D., Smout, S., & McConnell, B.J. (2016) Population scaling in 5 km x 5 km grey and harbour seal usage maps. Note to Scottish Government MMSS/002/15. Marine Scotland.
43. Onoufriou, J., Jones, E.L., Hastie, G.D., & Thompson, D. (2016) Investigations into the interactions between harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and vessels in the inner Moray Firth. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science, 74, 24. https://doi.org/10.7489/1805-1
44. Jones, E.L., Smout, S., Morris, C.D., & McConnell, B.J. (2015) Determine data sparse regions. Report to Marine Scotland MMSS/001/11 MR 5.1. Marine Scotland.
45. Jones, E.L., Smout, S., & McConnell, B.J. (2015) Determine environmental covariates for usage preference around the UK. Report to Marine Scotland MMSS/001/11 MR 5.1.6. Marine Scotland.
46. Jones, E.L., Onoufriou, J., Thompson, D., & Smout, S. (2015) Examining the distribution of observed carcasses to identify biological and oceanographic patterns and distribution of potential causes to assess the patterns of risk associated with unexplained seal deaths. (Report to Scottish Government; No. USD 4). University of St Andrews.
47. Jones, E.L., McConnell, B.J., Sparling, C.E., & Matthiopoulos, J. (2015) Produce, publish and maintain seal usage maps with confidence intervals. Report to Marine Scotland MMSS/001/11 MR 5.1. Marine Scotland, https://doi.org/10.7489/1672-1
48. Jones, E.L., Smout, S., & McConnell, B.J. (2015) Review the extent of how new survey data affect usage estimates. Report to Marine Scotland MMSS/001/11 MR 5.1. Marine Scotland.
49. Jones, E.L., McConnell, B.J., Smout, S., Hammond, P.S., Duck, C.D., Morris, C.D., Thompson, D., Russell, D.J.F., Vincent, C., Cronin, M., Sharples, R.J. & Matthiopoulos, J. (2015. Patterns of space use in sympatric marine colonial predators reveals scales of spatial partitioning. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 534, 235-249, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11370
50. Huon, M., Jones, E.L., Matthiopoulos, J., McConnell, B.J., Caurant, F., & Vincent, C. (2015) Habitat selection of gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in a marine protected area in France. Journal of Wildlife Management, 79, 7, 1091-1100, https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.929
51. Russell, D.J.F., McClintock, B.T., Matthiopoulos, J., Thompson, P., Thompson, D, Hammond, P.S. Jones, E.L., MacKenzie, M., Moss, S. & McConnell, B.J. (2015) Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of activity budgets in sympatric grey and harbour seals. Oikos, 124, 11, 1462-1472, https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.01810
52. Jones, E.L., & Matthiopoulos, J. (2013) Hornsea Offshore Wind Farm Project One: Environmental Statement Volume 5 – Offshore Annexes. Smart Wind Limited.
53. Jones, E.L., McConnell, B.J., Duck, C.D., Morris, C.D., Hammond, P.S., & Russell, D.J.F. (2012) Marine distribution of grey & harbour seals around the UK. Special Committee on Seals (12/06). Sea Mammal Research Unit.
54. Sparling, C.E., Russell, D.J.F., Jones, E.L., Grellier, K., Lonergan, M., McConnell, B.J., ... Thompson, D. (2012) Baseline Seal Information for the FTWODG Area. SMRUL-FDG-2012-0 to FTOWDG. SMRU Consulting.
55. Russell, D.J.F., Jones, E.L., Matthiopoulos, J., Duck, C.D., Morris, C.D., & McConnell, B.J. (2011) SMRU seal telemetry data holdings: Special Committee on Seals. Sea Mammal Research Unit.
56. Jones, E.L., & Matthiopoulos, J. (2011) Grey seal usage maps for MORL/BOWL developments - Phase 2 delivery. SMRU Consulting.