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Professor Peter Williams

Emeritus Professor

pjlw@bangor.ac.uk

–

Professor Peter Williams

View Professor Peter Williams’s profile on the Bangor Research Portal

Overview

I joined the Bangor University as Professor of Marine Biology, later to be Professor of Marine Biogeochemistry. My original training was as an industrial biochemist but on graduating I rightly came to the view that oceanography offered more interesting challenges than food technology. My entry into oceanography was enabled by a Post Doctorate fellowship at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. From there I moved to the then just formed department of Oceanography at Southampton University; where I remained for some 17 years. Then followed 2 year spells at the Bigelow Lab in Maine and as Professor of Marine Microbiology at the University of Gothenburg, before taking up the post at Bangor. On retirement I was awarded emeritus professor status.

Additional Contact Information

E-mail: oss074@bangor.ac.uk

ResearchGate

Research Interests

My initial research interest was in the dynamics of DOC and its composition as food for marine bacteria. This led me to be one of a group of people who drove through the new and the present paradigm of the role of bacteria in the planktonic food web. From this my interest broadened to overall heterotrophic metabolism - respiration. To enable this work I developed an ultra high precision analytical method for the analysis of oxygen concentrations in seawater and the group I assembled became leaders in this field. This work led on to the question of the balance of metabolism (photosynthesis versus respiration) in the oceans and I played a leading role in the debate over purported ocean heterotrophy. Recently, I have developed an interest on the physiology and biochemistry of micro-algae in relation to their potential for biomass and biofuel production. 

I have co-edited and published a number of books, the most recent being: Phytoplankton Productivity: Carbon Assimilation in Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems" (2002), "Respiration in Aquatic Ecosystems" (2005) and "Marine Ecology - Processes, Systems, and Impacts" (2005). 

I have an interest in the interplay between art and science and organised a highly successful Art Exhibition "Plankton as an Artistic Inspiration" at the Feb 2007 Ocean Sciences Meeting of the American Society for Limnology and Oceanography in Santa Fe.

Publications

2016

  • PublishedVisionary, heretic, genius or charlatan? The remarkable Ernst Haeckel
    Evans, D., Gruber, E. & Williams, P., 5 Aug 2016, In: Ocean Challenge. 21, 2, p. 28 37 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2015

  • PublishedArt forms from the Abyss: Ernst Haeckel's images from the HMS Challenger Expedition
    Williams, P. J. L., Evans, D. W., Roberts, D. J. & Thomas, D. N., 1 Sept 2015, 1 ed. Munich, London New York: Prestel Publishing Ltd. 143 p.
    Research output: Book/Report › Book

2007

  • PublishedMetabolic response of oligotrophic plankton communities to deep water nutrient enrichment.
    McAndrew, P. M., Bjorkman, K. M., Church, M. J., Morris, P. J., Jachowski, N., Williams, P. J. & Karl, D. M., 5 Mar 2007, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 332, p. 63-75
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedPartitioning of organic production in marine plankton communities: The effects of inorganic nutrient ratios and community composition on new dissolved organic matter.
    Conan, P., Sondergaard, M., Kragh, T., Thingstad, F., Pujo-Pay, M., Williams, P. J., Markager, S., Cauwet, G., Borch, N. H., Evans, D., Evans, D. & Riemann, B., 15 Mar 2007, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 52, 2, p. 753-765
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2006

  • PublishedAn Appreciation of Alfred C. Redfield and his Scientific Work.
    Williams, P. J., 1 Dec 2006, In: Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin. 15, 1, p. 53-70
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedProkaryotic respiration and production in the meso- and bathypelagic realm of the eastern and western North Atlantic basin.
    Reinthaler, T., Van Aken, H., Veth, C., Aristegui, J., Robinson, C., Williams, P. J., Lebaron, P. & Herndl, G. J., 1 May 2006, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 51, 3, p. 1262-1273
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2005

  • PublishedMarine Ecology: Processes, Systems, and Impacts
    Kaiser, M., Attrill, M., Jennings, S., Thomas, D. N., Barnes, D., Brierley, A. S., Polunin, N., Raffaelli, D. & Williams, P. J., 1 Jan 2005, 2005 ed. Oxford University Press.
    Research output: Book/Report › Book
  • PublishedRespiration and its measurement in surface marine waters
    Robinson, C., Williams, P. J., Del Giorgio, P. A. (Editor) & Williams, P. J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2005, Respiration in Aquatic Ecosystems. 2005 ed. Oxford University Press, p. 147-180
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedRespiration in Aquatic Ecosystems
    Del Giorgio, P. A. (Editor) & Williams, P. J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2005, 2005 ed. Oxford University Press.
    Research output: Book/Report › Book
  • PublishedRespiration in aquatic ecosystems: from single cells to the biosphere
    Del Giorgio, P. A., Williams, P. J. & Williams, P. J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2005, Respiration in Aquatic Ecosystems. 2005 ed. Oxford University Press, p. 267-303
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedRespiration in Aquatic Ecosystems: History and Background
    Williams, P. J., Del Giorgio, P. A. & Williams, P. J., 1 Jan 2005, Respiration in Aquatic Ecosystems. 2005 ed. Oxford University Press, p. 1-17
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2004

  • PublishedInterpreting the colour of an estuary.
    Bowers, D. G., Evans, D., Thomas, D. N., Ellis, K. & Williams, P. J., 1 Jan 2004, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 59, 1, p. 13-20
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedMeters, kilograms, seconds, but no bomb units. A zero tolerance approach to units (with apologies to Lynne Truss).
    Williams, P. J., 1 Jun 2004, In: Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin. 13, 2, p. 29-32
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedNet community production and metabolic balance at the oligotrophic ocean site, Station ALOHA.
    Williams, P. J., Morris, P. J. & Karl, D. M., 1 Nov 2004, In: Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 51, 11, p. 1563-1578
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2003

  • PublishedGlobal carbon cycle (communication arising): Metabolic balance in the open sea.
    Karl, D. M., Laws, E. A., Morris, P., Williams, P. J. & Emerson, S., 1 Nov 2003, In: Nature. 426, 6962, p. 323-326
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedLong-term environmental studies in the Irish Sea: a review.
    Evans, G. L., Hardman-Mountford, N. J., Hartnoll, R. G., Kennington, K., Mitchelson-Jacob, E. G., Shammon, T. & Williams, P. J., 1 Jan 2003, 2003 ed. Unknown.
    Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
  • PublishedMultivariate techniques to accurately characterise catchments.
    Evans, D. W., Thomas, D. N., Bowers, D. G. & Williams, P. J., 1 Jan 2003.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedPhysical and anthropogenic effects on observed long-term nutrient changes in the Irish Sea
    Evans, G. L., Williams, P. J. & Mitchelson-Jacob, E. G., 1 Aug 2003, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 57, 5-6, p. 1159-1168
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2002

  • PublishedInorganic nitrogen assimilation by the picoplankton and whole plankton in a coastal ecosystem.
    Rodrigues, R. M. & Williams, P. J., 1 Nov 2002, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 47, 6, p. 1608-1616
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedPhytoplankton Productivity - Carbon assimilation in marine and freshwater ecosystems
    Williams, P. J., Thomas, D. N. (Editor) & Reynolds, C. S. (Editor), 1 Jan 2002, 2002 ed. Blackwell Publishing.
    Research output: Book/Report › Book

2001

  • PublishedComparisons of plankton activity at 59°N and 37°N during two Lagrangian drift experiments in the North Atlantic in June and July 1996.
    Joint, I., Williams, P. J. & Savidge, G., 1 Jan 2001, In: Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 48, 4-5, p. 1043-1061
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedHeterotrophic bacterial utilization of nitrogenous and nonnitrogenous substrates, determined from ammonia and oxygen fluxes.
    Rodrigues, R. M. & Williams, P. J., 1 Nov 2001, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 46, 7, p. 1675-1683
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedInterdecadal variability of nutrients in the Irish Sea.
    Evans, G. L., Williams, P. J. & Mitchelson-Jacob, E. G., 1 Jan 2001, 2001 ed. Unknown.
    Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
  • PublishedInterdecadal variability of nutrients in the Irish Sea.
    Evans, G. L., Williams, P. J. & Mitchelson-Jacob, E. G., 1 Jan 2001, 2001 ed. Unknown.
    Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
  • PublishedPrimary productivity of planet earth: biological determinants and physical constraints in terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
    Geider, R. J., DeLucia, E. H., Falkowski, P. G., Finzi, A. C., Grime, J. P., Grace, J., Kana, T. M., La Roche, J., Long, S. P., Osborne, B. A., Platt, T., Prentice, I. C., Raven, J. A., Schlesinger, W. H., Smetacek, V., Stuart, V., Sathyendranath, S., Thomas, R. B., Vogelmann, T. C. & Williams, P. J. & 1 others, Woodward, F. I., 1 Dec 2001, In: Global Change Biology. 7, 8, p. 849-882
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2000

  • PublishedMicro-heterotrophs and the Dynamics of Dissolved Organic Material.
    Williams, P. J. & Kirchman, D. J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2000, Microbial Ecology of the Oceans. 2000 ed. Wiley–Liss, p. 542
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedNet accumulation and flux of dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen in marine plankton.
    Sondergaard, M., Williams, P. J., Cauwet, G., Riemann, B., Robinson, C., Terzic, S., Woodward, E. M. & Worm, J., 1 Jul 2000, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 45, 5, p. 1097-1111
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedNet production and Respiration
    Williams, P. J., Hanson, R. B. (Editor), Ducklow, H. W. (Editor) & Field, J. G. (Editor), 1 Jan 2000, The Changing Ocean Carbon Cycle: A midterm synthesis of the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study. 2000 ed. Cambridge University Press, p. 37-60
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

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