Daniel Conley, Ph.D.

Research

Daniel Conley is a professor of biogeochemistry at Lund University in Sweden. His research focuses on the perturbation of nutrient cycles by human activities and the responses of marine ecosystems to changes in human impact and climate. Dead zones in the ocean have increased extensively over the past 40 years. They are the result of hypoxic, or low-oxygen, conditions caused by an increase in chemical nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous, in the water. The Baltic Sea has been particularly affected by hypoxia and eutrophication and has the largest human-influenced, oxygen-deprived bottom area in the world. Conley’s Pew fellowship project was designed to evaluate different mitigation measures to relieve the effects of coastal hypoxia and eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. The project first evaluated the effectiveness, relative costs, and ecosystem consequences associated with remediation measures. These were then compared with traditional land-based measures to reduce nutrients. The results have been communicated to the public, policymakers, managers, and stakeholders, using a variety of venues not traditionally frequented by scientists, such as nongovernmental organization stakeholder conferences; conferences of municipalities and regional and national authorities; and science cafés. Conley’s fellowship work has furthered the cause of marine conservation by advocating scientific principles to protect and conserve marine species and ecosystems. To learn more about Conley, visit his bio online: http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/lucat/user/558b68dbd0670f7f04851fdc4bc5ec68.