Stephanie Peay

Stephanie Peay
colour portrain photograph of Stephanie Peay at the Pisek crayfish conference
Stephanie Peay at Pisek crayfish conference.
Born1959 (age 65–66)
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
University of Hull
Scientific career
FieldsEcology
InstitutionsUniversity of Leeds

Stephanie Peay (born 1959) is a British ecologist and crayfish researcher. Peay is a leading proponent of crayfish conservation and management in Britain[1] and has produced much of the guidance on crayfish used by British ecologists and managers on survey and monitoring methods, restoration of habitat, mitigation during works on waterbodies, and, latterly, on "ark sites" to safeguard white-clawed crayfish.

Early life and education

Peay graduated in biological sciences from the University of Edinburgh,[2] and in 1998 was awarded a Master of Science from the University of Hull.[3] In 2013 she was awarded a PhD by the University of Leeds.[4]

Career

In her early professional career, she worked for the Trust for Nature Conservation in Sussex,[2] and in 1984, compiled the first draft of the ancient woodland inventory for West Sussex.[5] In 1985, she was appointed by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group as a conservation officer in Lincolnshire.[6]

In 1990, she began working for Cobham Resource Consultants,[7] later part of the Scott Wilson Group, as an ecological consultant, where her interests in the white clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes and signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus began.

As an independent crayfish researcher, Peay's research has concentrated on the protection of the UK native white clawed crayfish and restricting the invasion of the alien signal crayfish.[8][9] She is a leading proponent of crayfish conservation and management in Britain[1] and has produced much of the guidance on crayfish used by British ecologists and managers on survey and monitoring methods, restoration of habitat, mitigation during works on waterbodies, and, latterly, on "ark sites" to safeguard white-clawed crayfish. She also provides advice and training for organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts, Environment Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, BBC[10][11] and others.

As invading signal crayfish are a major threat to native crayfish, both in Britain and in Europe,[12] Peay has studied the effects of signal crayfish on white clawed crayfish and their environment, particularly on native fish stocks, and has researched control and eradication methods.[13]

She represented The Wildlife Trusts on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group for white clawed crayfish, was a board member of the International Association of Astacology and has contributed to the European CRAYNET programme.[14]

In her employment as Associate Director, Ecology with Aecom, Peay had considerable experience of ecological surveys, ecological assessment and management in a range of habitats in the UK on many types of projects, notably in water resources, development roads and airports.

She was a visiting lecturer at the University of Leeds.[15][16] She is also member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management and a Chartered Environmentalist.

Works

References

  1. ^ a b Perkin, Scott (2010), Norfolk Biodiversity partnership progress report (PDF), p. 8
  2. ^ a b "Conservation help on hand for farmers". Skegness Standard. 17 May 1985. p. 20. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Degree Awards". Hull Daily Mail. 29 January 1998. p. 29. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  4. ^ Peay, Stephanie. Developing tools for the management of freshwater crayfish (PhD thesis). University of Leeds. ISBN 978-0-85731-706-3. OCLC 1063512681.
  5. ^ Whitbread A, Barton J, Hutton D, WEest Sussex Inventory of Ancient Woodland, Nature Conservancy Council CRDA/43/dd/2/46
  6. ^ "Full-time conservation". Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian. 18 April 1985. p. 26. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  7. ^ "County says farewell to FWAG expert". Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian. 19 April 1990. p. 22. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  8. ^ Peay, Stephanie; Johnsen, Stein I.; Bean, Colin W.; Dunn, Alison M.; Sandodden, Roar; Edsman, Lennart (26 February 2019). "Biocide Treatment of Invasive Signal Crayfish: Successes, Failures and Lessons Learned". Diversity. 11 (3): 29. Bibcode:2019Diver..11...29P. doi:10.3390/d11030029.
  9. ^ "Bleak outlook for crayfish species". Telegraph & Argus. 1 March 2011 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ James Lynn (11 July 2006). "Plight of the white-clawed crayfish". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  11. ^ Morelle, Rebecca (15 October 2008). "Aquatic alien 'thugs' set to meet". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  12. ^ Catherine Souty-Grosset C, et al. (2006). Atlas of Crayfish in Europe. Museum national d’Histoire naturelle. pp. 25–47.
  13. ^ Peay S.; et al. (2006). "Biocide treatment of ponds in Scotland to eradicate signal crayfish". Bulletin Français de la Pêche et de la Pisciculture (380–381). Scottish Natural Heritage: 1363-1379. doi:10.1051/kmae:2006041. ISSN 1961-9502.
  14. ^ Catherine Souty-Grosset C, et al. (2006). Atlas of Crayfish in Europe. Museum national d’Histoire naturelle. pp. 152–157.
  15. ^ "Staff profile - Stephanie Peay". University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Science. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Stephanie Peay". ResearchGate. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
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