James Bell
2025: Professor James Bell of Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington will develop new approaches to characterise, map and monitor understudied but ecologically important marine ecosystems
The New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship recognises Professor James Bell’s international reputation in the field of marine ecology. Professor Bell has more than 166 peer-reviewed articles (including highly cited reviews on sponge and mesophotic ecology), has been granted more than $14.5 million in external funding, regularly engages with the media and the public, and has frequently provided advice to inform policy on the management of marine ecosystems.
Professor Bell completed a PhD in Zoology at University College Cork, Ireland, in 2001, then worked as a Lecturer at Glamorgan and Reading Universities (in the United Kingdom), before establishing a research group in the School of Biological Sciences at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington in 2006, and becoming Deputy Director of its Coastal Ecology Lab in 2021.
Professor Bell. Supplied.
Professor Bell will use the Fellowship to develop new approaches to map and monitor ecologically important marine ecosystems. The mysterious “mesophotic”, or middle-light, zone of our oceans lies beneath the reach of SCUBA divers and above the depths of the deep sea. Temperate mesophotic ecosystems ― such as those found around Aotearoa New Zealand ― are home to highly diverse marine communities, including treasured taonga and commercial species. These ecosystems remain very poorly characterised compared to shallow-water and tropical mesophotic ecosystems.
Professor Bell will lead a team to collect high-resolution videos around Aotearoa New Zealand using a state-of-the-art remote-operated vehicle to create the first highly accurate three-dimensional models of these temperate mesophotic ecosystems. They will then use machine-learning algorithms to attempt to automatically identify and count key species, and to characterise the diversity of these ecosystems. In addition to new knowledge about these understudied ecosystems, Professor Bell will generate valuable evidence to inform policy decisions about their management, and management of our marine environments and blue economy more generally.
Professor Bell on the back of the MV Pembroke in Fiordland waiting for the Remotely Operated Vehicle “George” to return to the surface. Credit: Matteo Collina.