Staff Profile

Peter Gayle

Peter Gayle

Principal Scientific Officer
Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory and Field Station
Queen's Highway, P.O. Box 35
Discovery Bay, St. Ann
Tel: +1 876 973 2241 or 973 2946
Fax: +1 876 973 3091
E-mail: peter.gayle@uwimona.edu.jm or peter.gayle@gmail.com

Mr. Peter Gayle is the Principal Scientific Officer at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory as well as the Safety Manager for Hyperbaric Chamber Operations (involves the treatment of SCUBA diving accidents). He has responsibility for aspects of the Lab’s operation relating to Scientific Operations (research, teaching & outreach) and Facility Maintenance (buildings, machinery/equipment & boats).

As professional service, Mr. Peter Gayle is an Advisor to and Co-Chair of Diving Sub-Group of the Working Group on Fisheries Management and Related Matters of the National Council on Oceans and Coastal Zone Matters (2004 to present). In public service, he is a Lieutenant (s.g.)/Captain for Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard (National Reserve) as a Diving & Weapons Officer, a member of Jamaica Institute of Environmental Professionals and is an Honorary Game Warden for NEPA (National Environmental Protection Agency).

Research Interests

Mr. Gayle has a M. Phil. where he studied the Ecology of deep fore-reef corals and is currently a Ph.D. candidate studying Reef Rehabilitation using coral gardening and artificial reef techniques. He has special competence in the fields of Tropical Marine & Fisheries Ecology, Coral Reef Monitoring, Environmental Impact Assessments, Geographic Information Systems, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Technical (Nitrox & Mixed Gas) Deep Diving, Underwater Photography & Videography and Emergency Medical Technician.

Publications:
(Refereed)

  1. Gayle, P.M.H., Greenaway, A.M., Waltho, N.D., Charpentier, B.H. A different perspective on the status of a Jamaican north shore reef – are the corals recovering? – in press, Coral Reefs.
  2. Gayle, P.M.H., Waltho, N.D., Charpentier, B.H. Coral mortality and recovery on a Jamaican North shore reef following the 2005 Caribbean region bleaching event– in press, Coral Reefs.
  3. Schill, R., Gayle, P.M.H., Fritz, M and Kohler, H. Variability in the diurnal stress protein (Hsp70) cycle in tropical chitons (Acanthopleura granulata) from the intertidal zone: the influence of temperature and photoperiod exposure - in press GMFW: Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology.
  4. Gayle, P.M H., Wilson-Kelly, P., Green, S. Transplantation of benthic species to mitigate impacts of coastal development in Jamaica.Revista de Biologia Tropical 53 (suppl 1) p105-115.  2005.
  5. Gayle, P. M. H. and Sikora, M. Reef Fishery Management in Discovery Bay, Jamaica  Reef Encounter 32: 47- 48. 2004.
  6. Woodley, J.D., Sary, Z.,  &  Gayle, P. Fishery management measures instituted at Discovery Bay, Jamaica,  with  special reference to establishment of the fisheries  reserve.  Gulf and Caribbean Research Vol 14(2): 181-193. 2003.
  7. Schill, R., Gayle, P.M.H., and Kohler, H. Daily stress protein (hsp70) cycle in chitons (Acanthopleuragranulata) which inhabit the rocky intertidal shoreline in a tropical ecosystem. J. ofComp.Biochem. and Physiol. Part C 131: 253 – 258. 2002.
  8. Co-Author with J.D. Woodley et al. The Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity Program (CARICOMP) Bull. Mar. Sci 69: 819-829: 2001.
  9. Woodley, J.D., Gayle, P.M.H., Judd, N.  Sea Urchins exert top-down control of macroalgae on Jamaican coral reefs.  Coral reefs; 18 (2): 193.  1999.
  10. Co-Author with J.D. Woodley et al. Studies on Caribbean Coral Bleaching - 1995 to 1996. Proc. 8th Int. Cor. Rf. Symp. 1: 673 - 678, Panama. 1997.
  11. Co-Author with I. Nagelkerken et al. Widespread disease in Caribbean Seafans: I. spreading and general characteristics. Proc. 8th Int. Cor. Rf. Symp. 1: 679 - 682, Panama. 1997.
  12. Co-Author with I. Nagelkerken et al. Widespread disease in Caribbean Seafans: II. Patterns of infection and tissue loss. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 160: 255-263, 1997.
  13. Co-Author with K.H. Koltes et al. Meteorological and Oceanographic Characterisation of Coral Reef, Seagrass and Mangrove Habitats in the Wider Caribbean. Proc. 8th Int. Cor. Rf. Symp. 1: 657 - 662, Panama. 1997.
  14. Co-Author with J.D. Woodley et al. CARICOMP Monitoring of Coral Reefs. Proc. 8th Int. Cor. Rf. Symp. 1: 651 - 656, Panama. 1997.
  15. Co-Author with J. Zieman et al. Variations in the Ecological Parameters of Thalassiatestudinum across the CARICOMP Network. Proc. 8th Int. Cor. Rf. Symp. 1: 663 - 668, Panama. 1997.
  16. Co-Author with E. Jordan-Dahlgren et al. Physiography and Setting of CARICOMP Sites – a Pattern Analysis. Proc. 8th Int. Cor. Rf. Symp. 1: 647 - 650, Panama. 1997.

(Non Refereed)

  1. Bechtel, J.,  Gayle,  P.M.H. and Kaufman, L. The return of Diademaantillarum to Discovery Bay: patterns of distribution and abundance. In: Proceedings of the 10th Int. Coral Reef Symp. 2:367-375. Okinawa 2004.
  2. Gayle, P.M.H., Woodley, J.D. CARICOMP - Coral Reef, Seagrass and Mangrove Site Characteristics at Discovery Bay, Jamaica.   ed.  B.J. Kjerfve; UNESCO, Paris 1998
  3. Co-Author with A. Thorhaug et al. Dispersant Effects on Various Tropical Organisms; Corals, Mangroves & Tropical Commercial Fishes. Proc. Int. Oil Spill Mtg.; Wash. D.C. 1991
  4. Co-author with J.F. Debatinet al. Congenital Anomaly associated with Decompression Illness. Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society Annual Scientific Meeting 1991
  5. Co-Author with A. Thorhauget al. Spill Clean-up in the Tropics; Jamaica as a Model for Developed and Developing Nations. SIREN: UNEP 1990.
  6. Co-Author with A. Thorhaug et al. Dispersed Oil Effects on Tropical Habitats; Preliminary Results of Dispersant/Oil Testing on Jamaican Seagrasses. Proc. Oil Spill Conf., San Antonio; Am. Petr. Inst. Wash. D.C.  p 455-459..   1989

Selected Conference Presentations:

  1. Stennett, M., Quinn, N. J., Gayle, P. M. H., Bowden-Kirby, A. Enhancing coral habitat for the benefit of the tourist and subsistence fisheries.  Scientific Research Council Conference Kingston Jamaica 2004
  2. Gayle, P.M.H., Wilson-Kelly, P. & Green, S. Transplantation of Benthic Species as astrategy for mitigating the anthropogenic impacts of coastal development. Assoc. Marine Labs of the Caribbean Conference.  Trinidad. July 2003.
  3. Gayle, P.M.H., Wilson-Kelly, P. & Green, S. Coral Relocation & Dredging at Rackham’sCay – Port Royal, Jamaica. 1st Ja. Institute of Environmental Professionals Conference March 2003
  4. Woodley, J.D.,Sary, Z., Gayle, P.M.H. and Sikora, M. The Discovery Bay MarineLaboratory – Fisheries Improvement Program  1st Ja. Institute of Environmental Professionals Conference - March 2003
  5. Gayle, P. M. H. and Sikora, M. – The Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory Caribbean Coastal   Marine Productivity Program (CARICOMP). Faculty of Pure & Applied Sciences UWI, Biannual Conference.

Technical Reports:

  1. Gayle, P.M.H. DBML comments on the Bahia Principe Resort Hotel Development, Pear Tree Bottom, St. Ann, Jamaica.  October 2005. 3pgs
  2. Gayle, P.M.H., Sikora, M. Report on the Fisheries Improvement Program – Limited Marketing Survey for the Commercial Disposal of Deep Water / Offshore Fish Catch.  2004. 14pgs.