My research focus is the taxonomy and ecology of deep-sea scavenging amphipods from the superfamily Lysianassoidea. As a taxonomist I have a keen interest in the advances in modern methods of taxonomic databasing, interactive web-based keys and digital illustration. I also retain more than a passing interest in fish parasitology and in particular studies of Cymothoid isopods following my PhD, studying the taxonomy, ecology and pathology of cymothoid isopods in both wild and farmed fish. I have been employed as a researcher on a variety of deep-sea biodiversity projects at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, since 2001. I am also the manager of the Discovery Collections, a unique collection of deep-sea samples held partly at NOC and partly at the Natural History Museum in London.
I play an active role in WoRMS as the chief taxonomic editor of the World Amphipoda Database (http://www.marinespecies.org/amphipoda/index.php) and the World Register of Deep-Sea Species (WoRDSS http://www.marinespecies.org/deepsea/index.php). I have been a member of the Steering Committee, since 2012 and took on the position of Chair in 2016. I recognise the global significance of the WoRMS database and am keen to see continued improvements in standardisation and ease of use for both taxonomic editors and users.
Taxonomic terms: Cymothoidae Leach, 1814 [WoRMS]; Lysianassoidea Dana, 1849 [WoRMS]
ERMS 2.0: Costello, M.J.; Bouchet, P.; Boxshall, G.; Arvantidis, C.; Appeltans, W. (2008). European Register of Marine Species. Http://www.marbef.org/data/erms.php. Accessed on yyyy-mm-dd.
[previously: Costello, M.J.; Bouchet, P.; Boxshall, G.; Emblow, C.; Vanden Berghe, E. (2004). European Register of Marine Species. Available online at http://www.marbef.org/data/erms.php. Consulted on [date]., more
WoRDSS: Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2024). World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS). Accessed at https://www.marinespecies.org/deepsea on yyyy-mm-dd, more
WAD: Horton, T.; Lowry, J.; De Broyer, C.; Bellan-Santini, D.; Copilaș-Ciocianu, D.; Corbari, L.; Costello, M.J.; Daneliya, M.; Dauvin, J.-C.; Fišer, C.; Gasca, R.; Grabowski, M.; Guerra-García, J.M.; Hendrycks, E.; Hughes, L.; Jaume, D.; Jazdzewski, K.; Kim, Y.-H.; King, R.; Krapp-Schickel, T.; LeCroy, S.; Lörz, A.-N.; Mamos, T.; Senna, A.R.; Serejo, C.; Souza-Filho, J.F.; Tandberg, A.H.; Thomas, J.D.; Thurston, M.; Vader, W.; Väinölä, R.; Valls Domedel, G.; Vonk, R.; White, K.; Zeidler, W. (2024). World Amphipoda Database. Accessed at https://www.marinespecies.org/amphipoda on yyyy-mm-dd, more
Vandepitte, L.; Dekeyzer, S.; Decock, W.; Delgat, L.; Boydens, B.; Tyberghein, L.; Vanhoorne, B.; Hernandez, F.; Mees, J.; Horton, T.; Kroh, A.; Boyko, C.B.; Ahyong, S.T. (2024). The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) through the looking glass: insights from the data management team in light of the crystal anniversary of WoRMS. Hydrobiologia 2024. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-024-05688-y
Campanyà-Llovet, N.; Bates, A.E.; Cuvelier, D.; Giacomello, E.; Catarino, D.; Gooday, A.J.; Berning, B.; Figuerola, B.; Malaquias, M.A.E.; Moura, C.J.; Xavier, J.R.; Sutton, T.T.; Fauconnet, L.; Ramalho, S.P.; Neves, B.M.; Machado, G.M.; Horton, T.; Gebruk, A.V.; Minin, K.; Bried, J.; Molodtsova, T.; Silva, M.A.; Dilman, A.; Kremenetskaia, A.; Costa, E.F.S.; Clarke, J.; Martins, H.R.; Pham, C.K.; Carreiro-Silva, M.; Colaço, A. (2023). FUN Azores: a FUNctional trait database for the meio-, macro-, and megafauna from the Azores Marine Park (Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Front. Ecol. Evol. 11: 1050268. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1050268
Horton, T.; De Broyer, C.; Bellan-Santini, D.; Coleman, C.O.; Copilaș-Ciocianu, D.; Corbari, L.; Daneliya, M.E.; Dauvin, J.-C.; Decock, W.; Fanini, L.; Fišer, C.; Gasca, R.; Grabowski, M.; Guerra-García, J.M.; Hendrycks, E.A.; Hughes, L.E.; Jaume, D.; Kim, Y.-H.; King, R.A.; Lo Brutto, S.; Lörz, A.-N.; Mamos, T.; Serejo, C.S.; Senna, A.R.; Souza-Filho, J.F.; Tandberg, A.H.S.; Thurston, M.H.; Vader, W.; Väinölä, R.; Valls Domedel, G.; Vandepitte, L.; Vanhoorne, B.; Vonk, R.; White, K.N.; Zeidler, W. (2023). The World Amphipoda Database: history and progress. Rec. Aust. Mus. 75(4): 329-342. https://dx.doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1875
Rabone, M.; Wiethase, J.H.; Simon-Lledó, E.; Emery, A.M.; Jones, D.O.B.; Dahlgren, T.G.; Bribiesca-Contreras, G.; Wiklund, H.; Horton, T.; Glover, A.G. (2023). How many metazoan species live in the world’s largest mineral exploration region? Curr. Biol. 33(12): 2383-2396.e5. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.052
Reading, J.; Horton, T. (2023). Mesopelagic fishes of the North-West African Upwelling from the Discovery Collections. Biodiversity Data Journal 11: e105921. https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/bdj.11.e105921
Horton, T.; Kroh, A.; Vandepitte, L. (2022). WoRMS needs YOU! A reply to Collareta et al. 2020. Integrative Biology 17(2): 326-327. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12519
Horton, T.; Marsh, L.; Bett, B.J.; Gates, A.R.; Jones, D.O.B.; Benoist, N.M.A.; Pfeifer, S.; Simon-Lledó, E.; Durden, J.M.; Vandepitte, L.; Appeltans, W. (2021). Recommendations for the standardisation of open taxonomic nomenclature for image-based identifications. Front. Mar. Sci. 8: 620702. https://hdl.handle.net/10.3389/fmars.2021.620702
Mohrbeck, I.; Horton, T.; Jazdzewska, A.M.; Martinez Arbizu, P. (2021). DNA barcoding and cryptic diversity of deep-sea scavenging amphipods in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (Eastern Equatorial Pacific). Mar. Biodiv. 51: 26. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12526-021-01170-3
Howell, K.L.; Davies, J.S.; Allcock, A.L.; Braga-Henriques, A.; Buhl-Mortensen, P.; Carreiro-Silva, M.; Dominguez-Carrió, C.; Durden, J.M.; Foster, N.L.; Game, C.A.; Hitchin, B.; Horton, T.; Hosking, B.; Jones, D.O.B.; Mah, C.; Laguionie-Marchais, C.; Menot, L.; Morato, T.; Pearman, T.R.R.; Piechaud, N.; Ross, R.E.; Ruhl, H.A.; Saeedi, H.; Stefanoudis, P.V.; Taranto, G.H.; Thompson, M.B.; Taylor, J.R.; Tyler, P.; Vad, J.; Victorero, L.; Vieira, R.P.; Woodall, L.C.; Xavier, J.R.; Wagner, D. (2019). A framework for the development of a global standardised marine taxon reference image database (SMarTaR-ID) to support image-based analyses. PLoS One 14(12): e0218904. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218904
Rabone, M.; Harden-Davies, H.; Collins, J.E.; Zajderman, S.; Appeltans, W.; Droege, G.; Brandt, A.; Pardo-Lopez, L.; Dahlgren, T.G.; Glover, A.G.; Horton, T. (2019). Access to Marine Genetic Resources (MGR): raising awareness of best-practice through a new agreement for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). Front. Mar. Sci. 6: 520. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00520
Ashford, O.S.; Kenny, A.J.; Barrio Froján, C.R.S.; Bonsall, M.B.; Horton, T.; Brandt, A.; Bird, G.J.; Gerken, S.; Rogers, A.D. (2018). Phylogenetic and functional evidence suggests that deep-ocean ecosystems are highly sensitive to environmental change and direct human disturbance. Proc. - Royal Soc., Biol. Sci. 285(1884): 20180923. https://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0923
Macreadie, P.I.; McLean, D.; Thomson, P.; Partridge, J.C.; Jones, D.O.B.; Gates, A.R.; Benfield, M.C.; Collin, S.P.; Booth, D.J.; Smith, L.D.; Techera, E.J.; Skropeta, D.; Horton, T.; Pattiaratchi, C.; Bond, T.; Fowler, A.M. (2018). Eyes in the sea: Unlocking the mysteries of the ocean using industrial, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Sci. Total Environ. 634: 1077-1091. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.049
Vandepitte, L.; Vanhoorne, B.; Decock, W.; Vranken, S.; Lanssens, T.; Dekeyzer, S.; Verfaille, K.; Horton, T.; Kroh, A.; Hernandez, F.; Mees, J. (2018). A decade of the World Register of Marine Species – General insights and experiences from the Data Management Team: Where are we, what have we learned and how can we continue? PLoS One 13(4): e0194599. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194599
Horton, T.; Gofas, S.; Kroh, A.; Poore, G.C.B.; Read, G.; Rosenberg, G.; Stöhr, S.; Bailly, N.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Brandão, S.N.; Costello, M.J.; Decock, W.; Dekeyzer, S.; Hernandez, F.; Mees, J.; Paulay, G.; Vandepitte, L.; Vanhoorne, B.; Vranken, S. (2017). Improving nomenclatural consistency: a decade of experience in the World Register of Marine Species. Eur. J. Taxon. 389: 1-24. https://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.389
Peña Cantero, A.L.; Horton, T. (2017). Benthic hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from bathyal and abyssal depths of the Northeast Atlantic held in the modern Discovery Collections. Zootaxa 4347(1): 1-30. https://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4347.1.1
Horton, T.; Thurston, M.H.; Duffy, G.A. (2013). Community composition of scavenging amphipods at bathyal depths on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Deep-Sea Res., Part II, Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 98(Part B): 352-359. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.01.032
Beaumont, N.J.; Austen, M.C.; Atkins, J.P.; Burdon, D.; Degraer, S.; Dentinho, T.P.; Derous, S.; Holm, P.; Horton, T.; van Ierland, E.; Marboe, A.H.; Starkey, D.J.; Townsend, M.; Zarzycki, T. (2007). Identification, definition and quantification of goods and services provided by marine biodiversity: implications for the ecosystem approach. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 54(3): 253-265. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.12.003, more
Horton, T. (2004). Revision of the amphipod genus Valettiopsis Holmes, 1908 (Crustacea: Lysianassoidea), with the addition of three new species. J. Nat. Hist. 38: 1735-1756. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0022293031000156259, more
Horton, T.; Diamant, A.; Galil, B.S. (2004). Ceratothoa steindachneri (Isopoda, Cymothoidae): an unusual record from the Mediterranean. Crustaceana 77(9): 1145-1148. https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568540042900231
Horton, T.; Okamura, B. (2002). The distribution of Ceratothoa steindachneri (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) parasitic in Echiichthys vipera in the north-east Atlantic. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 82(3): 415-417. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315402005660
Horton, T.; Okamura, B. (2001). Cymothoid isopod parasites in aquaculture: a review and case study of a Turkish sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus auratus) farm. Dis. Aquat. Org. 46: 181-188. https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/dao046181
Horton, T. (2000). Ceratothoa steindachneri (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) new to British waters with a key to north-east Atlantic and Mediterranean Ceratothoa. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 80(6): 1041-1052. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400003106
Kaiser, S.; Sigwart, J.; Niamir, A.; Saeedi, H.; Chen, C.; Hilário, A.; Horton, T.; Howell, K.; Levin, L.; Osborn, K.; Brandt, A. (2022). Vielfalt in der Finsternis – Wirksamer Meeresschutz braucht mehr Wissen über Arten. SGN Policy Brief, 12/2022. Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung: Frankfurt . 3 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7373440
Kaiser, S.; Sigwart, J.D.; Niamir, A.; Saeedi, H.; Chen, C.; Hilario, A.; Horton, T.; Howell, K.; Levin, L.; Osborn, K.J.; Brandt, A. (2022). Diving through the darkness. Species information is vital for effective marine conservation. Policy Brief, 12/2022. Senckenberg Society for Nature Research: Frankfurt am Main. 8 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7373440
Beaumont, N.J.; Austen, M.C.; Atkins, J.P.; Burdon, D.; Degraer, S.; Dentinho, T.P.; Derous, S.; Holm, P.; Horton, T.; van Ierland, E.; Marboe, A.H.; Starkey, D.J.; Townsend, M.; Zarzycki, T. (2008). Identification, definition and quantification of goods and services provided by marine biodiversity: implications for the ecosystem approach, in: Derous, S. Mariene biologische waardering als een beslissingsondersteunende techniek voor marien beheer. pp. 219-242, more
Vandepitte, L.; Decock, W.; Dekeyzer, S.; Vanhoorne, B.; Bouirig, K.; Bakeev, D.; Horton, T.; Kroh, A. (2022). Fifteen years of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS): where are we, and what will the next decade bring?, in: 55th European Marine Biology Symposium 19 – 23 September 2022 Gdańsk, Poland: Book of abstracts. pp. 36
Horton, T.; Baillie, C. (2019). Cymothoid isopods in UK Waters. Bulletin of the Porcupine Marine Natural History Society 11: 44-50
Vandepitte, L.; Vanhoorne, B.; Decock, W.; Lanssens, T.; Dekeyzer, S.; Verfaille, K.; Horton, T.; Kroh, A. (2018). 10 years of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS): where do we stand & where are we heading? PeerJ Preprints 6: e26682v1. https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.26682v1
Horton, T. (2004). Deep-sea amphipods: taxonomic revision. MarBEF Newsletter 1: 12, more
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy