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, 1818 [WoRMS]; Lysianassoidea Dana, 1849 [WoRMS]
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
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
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, more
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
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
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
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
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Horton, T.; Kroh, A.; Vandepitte, L. (2022). WoRMS needs YOU! A reply to Collareta et al. 2020. Integrative Biology 17(2): 326-327. 
