Associate Professor
Institute of Aquaculture Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
Dr. Sonia Rey Planellas was appointed as a lecturer in 2019 at the Institute of Aquaculture. She has been working in the field of animal behaviour, physiology and welfare of individuals and groups of animals for the past 15 years.
Dr Rey research interests are on the convergent evolution of animal cognition and sentience through a comparative approach between closely and distantly related species. She studies 1) How behaviours related to animal personalities have evolved within and between closely and distant related species 2) How emotions like pain, fear, anxiety, or happiness have evolved from invertebrates to the vertebrates and 3) How the understanding of animal behaviour and the interaction with the environment can help to improve the welfare of the species under different contexts: from animal production to conservation purposes.
To this end Dr Rey uses standard behavioural tests and molecular biology to understand the underlying causes of behaviour and phenotypic individual differences as well as the interaction with the environment by looking at the different neuro-molecular pathways and gene regulatory networks involved with those responses. She also uses monitoring systems like sensors and sonars, big data and AI as a tool to monitor the behaviour of the animals in their environment, mainly for applied purposes (Precision livestock farming) but also for conservation purposes (protection of endangered species). Dr Rey research has also contributed to the development of Operational Welfare Indicators for their the use on fish farming.
Dr Rey has been and is actually involved in multiple projects like the past COST action on fish welfare, Aquaexel research mission, AQUISOST (MEC-CENIT: Towards a sustainable aquaculture), AquaGenomics (MEC-consolider: development of biotechnological tools for aquaculture) and two different INIA projects (MEC) first one on stunning methods for seabream and the second on the characterisation of behavioural profiles (stress coping style) and their impact on reproductive success in Senegalese sole.
Also a EU COPEWELL project aimed to provide a better understanding of underpinning mechanisms in the physiology, biology, and behaviour of fishes and their relationship to individual coping styles, environment and development. The over-arching aim is to improve fish welfare status across the EU (aquaculture, research facilities, etc). She was also involved as a co-researcher in a DEFRA project on salmon fin damage and a SAIC project (Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Center) on vaccination protocols on salmon cleaning fish.
Her current position is within the Environment group at the University of Stirling, Institute of Aquaculture, as a lecturer in animal behaviour and welfare. She was recently awarded with a cleaning fish (Lumpfish) project on health and welfare as a Principal Investigator.
Recent projects: she acted as a co-researcher in a EU project on eco-intensification of European aquaculture named GAIN where the main goal of the task she is involved is to understand how Precision Fish Farming (PFF) can improve the understanding of the fish behaviour and to improve the general health and welfare of the farmed fish in different farming systems. She is also a principal investigator in a BBSRC-ARCH UK project on off-shore aquaculture in salmon farming focused in how exposed environments will impact the fish welfare. Dr. Rey is now the TNA coordinator and WP1 leader for the EU HORIZON2020 funded project AquaExcel3.0.
She has supervised multiple undergraduate and master projects as well as several PhD students. She is supervising 5 PhD students under different projects studying behaviour and welfare.
If you are interested in working with us just send us a message, we accept PhD students.
AQUAculture Infrastructures For EXCELlence In European Fish Research 3
PI: Dr Sonia Rey Planellas
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)
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Offshore Aquaculture
PI: Dr Sonia Rey Planellas
Funded by: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
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AquaExcel2020
PI: Dr Sonia Rey Planellas
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)
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Health and welfare of lumpfish in hatchery production and deployed in Scottish salmon cages
PI: Dr Sonia Rey Planellas
Funded by: Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre
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Improving local management of tropical coastal resources in the face of climate change for economic wellbeing of local and vulnerable communittees
PI: Dr Sonia Rey Planellas
Funded by: The British Council
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Article
Welfare in farmed decapod crustaceans, with particular reference to Penaeus vannamei
Albalat A, Zacarias S, Coates CJ, Neil DM & Rey Planellas S (2022) Welfare in farmed decapod crustaceans, with particular reference to Penaeus vannamei. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, Art. No.: 886024. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.886024
Article
Offshore aquaculture of finfish: Big expectations at sea
Morro B, Davidson K, Adams TP, Falconer L, Holloway M, Dale A, Aleynik D, Thies PR, Khalid F, Hardwick J, Smith H, Gillibrand PA & Rey‐Planellas S (2022) Offshore aquaculture of finfish: Big expectations at sea. Reviews in Aquaculture, 14 (2), pp. 791-815. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12625
Article
Addressing the welfare needs of farmed lumpfish: knowledge gaps, challenges and solutions
Garcia de Leaniz C, Gutierrez Rabadan C, Barrento SI, Stringwell R, Howes PN, Whittaker BA, Minett JF, Smith RG, Pooley CL, Overland BJ, Biddiscombe L, Lloyd R, Consuegra S, Maddocks JK & Rey Planellas S (2022) Addressing the welfare needs of farmed lumpfish: knowledge gaps, challenges and solutions. Reviews in Aquaculture, 14 (1), pp. 139-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12589
Article
Jarvis S, Ellis MA, Turnbull J, Rey Planellas S & Wemelsfelder F (2021) Qualitative Behavioral Assessment in Juvenile Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Potential for On-Farm Welfare Assessment. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, Art. No.: 702783. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.702783
Article
Stressor controllability modulates the stress response in fish
Cerqueira M, Millot S, Silva T, Félix AS, Castanheira MF, Rey S, MacKenzie S, Oliveira GA, Oliveira CCV & Oliveira RF (2021) Stressor controllability modulates the stress response in fish. BMC Neuroscience, 22 (1), Art. No.: 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12868-021-00653-0
Article
Roque A, Gras N, Rey Planellas S, Fatsini E, Pallisera J, Duncan N, Muñoz I, Velarde A & Hernandez MD (2021) The Feasibility of Using Gas Mixture to Stun Seabream (Sparus Aurata) Before Slaughtering in Aquaculture Production. Aquaculture, 545, Art. No.: 737168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.737168
Article
Rey S, Jin X, Damsgård B, Bégout M & Mackenzie S (2021) Analysis across diverse fish species highlights no conserved transcriptome signature for proactive behaviour. BMC Genomics, 22 (1), Art. No.: 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-07317-z
Article
Data Driven Insight into Fish Behaviour and their use for Precision Aquaculture
Donncha FO, Stockwell CL, Planellas SR, Micallef G, Palmes P, Webb C, Filgueira R & Grant J (2021) Data Driven Insight into Fish Behaviour and their use for Precision Aquaculture. Frontiers in Animal Science, 2, Art. No.: 695054. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2021.695054
Article
Rey S, Treasurer J, Pattillo C & McAdam BJ (2021) Using model selection to choose a size-based condition index that is consistent with operational welfare indicators. Journal of Fish Biology, 99 (3), pp. 782-795. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14761
Article
Emerging indicators of fish welfare in aquaculture
Barreto M, Rey Planellas S, Yang Y, Phillips C & Descovich K (2021) Emerging indicators of fish welfare in aquaculture. Reviews in Aquaculture. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12601
Article
McKenzie DJ, Palstra AP, Planas J, MacKenzie S, Bégout M, Thorarensen H, Vandeputte M, Mes D, Rey S, De Boeck G, Domenici P & Skov PV (2021) Aerobic swimming in intensive finfish aquaculture: applications for production, mitigation and selection. Reviews in Aquaculture, 13 (1), pp. 138-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12467
Article
Eliasen K, Patursson EJ, McAdam BJ, Pino E, Morro B, Betancor M, Baily J & Rey S (2020) Liver colour scoring index, carotenoids and lipid content assessment as a proxy for lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) health and welfare condition. Scientific Reports, 10, Art. No.: 8927. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65535-7
Article
Behavioural fever, fish welfare and what farmers and fishers know
Huntingford F, Rey S & Quaggiotto M (2020) Behavioural fever, fish welfare and what farmers and fishers know. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 231, Art. No.: 105090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105090
Poster
Rey Planellas S & Albalat A (2020) The effect of Hematodinium sp. Infection on the behaviour of Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus, Linnaeus 1758) [Hematodinium in Norway Lobsters]. ASAB virtual conference 2020, virtual, 16.07.2020-16.07.2020.
Article
Ibarra-Zatarain Z, Martín I, Rasines I, Fatsini E, Rey S, Chereguini O & Duncan N (2020) Exploring the relationship between stress coping styles and sex, origin and reproductive success, in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) breeders in captivity. Physiology and Behavior, 220, Art. No.: 112868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112868
Article
Ibarra-Zatarain Z, Rey S, Boglino A, Fatsini E & Duncan N (2020) Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) coping styles are consistent over time: behavioural and physiological responses during ontogenesis. Physiology & Behavior, 217, Art. No.: 112803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112803
Article
Cerqueira M, Millot S, Felix A, Silva T, Oliveira GA, Oliveira CCV, Rey S, MacKenzie S & Oliveira R (2020) Cognitive appraisal in fish: stressor predictability modulates the physiological and neurobehavioural stress response in sea bass. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 287 (1923), Art. No.: 20192922. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.2922
Article
Ferrari S, Rey S, Høglund E, Øverli Ø, Chatain B, MacKenzie S & Bégout M (2020) Physiological responses during acute stress recovery depend on stress coping style in European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax. Physiology & Behavior, 216, Art. No.: 112801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112801
Article
Fatsini E, Rey S, Ibarra-Zatarain Z, Boltaña S, Mackenzie S & Duncan NJ (2020) Linking stress coping styles with brain mRNA abundance of selected transcripts for Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) juveniles. Physiology and Behavior, 213, Art. No.: 112724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112724
Research Report
Farmed fish welfare practices: salmon farming as a case study
Rey S, Little DC & Ellis M (2019) Farmed fish welfare practices: salmon farming as a case study. Global Aquaculture Alliance. https://www.aquaculturealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FarmedFishWelfarePractices_26_May_2020.pdf
Research Report
Farmed fish welfare practices: salmon farming as a case study
Rey Planellas S, Ellis M & Little DC (2019) Farmed fish welfare practices: salmon farming as a case study [Salmon welfare]. Global Aquaculture Aliance. USA. https://www.aquaculturealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FarmedFishWelfarePractices_26_May_2020.pdf
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Rey Planellas S & Ellis M (2019) Novel use of qualitative behaviour assessment to monitor welfare in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). [QBA fish welfare asssessment]., 07.10.2019-10.10.2019.
Poster
Rey Planellas S & Morro B (2019) Evaluating the environmental conditions required for the development of offshore aquaculture: impact on farmed Atlantic salmon health and welfare [Fish welfare in Off-shore farming]., 07.10.2019-10.10.2019.
Lecture
Using thermal choices as indicators for fish welfare
Rey Planellas S, MacKenzie S & Huntingford F (2019) Using thermal choices as indicators for fish welfare (Presentation) ISAE 2019, Bergen, 05.08.2019-09.08.2019.
Keynote
How behavioural studies can help to improve fish welfare
Rey Planellas S (2019) How behavioural studies can help to improve fish welfare [fish behaviour and welfare]. CWF: Improving the Welfare of farmed fish, London, 30.07.2019-30.07.2019.
Keynote
Rey Planellas S (2019) The welfare of lumpfish., Stirling, 27.05.2019-27.05.2019.
Keynote
The use of fish behaviour as an operational welfare indicator in aquaculture
Rey Planellas S (2019) The use of fish behaviour as an operational welfare indicator in aquaculture [fish behaviour as OWI]. 1sr symposium on welfare in aquaculture, Swansea, 14.05.2019-14.05.2019.
Article
Curtean-Bănăduc A, Marić S, Gábor G, Didenko A, Rey Planellas S & Bănăduc D (2019) Hucho hucho (Linnaeus, 1758): last natural viable population in the Eastern Carpathians - conservation elements. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 43 (2), pp. 215-223. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1711-52
Article
Proactive avoidance behaviour and pace-of-life syndrome in Atlantic salmon
Damsgård B, Evensen TH, Øverli Ø, Gorissen M, Ebbesson LOE, Rey S & Höglund E (2019) Proactive avoidance behaviour and pace-of-life syndrome in Atlantic salmon. Royal Society Open Science, 6 (3), Art. No.: 181859. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181859
Book Chapter
Cleaner fish biology and aquaculture applications
Treasurer J, Noble C, Puvanendran V, Rey S & Iversen MH (2018) Cleaner fish biology and aquaculture applications. In: Treasurer J (ed.) Cleaner Fish Biology and Aquaculture Applications. Sheffield: 5m Books. http://www.5mbooks.com/cleaner-fish-biology-and-aquaculture-applications.html
Lecture
Rey Planellas S (2018) Behavioural fever in fish (Presentation) [Fever in fish]. Pharmaqacademy, Inverness, 29.10.2018-30.10.2018.
Article
Brooker AJ, Papadopoulou A, Gutierrez C, Rey S, Davie A & Migaud H (2018) Sustainable production and use of cleaner fish for the biological control of sea lice: recent advances and current challenges. Veterinary Record, 183, Art. No.: 383. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104966
Newspaper Article
What zebrafish reveal about importance of looks vs personality in choosing a mate
Rey Planellas S & MacKenzie S (2018) What zebrafish reveal about importance of looks vs personality in choosing a mate. The Conversation. 21.09.2018.
Article
Vargas R, Mackenzie S & Rey S (2018) 'Love at first sight': The effect of personality and colouration patterns in the reproductive success of zebrafish (Danio rerio). PLOS ONE, 13 (9), Art. No.: e0203320. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203320
Lecture
The use of environmental enrichment to reduce fin damage in farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar
Rey Planellas S & Ellis M (2018) The use of environmental enrichment to reduce fin damage in farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (Presentation) [Environmental enrichment in farmed salmon]. WAS2018: World Aquaculture Conference, Montpellier, 25.08.2018-29.08.2018.
Article
Boltana S, Sanhueza N, Donoso A, Aguilar A, Crespo D, Vergara D, Arriagada G, Morales-Lange B, Mercado L, Rey S, Tort L & MacKenzie S (2018) The expression of TRPV channels, prostaglandin E2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines during behavioural fever in fish. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 71, pp. 169-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2018.03.023
Keynote
Rey Planellas S (2018) Fish behaviour in aquaculture. Societat Catalana de Biologia Congres, Barcelona, 03.05.2018-04.05.2018.
Conference Proceeding
Rey Planellas S, Mackenzie S & Planas J (2018) Assessing the Influence of Individual Variation in Coping Styles on Swimming Performance in Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) [Swimming performance in zebrafish]. In: FitFish Annual Conference 2016. FITFISH EU cost action, Belgrade, Serbia, 22.04.2016-22.04.2016. FitFish, p. 34. https://www.fitfish.eu/upload_mm/c/5/8/bc3a7541-dd20-4aa4-bbe4-f074612af4cb_FITFISH%20annual%20conference%202016.pdf
Commentary
Rey S (2017) The emotional brain of fish [Emotions in fish]. Commentary on: Woodruff, Michael L. (2017) Consciousness in teleosts: There is something it feels like to be a fish. Animal Sentience 13(1). Animal Sentience, 2 (13), Art. No.: 11. http://animalstudiesrepository.org/animsent/vol2/iss13/11
Poster
Rey Planellas S (2017) HEALTH & WELFARE OF THE LUMPFISH (Cyclopterus lumpus) IN HATCHERY PRODUCTION AND DEPLOYED IN SCOTTISH SALMON CAGES FOR USE AS CLEANER FISH [Lumpfish welfare]. EAS aquaculture europe, Dubrovnik, 17.10.2017-20.10.2017.
Article
Fatsini E, Rey S, Ibarra-Zatarain Z, MacKenzie S & Duncan N (2017) Dominance behaviour in a non-aggressive flatfish, Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) and brain mRNA abundance of selected transcripts. PLoS ONE, 12 (9), Art. No.: e0184283. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184283
Article
Coping styles in farmed fish: consequences for aquaculture
Castanheira F, Conceicao LEC, Millot S, Rey S, Begout M, Damsgard B, Kristiansen TS, Hoglund E, Overli O & Martins CIM (2017) Coping styles in farmed fish: consequences for aquaculture [Coping styles in farmed fish]. Reviews in Aquaculture, 9 (1), pp. 23-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12100
Article
Behavioural fever in zebrafish larvae
Rey S, Moiche Vega AV, Boltana S, Teles M & MacKenzie S (2017) Behavioural fever in zebrafish larvae. Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 67, pp. 287-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2016.09.008
Commentary
Stress induced hyperthermia in zebrafish: a reply to Key et al.
Rey S, Huntingford FA, Knowles TG & MacKenzie S (2017) Stress induced hyperthermia in zebrafish: a reply to Key et al.. Commentary on: Key B et al. 2017 Problems with equating thermal preference with ‘emotional fever’ and sentience: comment on ‘Fish can show emotional fever: stress-induced hyperthermia in zebrafish’ by Rey et al. (2015). Proc. R. Soc. B 284, 20160681. (doi:10.1098/rspb.2016.0681). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284 (1847), Art. No.: 20162124. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2124
Article
Ibarra-Zatarain Z, Fatsini E, Rey S, Chereguini O, Martin I, Rasines I, Alcaraz C & Duncan N (2016) Characterization of stress coping style in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) juveniles and breeders for aquaculture. Royal Society Open Science, 3 (11), Art. No.: 160495. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160495
Article
Thermal preference predicts animal personality in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus
Cerqueira M, Rey S, Featherstone Z, Crumlish M & MacKenzie S (2016) Thermal preference predicts animal personality in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Journal of Animal Ecology, 85 (5), pp. 1389-1400. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12555
Article
Rey S (2016) The Lower Danube River–Danube Delta–North West Black Sea: A pivotal area of major interest for the past, present and future of its fish fauna — A short review. Science of the Total Environment, 545-546, pp. 137-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.058
Article
Rey S, Ribas L, Capdevila DM, Callol A, Huntingford FA, Pilarczyk M, Kadri S & MacKenzie S (2016) Differential responses to environmental challenge by common carp Cyprinus carpio highlight the importance of coping style in integrative physiology. Journal of Fish Biology, 88 (3), pp. 1056-1069. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12877
Newspaper Article
Les poissons ont-ils des états d’âme ? Peut-être bien...
Planellas S (2016) Les poissons ont-ils des états d’âme ? Peut-être bien.... The Conversation. 03.03.2016.
Newspaper Article
Do fish have feelings? Maybe ...
Rey Planellas S (2016) Do fish have feelings? Maybe .... The Conversation. 16.02.2016.
Article
Fish can show emotional fever: stress-induced hyperthermia in zebrafish
Rey S, Huntingford FA, Boltaña S, Vargas R, Knowles TG & MacKenzie S (2015) Fish can show emotional fever: stress-induced hyperthermia in zebrafish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282 (1819), Art. No.: 20152266. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.2266
Article
Animal Personality Relates to Thermal Preference in Wild-Type Zebrafish, Danio rerio
Rey S, Digka N & MacKenzie S (2015) Animal Personality Relates to Thermal Preference in Wild-Type Zebrafish, Danio rerio. Zebrafish, 12 (3), pp. 243-249. https://doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2014.1076
Article
Rey S, Boltana S, Vargas R, Roher N & MacKenzie S (2013) Combining animal personalities with transcriptomics resolves individual variation within a wild-type zebrafish population and identifies underpinning molecular differences in brain function. Molecular Ecology, 22 (24), pp. 6100-6115. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.12556
Article
Behavioural fever is a synergic signal amplifying the innate immune response
Boltana S, Rey S, Roher N, Vargas R, Huerta M, Huntingford FA, Goetz FW, Moore J, Garcia-Valtanen P, Estepa A & MacKenzie S (2013) Behavioural fever is a synergic signal amplifying the innate immune response. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 280 (1766), Art. No.: 20131381. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.1381
Article
Behavioural indicators of welfare in farmed fish
Martins CIM, Galhardo L, Noble C, Damsgard B, Spedicato MT, Zupa W, Beauchaud M, Kulczykowska E, Massabuau J, Carter T, Rey S & Kristiansen TS (2012) Behavioural indicators of welfare in farmed fish. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, 38 (1), pp. 17-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-011-9518-8
Article
Queen number in a supercolony of the invasive garden ant, Lasius neglectus
Espadaler X, Rey S & Bernal V (2004) Queen number in a supercolony of the invasive garden ant, Lasius neglectus. Insectes Sociaux, 51 (3), pp. 232-238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-003-0732-y
Article
Rey S & Espadaler X (2004) Area-wide management of the invasive garden ant Lasius neglectus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in northeast Spain [Area-Wide Management of Lasius neglectus]. Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology, 21 (2), pp. 99-112. http://scentsoc.org/Volumes/JAUE/v21/99.pdf
Article
Espadaler X & Rey S (2001) Biological constraints and colony founding in the polygynous ant lasius neglectus (Hymenoptera, formicidae) [Colony founding in Lasius neglectus]. Insectes Sociaux, 48 (2), pp. 159-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00001760
AQUU7MM: BSc Marine mammals field course_ module coordinator AQUPGV4/P4 MSc in Aquaculture: Animal Behaviour and Welfare CPD course on Fish Health and Welfare
