Project details
Rationale:
Aquatic ecosystems are facing increasing pressures from anthropogenic and climate drivers, causing alarming deterioration in freshwater quality. Climate extremes are projected to increase (e.g. floods and droughts) in terms of duration, intensity and frequency influencing nutrient status and altering hydrological regimes. However, it is rare these events occur in isolation in real-time, for example with flooding events happening post drought, resulting in cascading environmental impacts, which are poorly understood across both temporal and spatial scales (Mishra et al., 2021). Often experiments focus on individual drivers rather than compounding events due to their complex interactions. Here we will take reactive, in-situ and experimental sampling approaches to elucidate the mechanisms of these more natural events. This project will combine field and laboratory work to assess water quality parameters, using state-of-the art chemical and biological techniques, under flood-drought scenarios to assess the ecological responses to cascading events.
Methodology:
- Reactive, in situ sampling:
Sampling will be undertaken under high, low and intermediate flow rates across two contrasting sites with different catchment typologies (Hampshire Avon and the Soar). We will collect and characterise sediments and water samples for range of biogeochemical parameters, up- and downstream of storm overflows (working closely with water company partners, Severn Trent and Wessex Water). We will also look to install tiles in streambeds up- and down- stream of storm overflows to allow for biofilm growth during different seasons to assess how different in-stream conditions influence algal growth and function (Caillon et al., 2021) (if possible, this will also include storm overflow release, looking at duration, frequency and occurrence of previous overflow releases events).
- Mesocosms
Here we will manipulate abiotic and biotic drivers to improve mechanistic understanding of changes to freshwater ecosystems associated with cascading events across different spatial scales (small to medium scale laboratory mesocosms). We will target different impacts associated with flooding such as variations in nutrient and pollutant loading, and, increased turbidity, to quantify their influence on the transformation of nutrients and the response in development/growth of species under flooding-drought (cascade) scenarios.
This project is part of the NERC funded Flood-CDT studentship competition.
Background Reading:
Mishra, A., Alnahit, A., Campbell, B. (2021). Impact of land uses, drought, flood, wildfire, and cascading events on water quality and microbial communities: a review and analysis J. Hydrol., 596, Article 125707, 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125707
Caillon, F., Besemer, K., Peduzzi, P., Schelke, J. (2021). Soil microbial inoculation during flood events shapes headwater stream microbial communities and diversity. Microb Ecol 82, 591–601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-021-01700-3
Richardson, J., Feuchtmayr, H., Miller, C., Hunter, P.D., Maberly, S.C., Carvalho, L. (2019). Response of cyanobacteria and phytoplankton abundance to warming, extreme rainfall events and nutrient enrichment. Glob Change Biol. 25: 3365–3380. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14701
Supervisors
Entry requirements
Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications i.e. first-class honours, upper second-class honours and lower second-class honours. To learn the equivalent for your country, please choose it from the drop-down below.
Entry requirements for United Kingdom
FLOOD-CDT is multidisciplinary, and we welcome applicants from diverse disciplines, including but not limited to: physical scientists, engineers, mathematicians, life and social scientists. Students should have an interest in multidisciplinary research, as well as other skills relevant to one or more of the core Research and Training themes within the CDT. Applicants must already have, or expect to shortly graduate with, a very good undergraduate degree or Master’s degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree) – or an equivalent international qualification from a high ranking university – in a relevant subject. Academic attainment is only one of our criteria for selection; we equally value the ability to work in teams, excitement for research, enthusiasm for the research focus of the CDT and the ability to communicate ideas. EU and Overseas applicants should achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each competency.
English language requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.
How to apply
All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select Geography. Please quote the advertised reference number FCDT-24-LU3 in your application. Failure to include this reference will result in the application not being considered for this studentship competition.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents:
Applications close on Wednesday 20th March (midnight), with interviews to follow (dates to be confirmed).
The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application.
