Project details
There is increasing interest internationally in the application of ‘soft engineering’ techniques that work with the natural environment and slow / temporarily store water that would otherwise impact towns and cities as flood peaks (NFM report, 2024), known as Natural Flood Management (NFM). To date most research focused on NFM has centered on hydrological modelling and its effectiveness in reducing flood peaks at varying spatial scales. However, despite their wide application and increasing importance under sustainable environmental schemes, such as Environmental Land Management (ELMs), little is known about the contribution of NFM methods to landscape biodiversity or the different motivations for farmers to implement NFM techniques.
Previous research has indicated that small water bodies (Biggs et al., 2017), including artificial lentic waterbodies, may support high numbers of aquatic organisms and high conservation value. In addition, agricultural waterbodies provide much needed habitat heterogeneity for aquatic taxa in otherwise homogenous agriculture landscapes (Williams et al., 2004). It is therefore hypothesized that NFM waterbodies will support unique and biologically important communities at the landscape scale. This project will work with stakeholders engaged in agricultural management, rural resilience and flood management to provide information that will feed directly into policy and real-world applications.
Methodology:
The student will work with the Environment Agency to identify and quantify the current uptake of NFM techniques under the various schemes available. Specific locations (study areas) will be identified that support a range of different NFM approaches that create lentic habitats (e.g., inland storage ponds, online ponds, wetlands and swales) and their contribution to landscape biodiversity. Contemporary ecological sampling of the NFM waterbodies and adjacent natural waterbodies will be undertaken to characterize their aquatic biodiversity (focusing on the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities) and wider conservation value. Specific factors contributing to their biodiversity value could be examined such as waterbody connectivity (utilizing geospatial analysis), age, hydrological regime (intermittent vs perennial), spatial scale (small vs larger ponds / wetlands), land use / buffering and the implementation of restoration / management measures. In addition, the student will work with the Environment Agency to understand the factors that influence the uptake of NFM practices by farmers / landmanagers., The student will also work with Catchment Sensitive Farming Advisors to integrate biodiversity as a co-benefit of NFM alongside flood risk management in the advice provided to farm holdings.
References:
Biggs et al. (2017) Hydrobiologia, 793(1), pp.3-39.
Williams et al. (2004) Biological conservation, 115(2), pp.329-341.
Natural Flood Management Measures: A Practical guide for farmers. (2024). Available here.
94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021
Supervisors
Primary Supervisor: Paul Wood
Secondary Supervisor: Kate Mathers
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
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. 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.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025-26 entry
UK fee
Fully funded Full-time degree per annum
International fee
Fully funded Full-time degree per annum
Fees for the 2025-26 academic year apply to projects starting in October 2025.
Find out more about research degree funding
Studentship type – UKRI through Flood-CDT.
The studentship is for 3.5 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum plus tuition fees at the UK rate. Excellent International candidates are eligible for a full international fee waiver however due to UKRI funding rules, no more than 30% of the studentships funded by this grant can be awarded to International candidates.
How to apply
All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select Geography and Environment. Please quote the advertised reference number: FCDT-25-LU4 in your application. This PhD is being advertised as part of the Centre for Doctoral Training for Resilient Flood Futures (FLOOD-CDT). Further details about FLOOD-CDT can be found here. Please note, that your application will be assessed upon: (1) Motivation and Career Aspirations; (2) Potential & Intellectual Excellence; (3) Suitability for specific project and (4) Fit to FLOOD-CDT. So please familiarise yourselves with FLOOD-CDT before applying. During the application process candidates will need to upload:
- a 1 page statement of your research interests in flooding and FLOOD-CDT and your rationale for your choice of project
- a curriculum vitae giving details of your academic record and stating your research interests
- academic transcripts and degree certificates (translated if not in English)
- a IELTS/TOEFL certificate, if applicable.
You are encouraged to contact potential supervisors by email to discuss project specific aspects of the proposed prior to submitting your application. If you have any general questions please contact floodcdt@soton.ac.uk.
