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Dr Jens-Arne Subke
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Supervisors: Dr Jens-Arne Subke (Stirling), Dr Kerry Dinsmore (CEH Edinburgh), Prof. Mike Billett (Stirling), Andrew Vaughan (UPM Tilhill)
Application deadline: 10 am, 2nd February 2015
Project Detail:
Soil CO2 efflux is the main pathway by which carbon (C) returns to the atmosphere, and understanding the drivers behind the dynamics of RS is crucial for accurate prognostic climate modelling. Soils under grassland vegetation can store substantial amounts of carbon in labile and humic forms. The impact of transitions from pasture to forestry is ambiguous in the scientific literature, as both decreases in soil C store, and increased overall C stock have been reported, e.g. due to reallocation of C within the soil profile. Concurrent with the significant change in vegetation is an important shift in soil microbial communities. For example, whilst roots of grasses have associations with specific fungi to form arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), temperate trees (and coniferous trees in particular) have specific associations with different groups of fungi to form ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses. The fungi involved in the two contrasting mycorrhizal forms have fundamentally different growth forms and biochemical capabilities. Whilst AM commonly show a more limited spatial reach into the soil, and produce comparatively few forms of enzymes for breaking up soil organic matter, ECM often support extensive fungal networks throughout soil layers below the litter layer, and are capable of a wider variety of decomposing enzymes. This ability to facilitate external enzymes to break down organic matter has been proposed as a mechanism by which nutrients can be liberated and ultimately be taken up by plants. The degree of organic matter decomposition will also lead to changes in the amount and form of C that is transported to surface drainage waters, affecting both the total aquatic losses and the downstream fate of this exported C. A change in vegetation as well as mycorrhizal type can therefore have drastic implications for belowground C storage.
The aim of this studentship is to investigate the development of soil C stocks following a transition from pasture to forestry. As well as assessing long-term effects, a strong focus will be placed on process studies to better understand the ecological and biogeochemical processes that produce observed changes under a range of soil types and environmental conditions. The research will be carried out in collaboration with UPM Tilhill (CASE partners), who also provide access to field sites and specialist equipment.
See also: http://www.iapetus.ac.uk/category/institution/stirling/
Application deadline: 10 am, 2nd February 2015
Project Detail:
Soil CO2 efflux is the main pathway by which carbon (C) returns to the atmosphere, and understanding the drivers behind the dynamics of RS is crucial for accurate prognostic climate modelling. Soils under grassland vegetation can store substantial amounts of carbon in labile and humic forms. The impact of transitions from pasture to forestry is ambiguous in the scientific literature, as both decreases in soil C store, and increased overall C stock have been reported, e.g. due to reallocation of C within the soil profile. Concurrent with the significant change in vegetation is an important shift in soil microbial communities. For example, whilst roots of grasses have associations with specific fungi to form arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), temperate trees (and coniferous trees in particular) have specific associations with different groups of fungi to form ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses. The fungi involved in the two contrasting mycorrhizal forms have fundamentally different growth forms and biochemical capabilities. Whilst AM commonly show a more limited spatial reach into the soil, and produce comparatively few forms of enzymes for breaking up soil organic matter, ECM often support extensive fungal networks throughout soil layers below the litter layer, and are capable of a wider variety of decomposing enzymes. This ability to facilitate external enzymes to break down organic matter has been proposed as a mechanism by which nutrients can be liberated and ultimately be taken up by plants. The degree of organic matter decomposition will also lead to changes in the amount and form of C that is transported to surface drainage waters, affecting both the total aquatic losses and the downstream fate of this exported C. A change in vegetation as well as mycorrhizal type can therefore have drastic implications for belowground C storage.
The aim of this studentship is to investigate the development of soil C stocks following a transition from pasture to forestry. As well as assessing long-term effects, a strong focus will be placed on process studies to better understand the ecological and biogeochemical processes that produce observed changes under a range of soil types and environmental conditions. The research will be carried out in collaboration with UPM Tilhill (CASE partners), who also provide access to field sites and specialist equipment.
See also: http://www.iapetus.ac.uk/category/institution/stirling/
Funding Notes
This is a competition funded PhD studentship as part of the NERC Doctoral Training Partnership IAPETUS (http://www.iapetus.ac.uk). For the successful candidate, the studentship will cover tuition fees and provide a stipend for UK students only (but see NERC funding rules for exceptions regarding EU citizens). As a CASE (Co-operative Awards in Science and Engineering) studentship, maintenance grants are supplemented by an additional £1000 per annum.
References
Please use the Stirling Post-Graduate Admissions web page (https://portal.stir.ac.uk/student/course-application/get-course-block.jsp?dept=&type=&course=&moa=&mos) to apply. Click on "Research Degree in Environmental Science" (towards the bottom of the page). It is important that you note in your application that you are applying for an IAPETUS studentship with Dr Subke. If you have any queries about applying online please contact Post Grad Admissions. Additionally, please send your CV and covering letter (incl. e-mail addresses of 2 referees) to Dr Jens-Arne Subke (jens-arne.subke@stir.ac.uk). The entry qualification for postgraduate studentships is a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree and/or a Masters degree in a relevant subject. Your covering letter should clearly set out your suitability and motivation for this PhD with reference to your past experience and achievements. Application deadline is the 2nd February 2015, but submission of applications well ahead of this deadline is strongly encouraged! Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Jens-Arne Subke (jens-arne.subke@stir.ac.uk; 01786 467854) or Kerry Dinsmore (kjdi@ceh.ac.uk).
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