Pesticide avoidance behaviour of non-target arthropods and its population level consequences in spatially heterogeneous exposure landscapes

: Non-target arthropods (NTAs) provide important ecosystem services (e.g. control of pests). However in agricultural systems some beneficial arthropods may be at risk from the pesticides used to control insects that damage crops. Predicting the risk to NTAs is complicated by the non-uniform distribution of pesticides in and around crops. In this PhD you will:
• Carry out field sampling to determine how heterogeneous the distribution of pesticides is around crops.
• Perform laboratory tests to investigate whether non-target organisms, and specifically mites and lace wings can avoid pesticides.
• Use computer modelling to predict the impacts that the spatial heterogeneity of pesticides, their toxicity to mites and lace wings and the avoidance of these pesticides has on populations of these organisms.
The results of the PhD will feed into regulatory risk assessment of pesticides for the protection of non-target organisms.
Host institution & supervisors: The PhD student will be based at the Environment Department at the University of York (UoY) and the project will be led by Roman Ashauer (main supervisor) and Prof Mark Hodson (co-supervisor). The Environment Department has a reputation for excellence and innovation; the impact of our research in ecology and environmental science is ranked 2nd in the UK and 17th globally. The environmental fate and effects of pollutants is a core area of research.
Industry & government agency partners: The PhD student will spend at least three months in placements at the project partners, who are Dr Gabe Weyman at Makhteshim Agan (industry, senior regulatory ecotoxicologist), Dr Tania Alvarez at EcoRisk Solutions (arthropod ecology & ecotoxicology) and Dr Melissa Reed at the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (pesticide environmental risk assessment & ecological modelling).
Training provided in: regulatory pesticide risk assessment, ecotoxicology, analytical chemistry, NTA ecology, ecological modelling, field & laboratory studies and advanced generic & transferable skills.