Climate and nutrient controls of harmful algal blooms in lakes & reservoirs

This project aims to understand the impacts of extreme weather events and future climate change on the magnitude and frequency of algal blooms in lakes and reservoirs. These blooms are commonly dominated by cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria produce potent toxins which cause a range of health problems. For this reason their abundance greatly impacts water resources, in particular the use of freshwaters for water supply and recreation

The PhD will provide a step-change in our understanding of harmful cyanobacterial blooms by examining the impact of seasonal weather events on both bloom development and toxicity. A range of lake types (e.g. shallow & deep lakes, highly flushed reservoirs) will be examined under varying nutrient conditions. The research will provide the first quantitative understanding of how climate and nutrient pressures interact at an individual site-scale, across broad lake types and at regional scales.

Research Questions:
1. Does the intensity and duration of blooms increase in response to predicted climatic changes?
2. Are cyanobacterial blooms more affected by temperature or rainfall patterns and are changes in average conditions or extreme events more important?
3. Do responses differ greatly between different types of cyanobacteria?
4. What mitigation strategies are needed to manage cyanobacterial blooms under future climate predictions?

The research will be carried out using up to four complementary approaches:
1) A mesocosm experiment on the impacts of nutrient enrichment and extreme rainfall, being conducted as part of a large European Project. The student will contribute to this experiment practically and through an analysis of cyanobacterial responses (abundance and toxin production).
2) Analyse drivers of cyanobacteria distributions from large-scale UK & European datasets (up to 700 lakes).
3) Undertake fieldwork at CEH’s lake monitoring sites examining bloom development and toxin production.
4) Undertake process-based modelling of a number of future scenarios for nutrient loading and climate change, using CEH’s PROTECH model.

The supervisory team provides a broad range of supervisory support for the studentship with expertise and training in freshwater ecology, statistics, cyanobacterial toxins and management of algal bloom. Specialist training will be provided in field sampling methods, microscope techniques for the identification and counting of cyanobacteria, data management, statistics and communicating science.

Supervisory team:
1. Laurence Carvalho, CEH Edinburgh, lead supervisor ([Email Address Removed])
2. Peter Hunter, University of Stirling, lead university supervisor ([Email Address Removed])
3. Stephen Maberly, CEH Lancaster ([Email Address Removed])
4. Claire Miller, University of Glasgow ([Email Address Removed])

The student will be based primarily at CEH’s Edinburgh site but will spend 6 months to 1 year at CEH Lancaster during the mesocosm experiment, and time at the Universities of Stirling, Glasgow and SEPA as required. For further enquiries please contact Laurence Carvalho ([Email Address Removed]) or Peter Hunter ([Email Address Removed])

A 2i or higher degree in Biological or Environmental Sciences is essential. Experience of freshwaters would be desirable, as would experience in the management and statistical analysis of biological data. Training and supervision would, however, be provided in these skills as required. To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to Peter Hunter ([Email Address Removed]) and Laurence Carvalho ([Email Address Removed]).