Investigating how biodiversity and ecosystem function respond to woodland creation and peatland restoration in Scotland

This fully funded 48-month PhD studentship offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the impacts of woodland creation and peatland restoration on biodiversity and ecosystem function, within the context of natural capital programmes aimed at delivering multiple benefits. The research will involve an interdisciplinary approach combining environmental DNA (eDNA) and remote sensing to assess habitat and species recovery. Research outputs will help to inform the Forest and Peatland programme, supporting its monitoring and reporting framework and approach.

This studentship will be one of a cohort of three PhD projects supported by the University’s Forests and Peatland Programme that aims to advance our understanding of the impacts, and monitoring and reporting techniques, around woodland creation and peatland restoration initiatives, which are designed and managed to meet multiple objectives, across different sites in Scotland. For each of these interdisciplinary studentships (with one other studentship focused on carbon sequestration, and another focusing on the social/community benefits), a key priority will be how to establish baselines and monitor change over time at the forest and peatland sites, covering social, economic, and environmental dimensions to evidence impact. The three projects are expected to coordinate and collaborate to strengthen and integrate research outcomes and enhance impact. Each of the studentships will involve applied research to inform policy and practice around natural capital programmes. The studentship will also involve collaboration with national stakeholders.

Project Background:

The University of Edinburgh initiated a long-term investment in October 2021 to restore peatlands and expand forests across Scotland. The Forests and Peatland Programme aims to deliver multiple benefits, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity improvements, and community/social benefits. As part of this programme, the University has acquired 887 hectares of land across three sites in Scotland and has formed several long-term 50-year partnerships covering a much wider area. This operational programme is creating woodlands and restoring peatlands, offering exciting and important short-term and longitudinal research opportunities.

Key Research Questions:

How can a combination of eDNA and remote sensing data be most effectively applied to measure, monitor and report changes in biodiversity associated with peatland restoration and woodland creation?

− What are the optimal spatial and temporal scales for detecting biodiversity changes in these ecosystems?

− How can biodiversity net gain be accurately assessed at restoration sites?

− Which integrated indicators are most suitable for monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem health at peatland restoration and woodland creation sites?

Methodology:

This challenge-based research will use a combination of eDNA analysis and remote sensing techniques to monitor upland peatland health, and sites undergoing woodland creation, both before and after restoration.

To enable such an ambitious study, the University of Edinburgh has already funded the set-up of initial pre-restoration monitoring at one candidate peatland study site, collecting soil samples to form an eDNA baseline. Parallel work is planned at programme-owned woodland sites. These data will help to understand if restoration efforts are successful in improving ecosystem health and enhancing biodiversity. The research student will utilise existing datasets, as well as conduct fieldwork to collect complementary data at multiple sites across Scotland at varying temporal scales, representing differing time periods since inception of restoration actions.

At both the woodland creation sites and peatland restoration sites the aim is to employ the most advanced monitoring methodologies to examine biodiversity changes. The UoE has a large in-house aerial survey capability, which has already carried out baseline surveys at peatland restoration sites. The conservation genetics lab has extensive capabilities in the use of eDNA samples to characterise ecological diversity. The two research groups bring a wealth of expertise and analytical capacity to support this studentship. Data sources will be ground-truthed through ongoing site surveys, conducted in collaboration with the other two PhD projects and with the support of local community citizen scientists. Utilising shared datasets across the studentships is encouraged such as the use of and multi spectral and thermal data for species classification and vegetation health.

Data will be analysed to address individual research questions that in turn contribute to the overall stated aim of the project regarding how eDNA and remote sensing data can be effectively applied to inform peatland restoration and woodland creation management and policy.

Training:

A comprehensive training programme will be provided comprising both specialist scientific training and generic transferable and professional skills. The student will be registered at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute. Specific training relevant to the project will be provided by the Forest and Peatland Studentship Programme team and wider supervisory team. This includes field methods such as soil eDNA sampling, advanced remote sensing techniques, advanced statistics in programming languages such as R/python and training on laboratory instrumentation, such as FT-ICR-MS. Students will also take a 3 x month work/training experience training in community-policy engagement.

Requirements:

Essential:

A minimum 2.1 degree in Biology, environmental science or ecology or equivalent.

A Master’s degree in biology, environmental science or ecology or equivalent.

Experience and passion for collecting field data.

Experience and enthusiasm for quantitative data analysis

The project is available to UK/International citizens. The candidate must meet the English qualification requirements as described at: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international/english/postgraduate

Desirable:

A UK driving licence for field work.

Experience in molecular genetic laboratory analysis

Experience in GIS and remote sensing techniques.

Experience in interdisciplinary approaches and techniques.

A working knowledge of R/Python.

An understanding of silviculture, forest systems and peatlands 

Applications

A statement of interest and full CV with names and addresses (including email addresses) of two academic referees, should be emailed to RDSVS.Studentship.Applications@ed.ac.uk.

For further information please contact: rob.ogden@ed.ac.uk