NERC RED-ALERT CDT: Do pollutants from wastewaters accumulating in aquatic invertebrates affect breeding success of insectivorous birds.

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the Red-ALERT CDT, hosted by the University of Exeter for entry in September 2025.

Overview of the Research:

Chemical pollution has contributed significantly to freshwater biodiversity declines, the implications for which will also transcend terestrial and marine environments. Freshwater pollution is likely a contributing factor to the declines of UK insectivorous bird species, many of which are migrants and ICUN listed as threatened or near threatened, although little is known in this regard. This exciting PhD project will apply a combination of field studies, ecology, eDNA methods, and chemistry to charactise the foodchain pathways for key selected pollutants of environmental concern including, pesticides, human and pet pharmaceuticals, through wastewater treament works (WwTW) effuents into bird species that feed on aquatic invertebrates and assess for effects on their breeding success.

Groups of macroinvertebrates will be sampled at selected WwTWs , and in their receiving rivers, to measure the body burdens of chemicals of potential toxicological concern (selected metals, pesticides etc.) via ICP-MS/LC-MS. Profiles of the natural history of the invertebrates collected will establish their likely seasonal availability to birds (as larvae and/or as winged adults). During the breeding season, nests of selected insectivorous bird species -to include swallows, house martins and pied wagtails - will be located within the vicinity of the WwTWs and faecal sacs collected from nestlings (under Natural England licence) at various timepoints in their development to identify the insect prey species (via eDNA profiling methods) and pollutants contained. Measures of nestling health will also be taken.

These data will be applied to better define pollutant-specific impact pathways and help provide a stronger evidence base for industry and government to support dedicated management controls. The student will get an exceptional training in ecotoxicology, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, ecology, environmental monitoring, and statistical modelling, and in a direct partnership with Cefas, for translating their science into practice. Considerable supporting/training resources are brought to this project through the supervisory team’s major lab infrastructures/ extensive (inter) national collaborations and applying systems-level approaches to environmental management and translating science into real world policy and practice.

Project Keywords: Pollution, wastewater, invertebrates, birds, eDNA, environmental protection

Industrial Partner:

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) is the industrial partner on this project.

Candidate Requirements:

Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or good Upper Second-Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent) in biology/environmental biology or a relevant related subject. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.

*Non-UK applicants must meet the programme’s English language requirement prior to a formal offer being made. 

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.

If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.

Enquiries and Applications:

Formal applications should be submitted via the Red-ALERT CDT online application form prior to the closing date of this advert.